The World's Beautiful Scenery

"Chen Xuan! Chen Xuan!" Chen Luo was brought directly to the Chen residence by Wei Yan. As soon as he landed, Chen Luo shouted loudly. The servants who had just been resting poked their heads out one after another.

Chen Ping asked with a puzzled expression, "Young Master, what are you..."

"Where's Chen Xuan?"

Chen Ping pointed toward the back courtyard, and Chen Luo immediately rushed in that direction.

Entering Chen Xuan's courtyard, it was pitch black, and he didn't see the usually noisy Xiao Huan either. Chen Luo's heart suddenly tightened. Then, a pained groan came from Chen Xuan's bedroom—it was her voice.

Chen Luo's eyes turned red. He kicked open the door and charged inside.

Though no lamps were lit in the room, the bright moonlight streamed in through the window. Chen Luo froze for a moment, then quickly turned around.

At that moment, Chen Xuan grabbed a piece of clothing from the side to cover her delicate figure. Standing behind the bath barrel, she slightly bowed, trying to hide, but her tone carried a sharp edge: "Who is it?"

Chen Luo said guiltily, "It's me!"

He clearly heard a sigh of relief behind him, and then Chen Xuan's voice softened considerably: "Why did you come in?"

"I ran into an assassination attempt on the street. I was worried something might happen to you, so I came to check," Chen Luo quickly explained.

"You were attacked?" Chen Xuan's voice suddenly rose, followed by a rustling sound. Soon, she draped an outer robe over herself and walked up to Chen Luo, her face full of concern as she felt him over. "Are you alright? Were you hurt?"

"No!" At this point, Chen Luo caught the fragrance emanating from Chen Xuan and took a slight step back. "Where's Xiao Huan?"

"That girl wasn't feeling well, so I told her to rest in her own room," Chen Xuan said, then added, "It's a woman's matter—don't ask too much."

Chen Luo nodded, his gaze falling on Chen Xuan. Remembering the scene just now, his face flushed bright red. Fortunately, Chen Xuan was blind and couldn't see.

Chen Luo asked awkwardly, "Then why were you shouting earlier? I thought you were in danger."

"I accidentally kicked the bath barrel and yelled from the pain. How was I to know you were outside the door? Don't be so reckless next time!"

"Mm..." Chen Luo had no idea what to say anymore. Just then, Ji Zhong's voice reached his ears like heavenly music.

Ji Zhong: "Young Master, Great Confucian Wei is still waiting for you in the main hall!"

"Coming, coming..." Chen Luo felt as if pardoned. He said a quick word to Chen Xuan and hurriedly ran out. Hearing Chen Luo's footsteps fade away, Chen Xuan's brows slowly furrowed, as if she were pondering something important...

"Boy, this is called Deathly Nether Qi." Wei Yan extended his palm. The wound on his palm had mostly healed, but there was still a grain-sized opening from which black qi emerged, intertwining stubbornly with Wei Yan's Righteous Qi, refusing to retreat.

"This kind of attack should theoretically only exist in the Nether Land. I never expected it to appear in the Human World. Tell me, who do you think is behind it?"

Chen Luo looked at Wei Yan's wound with a serious expression and said, "This junior doesn't know the other party's true identity either. I can only deduce a rough scope through reverse reasoning."

"I'm just a wealthy commoner in Wan'an County. What ability do I have to offend someone who can injure a Great Confucian? After thinking it over, those with such power and a grudge against me can only be two parties."

"First, the Winged Tiger Clan behind the tiger demon. The one who assassinated me was a Blood Refining Great Demon—they are undoubtedly the most suspicious."

"Second, the mysterious force that traded the Literary Heart with the tiger demon. They managed to obtain an unnamed Literary Heart behind the court's back, so their methods must be extraordinary."

"But no matter which side it is, I think their goal should be to snatch back that Immortal Literary Heart. I just don't understand—wouldn't today's assassination expose their trail?"

Wei Yan chuckled lightly: "Killing you was just an excuse. Their real aim was to lure Tong Chen out, and then provoke me into acting, to probe Wan'an County's true situation."

"Beating the grass to startle the snake!" Chen Luo suddenly realized.

Wei Yan reached out and pinched Chen Luo's cheek: "Boy, who are you calling a snake?"

"Ow..."

"Miss, Ma San is dead. That Chen Luo has Confucian disciples guarding him—this subordinate failed."

While Wei Yan and Chen Luo were talking, in an ordinary residence in Wan'an County, an old woman with a weathered face bowed to a figure wrapped entirely in a black robe.

"No matter!" A crisp female voice came from within the black robe. "He was just an extra. Granny Rong, have you found out how many Great Confucians the Wenchang Pavilion dispatched?"

Granny Rong replied, "When Wei Yan made his move, this old woman sensed another Great Confucian's aura lurking undetected in the eastern part of the city."

"Another trick of one in the open, one in the dark? Expected."

Granny Rong said indignantly, "It's all that Winged Tiger Clan's fault—they can't accomplish anything but ruin everything. Otherwise, why would we need Miss to make a personal trip?"

The shadowy figure stretched lazily, her broad robe unable to conceal her graceful figure. She let out a light laugh: "I should thank them instead. Otherwise, when would I get a chance to come out for some air? But I think Master won't let them off lightly."

Granny Rong nodded: "Miss is right."

"Please prepare well, Granny Rong. In two days, it's Master's birthday. I plan to offer that recovered Literary Heart as a birthday gift."

Granny Rong performed a standard respectful bow: "This old woman understands. I will not disappoint Miss." Then she withdrew from the room.

The black-robed figure stood up and sighed softly: "I'm suffocating." She then lowered the hood of her robe, letting a cascade of black hair fall, though her face was still half-covered by a mask.

"If I can retrieve the Literary Heart, Master will surely be happy..." The black-robed woman murmured to herself, then removed the mask. In an instant, the bronze mirror on the dressing table reflected a charming, expressive face—one that could shift between delight and displeasure.

"Young Master, what do we do next?" After seeing Wei Yan off, Chen Luo couldn't conveniently go out anymore, but it was still early and he really couldn't sleep. Looking at Ji Zhong's expectant eyes, he sighed: "Write."

"Young Master is wise." Ji Zhong beamed. "How many chapters does Young Master plan to write today?"

Having grown familiar with Chen Luo, Ji Zhong had picked up some new vocabulary.

"Put in some effort and finish it today," Chen Luo said. It wasn't just to satisfy Ji Zhong—mainly, this assassination attempt had served as a wake-up call. He still needed to finish writing The Smiling, Proud Wanderer first, to see what kind of Book Spirit it would produce. Perhaps it could improve his ability to protect himself.

"Even if it's Dongfang Bubai or Yue Buqun, I'll accept it. But please, please, don't let it be that weakling Lin Pingzhi!"

There is no sight in the world to compare with a maiden fresh from her bath.

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