Spring-Sleep Incense intoxicates, a grand gathering approaches, a return to the Candle Cult, and the Mysterious Water Palm advances again

Tang Wenshu was delighted to hear this. "Brother Hua, excellent, excellent! I was at fault just now. Tomorrow, I'll host a banquet especially to make amends, and invite a few trusted old friends to meet you." Li Xian thought, This is a rare opportunity! He said, "Very well. I'll leave everything to you, Brother Tang."

After they chatted a while longer, Tang, Du, and Cai prepared to leave. Li Xian escorted them to the side gate. Tang Wenshu urged him, "Brother Hua, you must keep a close watch on your Flower Consort! Keep a low profile in everything you do for now, and don't clash with anyone. Yield where you can, and retreat where you must. I'll be off. See you tomorrow."

Li Xian smiled. "All right. Thank you for your concern, Brother Tang." He watched Tang Wenshu disappear into the distance and thought, After all that painstaking scheming, I've finally made progress. It's gone much as I expected. He shut the side gate, breathed out a stream of clear qi, and cleaned up the dirty bowls and broken plates.

Two bowls of lunch had been left by the stove. Li Xian put them inside to heat, then carried them into the Secluded Residence. His eyes and ears were keen. Having seen how Du and Cai's words and behavior had left Zhao Yingqiong flustered, he knew it could hardly have been avoided. Still, the thought of a grand general having a day like this felt strange. Hearing hurried breaths buried beneath the slow breathing inside the chest, he lifted its lid.

A waft of incense made from herbs drifted out. A stick hung in the corner of the chest, refined from Eighteen Medicinal Herbs and Eighteen Poisonous Insects. Its effects were powerful. The Eighteen Poisonous Insects were paired, one male