Late at Night

"Okay?" Ding Songyan was stunned for a moment, almost not reacting.

Holding half a red, yellow, and green Crabapple, Twelfth Madam Luo raised her eyebrows slightly and said:

I agreed.

"But only this once."

So readily agreed? I thought I'd have to beg him several more times... Ding Songyan surprised and delighted, and bowed deeply, saying:

"Twelfth Madam, you are chivalrous, loyal, righteous, courageous, and always ready to help others..."

"Stop!" Twelfth Madam Luo interrupted Ding Songyan's incessant chatter. "If you keep exaggerating like this, I'm done with you."

The Manager touched his right sleeve with his left hand:

"You're giving me goosebumps..."

Ding Songyan chuckled:

Isn't this gratitude like a surging river, never-ending?

Before Twelfth Madam Luo could scold him, he solemnly said:

"Twelfth Madam, that Demoness Ji ate the Hundun Remains a few years ago, and last year she used the Hundun Method to attain the status of Celestial Person. She must not be taken lightly or treated as an ordinary person."

"The Hundun Remains..." Twelfth Madam Luo nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly, her gaze shifted to Ding Songyan, and she said with a smile:

No wonder I met you.

Uh... you guessed it already? Twelfth Madam is quite clever... Ding Songyan neither admitted nor denied it.

He took a couple of bites of the Crabapple in his hand and said to Luo Mingyin:

"I've gone to the Prince's Residence for my shift."

"You've been slacking off today," Twelfth Madam Luo teased.

None of them did morning practice.

"I have something to do, I'll finish it when I get back at noon," Ding Songyan explained casually.

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt that the conversation was a bit strange, like they were discussing the payment of grain taxes.

Seeing that Twelfth Madam's expression was normal and she hadn't misunderstood, Ding Songyan a self-deprecating smile, picked up Cold Shadow, and left the Rear Courtyard of the Wine Shop through the side door.

This is what happens when you spend too much time online in your past life; your mind is full of lewd thoughts.

When Ding Songyan arrived at the Side Courtyard of the Prince's Residence's Mansion, it was still early before his shift. He changed into his guard's uniform and headed towards the side courtyard.

Wang Zhou was practicing his swordplay Huo Ran sensed something and turned his gaze toward the doorway.

Ding Songyan, whom I hadn't seen for several days, stood there, looking at me with a smile.

"What brings you here today?" Wang Zhou sheathed his longsword and asked with a smile.

He had heard some rumors, but he believed that Ding Songyan was acting with discretion.

In this respect, he felt that this younger man was mature beyond his years.

Ding Songyan looked around and said in a low voice:

"Grandmaster Uncle, I have something to report to you."

As they spoke, the area around them darkened slightly, as if they were enveloped by an invisible barrier.

Seeing Ding Songyan, Wang Zhou also suppressed his smile and nodded, saying:

"Speak."

Ding Songyan began by recounting how Commander Han Shun sought him Spirit Walking Through the Netherworld. He then recounted the death of the leader of the Fire-Stealing Sect, how he and Twelfth Madam accidentally saved Wu Zheng, Prince Shen sent people to seize the inheritance of the True Lord of Fire Virtue, and how he scared away the Martial Grandmaster and then used the guise of a pretty boy to shift the blame onto Twelfth Madam. However, he did not mention his own story or Twelfth Madam's past.

Finally, he reminded:

"Grandmaster Uncle, if the Prince's Residence asks you to do anything these days, be careful not to get involved in troubled matters, and don't trust your companions too easily."

Wang Zhou listened intently until the end, then let out a long sigh:

"I understand. These matters are not something our Xiaoming Sect can meddle in."

"Don't even think about finding out the truth. We'll just use our ' Candle Eyes and Star Pupils ' to confirm whether any of the Imperial Consort being chosen are carrying Demon Seed or are disguising their appearances. That will be enough to satisfy Prince Kang."

Let the royal family handle their own affairs.

Although this Supreme Elder the Xiaoming Sect also upheld righteousness and justice, he was truly willing but unable to do much about such matters and could only do what he could.

In critical moments, he is also a person who can sacrifice his life for righteousness, but he cannot let Ding Songyan perish in Flame Capital.

Ding Songyan reminded his great-uncle that he had withdrawn the power of "Establishing the Six Harmonies".

Wang Zhou's complexion had returned to normal, and he said with a smile:

"A couple of days ago, someone told me that you moved to the Rear Courtyard of the Cheap Wine Shop and were living with Na Twelfth Madam Luo. I thought to myself, given your personality, there must be a reason, but I didn't expect things to get this big, nor did I expect that Na Twelfth Madam Luo would be a Celestial Person."

As he spoke, the Supreme Elder sighed with emotion:

"In order to keep the secret and not implicate the Sects, you chose to tarnish your own reputation. Fortunately, those people are also shady characters and did not spread this matter around. Otherwise, I really can't imagine how people in the martial arts world would think of you."

"However, the Prince's Residence Guards are also spreading some rather unpleasant rumors these days."

"Someone can vouch for my innocence," Ding Songyan comforted his grand-uncle.

"Who?" Wang Zhou was taken aback.

Proving one's innocence is one of the most difficult things in the world. Once someone is smeared and prejudiced, it is almost impossible to wash it away.

People are always more willing to believe bad rumors.

Do you possibly possess a virginity mark?

Public opinion is a fearsome thing...

"Young Master Mingxi, Jiang Lanting, and my colleagues." Ding Songyan explained the matter of the "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill" in detail, so as not to misunderstand that his grandmaster uncle was trying to use his homosexuality to dilute the rumors about him and Twelfth Madam.

He concluded by saying:

"This is more about the lower body, something everyone loves to hear, spread, and discuss. Once it gets around, they'll know I was helping out out of a sense of justice, not being a womanizer."

Wang Zhou chuckled to himself.

"You had this trick up your sleeve? I was overthinking it."

"It's said to be seven days, but how many days is it actually?"

"Two days," Ding Songyan told the truth. "I had just finished digesting the effects of the medicine and went to find Twelfth Madam Luo to ask her about the Dao of Name and Reality and the workings of the universe, but I ended up finding that person collapsed in the back alley."

"You're quite the martial arts fanatic, unwilling to wait even a moment longer," Wang Zhou said with a shake of his head and a smile.

If Luo Mingyin weren't suspected of Great Grandmaster of the righteous path, and wouldn't be so concerned about her status, he would find it hard not to suspect that Ding Songyan had other intentions.

Who would go looking for their rumored lover right after absorbing the medicinal power of the "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill"?

Ding Songyan suddenly felt embarrassed, cleared his throat and said:

"Grandmaster Uncle, uh, if my Senior Sister misunderstands because of this in the future, please help me explain."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhou was completely relieved and laughed heartily:

"OK.

"You little rascal, watch your step next time, and don't try to smear yourself again!"

After exchanging a few words of laughter and banter, the Supreme Elder the Xiaoming Sect asked solemnly:

"Who do you think Twelfth Madam Luo is, the Great Grandmaster?"

"I have some guesses, but I'm not sure; some of the behaviors just don't seem right," Ding Songyan said thoughtfully. "I'm not going to go around probing with the new information I've gathered. It's better to play dumb sometimes; if I really guessed right, it might not be a good thing."

We can't guess what will happen until Twelfth Madam finishes explaining the Dao of Name and Reality, since the exposure of her identity could bring unexpected changes and cause her to leave Flame Capital ahead of schedule.

Wang Zhou agreed with Ding Songyan's statement:

"Yes, this kind of reclusive master, if she wants to hide her identity and Manager Wine Shop, we should cooperate and never expose her."

After Ding Songyan returned to the Side Courtyard and went to guard the northeast corner gate with Li Baima and others.

Along the way, he asked with a half-smile:

Have you spread the word that I took the "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill"?

"No," Li Baima said. "This is your private matter. Brother Ding, if you don't want us to spread it, we certainly won't."

Ding Songyan lowered his voice and said with a smile:

"Of course I want you to spread it. It's a good reputation. What man doesn't want to be looked at with admiration and envy?"

"Understood!" Wu Mo understood immediately.

Fan Chunlin hesitated for a moment and said:

"Brother Ding, you took the ' Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill ' the day Young Master Jiang came, right? By tomorrow evening, the effects of the medicine should be fully absorbed."

"If you stay overnight at Cheap Wine Shop again tomorrow night, I'm afraid your reputation will be damaged."

Ding Songyan was deeply moved.

Good brother, you actually believe I have a good reputation!

"We haven't caught the troublemaker yet, but we should have results in the next couple of days," Ding Songyan said sincerely.

Once Twelfth Madam has scared away Ji the Demoness Ji once, he can move back to the Side Courtyard of the Prince's Residence's Mansion.

After finishing his shift, Ding Songyan changed his clothes and leisurely entered the Rear Courtyard of the Wine Shop through the side door, keeping his word to make up for his morning lessons.

By the time he finished practicing, the lunch market had already ended. Twelfth Madam Luo had set out several dishes and two bowls of rice on the stone table.

"You haven't eaten yet?" Ding Songyan asked casually.

Twelfth Madam Luo pursed her lips:

"A few people were just asking for trouble, and they're even lining up to come here."

"Who is it?" Ding Songyan asked as he picked up some food and started eating.

Twelfth Madam Luo sat down opposite him, and while eating, she talked about the people from earlier, with Ding Songyan occasionally joining in with a few curses.

The slow, leisurely life quickly turned to night. Ding Songyan first gave Twelfth Madam a flattering smile, then went back to the East Wing Room and lay down.

I feel so comfortable lying here!

After nightfall.

Wearing a white cloak trimmed with fur, Ji Hanyi looked at the lively-eyed "Mothman" before him, nodded slightly, chuckled softly, and muttered to himself:

"My dear second brother is actually living with Twelfth Madam Luo?"

"Is Senior Sister Zheng acting so diligently to protect him, or is she truly a womanizer who falls in love with every man she meets?"

"I want to go and see for myself who this Twelfth Madam Luo is..."

Ji Hanyi smiled, pulled up the hood of his cloak, and cast a shadow over his peerless face.

She walked through layers of Nether Darkness and appeared under the big tree at the Tiger Tail Alley.

The Cheap Wine Shop in the distance had already closed, sleeping soundly in the deep night.

Ji Hanyi was about to take a step, Huo Ran felt that the surroundings had become extremely dark, and the bright moon and countless stars in the sky had all disappeared.

A glimpse of a gun tip immediately appeared in her eyes.

The spear tip seemed to fill the entire world, absorbing all the light, and rushed towards Ji Hanyi with the force of a mountain pressing down or a thunderbolt descending.

This vast and heavy weight seems to carry all the morality of the world.

Ji Hanyi's expression remained unchanged as her plain white sleeves trimmed with emerald green suddenly billowed up.

The darkness before her suddenly solidified, layer upon layer, as if trying to turn the spear tip into a mosquito trapped in amber.

The spear tip was unbiased and followed the right path. Anything that stood in its way was pierced and shattered, yet the layers of darkness continued to collapse and then recombine.

The spear tip slowed down as a result, Huo Ran, it ignited with crimson gold flames.

This propelled the spear tip to break free of its restraints, piercing through numerous obstacles with unstoppable momentum.

It pierced right in front of Ji Hanyi.

A Nether Darkness, condensed finger shot out, striking the tip of the spear precisely.

In an instant, everything seemed to freeze.

This moonless and starless world crumbled inch by inch, collapsing silently.

The crimson flames, the radiant spear tip, and the Nether Darkness, coalescing finger vanished simultaneously.

Ji Hanyi's body floated backward and landed several feet away.

A clear, cool female voice drifted into her ears from somewhere:

"You've finally proven yourself Celestial Person."

Ji Hanyi's expression changed slightly as she stared intently in the direction from which the sound might have come, but there was no sign of her opponent there.

After a few breaths, she murmured to herself:

"Feng Yining..."