A Tender Haven Was a Great Hero's Final Home

"Get lost!"

Lin Lang's angry voice rang out from the room.

Anyone disturbed at a time like this would have been in a foul mood.

The Jinyiwei outside exchanged looks. Damn it, they were too late!

It seemed their lord had already fallen into a tender haven, which meant his strength had probably declined.

Wouldn't he lose his duel with Banner Commander Liu?

They had backed the wrong man!

Forget it. They would wait until morning. Perhaps Lord Lin had learned some other martial art, which was why he dared to lose his virginity?

Otherwise, with Lord Lin's self-control, why would he fancy the common painted faces of the Jade Green Pavilion when he had turned up his nose at so many daughters of wealthy families in the county?

Early the next morning, the Jinyiwei gathered outside Lin Lang's room.

"Lord Lin, are you awake?"

Lin Lang's voice came from inside. "What is it?"

The Small Banner leading them reminded him, "Haven't you always said that a tender haven is a hero's grave? You're fighting Banner Commander Liu in the arena the day after tomorrow. Shouldn't you return and get some proper rest to prepare?"

Even if Chief Banner Officer Lin's Golden Body Child Skill had been broken, he still had ten years of internal energy, along with martial arts such as the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber. He might not necessarily lose to Banner Commander Liu.

If they helped conceal the news, Banner Commander Liu might concede outright during the duel. Chief Banner Officer Lin would still rise to the position, and they would not have backed the wrong man after all.

Lin Lang said, "A tender haven being a hero's grave means that a tender haven is every great hero's final home. This place is perfect for a great hero like me."

"Come fetch me before the duel. Don't disturb me otherwise. I'm in seclusion, training."

The Jinyiwei were dumbfounded. They had never heard of anyone going into seclusion to train in a place like this!

What great hero kept a woman in his room while training in seclusion?

They were finished. Chief Banner Officer Lin was bound to lose this time. Was there still time to go cling to Banner Commander Liu's leg?

Liu Wu woke in his concubine's bed that morning. After breakfast, he strolled out to report for roll call at the Hundred-household Office.

"Have you heard? Chief Banner Officer Lin spent last night at the Jade Green Pavilion!"

"What? That can't be true, can it? Everyone knows Banner Commander Liu practices the Golden Body Child Skill and can't touch women. Why would he stay at the Jade Green Pavilion?"

"Who knows? Maybe he couldn't hold back anymore? The girls at the Jade Green Pavilion are all fresh and lovely, after all, and Chief Banner Officer Lin is a man too. I'm not making this up. Those fellows who used to follow Chief Banner Officer Lin have all gone to the gambling house to bet on Banner Commander Liu winning."

"Ah, Chief Banner Officer Lin was a fool. He's about to fight Banner Commander Liu for the Probationary Hundred-household position. He held out for so many years. Couldn't he hold out for another three days?"

Liu Wu's face lit up with delighted surprise. Lin Lang had actually lost his virginity!

That meant Lin Lang's strongest art, the Golden Body Child Skill, was ruined. At most, he could probably retain his early second-rate realm. The Probationary Hundred-household position was Liu Wu's!

Seeing Liu Wu approach, the chatting Jinyiwei immediately gathered around him.

"Banner Commander Liu, you're here. It's my birthday today, and I've booked a table at the Gathering Abundance Tower. Please do me the honor of attending."

"Banner Commander Liu, tomorrow is my wife's birthday. You simply must come to my home for a drink."

Hundred-household Li of their Hundred-household Office was reportedly being transferred away next year and had already stopped attending to most affairs. The two previous Probationary Hundred-households had gone on a mission, leaving one dead and the other injured.

The injured one still occupied a slot but had no chance of further promotion. Whoever took the acting Hundred-household position now would become the future master of this office.

Everyone had originally assumed that the younger, stronger Chief Banner Officer Lin would rise to the position. But now the wind had abruptly changed direction. They had to seize the opportunity. Otherwise, never mind promotion—they would be lucky to escape being made to wear shoes too tight for their feet.

Liu Wu had little interest in the Gathering Abundance Tower, but his eyes lit up when he heard the subordinate invite him home for his wife's birthday.

"Let's discuss it the day after tomorrow. I need to train properly these next two days too. Haven't you remembered your wife's birthday wrong?"

The subordinate suddenly understood. "Oh, look at my memory! My wife's birthday is the day after tomorrow. Please come to my home for drinks that evening, my lord."

Liu Wu clapped the subordinate hard on the shoulder. This fellow knew how things worked. Once Liu Wu became a Probationary Hundred-household, he could cultivate him.

People kept greeting Liu Wu warmly along the way. When he reached his office door, he glanced at the neighboring courtyard, where the Hundred-household and Probationary Hundred-households had their offices. In two days, he would be moving over there.

The only pity was that he had spent so much silver, only for Xiao He, who had been almost within his grasp, to fall into Lin Lang's hands.

Still, once he became a Probationary Hundred-household, he would surely become a Hundred-household in the future. Perhaps he could even savor the charms of a famous performer from the Capital City.

This was just as well. He would not have to take Xiao He as a concubine, nor would it hinder him from sampling someone new.

Trading a woman for the Probationary Hundred-household position was worth it!

But he was still angry.

"Lin Lang, if you dare step into that arena, don't blame me for leaving you unable to get back up!"

Three days had passed. Lin Lang had spent three days "training in seclusion" at the Jade Green Pavilion without once leaving his room.

Although he could feel further progress in his Golden Body Child Skill, he had not managed to break through to perfection.

His cultivation realm, however, had already reached mid first-rate.

In three days, he had advanced from the peak of second-rate to mid first-rate. Even the quick-training methods famed throughout the martial world could do no better.

My strength won't improve much more in the short term. But I'm already the strongest person in the Hundred-household Office!

Although he was only at mid first-rate, the special properties of the Golden Body Child Skill meant he had no fear even of experts at Peak First-Class.

Those people probably all think I'm finished. Knowing Liu Wu, he's likely already planned how to celebrate his victory.

Too bad none of them could imagine that not only am I not finished, I'm even stronger!

Xiao He pushed open the door, carrying a food box, and arranged its contents on the table.

"Lord Lin, come eat."

Her eyes held a hint of springtime desire, but also a trace of resentment.

Other women who gave themselves to a man became red-sleeved companions tending his incense. She, on the other hand, had been ordered by Lin Lang to empty his chamber pot!

Still, only after becoming Lin Lang's woman had she understood what the other girls meant by a real hard man.

Over the past two days, she had heard many people say that Lin Lang was ruined. Yet why did she feel he had become even stronger?

No one had more right to speak on that than she did.

After finishing breakfast and rinsing his mouth with tea, Lin Lang looked at Xiao He. "I know all about how you and Liu Wu tried to harm me. You actually drugged me!"

"If you want to live, remember this: no matter what anyone asks, you must not tell them anything about these past few days."

Xiao He looked timidly at Lin Lang. "Lord Lin, Liu Wu forced me to do it. Besides, it wasn't poison."

"And I'm already yours. Whatever you say goes."

"I only beg that, for the sake of how devotedly Xiao He has served you these past two days, you take Xiao He away from the Jade Green Pavilion."

"Xiao He promises to serve you even more devotedly from now on, my lord. I've learned everything you taught me."

She did not care who became acting Probationary Hundred-household. She just wanted to be the acting Probationary Hundred-household's concubine!

Lin Lang nodded in satisfaction. "You have a good knack for learning. I'll teach you a few new things later."

As he spoke, a Jinyiwei's voice came from outside. "Lord Lin, are you awake? It's time for your arena duel today."

Lin Lang picked up his Xiuchun Blade and rose. It was time to deal with Liu Wu.