The Landlady

Things turned out just as everyone had expected.

When Lin Wanyi heard "a bowl in the sky," the front of her robe swelled, and her breathtakingly beautiful face turned green. She glared at Xie Jinhuan through gritted teeth for a moment, then swept her sleeve and stormed off:

"Hmph..."

None of the soldiers dared stop her.

Although she had barely had any lines throughout the whole affair, Lin Wanyi's performance with her eyes alone could definitely have won her Best Actress.

Linghu Qingmo had never experienced anything like this. He seized the chance to run out too, escaping the scene of this public execution:

"Doctor Lin, wait..."

As the two went out, Yang Dabiao and his wife's voices could still be heard from the main entrance:

"Sister Lin, what's wrong?"

"Lord Linghu, Jinhuan, he... eh?"

Everyone's gazes returned to Xie Jinhuan, each with a different look in their eyes.

Xie Jinhuan spread his hands slightly, a little helplessness mingling with his embarrassment:

"Lord Tie, Senior Li, was this really necessary?

"These past few days, I've been plunging through mountains of blades and seas of corpses, just to offer the Yamen what little help I can. I haven't taken a penny or asked for any merit. Now I've merely written some nonsense in private, and you've gone and publicly..."

"We know, we know!"

As a grown man himself, Tie Fengzhang knew how much trouble he had caused Xie Jinhuan. How could he still remember anything about Blood Baleful Qi now? He rose and repeatedly cupped his hands:

"It was all a misunderstanding. We were too hasty in coming here. The Yamen is rather busy, so I won't trouble you any further. Withdraw, everyone, withdraw."

Seeing that he had accidentally set the young fellow's domestic affairs ablaze, Li Jing also rose and cupped his hands:

"I was merely assisting the Prince's Manor with an investigation. It was not my wish. Calligraphy is like swordsmanship, and your handwriting is truly extraordinary, young Xie. I imagine your swordsmanship is no less impressive. When you have some free time, come visit the Academy, and we can share a few drinks. I shall take my leave."

With a whoosh, he vanished without a trace. His lightness skill truly was remarkable!

At the sight, Xie Jinhuan silently cursed: You rotten old man, leave if you like, but give me back the book! I haven't even read it yet...

As for Ji Shiqing and the others, they left without a word, as though they had never come.

Of everyone present, only the three Scarlet Qilin Guards were utterly bewildered.

Zhou He really had not expected Xie Jinhuan to cover his tracks so flawlessly in such a short time, even trying to lure the snake from its hole and draw him out, and steering all the Yamen's experts completely off course.

But Xie Jinhuan had chosen to go to great lengths to conceal the frame-up rather than clear his name publicly. He definitely had something to hide too!

With matters having reached this point, Zhou He could no longer use the incident to make trouble, and followed everyone out of the room.

Tap, tap, tap...

Within just a few breaths, the thirty or forty people in the courtyard had vanished, and the setting sun had also slipped behind the city walls.

Xie Jinhuan stood in the doorway, watching the three Scarlet Qilin Guards leave with everyone else, inwardly frowning.

Based on Ghost Wife's assessment just now, he could be certain that Hundred-Household Commander Zhou He was the one secretly playing dirty.

Although he did not understand the reason behind it, Zhou He had framed him, yet he had concealed it. Zhou He would surely be able to guess that there really was something wrong with him.

This hidden danger had to be dealt with as soon as possible!

But right now, there was someone even more important to deal with!

Inside the room, Commandery Princess Changning and Steward Hou remained where they stood.

Chief Steward Hou pinched the handlebar mustache above his mouth and sized up Xie Jinhuan's physique:

"You're quite something, lad. You've only just arrived, and you're already thinking of having a woman in each arm. Give it a few more days, and won't you be coveting Her Highness and Fairy Nangong too?"

Commandery Princess Changning's almond-shaped eyes darkened slightly:

"Out!"

"Right away."

At her command, Chief Steward Hou immediately went out, even considerately closing the door behind him.

Click~

Xie Jinhuan froze at the sight. He glanced around the room, where a man and woman were now alone together, then looked toward the imposing, aristocratic landlady beside the wardrobe. What does closing the door mean? Is she going to use her position to get me into bed?

He had worn only a pair of trousers while practicing earlier and was still bare-chested. Being alone with a woman like this was clearly inappropriate.

Xie Jinhuan wanted to get some clothes from the wardrobe, but Commandery Princess Changning stood right in front of it, making it awkward to approach. He could only cup his hands in greeting:

"They were just clumsy pieces I casually wrote in private. I've made a fool of myself before Your Highness."

Commandery Princess Changning swept her gaze over the man's abdominal and chest muscles, then looked slightly away, her voice a little cold:

"Do you really think a few jokes and antics can let you cross the sea under heaven's very eyes?"

?

Xie Jinhuan's heart sank. Looking at the rather formidable landlady, he appeared a little puzzled:

"What does Your Highness mean?"

Commandery Princess Changning walked over to the bed and sat down. Although her looks and figure were as full and lustrous as pearls and jade, she crossed one leg over the other, adopting the air of a commanding older woman:

"Yesterday afternoon, Zhou He and the others were skulking around Clear Spring Lane. Today, you were investigated, and all three of them were there. That cannot be a coincidence.

"The Scarlet Qilin Guard never fights a battle it isn't confident of winning. To make a scene like this, they must have had something to rely on. I intervened because I was worried they were framing you to make trouble, and that you would struggle to deal with them. I didn't expect you to resolve it yourself.

"What I cannot understand is, if you are entirely innocent, why put on such an elaborate performance to conceal the trap the Scarlet Qilin Guard laid for you?"

Seeing that Commandery Princess Changning had guessed the Scarlet Qilin Guard was behind it, Xie Jinhuan would only outsmart himself by continuing to pretend. After some thought, he told her frankly:

"Someone came here today and planted a Demon Path cultivation manual and Blood Essence in my room.

"I imagine Your Highness has heard about my father. I didn't know who was plotting against me behind the scenes, and I didn't dare rashly step into their game. I could only find a way to clear myself.

"The items are in the tea cabinet in the Martial Might Pavilion. Please forgive the offense, Your Highness."

Commandery Princess Changning had stayed behind alone, clearly not merely to give him a warning. There was a measure of suspicion in her eyes:

"The Scarlet Qilin Guard has often eliminated its opponents by framing them. There is nothing wrong with being cautious. But given how they operate, if they wanted to deal with someone like you, with no backing at all, they could simply cut out the grass by its roots and assign you some charge afterward.

"Going to all this trouble to frame you now, I suspect they are wary of the 'Wind Spirit Valley' behind you and want to establish your background before acting.

"In fact, the Prince's Manor is also curious about where Wind Spirit Valley is. It is only because you have acted openly and honorably, and repeatedly rendered outstanding service, that we have not pressed you for answers."

Xie Jinhuan belonged to the school of "when you're away from home, you give yourself your own backing."

As long as others could not establish that Wind Spirit Valley existed, they likewise could not guarantee that it did not exist somewhere in the world.

This created an illusion of "I have people above me," while also explaining the suspicious gap in his whereabouts over the past three years.

Seeing Commandery Princess Changning digging down to the roots, Xie Jinhuan naturally could not tell her the truth. Looking troubled, he said:

"Wind Spirit Valley follows the Hidden Immortal Lineage and never concerns itself with worldly affairs. According to the custom observed throughout the ages, once a disciple enters the world, he may no longer disturb his elders' secluded cultivation in the mountains. I truly dare not break my sect's rules."

Ever since its emergence, the Taoist Hidden Immortal Lineage had secluded itself among mountains and great marshes, never leaving the mountains except in troubled times.

During the Witch Cult Rebellion, quite a few powerful figures from the Hidden Immortal Sect had emerged to join the fighting, and history also held many legends of "mountain hermits imparting the Way and teaching their arts."

For instance, Northern Zhou's Grand Ancestor had supposedly helped an old man find his sheep and received a scroll of heavenly scripture, thereby founding the dynasty whose three-hundred-year reign continued to this day!

Of course, some also said he had gone to the grasslands and sold his backside to obtain support...

Although there were many such accounts, no one among the common people actually knew where the Hidden Immortal Sect disciples' Cave Abodes were. Even if someone found one by chance, by their next visit, the occupants would already be gone and the place deserted.

Commandery Princess Changning knew that disciples of the Hidden Immortal Sect would not disclose their sect's location. She cautioned him earnestly:

"Because the Hidden Immortal Sect does not concern itself with worldly affairs, there have been no few bandits over the years who claimed to be its disciples to conceal their origins. Since you cannot tell us where your sect is, how can you prove that you come from the Hidden Immortal Lineage?"

Xie Jinhuan had no way to prove it. Seeing that Commandery Princess Changning insisted on an answer, his mind raced. He looked back, and only after confirming that no one was eavesdropping did he say softly:

"The Hidden Immortal Sect disciples who came down from the mountains in years past usually knew unique secret arts never seen in the martial world. For example, they could tell fortunes accurately, knew esoteric formations, or could see ghosts and gods..."

Commandery Princess Changning had heard of this and asked curiously:

"What unique secret art do you know? Your martial skills don't count. Although your techniques are distinctive, they still fall within normal bounds. The Hidden Immortal Sect's unique arts are usually things outsiders can neither understand nor learn."

Xie Jinhuan had intended to bluff his way through with the Silver Dragon Eight Forms. Seeing that Commandery Princess Changning would not accept that, he could only reply with an air of solemn conviction:

"Martial skills are merely a means of protecting myself. The unique secret art my honored master truly taught me is the 'Mind's Eye.' It allows me to see things ordinary people cannot!"

"Oh?" Commandery Princess Changning was half skeptical. "What can you see?"

Xie Jinhuan carefully studied the Golden Branches and Jade Leaves before him, preparing to display his extraordinary powers.

Meanwhile, the Nightly Great Succubus, who followed him like a shadow, seemed to understand his thoughts and whispered in his ear:

"She's wearing a breast wrap and tights made of ice-soul silk, embroidered with wine gourds."

Huh?!

Xie Jinhuan's heart seized. I meant details of her cultivation techniques, flaws in her physique! Don't do this to me, sister! How could I dare say that?

Unfortunately, he could not speak up in this situation, and Lady Succubus had no intention of correcting herself either...

It's early March. Posting early to ask for a few monthly votes, or2!

Looks like I won't be staying on the new book rankings for many more days...