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Book 15: Chapter 70
I’ll hole up at Liu Shan Men for three days. I’d like to see what Feng Shanshan can do about that.
I suddenly had something to lose if I took on the job, and the risk was oddly high. I was happily clocking in and out of Liu Shan Men, sleeping and waking when it was natural, eating until I had mouth cramps, training a Prince, messing around with Eunuch Bai, and collecting a paycheque. Why would I go and give myself trouble? Yes, there was a lot to be made, but Gongsun Chu’s collection in the underground palace was already in my pocket. If I was still greedy at this point, even heaven wouldn’t let me off the hook.
Yes, Nirvana Bloodmarrow would’ve been worth researching for Mount Daluo, but there was no need to help Feng Shanshan. What? I was letting my sect down? Since when did Mount Daluo have to negotiate if we wanted something? It was only a question of when. What reason was there to rush? You think it could’ve grown legs or wings or something?
I didn’t expect to run into an uninvited guest at the end of my detour route back to Liu Shan Men.
“Ming Feizhen, you have fast feet.”
“Miss Ling?”
With an expression as still as water, Ling Jialan rubbed her sword hilt with her hand.
“Hahaha, Miss Ling, can this one help you with something?”
Glaring, Ling Jialan rhetorically asked, “Why are you here when you said you were going to grab some wine and dishes?”
“Well… grabbing wine and dishes doesn’t get in the way of going home. Liu Shan Men’s wine and food are famous for their great taste.”
Ling Jialan watched my feet as though she was going to puncture me if I so much as moved them. “I’ll stab you if you dare to budge.”
The fact that she gave a feeling of having surveillance on all my movements showed that she was more advanced in her internal discipline than Ling Mabi, meaning that her Flying Thrust was at a higher level than her cousin.
Among the Seven Jade Goddesses, Jin Zhaoying didn’t know martial arts, nor did the one from Cold Mountain Temple. Bai Yumo didn’t have many chances to fight. Most people would’ve avoided confronting Princess Hongzhuang considering she was a Princess. Therefore, there were only three others who could’ve made a name for themselves in the realm of martial arts. I wasn’t too sure about Luo Ming’s daughter, but if Jialuo Goddesses were close in level, then the two of them were among the best in the current generation of Seven Champion White Princes.
“What is this about, Miss Ling?”
Ling Jialan had a piercing gaze, almost as if she could see through and to the end outcome. “Young Master Feng said we would be colleagues. I don’t want to have a rough patch between us, but I can’t forgive you for continuing to humiliate me time and time again.”
I scratch my head. “How did I humiliate you?”
“How dare you deny it!”
“Whether this one is denying it or not depends on perspective. From your perspective, this one is denying it. From his perspective, you are the one constantly harassing him. We never knew each other before today, correct?”
“So what if you’re correct? Today, I…”
“Exactly. If you saw an armed individual who was obviously stronger than yourself by thirty to fifty times blocking your way, would your first reaction not be to flee?”
“Well… You…”
I managed to switch Ling Jialan’s focus from vigilance to deep thinking.
“Miss Ling, how could this one afford to make an enemy out of you when you are the superior fighter? Would you not have no alternative but to run away when you do not know who your opponent is? Besides, it would sully your reputation if word got out that you were clinging to a single man as outstanding as myself?”
“Who are you saying is clinging to you?!”
“So, you will no longer cling to this one?”
“Who would?”
“Please leave, then.”
“Fine!”
As soon as she turned around, I hurriedly pushed the door and went in.
Pray that you never run into liars, or you’ll be left with nothing, Missy.
“Hey, wait!”
“Let us not wait anymore. Please come by again tomorrow early in the morning.” I shut the door on Ling Jialan, keeping her complaints away.
As soon as I spun around, I saw four angry pairs of gazes on me. Boss had her sword in hand. Eunuch Bai had meat rocks for hands. Wawa had her teeth clenched, and Su Meow had my back blocked.
“Are the four of you going out for a midnight snack?”
Besides Wawa, who looked unsure, the other three continued glaring at me.
Boss responded, “Eat, my foot!”
“True, true, it is too early for a midnight snack. So, are you four going out for dinner?”
“No. Actually, I have business with you.”
Ling Jialan suddenly felt tame.
“May I ask what you four need me for?‘
Boss crossed her arms and smiled. “You were late for morning court.”
That wasn’t my fault! Blame Feng Xiangxiang!
Eunuch Bai locked her brows. “Lord Zi is bed ridden after fighting, and the physician said he would have to stay in bed for three days. What did you promise me?!”
Huh? He lost as soon as I left him alone for a day? Fighting is like gambling, though. It’s normal to win some and lose some. You can’t win all the time unless you’re my shifu. Besides, he had to cheat to win, too. It’s not good for him to learn to play dirty at such a young age.
Wawa grouched, “You tricked me into working for months now, yet I haven’t received a penny, while you’ve been complaining you’re broke and asking to put it on your tab instead. You just placed in the imperial exams! How are you broke when you’re an official?!”
About that…
I cleared my throat, pretended to view the scenery and looked over my shoulder. Attack the weakest link first, right?
“Xiao.”
Su Xiao smiled. “Big Brother Ming, who is that outside? How did you humiliate her?”
I flapped my eyes, then turned back. “Boss, I was late because…”
Boss held up a stop sign with her hand. “That can wait. I also want to hear how you humiliated her.”
“General Manager Bai, Zizi fighting is…”
“Wait. Humiliated her? Did you force a kiss on another girl?”
“What is this about forcing a kiss on a girl?” Boss blushed as she glared at me.
“How did you know?” Eunuch Bai also blushed.
“Y-you told her?”
Boss and Eunuch Bai looked at each other, both believing the other knew some secret that they didn’t know about.
Su Xiao didn’t understand the conversation, but the part about forcing a kiss on a girl didn’t escape him.
“So, you forced a kiss on the girl outside, Big Brother Ming?”
Wawa suddenly lost interest in her salary. She stuffed a toothpick into her mouth and remarked, “So… it’s a public welfare thing?”
… I opened the door and rushed out the door without a moment of hesitation.
I-I give up!
I grabbed the hand Ling Jialian had up as she contemplated knocking and said, “Ming Feizhen is at your surface. Let’s find a place to chat.”
All I knew was that four people were yelling from behind, “Stop right there!” as I bolted off.
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