Kan Chaoyan, who was in a private room on the third floor, heard Mu Nanjin’s inner thoughts and couldn’t help but have the corner of his mouth twitch. He stood up, pushed open the window, and saw a large group of Jinyiwei Captains carrying big bags and small bundles as they headed upstairs.
Lord Wei asked, “What are you looking at?”
Kan Chaoyan tilted his chin toward the outside.
Lord Wei and Lord Pang walked over to the window and, upon seeing Kan Chaoyan’s men, raised their brows slightly.
“They’re eating here too? Your subordinates are really wealthy. Do they usually take on lucrative side jobs?”
“They’re already so busy they barely have time to breathe. Where would they find time for side jobs?” Kan Chaoyan replied. “If they’re eating here, it’s probably because that Mu girl is treating them.”
Kan Chaoyan knew very well that his subordinates did not have enough silver to dine at the most expensive restaurant.
“Mu girl?” Lord Wei asked curiously. “Who’s that?”
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“Mbl sdzu zkvvzl tkaz kd vbl Kkdukolk.”
Nsae Elk bye blyae sq bla clqsal yde oyp pwarakple.
“Fbl’p blal vss? Zsw ynvwyzzu caswtbv bla yzsdt vs pwrralpp cydekvp? Gald’v usw yqayke pbl’zz pzso usw esod?”
Fzso vblx esod?
Tlb. Rq yduvbkdt, kv oswze yzalyeu cl tsse kq vblu eked’v pzso bla esod.
Nsae Vydt ypjle, “Ebknb sdl kp pbl?”
Iyd Ubysuyd rskdvle esodpvykap.
“Mbl zkvvzl tkaz kd czynj yv vbl hlau lde sq vbl Uyrvykdp’ taswr.”
Lord Wei and Lord Pang followed his gaze.
The young girl’s delicate and striking features were still somewhat youthful, but her expression was calm and steady, unlike other girls her age who were lively and restless.
“She looks like a clever, obedient little girl.”
Kan Chaoyan chuckled softly.
That was exactly what he had thought the first time he saw Mu Nanjin.
Only after hearing her inner thoughts did he realize how deceptive appearances could be. Beneath that calm exterior was a lively chatterbox who loved stirring up trouble. Sometimes she could infuriate people beyond measure; other times she left them laughing and crying at the same time. There were moments when they wanted nothing more than to chop her with a single blade. Yet the biggest problem was that she herself had absolutely no awareness of it. In the end, they were the only ones left stewing in silent frustration.
Still, she also brought unexpected surprises. She added plenty of amusement to their lives, making their days in the Jinyiwei far less dull.
Kan Chaoyan turned to Lord Wei and asked,
“Wei Min, can you help me get invitations to the martial arts tournament?”
Lord Wei laughed.
“Of course. You can have as many invitations as you want. But you’ve never liked joining the crowd. Why are you suddenly interested in watching a tournament this time?”
Kan Chaoyan naturally couldn’t say it was because Mu Nanjin wanted to go.
“The Emperor said before we came to suppress the bandits that as long as we succeeded, we’d be given half a month off. We don’t really have anywhere to go, and since we happened to encounter the tournament while in Jiangnan, we thought we’d take a look and let the brothers relax a bit.”
Lord Wei didn’t doubt him.
“You really should relax. You haven’t had proper rest in years. I’ll have someone deliver the invitations to you early tomorrow morning. By the way, where are you planning to stay?”
“At the relay station.”
The three of them returned to their seats and continued eating and drinking.
Because Captain Liu and the others had a large group, they took one private room for every twenty people.
The shopkeeper began introducing the dishes, but Mu Nanjin interrupted him.
“No need to introduce them. Ten portions of every dish in your restaurant.”
“Ten portions of every dish?!” The shopkeeper’s face lit up with delight. “Alright, alright! I’ll go instruct the kitchen immediately. It’s just that…”
After his initial excitement, a trace of hesitation appeared on his face.
“Miss, all the dishes here are quite expensive, and you’ve ordered so many. I’ll need you to settle the bill in advance.”
He was worried they might refuse to pay after eating, and since they were Jinyiwei, he didn’t quite dare demand money afterward.
Mu Nanjin took out two ten-thousand-tael silver notes.
“Is this enough?”
The shopkeeper’s eyes gleamed.
“Enough, enough, and there’s even extra.”
“Then add one hundred jars of the most expensive wine for each private room.”
“Right away!”
The shopkeeper left with a broad smile.
Captain Liu frowned.
“We can’t finish that much food. Isn’t this wasteful?”
“We’ll eat this together with tonight’s meal,” Mu Nanjin replied. “That way it won’t go to waste.”
Captain Liu: “……”
Captain Kong laughed loudly.
“Miss Mu is truly generous and wealthy.”
A quarter of an hour later, the dishes were served.
It had to be said, the establishment truly lived up to its reputation as the largest and most expensive restaurant. The speed of service was astonishing.
Captain Kong poured two cups of wine and handed one to Mu Nanjin.
“Miss Mu, I toast you to thank you for treating us here.”
Mu Nanjin accepted the cup.
Several Captains spoke in unison,
“She doesn’t drink.”
Captain Kong was taken aback.
“Not even a small cup?”
“No,” Captain Liu and the others replied in unison again.
They had no desire for her to reveal their secrets.
Captain Kong: “……”
This was way too protective.
Mu Nanjin, worried she might say something inappropriate if she got drunk, set the wine cup down.
“I’ll use tea instead.”
“Alright.”
After they clinked cups, Captain Kong and the others began eating and drinking heartily.
They drank until the Hour of Xu in the evening. Everyone left drunk and staggered back to the relay station, collapsing onto their beds without even washing up.
The next morning, at the Hour of Chen, Captain Liu finally woke up from his drunken haze.
Hearing someone knocking, he forced his limp body up and opened the door.
Outside, Kan Chaoyan frowned as he looked at the alcohol-reeking Captain Liu.
“The Mu girl is gone. Yang Bo and Xu Cheng are gone too.”
The words were more sobering than any hangover cure.
“Gone?!”
He had just been thinking yesterday that he needed to keep an eye on her, and now she had disappeared.
Damn it. Just as expected, she really couldn’t be watched.
“Have you checked her room? What about the rest of the relay station?”
Kan Chaoyan exhaled.
“We searched everywhere.”
Captain Liu said irritably,
“I suspect she deliberately got us drunk yesterday so she could sneak off to have fun.”
At that moment, the relay station clerk walked over.
“Greetings, Lords.”
Kan Chaoyan asked,
“What is it?”
The clerk handed over three invitation cards.
“These were sent by someone dispatched by Lord Wei. There were originally four, but one was taken by the little girl you brought along. Oh, and she left a message saying she’ll be waiting for you at the martial arts tournament.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Kan Chaoyan took the invitations.
Captain Liu rubbed his throbbing head.
“I just hope she doesn’t stir up trouble.”
Kan Chaoyan snapped,
“If you’re worried she’ll cause trouble, then hurry up and wash up and go after her.”
“Yes!”
Captain Liu quickly woke the others and had the relay station staff bring water for washing.
As they rushed off to chase after Mu Nanjin, the escort team transporting the bandits stopped to rest in Qu Shui Town.
Captain Song was meticulous. He first instructed the other Jinyiwei to check whether the shackles and ropes on the bandits were loose, then distributed dry rations to them.
When it came to giving food to the bandit leaders, he specifically warned the Captain in charge,
“Be careful. If they make any sudden moves, dodge immediately. Don’t let them hit you.”
The Captain nodded, picked up the bundle of rations, and walked toward the bandit leaders.
Captain Song moved to Captain Ding’s side and gestured subtly with his chin.
“That man looks unfamiliar. Have you seen him before?”
“No impression,” Captain Ding replied as he took a bite of his rations. “We have many Captains. Some are assigned to outside regions, so it’s normal not to recognize everyone. Look around. We don’t recognize plenty of people.”
Captain Song thought that made sense, yet an uneasy feeling lingered in his heart. His gaze never left the Captain distributing the food.
When the Captain reached the bandit leaders, he secretly sprinkled some medicinal powder into the bundle as he opened it.
“Time to eat.”
He handed out the rations.
The bandit leaders stared blankly at the food, sniffed it, and then suddenly erupted in fury, hurling the rations at the Captain.
The Captain froze.
“The bandit leaders are attacking!” Others hurriedly dodged aside.
Captain Song exclaimed anxiously,
“Didn’t they say they wouldn’t resist? Why are they attacking?”
Captain Ding shouted,
“Everyone retreat! Don’t get caught up in this!”
The Captain distributing food was no match for four Grandmaster-level fighters and was beaten back repeatedly.
Captain Song quickly sensed something was wrong.
The bandit leaders were all Grandmasters, while the Captains were generally only fifth- or sixth-rank martial artists. Yet this Captain had managed to exchange several moves with four Grandmasters. It was far too strange.
Or was it because of Mu Nanjin, causing the four bandit leaders’ strength to drop drastically?
As he pondered this, the Third Chief pointed at the rations on the ground.
“He poisoned the food. He wanted to kill us.”
“What?!”
Everyone looked at the rations.
One Captain stepped forward to inspect them and found faint traces of powder clinging to the food.
“It’s poisoned.”
Their orders were to bring the bandits back alive. This meant the one who poisoned them was not one of theirs, and someone didn’t want the bandit leaders to return to the capital alive. In other words, the bandit leaders must be hiding a secret.
That made it even more crucial they stay alive.
Captain Ding drew his blade and pointed at the poisoner.
“Surround him. Don’t let him escape!”
“Yes!”
All the Captains drew their swords.
The poisoner charged at Captains Ding and Song, blade raised.
Before the blade even reached them, both felt the terrifying internal force clinging to it.
If it struck them, they would be dead instantly, but there was no time to dodge.
Just as the blade was about to fall, two figures suddenly stepped in front of them, blocking the strike with the iron chains in their hands.
Captain Song and Captain Ding froze.
The ones who had saved them were the Fifth Chief and the Sixth Chief.
They were supposed to be mortal enemies, yet they had protected them.
Seeing the situation turn against him, the poisoner disengaged and fled into the forest.
Captain Song shouted,
“No need to chase.”
Only after confirming there was no danger did everyone sit down and continue eating.
Captain Ding looked at the Fifth and Sixth Chiefs standing in front of them and quietly nudged Captain Song.
Captain Song was equally tense, worried the two chiefs might suddenly attack them.
Then the Fifth and Sixth Chiefs moved.
They returned to their original spots, sat down, and resumed their vacant expressions.
Captain Ding whispered,
“What’s going on?”
Captain Song murmured,
“It must be something Mu Nanjin did. That’s why they followed us obediently and even protected us.”
Captain Ding agreed.
“That little girl really does things thoroughly.”
And this “thorough little girl” had already taken up residence in the Alliance Leader’s Manor.
The manor was built on Hexing Mountain, three hundred li outside Licheng. The mountain was covered with large and small buildings. Those below the halfway point housed the Alliance Leader’s disciples.
From the midpoint up to just below the summit were guest residences and the martial competition grounds used during major events. Only at the summit stood the true residence of the Alliance Leader and his family.
Only those with invitation cards, and with sufficient standing in the martial world, could stay in the manor. Anyone without an invitation could only lodge at the foot of the mountain or in nearby towns.
After arriving, Mu Nanjin was assigned a comfortable and elegantly furnished room.
To avoid suspicion, Yang Bo and Xu Cheng rested on the roof at night.
Mu Nanjin stepped out of the room.
“Xu Cheng, Yang Bo, let’s go take a look around.”
The two jumped down from the roof.
“Where to?”
“Just wandering around.”
Guests staying in the manor rarely gathered like this. They went from room to room reminiscing, chatting about recent happenings in the martial world, or whispering gossip behind closed doors. Though they tried to keep their voices low, every word still reached Mu Nanjin’s ears.
For example, the sect master from Zhaotian Sect, who lived next door, was currently discussing marriage arrangements with the Pavilion Master of Wushen Pavilion.
Sect Master Chen said with a smile,
“Brother Liu, my son is already eighteen. If he were from an ordinary family, he’d already be the father of two. Your daughter has come of age. Shouldn’t we discuss their marriage?”
Pavilion Master Liu stroked his goatee.
“That is precisely why I came to the Alliance Leader’s Manor this time. Aside from the tournament, it’s to discuss this marriage. Since we intend for them to wed, and the two children are mutually in love…”
Outside the room, Mu Nanjin transmitted her voice inward.
【Mutually in love? Pavilion Master Liu, only your daughter likes Sect Master Chen’s son. He doesn’t like her at all. The one he loves is the third daughter of the Secret Sect’s leader. They’re already secretly expecting a child, due next month.】
The people inside instantly changed expressions.
Sect Master Chen slammed the table and stood up, shouting toward the outside,
“Who is it?! Who dares slander me and my son? Get out here!”
Pavilion Master Liu stared at him grimly.
“Sect Master Chen, is what this person said true?”
Sect Master Chen hurriedly explained,
“Of course not! If my son truly liked the Secret Sect leader’s daughter, he would have married her outright. Why would he provoke your daughter and make enemies on both sides? Don’t you agree?”
Pavilion Master Liu thought it over and found it reasonable.
Then the voice sounded again.
【Sect Master Chen already made a deal with the Secret Sect’s leader. Once your daughter marries his son and Wushen Pavilion is absorbed to strengthen Zhaotian Sect, he’ll immediately divorce your daughter and marry the Secret Sect leader’s daughter. If you don’t believe me, when that child is born next month, have them do a blood test of kinship. We’ll see whether Sect Master Chen dares to do it.】
Sect Master Chen snapped back,
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t dare do! But if what you say is true, why are you hiding like a rat in the shadows?”
【Pavilion Master Liu, do you know where your future son-in-law is right now? He’s currently in the courtyard hosting the Secret Sect, currying favor with his future father-in-law. If you want to know the truth, go see for yourself.】
The next instant, Pavilion Master Liu flew out of the room, rushing straight toward the courtyard hosting the Secret Sect.
Xu Cheng, who happened to pass by, asked curiously,
“Where is that senior going in such a hurry?”
Mu Nanjin replied calmly,
“To catch adultery.”
Xu Cheng: “……”
#eagerlyanticipatesnextchaptersahead
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