Chapter 60#
People poured from their rooms in the inn, and since it wasn’t their business, they crowded forward to watch. The spacious hall suddenly grew lively.
Pei Huang’s eyes instinctively found Xue Jingci, but saw him chatting casually with a woman beside him, asking to borrow some pine nuts.
They’d used a transformation spell. Xue Jingci’s height had been reduced, his striking appearance dulled to look like an inexperienced young lord.
Pei Huang’s face now bore scars, appearing at first glance like a martial practitioner—the young lord’s personal bodyguard.
Young people were more likable, so the woman’s words flowed freely: “Haven’t heard of any thieves lately. Shouldn’t be related. But you, little one, when traveling outside, should still be careful with the money pouch at your waist.”
Xue Jingci nodded, chewing pine nuts in agreement. The woman couldn’t help but ask further: “Where are you from? What brings you here?”
Pei Huang worried Xue Jingci couldn’t respond, but heard him answer smoothly: “I’ve been frail since childhood, uncertain how many years I have left. So I bring servants to travel and see mountains and rivers. We merely pass through here.”
Hearing such inauspicious words, Pei Huang felt displeasure rise in his heart, but had no time to dwell on it. The official soldiers had already reached their door.
Before the authorities, the woman became serious and stopped talking. Xue Jingci appeared unconcerned, even conversing with the searching officials.
“When did these thieves arrive? They wouldn’t rob people in the streets, would they?”
The official, seeing a sickly-looking young man, softened his tone: “Don’t worry. They’re ordinary bandits. With our office’s people here, small lord needs not fear.”
Xue Jingci nodded. Soon those people had searched the inn and rushed off following Lin Su.
Throughout, Lin Su’s gaze never fell upon them.
After everyone left, Pei Huang silently released a breath, relieved the transformation spell had worked and Lin Su hadn’t recognized Xue Jingci.
The curious onlookers gradually dispersed. The two returned to their room. Pei Huang recalled what Xue Jingci had said to the woman earlier and poured him tea.
Xue Jingci had eaten many pine nuts and was indeed thirsty. Just as he reached for the tea, his hand touched the cup’s cold outer wall. He made a face: “It’s cold.”
Pei Huang took an empty cup: “Not for drinking. You should hold it in your mouth and spit it out.”
Xue Jingci asked puzzled: “Why?”
Pei Huang spoke seriously: “You said inauspicious words. You must spit them out.”
Xue Jingci obediently complied, finding it somewhat amusing. He couldn’t help but ask: “You don’t believe in these things?”
Pei Huang turned to request hot water from the attendant. Hearing him, he glanced back: “Better safe than sorry.”
Shortly, the attendant brought hot water. Xue Jingci sat down to slowly sip his tea. Pei Huang looked at him, seeming to want to speak but holding back.
Upon first seeing Lin Su, Pei Huang’s heart had tensed with nervousness and panic. He feared both that Lin Su might see through his disguise and that Xue Jingci would take the initiative to acknowledge him.
Now, seeing Xue Jingci calmly drinking tea, showing no intention of mentioning Lin Su—as if he’d never seen that person—Pei Huang was relieved.
He brought up Lin Su himself: “Didn’t expect Lin Su to be in the lower realm too. Why didn’t you greet him?”
Xue Jingci paused, then shook his head: “In their eyes, I’m already dead. Since Lin Su encountered no danger, there’s no need to recognize each other.”
Hearing this, Pei Huang’s suspended heart finally settled, feeling grounded.
But recalling Lin Su, Xue Jingci also remembered seeing him—he was very different from before.
Lin Su wasn’t wearing Lingxu Sect disciple robes but ordinary mortal clothes. He didn’t look like a cultivator at all, more like an official.
These ten years, what had happened that he’d left the sect and become a lower realm official?
As the two talked, commotion arose downstairs. The soldiers had left the inn and gone to the nearby Yanyu Tower, the most bustling place. Soon the streets were crowded with people drawn there.
Pei Huang set down his tea cup and stared for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “These people aren’t searching for bandits. They’re searching for someone.”
Xue Jingci asked curiously: “How do you know?”
Pei Huang directed Xue Jingci to observe the officials’ movements. From their elevated position, many details became clearer.
“Ordinary bandits would never show their true faces. To catch thieves, you must follow the traces of their techniques. For example, some thieves excel with flying fox claws. Even without spiritual energy, they can scale walls and roofs. You track the traces to find them.”
Xue Jingci, though knowledgeable about many things, had never actually caught thieves. He listened intently, even forgetting to drink his tea.
Seeing his interest, Pei Huang continued: “These officials don’t search for weapons or technique traces. Instead, they examine the faces and expressions of passersby one by one. They’re clearly looking for someone with specific features.”
Xue Jingci, nodding absently, suddenly recalled a conversation with the system and found himself praising earnestly: “You’re so clever.”
Last night, unsure how to be good to Pei Huang, he’d secretly asked the system. The system said it was simple—just praise him often. No man dislikes hearing compliments.
Hearing this, Pei Huang’s ears instantly flushed red. Somewhat awkwardly, he turned his gaze away.
He’d only spoken casually. How could that count as clever?
Surely Xue Jingci was coaxing him like a child.
The system, confined to system space these days, found it terribly boring. Seeing Pei Huang’s expression, it immediately transformed into a little demon with horns on its head.
Mischievously, it gave further advice to Xue Jingci: “Mere words aren’t enough. Smile at him too, be gentle about it.”
Xue Jingci blinked and lifted his head to look at Pei Huang, allowing soft laughter to flow in his eyes.
Outside, rain continued falling. Cold seeped through the windows, flowing throughout the room.
Yet Pei Huang was wrapped in invisible warmth, his very bones growing numb. He couldn’t sit still.
Xue Jingci added: “Indeed, my disciple is the most capable.”
Pei Huang could no longer resist. He reached out and covered Xue Jingci’s mouth, helplessly saying: “You should stop praising me.”
After his violently beating heart gradually calmed, he released his hand and tried to change the subject: “Want to figure out what’s actually happening?”
Xue Jingci shook his head: “It’s not related to me.”
His most important matter now was convincing Pei Huang to be his disciple. As for who Lin Su was searching for, he wasn’t particularly interested.
But since Pei Huang asked, did he want to investigate?
Xue Jingci immediately changed his tone: “But if you want to investigate, I can accompany you.”
Pei Huang couldn’t help but look at Xue Jingci. His just-calmed heartbeat became chaotic again.
He lowered his eyes, worried it was connected to demonic cultivators, and looked away.
Pei Huang said he’d investigate, but showed no urgent action. Instead, he made several trips to pharmacies.
He let Xue Jingci rest in the inn, but Xue Jingci grew restless. By the third day, he decided to follow Pei Huang out.
“Didn’t you say you’d investigate the case? Three days have passed, yet you sit so calmly?”
“No rush,” Pei Huang said. Seeing Xue Jingci’s complexion had finally improved with medicine, and the weather was exceptionally fine today, his heart eased. He planned to take him out for a walk.
He deliberately teased: “These three days, I’ve quietly done quite a lot, just hidden it from your eyes.”
Hearing his light tone, Xue Jingci didn’t quite believe it: “You’re that capable?”
Realizing his phrasing sounded wrong, he hastily added praise: “Though truly, you’re quite remarkable. I didn’t mean to criticize you.”
Pei Huang laughed at him: “Stop trying to make up for it. I’m not that petty. Come, I’ll take you somewhere.”
The two left the inn, heading outside the city, quickly boarding an exquisite painted pleasure boat.
This boat was famous in Nanzhou. Unlike other entertainment establishments, the women here covered their faces with light gauze and didn’t sing or dance. They simply sat and played instruments. No matter how much money customers paid, they couldn’t glimpse their true faces.
This mystery had gradually earned them fame. Many scholars and noble disciples considered visiting this boat to drink tea and listen to music a mark of refinement.
Pei Huang settled with Xue Jingci at a sandalwood table by the window. In the distance, two people were writing poetry.
The boat left the shore, pushing through ripples of water. The fragrance of ink drifted along.
Those two were clearly local nobility, their dress and manner refined. After finishing their poetry, they sat to drink tea.
They spoke in low voices, their words nearly lost in the music.
But Pei Huang wasn’t someone who affected refinement. Xue Jingci looked at him strangely, seeming to ask—why come here?
Noticing his confusion, Pei Huang didn’t tease. Instead, he leaned close and whispered, explaining what he’d discovered these past days.
Lin Su wasn’t an ordinary official. The Third Prince had recently traveled privately through Nanzhou, and Lin Su was among his entourage.
Among those searching officials, some had peculiar internal energy—techniques unique to the imperial palace.
Xue Jingci understood immediately: “Since Lin Su hasn’t left, and they’re urgently apprehending outlaws, the Third Prince must have encountered trouble. They’re secretly searching for him.”
The two leaned extremely close, their breath mingling as Pei Huang spoke. He couldn’t help but smile softly, reaching up to tuck Xue Jingci’s loose hair behind his ear.
“About right.”
Xue Jingci didn’t find his gesture abrupt, having grown accustomed to such small gestures. He asked even more puzzled: “A prince’s private visit is a secret matter, and they’re investigating discreetly. How do you know of these things?”
Knowing Xue Jingci was intelligent and such details couldn’t be hidden, Pei Huang confessed: “The official who spoke with you that day—we’re old friends. At the time, there were too many people, so I didn’t reveal myself. When meeting again while getting your medicine, I asked a few more questions.”
Xue Jingci’s eyes brightened: “You really do have friends in the imperial capital?”
Pei Huang raised his head proudly: “Of course.”
He looked up, following the sound of the qin. He’d already noticed the qin player had missed several notes, yet no one nearby corrected her.
Pei Huang became alert, carefully withdrawing his gaze. He meant to warn Xue Jingci but saw him following his eyes, staring intently at the instrument.
Rarely seeing Pei Huang with such an expression, Xue Jingci thought perhaps he enjoyed listening to the qin too.
Not knowing how else to make him happy, Xue Jingci’s thoughts suddenly turned. He asked: “Do you enjoy listening? I can also play. How about I play for you?”
Seeing him about to stand, Pei Huang immediately grabbed his wrist.
Thinking briefly, he understood Xue Jingci’s intention and sighed softly.
“If you want to be good to me, this isn’t how.”
Had he guessed wrong?
Xue Jingci lowered his head in disappointment, unable to help but feel he hadn’t done well enough.
Pei Huang’s heart softened. He pinched Xue Jingci’s fingertips and called him to look at him.
“You thinking of ways to be good to me—that’s already being good to me.”