Roaring Dragon-Chapter 118: A Disgrace to the Title of Gentleman

Outside the Prince’s Mansion.

Under the silvery moonlight, Nangong Ye hovered a hundred zhang above the ground, her longsword strapped to her back. Her black skirt fluttered in the wind, and through the veil of her wide hat, she gazed down at the grand residence below.

The Prince’s Mansion was elegant and serene. In the western guest courtyard, a young girl in a white dress sat on white stone steps, her cheek resting on one hand as she watched a rattan ball roll about nearby.

A chubby black hawk stood atop the rattan ball, performing a balancing act like some kind of “walking on the water jar” sideshow. From time to time, it would roll over to the girl and open its beak like it was begging for food. After getting its reward, it’d roll off again.

Seeing this from afar, Nangong Ye couldn’t help but recall when Qingmo had first arrived at Zihui Mountain.

Back then, Qingmo was barely three or four, wearing twin buns on her head, too shy to speak to anyone. Even the sight of a single white crane would send her hiding behind Nangong Ye’s skirts, peeking out nervously.

“Master... Will that long-legged goose bite?”

...

Recalling that childhood innocence, even someone as frosty as Nangong Ye allowed the faintest curve to lift the corner of her lips.

In a flash, more than a decade had passed. Qingmo had grown into a young lady... and judging by her absentminded expression now, seemed to be experiencing her first taste of love.

Girls grow up too fast...

Unfortunately, her disciple had fallen for a man who wasn’t entirely trustworthy...

Recalling how smoothly Xie Jinhuan had flirted with women earlier in the day, Nangong Ye couldn’t help but question his character.

She had originally planned to observe Xie Jinhuan in secret to gauge what kind of person he really was.

But ever since returning to the mansion that morning, he hadn’t stepped out once. He then went into the palace and only just returned.

Now, as Nangong Ye observed from the sky, she saw him first stop by the Princess’s quarters briefly, then quickly leave and glance around near the guest courtyard.

She thought he’d saunter up to Qingmo, maybe sweet-talk her, tease her a little, maybe even steal a kiss.

But to her surprise, Xie Jinhuan simply took one look, turned away, and slipped into a nearby building—then stealthily climbed onto the roof and slinked off alone.

Hmm?

Nangong Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly as suspicion crept into her thoughts.

Where’s he going this late at night? A brothel to enjoy some tunes?

Or maybe to meet some mysterious master?

Could the righteous facade just be a mask, hiding something monstrous beneath?

With that, Nangong Ye descended silently and began to tail him.

Knowing that Xie Jinhuan had a hunter’s awareness, far sharper than ordinary people, she kept her distance.

But she hadn’t followed long before she saw him pick up a straw hat in East Street, then grab a rain cape in West Street—transforming himself into a weathered wanderer of the Jianghu!

Even his gait and posture changed. If she hadn’t been watching him from the start, she might not have recognized him if they passed on the street.

There’s definitely something shady about him!

He’s headed toward Xiaoyao Cave—who is he meeting?

A contact from the Dark God Cult?

Or the southern Wuist Alliance? Or maybe some sinister faction from Dragonbone Shoal... even a northern spy?

These thoughts made Nangong Ye furrow her brow. She even started to worry—what if she discovered a truth so terrible that her disciple Qingmo would be heartbroken?

Still, for her disciple’s sake, she had to uncover the truth.

And so, she kept following. Xie Jinhuan soon arrived at Xiaoyao Cave and slipped into a fur shop without a sound.

Seeing this, Nangong Ye immediately guessed that the shop hid some secret. But she was too far to hear anything, so she carefully moved closer and perched silently on the side of the shop, straining to listen.

Inside, a gravelly, disguised voice spoke:

“Rainy Spring Silver Tip from Jiangzhou. You’re surprisingly picky for an old man.”

“Uh... and you are...?”

“Again? I’m [N O V E L I G H T] Wei Kun of Blood Rain Tower. I’m here to ask some questions. A few days ago, someone bought a ton of Drunken Bone Incense in Weizhou. Who was it? What for?”

“Uh...”

Clang—!

The sound of a blade being drawn.

“Wait, wait! Hero, calm down! Yes, someone did buy a lot the other day. But I don’t know if it was the same person each time. And it’s hard to trace where it went...”

“A while back, Taishu Dan slaughtered hundreds near the upper Huai River using Mad Corpse Flowers. You think this has anything to do with that?”

...

Nangong Ye paused in surprise.

She didn’t know why Xie Jinhuan had called himself “Wei Kun,” but it was obvious he was investigating the Dark God Cult!

As for hiding his identity—well, probably because he planned to beat the information out of someone. That wouldn’t sound good if word got out. She’d done the same before...

Realizing this, her doubts vanished. In fact, she was even a little impressed.

He just left a banquet. Instead of lounging with some pretty girl, he’s sneaking off to slay demons in the dead of night...

Trying to put every other righteous cultivator to shame, are you?

...

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the shop.

Bu Hanying stood holding a tea mug, drenched in sweat as he stared at a scroll and frantically pieced things together:

“Hmm... Drunken Bone Incense can substitute Mad Corpse Flowers. The upside is it’s easier to acquire and store. You don’t need all that prep work. Downside is, you need way more of it. Effects are slower and weaker.

“Mad Corpse Flowers can refine a Blood Demon Pill with four or five hundred corpses. But Drunken Bone Incense? You’d need two or three thousand deaths to match that. If the same group is buying this stuff... Yeah, they might be tied to the Dark God Cult.”

Behind him, Xie Jinhuan leaned on his Tiangang Mace, listening intently.

Then, his ghost companion whispered in his ear:

“There’s someone outside. Looks like that aloof sword girl you flirted with earlier today.”

Huh?

Xie Jinhuan hadn’t noticed anyone approach, and his brow furrowed slightly.

He didn’t get why Muyunhong would be here, but he had to finish this first. Still using the raspy voice, he asked:

“Blood Demon Pills can’t be impure. How’s the Dark God Cult planning to gather two or three thousand strong, lustful men all in one place? Even army camps are watched too closely to risk a mutiny.”

Bu Hanying thought hard: “Near Jingzhao Prefecture, only quarries and mines fit. They’re full of convict labor—no women or children, all doing hard labor, underfed and repressed. Hunger’s a kind of desire too.”

Xie Jinhuan didn’t linger. He sheathed his weapon and backed away:

“Since you’ve been so cooperative, I’ll spare you today. Next time, if you hem and haw, you won’t be so lucky.”

“Y-Yes, of course...”

Bu Hanying nodded frantically. When he finally confirmed no one was behind him, he exhaled deeply and patted his chest, muttering:

What the hell? Has this place been compromised?

Every night it’s either someone interrogating or someone fencing loot...

I can’t stay here. I’m gonna die in this damn shop...

...

Shortly after.

Xie Jinhuan emerged from the alley, scanning the surroundings carefully. Nothing suspicious. He asked quietly:

“She still there?”

Ye Hongshang, who had been monitoring the tail, replied:

“She’s too far now to track precisely. But I’m pretty sure she’s still watching.”

“She here to kill me?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. More like she’s curious. I figure you were a bit too forward today, made her suspicious. Now she wants to know if you’re really the righteous hero people say you are.”

Xie Jinhuan thought that made sense. After all, anyone hearing about Double-Flight Qi Convergence would get suspicious.

He hadn’t done anything too outrageous yet, but dragging around a tail wasn’t convenient. What if he met someone he could pour his heart out to and ask for support—how was he supposed to get the silver?

He had planned to visit Ye Shiyong’s residence, but changed course and sped off toward the inner city...

Up above.

Nangong Ye saw him leave but didn’t follow immediately. She hesitated.

From what she overheard, the person buying Drunken Bone Incense was likely tied to the Dark God Cult.

Using that incense to enthrall thousands wasn’t something a mere third-rank Wuist could pull off.

The Dark God Cult’s practitioners were mostly foreign Wuists. To handle this scale, it had to be either one of those, or a ghost-cultivator following the path of a “Ghost Envoy.”

Ghost Envoys usually served as regional leaders for the cult. Not quite embedded court agents, but still big fish.

Since this was Xie Jinhuan’s lead, cutting in halfway would be like stealing candy from a child...

So after a bit of thought, Nangong Ye chose to keep following—like a secret protector.

If Xie Jinhuan handled things, she’d stay hidden. If not, she’d step in.

But just as she started to warm up to him... Xie Jinhuan absolutely shattered it.

He weaved through the city, looped around, and finally arrived at a residence with a lantern marked “Lin.” Then, like a thief, he slipped inside.

Nangong Ye figured this had nothing to do with Drunken Bone Incense. She was just starting to get confused when she saw him head toward the young lady’s quarters and lightly knock.

Knock knock~

Soon, the door opened. A stunningly beautiful face peeked out, puzzled: 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

“You’re just now arriving? Why knock—mmph!”

Before she could finish, Xie Jinhuan grabbed the lovely girl, kissed her deeply, lifted her off the ground, and carried her inside—fondling her as he kicked the door shut.

Click—

?!

Nangong Ye’s eyes widened like saucers.

A supposed righteous hero, sneaking into a lady’s bedroom in the dead of night—outrageous...

Then again... the girl seemed to be expecting him. It’s mutual, so maybe not “sneaking.”

Still, do her parents know he’s in there...?

A disgrace to the title of gentleman...

...

Seeing where this was going, Nangong Ye naturally didn’t try to eavesdrop. She turned away, but her thoughts lingered.

Xie Jinhuan already had a beloved and had clearly consummated the relationship. What would happen to Qingmo now...?

Don’t tell me... Qingmo already...?

Sigh. Let the kids sort themselves out. As her master, I can’t go around breaking up lovers...

The world’s going to hell...

No wait...

She hadn’t gone far when her eyes suddenly narrowed. A realization struck her.

The rumors say Xie Jinhuan is always either slaying demons—or on his way to slay demons...

Now that he had vital intel, shouldn’t he not be playing around like this?

Wait... what if he knew I was tailing him and staged all that to throw me off?

She turned to glance back at the lamplit bedroom, a thoughtful glint in her eyes...