Roaring Dragon-Chapter 125: Swordswoman Mu, Are You Asleep?

Inner City, Fengyi River.

The Fengyi River lay east of the Imperial City, close to the Astronomical Bureau, lined on both sides with riverside estates.

As the head of Zihui Mountain, Nangong Ye had many affairs in the capital. She couldn’t stay indefinitely in inns or borrow space at the prince’s mansion. Long ago, she quietly purchased a secluded waterside pavilion here—hidden, rarely known, ideal for avoiding interruptions during cultivation.

At midnight, autumn winds rippled the starlight reflected on the water.

A veiled woman in black landed abruptly on the river terrace. Her footing faltered slightly, and clutching her chest, she staggered toward the interior. As she raised her hand midstride, the glazed lamps within flickered on, softly illuminating every corner of the room.

Warm yellow curtains swayed gently. Against the walls sat zithers, lutes, and pipa; a bookshelf stuffed with texts on demonic arts and forbidden sects; a yellow-brown sword case rested before a portrait of a sect founder, with a brass incense burner below it.

“Huff...”

Nangong Ye removed her veil. Her face, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° typically cold as ice, was flushed scarlet, her body radiating scorching heat. She stumbled toward the bath beside the bedroom and pulled a dark black jade bead from a brocade box, dropping it into the tub.

Whoosh—

The bead released bone-chilling cold. As it sank, frost misted over the water, then spread outward in delicate crystalline blooms.

Splash—

Gritting her teeth, Nangong Ye tore off her black robes and undergarments, her astonishingly curvaceous figure plunging into the water. As the penetrating cold seeped into her flesh and bones, her trembling finally eased—if only slightly.

The yang poison had been fully triggered. She could no longer forcibly suppress it. To prevent it from surging uncontrollably through her body, she had to seal off every uninfected meridian and wait for it to burn itself out.

The sensation was akin to watching one’s lungs incinerate from the inside. The indescribable agony could drive anyone to madness. External cooling was like scratching through boots—completely inadequate. Only the direct clash of freezing internal energy could counter the poison.

Still, the cold brought a little relief—enough for her to think again.

Huff...

She let out a slow breath, upturned jade bowl floating beside her, another long exhale of searing, muddled qi. As the poison’s tidal assault on her organs slightly ebbed, her mind began working again.

She’d used her power once tonight—the yang poison was fully awakened. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on. If she didn’t want to die, she’d have to compromise with that demonic woman...

That damned brat... tricked me into coming to the capital without even having Returning Yang Grass...

Still, based on how he tailed her today, Xie Jinhuan lived up to the hype—capable, unnervingly righteous. Even Qingmo might not quite match him...

As Qingmo’s master and Zihui Mountain’s leader, she should be facilitating this match. But what happened earlier was far too humiliating...

To have pressed a righteous young hero down and forcibly taken his internal energy, then left without a word—wasn’t that something a demonic cultist would do?

If they ever met again and she revealed her identity, how could she still be Qingmo’s elder?

But since Qingmo was clearly smitten, a meeting was inevitable... What was she supposed to do?

As she pondered, Nangong Ye opened her eyes and reached to wash her sweat-dampened face—only to spot something off in the corner of her eye.

She turned her head—and noticed the white undergarment draped over the tub’s rim had a faint, large handprint on it...

Buzz—

A pulse of fierce internal energy erupted in the room, shaking the water and even lifting the hanging curtains. The sword case trembled with a sharp humming resonance!

Having lost consciousness from poison earlier, Nangong Ye had no idea what had occurred. Now, spotting that imprint on her chestwear, it felt like thunder crashing through her mind.

She lifted the white brassiere embroidered with clouds chasing the moon and studied it closely.

There it was—unmistakably a man’s handprint, surrounded by smudges and rub marks...

The source wasn’t hard to deduce.

Xie Jinhuan had fought Ye Shirong to the death—his clothes torn, corpse turned to pulp, roof collapsed, windows shattered. His hands were hardly clean.

And based on the print’s angle and trail, it was clear: he’d reached into her robes, fumbled around, dragged his knuckles across the fabric, and then reversed his grip for one final pat.

Whether he was looking for a concealed artifact... or just...

Huff...

Even someone with Dao heart forged in steel like Nangong Ye flushed pink, cheeks like a ripe, dew-drenched lotus.

After several deep breaths, she told herself it was just an accident. Xie Jinhuan had been trying to help her. No ill intent.

Even so, there was no way she could meet him again now—let alone reveal her identity.

It would be no different than a disciple groping his master’s wife...

But Qingmo had fallen for him. A meeting was inevitable.

Maybe she should suppress the poison, settle accounts with that demonic woman, then go treasure-hunting in Vermilion Bird Tomb and vanish for a couple of years... 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

By the time she returned, maybe that brat would have forgotten all this. She could just say it was “desperate times, desperate measures,” and it wouldn’t be too awkward...

As she tried to finalize her strategy—

Knock knock knock—

Came a knock at the door.

And a now-all-too-familiar voice:

“Swordswoman Mu? Are you asleep?”

?!

...

Fengyi River at night was silent and serene, the moonlight glimmering on the surface.

Seventy percent of the river’s edges were greened, and the waterside villas were elegant and peaceful—no sounds of the busy city remained.

Xie Jinhuan stood quietly outside a two-story building with glowing lights, awaiting a reply.

The residence faced the street and backed onto the river, flanked by bamboo and willow. It was picturesque. Directly across the river was the Imperial Palace. Anyone living here was undoubtedly elite.

Xie Jinhuan, however, looked nothing like a proper guest. Clad in a sleeveless vest, torn trousers, and with two weapons strapped to his waist, he looked more like a street punk loitering outside some rich heiress’s mansion.

He knew his outfit was a disgrace to the city, but he had no choice.

He wasn’t here for strength enhancement—he was here for the fate of the entire realm.

If he didn’t get that Jiazi Lotus... and a good woman’s tomb exploded, fine. But if the wrong woman’s tomb exploded? That would spell disaster for the Empire.

So after saying goodbye to Qingmo, he’d rushed straight here, not even changing clothes—just in case Swordswoman Mu had given him a fake address.

Thankfully, there really was a Suyun Studio here. And the lights were on.

That alone calmed his nerves.

Since he was here to scam a girl out of her Jiazi Lotus, he couldn’t barge in like he was demanding an explanation. He waited a moment, about to knock again—when the upstairs window creaked open.

Squeak—

A cold, stunning beauty in a white gown leaned out. The house robe couldn’t hide her glorious curves, but her sharp phoenix eyes radiated pressure. Her expression was stone-cold, completely unwelcoming.

She looked like a domineering CEO who’d just caught a small-time punk clinging to her villa gate.

Xie Jinhuan sensed something was off—she looked like she didn’t even want to see her savior. But then again, it was late, and he was knocking on a lady’s door...

He took two steps back, smiled up at her.

“Swordswoman Mu, not asleep yet?”

Nangong Ye thought of that giant handprint on her bra and was suddenly filled with a murderous urge to wipe the smirk off his face. But this was a grievance she could never voice.

Her tone cooled.

“It’s late. Why aren’t you home changing clothes? What are you doing here?”

To scam you out of your Jiazi Lotus.

Xie Jinhuan raised his hand, showing the wine jug and oily paper packages—peanuts, braised pork, spicy chicken feet.

“Hungry?”

“...?”

Nangong Ye’s eye twitched. It took all her willpower not to throw a sword down on his head.

Her voice dropped into ice:

“Please behave yourself. I live alone. Inviting a man in at this hour would invite rumors...”

“Relax. No one saw me.”

He knew she didn’t want him here. But the Jiazi Lotus was behind that door. There was no way he was walking away.

“Surely you want to root out the Dark God Cult too?”

Nangong Ye, bound by her identity, definitely couldn’t let him inside.

“I’ll assist with investigating their trail...”

“Strength in numbers!”

Xie Jinhuan said sincerely:

“They’re crafty. We should talk strategy. If you don’t want to come down, I can climb up...”

Whoosh—

He leapt!

Shing—

A sword was drawn above.

Holy crap?!

She’s seriously guarding the window with a blade?!

He immediately dropped back down. When smooth didn’t work, it was time for tough love.

“Swordswoman Mu, let’s be honest. You’ve got some evil in you. I spent a ton of inner energy suppressing your poison, gave you the antidote method this morning, and you don’t even let me inside? That’s low.”

Her eyes sharpened. “I’m a woman. It’s late. It’s improper, not disrespect.”

Xie Jinhuan spread his hands. “Then why won’t you trade with me? You took the method and ran. Didn’t even show your face. Sent my master to negotiate? That’s not just disrespect—it’s shady.”

Nangong Ye had never planned to use his bogus method. She didn’t flinch.

“You have Returning Yang Grass?”

“Do you have Jiazi Lotus?”

“I do.”

Excellent...

Xie Jinhuan’s heart soared.

“Then I’ll give you the real antidote—not that nonsense from this morning.”

“...?”

Nangong Ye blinked. She really shouldn’t keep talking to him—but he had proved himself capable. And the Scorching Immortal Gu in her was no joke.

After a pause, she said:

“Returning Yang Grass doesn’t just cure poison. It reforges bones, nourishes meridians, and extends life. If you have it, we’ll trade. If you just have a method, I’ll give you some techniques at most—not the Lotus.”

Xie Jinhuan wasn’t in a rush. Step one was getting inside.

“So... can I come in now?”

Nangong Ye exhaled lightly. Her resolve to keep him out had clearly begun to waver.

The burning in her body was unbearable. If the poison flared up again, she wasn’t sure she’d survive. She needed the cure.

Even if she could suppress it, she refused to beg that demonic woman for help. She had to get the method.

Pressed to the brink, Nangong Ye hesitated for only a second—then vanished from the window.

“The front’s sealed. Come in through the back.”

Xie Jinhuan exhaled, full of silent celebration.

A small step for me... a giant leap toward the Jiazi Lotus.

Please, ghost lady, bless me. I need this con to work...

Even if I die tonight, I’ll die clinging to this house! No way am I letting myself get kicked out...