Roaring Dragon-Chapter 138: Well Deserved!

Late at night, the vast Lin estate lay in silence. Only two places still glowed faintly: the alchemy room and the western side’s boudoir.

A man-height bronze pill furnace stood at the center of the alchemy room, its lower fire chamber glowing a deep red. All around were cabinets full of herbs and racks of tools for processing ingredients.

Lin Zisu, dressed in a slim-fitting white alchemist’s gown, stood before the furnace, spinning a pen between her fingers as she muttered to herself while reviewing the formula.

“Yang energy ascends... Yin descends... Brew the decoction with cold herbs, then soak the head downward in a frigid Yin place... should balance out the Burning Immortal Yang Poison—maybe even achieve pseudo-immortality...”

“What to name this one... Reverse Heaven and Earth? Inverted Tiangang? Upside-Down Hair-Washing Elixir!”

...

The cold rain drizzled gently outside, and the undisturbed pill room made it easy to slip into deep focus.

But just as Lin Zisu was fully absorbed in cracking the antidote for the Burning Immortal Gu, she suddenly heard a faint noise from the window.

Puff, puff, puff~

She turned instinctively—only to see a coal-black hawk the size of a basketball explode through the rain and dive into the room, shaking violently to rid itself of rainwater before spreading its wings out toward the fire, shivering pitifully.

“Eh?! Meiqiu!”

Zisu immediately tossed aside her paper and pen, rushed to the window—and seeing that Young Master Xie hadn’t come—crouched down to examine the bird.

It was utterly filthy, like it had rolled in a mud pit. Feathers clung with chicken fluff, beast fur, and more. Its glossy black eyes were brimming with grievance. It opened its beak, clearly begging for food.

Lin Zisu’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly pulled out a handkerchief and started cleaning the feathers.

“What happened to you? Got beaten up by a rooster out there? Whose rooster has the balls to do that?! Tell me, I’ll make it into Beggar’s Chicken for you!”

“Guji~”

Meiqiu recalled the encounter, then turned to stare toward the outer courtyard—likely indicating Lin Manor’s own crowing fat rooster.

Lin Zisu fumed with righteous rage and made to storm out to kill it—then paused.

“Wait, that was a black rooster. These are wild chicken feathers. You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

“Guu...”

Meiqiu hesitated, then started wiggling its head and selling cuteness.

Seeing this, Zisu didn’t hold back. She dug into her stash and pulled out five-spice beef jerky, placing it gently in her palm.

“Cluck cluck cluck~ here you go.”

“...Gu?”

Meiqiu found the sound mildly offensive. But food was food. It wolfed down several mouthfuls, then flapped off again into the night.

“Eh? Where are you going now?”

Zisu leaned at the window, puzzled. She couldn't catch up, so she sulked and returned to her bizarre alchemy experiments.

Meanwhile, on top of the Lin estate wall—

A figure in black-and-white Daoist robes stood motionless in the rain, scanning the familiar manor with sharp eyes.

Isn’t this the home of Xie Jinhuan’s lady friend?

So that fierce hawk must be her pet... or his?

No wonder that eagle’s fighting style with the rooster looked just like how Jinhuan beat up Ye Shirong...

Nangong Ye had just captured a ghost cultivator near Iron Thorn Ridge and, suppressing the Yang poison in her body, had chased after the powerful hawk to avoid missing a valuable clue.

Although Meiqiu could fly, so could she. From above, it was easy to track—and rather than risking catching someone else’s high-grade spirit beast by mistake, she had simply followed it.

And that led her all the way back to the capital... right to this manor.

Tracing Meiqiu’s flight path, she saw it dive into the alchemy room, then reemerge and head toward the only still-lit boudoir in the back quarters.

That rascal—fought outside and now came back to seduce someone’s daughter?

Wait, this family looks like a medical household. Maybe he’s here for treatment...

Thinking this, Nangong Ye slipped through the rain and landed quietly in the courtyard, listening closely.

Through the rain, she could faintly hear a muffled exchange from the softly glowing boudoir—

“Call me hubby.”

“...H-husband~”

“Heh...”

...?

Back at Iron Thorn Ridge, she’d seen Jinhuan hugging some unknown girl. Clearly, that was who he was in there with.

What the hell are they doing...?

Just as she was wondering, the coal-black hawk landed outside the boudoir door and scratched at it with its claws.

Tap tap tap tap...

A series of knocks.

Silence from within. Then a voice:

“Relax, it’s just Meiqiu.”

“You scared me to death—go «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» check on him!”

...

Soon, a male silhouette appeared at the window, and the door creaked open.

Creak~

Meiqiu immediately tried to sneak in, but a bandaged arm stopped it, palm planted firmly on its head.

“What the hell—got beat up by a rooster? You look like a mess and still have the nerve to come home?”

“Guji...”

Meiqiu looked utterly aggrieved and begged for food.

“...I didn’t bring snacks. How about I help you get revenge tomorrow?”

“Gu!”

The hawk tilted its head toward the distant city glow—clearly suggesting a midnight snack run.

But the man clearly wasn’t planning to go out: “Mm... go find somewhere to sleep. I’ll take you for Mushroom-Stewed Sky Dragon tomorrow.”

And with that—he shut the door.

Click.

“Gi?!”

Meiqiu was stunned. Then it fluffed up in rage and raised its claw again:

Tap tap tap tap...

Like a woodpecker.

Inside, more conversation followed:

“You could take Meiqiu to eat. I-I’m okay now...”

“It’s fine...”

...

After a few more knocks, the door opened once more. A hand stuck out holding a silver ingot.

“Go sleep. That’s enough for ten days of Mushroom-Stewed Sky Dragon. You’re not a baby eagle anymore—learn some delayed gratification.”

“Gu?”

Meiqiu tilted its head, then after a beat of thought, grabbed the silver and shot off—probably to go beg food from someone else.

Click.

The door shut again.

Nangong Ye watched Meiqiu fly off and, confirming it truly belonged to Xie Jinhuan, gave up on capturing it. Her gaze drifted to the window, her expression tinged with concern over the couple’s injuries.

She hesitated briefly, then dropped silently outside the boudoir, eavesdropping.

But all she heard from within... was a strange rhythm.

“...?”

Her entire body jolted. A wave of embarrassment and anger surged through her phoenix-like eyes.

“You scoundrel!”

Face burning, she immediately vanished from the spot, deliberately making a whoosh of wind as she left.

Whoosh—

Meanwhile, inside the room—

Lin Wanyi, dressed in a complete magical artifact ensemble, was dazed and unresponsive, biting her lip to muffle any sound.

Xie Jinhuan didn’t move a muscle. He tilted his head toward the door, eyes sharp as blades, radiating nothing but vigilance and caution.

“...Hoo...”

Wanyi’s leg was draped over his elbow. After a long moment of pause, her senses returned a little. She cautiously opened her eyes, glanced at the pig-hoof man beside her, and murmured:

“...W-what’s wrong?”

Jinhuan’s brows were tightly knit. He turned toward the Zhenglun Sword leaning against the bed. No response.

He reached out and touched it.

A moment later, a wave of dizziness swept through his head, and a familiar feminine voice whispered in his ear:

“Heartless brat. Now you remember your sister? What do you want from me?”

“Uh...”

Jinhuan looked a little sheepish. After a pause, he replied:

“Sorry... I kinda lost control just now.”

“...Ah?”

Lin Wanyi, face red, froze—and then pounded his chest with a little fist.

“Why say that now?! Are you regretting it?!”

She looked like she was about to cry.

“No, no...”

Jinhuan was clearly caught in a dilemma—there seemed to be a powerful expert outside. He held Wanyi gently to calm her and glanced around for the ghost wife.

She didn’t appear. But in front of him, Wanyi’s eyes suddenly shimmered with a mystical glow—like an unmatched succubus atop a mountain peak...

Oh sh—

Jinhuan jolted, wide-eyed.

“Uh... sweetheart, you... why are you here?”

Ye Hongshang looked serene, pulling the blanket slightly over herself and turning toward the window.

“This isn’t my real body—I can’t feel anything. Just making it easier for you to talk.”

...Is that so?

Jinhuan wasn’t entirely convinced but decided to go along with it for now. He asked carefully:

“Was someone there just now?”

Ye Hongshang’s face turned serious, her gaze fixed on the window.

“I was too lazy to watch you flailing around. I went to sleep. But there's no one now.”

“Oh...”

After a moment of stillness, Jinhuan looked at her breathtaking face and asked:

“Are you... mad at me?”

She turned to him, face calm but eyes laced with disdain:

“Sister isn’t some mortal girl. Why would I be mad at a little brat like you? Besides, Wanyi is the second wife I picked for you—she should be indulged.”

“Oh...”

He gazed at her silently, as if wanting to say more.

Ye Hongshang returned his stare, then added coolly:

“You really should’ve been named Xie Pig-Hoof.”

“...Huh?” Jinhuan blinked, pretty sure she was angry. He played along. “Why?”

“In spring, the wind brings glory to the pig-hoofed man. Look at you, getting drunk on your own success—snort~”

Her lofty eyes, full of judgment, somehow pushed Jinhuan over the edge...

Caught off guard, Ye Hongshang’s sixteen-foot-pressure gaze suddenly filled with shame and panic. She reflexively slapped him across the face.

SMACK—!

Wanyi instantly snapped out of her daze, staring at the stunned Jinhuan—face turned to the side—eyes wide with panic.

She yanked her hand back.

“Eh?! I-I spaced out just now—sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to!”

Jinhuan’s cheek burned and his eyes sparkled like stars. But with a martial artist’s thick skin, it didn’t really hurt. He gritted his teeth and played it off:

“Well deserved! Go ahead and slap the right side too—make it a matched set!”

Wanyi looked at the red mark in horror.

“Why would I hit you?! I really blanked out—does it hurt?!”

“Not at all! In fact, I think you went easy...”

“I swear it wasn’t on purpose! Let me rub it...”

...

And so, the room fell silent again.

Only the fierce rain and wind outside howled through the night...