Roaring Dragon-Chapter 91: What Did He Mean?

The social-death showdown ended. And in the end, the Golden Tower had no true winner.

Those who failed in the first trial may have lacked willpower, but at least they kept their dignity intact.

But the five who took part in the third trial? They’d all had their public images utterly wrecked. Even Mo Mo, with her famously unshakable Dao heart, had found something deep inside herself she couldn’t face—and had hastily withdrawn.

Xie Jinhuan may have come out on top, but right now, he was regretting ever coming to this cursed place!

Leaning on the balcony rail, letting the cold wind blow across his face, he would break out in visible rage every time he recalled Steward Hou’s “sledgehammer shake”—his forearm veins bulging uncontrollably.

Linghu Qingmo stood in front of him, watching him stay unsettled for so long. She tried to comfort him:

“It was just an illusion. No need to take it so seriously. You... What did you see, exactly?”

“I saw the most terrifying thing in the world.”

“Huh?”

It wasn’t that Xie Jinhuan didn’t want to describe it—he simply couldn’t.

It was like one of those unspeakable elder gods. Even trying to recall it made the soul tremble from the depths of consciousness.

“It’s better you don’t ask. Just one glance at that thing, and you’ll have nightmares for half a month.”

“Really?”

Linghu Qingmo was genuinely curious now, but the thing Xie had seen was trapped inside his own mind—there was no way she could peek into it. Instead, she asked with concern:

“Is your injury alright?”

“It’s nothing serious, just some stress response.”

“Want to take a break?”

Xie Jinhuan paused, then looked toward the main hall of the Golden Tower.

Now that the competition was over, both spectators and participants had flooded into the hall to celebrate.

“Danyang’s Little Red” had emerged as the biggest winner of the day. Right now, he was riding high, strutting around with the “Paragon of Virtue” plaque and shouting from atop a table:

“Drinks are all on the—on this young prince’s tab tonight! Drink like your life depends on it!”

“Whoaa—!”

“Such generosity, Your Highness!”

Many in the crowd had only come for the free food and drinks, and now they cheered enthusiastically, scrambling for tables.

Lin Wanyi, with Meiqiu perched on her shoulder, was wandering the hall as well, casually taking in the excitement.

As the winner, Xie Jinhuan was supposed to go down and participate in the celebration—but he had no such mood. Right now, he just wanted to slice two people up to relieve his trauma.

Changle Street wasn’t far from here. Han Jingchuan was probably doing his rounds checking the entertainment venues. If Xie Jinhuan hurried, he could still make it back in time for the banquet—it wouldn’t take long.

But if he went missing for a while, he’d need a solid alibi...

While mulling it over, Xie Jinhuan’s hand slid onto the Zhenglun Sword, silently calling out to the ghost bride who had nearly mentally destroyed him earlier.

Ye Hongshang appeared behind him and gave a quick glance down at the main hall.

“As long as people see you around, it’s fine. No need to actually talk to them.

“Just say you’re resting upstairs. Have Wanyi carry the Zhenglun Sword around the hall while I cast a few illusions now and then. People will ‘see’ you walking around the second floor. That way, afterwards, you’ll have a bunch of eyewitnesses vouching that you were here.”

Xie Jinhuan thought this plan was flawless and rubbed his chest with a wince.

“Ah—”

Linghu Qingmo, who’d been watching the crowd downstairs, immediately rushed over to support his arm.

“Does it still hurt?”

Xie Jinhuan shrugged lightly. “I did get a little worked up earlier. Probably need to adjust my qi flow. I’ll head down later.”

Linghu Qingmo didn’t suspect anything. She helped him into one of the elegant VIP rooms upstairs to rest.

Xie Jinhuan made a show of being encumbered by his weapons, unstrapping both the Tiangang Mace and the Zhenglun Sword. He then handed the sword to Mo Mo:

“I’ll just rest here for a bit. Can you take this sword to Miss Lin for me?”

“Huh?”

Linghu Qingmo took the sword, a little confused. “Why give it to Doctor Lin?”

Xie Jinhuan considered for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“She’ll understand. Just let her wander around downstairs for now—I’ll be down soon.”

...?

Linghu Qingmo figured this must be one of those couple-code moments, but... why use her to deliver the message?

She was still seen as Lin Wanyi’s rival in love! What was she supposed to do, walk up and say:

“Big Brother Jinhuan told me to tell you: be a good girl and wait right here~”

Wouldn’t that make her look like some scheming side concubine, blocking the first wife from meeting her husband?

Linghu Qingmo was clearly a bit reluctant, but still accepted the sword. Just as she was about to leave, Xie Jinhuan added:

“Mo Mo, wait.”

“Something else?”

She looked back, puzzled.

To keep her from barging in later and checking on him, Xie Jinhuan put on a hesitant face, tugged her sleeve and had her sit back down beside him.

“Qingmo... back in the third trial, did you... see me?”

Linghu Qingmo jolted and immediately sprang up, trying her best to play the cold, icy beauty with a firm Dao heart.

“I—I didn’t see anything! That demonic relic was clearly designed to disturb the mind. I noticed something was off, so I broke out with a Clarity Spell! That’s all!”

“Really?”

Xie Jinhuan eyed her fidgety posture. “Then why are you blushing?”

“I am?”

Even she could feel the heat burning in her cheeks, but she forcefully suppressed the emotion and put on a breezy front.

“Maybe I ran up the stairs too fast... Anyway, illusions aren’t real. I didn’t see anything. You... take care. I’ll head down first.”

She didn’t even finish the sentence before vanishing with a whoosh—probably using a long-distance movement spell just to get away faster.

Seeing this, Xie Jinhuan knew she definitely wouldn’t dare come upstairs anytime soon. He’d wanted to call for the ghost bride, but then remembered she had left with the sword.

Operating alone again felt... oddly unfamiliar.

Assassination missions couldn’t be done with one’s usual weapons. Xie Jinhuan stashed the Tiangang Mace beside his pillow, checked that there were no eyes outside the room, and wasted no time—he locked the door, slipped out through the window, and vanished into the night...

“Drink, drink~!”

“Congratulations to the young prince for picking the right horse!”

The Golden Tower’s grand hall was loud and lively. Everywhere, guests gathered in small groups, chatting about the duels earlier.

On the central platform, musicians and dancers were putting on a show.

Lin Wanyi wandered the hall with Meiqiu on her shoulder. Seeing that Xie Jinhuan hadn’t come down yet, and unfamiliar with the place herself, she didn’t go upstairs to look for him. Still, she couldn’t help but worry about his injury.

But with Linghu Qingmo nearby, it would’ve been awkward to act overly concerned or jealous... even if she knew she’d win any showdown.

While she was busy overthinking things, someone suddenly called out from behind:

“Miss Lin?”

Lin Wanyi paused and turned to see Linghu Qingmo walking over with Xie Jinhuan’s sword in her hand—and a rather strange expression on her face.

“Miss Linghu? You came down alone? Where’s Xie Jinhuan?”

“He’s resting upstairs... Um, he asked me to bring this sword to you.”

“Huh?”

Lin Wanyi blinked in confusion, taking the offered Zhenglun Sword.

“What does he want me to do with this?”

Linghu Qingmo had no idea either. She just followed instructions and repeated:

“He said you’d understand. Told you to wander around downstairs for now. He’ll be down soon.”

Will I?

Lin Wanyi was completely baffled. She was about to ask more, but Linghu Qingmo vanished with a whoosh like she was afraid of getting her hair pulled, leaving Lin Wanyi holding the sword and staring after her.

She looked down at the weapon in her hands and began overthinking:

A demon-slaying sword...

Was this a hint to sever ties with evil and walk the righteous path? To be a better woman?

But he hasn’t even given me a martial arts manual—how am I supposed to slay anything...?

Or maybe it meant something else... 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

She recalled the past times she’d encountered this sword—the first time, she’d been bathing in Xie Jinhuan’s house; the second, she was tied to a tree and zapped...

Was he telling her to wash up and tie herself up again tonight?

Pah!

He’s a proper gentleman! Every time he kissed or touched me, it was fair and square—how could he be thinking such dirty things?

Still, Lin Wanyi’s cheeks flushed red. She wanted to go upstairs and ask, but since Xie Jinhuan told her to wait down here, she could only pace about restlessly, trying to decode the meaning behind the gift...

Meanwhile, several curious young ladies nearby caught something in the corner of their eyes—Xie Jinhuan’s elegant figure appeared at the second-floor balcony, glanced down for a moment, then slipped back into his room...