Roaring Dragon-Chapter 99: Mysterious Seller

Dong——

Dong——

The somber morning bell rang from the Bell and Drum Tower as a gentle autumn rain fell across the Lin family courtyard.

Inside the quiet boudoir of the eldest daughter, only the steady rhythm of two breaths broke the silence.

Behind the bed curtains, Lin Wanyi had spent the night studying the Divine Martial Canon and had fallen asleep at some unknown point. Only when the bell entered her ears did her awareness stir back to life.

Is it morning already...?

Time really flew...

Three hundred sixty lines... I memorized over sixty last night. Doesn’t seem that hard...

Remembering the Enlightened ability from the night before, Lin Wanyi immediately tried to inspect her Qi Palace internally.

But unfortunately, she was clearly just a mortal again upon waking. When she closed her eyes, they really just... stayed closed.

Realizing it had all been a dream, Lin Wanyi couldn't help feeling disappointed.

That all-seeing ancestor’s perspective had been far too wonderful. If she truly had reached that realm, manipulating little Jinhuan would be as easy as playing with her hair...

With that thought, Lin Wanyi opened her eyes, wanting to check on Xie Jinhuan.

And right then, she came face to face with a cold, handsome profile...

Looking down, she realized she wasn’t hugging a quilt but a man’s arm. Her leg was even draped over his body...

“Ah—!”

A sharp scream rang out from behind the curtains!

Xie Jinhuan had spent the entire night analyzing his Joy Scripture – Alternating Candle Dripping Method. The sudden scream by his ear startled him awake, and he sprang up reflexively, grabbing his Tiangang Mace with his left hand, shielding the person beside him with his right, sharp eyes scanning the room for threats.

“What’s wrong? What happened?!”

...?

Lin Wanyi was suddenly yanked behind him protectively. Watching him still trying to pinpoint an enemy in the air, she paused in confusion—then raised her little fist and thumped him on the back.

Thud~

Only after confirming everything in the room was normal did Xie Jinhuan finally let out a breath and turn to look at the bespectacled young lady still clutching the blanket.

“Why’d you hit me?”

Why do you think?!

Lin Wanyi’s face flushed red as she crossed her arms over her chest, glaring with both shame and fury.

“Why are you sleeping in my bed?!”

Xie Jinhuan looked completely baffled. “Didn’t you say it hurt your neck to sit upright while memorizing the technique, so you lay down?”

“That was in a dream! And you... you took advantage of me while I was asleep—!”

“What exactly did I do to you while you were asleep?”

Xie Jinhuan sat there calmly, turning the tables.

“You fell asleep halfway through memorizing the technique, and I didn’t want to wake you. But you, such a well-bred young lady, were squirming all over in your sleep, pushing up next to me, muttering things like, ‘Auntie... I think I’m going to get married soon...’”

(⊙﹏⊙)?!

Lin Wanyi’s shame and fury froze. She had no idea what happened after she fell asleep, but waking up in that position... yeah, it was her who had been hugging his arm.

Feeling a little guilty, she stammered, “Y-You’re making that up! As if I would behave so improperly!”

Xie Jinhuan was embellishing, but it was true that she had rolled over and latched onto his arm all by herself. He’d only been a passive recipient. With a serious tone, he added:

“You have a cold constitution. I’m brimming with yang energy. It’s only natural for your body to gravitate toward mine while you slept. If I wanted to take advantage of you, I’d have done it while you were awake. Sneaking around in your sleep isn’t my style. Don’t believe me? Watch this.”

He leaned in closer.

“Wha—?!”

Lin Wanyi panicked and shoved him in the chest. But inwardly... she hesitated.

He’s right. Xie Jinhuan’s always been bold and aboveboard. When he wants to hug or kiss, he just does it outright—what would he gain from sneaking?

And thinking back to the pure yang energy she saw after her Enlightened state...

Wait... was I really the one clinging to him all night, saying weird things in my sleep?

How humiliating!

Lin Wanyi’s shame slowly turned into sheer embarrassment, and her eyes began to avoid his gaze.

Xie Jinhuan had slept like a log. Seeing that the bespectacled lady wasn’t mad, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He got up, ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) strapped his weapon to his waist, and asked:

“How’s your progress with the technique?”

Realizing she was probably the one at fault, Lin Wanyi couldn’t really lash out anymore. She stammered, “Pretty well. It felt like I had divine help... like I became some mountaintop ancestor overnight. Didn’t you feel that too?”

“Yeah. Good that you picked it up. If it’s convenient, help me gather the herbs today. I’ll come by early tonight.”

“Uhh...”

He’s coming again? Lin Wanyi clearly looked nervous. But she’d already begun studying—there was no backing out now. After a moment’s thought, she added:

“Don’t... don’t bring me anything else. I don’t need those gifts.”

“Alright. I’ll head out then.”

Xie Jinhuan didn’t say much else. He leapt out the window and vanished from the room.

Whoo~

Only after confirming that he was gone did Lin Wanyi finally look down to carefully check her clothing, still wondering if she had talked in her sleep last night.

But try as she might, she couldn’t remember.

After a brief silence, she quietly pulled out the peony hairpin, holding it up to the morning light.

The craftsmanship was exquisite. Easily worth over a hundred taels of silver. A luxury among accessories. And the design perfectly matched her temperament and looks...

He clearly put thought into picking it out...

"Giving a hairpin to the girl I like—that’s what I call putting it to good use."

...Eh?

The hairpin suddenly felt hot in her hand.

But after a long moment of hesitation, she still picked up a mirror, slid the hairpin into her hair, and tilted her head side to side to check her reflection.

Then, hearing the footsteps of a maid outside, she hurriedly pulled it out and dove back under the blanket to fake sleep...

——

Morning, East Market.

After leaving the Lin residence, Xie Jinhuan rushed back to the Prince’s Mansion.

But it was already the hour of the dragon—time for official duties. Mo Mo, Yang Dabiao, and the others had gone to the yamen. Prince Zhao De was still MIA, probably not done wasting his winnings yet.

Xie Jinhuan initially planned to go to the yamen, but the guard at the gate told him a young servant had dropped off a letter that morning—East Market merchant Yang Sichen had invited him over.

Just yesterday, Xie had asked Yang Sichen about Wu Su, and that very night, Wu Su was “sent off.” Even if Yang Sichen wasn’t the brightest, it wouldn’t take much to guess who that night-time avenger was.

But since Yang Sichen was extending an invitation now, it clearly wasn’t for revenge.

Xie Jinhuan guessed there might be news about the Jiazi Lotus. He dropped everything and headed straight for East Market.

The East Market gathered rare treasures from across the lands. Even in the early morning, it was teeming with crowds, including exotic merchants from foreign kingdoms beyond the pass.

Yang’s Medicine Hall was a central wholesaler in the Central Plains, rarely dealing in retail. Anyone coming here was no small fry.

When Xie arrived, he saw that in a side tea room, Yang Sichen was discussing herb prices with an elderly Taoist. Two young disciples stood guard at the door—judging by their robes, they were from the Taiyin Palace.

Taiyin Palace was located in Shanyin County of Jingzhao Prefecture. Revered as the ancestral sect of the Dan-Ding lineage. Its previous head had been the esteemed Ziyang True Person. The current one: Lu Wuzhen.

Ziyang was of lofty seniority, a relic of the previous dynasty. By the time the Witch Cult rebellion started, he was already over 120 years old. Severely wounded in battle, he handed down the mantle to the younger Qixia True Person, then passed away not long after.

Qixia himself was also injured after suppressing the rebellion. He gradually vanished from public view and entered life-and-death seclusion over ninety years ago.

Life-and-death seclusion didn’t mean confirmed death. Outsiders couldn’t determine whether a person had perished. Hence, their status as sect head wasn’t immediately revoked.

Traditionally, such retreats were counted in sixty-year cycles.

So thirty years ago, Qixia was still listed as the sect leader of both the Dan-Ding Sect and Zihui Mountain.

Only when the full sixty-year term passed—and Qixia was presumed dead—was Lu Wuzhen confirmed as the new head of Dan-Ding Sect.

Zihui Mountain, meanwhile, passed to the senior disciple acting as interim leader, who eventually handed it to Nangong Ye.

Nangong Ye was a disciple of Qixia, though she’d never actually met him. She’d been formally inducted under him as a child, following tradition, with the senior disciple accepting disciples in his name.

Xie Jinhuan had grown up hearing tales of these legends and suspected... could his ghost wife actually be the seclusion-bound Qixia True Person?

But said ghost wife was currently right beside him, examining herbs.

With her seductive aura and bold curves—claiming she was a sex-cult matron, fine. But a former leader of the Dan-Ding Sect? That’s just absurd...

As he let his thoughts spiral, the elderly Taoist wrapped up his business and left with his disciples. Yang Sichen saw them off warmly.

“Take care. I’ll have the herbs prepared within three days and delivered to Taiyin Palace...”

“You're too kind, Master Yang...”

...

Once they were gone, Xie Jinhuan stepped forward and cupped his hands.

“Master Yang runs quite the business. Apologies for offending you last time.”

“Ah~ Young Master Xie, no need to be so formal.”

Yang Sichen, ever the merchant, wasn’t one to hold grudges if there was profit involved. He waved toward the tea room.

“You’re a dragon among men. Having you come to ask about a case is my honor. You even eliminated those demon scum that very night. If anything, I owe you some karmic debt.”

They exchanged pleasantries and sat down in the tea room. After the servants brought tea and left, Xie Jinhuan cut to the chase:

“Master Yang, did you summon me today because there’s news on the Jiazi Lotus?”

Yang Sichen sat opposite and poured tea personally.

“You’re quite lucky, Young Master Xie. I asked around casually yesterday and found a potential lead near Jingzhao Prefecture.”

“Oh?”

Xie Jinhuan’s gaze turned sharp. “Who’s the senior willing to part with it?”

Yang Sichen smiled apologetically. “They’re staying anonymous. Said that revealing they had such a thing would attract trouble. I only have a way to contact them.”

Xie Jinhuan pressed on.

“What’s the asking price?”

Yang Sichen paused, then sighed.

“Hmm... Have you heard of Resurrection Grass?”

Hearing that, Xie Jinhuan frowned.

Resurrection Grass was another rare immortal herb. Its uses were straightforward: expel poison, ward off disease, cleanse the marrow, and reform the bones.

Its effects were so powerful it could even nullify a life-curse imbued with a Patriarch’s blood and heal deep-rooted internal injuries.

For instance, if you binge-popped poison pills, you could just chase it with a Resurrection Grass liver capsule and bounce right back to full HP...

In terms of medicinal value, it was on par with the Jiazi Lotus, just with a different function.

But the Lotus could be cultivated within sects. Resurrection Grass only grew in the wild. That made it vastly rarer. All things considered, the trade would be a net loss.

Xie Jinhuan currently had nothing. After thinking it over, he asked:

“Resurrection Grass is incredibly rare. That’s all they want?”

Yang Sichen slid the teacup over.

“They were clear—no other treasures considered. If you have it, let’s talk. If not, don’t bother.”

Xie Jinhuan found this increasingly problematic.

If they’d asked for silver, no matter how much, he could still go beg from some kind-hearted cultivator.

But Resurrection Grass? That was harder to find than the Lotus itself. How was this any better?

As he brooded over the situation, the ghost wife suddenly whispered in his ear:

“Just agree to meet them. I’ll help you scope them out. Maybe we can scam it for free.”

Scam them face-to-face...?

Xie Jinhuan was clearly reluctant.

Whoever had a Jiazi Lotus root had to be either a top-tier expert or a powerful clan leader. Meeting them might bring out the likes of Cao Fo’er or Lu Wuzhen.

If he had Resurrection Grass, worst case was a mugging.

But to show up empty-handed and try to scam? He might get atomized on the spot.

Still... this was the only lead.

After hesitating for a long while, he finally said:

“Master Yang, how about arranging a meeting with the seller?”

“Well...”

Yang Sichen considered, then warned him seriously:

“Look, the senior made it very clear—they’ll only talk if you have Resurrection Grass.

“You’re incredibly talented, Young Master Xie. Someday you’ll be a mountain-top powerhouse. Someday.

“But right now, if we summon this person and you’ve got nothing... I fear—”

“I understand,” Xie Jinhuan cut in. “Whatever happens at the meeting, it’s on me. Has nothing to do with you.”

“...Alright. I’ll send word. If all goes well, we’ll have a reply by tomorrow morning.”