Roaring Dragon-Chapter 19: Possession

Rustle rustle...

The breeze stirred the bamboo leaves with a soft rustling. All conversation in the alley had long fallen silent.

Perhaps it was the drowsy lull of midday, but the fluffy lump that was Meiqiu sat quietly at the bed’s edge, motionless for quite some time.

Lin Wanyi remained cross-legged on the brown bedsheet. The toxins of the Coagulated Blood Powder were steadily being purged, and a healthy flush had returned to her cheeks.

“Huu~”

Letting out a soft breath, Lin Wanyi opened her eyes and glanced around the room.

The residence had only just been rented. While it had all the essentials—wardrobe, vanity, etc.—there was nothing placed on them, leaving the room feeling rather bare. The bed itself had no mattress or bedding, just an empty wooden platform. She wondered how anyone could sleep on it at night...

She stood up. Having worked up quite a sweat during her detoxification, her undergarments were soaked and clinging tightly to her body, sticking uncomfortably between her hips.

Since Xie Jinhuan hadn’t returned yet, she didn’t feel right leaving without a word. So she headed to the bath next door, fetched water from the cloud pool, and poured it into the wooden tub, preparing to wash up.

Wary that Xie Jinhuan might suddenly return, she took the Zhenglun Sword with her for protection. After latching the door, she removed her dudou and panties, then stepped naked into the bath.

Splash—

Clear water flowed over her skin, white and smooth like mutton-fat jade. The view was breathtaking. But Lin Wanyi wasn’t vain enough to admire herself—she only wanted to wash quickly, lest Xie Jinhuan walk in.

After a few rinses, though, her gaze drifted to the Zhenglun Sword resting beside the tub.

Zihui Mountain was the largest sect near Danyang. Its standard swords were common throughout the city—only their grade differed.

Apprentices carried seventh-grade swords, inner disciples earned fourth-grade ones, and higher ranks depended on merit. Linghu Qingmo, as a core disciple, wielded a first-grade sword named “Bamboo Shadow.”

As for auxiliary tools like enchanted garments or divination trays, anyone could use them regardless of cultivation, their value determined solely by function and cost.

Lin Wanyi wasn’t sure what grade Xie Jinhuan’s sword was. Curious, she picked it up and drew the blade slightly.

Schink—

The sword unsheathed three inches, revealing a dark-blue blade and the etched characters for Zhenglun.

She studied it closely and didn’t notice anything unusual at first—until she realized the blade reflected her own face.

Her eyes, normally warm almond-shaped with a refined allure, now carried an odd charm—something slightly seductive. Even her aura seemed stronger, more commanding.

“Hm?”

She blinked in confusion. The reflection blinked too.

Assuming it was just fatigue or a visual trick, she leaned closer to inspect it.

That was when the eyes in the reflection seemed to exert a strange pull. One glance and her eyelids grew heavy, her mind slipping into sleep.

Ding—

The Zhenglun Sword’s tip tapped the floor, ringing softly.

Lin Wanyi slumped against the bath, her right hand still gripping the hilt over the tub’s edge. She had lost consciousness.

But mere moments later, the stunning woman in the bath sat up again.

Her once-gentle gaze now carried a sultry glint, her entire aura transformed—like a seductress reigning from the mountaintops.

Splash—

The beauty rose from the water. Jet-black hair cascaded down her back, and her voluptuous figure stood revealed in its full, sensual glory—down to the plump...

“Quite the noble household...”

The sultry woman looked down at her borrowed body, clearly impressed. She stepped out of the tub, slipped on Lin Wanyi’s robe, and walked to the window. There, she looked out toward the northern peaks of Zihui Mountain, her eyes distant and clouded with nostalgia.

“...Feels familiar...”

“And that boy Xie... He feels like someone I’ve spent years with. Could it be we’ve been together these three years?”

“But he was outside the tomb... and I was inside... How could that be?”

...

She pondered this strange familiarity for a long while, then returned to the bed and sat cross-legged, channeling her energy through the body.

Whoosh—

From her right palm floated a ghostly green flame. It hovered silently, flickering without heat—like a wisp of phantom fire.

“Quite a proper inheritance...”

She studied the ghostflame, which could burn the soul, then twisted her fingers into a series of seals. The flame vanished, transforming into black-green mist that curled around her fingers—clearly toxic.

“The poison art’s in good shape too. I wonder how the curses are...”

After fiddling with the techniques, she wove her hands together again. Fog rose between her palms, and dark green-blue veins appeared across her skin, snaking ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) through her meridians and converging at her brow.

“So much Yin-cold energy... Where’s it all coming from...”

Her voice echoed softly through the bath, soon swallowed by the autumn wind...

—

Meanwhile, Sanhe Tower—on the western edge of the city—stood far from the Peach Fairy Ward, surrounded by dyehouses and workshops.

Despite the working-class neighborhood, the three-story gambling den was thriving. At midday, the noise spilled onto the street:

“Big, big, big!”

“Damn it, manager, lend me another half coin!”

...

Xie Jinhuan stood at the mouth of an alley, oil-paper umbrella in hand, eyeing the three-story building in the distance. Two thugs stood at the entrance, and both alleyways were guarded.

“How do you plan to investigate?” he asked.

Linghu Qingmo, Yang Dabiao, and the others hid in the alley so as not to alert the gambling hall’s lookouts.

Linghu Qingmo held her own umbrella, studying the area.

“Who runs Sanhe Tower?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Liu Qingzhi replied, “Young Master Li Zixian from the Li family. But he has many properties and doesn’t manage this one himself. His cousin, Li Shizhong, is in charge here. Knows some martial arts.”

Yang Dabiao crossed his arms, clearly unsure.

“I’ve heard rumors from street thugs that they’re selling Ascending Immortal Powder here, but we don’t have hard proof. If we barge in and find nothing, we’ll be in trouble.”

Linghu Qingmo, though a royal guard, didn’t have real authority. She thought a moment, then said:

“One of us should go in undercover, confirm the sale. If they have it, we can justify a raid—even if the Li family causes trouble.”

“Undercover?”

Yang Dabiao and Liu Qingzhi looked down at their constable armor and official robes, then exchanged glances. That wasn’t going to work.

Their gazes slowly turned toward the ever-helpful civilian: Xie Jinhuan.

He raised a brow and spread his hands. “With this face? I look like some noble’s son, not a junkie.”

“They say it helps with virility. Plenty of rich boys use it for fun.”

“I need help with that?!”

Liu Qingzhi sighed. “We’re both government men. Even in plain clothes, Sanhe Tower might recognize us.”

Yang Dabiao nodded. “And everyone in Danyang knows Lord Linghu. Even if she dressed as a man, Sanhe Tower would recognize her ashes... cough—”

Before he could finish, Linghu Qingmo shot him a cold glare. She followed up icily:

“You’re new here and look like a well-born heir. You’re perfect. Any money spent, the yamen will reimburse. How much silver do you two have?”

She turned to the two old-timers.

Liu Qingzhi looked embarrassed. “My wife—you know how she is. Keeps me on a tight leash. I’ve got two taels... hidden stashes.”

Yang Dabiao, bolder, pulled a few chunks of silver and a fistful of coppers from his waist pouch, slapping them into Xie Jinhuan’s hand.

“Take it. Just say Young Master Han from Wencheng Street sent you. If they’ve got it, they’ll sell.”

Xie Jinhuan weighed it. Three qian, two fen, and a bunch of coppers...

Linghu Qingmo, surprised these two couldn’t scrape together three taels, sighed and pulled a small pouch from her robes, slapping it into Xie Jinhuan’s palm.

“Buy as much as you can. Get them to fetch it from the storeroom so we’ll know where it is.”

Given the generosity, Xie Jinhuan didn’t argue. He turned and strolled toward the street.

The others waited and watched from the shadows.

...

Inside Sanhe Tower, the gambling was in full swing. The din was constant:

“Four-five-six, small wins big loses!”

“Ugh! I lost again...”

Xie Jinhuan arrived at the door. A servant came forward eagerly.

“First time, Young Master? We have private rooms upstairs...”

But Xie Jinhuan didn’t enter. He gestured like someone buying black-market smut and beckoned the servant closer.

“Sent by Young Master Han from Wencheng Street. Heard you sell Ascending Immortal Powder?”

The servant blinked, looked him over, then glanced around the busy street.

“Too many eyes out here. Please come inside.”

That confirmed it—they were selling.

Xie Jinhuan followed him in. As they turned a hallway corner, the servant asked:

“Don’t think I’ve seen you before?”

“Just arrived in Danyang yesterday. Here for the Mid-Autumn banquet. Han told me about the powder—figured I’d check it out.”

“Ah, that explains it. Han’s a regular here. I’ll give you the insider price—five qian per vial. How many do you need?”

He pulled two small black bottles from his sleeve—identical to the one found on Fu Dongping.

Xie Jinhuan glanced at them, then pulled out Fu Dongping’s “donation”—a silver note for 300 taels.

“Probably won’t be enough. I’m hosting tonight—ten guests, thirty ladies. Got enough for that?”

Whoa—this guy’s throwing a silver party?!

The servant now saw he wasn’t just some dandy—he was loaded. Carrying a 300 tael note on hand? Definitely a big client. He quickly pocketed the sample bottles.

“This stuff’s tightly controlled. The boss doesn’t allow bulk sales. But I can get you a box—forty bottles. More than enough for your party. I’ll even toss in a box of Gold Lance Pills—those’ll keep you going all night.”

“Sure. Go get it.”

“Please wait here.”

The servant rushed off.

Xie Jinhuan didn’t follow directly. Once the servant disappeared behind a curtain, he wandered nonchalantly toward the hallway behind the main hall, ears tuned to locate the storeroom.

Then, from deep within the compound, a barely audible sound echoed—

“Ah...”

A short, muffled scream. So quiet the guards didn’t even notice.

?

Xie Jinhuan’s eyes narrowed. Something wasn’t right.

He quietly slipped deeper into the back courtyard...

—

Outside, the trio was still peeking from the alley, waiting for Xie Jinhuan to report back. But after he followed the servant inside, not a peep.

Linghu Qingmo frowned.

“What’s taking so long? He didn’t seriously run off to gamble with my silver, did he? That was my stash.”

Yang Dabiao peeked around the corner. “Can’t be. Maybe he followed them to the storeroom.”

Linghu Qingmo had put all her travel funds in that pouch. Uneasy, she said:

“Let’s go check.”