Roaring Dragon-Chapter 36: Feeling Ashamed

Night fell.

Clip-clop, clip-clop...

The sound of horse hooves occasionally sped past the streets, making passersby turn their heads in curiosity.

Princess Changning, dressed in a luxurious palace gown, sat inside a lavish carriage. Seeing the large number of soldiers and constables who had left the city a few days ago now rushing back, she asked:

"Something happened at the Prince’s residence?"

Steward Hou, Princess Changning’s trusted aide, walked alongside the carriage, stroking his walrus mustache as he answered:

"Seems they found the source of the demonic aura at Zihui Mountain. You’d have to ask old Zhu for details."

Princess Changning nodded slightly.

"Having a lead is good. Go invite Miss Wang and the others over. We'll throw a banquet tonight to celebrate."

?

Sitting beside her, Duoduo thought the princess could find any excuse just to drink heavily.

Normally, as a loyal lapdog, Steward Hou would have immediately gone to deliver the invitations. But today, he surprisingly stood still, showing a trace of hesitation:

"Your Highness, you’ve already seen Xie Jinhuan, and you still want to drink with the ladies? Compared to the wildflowers of the back alleys, proper girls just don't quite measure up~"

Princess Changning leaned against the carriage window, lazily fanning herself with a landscape fan as she admired the sweet osmanthus trees lining the street:

"A flower that bloomed so well in the backyard, and you deliberately hid it from me. Now that the flower's already been picked, you want me to dig at the neighbor's wall?"

"A flower already picked? Your Highness means Doctor Lin?"

Steward Hou furrowed his eyebrows.

"Doctor Lin is indeed somewhat beautiful, but compared to Your Highness, it's like... Xie Jinhuan compared to the little one. Each has their charms, but the little one carries a richer fragrance..."

"Pff~ haha..."

Duoduo couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth to muffle it:

"Pu-pu-pu..."

Even the well-seasoned Princess Changning's face darkened a shade.

Still, as her trusted aide, Steward Hou wasn’t punished. The princess simply explained:

"Qingmo knew him first. Now they're working together on cases every day. If I tried to dig at that wall, wouldn’t it hurt the bond between sisters?"

Steward Hou twirled his fan, eyes darting mischievously:

"Your Highness and Miss Linghu are like sisters. You cherish old ties and value affection. In the future, even after finding a good husband, if you two could still call each other sisters and spend your days together, wouldn't that be a fine tale?"

Duoduo interjected:

"So basically, marry the same man? Sounds like a good deal... for the man!"

Princess Changning was about to respond when she spotted three figures in red qilin uniforms talking at the mouth of Qingquan Alley.

The Chilin Guard served the Emperor directly. They had the power to execute officials first and report later. Although they technically didn't dare offend the princes, it was clear that even royal households fell under their surveillance.

Seeing three of these red-robed harbingers of bad luck lurking near her home, Princess Changning frowned deeply:

"Go call those three over."

Steward Hou received the order, but instead of politely approaching, he simply widened his eyes and shouted:

"You three up ahead! Get over here!"

The three Chilin Guards, who were talking among themselves, immediately placed their hands on their waist blades and glared back angrily.

But seeing Princess Changning’s procession, their expressions shifted. They quickly ran over, lifted their robes, and knelt on one knee:

"Zhou He, Centurion of the Chilin Guard, greets Your Highness!"

Princess Changning didn’t tell them to rise. Still leaning against the carriage window, she asked:

"Lord Zhou, traveling all the way from the capital to Qingquan Alley—are there traitors stirring up trouble here?"

Zhou He looked down at the street, his tone steady:

"Your Highness misunderstands. We came today to handle the Sanhe Tower case. I heard the night view by the Chongming River was famous, so after our shift, we decided to come take a look."

With the princess backing him, Steward Hou wasn’t polite at all:

"If you wanted to have fun at night, you should’ve gone to Flower Street in Taoxian Ward. Qingquan Alley is all properties owned by the princess—no brothels here. Don’t wander into the wrong place, Lord Zhou."

"Yes, Your Highness. We were just discussing where to go. We didn’t notice your procession. Please forgive us."

Princess Changning stayed silent for a moment. Seeing how tightly they covered their tracks, she didn’t press further:

"Leave."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The three Chilin Guards got up and disappeared into the street.

Princess Changning furrowed her brows even deeper, looking toward the depths of the alley:

"Someone caused trouble in the alley, attracting the Chilin Guard?"

Most residents here were minor officials and clerks. If the Chilin Guard came knocking, it usually meant death wasn’t far behind. Steward Hou thought for a moment:

"Probably not. They might really just be talking about chasing women."

"Hmph. These harbingers don’t show up unless there's real trouble. Keep a close watch in the coming days."

"Yes..."

...

——

Lin Family Medical Hall, Dan Room.

A man-sized brass alchemy furnace stood at the center of the room, faint white mist rising from its top, with bright yellow flames flickering below.

Beside the Dan Room was a hundred-drawer herb cabinet, each drawer labeled with a different medicinal name. In the corner, a small desk held the alchemy schedule and a log recording furnace temperature, ingredient times, and other details.

Lin Zisu, dressed in a white gown, posted the alchemy progress sheet on the wall. Her jet-black hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. The tight-fitting dress accentuated her curves, her pale cheeks radiated a gentle grace—she looked like a delicate flower untouched by worldly dust.

But a graceful posture didn’t mean a meek personality.

While bustling about, Lin Zisu entertained herself, humming a mischievous little tune she'd picked up somewhere:

"Long, slender eyebrows elegantly arch~ a soft pinch around the slender willow waist~"

The melody was sweet and charming, enough to melt a man’s bones halfway through.

But standing by the furnace, Xie Jinhuan only felt his scalp tingle!

After returning from outside the city, Xie Jinhuan had come straight to the medical hall to meet Lin Wanyi.

Yet here he was again—listening to the same scandalous song.

Do all girls in Danyang sing this kind of thing?

Leaving aside Mo Mo, the least proper one turned out to be this witch girl...

Lin Wanyi, already used to the chaos, was currently performing a bizarre ritual in front of the furnace, bowing reverently three times, circling left three times, then right three times, all while muttering something.

Meiqiu, considered irrelevant to the proceedings, had been kicked outside and could only poke his head through the window to watch.

Watching Lin Wanyi turn and turn, Xie Jinhuan asked in confusion:

"Does spinning in circles help with alchemy?"

Wearing her gold-rimmed glasses, her stunningly beautiful face serious, Lin Wanyi finished the circles before answering:

"All things have spirit. When it comes to alchemy, if your master bowed three times to the furnace before starting, you'd better do the same.

"What I do is already normal. You should see Zisu. Before she starts, she flatters the furnace with stuff like ‘Good furnace, mighty furnace~’ like she’s possessed."

Xie Jinhuan asked suspiciously:

"Does that actually work?"

Thinking of her painful childhood alchemy experiences, Lin Wanyi answered with absolute certainty:

"It works. Otherwise, the furnace might explode!"

Xie Jinhuan thought this sounded utterly unscientific.

But if he exploded his furnace a dozen times, then accidentally succeeded after slapping himself, he'd probably end up slapping himself every time after just to be safe.

After the ceremony finished, Lin Wanyi crouched beside the furnace to check its condition.

Because of her voluptuous figure and the tight work dress she wore, crouching caused her plump rear to form a magnificent curve, the thin white fabric making it even more... visually impactful.

Lin Zisu, sticking up the last sheet on the board, turned and caught the sight, couldn’t help but exclaim:

"Wow~ Auntie, your butt is so round!"

?

Lin Wanyi stumbled, blushing furiously, and grabbed a ruler:

"You brat! Didn’t you see we have a guest?"

"Hee~ just joking~"

...

Facing these two—one large, one small—Xie Jinhuan found himself feeling quite awkward.

Since he didn’t know alchemy anyway, he said goodbye:

"It’s getting late. I'll head back."

"Eh? Wait! I prepared something for you!"

Lin Wanyi quickly set down the ruler and ran to the front hall.

Left alone with Zisu, Xie Jinhuan suddenly remembered something. He turned back:

"Zisu, about that Realm-Breaking Pill of yours..."

Lin Zisu peeked toward the front to make sure her aunt wasn't looking, then sneakily pulled a small vial from her bosom:

"Here."

Xie Jinhuan quickly tucked it into his sleeve, then pulled out a silver note from Fu Dongping's spoils and handed it to her:

"I don’t have much money. If it’s not enough, I’ll make up the difference in a few days."

Lin Zisu glanced at it and found it was worth a hundred taels. She hurriedly pushed it back:

"That's way too much. One tael is enough."

"One tael?"

Xie Jinhuan was stunned.

"Such a powerful pill, and it's only one tael?"

"Cheap things are usually bad. This pill messes with your mind and the strength boost is temporary. Honestly, even given away for free, few dare to eat it."

Zisu stuffed a piece of loose silver into her sleeve and went back to work, whispering:

"Don’t use it recklessly, and absolutely don’t tell Auntie."

Originally planning to use it as a desperate gamble, Xie Jinhuan thought of the single tael price and couldn't help comparing it to the one tael, seven coins he had spent renting that crumbling house...

A little disappointing, but he still tucked the vial away and bowed in thanks.

Soon after, Lin Wanyi returned, carrying a small box and a bottle of wine:

"Zisu retrieved some leftover Dragon Blood Pills from the Academy. Take one each day. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately so I can adjust the formula.

"This wine is great for boosting vitality and essence. Drink it and you'll feel rejuvenated tomorrow. I even prepared some medicinal bath formulas for you to relax tonight..."

Xie Jinhuan had lost a lot of blood today and did feel a little weak.

But he had already sacrificed himself, framed a fellow cultivator, and borrowed Lin Wanyi's body as a cover. Taking more free stuff now felt a bit shameless. Glancing at the bottle, he asked:

"Such good wine must be expensive, right?"

"Not really, just a few dozen taels."

"?"

Xie Jinhuan was about to take out his money but froze:

"So expensive? What's so special about it?"

Lin Wanyi proudly explained:

"It’s brewed with ‘Hero’s Tears.’ You’ve probably never drunk it before, so don’t be greedy."

"Hero’s Tears?"

Xie Jinhuan was shocked.

He'd heard of it—it was the second most famous wine by the legendary winemaker Fan Tusu from the former dynasty. The first being «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the untouchable "First Under Heaven."

The names said it all—behind every shining success was an endless ocean of hero’s tears.

This wine was so rare that without serious connections, you couldn’t even smell it. His old man had once managed a few sips when promoted to county magistrate and bragged about it for years.

Xie Jinhuan hadn’t tasted it himself yet.

Now that he had the chance, he reluctantly pulled out Fu Dongping’s ill-gotten silver note:

"We fought side-by-side today to slay demons. Losing a bit of blood isn’t worth troubling you further. I’ll buy the wine myself."

"Eh?"

Lin Wanyi had just been about to refuse the money but saw Xie Jinhuan flash away, hugging Meiqiu as he soared over the courtyard wall.

Chasing outside, she found only the empty moonlit courtyard, muttering:

"Still so young, yet more upright than any academy professor... So righteous, so honorable, so selfless... How can there be such a man in this world..."

Thinking of her own identity as a witch girl, Lin Wanyi suddenly felt a little... ashamed of herself.