Chapter 151 - 103: Xiaoxue’s Mindset Collapses

Chapter 151: Chapter 103: Xiaoxue’s Mindset Collapses

Inside the room at the posthouse.

The lamp flame flickered quietly, its dim yellow light enveloping the two figures standing opposite each other, searing their shadows onto the wall.

Ling Ye gently placed the wine jug on the table.

She looked up at Jiang Mu, her voice as cool and clear as ever. "Take off your clothes."

"...Is that really a good idea?"

Jiang Mu looked embarrassed, subconsciously pulling his lapels together.

He had only complained earlier to borrow Ling Ye’s influence and knock the other guy down a peg. He never thought she would be so protective as to get physical right away.

He was touched, he really was, but this... stripping to inspect his wounds...

"Just take them off. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before."

Ling Ye’s expression was calm.

The candlelight reflected off her coolly stunning, jade-like face, making her look like a night-blooming cereus under the moon, lustrous and radiant.

Resigned, Jiang Mu slowly undid his sash, removing his outer robe and inner shirt to reveal a lean, muscular torso.

The candlelight danced,

casting flickering shadows across his well-defined chest and abs.

Ling Ye’s gaze fell on the old scar on his abdomen. It had faded but was still clearly visible. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly as she asked, "When were you injured?"

Jiang Mu looked a little awkward.

"Just a few days ago... Actually, the wound has mostly healed. Um... I really didn’t mean to lie to you. That guy did try to whip me, but I dodged, so he missed."

Ling Ye said nothing.

’She hated being deceived more than anything, just like with her master back then.’

’But when Xiaojiang lied to her, she didn’t feel angry.’

’He must have had his reasons.’

She stepped in front of him and reached out, her fingertips as slender and delicate as spring onions, gently pressing the edge of the scar on his abdomen.

The skin felt slightly hard and tight, a characteristic of a healing wound.

"How did this happen?"

Her warm breath ghosted across Jiang Mu’s chest like a feather’s light caress, sending a tingling, ticklish sensation through him.

Jiang Mu tensed his abs, feeling a little uncomfortable. He gave her a brief summary of the important parts of what happened at the Han Mansion.

When she heard the name "Beitang Batian," Ling Ye was utterly shocked and took a long moment to recover.

A deep sense of vexation and regret washed over her.

’If I hadn’t been in such a hurry to leave Hu State, if I’d just left a few days later, maybe Xiaojiang wouldn’t have had to face such danger alone, wouldn’t have been so badly hurt...’

’It’s all my fault!’

"Sister Ling, didn’t you already leave? Why are you back?"

Jiang Mu’s voice broke her train of thought.

Ling Ye pulled her hand back and motioned for him to get dressed. She turned and walked to the table, her tone calm once more.

"I’m just tracking Qiu Yuexin. Wherever she goes, I go."

Jiang Mu’s heart skipped a beat.

’That little vixen is back in Hu State, too?’

’But then again, that girl specifically told me to go steal files from the Document Library. She must have come back for this matter, so it’s not that surprising.’

’Still, Sister Ling’s senses are too sharp. She’s like a human radar.’

Ling Ye sized him up, her gaze turning a little strange.

"How did you break through to the Fourth Realm so quickly?"

He made it look as easy as eating or drinking, which made even a former prodigy like her feel a little defeated.

Jiang Mu scratched his head, a look of pure innocence on his face.

"I’ve just been at home in seclusion, cultivating very seriously for the past few days, and then... I somehow broke through. It was actually a really difficult process, I swear."

Ling Ye was speechless.

She couldn’t be bothered to dwell on the demoralizing topic. She picked up the wine jug, tilted her head back for a swig, and got down to business.

"So, how did you end up in a conflict with Vice Director Tian?"

The mere mention of it set Jiang Mu off.

He indignantly recounted the whole affair. When he finished, he snatched up the wine jug Ling Ye had just set down, and without a second thought, drank a large mouthful straight from the spout, cursing,

"I just have a foul temper!

If he really dares to make things difficult for me at the Bureau, then screw it, I’ll just quit!

If they don’t want me here, I’ll find somewhere that does.

Sister Ling, when the time comes, I’ll go be a Patrol Envoy with you. The world is a big place, where can’t I make a life for myself?"

Ling Ye watched his bold display, her eyes drifting to the spout of the jug that his lips had just touched without any reservation.

Her pink lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end, she said nothing at all.

But a faint, rosy blush crept silently onto her cool, jade-like cheeks.

She said softly,

"Vice Director Tian might be old-fashioned and a bit petty, but he’s clear-headed when it comes to official business. Now that things have been cleared up, he shouldn’t intentionally hold this against you.

Besides, with Ran Qingshan looking out for you from above, you don’t need to worry too much."

’Old-fashioned? Petty?’

Jiang Mu scoffed.

’When it comes to being petty, if I claim to be second, no one would dare claim to be first.’

"Oh, right,"

Jiang Mu suddenly remembered something. "I heard from the Director that Vice Director Tian is leading the demon-slaying mission to Yan City. That old coot isn’t going to try to trip me up along the way and get me killed, is he?"

Ling Ye shook her head, somewhat amused.

"You’re overthinking it. If he truly had such vile thoughts, he never would have made it to the position of Deputy Director.

In fact, the position of Hu State’s Director should have been his back then, but he felt Ran Qingshan was more dynamic and voluntarily stepped aside.

To put it bluntly, even though Tian Wenjing is an annoying person, his loyalty to the Demon-slaying Bureau is beyond question."

"That’s good to hear."

Only then did Jiang Mu feel relieved.

Ling Ye picked up the wine jug again. Her fingertips paused on the porcelain for a moment, and she subconsciously wanted to wipe the spout with the corner of her sleeve.

But her movement halted, and in the end, she didn’t.

She brought the spout to her lips, tilted her head back, and took another drink.

For some reason, the spout of the jug felt unusually hot tonight. The wine, usually crisp and harsh, seemed to have an extra fiery burn as it went down, searing a hot trail all the way to her heart.

Perhaps it was the stir of her emotions, or perhaps it was the wine quietly taking effect.