Chapter Sixteen: Brother Jiang! You’re Famous Now!

In the "A Little Sweetness" teahouse of Xuanwu City...

"Hey, have you heard the news?"

"Heard what?"

"Oh, it's about that inn called 'This Is Not a Black Shop.'"

"Oh... I heard, I heard. I can't believe Jiang Lin actually survived!"

"Not only did he survive, I heard from my eldest nephew's wife's best friend's boyfriend's girlfriend that Fairy Lin fought Jiang Lin in the inn. And guess what happened? When the disciples of Dragon Gate Sect burst in after hearing the commotion, Jiang Lin... he actually... he actually..."

"Ugh, actually what? Spit it out!"

"He was stark naked, hugging Fairy Lin and kissing her passionately!"

"What?! That scoundrel dares to be so brazen!"

"Who knows? Now all the disciples of Dragon Gate Sect and the cultivators of Xuanwu City are after him."

...

At Drunken Immortal's Abode, the largest pleasure house in Xuanwu City, famed as the Prince's Club, business usually peaks at night.

Yet, early that morning, a man rushed in.

"Brother Hao! Brother Hao! Something terrible has happened!"

A man flung open a door, shouting, causing shrieks from inside.

"What are you yelling for? What's got you so flustered? Can't you see I'm studying the Xuanwu dialect?"

On the grand double bed, the man sat up while the courtesan hastily pulled the quilt around her.

"Brother Hao! You can learn dialects another day. But Fairy Lin of Dragon Gate Sect, she... she..."

"Fairy Lin?! What about her?!"

"She was forcibly kissed!"

"What!"

...

At the Xuanwu City Confucian Academy, an elderly teacher walked to the lectern. Glancing at the headline of today's Xuanwu City Daily, he spoke earnestly:

"Lately, some pervert has been prowling Xuanwu City. Ladies, take care to protect yourselves. And those of you with sweethearts, keep an eye on your girlfriends. Now, let's begin the lesson."

...

On a street in Xuanwu City, a little girl sat on the ground, crying because she wanted candied hawthorn but her mother wouldn't buy it.

"Crying, crying, crying—your teeth are already rotten and you still want sweets. If you keep crying, that pervert Jiang Lin—he just loves crybabies!"

The moment her mother finished speaking, the girl's wailing stopped dead, her chubby face turning bright red from holding back tears.

...

At the "Very Reasonably Priced Tavern" in Xuanwu City, a "young lady" had ordered a few side dishes and was happily enjoying a heaping bowl of rice.

She was so adorably pure that every time she brought rice to her lips, she seemed even more charming and lively, drawing many furtive glances from those around her.

Soon, a man in white, with a jade pendant at his waist and a landscape fan in hand, approached and sat across from the "girl."

"Ahem...," the man cleared his throat, snapped open his fan, and flicked back a lock of hair. "Miss, are you dining alone?"

The girl didn't answer, continuing to eat intently.

"Well, miss, you should be careful. There's a flower thief in the city, goes by the name Jiang Lin. If you don't mind, I, Ye Liangchen of Zhu Liuzong, would be honored to accompany—"

Before he could finish, the girl stood abruptly, dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, and—

"Bam!"

Before another word could leave his lips, she punched him straight out of the tavern. Clutching his chest, gasping for breath, Ye Liangchen tried to stand but promptly fainted.

"I'm a man! A real man!"

The "girl" shouted in a gruffly delicate voice, tossed a silver coin to the waiter, and swaggered out.

...

In the private chambers of the city lord of Xuanwu City, a girl garbed in a black dress with skin as pale as snow was reading today's Xuanwu City Daily, while another girl, with a decorative mark between her brows, glanced nervously at the enchanting woman beside her.

"Yuni, listen to me—this must be a misunderstanding. Even if young Jiang Lin is hot-blooded, he wouldn't be naked—"

"Of course it’s a misunderstanding!" Jiang Yuni stood up, her black life-bound sword flying from her brow into her hand.

"Yuni, calm down! Calm down! Little Jiang Lin is not that kind of person!" Just as she was about to fly off with her sword, Luo Qinshang, the city lord, quickly wrapped her arms around the girl's slender waist.

"Nonsense! My Jiang Lin is definitely not that kind of person. That Lin Qingwan not only tried to seduce my Jiang Lin, but now that she failed, she’s spreading slanderous rumors! My poor little Lin must be so heartbroken! I want to see if Dragon Gate Sect can withstand my sword!"

"What? Seduction? Slander?"

Looking at the Xuanwu City Daily on the floor, its black-and-white print clearly accused Jiang Lin of defiling Lin Qingwan, senior sister of Dragon Gate Sect. How did this girl’s mind completely flip the story?

"Isn’t it obvious? Qinshang, let me go!"

"No way! Yuni, put down your sword and calm yourself!" Luo Qinshang was near tears. "I promise to get to the bottom of this and clear Jiang Lin’s name. But if you expose your identity by rushing out now, all those old monsters will hunt you down, and if it escalates, Lin will suffer too!"

"But..."

"No buts."

Seeing the girl relax a little in her arms, Luo Qinshang took her delicate hand, turned to face her, and their beautiful eyes met. "Trust me! I will never let anything hurt our little Lin."

Jiang Yuni gazed into Luo Qinshang’s sincere eyes.

"Qinshang, tell me honestly."

"Yes?"

"Have you taken a liking to Lin too?!"

"...???"

...

"Pearl, once we finish buying what we need for the secret realm, let’s try not to go out again," said a voice inside the mind of a girl cloaked in a long robe and veiled hat, her graceful figure hidden as she walked down a bustling street.

"Sword Spirit Sister, are you worried about that flower thief Jiang Lin?"

"A little. I heard that Lin Qingwan of Dragon Gate Sect has already reached the Dragon Gate Stage, and even she was molested. You may be a genius, born with a supreme bone, but your cultivation is still low. For now, caution is wise.

But don’t worry too much. As long as he hasn’t reached the Jade Pith Stage, if that thief dares come near, I’ll break all three of his legs myself!"

"Mhm, as long as you’re with me, Sword Spirit Sister, I’m not afraid of anything! If he dares show up, I’ll be the one to rid the world of evil!"

...

"Ha... aaahchoo..."

"Brother Jiang, are you alright?"

"Nothing, nothing, just caught a chill," Jiang Lin rubbed his nose and glanced at Fang Chaoqun. "Right, what were you saying just now?"

"Oh, Brother Jiang, congratulations!" Fang Chaoqun stood, clutching the Xuanwu City Daily, and cupped his fists in salute.

"Congratulations? Am I about to become a father?!"

"A father? That I don’t know. But, Brother Jiang! You’re famous now!"