"Lord of the Continent, I truly don’t know who that masked man was!"
Master Jin lay sprawled on the ground, desperately trying to prove his innocence.
Wenren Buxiao merely sipped his tea, in no hurry to speak.
Zhou Xian interjected, "That black-clad masked man was clearly a malevolent spirit from the Undying City of Yunhuang, yet he appeared unscathed in your 'Gentle Haven.' If you claim ignorance of his identity, who would believe you?"
Master Jin lowered his head, his eyes darting around. Perhaps he had anticipated such a scene, for he kept his composure, knowing no one had concrete evidence against him.
"Lord Zhou Xian, my Gentle Haven welcomes all kinds of patrons—high and low alike. Some guests hide their faces to avoid their families discovering their indulgences. How could I possibly verify every single identity?"
"Besides, under Lord Wenren’s governance, Canghai Continent has always been peaceful. How could I have imagined malevolent spirits would infiltrate the city?"
Zhou Xian’s expression darkened. "Are you implying the Lord of the Continent’s rule is lax?"
"This humble one wouldn’t dare!" Master Jin hastily bowed, though he couldn’t resist muttering under his breath, "At least such incidents never occurred under Shangguan Huanxi’s rule."
Zhou Xian took a step forward. "You—!"
Wenren Buxiao raised a hand, stopping him.
Zhou Xian had once pursued malevolent spirits and nearly lost his life—until Wenren Buxiao saved him. His loyalty ran deep, and hearing anyone slight Wenren Buxiao infuriated him.
"Lord of the Continent, this man spews nothing but nonsense. He deserves punishment."
Wenren Buxiao’s lips curled slightly. "Master Jin isn’t entirely wrong. Compared to Huanxi, I do fall short."
Those nearby disagreed inwardly. How could Shangguan Huanxi—that venomous, jealous woman—ever compare to Wenren Buxiao?
Master Jin pressed on, "Lord Wenren, Lord Zhou Xian, since opening my establishment in Canghai Continent, I’ve always abided by the law. Even in business, I only take in girls with nowhere else to go, ensuring everything is consensual—no coercion, no exploitation. My ledgers are open for inspection, and I’ve never missed a single tax payment."
Lifting his head, he straightened his back and declared, "I, Master Jin, act with a clear conscience and uphold my family’s honor. If I colluded with malevolent spirits, may my lineage perish!"
The men present couldn’t help but voice their support.
"Master Jin’s business dealings are fair to all."
"Last time my wife stormed in, he hid me away!"
"When I gambled recklessly, nearly losing everything, he stepped in and stopped me."
"With his reputation and success, why would he ever conspire with malevolent spirits?"
The murmurs of approval swelled, all siding with Master Jin, who now stood tall, radiating righteousness.
Years of meticulous planning had left no room for error. He refused to believe Wenren Buxiao would dare act against him without proof.
"This man certainly knows how to sway a crowd," Chu'he remarked before turning to the person glued to her side. "Ninth, do you think he’s a good man?"
Ninth replied, "No."
"Why?"
"He’s surnamed Song."
Chu'he: "..."
Would this joke ever die?
Master Jin was indeed suspicious, but without concrete evidence of his ties to malevolent spirits—and given his popularity among Canghai’s men—forceful arrest was impossible.
Wenren Buxiao listened to the chorus of support and smiled. "Master Jin is right. We act only on solid evidence, not whims, lest we undermine the rules."
Master Jin stood, dusted off his robes, and clasped his hands smugly. "Lord Wenren’s wisdom prevails. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."
As Master Jin swaggered away, Zhou Xian’s expression soured.
"Two unidentified figures appeared—one the black-clad masked man. I tried to intercept him, but another expert intervened."
Wenren Buxiao paused, glancing at the physician beside him. "Miss Lin, did you catch a glimpse of the one who attacked you?"
Miss Lin shook her head. "They struck from behind. I never saw them."
Zhou Xian cut in, "Surviving an encounter with malevolent spirits is miracle enough. Had she seen them, she’d be silenced permanently."
Wenren Buxiao shot him a look.
Zhou Xian flushed slightly before pressing, "That Master Jin is insufferable. Lord of the Continent, must we tolerate him?"
Wenren Buxiao replied, "Aren’t the wives coming to fetch their husbands soon? Open the gates. Let them in—and be sure to highlight Master Jin’s… hospitality in hiding their men."
Zhou Xian’s face twisted.
This Lord of the Continent had a boundless, mischievous streak when it came to disrupting domestic bliss.
Chu'he nudged Ninth. "No more drama. Let’s go home."
Ninth nodded, clasping her hand as they slipped out through the broken window.
With a sigh of relief, Xinzhong Yi felt life return to him.
Noticing the young couple’s departure, Zhou Xian said, "Lord of the Continent, they’re surely unrelated to the malevolent spirits."
Wenren Buxiao chuckled softly. "Yes, I know."
Moments later, he leaned back lazily, stroking the white jade ring on his finger, his handsome face lost in thought as he murmured:
"Youth’s first bloom of love, foolish yet enchanting. Unaware of life’s trials, they stir envy most."
The moon now hung high, the night heavy with dew. The once-bustling streets had fallen silent.
Chu'he clung to Ninth’s back, twirling a strand of his braid around her finger—unconsciously adopting his habits.
"Ninth, this is all your fault! I’d be asleep by now if not for your antics!"
Ninth treaded lightly over moonlit cobblestones, eager to appease her. "Forgive me, A-He. I won’t misbehave again."
"Next time… well, it wouldn’t be entirely unwelcome."
Ninth turned his head, brushing her cheek, his crimson eyes wide with confusion.
Chu'he feigned sternness. "I’m not saying you can visit brothels again! Just that… occasional mischief isn’t so bad."
A silver strand of his hair slipped free as his gaze remained blankly lost.
Chu'he suddenly laughed, cupping his face. "Wasn’t it fun causing a little chaos with friends?"
Ninth: "Friends?"
"Yes, friends! You and Dao Lao San got along well this time, didn’t you?"
"But I caused trouble. Made you unhappy."
Chu'he rested her chin on his shoulder, poking his cheek. "Sometimes, the best memories come from mischief shared with friends."
