Xuanqing Guard

Suddenly hearing such a line, Shen Hao felt the smile on his face stiffen for a split second.

"Checking my background?" Shen Hao lowered his head, locking eyes with Lian Xiang who was just inches away, as if searching for some clue in her gaze.

"Exactly!" Lian Xiang’s smile was full of glee. Always being led around by Shen Shaxing made her unhappy inside. Now that things had come this far, she didn’t mind teasing him a little.

Still, Shen Hao couldn’t see any hostility or malicious intent in those pretty eyes—just pride and playfulness. He sighed inwardly; women aren’t so easy to deal with, especially a woman like this.

But who was Shen Hao? The biggest information boss in Fengri City; his day job was to analyze all kinds of people and things. Lian Xiang’s comment caught him off guard, but it also carried a lot of hidden messages. After turning it over in his mind, Shen Hao found the whole thing a bit amusing.

He let Lian Xiang pour him a glass of wine, downed it in one gulp and said: "So even someone investigating my background—you know about that? Tsk tsk, I can’t even guess who’s digging around; too many people find me an eyesore and want me dead. But hearing you say this, I already know what you do."

"You!" Lian Xiang seemed to realize it herself, her pretty face feigning anger, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance. She’d hoist herself with her own petard this time.

If she could know that someone was checking Shen Hao’s background, she must have channels for that. Combined with Shen Hao’s earlier analysis of her identity, he was now essentially certain Lian Xiang was a "secret agent" type of intelligence dealer. Maybe she was just the tip of the information chain, or maybe they did more than just trade intelligence.

Shen Hao was about to speak, but outside things below became even rowdier. Calls for "Ning Le’s House" reached a fever pitch. Looking downstairs, he could see a woman in a long purple dress graciously emerging, protected by several female cultivators.

"Look! Ms. Zi Yi is coming out!"

"Yeah? I see her, the one in the purple skirt, right?"

Unlike what Shen Hao had imagined, Ning Ziye didn’t have that demonic allure—she had more of an ethereal, chuchen vibe. Her face wasn’t one of those heart-stopping beauties at first glance, but the more you looked, the more charming she became. Her figure was slim, with subtle curves, leaning toward the elegant and refined rather than fiery sensuality.

"Hmph! Are you gawking? Ah!" Lian Xiang gave Shen Hao’s waist a gentle pinch. But the moment she did, she got pinched right back.

"That Ning Ziye doesn’t look like a songstress."

"Right? She never learned any charm skills. Her nature is cold, not much for small talk. Though she was quite popular back then, she didn’t live up to her master’s expectations. Thanks to her master’s help mediating, Ms. Zi Yi could buy her own freedom. Now she’s wholeheartedly devoted to zither art and singing, which made her even more famous."

"You’re envious?"

"Of course I’m envious. I also want to do what I love, go to all kinds of places, eat good food, travel around, be adored without being groped, and not have to force a smile at everyone. Most importantly, the money she makes isn’t less than mine. If it were you, wouldn’t you be jealous?"

"If it were me? Definitely not."

Lian Xiang raised her head, frowning at Shen Hao in surprise. "Hmph! Why? Just because you’re in a black robe now and think you’re better than others?"

Hey! This woman’s words are starting to get a little prickly!

Shen Hao rolled his eyes and pinched Lian Xiang’s back hard, shaking his head. "Looks glamorous in public, but who knows how much hardship she swallows behind the scenes? In this world, except for your parents who’ll give you a good life for free and ask nothing in return, don’t expect that from anyone else. For Ning Ziye to travel the land and make such a name as a woman, how do you think she protects herself?

Either it’s background, or she’s latched onto someone powerful. Neither of those is worth my envy."

"Humph, I didn’t expect Lord Shen to see things so clearly. But Ms. Zi Yi isn’t like that."

"She relies on herself? Ha, I almost forgot, you’re technically from the same school. You’ve got no small amount of cultivation, but you’ve hidden it so well I can’t tell how. I bet she’s covering hers too—and it’s definitely higher than yours, right?"

Lian Xiang just gave a couple of hums, not answering—she didn’t really deny it either.

After a few more lines, the clamor outside died down rapidly. Ning Ziye could be seen gracefully walking to the center of the stage, sitting in front of a zither. After lingering on the strings for a moment, she started playing. The music drifted through the air.

Shen Hao prided himself as a rough guy, even though he had the title of "great scholar," he knew his own measure; what scholar? All his poems were thanks to the blessings of his ancestors—if not, he wouldn’t even have anything to plagiarize. Nothing to feel proud of.

See how Zhang Qian and Gan Lin were close to Shen Hao and got along so well—they were the same kind after all.

Back at the Flower House, he’d sometimes think a tune was nice, but that was about it—clap a few hands, maybe toss a reward if it was really good, but nothing more.

Yet when Ning Ziye’s zither started, Shen Hao was a bit dazed, as if the melody plucked some hidden chord inside him. He couldn’t quite describe it, but it felt good—really, really good!

He even subconsciously focused every bit of attention on the music, forgetting to be mischievous with the hand behind Lian Xiang’s back.

And it wasn’t just him; in their private room, Zhang Qian and Gan Lin were just as entranced, lost in the music.

All rough types, not a clue about music, but at this moment, they genuinely felt subdued by the zither—nothing else mattered.

"Something’s wrong!"

There was a shake deep in Shen Hao’s sea of consciousness—he had a gut feeling this state wasn’t normal. But checking himself, he sensed no danger.

"Suppress!"

Used to maintaining constant alertness, Shen Hao felt uncomfortable being so absorbed in the melody. His back was soon slick with cold sweat. Even if there wasn’t any danger, he didn’t want to sink into the music like this. So he cast the Soul Suppressing Skill on himself—whether or not there was a problem, once his soul was steady, outside distractions wouldn’t sway him.

The Soul Suppressing Skill worked wonders. In a flash, Shen Hao pulled back from the music’s grip and swept his gaze around. Next to him, Lian Xiang sat, watching him with a half-smile.

"I knew you’d break away from Ms. Zi Yi’s zither music. Knew it."

"Phew! Amazing! That music...there’s something off about it?"

"What could be wrong? That’s just Ms. Zi Yi’s skill."

"Tell me."

"Not telling."

"You’re from the same school, so why isn’t your zither playing this weird?"

"Pfui, there you go with your snark! This is a high-level zither art, ’captivating,’ you know? What’s so off about it?"

Shen Hao laughed. "Of course, I know nothing about it. Just tell me, is this kind of zither art something your master taught you?"

"Of course!"