Chapter 15

On this night, the chill of early spring had yet to dissipate, and the cool, thin air filled the quiet courtyard.

A bright moon hung high in the brilliant Milky Way, shining particularly brightly. Under the green willows, Feng Jueyu looked up at the moon, occasionally letting out a few lewd lines, causing the servants outside the wall to sneer, thinking, "This brute is getting frisky again."

On the left side of the Yunmeng Pavilion, the second floor was lit by a bright oil lamp. The graceful figure reflected on the window paper was filled with weariness; the young miss was reviewing the accounts again.

It was the season of early spring, when the earth was reviving, and the herbal medicine industry was entering its peak season. At this time, people usually went out to find the origins of medicinal herbs or to cultivate new varieties. Just like other herbal shops, Huairen Hall had a lot of work for Shangguan Ruomeng to do.

At the desk inside the window, Shangguan Ruomeng was looking through thick account books, occasionally picking up her brush to make notes.

Xing'er stood obediently by her side, holding a large abacus and moving the beads back and forth.

Ah~

The master and her servant were concentrating on the accounts when a wolf-like howl suddenly came from outside the building:

"Spring sleep knows no dawn,

Everywhere mosquitoes bite,

To sleep soundly,

Don't wash your feet at night."

How lewd, how lewd...

This "poem" truly stunned everyone in the courtyard. Many people in the rooms were covering their ears with cotton, and even a few servants and maids in the woodshed were scared half to death, their good times cut short.

Xing'er, who was in the Yunmeng Pavilion, was so angry that she bit her lip. Even the usually composed Shangguan Ruomeng frowned and looked out. When they saw a certain brother standing under a crooked tree, swaying his head and reciting lewd lines, they were so angry that their lips trembled.

"Sir, you're being too much. It's so late, and you're still shouting, Miss~" Xing'er was not unattractive, her face flushed with anger, adding a touch of charm.

"Never mind." Shangguan Ruomeng watched through the window for a while, then shook her head helplessly and sat down again. "If Brother Feng has such a refined interest, let him be. Don't bother with him." She sighed, not knowing what to think.

Xing'er couldn't bear to look at the accounts anymore and threw the abacus on the table, saying angrily, "Miss, he's not young anymore. I'm just a servant, and I shouldn't say such things, but Miss, I feel it's unfair for you."

Shangguan Ruomeng put down her brush and looked up. "What's unfair about it?" She stood up, her expression serious. "In the Shangguan family, there are three main branches, with over three hundred disciples. Most of them are blood relatives or have some connection. It's not easy to maintain such a large estate. Grandfather is old and doesn't want to manage it anymore. He lets the third branch compete for the estate but doesn't want it to get too heated, so he chose me. If I leave the Shangguan family, how long can it last?"

"Five years? Ten years? Or three years? Two years?" Shangguan Ruomeng sighed. "In four provinces, two prefectures, one state, and six counties, the Shangguan family's estate is too large. If any department has a problem, it could be a disaster for the Shangguan family's two-hundred-year legacy. I can't leave, so I have to marry Feng Jueyu. Only then can Grandfather be at ease."

"But... but he doesn't respect himself and doesn't strive for improvement. Miss, can you endure it after the wedding?" Xing'er and Shangguan Ruomeng grew up together and were like sisters. She was the only one who could speak so frankly, and she truly cared for Shangguan Ruomeng.

Shangguan Ruomeng shook her head, a look of disappointment flashing across her face, then she said firmly, "I have to endure it. For Grandfather, sacrificing myself is nothing."

She walked to the window and looked at the figure outside, her tone softening. "Actually, Brother Feng isn't a bad person. He's been to brothels many times but has never spent the night there. This shows he knows what's important and what's not. For me, that's enough. Besides, only someone with such a nature is easy to control. Do you want him to be like Ruo Wen and Ruo Wu, who are friendly on the surface but full of schemes behind the scenes?"

"But..." Xing'er wanted to speak up for her miss, but Shangguan Ruomeng interrupted her.

"Have you noticed that Brother Feng seems different after the last incident?" Shangguan Ruomeng didn't turn around, her curious gaze fixed on the figure in the courtyard.

Xing'er was taken aback. Different? How? He's still the same, and no one listens to him. "Miss, have you noticed anything?"

Shangguan Ruomeng smiled. "I can't explain it, but I feel he's different."

Xing'er was puzzled and didn't want to look at the rogue, but she couldn't help walking to the window and gazing at Feng Jueyu with Shangguan Ruomeng.

The conversation in the pavilion was quiet, and the two women, disturbed by Feng Jueyu, had no heart for the accounts. They both felt a bit frustrated. There was a lot to do tonight, but they ended up talking about that good-for-nothing.

"Never mind, Xing'er, let's tidy up and rest."

Shangguan Ruomeng didn't know that this meeting would leave a faint impression on her heart, and this night would be sleepless.

...

In the garden below, the great assassin Feng Jueyu, after waiting in vain for a lady to admire the moon, returned to his residence and continued to practice the first level of the Hongyuan Heavenly Scripture.

After saving Li Yide with the Huimao Heavenly Needle at the Jishi Hall in the morning, Feng Jueyu's understanding of the Life and Death Unchanging Power had deepened. Now, the young master was accustomed to the flow of life and death energies and was delighted to discover that the Hongyuan Qi in the Hongyuan Space was almost inexhaustible, and how much he could use depended on his ability.

With this supernatural power, the great assassin's confidence grew. The life energy's ability to nourish all things could be applied in various ways, and the death energy, or the Hongyuan Yin Qi, had a significant opposite effect.

After nearly half a month of contemplation, Feng Jueyu had a good understanding of how to use the two energies. For him, it was like gaining two superpowers, which was incredibly exciting.

When the two Hongyuan Qi energies were controlled properly, they could produce various unexpected effects, such as concealing one's presence and movements, which was very practical.

Now, it was up to him to use these powerful abilities.

And now, there was a good opportunity. On a moonless, windy night, the great assassin set his sights on the Yizhuang.

...

The Yizhuang in the western city...

The Yizhuang was a place to store coffins. Of course, the coffins were not empty; they contained bodies, mostly those who had not yet found a proper place for burial, or those who died away from home and whose families planned to return them to their homeland for burial, or those who were too poor to afford a proper burial and had to be temporarily stored in the Yizhuang.

On the way, Feng Jueyu carefully shook off the followers and finally arrived at the Yizhuang in the western city.

At midnight, the air grew even colder, and the cold wind stirred the few dry leaves on the ground, making them drift aimlessly in the air, moaning like ghosts, creating a chilling and eerie atmosphere.

Running to the Yizhuang in the middle of the night, Feng Jueyu had a purpose. He wanted to verify whether he could use the death energy to simulate the smell of corpses and even create ghosts. If successful, he could use this ability in various situations, which would be very beneficial.

The door of the Yizhuang was not tightly closed. Seeing no one around, Feng Jueyu sneaked in like a ghost.

As soon as he entered the main hall, a cold chill enveloped his entire body. Even the great assassin, who was brave and fearless, couldn't help but shiver.

Damn, this Yizhuang is more eerie than a morgue.

The Yizhuang evolved from ancestral halls, and there was a large statue at the front of each one, with fierce and solemn features. Combined with the rows of cold, old coffins, even the bravest person would feel their hair stand on end.

The great assassin was no exception; he didn't want to stay here for long.

He walked to a nearby coffin and slowly pushed open the lid, muttering, "Sorry, brother, I need to borrow some corpse smell for research. After the Jishi Hall incident, I'll come back and burn some incense and candles for you. Don't be angry."

As he muttered, the great assassin extended his hand, and the Life and Death Unchanging Power quietly activated, creating a suction force in his palm, drawing out the musty smell of the decaying body.

Feng Jueyu had deliberately changed into night clothes and covered his face with a black cloth, partly to avoid being recognized and partly to block the smell.

But as soon as the coffin lid was opened, the nauseating smell still escaped.

Ugh...

Feng Jueyu almost vomited his last meal, quickly closing the coffin lid and stepping back, gasping for breath. "Damn, Li Yide, for you, I've even become a grave robber. If you don't make me rich, I won't forgive you."

Although Feng Jueyu had cultivated the first level of the Hongyuan Heavenly Scripture, his skills were far from reaching the point of substantial energy. With the corpse smell slowly dissipating from his hand, he walked to a corner and sat down.

He activated his power, and the black and white life and death energies circulated through his meridians, absorbing the corpse smell into his body. The two energies interacted, and he carefully observed the process.

"So, this is what corpse smell is like?"

As expected, the death energy was indeed a highly yin and cold substance. Once he identified the characteristics of a certain smell, he could simulate it using the death energy.

This yin and cold energy could even affect a person's mind, creating certain illusions.

This was exactly what Feng Jueyu wanted.

To thoroughly study the corpse smell, he decided to stay, and his courage grew. He opened and closed the lids of one coffin after another, spending the entire night, finally getting a good understanding.

To his delight, he found that when he absorbed too much of this yin and cold energy, the internal energy in his dantian also grew, though not much, it was better than nothing.

Just as Feng Jueyu was enjoying himself, a sinister voice came from behind.

"Brat, are you done yet? Aren't you afraid the dead in the coffins will come back to life?"