Chapter Ninety-Five: Like a Steam Maiden

“Master... please give us one more chance. We will kill that Jiang Lin, we swear it!”

On top of a lofty tower, a woman stood at the highest point. Beside her were the white fox sisters, who knelt on one knee with their skirts gathered.

Listening to them, the woman gave no answer. Her gaze remained fixed on the inn, her silver-white eyes like a galaxy of stars; with every blink, it seemed as though she could pluck a constellation from the sky.

A gentle breeze stirred the woman’s immaculate white skirt. After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice like the chime of a silver bell, seeming to arise from nowhere.

“Tell me—who is prettier, me, or that Lin Qingwan?”

“Of course it’s Master!”

“Master’s beauty is peerless. How could any other woman compare?”

Though their wording differed, the white fox sisters gave the same answer.

“I see...” The woman’s voice seemed touched with a faint delight.

“Then what about this?”

The moment she finished speaking, the white fox sisters lifted their heads. Before them, nine white tails appeared behind the woman, swaying in the air, wrapping tightly around her like silkworms spinning silk.

When those nine long tails vanished, the woman, still dressed in plain cloth, had become extremely ordinary in shape and bearing. The veil on her face was gone, but what appeared before the sisters was not their master’s original countenance. It was a face so plain as to be almost ugly.

A scar and a burn mark marred the woman’s face; to the fox sisters, who prized beauty above all else, it was almost unbearable to look at.

“So, if I look like this...” The woman gently helped the two fox sisters back to their feet, her lips parting slightly. “Am I beautiful?”

...

Inside the inn, whether common folk or cultivators hiding among them, all picked up handfuls of melon seeds and turned to look toward Jiang Lin.

At the same time, behind Jiang Lin, Lin Qingwan’s eyes trembled. She pressed a hand to her chest, while her little feet happily nudged each other beneath the table.

The moment that chubby fellow tried to flirt with their party, an idea had suddenly occurred to Lin Qingwan: she wanted to see whether little Lin would truly step forward to protect her.

So, through heart-to-heart transmission, she told her junior sister and Tan Xiao not to make a move.

Of course, she would absolutely never let some other man touch her. Not one. Except for little Lin, no man was ever allowed to lay a hand on her.

Lin Qingwan had set a distance of about four inches. If his hand came within more than four inches of her shoulder and little Lin still had not acted, then no matter what, she would kick that lecher out of the inn and make him lie in bed for one or two years.

So when the hand of that licentious young lord drew ever closer to Lin Qingwan’s shoulder, the little deer in Lin Qingwan’s chest beat faster and faster with anticipation, waiting to see whether Jiang Lin would move. Her inner turmoil grew stronger and stronger.

At sixteen inches: “Will little Lin make a move?”

At twelve inches: “Why still nothing? Could it be that he doesn’t like me anymore?”

At eight inches: “Has little Lin really been bewitched by that vixen?”

At seven and a half inches: “Little Lin, do you truly not like me anymore?”

At seven inches: “Little Lin! You great blockhead! You clearly said you liked me! Liar! Big liar!”

And at six inches, at long last, the figure before the woman rose to his feet and seized the licentious youth by the wrist.

At that instant, Lin Qingwan felt as though her heart might leap from her chest and throw itself into Jiang Lin’s arms.

Looking at Jiang Lin’s back, the woman was overjoyed.

As expected, little Lin still liked her. Even if he had been bewitched by that vixen, in little Lin’s heart, there was still a place for her.

However, Jiang Lin, who was now standing in front of Lin Qingwan, felt as though he were the foolish one.

Why had he been unable to stop himself from acting?

Still, Tan Xiao and the two junior sisters were in the wrong too. If you are going to act, then act when the moment comes.

Or had they only just been about to move, and in the end he had stolen the spotlight first?

What was he supposed to do now? Slap their faces?

But his setup was that of a frail scholar, penniless and defenseless, living off a single husky. What the hell was he supposed to beat anyone with...

And then there was that system quest: make her blush?

What did it think this was, a date with an elf?

Jiang Lin had the urge to uninstall the system on the spot, but he held back.

After all, he had taken the Eastwood City incident upon himself of his own accord.

Besides, for the sake of upgrading his kidney into an indestructible, diamond-hard organ, he endured.

Ding...

For the sake of helping the host complete the mission and make a better judgment, the system is providing target information: Qian Zhenduo.

Jiang Lin looked at Qian Zhenduo’s information... and rubbed his face hard.

What the hell kind of villain was this? This was just the foolish son of some landlord family. Even if he had not grabbed the man’s hand just now, the fellow would have backed off in the next instant, because he simply did not have the courage to go through with it.

And the reason was simple: this little fat Qian already had someone he liked... and he was absurdly innocent to boot.

“Kid! Let go of our young master!”

“Kid! I think you’re tired of living!”

Just as everyone’s thoughts were turning over in countless directions, the licentious young lord’s attendants reconnected to reality, drew their blades, and moved to threaten Jiang Lin.

And just as Lin Qingwan frowned and was about to act, Jiang Lin gave a light cry that rang through the entire inn.

“Wait!”

“Hold on!” The plump young lord flicked his folded fan. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Esteemed young master!” Jiang Lin still had a tight grip on the fellow’s fat wrist, and smiled as he said, “May I ask if you bear the surname Qian?”

“Hm? How did you know?”

“Forgive my frankness, young master. Though I am but a scholar, I do know a little divination.”

As Jiang Lin spoke with perfect seriousness, he observed the other man’s pulse.

“Recently, Young Master Qian, have you been weak and listless, easily irritated, and waking up in the mornings without any energy?”

“You... you... how did you...”

Jiang Lin released the man’s hand and smiled. “I know all of it...”

“Don’t believe him, Young Master. He must be lying.”

“Yes, Young Master, there are too many quacks in the jianghu lately. He’s definitely...”

“Shut up!”

Young Master Qian snapped the folding fan against the tops of their heads, then looked at Jiang Lin with a somewhat trembling voice. “Y-You... what else have you seen?”

Jiang Lin slowly sat back down and patted the husky’s head.

“To be honest, Young Master, your complexion is darkening between the brows. I fear a bloody disaster is near.”

“Nonsense! You wandering charlatan! How could I possibly have a bloody disaster?!”

Jiang Lin shook his head and slowly lifted a cup of wine to his lips. Only after he had drunk it did he realize it was his senior sister’s cup, and he grew a little awkward.

“Ahem... Young Master Qian, have you lately been unsuccessful in pursuing girls? Rejected time and again, to the point that even threats do no good? Yet because you are kind-hearted, you eventually gave up, while still unable to forget that girl?”

“You... you...”

Young Master Qian’s round face turned beet red at once.

“To tell you the truth, Young Master Qian, I am not only skilled at warding off bloody calamities. I am also especially good at winning the hearts of young ladies. If you don’t believe me, I’ll demonstrate it for you right now!”

“Miss Lin, pardon my offense...!”

Jiang Lin turned around and said softly.

Truth be told, Jiang Lin had already prepared himself to lose Infamy Points, and even for his senior sister to slap him to death.

Flirting with Senior Sister was easy, but making Senior Sister blush? How could that possibly be?

Whatever. At worst, he would spend a revival token and try it once.

He did not even wait for Senior Sister Lin to answer.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Jiang Lin reached out and tipped Lin Qingwan’s fair chin upward, their gazes locking...

Lin Qingwan’s pretty face flushed bright red.

I like you!!!

With a long, drawn-out whoosh, the words had barely left Jiang Lin’s mouth.

Like cold water brought to a boil...

Senior Sister Lin looked like a steam-breathing maiden, with three wisps of white vapor rising from the top of her head and both ears...

Ding...

Teasing Lin Qingwan: complete.

Making her blush: complete.

Congratulations, host. Mission accomplished. New clue for Eastwood City: Qian Manor; her people.

“?”

Jiang Lin went blank.

That was it?

The mission was complete?