Chapter 66 – Could He Be… Interested in Me?

Superintendent Ji came knocking personally. As the National Preceptor, Feng Sinan couldn’t refuse his request, after all, it was his duty to safeguard the Empire of Great Qian.

Shuyin, however, had strong opinions. After Feng Sinan and Superintendent Ji left, she couldn’t help but complain to Yuxia: “Our master is the revered National Preceptor, yet now he’s reduced to chasing demons for others. Does the Emperor of Great Qian even value him? If the Emperor isn’t satisfied with our master, he can just leave. There are plenty of emperors out there begging someone to be their National Preceptor.”

Yuxia furrowed his brow. “If master hears you say that, you’ll be scolded again.”

“I’m not wrong. Remember the last time, when it was just a small dental matter, yet master had to intervene? Don’t you think the Emperor treats master like a servant?”

Yuxia scoffed. “Master hasn’t complained, so why do you have to get upset on his behalf?”

“I just feel it’s unfair to master. When he comes back, let’s persuade him to leave Great Qian together, alright?”

Yuxia pierced through her true thoughts. “I think it’s you who wants to leave. You don’t want to see Princess Xueyu cling to master, afraid he might develop feelings for her.”

“You…”

Shuyin stomped her foot in frustration. “I don’t think that way!”

“Master has responsibilities in Great Qian. He won’t leave. Just give up this thought.”

Yuxia didn’t argue further and went upstairs to prepare cinnabar and talisman paper for master.

Indeed, Feng Sinan had no intention of leaving. Ever since he could hear Mu Nanjin’s thoughts, the idea of leaving had vanished entirely.

During the journey, Superintendent Ji remained silent, then finally asked, “National Preceptor, may I ask… do monsters truly exist in this world?”

Feng Sinan replied calmly, “They do.”

Superintendent Ji, who fully trusted the National Preceptor’s powers over wind and rain, asked earnestly, “Are there many of them?”

“Not many. In fact, there shouldn’t be any in Great Qian.”

“But from Mu Nanjin’s thoughts, I know there’s one in the prison, one by her side, another one not fully formed, and yet another that killed Du Bianxiu.”

As National Preceptor, Feng Sinan was well aware of the strange person in the prison. The one by Mu Nanjin’s side, he realized, referred to her horse.

He was certain that horse had definitely attained consciousness.

As for the unformed monster, its whereabouts were unknown.

Regardless, none of these creatures should have appeared here, yet they did. Ever since everyone could hear Mu Nanjin’s thoughts, many uncontrollable events had arisen in Great Qian.

“This matter needs a thorough investigation,” Feng Sinan said, ending the discussion.

The victims of the monsters were all placed in the mortuary. The summer heat had caused some corpses to decompose; even before entering the building, the stench of rot was overwhelming.

Feng Sinan ignored the smell, walked through the room, and left. He didn’t need needles to detect the monster energy hidden in the corpses.

Covering his nose, Superintendent Ji asked, “National Preceptor, should we still examine the bodies with needles?”

“They were all drained by monsters, yet the monsters’ hiding places are unknown. I need to prepare some items before I can locate them.”

Feng Sinan took out a purple brocade pouch from his robe and handed it to Superintendent Ji. “Before that, please deliver this pouch to Guard Mu, and tell her I will take her along to catch monsters tonight at midnight in Dengxing Pavilion.”

“Guard Mu? Mu Nanjin?”

Superintendent Ji took the pouch and tucked it into his belt.

“Yes, and make sure she receives it after her duty, when she’s leading her horse out of the Colonel’s residence.”

Though Superintendent Ji didn’t understand the reasoning, he followed Feng Sinan’s instructions.

At nearly the end of her shift, he rode to the Colonel’s residence to wait.

The Jinyiwei leaving the residence emerged in groups like fish pouring into the sea. Yet Superintendent Ji immediately spotted Mu Nanjin among them.

It wasn’t difficult, her horse was simply too dazzling.

Under the westward sun, the golden armor of her horse gleamed brightly, causing others to step back instinctively. Superintendent Ji nearly had his eyes blinded. If not for his mission, he would have turned and left.

“Superintendent Ji.”

Mu Nanjin guided her horse to him, noticing his tall figure.

Superintendent Ji couldn’t bear to look at the horse directly. He lowered his head and handed her the brocade pouch. “This is from the National Preceptor. He said to meet him tonight at midnight in Dengxing Pavilion.”

【Gifts again… and at midnight… Could he… be interested in me?】

【Well, whatever it is, it’s a good thing.】

Mu Nanjin nodded. “I’ll be there on time.”

Superintendent Ji: “…Just don’t overthink it. He just wants to catch monsters with you.”

Suddenly, Heitan let out a wild scream: “Huff huff huff!”

The horse’s eyes widened in terror when it saw the pouch. It wildly lifted its front hooves and charged forward, knocking several Jinyiwei to the ground. In an instant, it vanished.

Superintendent Ji asked, “Your horse ran off. Aren’t you chasing it?”

“It will come back,” Mu Nanjin replied calmly, taking the pouch and examining the golden talisman stitched onto it with a hint of mockery.

【A simple talisman scared you off. Pathetic.】

【When I get back, I’ll have to tame you properly.】

A talisman?

Superintendent Ji finally noticed the embroidery. Why would the National Preceptor give Mu Nanjin a protective charm that scared her horse, yet no other horse ran away?

Mu Nanjin opened the pouch; it was empty.

【Is Feng Sinan giving me this for protection?】

【Or… is he blaming me for making Superintendent Ji deliver it and intentionally using it to scare my horse?】

The more she thought, the more plausible it seemed.

【He knows my horse is a monster and still had Superintendent Ji deliver a talisman at this time. If not on purpose, what else could it be?】

Superintendent Ji: “!!!!!!”

Her horse was a monster.

Her horse was actually a monster!

So when she said “there’s a monster by my side,” she meant her horse.

Looking around, Superintendent Ji realized the Jinyiwei who could hear Mu Nanjin’s thoughts were all terrified.

Mu Nanjin tossed the pouch into Superintendent Ji’s arms. “Here. For protection.”

Superintendent Ji: “…”

With her horse gone, Mu Nanjin had no choice but to return home on foot.

Back at the Mu residence, the steward stepped forward. “Miss, there are two guests asking to see you.”

“Who?” Mu Nanjin asked.

“One is the wealthiest man in the capital, Master Zhang. The other is a nanny sent by Tang Family’s Second Young Master, here to teach you etiquette.”

“Teach me etiquette?”

Mu Nanjin frowned slightly and entered the hall.

The nanny, sitting and drinking tea, hurriedly set down her cup and stood with a smile. “Miss, you’re back.”

Mu Nanjin said coldly, “Go back and tell Tang Jingrui I don’t need to learn etiquette.”

She had no interest in the ancient rules of obedience for women. Learning them would only be an insult to herself, and she wasn’t foolish enough to seek trouble.

“Ah? This…”

The Mama (Head Servant) looked troubled.

One cold glance from Mu Nanjin made her tremble from head to toe. It had to be said, when Mu Nanjin put on that frosty expression, she carried quite an imposing air.

“Leave.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the Mama obediently withdrew from the Mu Residence.

Mu Nanjin turned her gaze toward Zhang Hongdao, the wealthiest merchant in the capital.

Zhang Hongdao stood up respectfully and bowed. “I greet you, Lord Mu.”

It was the first time Mu Nanjin had ever been addressed as Lord. Her brows lifted slightly. “What brings you here?”

Zhang Hongdao went straight to the point. “Lord Mu, I recently heard that you’re selling elixirs of immortality for ten thousand silver each. Is that true?”

Finally, someone had come to buy her elixirs.

Mu Nanjin sat down calmly. “And then?”

“I would like to purchase ten elixirs from you, Lord Mu.”

“Ten? That’ll be five hundred thousand silver. As expected of the richest man in the capital, you certainly have deep pockets.”

Zhang Hongdao froze. “Five hundred thousand? But if one elixir costs ten thousand, wouldn’t ten of them be one hundred thousand?”

“The price of ten thousand silver is for imperial officials. For everyone else, it’s fifty thousand per elixir.”

“Fifty thousand…”

Zhang Hongdao’s face turned an unpleasant shade.

He could afford fifty thousand for one elixir, but compared to the officials’ price, it was an outrageous difference.

He had originally planned to buy ten elixirs and then resell them at twenty thousand each, earning a hefty profit in the process.

Now it seemed impossible.

He was a businessman, after all, and he never did business at a loss.

“Lord Mu, fifty thousand per elixir is truly too expensive. Please allow me a few days to consider.”

Mu Nanjin nodded.

The butler escorted Zhang Hongdao to the door.

The merchant left the Mu Residence with a dejected expression.

Someone hidden in the shadows, watching his dispirited figure, immediately turned away to report the outcome to their master.

Inside the Mu Residence, Mu Nanjin let out a cold laugh.

So, you thought using someone else’s hand to buy elixirs would keep it from my eyes?

Wishful thinking.

She turned to the butler. “Uncle Xu, has Heitan come back yet?”

Uncle Xu smiled kindly. “Yes, he’s back, in the rear courtyard. But he seems to be in a foul mood. As soon as he returned, he locked himself inside your room. He’s blocking the doorway and won’t let anyone in, nor will he come out.”

“…”

Mu Nanjin walked up to her room and stood by the door. “Heitan.”

A low, pained whimper came from inside.

“Heitan, open the door.”

“Woo… woo…”

Though she couldn’t understand the sound, she could tell he was refusing her.

She rapped lightly on the door. “Open up and let me in.”

No response.

No movement.

Mu Nanjin frowned slightly. She could guess the situation; it must have been the National Preceptor Feng Sinan’s exorcising talisman that had affected him, causing some kind of change in his body.

“I know you’re a demon,” she said suddenly.

A loud click came from inside, as if Heitan had been startled.

“I knew you were a demon from the first time I saw you,” she continued. “So there’s no need to hide from me. Open the door and let me see you.”

“Woo… woo…”

There was a sound of struggle, muffled groans of pain. Then, after a long pause, a weak, hoarse voice, human, not equine, spoke from within.

“D-Did Lord Mu tell you I’m a demon? But he said not to tell you… How did you find out?”

“It doesn’t matter how I found out. I just know you’re not human.”

Mu Nanjin tapped the door again. “Come on, let me see what’s wrong.”

After a cup of tea’s time, the door creaked open.

And there stood a handsome young man, wrapped tightly in her blanket.

If anyone else had seen this scene, she could jump into the river and still not wash herself clean.

Mu Nanjin quickly shoved him back inside, shut the door, and told the butler to go buy several sets of men’s clothing before returning to sit across from Heitan.

Heitan looked bashful. “Do I look good in human form?”

Mu Nanjin nodded.

He fit her aesthetic perfectly; his human appearance was truly pleasing to the eye.

Suddenly, Heitan stood up and, without warning, yanked the blanket away to bare himself completely. “Isn’t my body perfect too?” he asked cheerfully.

“…”

Mu Nanjin could only nod again.

His physique was as flawless as a sculpture, perfect from head to toe.

Heitan propped one foot on the chair proudly.

Mu Nanjin’s gaze dropped before she hastily averted her eyes back to his face.

“Before I took human form,” he began earnestly, “I imagined countless beautiful bodies in my mind, so that one day, when I transformed, I’d have the perfect body to attract all the females! That’s why I delayed changing shape for so long. But I almost failed, almost! And it’s all that National Preceptor’s fault! I’ll never forgive him, never!”

By the end, his tone had grown furious, eyes blazing.

Mu Nanjin pressed a hand to her forehead. “Wrap yourself back up first.”

“No! I’m going to find that National Preceptor!”

Heitan stormed toward the door, still naked.

Mu Nanjin quickly grabbed him and rewrapped the blanket around his body. “Now that you’ve taken human form, you must follow human customs. That means wearing clothes. Don’t show your body to anyone but me, understand?”

Heitan blinked, clearly puzzled. “But when I was a horse, I didn’t wear clothes either. Why not now?”

“It’s different. When you were a horse, your fur looked like black robes to people’s eyes. Humans don’t see people and horses the same way.”

Heitan gave up arguing, then said determinedly, “I still have to find the National Preceptor.”

Mu Nanjin said patiently, “I’ll take you to him tonight.”

“You’re right, night is the best time for assassination.”

Heitan nodded thoughtfully and sat back down.

Mu Nanjin: “…”

That wasn’t what she meant at all.

Suddenly, Heitan looked at her and said, “Go on, ask me.”

Mu Nanjin blinked. “Ask you what?”

“About Lord Mu, of course,” Heitan said curiously. “Don’t you want to know about him? Like where he went, when he’ll be back, or why he left me here to protect you?”

Mu Nanjin shook her head. “Not interested.”

Heitan was struck speechless. “You don’t care about Lord Mu at all?”

Mu Nanjin: “…”

It wasn’t that she didn’t care about Mu Qinyi; she already knew what he was doing. There was no need to ask.

She lied smoothly, “My uncle doesn’t want me to know what he’s up to. Why should I pry? I’ll just wait for him to tell me when he returns.”

“Then I won’t say more,” Heitan said softly. “But you should know, Lord Mu didn’t leave the capital because he wanted to. He had no choice. He misses you and worries for you constantly. Everything he’s doing… is for your sake.”

He remembered Mu Qinyi’s warning not to reveal too much, so he stopped there.

Mu Nanjin nodded. “I know.”

Unfortunately, the original Mu Nanjin hadn’t known that.

Deep down, she’d always resented Mu Qinyi for not being by her side.

Half an hour later, the butler returned with several sets of men’s robes.

Heitan fumbled awkwardly as he dressed, then admired himself in the mirror. “What a fine body, and the robes fit perfectly.”

Mu Nanjin: “…”

Of course they fit; she’d seen his measurements herself.

“Let’s go eat.”

Heitan said happily, “Can I have grass?”

He really was easy to please.

Mu Nanjin decided to indulge him.