Chapter 85 – You Really Do Care About Her

Everyone lifted their heads toward the sky as a black figure descended gracefully, accompanied by over a hundred silhouettes cloaked in dark purple.

Mu Nanjin’s eyes instantly lit up when she saw who it was.

【My Lord Commander is here! My Lord Commander is different from everyone else, his presence alone is overwhelming!】

Captain Liu exclaimed in delight, “Lord Kan! It’s the Commander! The Commander is here, and he brought a hundred deputy officers with him!”

Their pillar of support had arrived. The Jinyiwei’s hearts finally settled.

Kan Chaoyan was taken aback. “The Commander actually came in person?”

Even the alliance leader and his men felt a wave of relief wash over them.

With the Commander here, the demonic cult wouldn’t be able to stir up any major trouble. Otherwise, how could the court have remained so peaceful all these years?

The Commander flicked aside the right edge of his cloak. A powerful surge of energy burst forth from the hem, shooting straight toward Shu Xiyao.

Shu Xiyao quickly raised his fan to block it but was still forced back several meters.

【Waaah!】

【Waaah, waaah, waaah!】

【Ahhh! The Commander’s moves are so cool, absolutely deadly! He actually came to save me himself, I almost want to throw myself into his arms…】

The Commander twitched the corner of his mouth at the noisy stream of thoughts. “Mu Nanjin, come here.”

This little girl was truly impossible to leave unattended.

She had only come to attend the martial arts tournament, yet somehow managed to stir up such chaos that Captain Liu and the others had sent urgent letters begging for reinforcements. Truly impressive.

He had originally wanted to send his deputy commander, but that man was another troublemaker. Sending him would only make things worse, so the Commander had no choice but to come personally.

“Oh.”

Mu Nanjin obediently walked to his side.

【Ahhh, the way the Commander talks is so cool, and that voice… I could get pregnant just listening to it.】

The Jinyiwei: “…”

That was beyond description.

【Commander…】

Before her thoughts could spiral any further, the Commander cut her off flatly. “Mu Nanjin, why don’t you just go back to the demonic cult’s leader and live with him?”

Mu Nanjin: “Ah!?”

【Why does the Commander’s mood swing like this today? Don’t tell me…】

【…it’s like when a woman gets her monthly visit, bad mood for a few days?】

The Commander: “…”

“Pfft—”

Captain Liu couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Everyone turned to stare at him.

Captain Liu coughed to hide his embarrassment, then straightened his face and scolded, “Mu Nanjin, that’s what you get for being so mischievous. Even the Commander doesn’t want to keep you anymore!”

Mu Nanjin denied, “I wasn’t being mischievous!”

【I just made the martial arts tournament more fun.】

“You—”

Before Captain Liu could finish, Shu Xiyao attacked again.

The Commander pulled Mu Nanjin behind him, blocking the strike, and then countered with a swift kick.

The two began to exchange blows.

While fighting, Shu Xiyao sneered, “Commander, you really do care about her.”

Care about who?

A flicker of confusion crossed the Commander’s eyes.

Shu Xiyao laughed. “Didn’t think you’d ever have a weakness. Not good for you that I’ve found it.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The Commander drew the soft sword from his waist and lunged forward.

Shu Xiyao parried a few moves but still got his arm sliced open. Glancing indifferently at the wound, he leapt back into the air. “Better keep a close eye on your little concubine, Commander. I might just come steal her away to serve me.”

With that, he and his disciples of the demonic cult retreated.

He had only come to cause trouble out of boredom, but he hadn’t expected the Commander himself to appear.

From their brief exchange, he could tell he was still no match for that man.

Truly a monster. No matter how hard he trained, he could never catch up.

Once the demonic cult left, the righteous sects resumed fighting among themselves.

The Commander didn’t pursue Shu Xiyao. Sheathing his soft sword, he turned toward Kan Chaoyan and the others. “What did he mean by ‘little concubine’?”

Captain Liu and Kan Chaoyan immediately averted their eyes, pretending not to hear.

The Commander narrowed his gaze at Mu Nanjin.

Mu Nanjin said firmly, “I’m not a concubine.”

【A concubine? What nonsense.】

【If I’m going to marry, I’ll be the main wife!】

The Commander: “…”

“Commander.”

The alliance leader approached with the elders, smiling. “Welcome, Commander, to our humble grounds.”

The Commander glanced at the ongoing chaos among the sects. “What’s going on with them?”

The leader sighed. “It’s a long story. Please, Commander, come with me. I’ll explain everything.”

The Commander nodded.

They were invited up to the highest level of the Viewing Tower.

【Wow! Having the Commander here really raises one’s status. I even get to watch from the top floor now! Commander, mighty as always!】

At the top floor, the leader instructed his guards to escort Captain Liu and the others to their quarters, while he personally took the Commander into the most luxurious private room.

【Commander, the alliance leader wants you as his son-in-law you mustn’t agree!】

【His daughters are pretty, but don’t let them seduce you!】

“…”

Sure enough, upon entering, the Commander saw two beautiful young women. He gave them a single glance before looking away.

The alliance leader instantly understood that he wasn’t interested and waved for his daughters to leave.

【Hmph. At least that old fox knows his place.】

While Mu Nanjin secretly extended her spiritual sense to spy on them, Kan Chaoyan gave Captain Liu a meaningful look.

Captain Liu nodded slightly and discreetly slipped something into his mouth. Moments later, he collapsed.

Captain Fang rushed over. “Captain Liu! What’s wrong?”

“I… I…” CaptainbLiu couldn’t finish before passing out.

Kan Chaoyan and the others quickly examined him. “He’s been poisoned! Get a doctor!”

“Yes!” Several officers ran out.

Captain Fang looked at the pale lips and darkened face. “It looks like Nine-Poison Pill poisoning. There’s no cure, and once it takes hold, he’ll be dead within a quarter of an hour…”

He didn’t even need to finish. Everyone knew what that meant.

Mu Nanjin, who had been eavesdropping, immediately withdrew her senses. “Captain Liu’s been poisoned?”

【That can’t be right, I was watching them the whole time during the chaos. No one injured or poisoned them.】

She squeezed through the crowd and crouched down to take his pulse.

It was weak, fading fast.

Mu Nanjin didn’t know much about poisons of this era, but she knew this was bad.

Without hesitation, she pulled out one of her own antidote pills and pushed it into Captain Liu’s mouth.

Kan Chaoyan asked, “Mu girl, what did you give him?”

“An antidote pill. It neutralizes all poisons.”

“Does it work?”

“I don’t know.”

【Even if it doesn’t, I won’t let anything happen to him.】

Everyone exchanged glances.

Soon, Captain Liu’s color began to return. Blood flushed back to his lips.

They all sighed in relief.

Captain Liu’s eyelids fluttered open. Weakly, he managed, “I—”

Before he could finish, Mu Nanjin popped another pill into his mouth.

It melted instantly.

Kan Chaoyan frowned. “And what did you just give him?”

Mu Nanjin replied, “A Vitality Pill. It restores energy and blood.”

【I don’t like seeing him looking so weak. He’s more fun when he’s shouting at me.】

Everyone: “…”

So… she likes being scolded?

Captain Liu’s complexion brightened until he looked completely normal again. Sitting up swiftly, he said in disbelief, “I… I feel stronger. My internal energy, it’s like I jumped from sixth rank to eighth rank!”

Kan Chaoyan: “…”

Talk about dumb luck.

Captain Fang gaped. “Eighth rank!? You’ve advanced to the eighth rank already?”

Captain Liu wasn’t entirely sure. “It just feels that way, my energy’s never been this full before.”

Mu Nanjin explained, “The Vitality Pill doesn’t just restore your qi and blood, it also clears your meridians, making your body healthier and better suited for martial training.”

“You gave me such a rare pill… just like that?”

Captain Liu felt a strange mix of gratitude and guilt.

In truth, the poisoning had been fake. He’d taken a false-death pill given by Kan Chaoyan, who’d planned the whole thing.

The goal was to let Captain Liu see for himself that Mu Nanjin, despite her carefree attitude and teasing, truly cared about him as a comrade.

And perhaps, to help him let go of his grudges against her.

Mu Nanjin didn’t even bat an eye. “Medicine exists to be used. Only when it saves someone’s life does it have value. If you just hoard it because it’s precious, it’s worthless.”

Everyone stared enviously at Captain Liu. “You really turned disaster into fortune, huh?”

Captain Liu scratched his head, embarrassed. “Sorry to have worried everyone.”

Once was enough. Next time, he wouldn’t pull a stunt like that again.

“As long as you’re fine,” Mu Nanjin said with relief, and promptly went back to eavesdropping on the Commander’s conversation.

Meanwhile, Kan Chaoyan pulled Captain Liu aside. “Now do you see? You should thank me.”

Captain Liu sighed. “I should… though I still feel bad for worrying everyone.”

“I just wanted to show you that she does care. And she really did. She gave you medicine right away. Treat her well. Be good to her, and she’ll return it.”

Kan Chaoyan patted his shoulder.

Captain Liu nodded. “I know. I just lose my temper sometimes.”

“That’s fine, as long as you understand.”

Half an hour later, the Commander left the alliance leader’s room.

The martial arts tournament was beyond salvaging. It ended in chaos.

Back at their lodging, the Commander said, “We depart for the capital tomorrow.”

Kan Chaoyan glanced at Mu Nanjin behind him but said nothing.

Captain Liu caught on and told her, “Mu Nanjin, go rest in your room. We’ll find you in the morning.”

“Mm.” She agreed easily, thinking she still needed to fetch her horse anyway.

Once she left, Kan Chaoyan told the Commander about Lord Wei and Lord Pang of the Licheng Commandery, and their secret meeting with Prince Sheng’s men.

The Commander’s eyes narrowed. “Before we return, we’ll pay Licheng a visit.”

Meanwhile, Mu Nanjin went to the house where the thief Wanshou lived.

He hadn’t returned from the tournament yet. Only her horse, Heitan, was there.

When Heitan saw her, it snorted. “No matter how you try to flatter me this time, I won’t forgive you.”

Mu Nanjin asked, “My uncle asked you to be my mount. Was it just to make me coax you all the time?”

Heitan froze.

Uh-oh. It had completely forgotten about that part.

But honestly, who could blame it? Mu Nanjin was too easy to get along with, it had gotten cocky.

“When I was kidnapped by bandits back in the village,” she continued, “where were you? Did you come looking for me?”

Heitan’s eyes widened. “You were kidnapped by bandits!?”

Oh no. If Mu Qin finds out, he’ll break all four of my legs!

Still, it wasn’t really its fault. It had thought Mu Nanjin was surrounded by Jinyiwei, how could she possibly get kidnapped?

“I didn’t even blame you,” she said, “and you’re the one mad at me?”

Heitan hurried to explain, “I—I only got angry because I thought you didn’t want me anymore!”

Mu Nanjin stroked its mane. “You’re so handsome, who could ever not want you?”

“…Well, that’s true.”

Heitan finally perked up.

“Now will you come with me?” she asked.

Heitan thought for a moment. “When are you leaving the Alliance Leader’s mansion?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I still want to mess with that thief Wanshou a bit longer. I’ll come find you tomorrow.”

Mu Nanjin smiled. “If you can, bring him to the capital to see me.”

Heitan tilted its head. “Can’t you just see him here?”

“My goal is to get him to the capital.”

“Got it. Then I won’t come find you tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

The next morning before dawn, Mu Nanjin set off with Kan Chaoyan and the others, heading for Licheng Commandery.

By the time they arrived, it was already late at night.

They first stayed at an inn, then set out to meet Lord Wei the next morning.

Dragged out of bed at dawn, Mu Nanjin was full of complaints.

【They’re just going to meet some local officials. What does that have to do with me? Why drag me along? Can’t they let me sleep for once?】

【I’m just a tiny ninth-rank officer, yet I’m busier than the top-ranking ones.】

【When we get back, I’m going to check the law books and see if there’s a way to demote myself to unranked. Then I can finally rest!】

The Jinyiwei: “…”

Other people work themselves to exhaustion trying to get promoted, but she wants a demotion just to sleep in. Truly ruthless.

Inside the Commandery office, Lord Wei and Lord Pang were so startled by the Commander’s sudden visit that they literally rolled out of bed.

They hurriedly ordered fruit and pastries prepared, the kitchen to make breakfast, and then rushed to dress in formal robes to greet him.

“Greetings, Commander!”

The Commander didn’t even glance at them, taking the main seat in the study.

Mu Nanjin followed him in and quietly picked up a pastry from the table, biting into it.

Lord Wei, Lord Pang, and all the Licheng Jinyiwei stared in disbelief.

The Jinyiwei from the capital didn’t even blink.

The Commander said nothing either, and the silence in the room grew deafening.