Chapter 91 – She’s Just a Weak Woman

After work, Colonel Liu invited several fellow Jinyiwei he was close to for a meal at a small restaurant near his home. He even brought his family along to introduce them.

Madam Liu noticed Mu Nanjin standing among the Jinyiwei and asked with a suppressed smile, “Is that the little girl who’s been giving you such headaches?”

“That’s her, all right.” Colonel Liu leaned close to whisper, “Actually, I owe my recent promotion to her. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Since returning to the capital, he hadn’t yet had the chance to tell his wife everything that had happened.

Madam Liu nodded in understanding.

Mu Nanjin had already noticed Madam Liu and walked over on her own initiative.

Colonel Liu introduced them. “Mu Nanjin, this is my wife.”

Mu Nanjin nodded politely. “Greetings, Madam.”

Madam Liu smiled warmly. “Hello, Miss Mu.”

Then she pulled over a sixteen-year-old youth. “This is our son, Liu Qian.”

Seeing her obvious matchmaking intent, Colonel Liu rubbed his forehead helplessly.

That daughter-in-law he couldn’t afford.

Not only was she a walking source of trouble, she was also the focus of the entire imperial court’s attention. Their humble Liu family couldn’t possibly match someone like her. Besides, though his son had inherited his mother’s delicate looks, there was no way he would catch Mu Nanjin’s eye.

Liu Qian greeted her shyly. “Hello, Miss Mu.”

Mu Nanjin nodded slightly, studying him with a calm gaze.

【His bone structure isn’t exceptional, but with enough effort, reaching the level of Martial Venerable shouldn’t be a problem. Becoming a Martial Saint, however, will be much harder.】

Colonel Liu’s eyes instantly brightened at her inner remark.

Martial Venerable?

Did she just say his son could one day become a Martial Venerable?

There were no Martial Venerables in the entire Great Qian Empire. If his son could become the first, just the thought thrilled him.

Mu Nanjin asked him, “Your son’s also a martial artist, right? What are your plans for him next?”

“I sent him to another sect before to train, but now that he’s back, I plan to have him join the Jinyiwei. In fact, I’ll assign him under your command so you can guide him personally.”

If his son learned martial arts from Mu Nanjin, maybe he would truly reach that level someday.

“Deal.” Mu Nanjin agreed so quickly it was almost suspiciously eager.

【From now on, whenever Colonel Liu tries to pile work on me, I’ll just dump it on his son. Let’s see if he still dares to give me endless assignments. Hehe.】

Liu Colonel: “…”

Was this revenge disguised as mentorship?

He introduced his two daughters next.

Mu Nanjin asked, “Have you enrolled your daughters in the Imperial Academy yet?”

Colonel Liu blinked. “No.”

“Then make sure they’re registered tomorrow.”

The Liu family: “…”

Without another word, Mu Nanjin quietly slipped over to Kan Chaoyan’s group of chatting Jinyiwei and asked casually, “Have you all signed your daughters up for schooling?”

One of them laughed. “I only have sons.”

“I asked my daughter,” said another, “but she said she hates reading, so I dropped the matter.”

Mu Nanjin frowned.

【I’ll have to bring this up with the Commander. He should encourage everyone to send their daughters to study at the Imperial Academy.】

【The more educated girls there are, the better business will be for me. Hehe.】

The Jinyiwei around her: “…”

Wasn’t her family running a brothel?

What did studying have to do with that?

Was she planning to corrupt their daughters?

“Everyone, sit down and eat,” Colonel Liu said quickly.

Since Mu Nanjin was a young lady, she was seated at the same table as Madam Liu and the other women.

Both she and Colonel Liu had recently been promoted, so everyone was in a celebratory mood.

However, happy moments never last long.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom split the sky.

“BOOM!”

“Waaah!”

Colonel Liu’s four-year-old daughter burst into tears.

Madam Liu hurriedly picked her up and soothed her. “Don’t cry. It’s just thunder. Don’t be afraid.”

Kan Chaoyan and several others stood and went to the window.

“The sky was clear. Why thunder all of a sudden?”

“That was thunder? It was so loud I thought my eardrums would burst!”

“Same here! It felt like it exploded right beside my ear!”

Mu Nanjin approached them quietly.

【That thunder just now… was it】

What was it?

The Jinyiwei pricked up their ears to listen in.

Colonel Liu pointed toward the sky. “Lord Kan, look. There’s someone up there!”

Everyone looked up.

Three figures, visible only from the waist up, floated in the heavens, each an elderly man with white hair. Their images filled half the sky.

They appeared suddenly and vanished just as fast.

Before Colonel Liu and the others could make out their faces, the vision dissipated.

“Gone? Just like that?”

“Who were those three? How could people appear in the sky?”

Kan Chaoyan steadied them. “It was likely a mirage. No need to worry.”

“What’s a mirage?” someone asked.

“It’s when distant images are reflected into the sky. I’ve only heard of it before and never seen it myself. Since it matched the stories, I called it that. However, the National Preceptor will have to verify.”

“Oh, if that’s all it is, then let’s drink!”

They turned back around, only to realize Mu Nanjin had vanished.

“Huh? Where’d she go?” Colonel Liu asked.

Liu Qian, still seated, suddenly stood in shock. “She jumped out the window.”

And at an incredible speed, gone in an instant.

“Father, is Miss Mu also a martial artist?”

Colonel Liu said solemnly, “No. She’s just a weak woman, one who needs protecting.”

The Jinyiwei tried and failed to hold back their laughter. “Your father’s right.”

“But—”

Liu Qian had clearly seen her leap out the window faster than any warrior he knew.

“No buts.” Colonel Liu patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly. “When you follow her, remember, always protect her. Even if you can’t beat the enemy, stand in front of her. Especially if she’s taken hostage, you must take it very seriously.”

The Jinyiwei nodded again. “Your father’s right.”

Liu Qian: “…”

Madam Liu tugged her son to sit back down and whispered, “Some young ladies hide their martial skills so people won’t think them unrefined. Understand?”

Ah, now that made sense.

Liu Qian nodded solemnly. “I’ll protect Miss Mu with all my might.”

Colonel Liu raised his cup. “Let’s continue drinking!”

Meanwhile, Mu Nanjin had returned home. She opened a drawer and took out a single leaf, the one she had obtained from the Ten-Thousand Beasts Garden.

Outside, dark clouds gathered. A fierce wind howled through the courtyard.

The windows rattled violently. Leaves whipped through the air.

Moments later, a shadow slipped in through the window.

“Miss.”

A woman in green knelt before her. “Please, save me.”

Mu Nanjin had expected her arrival. She looked down calmly. “You’re the thousand-year-old locust tree from the Ten-Thousand Beasts Garden?”

She had known back then that the great tree was nearing the point of transforming into human form.

“Yes,” said the woman. “My name is Huai Ying. When I first saw you, I knew you were extraordinary, so I left that leaf with you in case of emergency.”

She got straight to the point. “I came today to ask for your aid, to help me suppress the Heavenly Tribulation.”

Mu Nanjin raised an eyebrow. “And why should I help you?”

“If you do, I’ll serve you as a slave for five hundred years.”

Mu Nanjin was satisfied with the offer. She took out a brush and cinnabar ink. “How many years do you wish to suppress it?”

“Five years, just five.”

Mu Nanjin dipped the brush, drew a talisman on the back of Huai Ying’s neck, and infused it with spiritual energy.

Instantly, the wind died down and the clouds dispersed.

Huai Ying looked out the window, delighted. “The clouds are gone. They won’t find me now.”

Turning back, she asked, “Aren’t you curious about me, Miss?”

“No.”

Because Mu Nanjin had already investigated everything about her the moment she had heard her name.

Huai Ying bowed. “Thank you for not prying. One day, I’ll tell you everything. But there’s something I don’t understand.”

Mu Nanjin: “What is it?”

“When you helped me suppress the lightning, you didn’t seem to restrain your own power at all. Don’t you need to hide your cultivation?”

“I don’t.”

“You’re not afraid of being discovered?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.”

Huai Ying realized she wouldn’t say more and dropped the subject.

Mu Nanjin continued, “Stay here tonight. Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to the others and say you’re my hired guard. From now on, you’ll protect them wherever they go.”

“Yes.”

Huai Ying stepped back and melted into the pillar’s shadow.

The next morning, when Si Yuhuan and the others came out, they found Mu Nanjin accompanied by a tall, elegant woman in green. Her dignified, gentle beauty made everyone instinctively like her.

Mu Nanjin introduced her. “This is Huai Ying, my guard. From now on, she’ll protect you when you go out.”

Si Yuhuan and the other sisters bowed. “Greetings, Miss Huai Ying. We’ll be relying on your protection.”

Huai Ying smiled faintly. “There’s no need for courtesy. I’m simply doing my job.”

Mu Nanjin stood. “You all chat. I need to head to work.”

Instead of going straight to the Commandant’s Office, Mu Nanjin made a stop at Xiao Qing Tower to find Xu Cheng and Yang Bo, who were training in the courtyard.

Seeing her, they immediately bowed. “Greetings, Miss Mu.”

Mu Nanjin nodded. “I know you once lived as bandits in the mountains, but you never did anything truly wicked. Your only mistake was kidnapping me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have kept you around. Now, I’ll give you a chance to turn over a new leaf. Do you want it or not?”

Yang Bo didn’t hesitate. “We want it.”

Xu Cheng, trusting Yang Bo’s instinct, also nodded firmly. “We do.”

“Follow me.”

Mu Nanjin led them to the Commandant’s Office.

Xu Cheng’s eyes widened as he saw Jinyiwei entering and leaving the premises. “This is… the Jinyiwei headquarters, isn’t it?” he whispered.

Yang Bo nodded.

Xu Cheng tensed. “She’s not turning us in, is she?”

Yang Bo shot him a look. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Relieved, Xu Cheng followed quietly.

They soon met Liu Colonel.

“Captain Liu, uh, Colonel,” Mu Nanjin said, “I’ve brought Xu Cheng and Yang Bo.”

Colonel Liu, who had brought his son along today, nodded. “Good. Sign your names here. If you can’t write, leave your handprint.”

Yang Bo glanced at the paper and froze. “You’re… recruiting us into the Jinyiwei?”

Xu Cheng stared in disbelief.

“You didn’t tell them?” Colonel Liu asked Mu Nanjin.

“Now’s as good a time as any,” she said lightly.

“Knew it.” Colonel Liu sighed, then explained to them, “You’ll be serving under Miss Mu as Jinyiwei. Do you agree?”

Both answered at once, “We do.”

“Then sign here.”

Afterward, Colonel Liu added, “Go collect your uniforms. The rank is Ninth Grade, Feiyu Division. Once the Commander approves your appointment, you’ll receive your official tokens.”

Yang Bo asked, “Don’t we need an imperial decree for official ranks?”

“Only positions at the rank of Deputy Commander and above require the Emperor’s personal approval,” Colonel Liu explained patiently. “Below that, the Commander has full authority. Still, promotion lists are shown to the Emperor for formality. Work hard. There will be chances for advancement.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once they had signed and left, Colonel Liu turned to say something, only to find Mu Nanjin gone.

“This girl, did she run off just to avoid new assignments?”

Then, in his head, he heard her voice:

【Commander, I’m coming.】

Colonel Liu: “…”

At that moment, in the Documents Hall, the Commander suddenly stood. “I need to enter the palace,” he said to his deputy.

“But, sir—”

Before the man could finish, the Commander vanished.

The deputy chuckled. “So even you have someone you’re afraid of now, huh?”

Moments later, Mu Nanjin arrived, only to find the Commander gone. She frowned. “Where is he?”

“He went to the palace. What’s the matter?” the deputy asked kindly. “If you’re having trouble, tell me. I’ll handle it for you.”

【Ugh, the Commander’s not here. What a letdown.】

Deputy: “…”

Was she that disappointed to see him instead?

Mu Nanjin said aloud, “I wanted to ask the Commander to encourage all Jinyiwei to send their daughters to the Imperial Academy.”

“For that?” the deputy raised an eyebrow. “All right, we’ll consider it. Anything else?”

She shook her head. “That’s all. I’m leaving.”

As she stepped outside, she noticed a group of Jinyiwei hauling out several large chests from the storeroom.

【Where are they taking all those boxes?】