Minglong

Chapter 394 The Battle of Best Friends
Danyang Academy.

The Military Academy is one of the three major departments of the academy. It has majors such as archery, horsemanship, martial arts, civil engineering, weaponry, military strategy, etc. Its main purpose is to expand the military equipment of the imperial court. Almost all the students are men, and even the department beauty is effeminate. This is why among the three departments of the academy, only Wang He and Zisu are known as the two beauties.

Around noon, Xu Hunli, known as the "Golden Broker," stood in the exhibition hall of the Military Equipment Academy, introducing various magical artifact samples to the eagerly waiting Zisu:
"This dagger is named 'Zhenwen,' the winning piece from the autumn examination in the eighth year of Jian'an. Its design and ingenuity are impeccable. Longyun Valley once offered ten thousand taels of silver just for the design draft of this dagger, but the academy wouldn't sell it..."

"Dragon Fang, White Holy Gold, Black Profound Gold... This is probably a bit too expensive..."

"Hey, Young Master Xie commissioned magical artifacts for you and your aunt. Would it be fair to offer them at a low price, given his current reputation? Just the name 'Xie Jinhuan' is there; I wouldn't even dare to mention ordinary items worth less than 100,000 taels..."

"One hundred thousand taels?"

"Design and handcrafting only, materials not included..."

"Huh?! Old Xu, you're taking advantage of someone you know, aren't you...?"

"Alas, killing incurs karmic consequences..."

……

Upstairs, Xie Jinhuan was also in the hall filled with exhibits, looking at all sorts of objects.

The academy is a legitimate Confucian institution of learning, and should regard money as dirt. However, in this world, scholars who lack skills will find no one to listen to their reasoning.

In addition, there are two money-devouring behemoths: alchemy and weapon crafting. Just Zisu alone consumes so much money each year that ordinary families cannot afford it, while the academy has thousands of students to support.

Although the imperial court provided some support to educational institutions, it was a drop in the ocean compared to the expenses. As a result, the academies had to be self-sufficient and produced small items such as the Phoenix Silk Robe, which were designed to seduce lecherous men. They cost only a few taels of silver to produce but sold for hundreds of taels, and the supply still couldn't meet the demand.

However, as a Confucian academy and the sacred school of Ye Sheng, the academy cannot only focus on the lower-level aspects. It actually has many high-end products, such as various elixirs researched by Zisu and various magical artifacts designed by the Military Equipment Academy. Sects can customize them or pay patent fees to produce them, or they can buy them outright, but the prices are indeed prohibitive.

Xie Jinhuan had just brought the Lin family mother and daughter here to spend money. Upon hearing Xu Hunli's price, his only thought was—So, all that fighting to the death at Dragon Bone Beach was just to be a laborer for your academy? At least when I rob someone, I have to do it under the guise of righteousness, but you guys don't even bother to put on an act…

However, the academy is indeed the most prestigious institution of learning in the Great Qian Dynasty, and its technological reserves are evident to all; you get what you pay for.

Xie Jinhuan couldn't just go to a small workshop to customize a magic artifact for his wife because he thought it was too expensive, thus wasting the Mo Yuan fragments he had worked so hard to acquire.

Therefore, he still let Xu Hunli choose the best, since it was all going to be paid for by Young Master Lü anyway...

Fearing that Wanyi was around, Zisu didn't dare to make any requests, so Xie Jinhuan even took Wanyi to stroll around the second floor.

Lin Wanyi, who had spent years managing the household and business, had little interest in fighting and killing. She walked up to him with her arms crossed and whispered a word of advice:
"Why don't you get Zisu some magic artifact? I don't need it, so there's no need to waste money. I'd be happy with just a bracelet."

Xie Jinhuan raised his hand and pinched Wanyi's cheek:
"You are the young master, how can you not even have a decent weapon? Leave these things to me, you don't need to worry about it, I know what I'm doing."

"Ugh……"

Lin Wanyi was still very happy, but she didn't want Xie Jinhuan's hard work outside to go to waste. Seeing that Xie Jinhuan insisted on giving her the gift, she tilted her head up and kissed him on the cheek. Then she looked at a strangely shaped chair placed among the many pieces of furniture:

"What does this do?"

Xie Jinhuan glanced at it briefly and found that there were many mechanisms on the bronze chair. He initially thought it was a wheelchair, but there were no wheels underneath. So he leaned back in the chair, pressed on the lotus carving on the armrest, and slightly infused his qi into it.

Kakakka~
A faint creaking sound of gears turning came from beneath the bronze chair, and then the chair back slowly reclined, followed by a rhythmic undulation of the waist and back, rising and falling in a very rhythmic manner. The more energy was poured into it, the faster the speed became...

? ?
Lin Wanyi, watching from the side, blushed upon seeing the suggestive gesture and quickly slapped the big pig's trotter a few times.
"Get down quickly! What if Zisu sees this? What the hell is this thing...?"

"Ha ha……"

Xie Jinhuan was also amazed by the academy's neglect of its proper duties. She thought that she could buy these things and try them out with Wanyi. She made a note of them and then continued to study all sorts of random bedroom items with Wanyi.

However, before Xu Hunli could finalize the customization requirements for Zisu, he noticed a noise coming from outside the window:
puff puff~
Looking up, I saw a lump of coal lying on the windowsill, its claws still clutching a letter:

"Gooji!"

They looked like they were forced to work.

Upon seeing this, Xie Jinhuan came forward, took the envelope, and examined it. He found that the letter was sent from the north, but it was not written by the Qixia Master. Instead, it was a secret letter from Jiangjiabao to Empress Dowager Guo.

The gist of it is that Jiang Hehai's spies in the northern Jianghu discovered that Shang Mingzhen was appearing in the eastern part of Northern Zhou, seemingly heading towards the grasslands...

Lin Wanyi, standing to the side, noticed Xie Jinhuan's eyes light up and asked curiously:

"Did a girl write you a love letter?"

"How could that be? A fellow Daoist with considerable wealth has obtained the tortoise shell. Your opportunity is still in his hands, and we must help you retrieve it as soon as possible."

"Huh? My chance is still in the hands of outsiders?"

"What outsiders? These are family..."

……
-
Meanwhile, in Luojing.

Huhu~
In the garden of the Marquis's mansion, a gentle breeze swept across the grass, bringing with it a faint sense of desolation.

Zhao Ling, dressed in a black martial arts outfit, stood on the grass, holding two swords. The shyness of last night's passionate night had faded, leaving only the sharp edge of unparalleled martial prowess.

Linghu Qingmo stood with one hand behind his back, his three-foot sword, Bamboo Shadow, pointing diagonally at the ground. A chilling glint appeared in his eyes: 'From now on, the golden leaves will be gone, oh, Tong Lei, all ties are severed!'

“We’ve known each other since childhood, like sisters. I thought we could talk about anything and stand together through thick and thin, but I never expected you to do such a thing…”

Zhao Ling's expression hardened, and she said blankly:
"What did I do? It's just a friendly spar, why are you making such threats?"

Linghu Qingmo frowned and replied, "I was drunk last night, not blind. Do you think I didn't see your shifty eyes and wet pants when you were laughing at me?"

"That's...that's because you suddenly came in and scared me..."

"Later, after a few rounds of drinks, I was coerced by that lecherous man... What were you doing behind my back?"

"..."

While Qingmo was leaning against the headboard, utterly humiliated and indignant, and hadn't noticed, Zhao Ling secretly sat down behind him. Upon hearing this, she looked slightly embarrassed:

"I had too much to drink, um... why didn't you tell me when you noticed?"

Linghu Qingmo wasn't stupid. She didn't realize that Ling'er and that lecherous man only dared to sneak a taste. If she had made it clear, Ling'er would have been having fun in front of her last night.

She either doesn't dare to learn and just watches helplessly from the sidelines, or she follows along and carelessly gives up the most important first time, which is just asking for trouble.
Xie Jinhuan had left, and the two best friends were alone together. Linghu Qingmo no longer hid anything and asked:

“We’re as close as sisters. I even knew Xie Jinhuan first. You’re so disloyal. You should tell me what to do next.”

Zhao Ling was indeed somewhat in the wrong, and said helplessly:

“I’ve already been lenient with you for a long time. Otherwise, in Danyang, he would have become the prince consort, and you wouldn’t have had the chance to be so shy and flirtatious. Besides, you can’t be a bully at home, Wanyi…”

"I already dealt with her this morning!"

"That……"

Zhao Ling originally wanted to give examples of Aunt Nangong and Aunt Bu, but this was probably not a good idea, so she could only say:
"Then what do you suggest? How about you keep her company tonight, and I won't bother you?"

Linghu Qingmo thought for a moment: "You are the eldest princess of the Great Qian Dynasty, and you should be mindful of the royal family's dignity. You shouldn't be having affairs with men before marriage. From now on, I will be watching Xie Jinhuan at night. You can no longer secretly break the rules..."

"what?"

How could Zhao Ling possibly starve herself or abstain from sex? She said earnestly:

"Qingmo, that's not right of you. We're like sisters. Why are you only wary of me? What if Doctor Lin comes over tonight?"

Linghu Qingmo was furious after being mocked by the "pretty face" doctor today, and said seriously:
"She's not allowed in the house either!"

"Oh?!"

Zhao Ling felt that Mo Mo had probably overestimated her own fighting ability, so she immediately drew her twin swords:

"I won't agree! You either come with me, or stay away tonight so it doesn't disturb your peace of mind."

Seeing that her best friend was knowingly committing a crime, Linghu Qingmo no longer held back and charged forward with her sword drawn...

……

Ding ding~
The sound of metal clashing echoed in the garden.

In the distance, Bu Yuehua and her master walked side by side through the corridor. They caught a glimpse of the scene: 'Three slashes shatter the Great Woman's soul; I am a minotaur!' She commented:

"The eldest princess's martial arts talent is indeed remarkable, but unfortunately she was born into an imperial family and lacked the tempering of blood and fire from a young age. Her fighting style is too straightforward, and her actual combat skills are far inferior to those of Miss Linghu. She still needs to hone her skills."

Empress Dowager Guo's achievements in martial arts were second only to Ye Ci's. She had little interest in this kind of childish game and after glancing at it briefly, she went to the guest courtyard of the outer residence.

The courtyard was elegant, and servants were cleaning it.

The main room door was open, and Bu Qingya, dressed in a black robe, sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes covered by an eye mask, silent as if he were in quiet seclusion.

Because his soul was missing and could not be found, Bu Qingya has been in this state ever since he was found before the New Year.

Although his combat prowess was considerable, Bu Yuehua could not use her father as a puppet. Therefore, she issued a protective order, turning her father into the guardian of the Danyang Marquis's mansion to guard against the evil Taoist priests who would sneak in and cause trouble while Xie Jinhuan was away from home.

At this time, Bu Yuehua brought her master along, hoping to see if her all-powerful master had any way to restore her father's health.

But the result is obvious: the essence of a person is three souls and seven spirits, not a physical body. If some souls are missing, even a true deity cannot mend the broken mirror.

After observing for a moment from outside the door, Empress Dowager Guo shook her head. However, after a closer look, she asked:
"Your father also possesses the divine blessing of Lingguang?"

Bu Yuehua asked in confusion, "My father was too young and missed the opportunity that appeared before the age of sixty, and then an accident happened, so he didn't have any divine opportunities. Why is Master asking this?"

Empress Dowager Guo frowned in thought: "Your father has a familiar feeling about him, similar to an object under the Zhuque Mausoleum, but I'm not sure, it could be my imagination."

"Oh……"

Bu Yuehua seemed to understand but not quite. Seeing that her master was also unsure, she didn't ask any more questions. After carefully examining her father a few more times, she left with him...

(End of this chapter)