Chapter 200: Chapter 128: Grandmaster Shen Meinan (Double-Length)_2

It seems this is the reason for her sadness.

Chen Kuang whispered, "What’s wrong? Did a monster bully you?"

Lianmi shook her head, "No, it’s not a monster..."

She hesitated, pursed her lips, and swallowed back her words.

Forget it... knowing someone for just one day, what’s the point of saying anything?

She was silly, crying in her room at night would solve it, but somehow, she ended up here in front of this room...

As if crying to this person would help.

Lianmi hurried to stand up, but Chen Kuang held her back.

Chen Kuang said, "If it’s not a monster, then it’s a person."

"Tell me, maybe it will serve as a diversion. Some things bottled up inside can cause trouble."

Lianmi wanted to break free but found Chen Kuang’s strength terrifying; she had been stronger than most men since childhood, yet being held by Chen Kuang felt as weak as a sparrow in his palm.

Chen Kuang was surprised.

Lianmi’s struggle was enough to match a Martial Artist of the Enlightenment Realm! And at least six veins of strength!

She’s practically a born powerhouse... if she had trained earlier, she might have been a genius.

Chen Kuang’s thoughts flashed by, he took a gold leaf from his pocket and placed it in Lianmi’s hand.

He smiled, "Consider it payment for telling me stories."

Lianmi said defiantly, "I gave you one tael! Why did you only give me a gold leaf!"

Chen Kuang replied, "There’s a difference between stories."

Lianmi thought for a moment and agreed, "Oh."

She sat back down, after being interrupted by Chen Kuang, she seemed slightly less sad.

Lianmi said gloomily, "It’s indeed not something interesting..."

She recounted how those Officials came to search the place, and one insisted on checking the chest where she kept her clothes.

Lianmi’s eyes reddened as she spoke, "I thought it would be over once he left, but when working with other maids at night, they said that the Official is the son of the Steward of Wanlin Commerce Association."

"Before he left, he told Mrs. Yu he could pay ten ingots of gold to buy me; otherwise, even if the official silver is found, he’d bring people to check every day..."

Chen Kuang understood.

The man actually knew Liu Qingcheng wouldn’t let anyone go, so he intended to force Xuni Pavilion to make a decision.

Daily checks weren’t realistic, but with the missing official silver unresolved, he could indeed exaggerate the situation.

Because Liu Qingcheng was "privately appointed", Xuni Pavilion wasn’t operating much, yet it remained the face of Zangfeng State, attracting many visitors; constant checks during this turmoil would hurt its reputation.

Xuni Pavilion likely wouldn’t want to cause trouble over a little maid.

It seems, they might compromise and sell Lianmi.

This was what saddened Lianmi.

Chen Kuang looked at her and asked, "You don’t want to leave Xuni Pavilion?"

Lianmi shook her head, "I do want to."

She whispered, "Don’t tell anyone... I saved a lot of money already, planned to redeem myself with the mistress this winter and then leave."

She said determinedly, "I want to leave on my own, not get bought."

So these gold leaves... were her redemption money.

Chen Kuang felt complex emotions, and with a flip of his palm, returned the remaining gold leaves to her.

Lianmi was puzzled, "Why are you giving them back to me?"

Chen Kuang touched her head, "This story is great, not worse than mine, it’s your reward."

Lianmi was confused.

She wasn’t foolish, this guy wasn’t a bad person, but neither was he a good man; which good person asks for one tael of gold so confidently?

She thought Chen Kuang needed money, yet here he was, giving it back...

Chen Kuang laughed, "How about you make up a sequel? Not much, just for another tael of gold."

Lianmi was speechless, "You’re tricking me again, even if I do, where do you have the money?"

Chen Kuang replied, "Fine, you saw through me."

"If you need money, just keep it." Lianmi said, "I have enough, don’t need yours."

She sniffed, pretending to smile casually, "After talking with you, I feel much better."

Chen Kuang looked at her, "That’s good."

Lianmi dusted off her pants, walked away with light steps.

Chen Kuang pondered aloud:

"Wanlin Commerce Association... isn’t that coincidental?"

He held a jade pendant, its brilliance flowing in his hands.

This pendant was a gift from Lin Er You, given as compensation, signifying the status of a distinguished guest of Wanlin Commerce Association.

After all, Wanlin Commerce Association was owned by Lin Er You’s family...

He tossed the jade pendant in his hand, "Seems this time, I might not need to take action to solve the problem."

....

The next morning.

Chen Kuang finished his chores, sat in the corner, listening to the scholars chatting in the leisure of the Xuni Pavilion hall.

Liu Qingcheng originally wanted to switch him to Musician, but Chen Kuang refused.

He wanted to use this identity to gather information about what happened after his "death" and his interests.

These self-proclaimed scholars were fond of showcasing their knowledge and knew far more than commoners.

Xuni Pavilion often saw cultivators too.

For example, today, two Enlightenment Realm individuals from the Jianghu arrived.

Chen Kuang listened to them chat idly, picking up useful information.

After his "death", Wen Si couldn’t protect Lady Liang and her daughter, leaving only Little Princess Su Huaiying; Chu Wen Ruo died on the spot.

Chen Kuang’s heart sank, then heard another voice intervene.

"Heard there was the Kunpeng’s emergence, alongside an unknown great demon that appeared; it was this demon that killed three Grandmasters from the Divine Farmer Bureau, wonder if they have any connection..."

"What kind of demon dares to act under the Martial Saint’s nose?"

"I don’t know either, but they say the demon is entirely snow white, like the Moon Palace Fairy!"

Moon Palace Fairy?

Chen Kuang paused.

The faint white light he once perceived on Chu Wen Ruo was moon-like.

Considering his previous speculations... could this demon be Chu Wen Ruo?

Chen Kuang found it absurd, yet vaguely possible.

He listened intently, wanting to learn more details.

However, those two seemed disinterested, soon shifting topics.

"What a pity about Chen Kuang, what a figure, able to fight the Martial Saint’s incarnation!"

"What’s so pitiful; he overestimated himself, killing the Martial Saint’s disciple, leading to his own death... in this world, keeping safe is the right way."

"That’s not quite right, the Canglang Review exceptionally elevated him to tenth place, retaining his spot for a month, a truly unprecedented honor."

"What’s the use? He’s dead anyway."

"The Canglang first rank still belongs to the Shen family, I thought finally someone contended against Shen Xingzhu."

"Speaking of Shen Xingzhu, the Shen Family is astonishing."

"Indeed, who would have thought, it’s remarkable having Shen Xingzhu alone, let alone Shen Meinan appearing!"

Shen Meinan?!

Chen Kuang’s pupils tightened.

What’s happening, Shen Meinan shouldn’t be in this conversation; this young girl... is only in the Innate Realm...

That person continued to marvel, "It’s truly terrifying."

"Shen Meinan silently possesses Grandmaster prowess! Incredible!"

Chen Kuang was thoroughly stunned.

Shen Meinan? Grandmaster?

Do these words even match?

He frowned, Shen Meinan’s powers couldn’t have just risen without reason.

The Shen Family... or rather, Shen Xingzhu, must have done something!

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