Chapter 115: Scoundrel in Disguise (Part Two)

Hearing Su Fan’s question, Su Nanxing shook her head and smiled lightly. “She’s much easier to coax than Ruan Ruan. Just hold her, give her a few kisses, and then a sincere apology—that’s usually enough.”

“What if Sister-in-law won’t let you hold her?” Su Fan wondered. How could Tao Ming, an adult, be easier to coax than Ruan Ruan?

Su Nanxing patted Su Fan’s shoulder and said, “She has me in her heart, so she naturally won’t resist. Sometimes she struggles a bit, but it’s just little tantrums.”

Upon hearing this, Su Fan looked thoughtfully at Tao Ming. After a moment, he replied, “A woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.”

Tao Ming played house with the two little ones while Su Nanxing carefully analyzed the situation Ling Fei had described to everyone.

Su Pei, the youngest, having spent most of his time inside the Su residence and never having encountered such matters, could not help but get angry. “To think there are such heinous villains in the world! Seventeenth Brother, when you go out tonight, take me along—I vow to kill this person on the spot.”

Tao Ming interrupted, “During the day, I was teaching Ruan Ruan that bad people should be punished by the law. Shouldn’t we set a good example?”

Before Su Pei could respond, Ruan Ruan reached out and turned Tao Ming’s head back, saying, “You’re not paying attention when playing with us; I’m getting angry again!”

Tao Ming hurriedly apologized and took the two children upstairs to focus on playing with them. Halfway up the stairs, they met Wen Youfang, who asked, “Mr. Wen, has the matriarch awakened?”

Wen Youfang shook his head. “My mother is still unconscious. My stomach is empty; is there any food?”

Only then did Tao Ming realize that Wen Youfang was an ordinary man, carrying no magical pouches or provisions. She called out toward the living room, “Husband, Mr. Wen is hungry.”

Then she turned to Wen Youfang and said, “They brought food; you can go eat. I’ll stay here and play with these two.”

After thanking her, Wen Youfang went downstairs.

Once Tao Ming’s figure disappeared from sight, Qin Yunjue spoke. “I never expected Mingming to say such things.”

Wen Youfang nodded approvingly. “No wonder the young mistress of the Su family bore a saintly daughter. She is truly a formidable woman!”

Su Nanxing, feeling proud, said, “She has many virtues. In time, you all will see.”

...

At midnight, Tao Ming and Su Nanxing quietly slipped out of the Saintess Hall.

Tao Ming controlled the water flowing through the hall, allowing it to seep through every crack, hole, and secret chamber—nothing escaped her perception.

Recalling the map Ling Fei had drawn, Tao Ming guided the water slowly closer and closer to the Elders’ Hall, following the marked locations.

The journey was smooth. By now, Tao Ming and Su Nanxing had reached the eastern wall of the Elders’ Hall. Water seeped gently through the wall’s crevices, thoroughly probing each room.

After a while, Tao Ming withdrew her cultivation technique and said, “One room has Ling Qian sleeping inside, and another is protected by a restriction. I didn’t want to alert anyone, so I didn’t investigate further. I suspect it’s Ling Qing’s bedroom.”

Su Nanxing pulled out a small bottle and shook it. “Su family’s secret soul-dulling powder—essential for killing and robbing.”

They both took the antidote for the powder, then quietly slipped into the Elders’ Hall, arriving at the door to Ling Qian’s room.

Tao Ming’s hands and feet trembled nervously. Even knowing they were doing the right thing, she couldn’t help but feel unsettled.

Su Nanxing gripped Tao Ming’s hand firmly. With the fingers of his other hand, he conjured a thin flame that wrapped the soul-dulling powder, slipping it through the crack under the door. Soon, a faint fragrance drifted from inside the room.

Su Nanxing nodded at Tao Ming, who knew Ling Qian had been drugged. She reached to push the door open but found it locked.

Su Nanxing chuckled softly near her ear. “Of course, you have to lock the door when you sleep.”

Tao Ming stuck out her tongue playfully, then guided the water to unlatch the bolt. The two entered Ling Qian’s room and saw a delicate lamp stand by the bedside, its fluorite stone emitting a faint white glow.

Tao Ming glanced at Ling Qian on the bed, covered by a thin sheet, completely unaware.

Su Nanxing set up an isolation formation throughout the room and sealed Ling Qian’s cultivation. He glanced at Tao Ming, hesitated, then said, “Wife, maybe you should step aside for a moment? Interrogating a culprit isn’t very pleasant to watch.”

Tao Ming shook her head. Since she didn’t know if Ling Fei’s words were true, she wanted to hear Ling Qian’s explanation herself.

Su Nanxing pointed to the wardrobe in the corner. “Wife, maybe stand over there so she doesn’t see you.”

Tao Ming pouted but complied, standing by the wardrobe. From Ling Qian’s position, Tao Ming was completely hidden.

Seeing Tao Ming in place, Su Nanxing produced a small bottle and waved it under Ling Qian’s nose. Ling Qian’s eyes slowly opened, sensing something was wrong. She hurried to activate her cultivation but to no avail. Looking up, she saw Su Nanxing and a bare arm stretching out from beneath the sheet.

She laughed coquettishly. “Young Master Su, what brings you to my boudoir in the deep of night?”

Tao Ming stood in the wardrobe’s shadow, watching Su Nanxing freeze in surprise. She struggled to suppress a laugh.

Wasn’t interrogating criminals supposed to be unpleasant?

This was quite a show!

Feeling Tao Ming’s amusement, Su Nanxing took a couple of steps toward the bed and chuckled. “I heard Sister Qian is best at serving men, so I came at night to see if the little brother might have such good fortune.”

Ling Qian patted the edge of the bed, inviting Su Nanxing to sit. “Could it be that Young Master Su has already captured Ling Fei? She’s always boring; I’m far more knowledgeable and considerate.”

Su Nanxing stood at the head of the bed, not sitting, and casually said, “I heard there have been a lot of new faces at the Sanctuary recently. Is that true?”

Tao Ming’s ears twitched. That was odd—they had been together the whole time; how had Su Nanxing heard such news?

Ling Qian’s expression changed. She lowered her voice. “Young Master Su, where did you get this information?”

Su Nanxing raised his eyebrows. “From the palace, naturally.”

Ling Qian’s tension deepened, and she urged, “Young Master Su, this must not be spread around.”

Su Nanxing teased, “Dear sister, such good news should be kept secret. I wouldn’t brag about it and enjoy it alone.”

Ling Qian tucked her hair behind her ear, speaking softly and sweetly, “Young Master Su, the night is short and sweet—why don’t you and I...”

Su Nanxing laughed and interrupted her. “Sister Qian, don’t be impatient. I heard there’s a teleportation array in the Imperial City leading directly to the Sanctuary. Please do tell me about it. That way, if I miss you, I can visit more easily.”

Hidden beneath the sheet, Ling Qian’s other hand quietly reached to the wall, feeling around the bed’s gap. She pulled out something and crushed it fiercely. Instantly, the room filled with thick black fog.

Su Nanxing immediately returned to Tao Ming’s side, burying her head in his chest and whispering, “Hold your breath.”

Tao Ming obediently held her breath. Su Nanxing’s fingertips sparked with fire, quickly burning away the black fog. He then said, “You can breathe now.”

Tao Ming took a deep breath, puzzled by Ling Qian’s sudden attack, when she heard Ling Qian’s voice, furious and shocked: “How could this be?”

Tao Ming turned her head to see what was happening, but Su Nanxing quickly pressed her head down. “Don’t move.”

Ling Qian, now standing on the bed completely naked, muttered to herself, staring at the crushed fragments in her hand. “I didn’t escape after all.”

Su Nanxing felt a headache coming on. Who would have guessed Ling Qian was naked? What should they do now?

If Tao Ming saw, wouldn’t he be in trouble?