WBICDPH Chapter 21 Part 2

That frown made the madam’s heart leap into her throat. She asked cautiously,
“Young master… none of them to your liking?”

Lin Jin tapped the table impatiently.

“What do you take me for? With all this silver laid out, you’re telling me your top courtesan won’t even come out for a look?”

“Oh! So you’re here for Zhuetang?” the madam said with a dry laugh.
“But, young master, Zhuetang has a bit of a problem today. She’s not suitable for receiving—”

Bang!

Lin Jin slammed his palm down on the table, cutting her off.

“Fine, fine! I ask for Shuang’er—you refuse. I ask for Zhuetang—you refuse again. Are you doing this on purpose? Believe it or not, I’ll shut this lousy place down!”

“Y-young master, please don’t be angry!” the madam stammered, trembling. “I’m truly not lying. How about I call Zhuetang out for you to take a look?”

She hurriedly shook the arm of a nearby courtesan.

“Go—go call Zhuetang. Hurry!”

The courtesan scurried off and soon returned with a slightly older woman.

This woman was clearly dressed differently from the others. Her hair ornaments and makeup were more refined, and her clothing far less revealing.

Yet Lin Jin noticed a faint sorrow between her brows, and redness beneath her eyes, as though she had recently been crying. Looking closer, even beneath the heavy powder, a distinct slap mark was visible on her right cheek—faintly tinged with blood.

Lin Jin felt certain now. He curved his lips slightly and tossed a silver ingot to the madam.

“I’ll take her.”

“Oh, wonderful, wonderful,” the madam said quickly. “It’s good that you don’t mind her face like this. Enjoy yourself tonight, young master. Once her injuries heal, come again—I’ll charge you less then.”

She ushered the other girls away. Before leaving, she turned back and smiled at Lin Jin.

“Please sit tight, young master. I’ll have some fine wine brought over. Once you’re feeling good, Zhuetang will escort you upstairs. And what about this other young master—would you like to choose someone as well?”

Han Ao shook his head so hard it looked like a rattle drum. The madam didn’t mind and sashayed away with a grin.

Only after she left did Han Ao finally relax.

He gave Lin Jin a thumbs-up.
“Brother, that didn’t look like acting at all.”

Lin Jin raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Seeing Zhuetang still standing, he pulled over a chair and gestured for her to sit.

Zhuetang seemed momentarily startled. She glanced at Lin Jin, then at the chair, hesitated, and finally sat down.

Out of habit, she poured him a cup of wine, but Lin Jin raised a hand to stop her.

“There’s no need, miss. I only wanted to chat with you for a bit.”

She lowered her eyes slightly and let out a self-mocking smile.

“That’s a novel thing to hear. You spent so much silver to keep me here, yet you only wish to talk? If that’s the case, you could have said so plainly.”

Lin Jin nodded and got straight to the point.

“I want to ask—what happened to your face?”

At the mention of her injury, Zhuetang grew uneasy. She lifted a handkerchief to cover her cheek, her voice dropping.

“It’s nothing. I just made a mistake and angered Mama.”

“Is that so?” Lin Jin pressed gently. “What could you have done to anger her so badly? In her eyes, your face should be the most valuable thing of all.”

“…”

Zhuetang frowned slightly, but before she could answer, another voice drew everyone’s attention.

“Miss! I’ve seen all kinds of people for decades—man or woman, I can tell at a glance! Do you really think this old woman is blind?! Dressing up like this and coming here to make trouble—you’re not ashamed of yourself, but you’re an eyesore to me! You’d better leave right now. If someone you know recognizes you, do you still plan on getting married in the future?!”

The madam’s voice was shrill and piercing.

Lin Jin looked over and saw that she was chasing out a “young master” dressed in white.

The girl, disguised as a man, flushed with anger under the madam’s scolding. She stammered out a few “you—”s but couldn’t get a word out. In the end, she turned and fled amid the surrounding laughter.

Lin Jin watched her retreating figure thoughtfully, frowning slightly.

“Sorry, Miss Zhuetang. Please return to your room and wait for me for a moment. I’ll be back shortly.”

He waved Han Ao over.
“Let’s go! Ah Han, you’re fast—help me stop her.”

“Huh?”

Though Han Ao had no idea what Lin Jin was planning, he trusted him enough to drop his pastry and chase after the girl.

Lin Jin couldn’t run fast at all, let alone keep up with Han Ao. By the time he jogged out of Manting Spring at a turtle’s pace, Han Ao had already caught the girl in a nearby alley and was waiting.

“What are you doing?” the girl asked.

Though Han Ao had grabbed her arm, she didn’t struggle. She only frowned slightly, her tone gentle even in accusation.

Han Ao ignored her and turned to Lin Jin instead.

“Got her! Lin—she’s the ghost cultivator we’re looking for, right?”

Lin Jin had no idea why he would think that.

“No. Let her go. If you don’t, you’ll regret it—I’m not kidding.”

“?”
Han Ao was confused, but he obediently released her.

The girl in white rubbed her sore arm and sighed.

“I have no prior acquaintance with either of you. Why did you seize me? You are cultivators yourselves—you should be able to tell that I am not a ghost cultivator.”

“Indeed, miss—you certainly are not.”

Lin Jin shot Han Ao a look and sighed inwardly at his lack of tact.

Then he cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.

“I am Lin Jin of Yanyu Mountain. Greetings, Immortal Physician Bright Moon.”

“…!”

Han Ao froze on the spot.

He looked at Lin Jin, then at the woman beside him, swallowing blankly.

The woman in white was also momentarily stunned. Then she smiled softly and returned the salute.

“My name is Liu Fuxin. Fellow cultivator—well met.”