The Foolish Husband of the Landlord's Family (GL)

Chapter 20: It's So Hot

The masked man stood poised, feet planted firmly, one hand ready in front as if preparing to strike. He seemed wary of her.

Jiang Yuan deduced that he was on guard against the original owner of her body. Suppressing her surprise, she coldly challenged, "Do you really think you're worthy of possessing that thing?"

She was gambling on the original owner's higher status or potential use of poison, which would explain the man's caution. If she lost, her life might be at risk. If she won, she might glean vital information.

"You..." The masked man seemed agitated, wary of Jiang Yuan, his voice tense with suppressed anger. "We both serve the master; there's no need for internal conflict. Hand over the item, and I'll deliver it to the master. You can continue as Lady Lin, and I won't breathe a word."

His words hinted at a threat. Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow, feigning as if to reach for something at her waist.

Seeing her move, he leaped onto the roof, warning, "Jiang Yuan, don't be foolish. If the master discovers you're alive, he'll send someone to kill you again. But if you give me the item, I won't reveal you're still living. Why not cooperate?"

"Give it to you so you can take the credit?" Jiang Yuan speculated ambiguously from what she'd heard. "You know how important it is to the master, yet you think I'd hand it over to you? Do you take me for a fool?"

The man laughed, "And you're keeping it, hoping to deceive the master? Do you think he'll spare you? I've heard he's already sent Lord Bat to search, and he'll soon arrive in Xu Prefecture."

Jiang Yuan had no idea who this master was or what Lord Bat meant, but she understood the danger. She bluffed, "Even if he arrives, would you dare report my survival?"

"Your fame in Xu Prefecture precedes you. The master will find out you're alive without my report," he sneered. "If he weren't busy in seclusion, you'd never have survived this long."

Jiang Yuan retorted coldly, "Regardless, I'll deliver it to him personally, so don't trouble yourself."

She hoped to extract the master's identity.

The man scoffed, "The master isn't someone you can meet at will. Since you've been punished, accept you won't see him again."

He spoke as if meeting the master was an honor, suggesting the original owner's unusual background.

Feeling more confident, Jiang Yuan replied, "You can't meet him because you're incapable. How do you know I can't?"

"Impressive. Relying on your past bond, perhaps? But the master is ruthless and likely forgot you as a disciple, or why would he attempt to kill you?" With that, he leaped from the roof, vanishing into the night.

Jiang Yuan wasn't relieved. She processed the information: she had something the master wanted, and the original owner had indeed been murdered, possibly by the master, who might have been her teacher.

Touching her forehead, now damp with cold sweat, Jiang Yuan realized the original owner's extraordinary identity explained why she'd been watched.

What did the master desire? She had nothing but the vortex in her middle finger—was that what they wanted?

Overwhelmed, Jiang Yuan felt a headache. Her business was just taking off, and now this threat loomed. Who was Lord Bat?

The masked man's revelations were alarming, and she suddenly feared for Lin's parents' safety.

If the master wanted something, Lord Bat might search their home like her room had been ransacked before.

She suspected the masked man had been the intruder, seeking the item.

Rushing back inside, Jiang Yuan found Lin Kong asleep, breathing a sigh of relief. She worried about Lin's parents but was unsure if keeping them close was wise.

Facing her first truly difficult problem, Jiang Yuan felt trapped in a web of unknowns and lurking dangers.

Wanting to be proactive but lacking information, she decided to visit Liuping Village to check on Lin's parents.

Just as she settled into bed, Lin Kong began talking in her sleep.

Normally, she paid little mind to Lin Kong's sleep-talking, which happened occasionally. After sharing a bed for months, Jiang Yuan was used to it, but tonight seemed different.

"Tanzhong..." Lin Kong murmured, mentioning an acupoint. Curious, Jiang Yuan leaned closer to catch more, hearing, "From Baihui, descend... gather qi in... dantian... fire... fire..."

Frowning, Jiang Yuan couldn't decipher Lin Kong's mutterings, reminiscent of martial arts inner power techniques.

Repeating "fire," Lin Kong's expression grew frightened, her brow furrowing in distress. Sweat beaded on her forehead as her limbs twitched.

Jiang Yuan had never seen her like this. It seemed unrelated to their time together but rather something peculiar about today.

August 18th held no special meaning for Jiang Yuan, yet it was her first with Lin Kong. She didn't know if this had happened before, as the original owner had been with Lin Kong in the past.

Her thoughts raced but only took a moment.

"Kong'er, wake up..." Jiang Yuan gently shook Lin Kong, trying to rouse her.

But Lin Kong continued her cryptic muttering, hands tugging at her clothes, soon revealing the small buns on her chest.

Jiang Yuan: "..."