King of Hundred Victories Saber

Chapter 178 - 117: Beneath the Sorrow of Love: Xie Zhichuan’s Despicable Schemes and the Jianghu Turmoil

The scorching sun hung high, baking the streets and alleys of Jinan Prefecture, as dust surged wildly in the heat waves.

That day, Lin Wanqing walked swiftly, fine beads of sweat continually seeping from her smooth forehead, sliding down her cheeks, soaking the collar of her clothes. She tightly clutched a cloth bag filled with medicinal herbs, with only the thought of quickly returning to Jinhui Inn to prepare a potion for the wounded Gong Simeng. Her heart was anxious about Gong Simeng’s injuries, and she also thought of Shi Feiyang, hoping that the sooner she returned, the more she could see Shi Feiyang.

Just as she reached near the inn, a sudden clamor erupted.

Lin Wanqing raised her eyes to look, and saw a group of people dressed in luxurious silks and satins surrounding a young gentleman walking over.

This person was none other than the young manor master of Divine Sword Manor, Xie Zhichuan. His moon-white brocade robe gently swayed in the wind, and the sleeves embroidered with golden silk cloud patterns resembled lively fireflies, glittering with every movement. The jade-embedded belt around his waist emitted a crisp and pleasant clashing sound with each step he took, as if telling of his extraordinary identity.

The carved treasure sword in his hand flashed with a cold light, the gemstones on the hilt emitting a chilling glow, as if embodying millennia of frost. Xie Zhichuan’s high nose under slender lips slightly curved upward, carrying an innate arrogance and contempt, as if everything in the world was no more than ants in his eyes.

At that moment, Xie Zhichuan’s gaze casually swept across the crowd and was instantly fixed on Lin Wanqing, like being attracted by a magnet.

His pupils suddenly widened, as if he was under a body stasis spell, frozen in place, eyes full of amazement and obsession, the surrounding clamor suddenly isolated, with only Lin Wanqing’s elegant figure remaining in his mind.

Watching Lin Wanqing walk into Jinhui Inn, Xie Zhichuan seemed to be pulled by invisible threads, impatiently leading his servants and maids to follow her inside in grand fashion. Once in the inn, he heavily slapped a piece of silver on the shopkeeper’s table, eagerly inquiring about Lin Wanqing’s background, as if searching for a long-lost rare treasure, eyes glinting with greed.

From then on, Xie Zhichuan began to painstakingly approach Lin Wanqing.

He spent all day wandering in various corners of the inn, not missing any chance to encounter Lin Wanqing.

He also ordered his subordinates to scour for exotic treasures, from mysterious spices from the Western Regions, which emitted strange and enchanting aromas said to make people forget their troubles; to top-grade silk from Jiangnan, with textures gentle as lamb-fat jade, each piece worth a fortune. A pile of precious gifts filled his room. He even personally selected a luminous pearl found from the South Sea Merfolk, smooth and transparent, emitting a gentle blue light, sparkling in the dark, intending to offer it to Lin Wanqing when the time was right to win her favor.

That day, Xie Zhichuan, like a sly fox, was already lurking at the staircase entrance on the second floor, eyes glued to the stairs below, as if waiting for prey to appear. When Lin Wanqing’s figure entered his sight, Xie Zhichuan’s eyes immediately gleamed with surprise, a light as intense as a hungry wolf seeing prey. His face quickly filled with a flattering smile, mouth almost reaching his ears, resembling a comical clown.

He eagerly stepped forward, slightly bending, in a posture full of sycophancy, just shy of wagging his tail in plea: "I am Xie Zhichuan from Divine Sword Manor. It is a great fortune to meet such a celestial beauty today. Here is a token of my regard, I hope you will graciously accept it." Saying this, he waved his hand, with an exaggerated gesture as if on stage, his servant immediately presenting a gorgeous gift box inlaid with various gemstones, reflecting dazzling light under the sun, painfully bright, flaunting the owner’s wealth and eagerness.

Lin Wanqing frowned slightly, her willow-like eyebrows lightly knitted, eyes flashing with displeasure, she found this sudden attentiveness quite irksome. She politely yet distantly refused, "Thank you for the kindness, sir, but I never accept gifts from others." Her voice was clear, like a mountain spring, yet carrying a chill of refusal. She slightly turned her body, gracefully yet decisively, trying to distance herself from Xie Zhichuan, feeling a certain repulsive aura from him.

However, Xie Zhichuan was like an unshakable plaster stuck to her skin, not discouraged but growing even more passionate, to the point of annoyance. He followed Lin Wanqing like a relentless shadow. Sometimes, he spoke incessantly, saliva flying as he recounted the glorious history of Divine Sword Manor, from its inception to its renowned fame in Jianghu, vividly narrated, as if the entire Jianghu was under the control of the Xie Family. While speaking, he frequently glanced sideways at Lin Wanqing, eyes filled with expectation, longing to see a hint of admiration on Lin Wanqing’s pretty face, resembling an eager-to-perform child. At other times, he demonstrated his swordsmanship in the inn’s courtyard, with sword shadows flashing and fierce vigor, drawing a crowd to cheer. While performing his moves, he frequently looked towards Lin Wanqing, eyes full of anticipation, hoping to see a flash of admiration from Lin Wanqing’s charming face. His swordsmanship seemed fierce yet was merely showy in reality, just a display to show off in front of Lin Wanqing.

Gong Simeng watched the scene from the side, secretly delighted in his heart.