Roaring Dragon-Chapter 66: Little Trickster

Dan Medical House, patient ward.

Dawn broke faintly as the autumn breeze stirred the leaves outside with a soft rustle. A subtle scent of osmanthus floated in the air.

Shh shh shh~

As his spiritual awareness began to return, an indescribable exhaustion washed over Xie Jinhuan—body and soul utterly drained.

It felt like he'd been put through seven days and nights of hellish training at ten times the usual intensity, with ten ghost wives-turned-succubi siphoning his yang energy as he fought through—

“Shit...”

He’d burned through so much vitality, even his mind had turned sluggish. It took everything he had to force open his eyelids, heavy as iron slabs. The first thing he saw was a painted ceiling above, with birdsong and floral motifs—probably designed to keep patients in a good mood.

Xie Jinhuan tried to lift his hand to rub his forehead but found himself tied down with rope as thick as a thumb. Looking down, he realized he was strapped to a special hospital bed—completely bound from head to toe like a caterpillar...

Huh? I pulled off some serious feats last night—why the hell am I tied up?

Don’t tell me I got handsy in a daze and pissed off the glasses lady...

Struggling to no avail, he gave up and looked around instead. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

The ward wasn’t large but was neat and clean. Other than the bed, there was just a side table nearby, where his Zhenglun Sword and the recovered Tiangang Mace had been placed.

Linghu Qingmo had changed back into her snowy-white gown and was seated on a round stool. She must’ve stayed up all night watching over him—too exhausted now, with her head down on the table, fast asleep. Her face was turned toward him, long lashes trembling slightly. Who knew what she was dreaming about? Her chest rose and fell softly at the edge of the desk, forming an astonishingly taut curve...

Xie Jinhuan glanced briefly at her but didn’t wake the sleeping beauty. Instead, he quietly tried to recall the hazy images that had flashed through his mind after he’d taken the medicine.

From what he could gather, he’d killed hundreds—no, thousands—and had traveled through countless places. But the memories were blurry as hell, like looking at flowers through thick fog. He couldn’t recall any names or locations at all...

With nothing solid to hold on to, he checked his body instead. After last night’s breakthrough, while the doubled cultivation power had dissipated, his rank hadn’t dropped—he was still solidly at Third Grade.

Third Grade in martial cultivation was the threshold of “Spirit and Qi,” the beginner stage of “Guiding Qi with the Mind.” At this point, he could just barely perceive the flow of qi within his meridians and even control qi movements within a few feet outside his body.

But compared to the transcendent realm of “Breaking Evil,” which allowed physical exorcism and slashing down deities with the sword... yeah, there was still a huge gap.

As he was silently inspecting himself, the woman sleeping at the table stirred—lashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened.

When she saw that Xie Jinhuan was awake, joy flashed in her eyes.

But then she remembered the way he’d looked at her the night before—like he wanted to grind herbs with her face—and she suddenly sprang to her feet, grabbing the sword on the table.

“Eh?!”

Xie Jinhuan snapped back to alertness and sat up like a dying man getting a second wind:

“Mo-Mo, what are you doing?!”

“Don’t move!”

“I didn’t!”

“Lie down!”

Thud~

After he laid back down, Linghu Qingmo stepped closer and carefully examined him.

Xie Jinhuan remembered the chaos on the ship last night, remembered the foul things he’d shouted—but that had been under extreme duress. He was calm now. He tried to reassure her:

“Relax, the drug’s worn off. I’m clear-headed now. I won’t go berserk again.”

Linghu Qingmo confirmed that he couldn’t break free, then sat back down, speaking softly:

“You’re not clear-headed yet. The Dao Surge Pill was only ever taken by Mister Li. He also claimed he was fine—until they untied him and he smashed a stool across Mister Mu’s face...”

“Really?”

Xie Jinhuan hadn’t expected Old Li to have such a glorious tale. He focused for a moment and realized, other than feeling mentally drained, he was indeed fine:

“Old Li’s cultivation and mine aren’t the same. I’m so drained I couldn’t go crazy if I wanted to. Just untie me already—these ropes are killing me.”

Linghu Qingmo stayed by the book, her voice earnest:

“Dean Zhang said we have to follow Mister Li’s precedent. Three days and three nights of observation before untying. If we loosen the ropes early and you act irrationally, your safety would be at risk. I have to consider your well-being.”

“Tied up for three days? Am I supposed to starve to death?”

“I’ll feed you!”

“?”

Xie Jinhuan was kind of touched by her concern and didn’t press the issue. He lay obediently and asked:

“How’s the situation outside?”

Linghu Qingmo was still on edge, unsure if his drugged state was truly gone. But thinking about his heroics last night, admiration shone in her eyes. She scooted closer and briefed him:

“The demon cultists are likely all dead. Veterans from the Prince’s Mansion went to inspect the bodies and confirmed the mastermind was Taishu Dan. He was originally from the Gu Poison Sect’s ancestral branch, Chidong Cavern, then defected to the Corpse Witch faction’s Linglu Valley, and in recent years joined the demonic Ming Divine Sect...

“Judging from the scene, Taishu Dan was probably trying to refine a Blood Fiend Pill for the Ming Divine Sect’s leader. That pill requires the ‘furnace’ to die in a state of extreme greed and lust—used to help push demonic cultivators into transcendent realms...”

Xie Jinhuan had been waiting for intel like this. His expression darkened:

“These cultists are truly depraved! No doubt, that explosion of blood fiend qi from Zihui Mountain was caused by the Ming Divine Sect’s monster!”

Given how unlikely it was for two major demonic factions to be active near Danyang at the same time, the Prince’s Mansion had come to the same conclusion. Linghu Qingmo nodded solemnly:

“Exactly. But we still don’t know what the Ming Divine Sect was doing in the mountain. The Prince has already sent out large search parties. Even if they have to dig up the whole place, they’re determined to find every clue.”

“...Hm? Wait, what?!”

That line sobered Xie Jinhuan right up. He thought frantically:

Searching the mountain again?!

If you haven’t found the cultists, fine. But I already dug up the Ming Divine Sect’s tomb—if you guys search thoroughly, you’ll eventually find it. Then the camp, the grave robbers’ corpses, the demon-suppressing tomb—everything’s going to come into the government’s line of sight...

Once the Dan Prince realizes the blood aura wasn’t caused by the Ming Divine Sect, he’ll dig up every inch of that place trying to find the real culprit—me!

Hell no!

I’ve worked too hard to get this far, to wipe the slate clean—I can’t let them ruin it. I have to get back and erase all traces before they find the tomb!

Determined, Xie Jinhuan spoke up:

“The fiends haven’t been fully eradicated—my heart can’t rest. I can still move. I want to help with the mountain search.”

He was, of course, trying to sneak back and clean up the mess.

But Linghu Qingmo interpreted this completely differently!

She had never seen someone so selfless in her life. Even her own master slayed demons with moderation—no one was mad enough to keep throwing themselves into danger.

But Xie Jinhuan?

Since arriving in Danyang, he’d been saving people nonstop, never asking for anything in return. He either killed demon cultists or was hot on their trail.

Last night, at Huai River Bay, when civilians were about to be slaughtered, he took explosive pills and stormed the enemy ship alone!

Now, barely conscious and badly injured, he wanted to join the search again?

What kind of spirit was that?

That’s what it meant to be a true hero—someone who gave their life for the people!

Tears almost welled up in her eyes. She rushed over to hold him down gently:

“You’re injured, and your mind’s still foggy. You can’t get out of bed for the next few days.”

If he didn’t get up, and the authorities found something during their carpet search—what then? His tone turned resolute:

“I’m fine. Even if I have to use a crutch, it’s better than lying here wasting time. Untie me—I can still fight!”

“Jinhuan!”

Even her tone had softened. Hands pressed on his shoulders, eyes burning bright:

“I know you’re willing to sacrifice everything for righteousness. But your drugged state isn’t fully cleared—you don’t know what you might do if you’re unbound. I have to consider your safety. You must stay here three full days! If you’re really worried, I’ll go search Zihui Mountain and report anything I find...”

If you find anything, all my work is wasted!

Still bound and too weak to struggle, Xie Jinhuan had no choice. Faced with her earnest expression, he pretended to hesitate:

“Thing is... I, uh, need to relieve myself. Can you call Miss Lin?”

Linghu Qingmo wasn’t stupid. She frowned:

“Doctor Lin’s your sweetheart. She’d definitely listen to you—I’m not falling for that.”

“I’m serious! I’m a proper martial hero—what if I wet the bed? That’d be so humiliating! Just go get her!”

But Linghu Qingmo, as a responsible nurse, wouldn’t let a patient break protocol.

She hesitated briefly, then pulled out a clean chamber pot from under the bed...

“?”

Xie Jinhuan stared blankly and looked down:

“You have to untie me and leave, right? How else can I...”

Linghu Qingmo absolutely refused to untie him. After a moment of inner struggle, she gritted her teeth and made a bold decision:

“Doctors don’t avoid awkwardness. You’ve done so much for the people—I can’t fuss over something so small...”

She placed the pot down and reached for his waistband.

“Eh?!”

Xie Jinhuan was stunned. Seeing this naive and conservative woman go this far, he quickly tried to stop her:

“No need, no need! I can do it myself...”

“Don’t move!”

Face flushed, Linghu Qingmo closed her eyes and started undoing his clothes with practiced efficiency.

What the hell?!

Xie Jinhuan didn’t even know what to say. Finally, he sighed and confessed seriously:

“Mo-Mo, I trust you. I have a huge secret to tell you. You can’t tell anyone else.”

“?”

Linghu Qingmo grew more serious, slightly confused:

“What secret?”

Xie Jinhuan glanced around and whispered:

“Come closer.”

She didn’t suspect a thing and leaned her elegant face in...

Smack!

The room fell dead silent—only the autumn wind whispering outside.

Linghu Qingmo froze. A warm sensation bloomed on her cheek. In disbelief, she leapt back, snatched up her sword, and covered her blushing face:

“You—you shameless little scoundrel!”

Xie Jinhuan lay innocently on the pillow:

“Sorry, I’m still drugged. My mind’s a mess. Don’t take it to heart.”

Don’t take it to heart?!

Last time you groped me. Now you kissed me. What’s next—the bed?!

Her lashes trembled:

“You’re totally lucid! You did that on purpose!”

“I’m lucid? Then why are you still keeping me tied up?”

“You...?”

She froze—couldn’t refute that logic.

If he wasn’t clear-headed, then she had willingly leaned in while he was drugged. That’s on her.

If he was clear-headed, then why the hell was she still tying down a war hero?

Damn it... you little trickster...

Linghu Qingmo took a deep breath, eyes icy:

“You’re still under the influence—lucid one moment, not the next. You were clear-headed when you kissed me, but you’ll go crazy again soon. That’s why you’re staying in bed!”

A smart comeback. Schrödinger’s sobriety.

Xie Jinhuan hadn’t expected a kiss to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ shake her so little. Out of moves, he looked toward the window:

“Anyone there? Linghu—mmph—”

She zipped over and clapped a hand over his mouth, face burning with shame:

“Are you crazy?! If you dare tell anyone—”

“How could I?! I just want to take a piss, and you won’t let me...”

“No!”

Linghu Qingmo knew how recklessly he risked himself for the greater good. Her gaze was firm:

“Dean Zhang was clear. No matter what you say, I won’t untie you. It’s for your own good.

“Even if you take advantage of me, it’s because you’re still drugged—I’ll let it go. But I won’t let you go take another risk!”

“...”

Faced with those determined eyes, Xie Jinhuan had nothing left to say. He considered stealing another kiss—go out like a true playboy.

But Mo-Mo had wised up. She pinned him down and kept her cheek well out of reach.

As they continued their standoff, footsteps approached rapidly outside.

Knock knock knock...