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nOf course he wanted to learn this. It was such a fantastic camouflage skill. Ling Zhang nearly blurted “Yes”, but eventually he forbore to do so after some rational thinking. There were too many unresolved issues waiting for him to address at the moment, and he had no time to learn this skill.

n“I don’t have much time.”

nYuwen Tong was not surprised by Ling Zhang’s refusal at all. He said, “It’s okay. You may learn it in the future. After you take enough medicated baths, I’ll teach you something else. Currently, it is indeed not the wisest choice for you to be distracted by the learning of this kind of skill which is of less significance.”

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n“Something else?” Ling Zhang was confused. Were there by any chance any other methods apart from taking medicated baths and unblocking his meridians with Yuwen Tong’s internal energy?

n“There are some special breathing exercises. They will not only prove beneficial to your meridians but also facilitate your cultivation of internal energy as long as you keep practicing them.”

nCultivation of internal energy? Ling Zhang thought that he must have just misheard. “Are you saying that I can cultivate internal energy like you?”

n“Yes,” Yuwen Tong said. He could totally understand why Ling Zhang was shocked.

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nLing Zhang was in not only shock but also delight. Originally he had started practicing horse stance and boxing from Wang Dashan merely to build himself up, but now Yuwen Tong told him that he could cultivate internal energy, which was such a temptation for Ling Zhang!

n“I want to learn them!” Ling Zhang nodded unhesitatingly for fear that Yuwen Tong might change his mind.

nWatching Yuwen Tong with an expectant look in his eyes, Ling Zhang had no idea at all that his eager face bore a close resemblance to that of Ada.

nYuwen Tong’s fingers briefly twitched. He wanted to draw Ling Zhang over and hug him but eventually restrained himself from doing so.

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n“You need to take seven medicated baths in total. And then I’ll teach you how to perform those special breathing exercises.”

n“Okay!”

nHe took a medicated bath every other day, which meant that he would be able to start learning those breathing exercises in less than half a month! As Ling Zhang thought of what he would start doing after half a month, a fever of excitement involuntarily surged inside him.

nOn account of this, he drastically changed his attitude towards Yuwen Tong, waiting on him hand and foot, by which even Yuwen Tong’s bodyguards were amazed.

n“Exactly how did Marshal manage to do this? It’s been such a short time, but Childe Ling’s attitude makes him seem like another person.”

n“If Marshal invites Childe Ling to the capital with him this time, surely Childe Ling is going to agree, I suppose?”

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n“I imagine he’s going to say yes.”

n“Marshal’s reputation is well-earned. People like us will never be a patch on him.”

nAs his subordinates gazed at him in admiration, Yuwen Tong began to enjoy Ling Zhang’s solicitous care Ling Zhang accorded him. It happened to be lunch time and the dining table was full of delicious food that had been prepared under Ling Zhang’s supervision. He told Yuwen Tong that these courses were the most famous specials of Tanyang, and also gave Yuwen Tong a guarantee that they would lead him to endless aftertastes.

nBeneath Ling Zhang’s ardent gaze, Yuwen Tong blandly picked up a piece of fresh and tender tofu with his chopsticks and sent it into his mouth.

n“What do you think? Is it delicious? The tofu was stewed in the freshest and thickest chicken soup, and all spices used to season it are specific to Tanyang, which made it tender, smooth and tasty!”

nYuwen Tong nodded and said, “Not bad.”

n“Have a taste of this. It’s venison. Unlike recipes adopted in those restaurants on the streets, the culinary method for this dish used by my family chef, whose family has been in catering industry for generations in Tanyang, is peculiar to his family. No outsiders are able to cook venison of this kind of taste.”

nLing Zhang pointed at another course to show Yuwen Tong. They could literally see the tenderness of the venison with naked eyes. The tempting smell of it wafted up into their nostrils, making their mouths water.

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nEven Yuwen Tong couldn’t help but flick an extra glance at it. After having a taste of it, he made a favorable comment. “It’s truly of great look, delicious smell and terrific taste.”

nLing Zhang gave a smile. “This is pretty good, too. Have a try… ”

nEvery time Ling Zhang recommended a course, Yuwen Tong tasted it, gave a nod and paid it a compliment in a very cooperative manner.

nThe delicious smells of the tableful of food wafted far away outside. Guards on duty in the Green Bamboo Mansion could hear their bellies grumbling. Though they didn’t see how those dishes looked like, the smells alone made their mouths water. And they found Ling Zhang’s distinct, vivid descriptions simply unbearable.

nFacing such tempting delicacies, the Marshal could still calmly make comments on them. His self-control was truly amazing.

n“All right. Just sit down and enjoy the meal with me.” After sampling each and every one of those courses, Yuwen Tong drew Ling Zhang onto a chair beside him.

nLing Zhang was indeed hungry. He sat down without any pretence at politeness, took up a pair of chopsticks and had lunch with Yuwen Tong.

nWhile the two people were leisurely having lunch, the atmosphere in the whole Tanyang was still tense. All residents were worried that the burglar who killed Lu Kui the night before might suddenly show up again, so nobody was in the mood for having lunch delightedly like Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong.

nIn the afternoon, Jia Zhong and Jia Yin arrived at Lu family to express their condolences.

nAt the sight of tight security, Jia Yin softly snorted.

n“I never expected that such an accident would happen. What a pity that Lord Lu’s rare talents were wasted. I think I’ll never be able to meet another man as learned as he was,” said Jia Zhong in a regretful tone, a dejected look on his face.

n“Did they catch the thug?”

n“Lord Tao and Commander Zhang’s men are performing a citywide hunt. The murderer is still at large, but I never doubted that Lord Tao and Commander Zhang would catch him for Lu family.”

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n“If there’s anything Jia family can do for you, please let me know, Lord Tao. We’ll do whatever it takes to see justice done!”

n“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Jia. I appreciate it. Since Lord Tao and Commander Zhang are on it, I don’t dare to put Lord Jia to trouble.”

nJia Zhong didn’t really mean to help. After hearing Lu Fengnian’s polite refusal, he made a couple of remarks in affected concern and then left with Jia Yin. Before leaving, he specially cast a glance at Lu Kui’s body in the coffin. On confirmation of Lu Kui’s death, he walked out of the hall unhesitatingly.

nThe moment they were out of Lu family, Jia Zhong couldn’t help burst into laugh. “Fantastic! Simply fantastic!”

nBut Jia Yin wasn’t as overjoyed as he was. “Due to the murder of this Lu Kui guy, soldiers are searching every house in the city. This is so ominous. You saw it yourself in Lu family – Yamen runners and guards are everywhere, as if Lu family is really of great importance. If I were that burglar, I would never stoop to go back there again.”

n“There’s no need to be angry about it, elder brother. Lu family is merely being mean,” said Jia Zhong.

n“Isn’t Ling Zhaowen supposed to assume personal command in Lu family? Why wasn’t he there?” asked Jia Yin.

nJia Zhong’s face darkened. “He saw us coming and didn’t dare face us, I suppose.”

n“Why didn’t that burglar go to Ling family instead? If it were Ling Zhaowen who got killed, we would have been spared a lot of trouble.”

n“No burglars would have found anything worth stealing in the poor Ling family.”

nThe two brothers of Jia family got onto a carriage and left the mansion of Lu family.

nWhen they returned to their home, Mrs. Jia went up to them and asked, “Is Lu Kui really dead?”

n“As dead as mutton,” answered Jia Yin coldly.

nAs Mrs. Jia heard his cold tone of voice and saw his sullen look, her face instantly darkened. A quarrel was about to break out.

nJia Zhong hurriedly made an excuse and left.

nAfter Jia Zhong walked out of sight, Mrs. Jia snorted coldly, “You’re surprisingly amiable to your kind younger brother. Someday he’ll betray you and you won’t even be able to find out how!”

n“Shut your mouth!” Jia Yin thundered.

n“Aren’t I telling the truth? Wasn’t he the one who was behind the matter of the tavern? He plotted against Ling Zhaowen but ended up victimizing you and allowing that Liu Chengfang to be part of our family!”

n“Haven’t we already agreed that this matter should never be mentioned again? Will you please stop bringing it up?”

n“I just hate the way he puts on airs. He’s merely a County Magistrate, and we both know how he got that position, yet he has the nerve to affect an air of authority in front of us.”

n“Fang shi, if you don’t shut your mouth right now, I’ll lock you up!”

nMrs. Jia stormed out of the house in rage, slamming the door as she left.

nJia Yin sat there with a gloomy look on his face. Surprisingly, the anger he had in his eyes a moment ago when Mrs. Jia was present was no longer there.

n“Where’s Second Master?”

n“Rest assured, my lord. I’ve been on the lookout outside. Second Master has walked far away. He didn’t hear anything.” The butler of Jia family walked inside.

nIt was not until this moment that the look on Jia Yin’s face became slightly milder. “Have you found out exactly who it was that knocked me out and took me to that tavern?”

n“Well… Please forgive me for my incompetence, my lord. I haven’t found out the definite identity of that person yet.”

n“You good-for-nothing. Tell me why I should keep paying you!”

n“I hope you’ll simmer down in the knowledge that the results of my investigation aren’t thoroughly disappointing, my lord. Do you still remember that Second Master once sent some men to Ling family to make trouble but Ling Zhang ruined his plan? I eavesdropped on the conversation between Adviser Qian and Second Master. They said that on that day, apart from Ling Zhang, there was also a kung fu expert present, who secretly offered Ling Zhang help and struck the acupoints of those men sent by Second Master. That’s why the plan failed.”

n“It was in the garden that you were suddenly knocked out and taken away. In Tanyang, there have never been any kung fu experts who are able to sneak in and out of that place without being seen. I’ve been considering all kinds of possibilities and I speculate – if I may be so bold as to do so – that there’s some kind of connection between that man and Ling family. Second Master was targeting Ling Zhaowen who was clearly already in the room, but who suddenly disappeared into thin air, so there must have been some kung fu expert helping him, and there was a ninety-percent chance that this man was the very person who knocked you out and took you away.”

n“There’s no need to speculate. He was definitely working for Ling family,” Jia Yin concluded in anger, “but when did Ling family hire a kung fu expert to secretly help them? We didn’t get wind of this at all.”

n“Not long ago Ling Zhang suddenly ordered an investigation into the background of the servants in his family and evicted all spies we planted in Ling family. Currently, we don’t have a clue what the situation in Ling family is, but…”

n“But what?”

n“It is rumored that a few days ago, before daybreak, a team entered the city heading for Ling family the moment the city gate opened. I wonder whether those people have anything to do with this matter.”

n“Why didn’t you report this to me earlier?”

n“Please turn from your anger, my lord. Actually, it was not until a couple of days ago that someone began to spread a rumor of this matter. There were no pedestrians on the streets when those people entered the city. It was some Yamen runners on guard duty and a couple of vegetable growers who saw them. Those vegetable growers live in the suburbs, and those Yamen runners are under Tao Feng’s firm control. It requires a certain amount of money to get them to talk.”

n“And then?”

n“What was really weird was that those people disappeared afterwards, and people of Ling family has been acting as if nothing has ever happened.”

nAfter pondering over something for a while with a cold look on his face, Jia Yin said, “I don’t care what kind of means you’ll resort to, but I want you to find out the current situation in Ling family irrespective of the expenses. Come to me when you need money. One more thing, whatever you find, keep it out of Second Master’s knowledge for the moment.”

n“Erm… Yes, my lord.”

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