149: Chapter 0149 Drunken World

The Thirteen Pavilions of Misty Rain—this must be the Seventh Pavilion's stronghold, or perhaps even their "nest"!

No wonder Baishui and Wu Mountain didn't have any brothels...

In those remote places, they'd have to travel long distances just to fulfill an order after accepting it. Who could stand that?

According to Leng Bingyan, a Silver-rank assassin needs to kill 10 people, while a Gold-rank assassin must successfully assassinate over 20!

Lin Xiao was amused by the thought! So you lot are "weak women," are you!?

Fine, then let me see just how weak you can be!!

"Presumptuous!!"

Lin Xiao erupted in fury: "Since I, the General, have come, the accounts have already been settled!"

"Do you think you can just cry and wail to brush off two hundred thousand taels of the commoners' hard-earned money!?"

"Since you refuse to confess, then arrest them all, take them back to the dungeon, and interrogate them under torture!!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Yu'er, Ling Lan, and the other girls all turned their gazes toward Xian'er.

Xian'er made a hand gesture behind her back, and only then did the female assassins restrain themselves.

Just then, a voice as enchanting as a soft feather drifted down from upstairs, tickling the hearts of those who heard it.

"General Lin, you certainly are imposing. Please don't frighten us sisters..."

A woman wearing a purple silk dress, with black hair cascading to her waist and a wine flask in hand, appeared on the second floor.

The woman had slightly high brow bones, a tall, elegant nose, and skin as white as mutton-fat jade, giving her a rather exotic flair.

Though her frame didn't look small, she didn't seem coarse; instead, she appeared slender and graceful.

"Why is there still someone upstairs? Didn't I tell you to bring everyone down?"

Qin He questioned the subordinates beside him.

The soldiers were all bewildered, feeling as if they had seen a ghost.

"Commander Qin, we checked everywhere. We don't know where this person popped out from!"

Lin Xiao waved his hand, indicating it was fine.

This woman certainly couldn't be found by ordinary soldiers...

[Hua Nongying, 22 years old, Pavilion Master of the Seventh Pavilion of Misty Rain, Aptitude: Earth Grade]

[Technique 1: Graceful Swan (31 years of cultivation), created two hundred years ago by the Master of the Moon Palace. It incorporates dance into martial arts, taking lives amidst graceful movements. Grade: Earth Grade]

[Technique 2: Intoxicated by the Mortal World (37 years of cultivation), a technique with miraculous effects after consuming alcohol. Grade: Earth Grade]

[Traits: Skilled in Song and Dance (Special), Assassin, Winemaker]

"It seems you are the true boss behind the scenes of Zuihua Pavilion?"

Lin Xiao wondered to himself; he had heard that the Pavilion Masters of the Thirteen Pavilions were divided into two factions.

He didn't know if this Hua Nongying belonged to Shu Yelan's faction or Lou Suifeng's.

"The General has a keen eye!"

Hua Nongying walked down the stairs with a graceful gait, pouring wine into her mouth as she moved.

The woman's jade-like neck was slender, and the way she tilted her head back to drink was soul-stirringly beautiful.

The soldiers, who initially had no reaction, found their gazes gradually drawn to Hua Nongying.

"General, this is Hua Nongying, our top courtesan."

Yue Hong hurriedly introduced her with a smile: "My daughter just likes to joke. She usually stays in seclusion and has only gone to Prefect Wu Yonghe's residence to dance a few times. She couldn't possibly be involved in any corruption!"

"Mama, why say more? Since the General has the evidence, then Zuihua Pavilion must provide these two hundred thousand taels."

Hua Nongying gave a playful smile: "If we don't pay, wouldn't that mean General Lin is mistaken?"

"That won't do. General Lin is a great hero who protects the country. How could his reputation be ruined by us women of the demimonde?"

As she spoke, Hua Nongying leaned close to Lin Xiao, her watery eyes sparkling like stars as she stared at the man from inches away.

"General Lin, wouldn't you agree?"

She exhaled, her breath smelling of wine mixed with a unique fruity fragrance.

Lin Xiao wasn't sure exactly what it was, but he clearly felt it stimulating his brain.

Playing this game?

Sorry, I have centuries of cultivation, and I'm currently in a state of absolute clarity!

Lin Xiao's eyes turned cold, becoming even more fierce!

"Absurd! Get lost!!"

With a forceful shove, Lin Xiao sent Hua Nongying tumbling to the ground!

Hua Nongying was stunned. Since her debut, this was the first time a man had rejected her, let alone pushed her down!?

Is this guy even a man!?

Never mind Hua Nongying; the group of women from Zuihua Pavilion were all dumbstruck! This was a once-in-a-lifetime sight!

Lin Xiao said with righteous indignation: "Would I, the General, deliberately slander a few women for a mere two hundred thousand taels?!"

"Men, arrest all these women! Especially this Hua Nongying—throw her into the death cell!!"

At Lin Xiao's command, the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army immediately moved to take action.

Xian'er and the other female assassins all looked at Hua Nongying, clearly waiting for the Pavilion Master's order.

Hua Nongying frowned slightly. She hadn't expected Lin Xiao to be such a blockhead, completely unmoved by her beauty.

Seeing her Seventh Pavilion about to be "destroyed" for no reason, she couldn't care about much else.

"General, please watch this humble one perform a dance!"

At Hua Nongying's command, the other female assassins on the scene immediately understood.

Xian'er, Ling Lan, Yu'er, and the others quickly ran to the musical instruments, each picking up a pipa, flute, or whatever instrument they excelled at.

The sound of strings and woodwinds instantly rose, melodious and beautiful.

Hua Nongying kicked off her embroidered shoes and, with bare feet, suddenly began to dance to the music!

The group of Zhenbei Army soldiers who were about to arrest them were frozen in place like wooden statues!

They were all grown men; when had they ever seen such a peerless courtesan perform such a graceful dance?

Every step Hua Nongying took seemed to land directly on their heartstrings.

Every smile and every movement was like a thousand strands of romantic yearning, entangling the soldiers' hearts!

Lin Xiao discovered that the dance itself wasn't the key. The key was that the dance, combined with the rhythm of the music, actually had a "hypnotic" effect in total silence?

This world didn't have psychology, so this must be a principle they figured out naturally.

Similar to mind control?

"Graceful Swan" combined with "Intoxicated by the Mortal World"—these two techniques, along with the special trait "Skilled in Song and Dance," gave Hua Nongying wings like a tiger.

Lin Xiao noticed that Qin He, who was beside him, was already watching in a trance.

If Hua Nongying came over now to slit his throat, he probably wouldn't even react.

And even more seductive movements and glances were directed toward Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao wasn't in a hurry. He intended to see how things developed, so he cooperatively stood still.

After Hua Nongying finished the entire segment, the whole room went silent. The soldiers were hushed, as if their souls had wandered off to the heavens.

"Pavilion Master, they're frozen!"

Yue Hong said with a face full of joy: "As expected of the Pavilion Master, even this God of Slaughter, Lin Xiao, couldn't resist!"

"This Lin Xiao is even more barbaric than a savage. What did he even find out to be slandering us like this!" Xian'er said indignantly.

"Saying we conspired with that idiot Wu Yonghe? Who does he think he's looking down on?" Yu'er added disdainfully.

The charm on Hua Nongying's face vanished, replaced by coldness: "Say no more. This man could not have reached his position today if he were someone to be underestimated."

"I directed most of my 'Intoxicated by the Mortal World' power toward him just now, yet he didn't even faint. This shows his cultivation is profound."

"Pack your things as quickly as possible and leave through the secret passage in the kitchen. Go to the stronghold outside the city to hide for a while."

Before she could finish, a voice rang out—

"A stronghold outside the city? Where is it?"

Lin Xiao smiled playfully: "Why don't you take me to see it? Is there any silver hidden there?"