Roaring Dragon-Chapter 38: Hangover

At the crack of dawn, a faint autumn chill spread through the County Constable's Office, mixed with a stench so foul it could knock a coroner unconscious.

Yang Dabiao squatted on the steps, gnawing on a few steaming buns while cursing between bites:

"Those damn bastards... Not only killing folks, now even chopping them up into pieces... Let me catch 'em, I’ll skin them alive!"

Linghu Qingmo had just hurried over from the Princess’s residence.

Having slept a few hours during the night, she looked refreshed and sharp.

Standing with her sword by the steps, she silently studied the field of rotting corpses sprawled across the courtyard.

Yesterday, dozens of constables had spent half the night sifting through countless bodies to identify the human remains. Based on the skulls, there were eleven victims, along with several suspected gu worms.

One thing was certain: whoever the demonic traitor was, they had deep cultivation—raising mad corpse flowers while practicing demonic arts. But their identity and goals remained a mystery.

Linghu Qingmo was technically supposed to be resting due to her injuries.

But with the whole city’s masters out hunting the demon, how could she sit idle?

Seeing little progress here, she asked:

"How’s Xie Jinhuan resting?"

Yang Dabiao shrugged:

"Knocked on his door this morning, no response. Just saw Meiqiu bouncing around on the wall. Guess he fought from dawn till dusk yesterday—probably still out cold."

Linghu Qingmo turned, heading out:

"I’ll go check on him. Also... we agreed to a treat last night. Tonight, gather Xiao Wang and the others, let’s eat at Yuelai Tower—consider it an early Mid-Autumn celebration."

"Ah, geez!"

Yang Dabiao, touched that the lady still remembered, instantly lost his appetite for his buns:

"How could we let Lord ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Linghu spend like that..."

Linghu Qingmo shot a cold glare:

"If you eat and drink your fill and still find no clues, you can treat the guests yourself—explain to your wife however you like."

"Understood!"

Yang Dabiao clenched his massive fists in front of him:

"I’ll dig out that damn demon from Zihui Mountain even if I have to tear up the whole city!"

Linghu Qingmo didn’t waste more words. Sword in hand, she left the office and made for Qingquan Alley nearby.

Because all outside personnel had been recalled, the streets were much livelier than the past two days. The mutton stall at the entrance was packed, and the pork vendor was busy too, as people exchanged intelligence from various site visits.

Sweeping a glance over the breakfast stalls and butchers’ shops, and not spotting Xie Jinhuan, Linghu Qingmo headed to the white-walled, black-tiled courtyard.

She was about to knock when she noticed Meiqiu, the fat black hawk, listlessly pacing on top of the wall.

?

Frowning slightly, Linghu Qingmo approached and looked up:

"Meiqiu, what are you doing here?"

"Gujii~"

Spotting breakfast walking toward him, Meiqiu immediately landed on her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek with his head, then opened his beak, begging for food.

Despite not knowing the bird long, Linghu Qingmo could tell from his gestures that he was starving.She frowned inwardly: where had Xie Jinhuan gone? Why hadn’t he even fed the bird?

"And Xie Jinhuan?"

"Gu."

Meiqiu tilted his head and stuck out his tongue—seemingly indicating: dead!

"Ah?!"

Linghu Qingmo froze, feeling like she’d been struck by lightning.  Thinking Xie Jinhuan had been murdered by the demon, she instantly vaulted over the wall into the courtyard.

Whoosh—

The gentle morning sun bathed the yard. Because of her busy work, she hadn’t had time to collect her gambling debt yet. Fallen leaves scattered across the white stone path.

Sword in hand, Linghu Qingmo rushed through the moon gate into the back residence. Glancing up, she saw the main house door wide open, weapons tossed on the ground, and Xie Jinhuan lying sprawled on the roof in just a thin pair of trousers—looking for all the world like a murdered man.

"Xie Jinhuan?!"

Linghu Qingmo paled visibly. She was about to leap up and cradle his body, ready to drop to her knees and wail to the heavens— But then she caught a whiff of the courtyard.

The strong scent of wine.

By the bathhouse door, a shattered wine jar lay discarded. The half-naked Xie Jinhuan lying on the roof even let out a sleepy groan—

"Mm~"

?

Linghu Qingmo froze, her alarm turning into bewilderment.

What the hell?

How had a righteous man like Xie Jinhuan turned into a drunkard like Ling’er?

Could it be... Her bestie had snuck in last night and "stolen" him?

Eyes narrowing suspiciously, she searched the courtyard but found no half-naked Ling’er sneaking about. Only then did she relax a bit.

Picking up a shard of the broken wine jar, she sniffed— It was the notorious "Hero’s Tears"—known for knocking out even supreme masters.

No wonder.

Cultivators usually had incredibly high tolerance—normal wine couldn’t touch them. But everyone still enjoyed drinking for the atmosphere. Thus skilled winemakers had brewed special liquors like Hero’s Tears, potent enough to flatten even top-ranked experts.

Xie Jinhuan was only fourth-rank. Chugging an entire jar? Of course he passed out drunk!

Linghu Qingmo didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. Standing beneath the eaves, she called:

"Xie Jinhuan? Xie Jinhuan?"

Whoosh—

After a few calls, Xie Jinhuan suddenly flipped upright, eyes sharply scanning around!

Seeing it was just Mo Mo, he relaxed—then lost strength again, flopping forward stiffly.

"Eh?!"

Linghu Qingmo panicked. Seeing the half-naked man falling fast from above, she instinctively opened her arms to catch him—

Thud—

The heavy body crashed straight into her chest.

Thanks to the soft cushion, Xie Jinhuan was fine. But Linghu Qingmo, already wounded in the chest, winced, nearly collapsing.

"You bastard..."

Linghu Qingmo had never embraced a man before—let alone one half-naked.

Feeling the man's body heat and reeking wine breath, her face flushed bright red. Holding up the limp body with her chest, she pounded him a few times on the back:

"Xie Jinhuan! Xie Jinhuan!"

"Gujii!"

Still unfed, Meiqiu fluttered down onto her shoulder and began flapping Xie Jinhuan with his wings.

Slap slap slap—

Xie Jinhuan had been warned by Lin Wanyi not to overdrink. But between excellent wine and the ghost wife’s pressure, the advice had gone in one ear and out the other. By nightfall, he had blacked out, not even knowing how he ended up on the roof.

Nestled against Mo Mo's chest, his consciousness slowly returned—but his limbs were still not listening. After a moment's rest, he patted the person holding him:

"I’m fine..."

Thud—

Another hard punch to the back!

Linghu Qingmo had kindly caught him but got groped instead. Her gaze instantly turned icy:

"Still pretending to be drunk, huh?!"

Realizing his hand was currently pressing against something... very soft and full of bounce, Xie Jinhuan sheepishly apologized:

"Sorry... the wine's just a bit too strong, too strongggg~~~"

Zzzzap—

Linghu Qingmo, seeing him apologize but not move his hand, transformed into the "Thunder Lightning Queen," grabbing his shoulders and forcibly rebooting him.

Sparks crackled— Xie Jinhuan’s body stiffened upright instantly, shivering a few times, eyes clearing rapidly.

"Uh... Sorry. Drank too much," he muttered.

Only then did Linghu Qingmo stop, considering his great service yesterday and the obvious signs of a serious hangover. She didn’t push further.

"Who were you drinking with last night? How much did you drink?"

Still foggy, Xie Jinhuan finally noticed how full of vitality he felt—the Dragon Blood Pill’s effects were phenomenal.

"Lin Wanyi gifted me a jar yesterday. I hadn’t tried it before. Got carried away. How’s the situation at the yamen?"

Speaking, he quickly moved to the side washroom to freshen up.

Linghu Qingmo patted her butt and followed him to the doorway:

"All constables and soldiers worked overnight. We traced multiple pharmacies selling dragon whisker grass and livestock— Based on compiled sketches, the demon gang has at least ten known operatives, though the mastermind remains unknown.

"If you're free later, you can come with us. We’re going out to investigate. And afterward... maybe have that meal we talked about."

Hearing the focus had truly shifted onto the demon traitors, Xie Jinhuan felt relieved.

Cleansing these traitors could recover some of his lost funds too. Ideally, he should help catch them.

But...

He still needed the demon to shield him. If the real culprit was caught too soon, he would be back on the chopping block!

Thinking carefully, he decided to "trust in Dabiao’s wisdom" and suggested:

"The yamen’s got this. We might be more useful investigating elsewhere. Remember that Springtime Delight book we found in the corpse pit?"

Linghu Qingmo immediately recalled the "train bento" scene and felt her face heat up.

"You’re asking about that for what?"

Xie Jinhuan wasn’t looking to recreate that scene:

"That book came from Jiwen Studio, fancy packaging, high price, very unique content. If a crook bought it recently, the bookstore owner might remember their face."

"Ah?"

Linghu Qingmo frowned:

"Even if they remember, how could that help track down the culprits?"

Xie Jinhuan shrugged:

"Right now it’s all carpet searches. Anything even slightly connected must be checked."

Linghu Qingmo considered, then nodded:

"Alright. Hurry up then."

As Xie Jinhuan washed, he glanced at the beautiful ice queen waiting by the door, and casually asked:

"Mo Mo, where did your master Nangong Fairy go?"

?

Linghu Qingmo’s brow furrowed in suspicion. But seeing Xie Jinhuan’s innocent curiosity, she answered calmly:

"Nangong Fairy is the Jianghu nickname. You should say Nangong Sect Master or Senior Nangong."

Xie Jinhuan actually preferred calling her "Dream Wife," but saying that would surely get him electrocuted. He chuckled:

"Running the Jianghu, I slip sometimes. No offense intended. Where’s Senior Nangong now?"

"Master often roams the southern borders, Dragonbone Beach, and Wailing Marshes—places crawling with demons. She returns before winter, leaves again in spring. Judging by the season, she’ll be back soon."

She paused, then looked at him seriously:

"My master, like you, sacrifices herself for the righteous path. But she acts cautiously—only risking herself when necessary. Cultivators must survive long enough to help more people. Dying young, even heroically, is still foolish in the grand scheme."

"You found a lead yesterday—you should have reported it to the yamen instead of rushing off alone. If you’d crashed into a real den, not even Danyang's masters could've saved you."

Xie Jinhuan had been steady as hell yesterday. He didn’t report it purely because he needed "someone else to take the lightning strike." But that wasn’t something he could explain.

He just smiled:

"Fate decides life and death. When it’s your time, there’s no avoiding it. If I really fall one day, you don’t need to grieve too much. Just take care of Meiqiu for me... Mm?!"

Linghu Qingmo’s face froze. She lunged forward, covering his blabbering mouth, eyes cold:

"What nonsense are you spouting so early? Who said anyone would grieve for you?"

Xie Jinhuan had been feeling sentimental after accidentally picking up a ghost wife.

Seeing Mo Mo truly worried, he dropped the subject and grinned:

"Heh~ You haven't had breakfast yet, right? Want to grab something first?"

"Gujii!"

Perched on the shoulder, Meiqiu finally interjected fiercely— Clearly meaning: what the hell took you so long?! Do you even know what ‘a wise bird chooses its tree’ means?!

Linghu Qingmo rubbed Meiqiu’s head. Unable to keep staring at eight-pack abs, she turned and went outside to wait.