Chapter 86: A World of Ease

County magistrate’s rear courtyard.

Lian Ying sat on a soft chair brought by a servant, his face cold as he watched Ji Xiao practicing a palm technique.

This was the technique he had taught him. It looked soft and gentle, but it was actually a method to strengthen the body.

Ji Xiao practiced as he said, “A Ying, I think overexertion isn’t good. How about we train tomorrow instead?”

“Master is too modest,” Lian Ying said coldly. “The doctor said you need to move around more when you have nothing to do.”

Ji Xiao: “…But I just moved around a lot in the room.”

“Wasn’t it Master who said that if it lasted less than half an hour, you’d listen to me and practice a set?” Lian Ying shot him a glance. “Master wants to go back on his word?”

Ji Xiao gritted his teeth and continued practicing. “I won’t go back on it!”

The black cat sighed faintly. “As you sow, so shall you reap. That’s why you shouldn’t say reckless things in bed. Let me think how you put it… Ah, I remember now.”

It mimicked their voices perfectly.

Lian Ying: Master, know when to stop. Your body…

Ji Xiao: My body? My body is great! At least half an hour is no problem!

Lian Ying: If it’s less than half an hour?

Ji Xiao: Impossible!

Lian Ying: Then if it’s less than half an hour, Master will have to practice a set of palm techniques later.

Ji Xiao: Fine, okay, A Ying, cooperate.

Black cat: “Master, don’t forget…”

Ji Xiao: [Alright, shut up!]

Ji Xiao: [With this useless body, once I get back to the space, you’ll see. Not just half an hour, I can go a whole day.]

Black cat: “…” I don’t believe it! But I dare not argue.

Ji Xiao took a deep breath.

Just a few more moves. Hold on.

How was he supposed to know that Lian Ying would take his dirty talk seriously?

He had been too careless.

Ji Xiao finished the last move and withdrew his palms, feeling dizzy.

Lian Ying went over and supported him.

Ji Xiao leaned on him, saying coolly, “A Ying, you’re really ruthless.”

Lian Ying helped him sit on the soft chair. “From now on, Master will practice this set every morning. After a month, not to mention half an hour, even a whole hour will be no problem.”

Ji Xiao squinted at him.

It was still the same face, but a hint of emotion had appeared in those cold eyes.

Was the ice-cold, wooden-faced shadow guard actually capable of saying flirty words?

“Brother!”

A wailing cry sounded.

Lian Yu vaulted over the wall, rushed straight to Lian Ying, and knelt down. A slap mark was visible on his face, looking very wronged.

Lian Ying paused. “You got into a fight?”

Lian Yu’s expression was lifeless. “I was beaten. I was tricked.”

Lian Ying: “Why are you kneeling?”

Lian Yu: “My legs are weak.”

Lian Ying: “…”

Ji Xiao was curious. “Who tricked you?”

Lian Yu slowly stood up, glaring at Ji Xiao. “Did you know all along?”

Ji Xiao: “?”

“Cao Mengyang!” Lian Yu covered his face. “Did you know she was a girl all along? She called you Brother Yan so intimately. You must have known!”

Ji Xiao looked at Lian Ying: Did we forget to tell him?

Lian Ying looked away.

Ji Xiao: “…”

“Great!” Lian Yu noticed their exchange and looked betrayed at Lian Ying. “Brother, you knew too? You two tricked me together?”

Lian Ying: “You didn’t notice?”

Lian Yu clenched his fist. “I trusted you! Because I trusted you, I never suspected!”

Ji Xiao: “That’s stupid.”

To be fair, with Cao Mengyang’s looks, anyone with eyes could tell, right?

Lian Yu refused to accept. “Who’s stupid? I’ve traveled the jianghu for years and have seen many young masters with faces as beautiful as women’s!”

So that’s why he didn’t suspect?

Ji Xiao smirked. “So, that slap on your face was from her? Did you try to molest her?”

Lian Yu’s face turned red. “I, I didn’t mean to…”

Lian Ying frowned.

Two guards rushed in with swords drawn.

Lian Ying looked up and saw former shadow guards had also appeared. His hand went to his sword hilt.

Lian Yu stepped back. “I, I’ve been hit already. Is it really necessary to be so petty?”

Ji Xiao reminded him, “The woman you molested is no ordinary woman. She is Her Highness the Princess.”

Lian Yu cried out, “What?!”

Cao Mengyang walked in, waving a folding fan, a bright smile on her face as she looked at Lian Yu.

“Princess…” Lian Yu said innocently, “Not knowing is not a crime. Please, be generous and let me off.”

“Fine, I’ll let it go,” she said.

Lian Yu’s face lit up, but then she changed her tone, “But whether my father and mother the Emperor and Empress let it go… that’s hard to say.”

Lian Yu forced a smile.

He could storm a prince’s mansion or fight shadow guards for his brother, but he absolutely did not want to provoke the emperor.

All land under heaven belongs to the king.

Cao Mengyang saw his pathetic look and sneered. “How about this: you promise me one thing, and if you do it, I’ll drop the matter. Deal?”

Lian Yu immediately relaxed.

He stepped forward. “Then, take me traveling the jianghu. Until I get bored, then you can send me back to the palace.” Cao Mengyang fanned herself, her eyes full of cunning.

“This…” Lian Yu looked at Lian Ying.

But his brother stuck to Ji Xiao like glue. Though he saw him every day, the time they spent together was limited.

Ji Xiao smiled gently. “If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll spend the rest of my life in Changhe. Naturally, your brother will stay too. Young people should go out and explore. Go ahead, and you can come back anytime you miss him.”

Lian Yu thought it over.

Now that he knew his brother’s whereabouts, he could visit often.

Having made up his mind, he gave Cao Mengyang a carefree smile. “Alright, I’ll take you traveling the jianghu. Let’s go! Head back and pack your bags!”

“Good.”

Cao Mengyang said to the two guards, “Go buy some dried rations and wine for me.”

“Yes.”

After they left, Cao Mengyang ordered the shadow guards to pack for her. “Be quick about it. We need to leave the mansion fast. This place really isn’t fun anymore.”

“Yes.”

Although Cao Mengyang practiced archery and riding to stay fit, she had no martial arts skills.

She walked over to Lian Yu and said in a voice barely audible, “Are all my shadow guards gone?”

Lian Yu’s martial arts were not weak. He sensed for a moment and said, “All gone.”

Perhaps because Cao Mengyang had never tried to shake them off on the way from the capital, the shadow guards were not vigilant and simply obeyed orders. On hearing her command, they went straight to her room to pack.

“What are we waiting for?” She grabbed Lian Yu’s arm. “Quick, take me away! Who needs shadow guards when traveling the jianghu? Hurry! They’ll be back soon.”

The shadow guards were fast.

Lian Yu was stunned for a moment, then reacted. He scooped her up and leaped over the wall with his lightness skill.

Lian Ying watched the wall they jumped over, a trace of worry in his eyes. “Lian Yu…”

“They’re not children anymore. Let them go,” Ji Xiao said.

“…Yes.”

****

A year passed.

The mission in this world was especially easy.

So easy that Ji Xiao wondered if the system had sensed something and deliberately created this world to relax his guard.

“Master, you’re distracted.”

“…”

Ji Xiao sighed softly and focused on practicing the palm technique.

Lian Ying glanced at him, then drew his sword and practiced beside him.

Xiao Nan entered the courtyard but did not disturb them. Only after they both stopped did he step forward and hand over a letter.

“Young Master Lian will marry the princess in two months. The letter invites the advisor to the capital. This is the letter that came.”

Lian Ying opened the letter.

Ji Xiao took the towel from a servant and wiped his hands and face. “What does the letter say?”

“It says he broke ties with his parents long ago, and now I’m his only relative. He hopes I can be by his side for his wedding.” Lian Ying skimmed through it and put the letter away.

“Then you should go, of course.”

“It’ll be at least three months…”

“Your brother is getting married. Of course you must go. It’s only three months. I’ll wait for you here.”

“…Alright.”

On the day Lian Ying left, Chen Yan happened to sneak out of the mansion again and came to the county office to see his uncle.

“Uncle, what are you smiling about?”

Ji Xiao was in a good mood. He waved him over and gave him some fruit and pastries from the table. “I’m happy to get a good rest for a while.”

The palm technique Lian Ying taught looked soft, but the entire set was very tiring to practice.

This world was peaceful and tranquil. Why bother being so tired?

Chen Yan took a bite of pastry and asked, puzzled, “Rest for a while? Uncle doesn’t have to handle official business anymore? Can you take me out to play?”

Ji Xiao: “…”

A miscalculation.

He didn’t have to practice palm techniques anymore.

But normally, the chief clerk helped Lian Ying with official work. Ji Xiao only had to make the final decision, nodding or shaking his head.

Now that the chief was away, wouldn’t he have to handle everything himself?

Although nothing major ever happened in Changhe County, minor issues never stopped.

“Uncle, what’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

He just felt the system’s plot had succeeded.

He had relaxed too much.

Black cat: “?” What the hell?

Lian Ying rushed to the capital for the wedding and immediately set off back to Changhe afterward.

Travel-worn, he first cleaned himself up, changed into clean clothes, and then went to find Ji Xiao.

Ji Xiao had just resolved a theft case in the front hall. Before he even reached the rear courtyard, he saw Lian Ying and walked over with a delighted expression.

Lian Ying reached out and hugged him. “Master, I missed you.”

Since becoming his shadow guard, he had always been by his side. This separation of over two months had been very uncomfortable.

Ji Xiao rarely experienced his initiative and warmth. He wrapped his arms around Lian Ying’s and said happily, “Carry me to the room.”

“Yes.”

Lian Ying lifted him up, glanced briefly at Xiao Bei following behind, and quickly walked away.

Xiao Bei stopped.

The entire county office knew about the magistrate and the advisor’s relationship.

Later, Yan Wan had another son and wanted to pass him to her younger brother.

Ji Xiao did not agree.

Chen Yan had grown up and become much more sensible. When his mother and father worried about how his younger brother would support himself in old age, he said he would definitely take care of his uncle’s old age and funeral.

Then he got beaten up.

Chen Yan: “?” I was showing filial piety!

Yan Wan: “My brother is still young! Why are you thinking about funerals now? Your uncle has no children. Isn’t it your duty to support him in his old age? Hasn’t he been good to you?”

Chen Yan: “…” Sigh.

Ji Xiao retired in his forties. He accepted his sister and brother-in-law’s kindness and took the house where he had once recuperated. He moved there with Lian Ying to enjoy his old age.

Xiao Nan and Xiao Bei both married. Ji Xiao freed them, but they still visited with their children from time to time.

And his sister’s children too.

Even in old age, their lives were lively.

Even Lian Yu and Cao Mengyang occasionally sneaked out of the palace with their son to visit them.

In this life, Ji Xiao left first.

I will find you.

Find myself.

Lian Ying said, “Alright.”

[Cat, let’s go.]

The black cat said, “Okay, host.”

It was the same small hill. Before Ji Xiao could even see the black cat’s figure, he was teleported.

“Oops, I accidentally hit the teleport. Don’t blame me, host, boohoo.”

[Do I look stupid to you?]

“…” Well, it was just afraid he would really go mad and attack it.

“Host, I’m doing this to prevent you from making mistakes. I know I’m cute, but between a host and a system, it’s impossible. Otherwise, we’ll both be judged.”

[Just s*x without love?]

“That won’t work either! I’ve given you the plot!”

Ji Xiao: “…” Tsk.

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