Nightwatcher

Chapter 168: Oh Lingyin, Don't Make Big Brother Drive

# 168. Oh Lingyin, Don't Make Big Brother Drive

Xu Qian rode on his horse, as the old estate agent drove the carriage. Within was sat Xu Lingyue, Auntie, and excitedly sticking her head out of the window was Xu Lingyin.

Because big brother was with them, they didnt need to bring their maids and servants; too many people were inconvenient.

Along the way, he bought some snacks for Xu Lingyue and Xu Lingyin, and asked towards the window: Does Auntie want any?

Auntie refused.

When they came to the house, the women stepped out of the carriage, and Xu Qian saw Auntie wiping the corner of her mouth.

The location is not bad, its not too far from the market, theres a river beside it Auntie started commenting in satisfaction. Standing in front of the main door, she frowned, saying:

Why does it look shabby?

*How could it not, its haunted* Xu Qian said, indicating to the agent to open the door. Auntie lead the two girls into the house, and what met then was a broken and desolate scene. It had clearly stood uninhabited for many years, and unmaintained too.

She frowned more: This is it?

This house hasnt been lived in for many years, not even any renters. The agency reckons that it could be sold off for 4000 taels and to be done with it, but the owner refuses to sell it for that much

*For thousand?* Auntie narrowed her eyes, and very casually asked: How much is its asking price?

Five thousand taels. The agent said.

Auntie did not continue talking, and started looking around the property. Wherever she walked, her criticism followed, but the old agent was experienced in his trade, ate his pride and let her talk. Seeing that this beautiful woman and her beautiful daughters were heading towards the inner courtyard, the old agent jumped in fright, and looked desperately towards Xu Qian.

Its fine. Xu Qian said.

*There shouldnt be any issues during the day* the old agent looked at the beautiful Aunties figure. Her gently swaying buttocks were extremely attractive that day.

Does the valued customer really want to purchase this property?

Mhm.

*You really arent afraid of death* The old agent had already expended all his kindness and care for that day, and stopped trying to persuade him otherwise, asking: And these two are

Xu Qian joked with him: What do you think?

That shut the old agent up, as he felt himself being thrown into a difficult situation. *Mother and sisters? No, they wouldnt be so young. Moreover, they didnt have any of the mother-son dynamic that would have otherwise been the case.*

*A newlywed couple? Mn, that young woman could be this Masters wife, and the pretty older woman his mother in law but what about that girl in the yellow dress from yesterday?*

Although old agents perceptions were shrewd, they still could not tell him what relationship they had.

The older woman is my Aunt, the two younger ones are my younger sisters. As Xu Qian finished his sentence, he saw shock appear on the old agents face. Laughing, he asked: Whats up?

The old agent shook his head, internally still processing why someone would bring their Aunt and sisters over when buying a house. After all, the aunt here would be his uncles wife, part of the clan yes, but not direct family. Hed never seen someone bring their auntie and sisters to a house viewing before.

Even though Aunties mouth was full of complaint and dirt, making the house out to be a falling-down shack, internally she was very pleased. It was also a three-tier courtyard house, however it was much larger than the Xu House in the outer city, and the formers build and quality was incomparable.

The Xu House was set up like a commoners house, nothing like this high-end flamboyant place. If one were to make a comparison, it would be like a rural homestead compared to a city villa.

Even though they were all multi-room large detached houses, but the latter was on a different class entirely.

They spent an hour meticulously inspecting the entire home. Auntie and Xu Lingyue were all very excited, the latter had even secretly decided on her own room.

Auntie hesitantly asked: For this place, is five thousand taels not a little low?

Her nit-picking was all in an effort to push down the price, but during the viewing, she suddenly realised that five thousand taels was far too cheap, and the sharp-witted auntie felt that something was wrong.

Xu Qian pointed at the well not far away: That well was haunted - really haunted, Miss Caiwei and I verified.

There were two startled scrams, as Xu Lingyue and Auntie both fled behind Xu Qian, the former tightly grasping his sleeve hem.

*Haunted?*

Xu Lingyin was also very scared, running over to hide under big brothers legs, before looking to the well, both scared and starting to drool slightly.

Aunties delicate face turned quite pale, as she didnt want to stay one moment longer: Were not buying this place, were going home.

Grabbing her daughters hand, she walked quickly out of the house. Due to her speed, her figure swayed to and fro.

The old agent made a pained expression towards Xu Qian: Is sir merely making sport of me?

Xu Qian waved his hand: Bollocks, were paying the deposit.

He didnt say that hed already dealt with the ghost, afraid that the estate broker would immediately up their price. Before the contract was sighed, this was still a haunted house.

The carriage stopped outside the brokers. Within sat Auntie and the two sisters. After hearing Xu Qian had gone to pay the deposit, Auntie was very angry.

Im certainly not going to live there, he can go live in a haunted house on his own! The little rascal just doesnt want to let us three women off lightly. Auntie huffed.

Big brother isnt that type of person. Xu Lingyue grabbed her mothers hand.

As they talked, Xu Qian came out, and hopped into the drivers seat. Opening the curtain, he stuck in his head: Its nearly noon, lets go to Guiyuelou for lunch.

Auntie turned her head away.

Xu Qian explained: The ghost in the house has already been dealt with. If you dont believe me, will you believe a Sitianjian Arcanist?

Xu Lingyue nodded sweetly.

Auntie was not fully convinced, as she stared at Xu Qian: Really?

Why would I lie to Auntie?

They came to the Guiyuelou, and booked a private room. Xu Qian took out his little jade mirror, and messaged: THREE: TWO, I remember you saying that you are investigating who is behind the banditry woes of Yunzhou.

As soon as he finished writing, he put the mirror face down on the table, and focused on his food. After a little while, he got a notification.

TWO: Yes, in the process of rooting out bandits, I discovered that many of the camps had many supply wagons, nothing that regular mountain bandits could get their hands on. I suspect that theres a power thats helping them.

Xu Qian nodded slightly. Heavy wagons meant military supplies, including armour, arms, et cetera.

This topic of conversation caught number Fours interest. As an ex-official of the Great Feng, he paid quite a bit of mind to the political situation of the country.

FOUR: You can see if theres a lead to be had from the Yunzhou officials. Right, if I remember correctly theres a prince in Yunzhou.

TWO: Prince Gui is a prince without any real political power, Ive investigated him already, hes alright.

THREE: How did you investigate?

TWO: I sent people to spy on his manor.

*this is called investigation? Thats a little too simple* Xu Qian lampooned, replying: THREE: I know whos supporting banditry in Yunzhou.

*???*

Question marks arose in Two and Fours minds.

*What intelligence has Three received? Why can Three always get intelligence. If its about the capital, whatever, since after all thats his territory, but there wasnt half a penny of connection between him and Yunzhou.*

*Ive investigated this long and yet I still have no leads, how could he know whos behind the banditry in Yunzhou* Two knew of Threes character, a stately scholar with a high moral character, thus they did not doubt him, rather sincerely replying:

TWO: What is it? Mn, THREE, if you could tell me who it is, Ill owe you a favour.

THREE: Heh, no need, I admire your conduct, this information is free.

When relations are still shallow, then one must talk exchange, and deny all freebooting. After once or twice and a bit more familiarity, then one needed to develop personal relations, and reduce for-profit trade between them.

*Free is the most expensive of prices, because the thing that is exchanged is better relations. When two peoples relations are deep enough, then freeloading can come to the surface no, how could it be called freeloading between friends? Its merely helping each other.*

This time, Two freeloaded off his information. Next time, he can freeload off Two.

THREE: Its the north easts Church of the Warlock God, they are the ones behind Yunzhous banditry. Mm, I cannot guarantee that my information is wholly accurate, but you can use for reference.

Even though the Church of the Warlock God was not really behind Yunzhous banditry, more likely than not they could not escape some sort of connection. By telling this to Two, Xu Qian had intended for them to go and invesitage on this matter.

*The Church of the Warlock God is behind Yunzhous situation?* Two stared at their jade mirror for a long time, before finally replying: TWO: How do you know? Where did you get the information from? Um, Im not trying to pry things from you, I just want to know the reliability of the information.

THREE: Thats alright. Last night the Nightwatchers discovered a gathering place for the Church of the Warlock God in the capital, they had close and clandestine relations with the Minister of Industry

He summarised the event to Two, making sure to keep out most of the details. After all, his identity was as a scholar of the Cloud Deer Academy, not a Nightwatcher directly involved in the case. He emphasised that the Minister of Industry was providing the Church of the Warlock God with cannons and weapons.

*This is it, this is it* Number Two excitedly clenched their fist, messaging: TWO: This information is very important to me, its verified one of my previous theories, thank you. Im suddenly annoyed that Jinlian Daozhang didnt pull you into the Heaven and Earth Society earlier.

NINE: Proper matters should remain proper matters, dont start gossiping.

Pausing for a bit, Jinlian continued: NINE: However, wouldnt there not be much point in the Church of the Warlock God secretly supporting the Bandits in Yunzhou?

Not only on military matters, but also in what benefits could be traded, there didnt seem like much point.

*I was thinking the same thing* Xu Qian messaged: THREE: TWO, you can try investigate this a bit, I believe that with your abilities youll definitely get to the bottom of this.

Just then, the professional lurker One popped out: ONE: The situation with the Minister of Industry reminds me of a detail in the Sangpo case.

Gunpowder was smuggled into the Temple at Sangpo by the former Minister of Rites, and Baihu Zhou, using the latters rank and position during the ancestor ceremony. However, who lit the fuse?

TWO: The Royal Guard?

THREE: Not the royal guard, Ive investigated all the movements of the royal guards that night, those on patrol all lost their lives, and those not on patrol had proper alibis furthermore, the Minister of Rites cant give orders to the Royal Guard.

TWO: Why?

ONE: This is the crowns secret.

*What kind of crown secret, its merely that Emperor Yuanjing every month gets Arcanists from the Sitianjian to interrogate the soldiers* Xu Qian thought.

Suddenly, something in his mind fell into place, as two trails of thought was suddenly joined up with each other: THREE: What ONE means, is that the Church of the Warlock Gods people lit the fuse under the temple?

ONE: mhm.

NINE: A paper doll.

ONE: How is Daozhang so confident?

NINE: Heh, the technique of using paper dolls originated with the Daoist sects, I naturally know of it well. A paper dolls power is weak, it is barely stronger than an ant. It thus can bypass a martial artists senses, and silently infiltrate into the Temple. Whats more is that a paper doll can at as the fuse to light the gunpowder.

ONE: This is to say, that not only did the Sangpo case involve the Yao, but it also involved the Warlocks? Then the Qi Clique must also know of this matter.

THREE: Surely not, the Qi Clique and the Church of the Warlock God were only business partners, not superior and subordinate. The Church couldnt have told everything to the Qi clique.

ONE: But one thing is for certain, the Warlocks and the Yao have relations.

*The Yao wanted Sangpo blow up to get to the sealed item inside, but what was the Church of the Warlock God after? It wouldnt have been Shenshus severed hand, otherwise they would have conflicting interests, theyll start fighting with each other* Xu Qian thought through this, as he reached out his chopsticks to pick up some food, only to find that the plate was empty.

There werent many dishes in the first place, and the mother and daughters had finished it all. Little Peas face was radiant.

*Youre the same kind as Chu Caiwei.* Xu Qian scolded internally, and called the waiter to order more.

After they had finished and left the Guiyuelou, Auntie and Lingyue entered the carriage. Xu Lingyin saw that on the other side of the street they were selling malt candy, and dragged big brother over by the trouser leg to beg for him to get her some.

Xu Qian took her to get some candy, with words like blades but a heart like tofu: Malt candy is too hard, your teeth will break your teeth.

Little Pea was a well established businessman in the business of eating, and was not at all intimidated: Its ok, Ill suck on it until it goes from hard to soft.

Hearing this, Xu Qian laughed, If youre really skilled youll be able to get it from soft to hard.

Little Pea could only admit defeat: Im not that skilled, can big brother do it?

Big brother cant, but a really skilled troublemaker can suck on a malt candy until it goes from soft to hard, then hard back to soft.

Troublemaker? Then can sister and mummy do it?

I refuse to answer that question.

Why, big brother? Xu Lingyin flashed her innocent big eyes.

Dont ask why. Lingyin, why do you always make big brother drive?