I've never felt happy to become an immortal.

Chapter 139 The Stronghold of the Dong Lin Party (Third Update)
Soon, two groups of people arrived one after the other.

The first wave was the local government offices, and the second wave was the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They arrived almost simultaneously.

Originally, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had higher authority than the local government, but the local government was actually backed by the Lin family, so the division of authority could not be simply based on their respective duties.

On a normal day, they would definitely have started arguing.

But Bai Xuan spoke casually.

Bi Dongyou's body and the matter were handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, while the two assassins were handed over to the local government, since they knew nothing about it.

This allocation was barely acceptable to both parties.

After all, Bai Xuan handled the people, so they just came over to pick up the scraps and clean up the mess.

"What do you plan to do with these two demonic cultivators?"

"Langya has a special dungeon for imprisoning these people, called Wujian."

"That sounds pretty impressive."

“It was built during the previous dynasty and has five floors. With the level of these two demonic cultivators, they can probably be locked up in the second floor. However, given their courage in coming to assassinate Young Master Bai, they probably won’t mind spending their lives in the second floor’s Abyss.”

The Tiger and Leopard Duo turned pale upon hearing this, and hurriedly uttered words of atonement, but it was to no avail. They were shackled and taken away.

Bai Xuan stretched and returned to Langya Hall with his sword.

He had barely returned when Ning Jianshuang grabbed him.

"Take off your clothes."

"Huh? What do you want to do?"

"Stop talking nonsense, are you going to take it off or not?"

"It's not appropriate to do this here, is it?" Bai Xuan asked, taken aback.

Only after Ning Jianshuang took out the ointment did Bai Xuan realize that it was to treat his injuries.

But he was left with only a shallow superficial wound.

Ning Jianshuang was still worried, so she made him take off his shirt and looked him over before she felt at ease.

“Superior strength is no excuse for taking risks. If you just said something and gave a heads-up to the Lin family or the Embroidered Uniform Guard, either of them could have won much more easily,” Ning Jianshuang said in a low voice. “Do you really have to be so reckless?”

Bai Xuan shook his head and explained what had just happened.

Ning Jianshuang lowered her head to apply medicine to her wound. After listening, she pursed her lips, seemingly suppressing a laugh: "So... this is like shooting yourself in the foot?"

"It is somewhat unbelievable," Bai Xuan commented. "It's a pity that Bi Dongyou is dead; he must have known even more."

“The Northern Zhou has completely set its sights on you.” Ning Jianshuang hesitated, “I’m not sure what to do next.”

"We'll see how things go," Bai Xuan said. "I'm definitely going to the White Plum Sect."

"For the remains of a sword immortal?"

"Yes."

When do you plan to leave Langya?

"We'll leave once the case is solved." Bai Xuan was very confident: "If we can find someone from the Fu Guang Sect, the case might already be solved."

Ning Jianshuang couldn't help with the investigation, so she stopped asking about it.

"Second Brother, I heard Madam Lin say something today..."

"what?"

"Is your beloved a woman named Qin Xiaochun?"

Bai Xuan turned his head, surprised that gossip spread so quickly within the Lin family: "Who told you that?"

"That's what Mrs. Lin said herself."

Bai Xuan was speechless for a moment, "...I was just lying to those two old men from the Lin family."

Ning Jianshuang said, "But Lin Jiaolu believed it."

"she……"

"And Madam Lin believed it too."

"Tell me, who doesn't believe me?" Bai Xuan asked tentatively.

Ning Jianshuang blinked but didn't say anything, meaning she believed it too.

Bai Xuan gasped, realizing he had made a contribution to global heating.

He realized more deeply how deadly it is to try to cover up certain topics with lies.

He has little experience in relationships, so he has always been rather oblivious to this aspect and doesn't know how to handle it, which is one of his weaknesses.

When faced with weaknesses, people generally have three reactions: either procrastinate, conceal, or escape... Only a very small minority actually confront their weaknesses.

At this point, the power of lies is only just beginning to emerge.

Bai Xuan had a premonition that he might have to pay a heavy price for this lie in the future.

Seeing Bai Xuan's silence, Ning Jianshuang thought she had touched a sore spot and said softly, "No matter what, I will support you being with the one you love."

Bai Xuan: There is no such person at all.

When I was young, I changed wives every three months. I liked so many people that I felt like I had a lot of names on my list. I was a complete philanthropist.

He was about to say something to change the subject when the door was suddenly pushed open.

Xi Qingqing strode in casually: "Why didn't you invite me to the fight? Did you think I'd steal your credit?"

As soon as they entered, their gazes fell upon Bai Xuan's muscular physique.

She paused slightly, then gave a thumbs up: "You have a nice figure."

Bai Xuan squinted: "If everyone were as carefree and happy as you, there would be so many fewer complicated troubles."

Xi Qingqing raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips: "What do you mean? Do you think I'm stupid? I'm very careful. Don't make it sound like I'm a fool who's been kept in the dark."

"So what did you do today?"

"Enjoying opera, tea, pastries, and the Lin family's meticulous service and massage," Xi Qingqing said smugly. "This life of a rich man is exactly what I've always hoped for. Once I buy a big house, I'll spend every day like this!"

Well done, as expected of you!

Even arguing about pointless topics with this eighteen-year-old and sixteen-month-old woman was better than discussing his own love life. Bai Xuan bluntly stated, "I estimate that tens of thousands of taels of silver wouldn't be enough."

"No problem." Xi Qingqing hummed in agreement. "We'll have the money."

"How come there is?"

"Don't you have one?" Xi Qingqing suddenly changed her tone: "Young Master Bai, you wouldn't want the whole martial arts world to know that you have someone you love, would you?"

Bai Xuan almost tore his own sleeves.

Grass!
Even someone like you who slacks off all day knows?

Wouldn't that mean most of the Lin family would know?
“This trick won’t work on me.” Bai Xuan glanced at Xi Qingqing: “You already know, I reckon this will be publicized sooner or later.”

He just couldn't understand it.

Don't the Lin family have any pride?
Can you just say that to anyone?
If word gets out, everyone will lose face.

"Not many people will believe rumors that are a mix of truth and fiction; it's just for fun," Ning Jianshuang explained. "Your reputation is so great that there will inevitably be similar rumors. Even if you add Qin Xiaochun to the mix, it will only add a little more buzz... Don't you know that among all the rumors about you in the martial arts world, the most debated topic is whether you will choose Yun Wang or Lin Jiaolu?"

"Huh? What the hell?" Bai Xuan really didn't know about this. He was focused on running around the martial arts world and leveling up. Could it be that people in this era also speculate on couples and run a stock market?

“It happens all the time,” Ning Jianshuang said quietly. “Even those who write novels these days know that they must create two or more female protagonists, let the male protagonist choose one, and let each of them experience a part of the story, in order to generate buzz and popularity.”

"But the stories in the book are not as exciting as the real ones. Your story has been adapted by the storyteller and spread all over the country. As a result, many listeners have already identified with you and started to make choices for you automatically."

"Thus, different political parties were born... This was already evident in the capital."

"What kind of magical empathy is this?" Bai Xuan had never heard of it before. "I don't believe it. I'll go to the restaurant to sit for a while."

"Don't go, it's no use going." Xi Qingqing spread her hands: "Don't forget where this is. This is Langya, a place that has benefited from the Lin family's kindness. The Lin family has a very good reputation. They say that kindness can never be repaid, so this is the stronghold of the Lin Party."

"What exactly is the Donglin Party?" Bai Xuan felt a chill run down his spine.

"You're just not experienced enough in the ways of the world." Xi Qingqing laughed, bending over and kicking her legs. "Even you and Sister Ning are being talked about."

Ning Jianshuang remained calm: "It's just hearsay, but I reckon Miss Xi will be here soon too."

Xi Qingqing was stunned for a moment, and her smile slowly disappeared: "Who dares to talk about me? I am a demoness from the Demonic Sect."

The smile shifted to Bai Xuan's face, and he couldn't help but laugh: "I find it hard to imagine how they'll make this up."

"The demonesses of the Demonic Sect have always been very popular in storybooks." Ning Jianshuang teased with a light smile: "In the stories, demonesses of the Demonic Sect are loved by everyone and propose marriage on the spot, but in reality, demonesses of the Demonic Sect will run away as soon as they see someone."

"Like Lord Ye who professed to love dragons but was terrified of them," Bai Xuan commented. "Isn't this just like those netizens who like yandere characters?"
They say they like yandere characters, but what they really want is someone who loves them.

"You seem to know far too much about this," Xi Qingqing asked curiously. "Even this is so well understood; is business really this competitive these days?"

"Because I've been paying attention all along, and I've been secretly encouraging it."

"Ah?" Bai Xuan thought to himself, "So it was you with your almond-shaped eyes and delicate eyebrows who ruined my reputation?"

“Maintaining popularity is also important, otherwise how will we gain a reputation in the martial arts world?” Ning Jianshuang said frankly. “If you want to become famous, you need real skills and real achievements. The achievements themselves also need to be properly publicized in order to have a positive effect. Erlang is the young master of Juyi Pavilion. We share the glory and glory. We need to do some public publicity while suppressing some slanderous remarks.”

Bai Xuan hesitated to speak.

What you said makes a lot of sense, but what does that have to do with your involvement in the stock market?
"The public is happy to see this, and we should always cater to their preferences."

Ning Jianshuang thought that guiding public opinion was also a necessary means, and even unpopular couples needed to be promoted.

Bai Xuan sat in the chair, feeling that his reputation had been unfairly damaged.

Not the same.

Times have truly changed.

People five hundred years ago were so innocent and lovely, none of them had been poisoned by marketing.

People nowadays have all learned how to create hype around couples; I don't even dare to imagine what they might do next.

"Never mind..." Bai Xuan remained in a lying position: "If I can give the common people more to talk about during their leisure time, then my life will have been worthwhile. At least I have enriched their leisure and entertainment life, which is a contribution to the country, the people and the nation."

"It's good that you've come to your senses. It seems that it's time to put the 'Love Qin Party' for Qin Xiaochun on the agenda." Xi Qingqing curled her lips.

Bai Xuan got up and left, not wanting to listen at all.

"So..." Xi Qingqing asked curiously, "Is Qin Xiaochun a real person, or is she a character he made up?"

“It should be true,” Ning Jianshuang said. “He should know how important he is to many people. That’s a weight that can’t be smoothed over by just mentioning any woman’s name. Saying it like that won’t make things better; it will only escalate the conflict.”

"If it's a lie, that would be incredibly foolish; it's not only pointless but also just adds unnecessary trouble."

"Therefore, it can only be true."

(End of this chapter)