When I stopped licking, the lady panicked.

Lin Xuan smiled calmly and said, "Soul-Shaking Pestle? The strength of this thing depends on the user's emotions. Your current emotions are only fear, so the Soul-Shaking Pestle will only backfire on you and cannot harm me."

"Moreover, the difference in our soul power is enormous. Even if you attack me with the Soul-Shaking Pestle, you will only hurt yourself."

Su Xin was astonished and asked, "How...how did you know?"

"There are very few things in this world that I don't know," Lin Xuan said with a meaningful smile.

The Soul-Shaking Pestle is a weapon that strikes directly at the soul; its effects vary depending on the user's emotions.

If the user has positive emotions, then the Soul-Shaking Pestle represents "disciplining others"; if the user has negative emotions, then the Soul-Shaking Pestle represents "self-discipline".

In the state of Lawful Man, the Soul-Shaking Pestle can emit different soul shockwaves from the tail to the head, with the stronger the emotion, the stronger the shockwave.

Excitement causes a booming vibration; elation causes a wave-like vibration; joy causes a rampaging vibration...

Conversely, in a state of self-discipline, the soul shockwave of the Soul-Shaking Pestle is emitted from head to tail.

Anger causes tremors like a landslide; fear causes tremors like a thunderbolt; grief causes tremors like flowing water…

Therefore, although the Soul-Shaking Pestle is extremely powerful, only those who remain calm in the face of danger can wield it.

Imagine having to maintain a positive attitude when facing a life-threatening situation; very few people could do that.

Su Xin's hand holding the Soul-Shaking Pestle trembled slightly, and her body also trembled incessantly.

Lin Xuan walked over, pushed the pestle away from him, and said, "This thing is more effective for me than for you. Besides enjoying yourself, it probably won't do you any good with it."

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Su Xin's face immediately turned red.

Lin Xuan smiled, snatched the Soul-Shaking Pestle, and said, "I'll keep this for now."

After speaking, Lin Xuan put the Soul-Shaking Pestle into his storage pouch.

Seeing this, Su Xin stamped her feet in frustration and said, "Why should I?"

Lin Xuan said, "Just because you're in my hands now, and you've even incurred the Reincarnation Blood Curse."

Su Xin said, "As long as I don't break my oath, the blood curse won't activate. Once the martial arts tournament is over, the blood curse will be useless."

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "We'll have to wait until the martial arts competition is over, unless you need it urgently."

Su Xin's face flushed red again, and she said, "Who...who is in a hurry to use it? You can have it, but you have to return it to me after the martial arts tournament."

"Of course." Lin Xuan nodded. "Oh, by the way, do you know that supervisor of the Heavenly Fire Palace?"

Su Xin shook her head and said, "I don't know him, but I've heard that he's the deputy hall master of the Heavenly Fire Hall, and he's known for protecting his own. I hope you don't have any grudges with the Heavenly Fire Hall."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan chuckled to himself.

No grudges? My grudges with the Heavenly Fire Palace are far from over.

First, a disciple of the Heavenly Fire Palace tried to kill me, and then your husband, Xiao Ke, died at my hands. How could I not have any grudges with the Heavenly Fire Palace?

"I understand." Lin Xuan nodded thoughtfully. "I hope you'll be more sensible on the day of the martial arts competition."

Su Xin snorted and said, "You've already placed the Reincarnation Blood Curse on me, how could I possibly break my vow?"

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "That's good then."

After saying that, Lin Xuan turned and left.

Su Xin asked, "Are you leaving already?"

"What, you want me to stay?" Lin Xuan looked at Su Xin with great interest.

Su Xin said, "You left so quickly, even faster than Xun Fu. But if you don't mind, then go ahead."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan immediately stopped and found a place to sit down and drink tea.

Just kidding, this is a matter of a man's dignity, how can we compromise so easily?

Su Xin covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Men are always so obsessed with saving face."

Lin Xuan said, "This is a matter of dignity."

Su Xin shook her head helplessly, poured Lin Xuan a cup of fresh tea, and said, "To be honest, if I were you, I would choose to give up participating in this year's martial arts competition."

"Why?" Lin Xuan asked.

Su Xin said, "Because this year's situation is too complicated, and this is the first time the imperial court has sent people to supervise the martial arts examination, so the intensity will definitely be the strongest and strictest."

Lin Xuan replied, "So what?"

Su Xin paused for a moment, then said in surprise, "So what? Lin Xuan, do you really think you can win a place and take the top spot?"

"Even if Yun Xiao didn't bribe the regulators, you're no match for him in a one-on-one fight!"

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "You're wrong. The truth is, even if he bribes the regulators, he's still no match for me."

Su Xin rolled her eyes at him helplessly.

She'd seen plenty of braggarts, and even more braggart men.

Especially some men who get carried away while having fun here, always shouting profanities, saying things like they'll kill you, and then they're done for in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

If even someone like Su Xin, who sells her art but not her body, is like this, then those who sell their bodies are even more so.

After a while, the lights in Wanxianglou were lit up, and the entire Wanxianglou seemed to be instantly awakened from hibernation.

Just then, Peach's mother knocked on the door and said, "Young Master Lin, have you had fun? We have guests, and Su Xin needs to receive them."

Lin Xuan replied, "That's fine."

Madam Tao opened the door, walked in with a smile, and asked, "Young Master Lin, how is Su Xin? Does she meet your expectations?"

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "The courtesan's reputation is indeed well-deserved; she has quite a few beautiful women."

Behind the curtain, Su Xin bit her lip, clenched her fist, and glared at Lin Xuan with annoyance.

"Haha, our Su Xin is very popular. If Young Master Lin likes it, you can make a reservation next time. I guarantee you'll have a great time," said Madam Tao.

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "I'll definitely do it next time."

"Young Master Lin, please come with me. Our Master invites you," said Madam Tao.

"Okay." Lin Xuan followed Mama Tao out of the incense room and went upstairs to Ouyang Chengdu's room.

Madam Tao gently knocked on the door and said, "Master, Young Master Lin has arrived."

"Please come in," said Ouyang Chengdu.

Tao's mother opened the door for Lin Xuan and turned around to make a "please" gesture.

Lin Xuan went inside, walked around the screen, and saw Ouyang Chengdu sitting at the table with a smile on his face, but Xun Fu was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Xun Fu?" Lin Xuan asked.

Upon hearing Xun Fu's name, Ouyang Chengdu smiled and said, "Young Master Xun has returned."

"You're still so happy that he's gone?" Lin Xuan asked.

"Young Master Xun promised me that he would invite me out to enjoy the breeze and admire the moon," Ouyang Chengdu said.

Lin Xuan was both amused and exasperated.

It has to be Xun Fu; he's a master at deceiving people.

"Oh, by the way, I've already sold the pills you asked me to sell," Ouyang Chengdu said.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan excitedly leaned closer and asked, "How many did you sell?"

Ouyang Chengdu smiled without saying a word and silently pushed out a money bag.

Seeing the small bag, Lin Xuan was somewhat disappointed.

After all, such a small bag weighs at most ten or so ounces, which is far too little for Lin Xuan.

"So little?" Lin Xuan was somewhat disappointed.

Ouyang Chengdu said mysteriously, "You'll know once you open it and take a look."