Chapter 116: The Last Marriage Husband

That night, the upper echelons of the capital were anything but calm.

The name Qin Feng was once known by only a few, but now it was on everyone’s lips.

And the story of Qin Feng and the three great socialites had spread in several versions.

“Is it true? Who exactly is Qin Feng that he managed to charm all three of the top socialites at once?”

“Of course it’s true. I heard Qin Feng once gambled with Qu Yuanshan, Xie Yanran’s former fiancé. The bet was that if Qin Feng won, Xie Yanran would be his, and he did win.”

“So that explains his connection to Xie Yanran, but what about Shangguan Qingwu and Ling Xinyue?”

“Hold on, listen. At a party hosted by Shangguan Qingwu, many saw Qin Feng holding her as they swung on a swing, even kissing her. That was undeniable. Then, out of nowhere, Ling Xinyue appeared and whisked Qin Feng away.”

“No way! Ling Xinyue is like a goddess. Even the capital’s top young master once failed before her. Would she really take the initiative to date a man?”

“That’s exactly what happened. You know what? I’ve decided—Qin Feng is going to be my idol from now on.”

The versions above were already quite wild, but there were even more absurd ones worthy of a palace intrigue drama.

The next day, I headed to Bureau Nine.

Director Zhou personally took me to a secretive area, off-limits to the public and accessible only to authorized personnel.

Entering a room, I was surprised to find several people already inside.

“Brother Qin!” Ghost stood up in delight.

“Ghost, how have you been lately?” I patted his shoulder with a smile.

“Not bad. I was transferred here unexpectedly, and it turns out I’m working with you on this mission—awesome!” Ghost was clearly happy.

I then looked at the other three people in the room.

Among them, Nightingale tossed her hair and flashed me a coquettish look, speaking in a sweet voice, “Qin Feng, you’re the team leader, right? That’s too much—I’ve become your subordinate.”

I chuckled and walked over to her, pulling her into my embrace.

The flirtatious smile on Nightingale’s face faded, replaced briefly by a shy, uncertain blush.

The other two were strangers to me—a man and a woman. The man was in his thirties, gaunt and cold; the woman was in her twenties, with delicate features and two small front teeth, curiously studying me.

After introductions, I learned the man’s name was Yu Hai, a Level Six Yin-Yang Master skilled in close combat.

The woman was Gao Pingping, a Level Four Yin-Yang Master specializing in disguise.

“Now that you’ve met, you’re officially a team. Qin Feng is the leader, and you must obey his orders without question,” Director Zhou declared.

“So, where’s the instructor for teaching the Underworld Language?” I asked.

“She should be arriving soon,” Director Zhou replied with a teasing smirk.

I was puzzled by the look in his eyes.

At that moment, the door opened, and a woman in a pale moon-colored Daoist robe entered.

I froze—why was it her?

Ling Xinyue!

I hadn’t expected that she would be the teacher of the Underworld Language.

Ling Xinyue’s gaze flickered with a hint of awkwardness upon seeing me but quickly regained its usual calm.

“I never believed the rumors before, but now I do. You’re impressive—managing to win over Ling Xinyue, the jewel of the heavens,” Nightingale whispered in my ear.

“She’s not as good as you,” I murmured.

“No way,” Nightingale replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

“I may have won her, but I can’t get into her bed. She’s definitely not as good as you,” I whispered back, laughing softly.

Though our voices were low, Ling Xinyue was no ordinary person. It was hard to believe she didn’t hear us.

Yet, she showed no reaction.

“Now, I will teach you the Underworld Language. Its linguistic system is completely different from ours but still follows patterns. For example, ‘hello’ in Underworld Language is…” Ling Xinyue began the lesson directly. Whether you wanted to listen or not, this was serious business related to life and death, so everyone paid close attention.

I gathered my thoughts and listened carefully.

But as she spoke, a strange familiarity stirred within me.

Why did this so-called Underworld Language feel oddly known?

The more Ling Xinyue taught, the stronger this feeling became.

“The word for ‘kill’ in Underworld Language is…”

“Fa Ka Nu…”

“The word for ‘thank you’ is…”

“Luo Mu…”

Each word Ling Xinyue pronounced sparked the exact same sound in my mind, even more precise than her own pronunciation.

What was going on?

“Though I am your Underworld Language teacher, I only teach. Whether you listen or not is up to you. But if you don’t and make mistakes during missions, it will be a death sentence—and may harm your teammates,” Ling Xinyue glanced sharply at me as she spoke.

I knew she meant me—I had just been distracted.

After the language lesson, we moved on to a course about the habits of the Underworld inhabitants, still taught by Ling Xinyue.

It was clear she had extraordinary knowledge of the Netherworld, which piqued my curiosity.

When the day’s lessons ended, Ling Xinyue left immediately.

I clapped my hands and said to Nightingale and the others, “Well, fate has brought us together as life-and-death comrades. Comrades need to build rapport, and that starts with sharing meals. Tonight, it’s on me.”

That evening, we went to a bustling street lined with food stalls.

“Qin Feng, Captain Qin, aren’t you being a bit stingy inviting us to street food stalls?” Nightingale grumbled.

“This is the real place to eat. Come on, let’s start with a toast,” I said, raising my glass.

The five of us clinked glasses and drank in unison, warming the atmosphere.

Yu Hai was taciturn but generous when it came to drinking.

Gao Pingping became more talkative after a few drinks, adept at reading the room and speaking smoothly.

“Brother Qin, you really have something going with Teacher Ling…” Ghost looked at me admiringly.

“We’re not just involved; we’re involved in several ways,” I laughed heartily.

“But what about the team captain?” Ghost asked anxiously.

“Captain? Chen Yingen? That tigress? What does she have to do with it?” I replied.

“She likes you,” Ghost said.

I nearly spit out my drink, laughing, “She likes me? You must be mistaken.”

“I’m not—” Ghost started, but Nightingale interrupted by pouring a cup down his throat.

“You’re wrong, little Ghost,” Nightingale said through gritted teeth but still smiling.

...

A month passed, and the scandal involving the three great socialites in the capital gradually subsided. None of the parties involved responded, and with no further incidents, it died down naturally.

During this month, all the courses were completed.

Our covert team began preparations, delving deeply into the identities we would assume as Underworld cultivators.

At this time, the situation in the Western Liang Netherworld had grown tense.

The Netherworld had built a large city, merging dozens of smaller towns into a single entity called Spirit City.

Our infiltration at this moment was perfectly timed, as Spirit City was still chaotic and strangers to one another.

Meanwhile, atop Moonlit Tower,

Ling Xinyue plucked at her zither, but something was amiss—her mind wandered, causing several off-key notes, which was highly unusual for a master of her craft.

“Sister Ling?” Xie Yanran called out softly.

Ling Xinyue snapped back, smiling gently. “Yanran, you haven’t come to see me in a whole month.”

“Yeah, I’ve had something on my mind I need to ask you—it’s been bothering me,” Xie Yanran said.

“Go ahead,” Ling Xinyue replied.

“Do you know Qin Feng?” Xie Yanran asked.

“I’ve met him once, but I didn’t know he was Qin Feng. Why, what’s bothering you?” Ling Xinyue asked.

“Because Qin Feng and I still have unresolved grudges,” Xie Yanran said.

“No, you don’t have any grudges. Unless you truly believe that after losing him to Qu Yuanshan, you really became his last fiancée,” Ling Xinyue glanced at Xie Yanran.

Xie Yanran laughed bitterly, “How could that be? No matter how blind I am, I wouldn’t fancy him. But he provoked me, and I haven’t gotten my revenge. He’s been hiding for a month.”

“That’s fine. I can help you get even,” Ling Xinyue said calmly.

“Ah?” Xie Yanran stared at her, puzzled and suddenly uneasy.

“Because he will soon be my last fiancé,” Ling Xinyue looked up at the crescent moon hanging in the sky, her voice drifting like a whisper.