Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 113 Quarrel

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 Quarrel

The Forbidden Army was yet to commence their assassination, faces uncovered, when Lin Cheng frowned in irritation, gazing upon the group of vagrants. In the darkness, a pair of sharp hawk-like eyes radiated fierce intent that even Lin Cheng failed to notice. He merely regarded them as troublesome wanderers, instructing the Forbidden Army, "Kill them."

Encountering them under such circumstances, leaving survivors clearly wasn’t an option. Lin Cheng’s thoughts were straightforward: kill them and discard their bodies off the cliff—no one would care about a few homeless stragglers. Yet the moment the Forbidden Army drew their blades, these five so-called vagrants dropped their bags, unsheathed their curved swords, and with a glint of cold steel in the night, Lin Cheng was taken aback. The clashes of blades and the sudden escalation left both sides locked in fierce combat.

The flicker of swords and flashes of daggers rushed forward relentlessly. The Forbidden Army quickly suffered two losses. These five men, powerful as oxen and armed with ferocious technique, weren’t dealing in mere flashy moves—they wielded genuine killing force of battlefield caliber. Despite the Forbidden Army under Lin Cheng being elites among assassins, two had already fallen within mere moments.

These were no ordinary vagabonds. Could they be experts sent by Fengyu, stationed outside the hall as protection?

Lin Cheng was startled, "Who are you?"

A coarse reply came from among the burly men, but the words were lost amidst the sudden eerie flute music emanating from Xiangguo Temple. The shrill, piercing tones clawed at the ears, an unearthly melody seemingly from some foreign domain. Everyone instinctively longed to cover their ears to block out its unsettling sharpness.

The youth among the burly men cursed, roaring furiously like a lion, mistaking Lin Cheng and his company as the creators of this dreadful sound. With his blade already swinging, Lin Cheng misjudged as well, thinking these men had nearby reinforcements lying in wait. Their cover compromised, prolonged fighting was unwise. Lin Cheng barked a stern order, "Retreat!"

Though the Forbidden Army withdrew, they suffered five losses along the way. Hot on their heels, the burly men chased them halfway down the mountainside before the youth raised his hand and coolly commanded, "Do not pursue cornered prey."

Inside Xiangguo Temple, Zhang Dadu could do nothing but clutch his ears in frustration.

To put it bluntly, Miss, your flute playing is utterly terrifying.

The performance lacked any semblance of rhythm or skill, yet seemed to be executed with unfathomable vigor. The resulting melody was shrill and piercing. Even the Protectors wore sullen expressions, silently pleading for ears untainted by your flute’s sound.

The rumors in the Capital City about Miss Feng San being neither fond of literature nor proficient in music were undoubtedly true. They weren’t mere hearsay but verified facts. Fengyu’s skills with the zither were at least marginally better—capable of playing entire compositions if not at a professional level. Her performance was neither particularly elegant nor overly amateurish, but passable.

As for the flute and Xiao, they were instruments of torment, a melody born to drive anyone to the brink.

Combined with the roars of wild beasts from the mountains, the Protectors felt as though they were witnessing souls being ushered before Yama himself—the entire atmosphere was exceptionally eerie.

Qiuxiang clapped unabashedly, "Miss, your flute skills have definitely improved. Congratulations! With a few more months of practice, you’ll surely master the art of playing like a pro."

Chunlu merely sighed, "..."

Fengyu seemed quite satisfied with herself, and after playing a few tunes, she began to feel drowsy. Chunlu and Qiuxiang assisted her with freshening up.

The night passed uneventfully. Zhang Dashou stayed vigilant until dawn broke without encountering any significant incidents. Relieved, he went off to rest while the Protectors rotated shifts.

Fengyu slept through the morning and missed breakfast. Qiuxiang and Chunlu, having little to do, busied themselves juicing pomegranates. When Fengyu awoke feeling well-rested, Qiuxiang had already taken a stroll around the front courtyard and returned with lunch.

"Miss, a young monk in the temple mentioned there’s a trail of blood near the main hall. It seems there are traces of a fight, but nothing noteworthy was left behind—don’t you think it’s strange?" Qiuxiang shared this gossip overheard while fetching food.

The monks sweeping the temple early in the morning discovered bloodstains on the steps. Following the trail, they noticed evidence of a scuffle. Worried it might cause panic, the Abbot instructed the monks to wash away the blood.

"Could it be wild animals fighting? Their bites might explain why the scene left few traces," Zhang Dashou speculated after an uneventful vigil, his only disturbance being Fengyu’s eerie flute music.

Qiuxiang lowered her voice, "The young monk said it didn’t seem like an animal attack—the commotion was quite distinct."

Fengyu lazily yawned, still drowsy from the night, her eyes drooping with half-sleep. Her late-night flute session had been overly exhilarating—she hadn’t managed to sleep until the third watch.

Fighting and skirmishes usually didn’t concern Fengyu as long as they didn’t directly affect her. Xiangguo Temple housed warrior monks, and no one in their right mind would dare to stir trouble recklessly within its grounds.

As Chunlu laid out the vegetarian meal, she asked Fengyu, "Miss, what shall we do after lunch?"

Fengyu tilted her head in thought, "Let’s visit the stables. I didn’t get a chance to see them before the end of the year."

At the Kyoto Capital Guard Office, Xie Xun was up early drilling troops in the training grounds. The guards groaned but dared not falter. The sprawling training field echoed with shouts, a breathtaking display of discipline. Xun’s methods were quite effective, improving the Guard’s reputation to the point that recruitment surged. Even those once dismissed by Xie Xun shamelessly returned to reapply after fresh openings emerged.

Even some commoners joined the ranks. The Kyoto Capital Guard was no longer short of manpower as Xie Xun aimed to forge a truly exceptional unit.

This morning’s drills saw Zhang Boxin and Lin Xiao unexpectedly fighting each other. No amount of intervention from nearby troops could separate them. Xie Xun, with a frosty expression, summoned the duo to stand before him.

Zhang Boxin and Lin Xiao had grown up together and were on good terms. Yet Zhang Boxin, frustrated and quick-tempered due to recent upheavals in his prospective marriage to Feng Wan, was easily provoked. Lin Xiao usually had a steadying influence on him. Alongside Zhang Boxi, Zhang Boxin, Zhou Liyu, and Cai Wensen, Lin Xiao was among Xie Xun’s trusted subordinates. Xie Xun had plans to train the Kyoto Capital Guard to the rigorous standards of the Northern Iron Cavalry, which meant particularly refining these individuals. Zhang Boxin’s current state had Xie Xun pondering a mountain retreat for respite.

"Why the fight?" Xie Xun asked coolly. Standing atop a high platform, his commanding presence loomed over them, "If you can’t articulate a proper reason, take ten laps around the field."

Lin Xiao’s expression darkened, glaring silently at Zhang Boxin—his fiery temper showing no sign of backing down. Xie Xun shifted his gaze to Zhang Boxin.

Reluctantly, Zhang Boxin chose to speak after seeing Lin Xiao’s obstinacy. "Last night, I was out leading a patrol near the city gates and just after 5 a.m spotted Lord Lin Cheng entering the city with Forbidden Army soldiers, all looking disheveled. I merely remarked that Lin Cheng must’ve been out killing someone, and Lin Xiao started throwing punches at me."

"My older brother is the head of the Imperial Guards. Whatever he does is in accordance with orders; not for others to make snide remarks about," Lin Xiao retorted, displeased with Zhang Boxin’s mocking tone.

"According to orders, huh..." Zhang Boxin sneered sarcastically. "More than half a month ago, Commander Lin Cheng publicly executed a few suspected arsonists without questioning motives. Whose orders was that under?"

Normally, Zhang Boxin wouldn’t argue so vehemently, but Feng Wan’s marriage to Prince Duan—clearly orchestrated by the Empress and the Eastern Palace—left him bitter. Lin Cheng, as head of the Forbidden Army, naturally stirred his ire.

Lin Xiao was stunned—had his older brother truly killed those suspected arsonists?

"Such trivial matters warrant no quarrel. The Forbidden Army and Kyoto Capital Guard have distinct domains and shouldn’t concern themselves with one another," Xie Xun frowned. Lin Cheng’s movements with the Forbidden Army to and from the city likely came under imperial or Eastern Palace directives. For them to return so battered was unusual. Lin Cheng, an adept fighter, rarely struggled against ordinary adversaries.

As for Yiling Village, Vice Minister Lin hadn’t assigned Lin Cheng to the assassination. Otherwise, Fengyu would’ve been dead long ago.

Fengyu...