"Big... Brother! Do you perhaps have another hidden identity in the martial world?"
Since they were attending a martial gathering, everyone had changed their way of address to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yan Tinghao found it very unaccustomed to switch from calling someone "Sir" to "Brother." Despite traveling for two days, he would sometimes slip up.
Hearing Yan Tinghao's exclamation, a mixture of surprise and admiration, the others crowded around.
"The number one phantom thief in the world? My apologies, my apologies. I didn't expect Brother Lin to be a fellow practitioner!" Ye Shengxiao cupped his fists. Yongning, who also enjoyed a good spectacle, exclaimed loudly, "As expected of Young Master Lin! Not only are you skilled at solving cases, but you're also a master thief! If my brother locks me up again in the future, I'll ask Young Master Lin to steal his entire treasury dry!"
"Yongning!" Xu Siyun chided Yongning, who was already lost in her imagination. Hua Jinrong, with a 'swish,' unfurled his fan and shook his head. "From my understanding of Brother Lin, even if he truly possesses the skills of a phantom thief, he would never engage in such acts of thievery."
Murong Bai nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Brother Lin always takes things by force. He wouldn't stoop to pickpocketing. After all, isn't robbing faster than stealing?"
...
Lu Mingxuan looked at the chattering crowd before him and said tentatively, "Is it possible that Brother Lin 'obtained' the invitation from the number one phantom thief in the world?"
...
Everyone fell into a stunned silence, their gazes on a certain person filled with surprise, admiration, curiosity, and inquiry. Lin Qingge, caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, first shot a furious glance at the big-mouthed Yan Tinghao, then tugged at her stiff lips. "I thought that person with the sharp mouth and monkey-like face looked suspicious. I never expected him to be a thief!"
She swore to the heavens that she had only intended to procure an invitation, deliberately choosing someone who didn't look like a good person. Who knew she would end up stealing from someone who called himself the number one phantom thief in the world! No wonder she found his behavior and demeanor somewhat familiar; he was a thief who relied on illicit means to gain wealth!
"That... Brother Lin, although we have two invitations, it seems we still don't have enough."
Upon hearing Lu Mingxuan's words, Lin Qingge surveyed the group. A naive deer, a peacock, a fox, a goshawk, a weasel, a hamster. What a miniature zoo! Adding Yongning, Xu Siyun and her family of three, and the diligent Xiaocao responsible for their meals, there were a total of twelve people. Even with the policy of free admission for children under 1.2 meters, there was still one extra person.
Just as Lin Qingge was contemplating whether to leave the naive deer behind, or leave the naive deer behind, or leave the naive deer behind, Hua Jinrong leisurely produced a golden embossed invitation from his sleeve and waved it before everyone. "My friend, Young Master Ye, is a figure of the martial world. As he is unable to attend, he entrusted this invitation to me."
Lin Qingge accepted the invitation and opened it. The name written on it was 'Jianghu Baixiaosheng' (roughly translated as 'Martial World Informant'). With a meaningful glance at the flashy peacock before her, Lin Qingge handed the three invitations to the gatekeepers for inspection. The gatekeepers' gazes towards Lin Qingge and her companions immediately became respectful, even cautious.
Wolong Villa was built on Wolong Mountain; in fact, the entire Wolong Mountain was part of Wolong Villa. After entering the villa from the main gate at the foot of the mountain, the group was led by attendants for the duration of a single incense stick before reaching their lodging. Due to Xiaocao's competence and for safety reasons, Lin Qingge dismissed all the maids and servants in the courtyard. Xiaocao was primarily responsible for the group's three meals a day, as food prepared by their own people was more reassuring. As for cleaning, with so many people capable and with hands and feet, even Lin Zimo dressed himself and folded his own quilt in the morning; there was no need for fussiness.
After a simple settling-in, Yongning, curious about everything, pulled Xu Siyun to run outside. Lin Qingge, thinking that this little girl would be abducted a hundred times and still not learn her lesson, was about to call out to Yan Tinghao. However, recalling the scant brain capacity of this simpleton, she had to change her mind mid-way and call for Ling Han instead. Yet, Ling Han did not move. Thinking that this fellow was getting a bit too cocky with his approaching doom, before Lin Qingge could find a feather duster, Hua Jinrong volunteered to be her protector. Before leaving, he even dragged Murong Bai along.
Exhausted from the journey, Lin Qingge, hugging Lin Zimo, collapsed onto the bed for a nap. As she drifted in and out of sleep, she was once again disturbed by the simpleton Yan Tinghao.
"Sir, it's bad! It's bad!"
Feeling extremely heavy, Lin Qingge struggled to get out of bed and yelled towards the door, "Yan Tinghao, if I hear the words 'it's bad' from you again, I'll sew your mouth shut!"
"Uh..."
Not understanding why his Sir was so furious, Yan Tinghao rubbed his nose, deliberated, and then shouted again, "Sir, it's terrible! It's terrible!"
"Get lost—!"
Lin Qingge roared in rage, grabbed the feather duster by the bed, and put on her shoes to go out, but was stopped by Lin Zimo, who had woken up at some point, tugging at her clothes. "Daddy, your backside is bleeding."
???
After running the words through her mind, Lin Qingge, who realized her period had arrived, had no choice but to put down the feather duster for the moment and turn to rummage through the bundle specially prepared for her by Leng Ningyue.
With her irritability at its maximum, Lin Qingge changed her clothes, pushed open the door aggressively, and began to swing her feather duster. Yan Tinghao, who was being beaten for no apparent reason, quickly dodged to the side and collided head-on with Leng Ningyue, who was carrying a tray.
"Madam, save me!"
Yan Tinghao veered and hid behind Madam Lin. To his surprise, Madam Lin not only dodged to the side but also coincidentally lifted her heel, tripping him squarely. Yan Tinghao, stumbling to the ground, quickly shielded his head with his hands.
After Lin Qingge had finished her thrashing with the feather duster, she asked with a half-smile, "Speak, what is it now?"
Yan Tinghao, finally remembering the important matter, sprang up from the ground and said urgently, "Right, Sir, Miss Yongning got into an argument with someone. Master Hua sent someone to ask you to come over."
"Why do you need me to go over?" Lin Qingge picked up a pastry and popped it into her mouth. The sweet taste spread, finally calming her remaining irritability.
"Madam, I'm going out."
"No rush, have some red date water to rinse your mouth first, or you might get a toothache."
Watching the affectionate couple before him, Yan Tinghao, although he hadn't eaten any pastry, felt his back molars inexplicably ache.
When Lin Qingge followed Yan Tinghao to the martial arts field in the center of Wolong Villa, Yongning and three others were already surrounded. Before she could get close, she heard Yongning's arrogant shout: "Let me tell you, my brother is very powerful! If you dare to touch a single finger of mine, I'll have my brother annihilate your entire clan!"