CHAPTER 91: WHAT IS EMBARRASSMENT?

The condition for lying was that once he started, he couldn’t stop, and he also had to achieve the conversational volume of a normal person.

...

Since coming to this world, has he spoken any truth?

Lin Bai thought for a moment. It seemed he hadn’t.

So, this was essentially a free task; he likely wouldn’t need to make a conscious effort to complete it.

However, ever since it had given him Palm Thunder, the Great Language System didn’t seem to reward him with anything particularly good.

First it was Ventriloquism, then Vocal Techniques...

He had no idea if these Vocal Techniques were actually serious.

Lin Bai pursed his lips. His lips and tongue unmoving, he called out to the Little Fox using his newly learned Ventriloquism, "Xiao Bai, let’s go to the City Lord’s Manor!"

The Little White Fox was curiously eyeing the decorations in the Chef’s Divine Food Stall when it suddenly heard someone speaking. Its ears shot up, and it subconsciously looked at Lin Bai.

There was a hint of confusion in its eyes. His speech seemed to have returned to normal, but the voice... it sounded a little off?

Lin Bai chuckled and continued using Ventriloquism, "Stop looking, it’s me."

The Ventriloquism the Great Language System rewarded him with was vastly different from traditional performance Ventriloquism.

In traditional Ventriloquism, the lips and tongue remain still, but the sound-producing organ is still the vocal cords. The sounds are not produced through the mouth but resonate through the abdominal cavity, creating the illusion that the voice emanates from the belly.

Upon close inspection, one would notice that most ventriloquists keep their mouths slightly open when performing.

The Ventriloquism the System rewarded him with bypassed the vocal cords; the sound was produced entirely by his abdomen. He had no idea what principle was at work, but it completely gave the impression that another person was speaking.

If he could divide his attention, he might even be able to produce two voices at once...

...

Flashy!

The Little White Fox lazily glanced at Lin Bai, then continued to nudge the bottle of Belly Filling Pills with its nose. Now that we’re in human territory, I have to keep up the pretense until Lin Bai lets down his guard.

Moreover, the Belly Filling Pills are simply the most delicious things in the world! Before I make my escape, I should eat as many as I can.

Although this man is really good to me, it’s all based on the premise that I’m just an ordinary fox. Once Lin Bai finds out I’ve gained sentience, I’ll probably be the first one he strikes with lightning...

...

"...Xiao Yun, how did you let Jiamucheng turn into such a ghostly state? Don’t you know, I was about to go crazy seeing all those damaged signboards on the way here? The most infuriating part is, you even changed the sign for the City Lord’s Manor! What on earth are you thinking? Hardly anyone in Jiamucheng has a good word to say about you. Does your father even know you’re doing this?"

"I have my reasons for doing this." Xu Longyun said, sizing up Jiang Qingqin opposite her. "But you, what happened? You should have arrived last night, according to schedule. You look a little injured. Did you encounter enemies?"

"Don’t even ask!" Jiang Qingqin waved her hand in frustration, picked up the teapot, poured herself a cup, and gulped it down. "Xiao Yun, you’re the City Lord of Jiamucheng. Do you know if there’s a Lei Fa master in Jiamucheng? The kind who can split a tree with a single Palm Thunder."

Palm Thunder that can split a tree?

The image of Lin Bai flashed through Xu Longyun’s mind, and she couldn’t help but frown. "Were you injured by him?"

"So there really is someone like that?" Jiang Qingqin paused, taken aback, then shook her head. "No, it has nothing to do with him. I was injured by a madman."

A madman? The image of Lin Bai once again flashed through Xu Longyun’s mind.

"You might not believe this," Jiang Qingqin said, leaning closer to Xu Longyun. "I’m only telling you because you’re my best friend. You absolutely cannot tell anyone else..."

"Mmhm." Xu Longyun replied, looking at Jiang Qingqin and slightly raising an eyebrow.

"Last night, a madman held a knife to my throat and forced me to listen to his sweet talk all night long!" Jiang Qingqin exclaimed, looking at Xu Longyun and speaking quickly and indistinctly.

"Huh?" Xu Longyun wore a peculiar expression. "A madman held a knife to your throat, and you listened to his sweet talk all night long?"

"Why are you shouting so loud?" Jiang Qingqin shot Xu Longyun a glare and said dejectedly, "I know it sounds incredible, but it’s the truth. That madman said nothing but sweet talk...."

"I believe you," Xu Longyun said, looking at Jiang Qingqin, her head suddenly starting to throb a little.

"I know you don’t believe me, but it’s the truth! That despicable guy, apart from saying sweet talk, didn’t do anything else. Faced with a great beauty like me, he didn’t make any further moves, didn’t even touch me once! I suspect he’s heartbroken over love..." Jiang Qingqin rambled on.

Suddenly, she paused. "You just said... you believe me? Do you know him?"

"Yes." Xu Longyun replied, looking at Jiang Qingqin with a complex expression in her eyes. "What kind of sweet talk did he tell you?"

...

「Not far outside the door.」

Lin Bai stood there holding the Little Fox, his expression shifting unpredictably. It’s like I’m seeing a ghost! Jiang Qingqin actually came to find Xu Longyun?

"Shopkeeper Lin, isn’t it a bit inappropriate for us to be eavesdropping on the City Lord’s conversation like this?" Li Jin asked cautiously, observing Lin Bai’s expression. "Perhaps we should retreat to a side hall for a bit?"

Remembering that nonsensical ’I love you, there’s no reason for it’ from this morning, how could Li Jin not realize that the main subject of the conversation inside, between those two, was none other than this Shopkeeper Lin right beside him...

He’d clearly already pledged himself to the City Lord in private, yet he still went out and forced another woman to listen to his sweet talk all night! Shopkeeper Lin was really one of a kind. And the most crucial part was, he had to pick a lover who was the City Lord’s friend!

Honestly, Li Jin felt embarrassed even for Lin Bai!

"No need for that." Lin Bai glanced at Li Jin and continued walking forward, holding the Little Fox.

Embarrassed?

Lin Bai’s reputation for being mad in Jiamucheng wasn’t new. If he genuinely felt embarrassed by everything, he wouldn’t have been able to create such a big stir...

Besides, his relationship with the City Lord was just for show; they weren’t a real couple. No matter how high-ranking the City Lord was, could she really control who he said sweet talk to?

As long as one was mentally strong enough, any socially awkward scene would be someone else’s problem...

And, he couldn’t let Jiang Qingqin keep talking. If she continued, the fact that he’d been saying sweet talk to a fox would be revealed...

"..." Li Jin’s mouth fell open. Watching Lin Bai head towards the City Lord’s Manor, he was suddenly filled with utter admiration. Now that’s a real man!

...

Lin Bai pushed open the door and entered.

"Xiao Yun, why are the people in your manor so ill-mannered? They don’t even knock..." Jiang Qingqin frowned and looked towards the door. When she looked up and saw Lin Bai, she froze completely. "It’s you?"

"I was just outside and heard voices that sounded familiar. It really is you." Lin Bai greeted her with an air of easy grace. "If I’d known you were coming to the City Lord’s Manor, we could have come together."

"You... you can speak normally?" Jiang Qingqin’s eyes widened in astonishment. She pointed at Lin Bai, stammering. Then, as if remembering something, her face instantly turned beet red.

"You must excuse my previous behavior, Miss." Lin Bai said, as calm and composed as ever, giving Jiang Qingqin a slight bow. "Most of the time, I’m normal. I just have occasional fits of madness. Regarding what happened last night, please forgive me."

"You... those words... you said yesterday..." Jiang Qingqin swallowed hard, her face flushing as she avoided Lin Bai’s gaze. She was at a complete loss, embarrassed beyond words.

"I was practicing a technique." Lin Bai looked at Jiang Qingqin and said with a perfectly straight face, "It was a critical moment in my training when you, Miss, suddenly burst in. I had no alternative but to compel you to accompany me in my practice for the night. I had no other intentions. This matter was indeed my fault. If this has caused you any distress, Miss, please do not take it to heart."

"What kind of technique involves reciting sweet talk?" Jiang Qingqin asked, abashed. Remembering the endless stream of sweet talk Lin Bai had directed at her, her face burned. How mortifying! And Xu Longyun even found out!

"The City Lord knows about it too." Lin Bai said with a smile, looking at Xu Longyun.

"You’ve said them to her too?" Jiang Qingqin’s eyes flew wide open.

[Resentment from Xu Longyun: +1+1+1]

"That’s right. He was indeed practicing a technique." Xu Longyun shot Lin Bai a fierce glare and said coldly, "Lin Bai, from now on, knock before you enter my room."

"You don’t knock when you enter my Alchemy Room either!" Lin Bai retorted nonchalantly.

"You have the nerve to mention the Alchemy Room?" Xu Longyun slammed her hand on the table, glaring at Lin Bai.

"You... you two?" Jiang Qingqin’s eyes darted between them. Then, as if a thought struck her, she exclaimed, "Xu Longyun, that line of poetry you completed... was it because of him?"

"No!" Xu Longyun denied.

"Yes." Lin Bai affirmed with a knowing smile.

[Resentment from Xu Longyun: +1+1+1]

[Resentment from Jiang Qingqin: +1+1+1]