Xie Siyu looked at Lin Ying, and inside he was seething.

Where had this coarse woman sprung from?

He had been up on the roof drinking, and this ignorant woman had appeared behind him without a sound.

One slap had sent his wine jar flying.

One kick had sent him down off the roof.

Twice he had reached for his sword, and twice it had not come out.

Xie Siyu was thoroughly fed up, and furious with it.

Ning Chen came forward to explain. "Sister-in-law, his name is Xie Siyu. He is the Eldest Brother of the Ghost-Shadow Sect, and he's staying at the residence for now to keep everyone safe."

"A man of the Ghost-Shadow Sect?" Lin Ying turned her head to look at Xie Siyu. "No wonder he was being so furtive up there on the roof. I took him for an assassin."

When was I ever being furtive?

With this martial figure of mine and this handsome face, sitting out in the open on the ridge for anyone to see — where is the furtiveness in that?

Xie Siyu raged on inside his own head.

"Eldest Brother, are you all right?"

Xie Siyu brushed the footprint and the snow off his clothes and said coolly, "It would take more than her to hurt me."

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched. Beaten into that state and still keeping up the act.

Lin Ying looked at Xie Siyu and let out a snort.

Xie Siyu glared at her furiously.

Ning Chen hurried to smooth it over. "Eldest Brother, this is Old Chen's wife, Lin Ying. We all call her sister-in-law."

"The wind is strong out here. Let's go inside and talk."

Xie Siyu lifted his chin. "You talk. I'm keeping watch."

With that he swung himself back up onto the roof.

Lin Ying's face was full of distaste. "Something wrong with his head. Third-rate skill and a first-rate pose."

Xie Siyu acted as though he had not heard, and sat on the ridge leaning on his sword... full marks for the pose.

Ning Chen was surprised into a…