Chapter 397: Strange Elder, Past Promises p1
Stepping into the gloomy and eerie hall, Lin Tianlu looked around and noticed that the calligraphy scrolls and paintings that had been hanging on the walls were gone.
Instead, numerous bright red flowers bloomed and climbed the walls, like otherworldly flowers of the underworld, and even the originally simple and elegant tables and chairs had turned pale and bone-like, as if he had entered a cave of bones, a pungent smell filling the air.
No—
Lin Tianlu pondered briefly and quickly realized.
This was no longer Fifth Elder’s Jade Luo Courtyard.
But the result of some Yin technique.
This technique seemed quite profound and mysterious, similar to a spatial displacement method, combined with the previous illusion, silently transferring him to another location.
However, he didn’t sense any hostility or killing intent, so it wasn’t a targeted attack?
Clatter, clatter—
A strange sound came from behind him, and Lin Tianlu instinctively glanced back, his eyes widening slightly.
A skeleton, draped in light gauze, emerged from the corridor, its neck twisting as it looked at him with empty sockets.
“Uh…”
After a moment of silence, Lin Tianlu forced a smile and cupped his hands: “Greetings, Senior.”
“…”
The skeleton nodded slightly as if understanding his greeting, then quietly left with stiff steps.
Watching this “elderly” senior disappear down the corridor, Lin Tianlu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and chuckled inwardly.
This elder’s courtyard was truly…
…full of “surprises.”
A wisp of a soul clung to the skeleton, clearly not a puppet controlled by some external force, but a true “bone spirit.”
And just then, he happened to see a river of blood flowing outside the courtyard, countless pale and withered flowers swaying gently in the wind, as if their life force had been drained by the river of blood, a faint mist lingering, not of spiritual energy, but pure and transparent soul power, flowing along with the blood.
“—You’re quite calm.”
A graceful and soft voice suddenly echoed.
Lin Tianlu looked back at the gloomy and eerie hall and saw a figure sitting on the main seat, shrouded in white gauze.
Hidden behind layers of gauze curtains, he couldn’t see her face clearly, only a faint outline of a slender figure.
“May I ask which elder you are? I—”
“Just call me Seventh Elder.”
A soft and gentle voice, like an ethereal whisper in a dream, came from behind the curtains.
“I just transferred you here from Fifth Elder’s courtyard, it was a bit sudden, please forgive me.”
“Uh?”
Lin Tianlu exclaimed softly, a surprised look on his face.
He hadn’t expected this unfamiliar elder to be so polite. And judging by her voice, although he couldn’t see her face, she seemed like a refined lady from a good family.
“My residence is protected by many formations, it’s difficult for ordinary people to enter. This method is much more convenient for visitors.”
Lin Tianlu quickly came back to his senses, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he cupped his hands and bowed: “Thank you for the invitation, Seventh Elder, I’m honored.”
“Since you’re our Lunar Valley’s benefactor, I have no intention of putting on airs, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Seventh Elder murmured: “What do you think of the scenery here?”
Scenery?
Lin Tianlu looked around, a strange feeling in his heart, but after a moment of thought, he quickly cupped his hands: “Although it’s a bit… eerie, it has a unique charm. And this scenery… is it related to your cultivation technique, Seventh Elder?”
“I am the physician of Lunar Valley, so you’re not wrong.”
Seventh Elder gently stroked her sleeve and said softly: “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you, Elder.” Lin Tianlu smiled and then lifted the gift box in his hand: “This is a small gift for my visit, please accept it, Seventh Elder.”
“Mm.” Seventh Elder responded softly, her hand moving slightly as a faint shadow appeared beside her, taking the gift box and then disappearing into the mist.
“Although I appreciate the gift, I’m more interested in… you.”
“Me?”
Lin Tianlu had just sat down when he asked curiously: “Do you have any questions for me, Seventh Elder?”
“Not exactly a question, just curiosity. What kind of man could capture Jingyun’s attention so completely?” Seventh Elder’s gaze seemed to penetrate the gauze curtains, and she said calmly: “Even before you helped our Lunar Valley, Jingyun seemed to be quite fond of you, even arguing with us elders.
And now, looking at you, handsome, with an extraordinary aura and profound cultivation… but besides that, there’s nothing particularly special.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and cupped his hands: “It’s a blessing from my past lives to be favored by Martial Aunt. As for being special, I’m just an ordinary person.”
“Mm.”
Seventh Elder nodded without any hesitation.
“Perhaps, it’s precisely your calm and unassuming demeanor that attracted Jingyun… I hope you can remain unchanged and continue to care for your family.
As our Lunar Valley’s son-in-law, we don’t expect you to achieve great fame or fortune, only to love and cherish your wives.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice: “I will.”
“That’s good.” Seventh Elder paused slightly, then continued: “Since you’re going to visit the other elders, I won’t keep you any longer. Just stand in the courtyard later, and I’ll send you back to Fifth Elder’s Jade Luo Courtyard.”
Lin Tianlu was speechless.
Although this Seventh Elder was polite, her personality was even colder than he had imagined, keeping him at arm’s length.
But since they had just met, it wasn’t appropriate for him to overstay his welcome. Since she had practically given him an order to leave, he wouldn’t intentionally linger.
However, to go through so much trouble to bring him here, only to exchange a few words and then send him away…
…was quite strange.
Just as he was about to stand up and excuse himself, Seventh Elder’s voice echoed again: “Before you leave, drink this bowl of ‘Soul-Lost Spring’.”
“Soul-Lost Spring?”
Lin Tianlu was slightly stunned, looking at the “mysterious substance” in a bowl on the weathered wooden table beside him.
He couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
He had thought it was just a strange decoration, but this thick, black substance in the bowl… was meant to be drunk?
“Seventh Elder, what exactly is this…”
“It’s not meant to be a test, it’s proof of my ‘Sunset Soul Courtyard’.” Seventh Elder said casually: “Drink this, and you can leave.”
Seeing his hesitant expression, Seventh Elder added softly: “It won’t harm you, I drink it regularly.”
“…”
Lin Tianlu picked up the bowl with a strange expression.
Looking closely, he saw that the thick, black substance was still bubbling slightly, and he could vaguely see some… unknown “ingredients” within.
Compared to this, the medicinal porridge that Martial Aunt had made earlier was truly a delicacy, at least it looked like rice porridge.
And this…
It looked like… something concocted from the corpses of hell.
Seventh Elder said indifferently: “It’s fine if you don’t want to drink it, I won’t force you.”
“Hu—”
Lin Tianlu took a deep breath, frowned, and then quickly downed the “black porridge” in one gulp.
After finishing it, he put down the bowl with a subtle expression and swallowed hard.
The taste… was actually better than he had expected, not as bad as it looked.
After savoring the aftertaste for a moment, he cleared his throat and cupped his hands: “Thank you for the hospitality, Seventh Elder.”
“…”
Only then did a faint smile appear in Seventh Elder’s voice.
“How did you manage to drink that?”
“You didn’t seem hostile, Elder, so I didn’t think you were trying to harm me. And although this… porridge looks terrifying, it has a clean and refreshing taste, quite different from its appearance.”
Lin Tianlu grinned: “And it’s your kindness, Elder, I naturally have to accept it.”
“Not bad.”
Seventh Elder waved her sleeve: “You can go back now.”
“I won’t overstay my welcome, farewell for now.” Lin Tianlu stopped smiling and bowed seriously: “Although it’s a bit early, I wish you a peaceful and happy New Year, Seventh Elder.”
“Thank you.”
Seventh Elder, seemingly resting her chin on her hand, tilted her head slightly, but didn’t say anything more.
She watched as Lin Tianlu turned and walked towards the courtyard, then she discreetly formed a hand seal, instantly transferring him back to Fifth Elder’s Jade Luo Courtyard.
Only then did a soft chuckle echo from behind the gauze curtains: “Interesting boy.”
…
“Hu—”
As his vision cleared, Lin Tianlu quickly realized that he had returned to his destination.
The surrounding scenery was once again warm and pleasant, the flowers blooming, the grass green, the trees on both sides lush and vibrant, as if spring had already arrived.
“This… should be the real Jade Luo Courtyard.”
Lin Tianlu touched his stomach and chuckled wryly: “I’m truly… full.”
“Tianlu?”
A slightly surprised voice suddenly echoed.
Looking towards the sound, he saw a graceful figure emerging from the corridor, dressed in an elegant and luxurious silk robe that fluttered gently in the breeze, a beautiful and captivating sight, like a fairy dancing amidst the flowers and bamboo.
Compared to the seductive Martial Aunt and the others, this Fifth Elder had a more dignified and noble aura. But beneath her elegant robe, her ample bosom was still quite prominent, its fair and delicate curves peeking out, her slender waist and full hips incredibly alluring.
Her eyes were wide with surprise.
“Why are you suddenly… Wait, were you just at Seventh Sister’s Sunset Soul Courtyard?”
“Just as you said, Fifth Elder.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and bowed: “I just paid Seventh Elder a visit and returned to Jade Luo Courtyard, hoping to greet you, Fifth Elder.”
“You can still smile after that?”
Ye Yujun walked towards him quickly and gracefully, her skirt swaying, revealing glimpses of her fair and delicate legs.
