Chapter 255: The Variety of Life, Taking the Initiative
A day passed quietly, and the deep darkness of night descended once more.
In a small inn a dozen miles outside the county, the dim lights flickered, and a young, inexperienced waiter with a cheerful smile wiped a table with a cloth and served warm tea and wine. “Welcome, guest! Please have a seat. We have all sorts of snacks and dishes to go with your drinks!”
“I’ll have some beef offal and rice, please.”
“Right away!”
As the waiter bowed and left, the well-dressed young man sighed, sitting down and placing his sword on the corner of the table.
He looked up at the dark night sky outside, a bored expression on his face, clicking his tongue. “What a… waste of time.”
“My friend, why the long face?”
“Huh?”
A strange voice startled the young man, and he turned to see a handsome, scholarly-looking man of similar age sitting at a nearby table.
His refined appearance surprised him.
“You are…?”
“Just a traveler,” the young scholar smiled gently, cupping his hands. “I’m passing through and stopped here to rest. I saw you looking glum and couldn’t help but ask.”
“A scholar, eh?”
The man sized him up, then returned the greeting. “My name is Li Zonghe. You can just call me Zonghe. As for why I’m sighing… it’s because this trip has been fruitless, a complete waste of half a month’s travel. And now I have to return home empty-handed. It’s quite frustrating.”
Li Zonghe sighed again, a dejected look on his face, and sat back down.
The young scholar’s gentle smile didn’t falter. He removed his outer robe and poured himself a cup of tea.
“Have you just returned from Changling County, Brother Li?”
“Yes!”
Li Zonghe took a swig of wine, his voice sullen. “I heard rumors that Prince Pei’s son was secretly visiting Changling, recruiting talented individuals. So I came here, hoping to make a name for myself and perhaps catch the prince’s attention. But to my surprise, the prince has mysteriously disappeared. I’ve been completely deceived!”
“Oh? Haven’t you heard about the recent events in Changling?”
“Well… I’ve heard some rumors, but it’s hard to tell what’s true and what’s not.” Li Zonghe frowned, his eyes flickering. “But the atmosphere in the county has been strange since yesterday. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left so quickly. I wanted to try my luck—”
Seeing his frustrated expression, the young scholar asked curiously, “You seem eager to prove yourself, Brother Li.”
“Of course! Who doesn’t want to make a name for themselves, to gain power and fame? Why else would I have dedicated myself to martial arts since childhood, training day and night? I want my skills to be of use.”
Li Zonghe touched the cold hilt of his sword and sighed. “But it seems this trip has been a waste.”
“I thought you were hoping to spar with some expert…”
“Hahaha! If I were a few years younger, perhaps that would be my goal. To exchange pointers with a Grandmaster, to find a renowned teacher, to learn legendary martial arts techniques… those are the dreams of every martial artist.”
Li Zonghe chuckled.
But his laughter was tinged with bitterness and regret.
“Unfortunately, I have ailing parents to care for. Although my younger sister helps, as the eldest son, I have responsibilities. I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood and haven’t studied literature, business, or anything else. I can’t even pass the imperial examinations. All I have are these skills.”
“Dreams of heroism, legends of the martial world, the pinnacle of martial arts… those are all just fleeting fantasies.”
He flicked a copper coin in his hand, chuckling. “This copper coin is much more real.”
The young scholar finished his wine and clicked his tongue. “Life is truly unpredictable, filled with hardships and disappointments… I can’t offer any grand words of encouragement, Brother Li, but I wish you the best in finding a good career to support your family and care for your parents.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Li Zonghe bowed with a smile. “This conversation has lifted my spirits.”
“I didn’t say anything particularly comforting.”
The young scholar raised his cup in a toast, chuckling. “But it’s fate that we met. This meal is on me.”
“Ah… T-Thank you, sir!” Li Zonghe’s expression turned serious as he stood up and returned the toast.
After drinking, a faint blush appeared on his face, and he seemed slightly intoxicated.
He sat back down, scratching his head. “After chatting for so long, I still don’t know why you’re traveling on this remote road, sir.”
Although this road wasn’t completely deserted, it wasn’t the usual time for travel or the imperial examinations. Why would a frail scholar be wandering around alone?
Although there weren’t many bandits or thieves in Changling, it was still dangerous to travel alone.
The young scholar chuckled. “I’m just here to pick up two people.”
“At this hour?” Li Zonghe glanced at the darkening sky, puzzled.
“They’ve also traveled a long way, Brother Li. There’s no telling when they’ll arrive.”
“Ah… I see.”
He slapped his forehead and chuckled awkwardly. “Be careful on your way back to the county, sir, after you’ve picked them up.”
“Naturally.”
“Food’s ready! Enjoy your meal!”
The waiter cheerfully brought over a tray of steaming hot dishes.
Li Zonghe picked up his bowl, about to start eating, then paused, his curiosity piqued. “Have you heard of ‘Master Lin’ in Changling County, sir?”
“Hmm?”
The young scholar, who had been casually picking at some peanuts, paused, a strange expression on his face. “Why do you ask, Brother Li?”
“Seeing your refined appearance and scholarly demeanor, I couldn’t help but recall the rumors I’ve heard in Changling recently.”
Li Zonghe took a mouthful of rice, his words slightly muffled. “Although I haven’t met Master Lin personally, he’s highly praised by the townspeople. He must be an extraordinary scholar. To achieve so much at such a young age… it’s quite enviable.”
“That… might just be exaggeration.”
“But I heard that Prince Pei’s son suddenly disappeared a few days ago. Apparently, Master Lin returned from his travels and rescued his fiancée, who was almost abducted. The prince’s son was so enraged that he stormed off and hasn’t been seen since.”
Li Zonghe sighed. “Although there might be some embellishment to the story, I did catch a glimpse of Miss Cheng. She’s a real person, not just a figment of someone’s imagination. To defy the royal family and rescue his fiancée, even as a mere scholar… that takes courage. It’s quite admirable!”
“And of course, Miss Cheng’s loyalty and unwavering devotion are also praiseworthy. Such a virtuous and strong woman is truly enviable.”
“You seem quite… impressed by this story, Brother Li.”
The young scholar’s eye twitched, his expression a bit strange.
Li Zonghe chuckled, not saying anything more, and quickly finished his meal.
Seeing him gobble down his food, the young scholar asked in surprise, “Why are you in such a hurry, Brother Li?”
“So I can go to bed early.”
He wiped his mouth and grinned. “I need to set off early tomorrow morning and try my luck elsewhere, see if I can find a better job.”
With that, Li Zonghe grabbed his sword, stood up, and bowed.
“Thank you for the meal, sir. If you ever need any help, I’ll be glad to assist you.”
The young scholar smiled and nodded, watching as Li Zonghe hurried upstairs.
“…”
Silence descended upon the empty inn.
The lights flickered and died, the dishes and utensils on the table vanishing, even the middle-aged innkeeper, who had been dozing at the counter, disappeared without a trace.
In an instant, the inn transformed into a desolate, eerie ruin, the walls and furniture cracked and crumbling, cobwebs everywhere, a foul odor permeating the air.
Clearly, this inn had been abandoned long ago.
Everything he had just witnessed… was just a residual image of the past.
“Ladies, wouldn’t you like something to eat?”
The young scholar smiled suddenly.
A chilling aura materialized beside him, coalescing into two graceful figures, who sat down.
They were Ren Yinshan and An Ke Lin, their figures alluring and captivating.
Their expressions were a mixture of concern and anxiety. Ren Yinshan frowned. “Mr. Lin, although I know you’re powerful, isn’t it too dangerous to be sitting here, in such a vulnerable location?”
They had met Lin Tianlu by chance in the mountains tonight and were quite surprised.
After all, searching for the enemy in the open, while they lurked in the shadows, wasn’t wise. A slight oversight could allow them to slip into the county and cause havoc.
Moreover, their enemies weren’t ordinary demons and ghosts, but Savage Realm beings, comparable to the Luo Xing Soultakers, renowned figures in the demon and ghost world, truly formidable foes!
Even the slightest mistake…
“If I don’t take the initiative, there might be more meaningless casualties.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “The young lady in my household is working tirelessly to help these people. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
“But we don’t know where those enemies will come from—”
“Don’t worry. We have someone helping us.”
Lin Tianlu shrugged. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so relaxed, enjoying a drink here.”
He put down his chopsticks and finished his wine.
“They’re here.”
“!”
Both Ren Yinshan and An Ke Lin’s expressions turned serious as they looked towards the road.
A strange aura emerged from the darkness, as if a powerful being was approaching. Each step sent tremors through the ground, like the beating of a war drum, a heavy pressure descending upon them.
“This aura—”
An Ke Lin was the first to succumb. Her rosy complexion paled, and she groaned, stumbling back, her body stiffening.
Although she had reached the Crimson Demon Realm, she couldn’t suppress her instinctive fear of a Savage Realm being, like facing a terrifying natural disaster!
Ren Yinshan summoned her zither, her fingers poised over the strings, her expression wary, ready for battle.
Suddenly, an oppressive pressure, strong enough to suffocate ordinary mortals, descended upon them, as if freezing everything around them.
Only their faint, ragged breaths and the subtle tremors of fear remained.
“Is that… Wei Yanshan?”
Ren Yinshan’s eyes flickered, and she shouted, “An Ke Lin, retreat! Take that mortal with you and get away from here!”
“Sister Ren, but—”
“Your life is at stake!”
An Ke Lin bit her lip, about to flee.
But just then, a wave of chilling Yin energy, like a powerful storm, slammed into them, freezing them in place.
“Interesting. Our movements have been anticipated. And you’re even waiting here to ambush us. It seems Pei Yan and the others were truly incompetent, unable to handle even such a simple task.”
Wei Yanshan’s hunched figure emerged from the shadows, his skeletal face radiating a terrifying aura.
His hands were wrapped in chains, and he seemed to be dragging something heavy behind him, still hidden in the trees.
Ren Yinshan bit her lip, her fingers tightening on the zither strings.
“—What an interesting woman~”
A seductive chuckle echoed from behind her, and Ren Yinshan’s eyes widened in alarm.
As she turned, a pair of cold hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, a warm breath against her ear. “Your soul is so unstable… I could easily crush you right now, make you beg for mercy, or perhaps… drive you mad with pleasure?”
The soft, seductive whisper was laced with chilling malice.
A voluptuous figure, clad in black gauze, pressed against her, their bodies intertwined, legs entwined, their ample bosoms pressed together.
But Ren Yinshan couldn’t move, feeling like a prey caught in a predator’s grasp.
Until…
Slap!
A slender hand grabbed the wrist that was reaching for her chest, twisting it back.
The woman in black gasped, looking to the side.
Lin Tianlu held her arm, his expression calm. “Such indecent behavior in public… it’s unbecoming of a lady.”
