Chapter 263: A Visitor From Afar
“…”
Ren Yinshan’s eyes flickered, her heart filled with surprise.
Just now, she had clearly sensed a strange Yin energy flash by outside the street, but when she carefully tried to sense it again, she couldn’t detect any abnormality, as if the previous warning had been just an illusion.
“What happened?”
Cheng Yishi put down the jewelry in her hand and approached with a puzzled look: “Why are you suddenly staring outside the store? Did you see someone you know?”
“It’s nothing, maybe it was just my imagination.” Ren Yinshan shook her head.
“I don’t think a demon or ghost would experience so-called illusions.”
Cheng Yishi’s brows furrowed slightly, and she asked seriously: “Did you sense a fluctuation of Yin energy outside?”
“…Indeed. But it was very weak, and it quickly disappeared without a trace.”
“Even you couldn’t sense it clearly?”
Cheng Yishi’s expression darkened slightly, a trace of unease rising in her heart.
In recent days, the martial artists, officials, and merchants who had come to Changling because of Prince Pei’s son had gradually left. Even the ill-intentioned demons and ghosts had mostly been scared away by the earth-shattering event that night, and the environment in the county had become much more stable.
Moreover, with Hua Shuya, a swordsmanship expert, patrolling and diligently capturing bandits, logically speaking, no demon or ghost would come to Changling to court trouble.
Or could it be…
That even knowing about the upheaval and the presence of powerful individuals in the area, this demon or ghost was still confident in causing trouble here?
Thinking of this, the young woman pondered: “Let’s go back to the Lin Mansion first. If there really is an unidentified demon or ghost lurking in Changling, we must be careful—”
Before she could finish her words, her heart suddenly trembled, a chilling sensation washing over her.
This feeling was extremely strange and inexplicable, causing Cheng Yishi to immediately look around, her expression turning to shock.
The surrounding environment had suddenly changed dramatically. It was no longer the jewelry store, but a hellish landscape resembling a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Although the scenery was still blurry, the terrifying aura that washed over her was undeniable!
“Ugh!”
Cheng Yishi pressed her lips together, seeing that Ren Yinshan and Mao Ruoyu had disappeared. She took two steps back cautiously.
To actually attack in broad daylight, what kind of demon or ghost was this?!
Tap
A crisp footstep suddenly came from afar, causing Cheng Yishi to tremble. She quickly looked forward.
But only then did she realize with great surprise… that the hellish scene she had just seen was gradually dissipating like a mirage, until it completely faded away.
A mysterious person dressed in black robes and wearing a black veiled hat slowly walked from the street and gracefully entered the store.
It wasn’t the so-called Soul Origin Heart Realm that those Savage Realm demons and ghosts possessed, but simply… baleful energy? Pressure?
Cheng Yishi’s mind raced. She was about to speak a warning, but she was surprised to find that she couldn’t open her mouth, as if it had been completely sealed by some mysterious force. Looking to her side, she saw that Ren Yinshan and Mao Ruoyu’s expressions hadn’t changed, as if they hadn’t noticed the strange situation at all.
What was going on?!
…
“—Miss Cheng?”
In reality, Ren Yinshan had indeed noticed something was wrong.
Cheng Yishi, who had just been reminding them to be cautious, suddenly became dazed and unresponsive right in front of her, her words stopping mid-sentence.
“Miss Cheng, are you feeling unwell…”
“Miss Ren, how about accompanying me to the second floor to look at other jewelry?”
A gentle and elegant chuckle suddenly sounded beside her.
Before Ren Yinshan could react, Mao Ruoyu took her arm, intending to leave.
“Wait, Madam Mao! Miss Cheng’s current state is a bit unusual. There might really be another demon or ghost lurking in the shadows, but we haven’t found any clues yet!”
“I know.”
Mao Ruoyu brushed her hair lightly, a playful smile appearing in her eyes: “An ‘old friend’ of mine is visiting and wants to see Miss Cheng. It’s better to give them some space.”
“Old friend?” Ren Yinshan blinked repeatedly, slightly bewildered.
Before she could ask any further, she was half-pulled, half-pushed up the stairs to the second floor.
…
Tap!
The footsteps stopped completely.
Cheng Yishi’s expression was filled with wariness and unease as she silently took two steps back.
The strange person in black robes had arrived in front of her, silent, exuding a chilling aura that made her heart uneasy.
“Who are you?”
Not to mention the other customers and the shopkeeper in the jewelry store, even Ren Yinshan hadn’t noticed this person’s presence just now, and Mao Ruoyu had acted incredibly strangely, taking Ren Yinshan to the second floor as if she hadn’t seen anything.
Could it be that some kind of Yin technique or formation had been set up in the jewelry store?
“—Not bad.”
A slightly hoarse, mature voice came from beneath the black veiled hat, calm and steady.
Cheng Yishi was slightly taken aback.
What did that mean?
“To withstand 30% of my pressure and still remain composed, although you are young, you are truly exceptionally talented. You can be considered among the top even in the entire demon and ghost world.”
The black-robed figure waved a sleeve slightly, and Cheng Yishi’s vision blurred and distorted. Before she could raise her hand to shield herself, her body felt like it was floating in the clouds, her steps unsteady.
“What’s going on…”
“But although you have extraordinary talent, your knowledge is too shallow, you don’t even understand simple Yin techniques. A few moves are enough to make you completely panic, without any countermeasures.”
A calm and indifferent voice slowly entered her ears, allowing Cheng Yishi to gradually recover from her lightheadedness. She quickly shook her head to clear her mind and only then realized that she was now in a bamboo pavilion. Glancing sideways, she saw a serene lake pavilion surrounded by mist outside the pavilion, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
“Next time you encounter this kind of illusion technique, you must be more vigilant.”
The black-robed figure waved a sleeve, and various wines and pastries appeared on the stone table in the pavilion, looking quite abundant: “If you have no means of countering this kind of illusion technique, you will only fall into it and be manipulated at will. Even if you possess powerful martial arts or abundant Yin energy, you won’t be able to use them. In the end, you’ll be killed before you even know what happened.”
Cheng Yishi frowned, her mind racing.
Although she didn’t know the identity of this black-robed woman, and she had displayed a terrifying aura from the start, judging by her tone of voice… she didn’t seem hostile.
After a moment of thought, she didn’t resist but instead spoke proactively: “May I ask why Senior suddenly pulled me into this illusion?”
“Just so I could have a chat with you here.”
The black-robed figure waved a hand casually: “Would you like to sit down and rest for a while?”
“No need.”
Cheng Yishi didn’t dare to relax her vigilance, saying in a deep voice: “I’m not acquainted with Senior, I wonder what Senior would like to discuss with this junior.”
“I heard of your name before coming to Changling, and I do have a few things I’d like to say to you. But now that I’ve seen you in person, many of my doubts have been dispelled.”
These words confused the young woman.
How did her name reach the ears of this mysterious black-robed woman?
Although she often went to other counties to do business, it was always legitimate. She hadn’t harmed anyone, cheated anyone out of their money, nor had she done anything to show off. Why would she suddenly be— Cheng Yishi’s eyes widened abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing through her heart.
Immediately, she put on a gentle and dignified smile, curtseying gracefully: “I was too foolish and slow-witted to realize that it was Martial Aunt who had come to Changling. My previous nervousness must have made you laugh, Martial Aunt. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Oh?”
The black-robed figure said with interest: “Why do you call me ‘Martial Aunt’?”
“The only experts who would come to Changling specifically are probably the elders of the Lunar Valley.”
Cheng Yishi spoke eloquently with an elegant and humble smile: “Moreover, although Martial Aunt displayed a compelling aura just now, there wasn’t a trace of killing intent. You even offered some guidance. Ordinary demons and ghosts wouldn’t act so kindly and considerately.
And thinking about it carefully, Madam Mao’s expression and behavior just now were also quite intriguing. She wasn’t surprised or panicked, but rather calm and collected, as if she had expected it, deliberately taking Miss Ren away… The only person she would trust so completely and without worry, besides Tianlu, is the ‘Martial Aunt’ that Madam Mao often mentions.”
“You girl, do you call my test just now ‘kind and considerate’?”
The black-robed figure couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Naturally.” Cheng Yishi smiled faintly: “To only give such a small warning upon meeting your ‘daughter’s’ rival in love, Martial Aunt’s kindness has already made this junior very grateful.”
Saying this, she curtsied again sincerely, lowering her eyes and saying softly: “If Martial Aunt had intended to force me, I would probably be struggling in the lake right now.”
“…”
The black-robed figure was silent for a moment.
After a while, she casually took off her black veiled hat, revealing a beautiful and mature face. Her hair was styled in an updo with a high hairpin, and her narrow phoenix eyes seemed to hold a cold pressure.
“Your deduction is correct.”
But this dignified expression quickly softened. The Ninth Elder reached out and gently held the young woman’s shoulders: “Just like Ruoyu said, you are indeed a quick-witted and dignified talented woman. I didn’t quite believe it before, but now hearing your words, I realize that Ruoyu’s evaluation might have been too conservative. This cleverness isn’t something ordinary girls possess.”
Cheng Yishi’s eyes flickered, about to say something.
The Ninth Elder smiled slightly: “No need to be so formal. Since you call me Martial Aunt, I will acknowledge you as my junior.”
“Thank you, Martial Aunt!”
Cheng Yishi’s heart filled with joy, her smile even brighter.
But she seemed to have thought of something and quickly said: “Since Martial Aunt has arrived in Changling, why not come back to the Lin Mansion with me? As juniors, we should naturally entertain you properly—”
“There’s no rush. I specifically brought you to this illusion because I have something to discuss with you privately.”
The Ninth Elder led her to the stone table and sat down, chuckling: “Besides, Tianlu has another ‘guest’ visiting him, so we don’t need to join in the fun for now.”
“Another… guest?”
