Chapter 277: Fox’s Affection Under the Moon
“…”
The two embraced and kissed, seemingly lost in the moment, until Hua Shuya, breathless, became hazy and disoriented. Only then did Lin Tianlu reluctantly release her.
“Cough, ha…ha…”
The young woman coughed lightly, her face flushed, clutching her chest as she gasped for breath.
Brushing back her disheveled hair, she looked at Lin Tianlu with eyes full of tenderness and affection, a sweet smile of both shyness and joy on her face.
The affection hidden in her heart, the emotions she had struggled with for so long, were all released at this moment, no longer needing any restraint or reservation. At this moment, there was only pure attachment and tenderness, her heart filled with boundless warmth.
Her mind was hazy as if she were drunk, her body weak. In an unprecedentedly soft voice, she murmured: “Master… doesn’t this mean… I’ll be thinking of you constantly now?”
“If you’re reluctant to part, should I kiss you a few more times?”
Lin Tianlu smiled openly: “I won’t let you forget me even for a moment, Shuya.”
“Mm—”
Hua Shuya’s heart trembled.
As her breathing gradually returned to normal, her reason returned. Recalling the hazy and passionate kiss from just now, an indescribable sense of shame washed over her, making her tremble and blush furiously. Waving her hands repeatedly, she stammered: “Master, let’s part ways here… I-If we linger any longer, I won’t make it in time for today’s journey!
So I’ll be going now… Master, please go back to the mansion!”
Saying this, as if worried that Lin Tianlu might make another “sudden attack,” the young woman, filled with shyness, hurriedly pulled the reins and turned Meixia around, quickly riding away.
Seeing her fleeing figure, Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle, waving goodbye: “Have a safe journey, don’t rush too much, remember to stop and rest along the way!”
“I-I will remember!”
As the horse galloped away, the young woman couldn’t help but look back, a sweet and slightly shy smile on her face.
“…”
After her figure disappeared from sight, Lin Tianlu lowered his hand and sighed.
The girl’s smile was still as pure and clear as when they first met.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you so flustered, Tianlu.”
A gentle and calm voice sounded beside him.
A moon-patterned gauze skirt fluttered slightly, her bare shoulders and full bosom alluring and seductive. Yun Yue had appeared beside him at some point, her hands clasped in front of her, her voice cold: “You even took the initiative to kiss her, twice.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly: “My actions weren’t flustered, but rather inappropriate and out of line.”
Kissing a woman who wasn’t his wife on the street the day after his wedding, if others saw it, they would surely criticize and scold him.
Yun Yue blinked her beautiful eyes and said indifferently: “If two people have mutual affection, there’s nothing inappropriate. But with that kiss, Shuya will probably have a hard time forgetting you along the way.”
“Shuya, she… although she has learned extraordinary martial arts and has remarkable swordsmanship, she’s actually quite sensitive and always keeps her thoughts to herself, not letting anyone know.”
Lin Tianlu gazed into the distance, sighing with emotion: “I think, to make her feel completely at ease, my actions were…”
“Well done.”
Yun Yue nodded slightly.
Hearing this decisive response, Lin Tianlu was slightly stunned.
“That kiss was good, Tianlu.”
“Cough… I can’t be proud of being praised like this.”
Lin Tianlu quickly smiled frankly, no longer dwelling on his farewell with Hua Shuya, and asked curiously: “But why did you suddenly come outside the county, Miss Yun? I saw you basking in the sun in the courtyard before I left.”
“Shuya is leaving, so naturally, I wanted to see her off.”
Yun Yue pursed her lips: “But seeing the atmosphere between you two, it wasn’t convenient for me to appear and disturb you.”
“That’s a bit of a pity. But you had already said your goodbyes before leaving, so there’s no regret. And you’ll see each other again in a while, there’s no need to be too sad.”
Lin Tianlu stretched: “Let’s go home. It’s still early, I can go back and help Martial Aunt prepare dinner.”
Yun Yue’s eyes flickered, and she looked sideways at the passing crowd.
As she remained silent, seeing Lin Tianlu start to walk away, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
“Hmm?”
Lin Tianlu stopped and turned around, puzzled: “What’s wrong?”
“I… have something to tell you.”
“We can talk along the way.” Lin Tianlu chuckled: “Is it something urgent?”
But his thoughts stirred, and a subtle expression appeared on his face: “Could it be that you’re also going somewhere else, like Shuya, Miss Yun?”
Yun Yue’s eyes widened slightly, she was stunned for a moment, and then quickly shook her head: “I will never leave your side, Tianlu, and there’s nowhere else I want to go.”
“Uh—”
Hearing these words, which were practically a confession, Lin Tianlu’s smile froze, and his voice softened: “Just say what you want to say, Miss Yun. If you have any wishes, I will do my best to help.”
Yun Yue raised her head, and for the first time since their meeting, a flicker of emotion appeared in her usually calm eyes.
After a moment of silence, she quietly said:
“Tianlu, spend some time with me.”
“…Huh?”
…
As the sun began to set, the usually bustling banks of the Ningguan River became sparsely populated, almost no figures in sight. Even the academy in the distance was now quiet, the teachers and students having clearly finished their classes and gone home.
Walking along the river, feeling the slightly cool breeze against his face, Lin Tianlu sighed comfortably.
Having lived in Changling County for about half a year, he rarely had the opportunity to stroll leisurely along the river like this.
Most importantly—
A beautiful fox woman was closely accompanying him.
Thinking of this, he looked at the silver-haired beauty walking beside him.
Although she was petite, her alluring and graceful figure seemed to shimmer under the setting sun, her silver hair swaying gently. Her delicate and flawless skin looked even more tender, her face incredibly lovely, making one want to hold her gently in their arms and protect her.
Especially… after hearing what Yun Yue had said earlier.
“Why do you keep staring at my face?”
Yun Yue spoke softly, her voice still ethereal and elegant.
“This is the first time I’ve heard you say such a thing, Miss Yun.” Lin Tianlu said softly: “After all, you’ve always been quietly staying at home.”
“I…”
Yun Yue opened her mouth slightly, her eyes flickering.
Pursing her lips, she raised her hand and placed it on her chest, murmuring: “I’m not quite sure. It’s just… last night, I felt a sense of unease in my heart, I couldn’t calm down.”
“Why?”
“At the wedding banquet, I wanted to wish you and Ruoyu happiness, but when the words came to my mouth, I couldn’t say them.”
Yun Yue hesitated for a long time, then looked at Lin Tianlu intently: “Perhaps, like Shuya, I also felt envious.”
Lin Tianlu was speechless.
But soon, he smiled and rubbed the young woman’s head: “Miss Yun, I understand your feelings.
But there’s no need to be uneasy, our family won’t be separated in the future. After all, you said you wouldn’t leave my side, how could I let such a beauty be sad and cry?”
“…”
Yun Yue felt the warmth of his hand on her head, she was stunned for a moment, and a comforting smile gradually appeared on her lips.
Lin Tianlu smiled and pointed to the river: “Miss Yun, do you want to take a boat ride on the river? The moonlight here is beautiful.”
“No need.”
She took his hand proactively. Although her expression was calm, her eyes seemed to be filled with tenderness and joy: “Let’s go home. If we return late, Ruoyu might worry.”
“Uh… Don’t you want to relax a bit more, Miss Yun?”
“My heart is already calm, there’s no need to trouble you anymore.”
“Your mood changes really quickly.”
Lin Tianlu rubbed Yun Yue’s soft and lovely face, teasing: “But being so obedient is truly endearing.”
Yun Yue didn’t resist being rubbed on the face, instead enjoying his affectionate gesture.
Blinking her beautiful eyes, she whispered: “But, Tianlu, if you like, it’s fine to stay on the boat for a while.”
“Alright.”
Lin Tianlu looked around the riverbank and quickly led her towards the nearest boatman.
But after taking a closer look, a strange expression appeared on his face.
Because the figure sitting on the deck wasn’t the boatman he had expected, but a pretty and familiar woman.
“Are you… the owner of the Golden Phoenix Tower, Miss Ji?”
“Long time no see, Master Lin, how have you been?”
The young woman sitting on the cushion smiled gently, gathering her long hair that was swaying in the river breeze: “I apologize for not attending your wedding last night, Master Lin. After all, I’m just a woman of the pleasure district, it would have been a bit taboo for me to attend such a joyous occasion.”
“It’s fine. I understand your concerns, Miss Ji.”
Lin Tianlu smiled again and bowed: “But I still have to thank you in person. When my wife was in trouble before, you helped her secretly, I’m truly grateful.”
“There’s no need to thank me for that. After all, that Prince Pei’s son wasn’t a match for you, Master Lin. You dealt with him easily, my actions were unnecessary.”
The long-haired young woman shook her head and chuckled.
Soon, she looked curiously at Yun Yue, who was standing beside him: “But I wonder who this young lady is? I don’t seem to have seen her in Changling County before.”
Such a beautiful and refined appearance, even a glance was impossible to forget, but she had no impression of her, naturally making her quite surprised.
When did such an extraordinary silver-haired young lady arrive in Changling County?
“Miss Yun has been living in my house for a while, but she’s not good at socializing and rarely goes out. Naturally, few people in the county know of her existence.” Lin Tianlu introduced her calmly.
At the same time, he asked, puzzled: “Why are you sitting alone on this boat, Miss Ji?”
The young woman smiled and pointed: “Master Lin, please look back.”
Lin Tianlu followed her finger and quickly saw the gradually lit Golden Phoenix Tower.
“This is the lower reaches of the Ningguan River, right in front of my Golden Phoenix Tower. I recently took over the boat business here. Although there aren’t many tourists who take boat rides, I like to sit on the boat alone, enjoying the moon and wine in my free time. It has a unique charm.”
The long-haired young woman’s eyes flickered, and she smiled elegantly: “I suppose Master Lin is here to enjoy the scenery with this young lady?”
“Indeed, perhaps you could recommend—”
“That boat.”
She quickly pointed to a larger boat not far away, its body spacious, with fluttering gauze curtains, looking quite grand and luxurious.
Lin Tianlu was about to reach for his money pouch, but the long-haired young woman suddenly smiled: “There’s no need to worry about the rental price, Master Lin. I didn’t take over these boats to make money, but to have a beautiful place to chat with friends.
And I’m willing to be friends with Master Lin. Just go on board and enjoy yourselves. The boat is fully equipped with food and entertainment, just relax and have fun.”
“But what about you, Miss Ji—”
“If I shamelessly tagged along, wouldn’t I be disturbing your romantic time?”
The long-haired young woman narrowed her eyes slightly and said mischievously: “There’s no one else around for miles, except for the academy. Don’t worry, Master Lin, I won’t tell anyone and make your wives worry.”
Lin Tianlu smiled helplessly and still took out some silver and placed it on the young woman’s table: “It’s not right to accept your kindness for free, please don’t refuse, Miss Ji.”
“Since you insist, Master Lin, I won’t refuse.”
She raised an eyebrow and said with interest: “But I’m quite curious about one thing, how have your interactions with Sister Ren been since she arrived in Changling, Master Lin?”
“We get along exceptionally well. Miss Ren helped a lot with the wedding, and I’m very grateful.”
“I see… That’s good.”
The long-haired young woman smiled and nodded: “I’m very happy that Sister Ren has found a close friend. If there’s a chance, I hope Master Lin can interact with Sister Ren more, her gentle nature will surely bring you peace of mind.”
Lin Tianlu bowed seriously: “I’ll keep that in mind.”
…
The two of them stepped onto the boat, gently pushing the oars, and steered the boat towards the middle of the river.
Having rowed a boat once before, Lin Tianlu was now quite skilled, quickly making the boat move steadily.
After the boat’s speed stabilized, he put down the oars, turned around, lifted the gauze curtains, and entered the cabin.
Now that the sun had completely set and the moon had risen, the candlelight within the cabin added a unique and serene atmosphere.
Lin Tianlu glanced around and saw various pastries and fruits neatly arranged on the wooden table, all fresh and moist, clearly having been carefully prepared.
Even the cushions, floorboards, and everything else were spotlessly clean, without a trace of dust. The cabin’s furnishings and scenery were probably no different from an ordinary bedroom.
“This Miss Ji… is quite thoughtful and prepared.”
“Tianlu, what’s this?”
“Hmm?”
Lin Tianlu looked towards the voice and saw Yun Yue with an “innocent” expression, taking a horn-shaped jade object from a hidden compartment in the corner.
“Cough! This… isn’t suitable for children.”
He coughed loudly, quickly taking it from her, stuffing it back into the compartment, and closing it.
He had almost forgotten that these pleasure boats usually had such toys. Moreover, this boat had been prepared by Miss Ji.
Yun Yue let out a soft exclamation, seemingly not quite understanding.
But she didn’t dwell on the matter, lowering her eyes to look at the exquisite guzheng placed on the table. She couldn’t help but gently touch the strings, murmuring: “Did you compose poems and match couplets on the boat with Ruoyu and the others, Tianlu?”
“Indeed, but there were some minor accidents along the way. We had a conflict with a Luo Xing Soultaker.”
Lin Tianlu sat cross-legged and said cheerfully: “But looking back, that night was truly memorable.”
“…”
As silence fell, Yun Yue walked towards the gauze curtain of the cabin.
Through the gaps fluttering in the wind, the soft moonlight shone down on her like a celestial robe.
She gazed at the bright moon in the sky, her eyes distant and hazy, and murmured: “Tianlu, will you always be with me?”
“Naturally.”
Lin Tianlu turned and sat sideways, chuckling helplessly: “I just answered this not long ago, why are you asking again, Miss Yun?”
“Because… I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
She spoke calmly.
But the slight tremor in her voice made the smile on Lin Tianlu’s face gradually fade, his expression turning serious.
The Yun Yue before him wasn’t truly whole.
She had inherited and obtained almost all of the Yin energy, acting as a demon and ghost once again.
But her true essence was—
Loneliness.
The hardships she had endured for thousands of years had already eroded and twisted her mind and will.
Even after escaping the Netherworld, she could always show a gentle and tolerant demeanor like a kind older sister, but her heart was filled with…
Unease.
She was afraid of losing everything she had now, worried that her hard-won new life would be shattered. She was even terrified of being abandoned, becoming alone again like in the past.
The fox woman named Yun Yue, despite her extraordinary cultivation, her heart was still trapped in the Netherworld of a thousand years ago, the scars still lingering.
“Tianlu, will… you truly always be with me?”
Yun Yue looked at him, her usually calm face now filled with timidity.
She asked again and again, seeking reassurance.
Just wanting to find a sense of belonging in her heart.
Lin Tianlu took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “Since I saved you from the Netherworld, I naturally have to take responsibility and always be by your side. Even if you ask a thousand times, my answer won’t change.”
“…”
Yun Yue pressed her lips together tightly, closing her turbulent eyes.
Gradually, fox ears appeared on her head, and several fluffy fox tails faintly materialized behind her, looking incredibly beautiful and alluring under the moonlight, captivating and mesmerizing.
She opened her eyes again, but they had narrowed and widened like a beast’s, her loose robe disintegrating under the intertwining Yin energy, transforming into the seductive and revealing gauze robe from before, her fair and delicate skin exposed.
Her full legs, tightly wrapped in white silk beneath her skirt, moved slightly, her heels clicking softly. The light gauze fluttered and danced, the delicate flesh between her hips faintly visible.
Her graceful figure swayed, her demeanor charming and seductive. Her ample bosom, barely concealed by the gauze, created enticing ripples. As she leaned closer slightly, a faint milky fragrance lingered in the air, incredibly alluring and captivating.
Lin Tianlu was slightly stunned as Yun Yue lowered her head and gathered her long, moonlit hair, a playful and seductive look in her fox-like eyes. She whispered with a smile: “Since you’ve made your promise, Tianlu, why don’t we… compose poems and enjoy ourselves together on this moonlit boat tonight?”
“Yue’er, you—”
“Simply put.”
Yun Yue gently swayed her voluptuous and alluring body, her voice ethereal and otherworldly, yet with a seductive undertone that seemed to capture one’s soul.
Her fingertips brushed against him, her long and slender legs beneath her skirt rubbing against him enticingly, gently embracing and caressing. Her almost completely exposed breasts pressed against him, forming various suggestive shapes.
Spreading her legs wide, she sat in his lap, her buttocks jiggling slightly. The beautiful fox woman wrapped her arms around his waist, whispering in his ear with a smile: “I’m… a little jealous. You have to appease me, Tianlu.”
