Chapter 283: Demonic Mark Transformations, Journey Restarted
“Ha—”
Inside an inn far away, on another official road.
Youluo gracefully leaned forward in her seat, her beautiful legs crossed, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at the passing crowd outside the window, a playful smile on her face: “Truly interesting, I happened to encounter that scholar’s two elders, one of whom is even his mother-in-law. The Yin techniques they used actually interfere with the soul, just like mine, a perfect counterpoint.”
She casually rubbed the delicate porcelain cup in her hand and chuckled: “I was worried that those troublesome factions would cause chaos in Changling County, but now it seems… the demons and ghosts in this county have been completely eradicated, without a trace, it’s quite amusing.”
“The Earth Dragon’s Pulse, huh! In the end, it was just a boring joke, not worth mentioning.”
“However, that scholar is truly mysterious and unpredictable, the wives he married already possess unusual abilities, and his… mother is even stranger.”
Not to mention her terrifying cultivation level, which defied common sense and surpassed the Savage Realm, she also possessed an extremely strange and profound aura lingering around her body.
If Youluo had harbored any malicious intent at that time, that aura might have erupted, posing a threat that even she would find difficult to handle.
With her current soul fragment, she wouldn’t be able to cope and might even be captured, unable to escape.
“Hehe~”
Youluo couldn’t help but chuckle: “That scholar is becoming more and more interesting to me. I really want to see how many secrets he’s hiding and how many abilities he hasn’t revealed yet.”
As she murmured to herself, she gently rubbed her plump buttocks, still vaguely feeling the stinging sensation. Her expression turned subtle: “Now that his wedding is over, and he’s spending his days doting on his wives, I suppose I should go and have some fun with him.
However, judging by his mother-in-law’s methods… that scholar’s cultivation is probably even more unfathomable. If I were to fight him directly, I would probably be toyed with again, which is quite annoying.”
Although she had come seeking amusement, it didn’t mean she was willing to be pinned down and toyed with at will.
Even if that scholar was quite interesting, if she were easily defeated and captured… she would lose all face.
Just like being hung upside down and spanked by his two elders just now, it was truly embarrassing and humiliating.
“Indeed, I need to use some small tricks.”
As if anticipating their reunion in the near future, Youluo stroked her hair, a bright and spring-like smile on her beautiful face.
“The humiliation I suffered from your mother-in-law, I’ll get it all back from you, scholar!”
…
Inside the Cheng Mansion.
Lin Tianlu looked at Cheng Qingyu with a smile.
The petite young lady snapped back to her senses.
In an instant, the mischievous and strange smile vanished completely, replaced by a look of timidity and fear, she asked anxiously: “B-Brother-in-law, why are you back?”
“I vaguely sensed something strange about you just now, I naturally couldn’t ignore it.”
Lin Tianlu snorted coldly, forcibly pulling her hands away from Cheng Yishi’s stiff shoulders: “Now tell me, what were you trying to do?”
Cheng Yishi gasped softly, rubbing her shoulders as she looked back: “Husband…”
“Are you alright?”
“It’s a bit numb and tingling, but it doesn’t hurt.”
“I-I didn’t mean to harm Eldest Sister!” Cheng Qingyu quickly explained.
“Then what were you trying to do?”
Seeing that her docile attitude wasn’t fake, Lin Tianlu frowned slightly and softened his tone: “Tell me everything.”
Cheng Qingyu whispered timidly: “I just wanted to… tease Eldest Sister a little. After all, she and Brother-in-law are now… I…”
Trailing off, the young lady stammered, her face alternating between red and white, unable to utter a complete sentence.
Cheng Yishi felt the numbness in her shoulders gradually dissipate. She stood up and looked back at her younger sister’s awkward expression, her heart stirring. She quickly spoke: “Husband, there’s no need to ask further. This girl has become very introverted since the last incident, barely interacting with outsiders, staying in her room all day feeling sorry for herself. Only with her sisters and me can she relax and communicate.
As for now… she probably just wanted to play a prank on me.”
Cheng Qingyu looked at her gratefully, her lips pursed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Lin Tianlu released her hands and said calmly: “In that case, I won’t press the matter further. But Qingyu, why do you still have these demonic marks on you?”
He had clearly removed all the strange energy from her body before.
But now…
“I-I don’t know either.”
She shrugged her shoulders and whispered: “They just reappeared a few days ago, and I didn’t feel any discomfort. I didn’t tell Eldest Sister and tried to control it myself, nothing happened.”
“Can I take a closer look?”
“…Mm.”
Cheng Qingyu nodded softly, her face slightly red as she brought her hands to her shoulders, slightly lifting her dress to reveal her slender and fair shoulders, her small breasts faintly visible, forming a cute curve.
But Lin Tianlu didn’t look sideways, his gaze fixed on a mark in the center of her chest.
Seemingly due to the fright just now, the previously spreading demonic marks were slowly receding and converging, faint traces still visible on her shoulders.
“Did you know the marks were spreading?”
“I knew…”
“How did it feel?”
“I just felt like I had more strength than usual, and also…” Cheng Qingyu’s cheeks flushed red: “I wanted to tease Eldest Sister.”
“What’s different from before?”
“I… I didn’t have any strange thoughts, and I didn’t want to harm anyone.”
Although the aura was similar, the change in her personality wasn’t as drastic as the last time?
Lin Tianlu pondered inwardly and quickly placed his finger on the young lady’s chest.
Closing his eyes and extending his senses into her body, he could feel a dark swirling mass of energy slowly converging and contracting, until it condensed into a small particle, attaching itself to her chest, even merging completely with her soul.
It was like…
An external manifestation of a part of her soul.
“This demonic mark is truly strange, even after being completely eradicated, it can still regenerate and spread from the soul?”
Lin Tianlu’s thoughts stirred.
The next moment, immortal mist seemed to linger in his heart sea, majestic mountains rising. His figure reappeared on the mountain peak, and as he raised his hand slightly, Cheng Qingyu’s small soul slowly materialized above his palm.
“As expected.”
The demonic marks were spread all over her body, especially prominent on her chest, almost completely merging with her soul.
To be precise, it should be said that her soul itself had become a part of the demonic marks.
However—
As Lin Tianlu moved his palm closer, the demonic marks didn’t surge and resist like before, but instead became incredibly docile and gentle, as if completely tamed. The soul covered in demonic marks even emitted a sense of warmth and closeness, completely different from before.
“The origin of this soul is genuine, it seems this girl… has somehow managed to harness this power?”
After pondering for a while, Lin Tianlu finally opened his eyes.
…
“Hmm?” Cheng Qingyu woke up from her daze and murmured: “Brother-in-law, I…”
“You’re truly fine.”
Lin Tianlu helped straighten her disheveled clothes and rubbed her head: “But don’t do such rude things to your sisters without warning in the future, understand?”
“I understand! I-I won’t be mischievous again!”
Cheng Qingyu nodded repeatedly with a flushed face, as if afraid of being disliked.
Seeing that the situation had calmed down, Cheng Yishi also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly smiled again, pulling Cheng Qingyu into her arms: “Qingyu, if you have anything bothering you in the future, just tell me directly. As your elder sister, I will communicate with you properly. Don’t keep it to yourself like today.”
Feeling the soft and comforting embrace, Cheng Qingyu looked slightly guilty and nodded softly.
Sensing that her younger sister was now able to communicate properly, Cheng Yishi subtly exchanged glances with Lin Tianlu.
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly and quietly left the study, closing the door behind him.
It was naturally better for the two sisters to talk privately, it wasn’t appropriate for him to interfere.
“—How is it?”
Mao Ruoyu was standing in the courtyard in front of the study, a worried look on her face.
Not long after they left the Cheng Mansion, Lin Tianlu had suddenly said he needed to go back and check, that something might have happened. It had worried her, thinking that some difficult problem had arisen in the Cheng Mansion.
“It was just a false alarm.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and waved his hand: “Perhaps due to the fright she received before, Qingyu’s personality has changed somewhat, leading to her slightly strange behavior.”
Mao Ruoyu was immediately relieved.
“It’s good that everything is alright.”
“Are you also worried about the Cheng family’s safety, my wife?”
“After all, they’re Yishi’s family, I naturally have to treat them like my own sisters.” Mao Ruoyu smiled serenely, her beautiful and otherworldly face truly captivating, making one completely enchanted by her genuine warmth and gentleness.
Lin Tianlu stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around his wife’s shoulders: “If Yishi knew, she would be touched by your words.”
“As for her… if she could argue with me less, I would be grateful~”
The two of them sat down at the stone table not far away, whispering to each other.
…
After a while, the study door opened again.
Cheng Qingyu just walked out, and upon seeing Lin Tianlu not far away, she immediately blushed, covered her face with her sleeve, and hurriedly ran away.
“You clingy girl, how dare you flirt with my husband in broad daylight, truly shameless.”
With a teasing chuckle, Cheng Yishi also walked out of the study.
Mao Ruoyu blushed slightly and quickly stood up from Lin Tianlu’s embrace: “We were just talking about some private matters between husband and wife, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
But, Little Sister Qingyu, she—”
“Qingyu has opened up to me and is no longer hiding anything.” Cheng Yishi glanced meaningfully at Lin Tianlu and whispered: “But it’s thanks to Tianlu’s timely intervention, otherwise I would have been embarrassed in front of my sister, my authority gone.”
“It’s naturally a good thing that your relationship as sisters is improving.”
“…Perhaps.”
Cheng Yishi nodded noncommittally.
Then, she walked towards him gracefully and asked curiously: “I haven’t been out these past few days, how are things at home?”
“Martial Aunt and the others have left Changling, only Yue’er and Xuanling are still at home.”
“Yue’er… I’ve only been away for a few days, but my husband’s relationship with Miss Yun seems to have progressed rapidly, you can already call her by such a sweet nickname so naturally.”
Cheng Yishi gave him a playful glare.
Lin Tianlu chuckled and was about to explain, but she suddenly raised her slender finger and lightly touched his lips, her eyes shimmering with moisture: “No need to explain, I won’t object to whatever my husband thinks. If you have to explain everything, I would become a jealous woman… Besides, that Miss Yun isn’t bad, I can accept her.”
“It’s truly wonderful that you’re so understanding~”
Mao Ruoyu immediately embraced her with joy, wrapping her arms around her waist and resting her head on her shoulder, saying softly and sweetly: “Sister Yishi has become even more gentle and considerate after getting married.”
“No need for such sweet talk, I’m not falling for it.”
Cheng Yishi glared at her coldly: “You always like to encourage your husband to flirt with other women, I truly don’t understand what’s going on in your mind.”
Mao Ruoyu smiled gently: “Naturally, I want everyone to be happy and fulfilled, a happy family.”
“You… foolish woman.”
Cheng Yishi sighed helplessly.
But she didn’t complain any further, quickly brushing her hair and turning her head: “I’ve almost finished dealing with the remaining business these past few days, and I’ve also arranged for people to take care of things at home. It won’t be a problem to leave Changling in a while, but I wonder when my husband plans to depart?”
Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment: “Around the winter solstice should be about right.”
“Alright, let’s have another family gathering before we leave.”
Cheng Yishi nodded in agreement.
She looked towards the front yard: “Since there’s nothing else, are you staying for dinner tonight?”
“Xuanling and Yue’er are still at home, I have to prepare dinner for them.”
“That’s true.”
Cheng Yishi seemed to have thought of something, and she took Mao Ruoyu’s hand, chuckling: “My stepmothers were shocked by Martial Aunt’s youthful and beautiful appearance at the wedding banquet.
I had to explain to them for a long time that Martial Aunt has special techniques to maintain her youth, and they were so envious that they couldn’t eat or sleep, all wanting to ask you for some tips and tricks.”
Mao Ruoyu chuckled awkwardly: “I-I don’t know either…”
“They just like to overthink things, just give them a vague answer when you meet them in the future.”
“U-Understood.”
“Then let’s go back early, I still have some things to take care of.” Cheng Yishi smiled and stroked Mao Ruoyu’s hair: “I’ve been quite busy these past few days, preparing to travel with you.”
Lin Tianlu hesitated to speak.
As her husband, he should indeed help with these chores. It wasn’t right to leave all the work to his wives.
But this family business ultimately belonged to the Cheng family. If he, as their son-in-law, interfered, it might cause some people in the Cheng Mansion to have strange ideas, leading to suspicion and gossip.
However—
“Yishi, if there are any troublesome matters that need to be taken care of in the future, just leave it to me.”
These sudden words stunned Cheng Yishi:
“Husband? But what will others think of you…”
“Let them gossip, I don’t care about the Cheng family’s business, as long as I can help you.”
Lin Tianlu smiled: “As long as you don’t mind that your husband might make things worse.”
“…I’m very touched by your kindness, husband.”
Cheng Yishi took a deep breath, a gentle and soft expression appearing on her face: “But there’s no need to worry, husband, these small matters only take a bit of time, it’s not tiring.
But if you’re really worried about me, husband, you can help me check some of the less important account books in the future, how about that?”
Account books?
Lin Tianlu and Mao Ruoyu were both surprised.
Even the less important account books, for the Cheng family—
Cheng Yishi smiled gently.
“I trust my husband.”
“…Your words leave me speechless.”
Lin Tianlu sighed and gently embraced her.
Cheng Yishi leaned her face against his firm chest, a happy smile on her lips.
However, this warm and peaceful moment didn’t last long, as her hands had already subtly moved to Lin Tianlu’s lower back, caressing him ambiguously.
Her long legs beneath her ankle-length skirt rubbed against him intimately, and she whispered: “Husband, it’s been a few days, do you want me to serve you personally? No one will come to the study or courtyard now, my maid will keep watch.”
“…”
The touched expression on Lin Tianlu’s face instantly froze.
Mao Ruoyu, who had been watching tenderly, twitched the corner of her eye and chuckled dryly, reaching out and pinching Cheng Yishi’s shoulder: “Miss Yishi, it’s not even dark yet, you can’t do such shameful things in broad daylight, it’s too indecent.”
Cheng Yishi glanced sideways and smiled seductively: “Ruoyu, do you also want to join in the fun?”
“I-I would never do such a thing!”
Mao Ruoyu blushed and glared at her fiercely: “And as a wife, you should be more considerate of your husband. Demanding so much and making him work day and night, how can he properly conserve his energy?”
“Hmph~ It seems Madam Mao has been indulging quite a bit while I was away these past few days.”
“I just… engaged in normal husband and wife activities, I wouldn’t do such things in broad daylight!”
“Really? But on our wedding night, you were even more unrestrained than me, even—”
“You were the one who went too far, Yishi, even using those methods!”
“…”
Seeing them bicker and argue, Lin Tianlu, caught in the middle, was a bit embarrassed, but he quickly laughed heartily.
Perhaps, it was this lively atmosphere that made him feel relaxed and comfortable.
…
More than ten days passed quietly.
As the cold winter wind swept through, the residents of Changling County were all bundled up in cotton-padded jackets and robes, their faces red from the cold.
But among the crowd, Lin Tianlu, dressed in a simple blue robe and a velvet shirt, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his handsome and refined appearance even more striking. But if one looked closely, he seemed to blend in with the crowd, disappearing into the sea of people.
Just then, a carriage stopped quietly in front of the Lin Mansion.
Lin Tianlu stepped forward, patted the horse’s mane to calm it, and looked back at the house. He saw Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi emerge from the bedroom, dressed more warmly than usual for the cold weather, yet still alluring and charming.
They were carrying luggage and bundles of clothes, clearly prepared for a long journey.
Whoosh
At the same time, a soft white shadow suddenly leaped down from above and landed steadily on his shoulder.
Looking closely, it was a beautiful and adorable snow-white silver fox. It licked Lin Tianlu’s cheek affectionately before curling up its soft body and fluffy tail, wrapping around him like a fur cloak, warm and comfortable in the winter air.
“Xuanling is with you now?”
“Mm.”
“That’s good.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and patted the fox’s head.
Yun Yue had been recovering rapidly these past few days. After her heart knot gradually untangled, her Yin energy and demon veins merged once again, and she had regained her fox form. However, she was still a step away from a complete breakthrough, seemingly lacking the final catalyst.
Yu Xuanling, who usually hopped and skipped around the house, had depleted the Yin energy maintaining her temporary body and returned to her speechless jade pendant form. Because of this, they had decided to depart early and search for the place Yu Xuanling had mentioned as soon as possible.
—Wuchang Province, Fengtai County.
Perhaps they could find more clues related to the jade pendant there.
But on this journey, there seemed to be another temporary companion.
“Madams, please get in the carriage.”
As the curtain was lifted slightly, Yang Chanzhen’s veiled face appeared from inside the carriage, and she said softly: “I’ll take you to the border of Wuchang Province.”
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi were slightly stunned but didn’t say anything, quickly boarding the carriage with their luggage.
Lin Tianlu silently looked back at the now empty house, waving goodbye to the locust tree in the courtyard, before slowly closing the gate.
His journey had been delayed for months due to various matters.
And now…
It was finally time to depart again.
