Chapter 288: A New Perspective
Meanwhile, in Huangfeng County.
Inside the quiet and deserted medical clinic, the young woman who had been resting in bed with her eyes closed gradually opened them.
She clutched her still aching thigh, her face pale, and sat up trembling.
Then, she saw the blue-haired woman sitting casually in the room.
“You are—”
“Don’t worry, your fatal injuries have all healed. You’ll be bouncing around in ten days or half a month.”
Youluo smiled seductively, glancing sideways at the young woman on the bed, her face full of surprise and unease: “Were your injuries so severe that you can’t even remember what happened?”
“…”
The young woman opened her mouth slightly, a spark gradually appearing in her eyes.
The next moment, she quickly lowered her head and murmured: “Thank you for saving me, Miss.”
Just as she said, this wasn’t the first time she had met Youluo.
When she was attacked by that demon and ghost in the mountains, the relentless pursuer hadn’t shown any mercy or carelessness, letting her escape easily.
It was because this mysterious and beautiful woman had secretly helped her, giving her the opportunity to escape.
Even though her escape had been incredibly dangerous, she had survived… thanks to this woman’s help.
“It seems you’re still quite upset.”
Youluo played with the jade folding fan in her hand and chuckled: “Those dozen or so people traveling with you weren’t related to you by blood, you had just met them not long ago. Are you really feeling sad and guilty over their deaths?”
“…No.”
“Forget it, I have no intention of comforting or persuading you. We’ve helped each other, and I’m in a good mood now.”
Youluo smiled and flicked her finger.
A streak of silver light suddenly shot into the young woman’s chest, making her expression turn to panic: “Wh-What did you do to me?!”
“I just gave you some ‘power.’ How you use it is your own choice.”
“…”
The young woman clutched her chest, speechless.
But after a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but whisper: “Did you use me to lure that gentleman into Huangfeng County?”
“You’re a smart person, and smart people should know how to survive.”
Youluo stood up and approached her, meaningfully tapping her shoulder with her folding fan: “Huangfeng County has been renewed, live an honest life here from now on, and don’t wander around carelessly. I might need you in the future.”
“Just what are you—”
As soon as the young woman raised her head, she was shocked to find that the beautiful woman before her had disappeared.
A sense of unease rising in her heart, she lifted the blanket and stumbled towards the window.
Looking at the bright and lively street scene outside, the young woman was momentarily dazed.
Since she was born, when had Huangfeng County been so lively and comfortable?
Seeing children playing and laughing on the streets, residents greeting each other with smiles, this bustling scene made her feel like she was in a dream.
Huangfeng County had truly changed.
…
A village named Tunqing Village was bustling with activity.
Located at the intersection of several towns and counties, the approaching New Year made the village even more lively, business booming, and the streets filled with people and carriages.
The buildings were well-designed, almost on par with a town, but there were also many flowers and trees planted around, retaining some natural scenery even in winter, making the place quite comfortable and pleasant.
“Exquisite jewelry!”
“Plump and delicious free-range chickens, cheap and good quality!”
“Come and see these freshly picked vegetables!”
…
Such hawking cries were endless, and the restaurants and inns were even more crowded and noisy, with people drinking, having fun, and shouting loudly. Some were even storytelling and singing in the restaurants, enjoying themselves.
But as night approached, a discordant voice suddenly rang out in the crowded restaurant.
“There’s something wrong with this boy!”
A loud shout echoed through the restaurant, attracting everyone’s attention.
Two young men, holding swords, stood up abruptly, their eyes fixed on a young boy not far away.
The boy seemed startled, his body stiffening.
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure, but judging by their bright clothes and swords, those two young men must be disciples from some prestigious sect, right?”
“Looking at the embroidery on their chests, they seem to be from the Hongshan Sect.” A patron looked up and marveled: “I heard that the disciples of the Hongshan Sect are all righteous and skilled in swordsmanship, they even possess the power to exorcise evil, and are highly respected by many sects. Now that these two disciples have suddenly stood up, could it be that some villain is causing trouble in the restaurant and has been caught red-handed?”
But his drinking companion said, puzzled: “But it seems… that it’s just a waiter who’s been questioned, he looks like a child.”
“Eh?”
Some patrons were curious, others puzzled, but without exception, they all watched silently, wanting to see what was happening.
The young boy, who had been suddenly shouted at, was also stunned, still holding a wine pot in his hand, his shoulders shrinking as if frightened, staring blankly at the two sword-wielding young men who had slammed their hands on the table.
“T-Two esteemed guests, what did I do wrong…?”
“Still pretending! The villain who’s been causing trouble in Tunqing Village recently must be you!”
One of the handsome young men immediately drew his sword, his eyes wide with anger as he walked towards the boy step by step: “You reek of Yin energy, your life force is almost gone, and as a demon, you dare to cause trouble right under our noses, how audacious!”
Hearing this, the men and women at the surrounding tables stood up and backed away in shock.
This seemingly harmless waiter was actually a demon or ghost?!
“I-I didn’t!”
The boy’s face turned pale with fright, and he stepped back repeatedly: “I didn’t harm anyone! You must be mistaken!”
“Do you think we’ll believe the words of a demon like you?!”
The young man angrily lunged with his sword, the sword wind whistling, his aura intimidating. Just a single thrust made the boy’s eyes widen in terror, as if he had forgotten how to escape, frozen in place, his hands and feet trembling slightly.
“Ah!”
Seeing the sudden fight in the restaurant, many patrons screamed and retreated, afraid of being accidentally caught in the crossfire.
The other sword-wielding young man stood by, his gaze alert and vigilant, in case there were other accomplices lurking in the shadows.
But at this moment, the expressions of both sword-wielding young men changed slightly.
A wooden sword covered in talismans suddenly blocked the path of the blade, stopping the lightning-fast thrust. With a casual flick, it forced the attacker back.
The sword-wielding young man stumbled back a few steps, staring in surprise and uncertainty at the sturdy man who had suddenly appeared between them.
“Who are you!”
“I’m a wandering Daoist.”
The sturdy man with a full beard spun the wooden sword in his hand and calmly glanced at the young boy behind him before quickly looking away.
“I just couldn’t stand by and watch you two bully and threaten a child, so I intervened.”
“Daoist… as a Daoist, you should be able to see the strangeness of this child!” The sword-wielding young man said seriously: “Although his cultivation is still shallow, if left unchecked, he will surely bring great harm to this village! Moreover, the disturbances at night recently are very likely caused by him—”
“Benefactor, these are just your assumptions.” The Daoist lowered his wooden sword and sighed softly: “With this child’s meager Yin energy, how much trouble could he possibly cause? You overestimate him.”
“How could I—”
“The Hongshan Sect specializes in sword techniques and also practices exorcism. Although you have a good reputation, your understanding of demons and ghosts is ultimately not as deep as ours, Daoists.”
The Daoist softened his tone and explained calmly: “This child’s aura is at most at the level of a lesser ghost. Even an ordinary body-tempering martial artist could probably defeat him, he’s truly too weak. If he really had such abilities, why wouldn’t he resist your attack at all?”
The sword-wielding young man said coldly: “As a Daoist who exorcises evil, are you trying to protect this demon?”
“Benefactor, your temper is too quick. I’m not trying to protect him blindly, I just want to communicate with him before jumping to conclusions. Whether he lives or dies isn’t something we can decide with just a few words.”
The Daoist exhaled and bowed calmly: “Benefactor, please calm down and have a chat with this child, perhaps you’ll change your mind.”
“I-I really didn’t do anything!”
The boy also spoke up, his face full of anxiety: “Two big brothers, I’m just a waiter in this restaurant, I’ve never harmed anyone, nor have I stolen anything. Please—”
“Lies!”
But the sword-wielding young man raised his sword again, pointing it at the boy’s eyes, and shouted angrily: “I thought you had some skills, Daoist, but now it seems you’re just an accomplice, actually making excuses for a demon!”
“Benefactor…”
“Since you refuse to back down, then we, as brothers, will uphold justice for Tunqing Village and slay you evil demon and accomplice!”
The other young man also stepped forward, shouting loudly, and assumed a skilled sword stance.
The intense killing intent made the Daoist close his mouth, a troubled look on his face.
“Master Daoist, please leave, there’s no need for you to get involved.”
The previously panicked little boy had calmed down and quickly said: “I-I’ll try to escape from here, they won’t catch me.”
“Sigh—”
The Daoist sighed softly.
Then, instead of fleeing, he raised his wooden sword and met the two young men’s fierce attack.
Blades clashed, crisp sounds and sparks flying in the hall.
The Daoist dodged the thrust with a serious expression, grabbed one of the young men’s wrists, twisted it forcefully, and struck his chest with his palm while he cried out in pain, pushing him back. At the same time, he turned around and blocked another attack from behind with his wooden sword, their palms colliding. Both sides stumbled backward with muffled groans.
Clearly, their internal energy was evenly matched.
“His moves are fierce and swift, we can’t exchange blows with him directly, let’s overpower him with our internal energy!”
“Alright!”
The two young men quickly recovered, threw their swords, and charged forward, their internal energy surging as they raised their palms to strike.
Facing the fierce attack head-on, the Daoist was about to dodge when he suddenly noticed that the two swords were flying towards the boy. He stopped abruptly and raised his hands to block.
Clang!
But at this moment, the flying swords were suddenly struck by an external force and deflected to the side. The two young men’s expressions changed slightly as they felt a sharp pain in their knees, and they stumbled and fell.
Then, the Daoist’s palms landed directly on their chests.
“Ah!”
With two cries of pain, the two young men were knocked to the ground.
“Cough, cough… what… what did you do… cough!”
“…”
But the Daoist himself was also slightly surprised. He glanced towards the second floor and vaguely saw a figure through the gauze curtain.
Was there… an expert secretly helping him?
Thinking of this, the Daoist quickly calmed down, took a deep breath, and squatted down beside the two young men: “Two benefactors, now that you’ve been defeated, would you please calm down and listen to me?”
“Now that we’ve lost to you, whether you kill us or cut us into pieces is up to you—”
“I naturally won’t take your lives. I’ve seen this child’s true nature more clearly than you two during this time.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“I arrived in Tunqing Village seven days earlier than you two and had already noticed this child with the strange aura. But I didn’t attack him immediately, instead observing his every move in secret to see if he would truly harm the local residents.”
The Daoist glanced back at the boy, who was trembling and didn’t dare to move: “He works like an ordinary person, from sunrise to sunset, and hasn’t done anything harmful during this time.”
One of the young men coughed up some blood, his face grim as he said hoarsely: “So you felt pity for him?!”
“It’s not pity, but empathy.”
The Daoist said earnestly: “A few months ago, I was just like you two, righteous and eager to eliminate all demons and ghosts in the world, to bring peace to the land.”
“Then why—”
“But during that time, I met an expert who guided me and gradually made me realize that not all demons and ghosts are evil. Just like us mortals, there are good and bad among them.” He sighed with emotion: “After all, I was also spared by a demon and ghost, that’s why I’m still standing here today. Otherwise, I would have already died a gruesome death.”
“You’re talking nonsense, how could there be a demon or ghost in this world who would…”
“Of course, I don’t expect to change your minds with just a few words.”
The Daoist clenched his fists and said indifferently: “So I’m just going to have a proper conversation with you two, using my fists, to convince you with reason.”
“Don’t… do anything rash… ah!”
…
Not long after, as the two sword-wielding young men retreated dejectedly, and after the innkeeper mediated and explained the situation, the sudden commotion in the restaurant subsided.
The patrons who had fled gradually returned, chatting and laughing about the incident.
For ordinary people, demons and ghosts were too far removed from common sense. It was more like a fight between a few martial arts experts. Now that the commotion had ended, it was just a topic of conversation.
As for the boy serving tea and the Daoist…
“Indeed, it was you who helped me in secret.”
The Daoist cupped his hands gratefully: “I haven’t had the chance to thank you in person yet. I benefited greatly from your guidance before, and now you’ve saved me again, I’m truly grateful beyond words.”
The person standing before him was Lin Tianlu.
“You seem… quite different from before.”
Lin Tianlu looked him up and down and couldn’t help but sigh: “If I didn’t still remember your physique, I wouldn’t have recognized you at first glance.”
This person was the same rash Daoist he had encountered in Ganchang Village, the one who had burst through the roof and challenged Ren Yinshan to a fight.
He had been constantly talking about fighting demons and ghosts to the death, righteous and evil irreconcilable, but now he was speaking up for a demon, truly hard to imagine.
“When I met you, Master Lin, I was truly blinded by obsession, my temper rash and reckless. But these past few months, I’ve experienced a lot and gradually understood your words from back then.”
The Daoist sighed repeatedly and cupped his hands: “Although it’s only been half a year, I’m now trying to see the truth of this world with my own eyes, instead of being blinded by the simple distinction between good and evil.”
Looking at his reminiscent and wistful expression, Lin Tianlu figured he must have had many unforgettable experiences.
Thinking of this, he quickly smiled gently and patted the Daoist’s shoulder: “It’s commendable that you’ve come to this realization, but have you thought about what to do with this child you saved?”
“I’ve observed him for almost half a month and can confirm that he has no malicious intent. And I just talked to the innkeeper and learned that he actually already knew about the boy’s identity as a demon, but seeing how lonely and helpless he was, he gave him a job and helped conceal his identity. But unexpectedly, he was discovered by those two martial artists.”
Lin Tianlu glanced sideways at the screen not far away and saw the boy hiding behind it, trembling, clearly still frightened by the conflict that had just occurred.
“As for the future, I’ll stay here with him for a while, teaching him how to cultivate his character, control his aura, and hopefully, control his demonic power.”
“Not bad.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and nodded.
This Daoist was indeed different from his previous rash self, much calmer and more composed.
“But if you encounter other demons and ghosts in the future, don’t lower your guard too much. After all, most of them are evil, you can’t treat them all the same.”
The Daoist’s expression turned serious, and he bowed deeply: “I’ll keep your words in mind, Master Lin.”
“Alright, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and helped him up: “I happened to be passing through this village with my wives today and heard some strange rumors. Have you heard of them, Master Daoist?”
Since sitting down in the restaurant, he had heard faint conversations from downstairs, seemingly about a villain causing trouble in the village, men disappearing every night, both local residents and passing travelers and merchants.
“I naturally know about this and have been trying to investigate, but without any results.”
The Daoist said with a hint of shame: “I can’t provide you with any accurate information, Master Lin.
But I can confirm that some men have indeed disappeared recently, their whereabouts unknown, and their families have already reported it to the authorities. Those two sect disciples probably came here for this matter as well.”
“I understand.” Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully.
It seemed that although Tunqing Village was lively, there was some strange disturbance happening beneath the surface.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer, Master Lin, farewell for now.”
The Daoist cupped his hands and chuckled: “I hope we’ll meet again in the future.”
“Farewell.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and nodded, watching the Daoist leave the private room with the young boy.
He looked at their receding figures and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
This person might truly become someone of renown in the future.
…
Returning to the private room in the restaurant, he saw that only Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi were left.
“Where did Miss Yang and Miss Youluo go?”
“Miss Youluo said she didn’t want to disturb us, so she went to the next room with Miss Yang.”
Mao Ruoyu smiled helplessly: “Although I wanted to persuade them, I thought they would feel awkward staying here, so I agreed.”
Lin Tianlu scratched his head: “I’ll go and visit them later.”
“Alright.”
“Husband, there’s no need to talk about this now, please sit down and let me serve you~”
Cheng Yishi’s sweet and seductive voice quickly rang out. She leaned against him gracefully, a charming blush on her face, offering him a piece of tender meat with her chopsticks.
“Try it while it’s hot~”
“Alright!” Lin Tianlu smiled and sat down, taking a bite of the braised meat.
Seeing him enjoy the food, the smile on Cheng Yishi’s lips became even more joyful and affectionate. But she also glanced playfully at Mao Ruoyu, who was sitting beside them.
“…”
Mao Ruoyu’s hand trembled, almost spilling the soup in her spoon. She moved her lips, forcing a smile.
This girl, during the first few days after their wedding, she had been so docile and charming, always blushing and speechless, like a cute and shy younger sister.
But now, how come she was becoming more and more… infuriating!
Thinking of this, Mao Ruoyu was about to say something when she suddenly saw Cheng Yishi practically leaning against Lin Tianlu, their faces so close they were almost touching!
“Y-You cheeky girl, eat your food properly!”
“Hmph~ It’s normal to feed my husband.”
“But look at your disheveled clothes, it’s indecent!”
“You’re just saying that because you’re envious, Madam.” Cheng Yishi gave her a provocative look, making Mao Ruoyu blush furiously, her whole body burning hot.
But after a moment of silence, she still silently filled a bowl of soup and moved closer shyly.
“You two are truly a pair…”
