Chapter 289: A Night of Warmth, A Midnight Investigation
Late at night, deep in the silence.
Tunqing Village had gradually darkened, only the watchman’s clapper echoing faintly outside.
“I’ve been observing for a long time, but I really don’t sense anything strange in this bustling village.”
Cheng Yishi stood by the window, casually gazing at the village nightscape. Her velvet robe and skirt outlined her graceful figure in the gentle breeze as she brushed her silver hair.
At least with her perception, she hadn’t detected any unusual or sinister Yin energy in the village, there didn’t seem to be any demons or ghosts lurking here.
“The situation is indeed a bit strange.”
Lin Tianlu sat at the table, reading a book, and said softly: “I specifically asked some of the local villagers just now, and it’s mostly just rumors, no one has actually seen the culprit. Perhaps it’s not a demon or ghost causing trouble, but bandits or villains stirring up things.”
“That child we met at the restaurant earlier…”
“He’s barely left the restaurant these past few days, he doesn’t even know how to use Yin techniques. For someone of his level to commit crimes in the village without being noticed, evading the constables and martial artists without leaving a single trace, is a bit too far-fetched.”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Besides, I’ve observed that child carefully, he’s completely innocent, like you, untainted by blood.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood idly by and watched the Daoist’s actions. And he wouldn’t have deliberately interfered with the two young swordsmen from the Hongshan Sect who were trying to slay the demon.
But thankfully, the Daoist’s approach had become more mature, not taking things to extremes. Those two young swordsmen had only suffered some minor external injuries, and applying some medicinal ointment for a few days would be enough for them to recover. If they had truly become enemies because of this, he would have to question the disciples’ character.
“What are you going to do later, husband?”
Cheng Yishi walked gracefully to the table and asked curiously: “According to Miss Youluo, this place is also within the range of the Seven Stars Mend the Heavens Formation, there might be some hidden dangers.”
“I’ll go out and have a look after the third watch.” Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin.
Judging from the rumors, the missing people were all men. Perhaps he could encounter the culprit if he wandered around alone at night.
“It’s still some time before the third watch~”
Cheng Yishi narrowed her eyes slightly, her face flushed with a shy blush as she leaned closer, wrapping her arms around him affectionately: “Does my husband want to read some more?”
Lin Tianlu smiled.
“If you’re interested, Yishi, why don’t you sit down and read with me?”
The charming smile on Cheng Yishi’s face froze, and she gave him a slightly resentful look: “Husband is teasing me again.”
With a beautiful woman in his arms, yet still so focused on reading, didn’t this make her seem—
“Take a closer look, Yishi. This is a novel written by a scholar, celebrating beautiful love stories. The woman’s feelings are described in vivid detail, perhaps you’ll enjoy it.”
“Hmm?”
Intrigued, Cheng Yishi leaned against Lin Tianlu’s shoulder and looked at the book.
Lin Tianlu, considerate of his wife’s reading experience, flipped back to the first page and started from the beginning. Fortunately, Yishi came from a wealthy family, was literate, and also had some literary talent. She could read quickly and clearly without needing any explanations.
“…”
Unknowingly, Cheng Yishi became more and more engrossed in her reading.
She hadn’t taken the novel’s content seriously at first, thinking it was just an ordinary story.
But the woman’s emotions depicted in the book were truly moving, the love between the man and woman passionate and intimate, a deeply touching story. Even facing the obstruction of celestial beings, they bravely pursued their love. This passionate love made her feel a sense of admiration, and she couldn’t help but become more invested in the story.
…
Mao Ruoyu, who had just entered the room, was stunned by the scene.
She had thought that her husband and Yishi would be passionately entangled, but unexpectedly, they were cuddling and reading together.
“It seems I was overthinking.”
Mao Ruoyu smiled gently and brought over a pot of warm tea.
Looking closer, she saw Cheng Yishi leaning against Lin Tianlu’s broad shoulder, her hair cascading down like a waterfall, occasionally turning a page, a beautiful picture of a loving couple.
“What book is my husband reading today? Even Yishi is so captivated.”
“It’s a fictional story about the love between a man and a woman, a legend.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “But the emotions between the man and woman are truly depicted vividly and sincerely, without any pretense or awkwardness. The story flows naturally, making one unconsciously immersed in it.”
“It sounds quite good.” Mao Ruoyu poured tea for them and said softly: “But it’s late now, don’t read for too long, rest your eyes. If you’re tired, let me give you two a massage.”
“Are Miss Yang and the others resting well?”
“I just came back from checking on them.”
Mao Ruoyu gathered her hair and smiled faintly: “Although she’s still quiet, she’s become much closer to me. But Miss Youluo is a bit unpredictable, she seems to have gone to the roof of the restaurant to enjoy the moon with a pot of wine.”
“That woman is indeed a bit strange.”
Lin Tianlu frowned: “And these past few days, when I talk to her, I always have a faint sense of familiarity. I might have met her somewhere before.”
“So, my husband has a mysterious connection with Miss Youluo?”
Mao Ruoyu leaned closer with a seductive smile, poking his cheek playfully: “Thinking about it carefully, it’s quite intriguing. Miss Youluo has been elusive this whole journey, rarely appearing in front of others, but she occasionally strolls in front of my husband in that alluring and seductive attire, her voice incredibly charming. It really made me wonder.”
“Cough, perhaps Miss Youluo simply prefers that outfit…”
“Indeed, but the way Miss Youluo looks at my husband isn’t that simple.”
Mao Ruoyu narrowed her eyes slightly and sat down beside him with a charming smile, no longer teasing him. Instead, she raised her hands and began to massage him gently and meticulously: “If you’re sleepy, my husband, you can lean on me and take a nap. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to go out at midnight… Don’t be so clingy, Yishi, come and serve our husband together.”
“Oh?”
Cheng Yishi, who had been quietly reading, turned her head with a smile: “You said… to serve our husband?”
“Naturally, we can’t always let our husband… w-wait, Yishi, what are you doing?!”
Mao Ruoyu’s voice suddenly became flustered, a blush appearing on her charming and mature face, her hands freezing mid-massage.
Cheng Yishi was lifting her skirt with an ambiguous smile, revealing her smooth and firm white legs, and straddling Lin Tianlu, her peach-like buttocks slowly pressing down, her posture alluring and seductive.
Smiling charmingly, she even started to grind against him, making Lin Tianlu, who was already enjoying her closeness, gasp.
This intimate and close posture made Mao Ruoyu blush furiously, and she reached out with trembling hands, trying to pull her away: “Y-You girl, how can you suddenly do such a thing?”
Cheng Yishi glanced sideways and smiled provocatively: “I adore my husband, and there are no outsiders here, why can’t we be more intimate?”
Saying this, she pressed herself against his broad chest, her expression charming, whispering in his ear: “Husband, let’s continue reading, shall we?”
Lin Tianlu felt the soft and continuous pressure from below, his expression slightly subtle, and he whispered: “Do you really want to read like this?”
“O-Of course it’s fine.”
Cheng Yishi quickly blushed as well, deliberately turning her head away so Mao Ruoyu couldn’t see, her eyes shimmering with a shy and moist luster. Her buttocks trembled slightly, embarrassed and nervous.
Although she had spoken confidently, engaging in such ambiguous intimacy while fully conscious made her heart pound.
“You girl…”
Mao Ruoyu poked the young woman’s slender waist with a slightly resentful and playful glare, making Cheng Yishi tremble: “You still like to tease me even after we’re married, don’t blame me if I make you suffer later.”
“Hmph~ Just try your best, Ruoyu. My husband and I are deeply in love, even if… you… mmmppphhh?”
But halfway through her sentence, Cheng Yishi’s voice suddenly turned to shock and frustration, only muffled sounds escaping her lips.
Mao Ruoyu, suppressing her shyness, had stood up and embraced them, her ample bosom, half-exposed by her loose clothes, pressing directly against Lin Tianlu and Cheng Yishi’s faces. The soft and tender flesh overflowed, threatening to spill out, a sweet and pleasant milky fragrance filling the air, bringing a dizzying warmth.
Not to mention Cheng Yishi, who froze with her face buried in Mao Ruoyu’s chest, even Lin Tianlu’s expression turned stiff, not expecting his wife to suddenly tackle them like this.
It was… quite stimulating!
“Mm…”
Mao Ruoyu bit her lip lightly, so shy that tears almost welled up in her eyes.
Even though they had already consummated their marriage, such close contact in the brightly lit room still made her whole body burn with heat, a wave of shame washing over her.
But looking at Lin Tianlu, who was trying to remain calm and composed in her embrace, she gradually felt a sense of tenderness and affection. She pursed her lips and gently caressed their faces and foreheads, as if cherishing precious treasures, her jade-like fingers tracing and kneading their skin, her voice soft and seductive: “Rest well, let me take care of you two.”
Her clothes were half-undone, the sash loosened, her flawless skin gleaming like porcelain in the candlelight. Her ample bosom swayed, the tips hardening slightly, bringing a wave of unimaginable warmth and tenderness.
Only Yun Yue, curled up on the bed, looked up and smiled indulgently, not interrupting their playful antics.
…
In the next room.
Yang Chanzhen silently raised her teacup behind her veil, took a sip, and then withdrew her gaze, her eyes flickering.
Although a barrier had been placed around Master Lin’s room to prevent prying eyes and ears, her vision was extraordinary, and she could still see the blurry figures inside.
As if covered by a thin veil, two figures intertwined and swayed, their graceful curves rising and falling, as if dancing.
After watching the captivating dance for a while, Yang Chanzhen finally came back to her senses, slightly dazed.
“Giggle~ I didn’t expect Miss Yang to keep her veil on even when she’s alone in her room. It makes me very curious about how beautiful you are, a true beauty that could topple nations.”
A seductive and playful chuckle sounded nearby, and Yang Chanzhen couldn’t help but sigh softly: “You flatter me, Miss Youluo, I’m not that beautiful. It’s just an old custom of Mount Min.”
“But you don’t seem like someone who strictly adheres to rules, Miss Yang.”
Youluo leaned lazily against the windowsill, swaying her long legs seductively, and chuckled: “It seems you’ve caught a glimpse of the spring scenery in Master Lin’s room, are you also feeling a bit stirred?”
“…”
Yang Chanzhen sighed inwardly and didn’t respond.
Youluo played with the sash of her skirt and teased: “Miss Yang, you’re so reserved. It’s a pity that Master Lin would leave you alone in your room, suffering in silence.”
“…Are you here specifically to tease me, Miss Youluo?”
“Just expressing a bit of sympathy. But I’m even more curious about the past between you and Master Lin, what kind of deep affection makes you care about him so much.”
She bent one knee, rested her chin on her arm, and smiled: “Although you rarely interact, from your eyes, Miss Yang… I can see something quite intriguing.”
Yang Chanzhen’s eyes flickered, and she looked at Youluo intently.
But after a moment of silence, the Azure Lady of Mount Min simply poured herself another cup of tea and sipped it calmly.
Seeing her relaxed and composed demeanor, the smile on Youluo’s lips widened, her interest in this woman piqued.
The Azure Lady of Mount Min… for thousands of years, they had stayed away from worldly disputes, rarely participating in power struggles. The successive generations of successors had been elusive and unpredictable, like transcendent and detached immortals, without desires or ambitions.
But the Azure Lady of Mount Min before her—
This emotional fluctuation was different from her usual aloofness and otherworldliness, like a celestial being pulled down to the mortal world, harboring private desires.
“Interesting~”
Youluo chuckled softly, her figure gradually fading like mist.
…
Late at night.
Lin Tianlu had slipped out of the inn alone and stepped onto the quiet and deserted street, straightening his slightly messy collar.
“Hu—”
He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and exhaled.
Looking sideways at the moonlit street, Lin Tianlu’s gaze narrowed slightly, and he quickly set off to explore other parts of the village.
With Yun Yue guarding the inn, there was no need to worry about Ruoyu and Yishi’s safety.
But after walking for a while, he seemed to sense a faint Yin energy dispersing, and he couldn’t help but exclaim softly.
“There really is a demon or ghost hiding in the village?”
Carefully sensing the flow of Yin energy, Lin Tianlu immediately gave chase.
…
After a while, an old and dilapidated mansion came into view.
Two withered and decaying old trees in front of the gate swayed slightly in the cold wind, making creepy rustling sounds. The main gate was covered in cobwebs and vines, as if it hadn’t been opened for many years.
“It certainly looks quite old.”
Lin Tianlu looked up at the plaque above the gate, faintly seeing some scratches, as if it had been torn by a sharp weapon.
“But the villagers I asked earlier never mentioned anything about this mansion… could they not know about it?”
His thoughts churning, he quickly stepped forward and pushed the gate open, preparing to see what was inside.
Slap!
A light pat on his shoulder made Lin Tianlu freeze. He looked back, slightly puzzled.
But as he turned around, a slender finger gently touched his cheek, and a beautiful and mature face appeared before him.
Youluo closed her left eye and smiled faintly: “I thought I could surprise you, Master Lin, but you’re so calm and composed, not even a hint of panic.”
“Why are you here, Miss Youluo?”
“I just saw Master Lin leave alone, and I was curious, so I followed.” She narrowed her seductive eyes and teased ambiguously: “Although I would rather see the enchanting and passionate scene between you and your two wives.”
Lin Tianlu smiled calmly: “You’re a pure and innocent woman, Miss Youluo, you shouldn’t be so obsessed with such things between men and women. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation if rumors spread.”
“I don’t care much about my reputation, I just follow my heart.”
Youluo quickly took out a porcelain jade folding fan and waved it gently, the smooth fur on the edge fluttering softly.
She tilted her head curiously and looked at the old gate: “Have you found the source of the disturbance in Tunqing Village, Master Lin?”
“I just faintly sensed a fluctuation of Yin energy and came to investigate.”
As Lin Tianlu spoke, he pushed the gate open.
With the dust settling, the empty courtyard came into view.
“It seems no one has lived here for many years.”
Youluo followed Lin Tianlu into the courtyard with graceful steps, her arms crossed, covering her face with the fan as she frowned: “There’s a faint smell of decay.”
Indeed, a faint smell drifted in the wind, seemingly coming from the long-abandoned rooms.
Could there really be a corpse hidden in this mansion?
Lin Tianlu quickly stepped forward and pushed open the wooden door of one of the bedrooms, entering.
“—Hmm?”
But as he pushed the door open, a strange fluctuation rippled out, and the scene before him made him pause.
It wasn’t the dilapidated, cobweb-filled room he had imagined. On the contrary, it was a meticulously decorated woman’s boudoir, with dimly lit red candles, exquisite screens and gauze curtains, and a sweet and fragrant scent lingering in the air, like aged wine, intoxicating and captivating.
Looking behind him, the once deserted courtyard of the old mansion had disappeared, replaced by countless red gauze curtains, transforming into an endless illusory landscape.
At the same time, Youluo’s figure also vanished.
“This isn’t a simple illusion.”
Lin Tianlu narrowed his eyes, looking around with interest: “But another realm.”
