Chapter 298: Fierce Clash, Perfect Rescue
“Who are you!”
Huang Qiuli’s fury erupted as he shouted, “What are you plotting in my Huang Mansion?!”
“I merely heard that a villain in Boyang County was acting with impunity, defying law and reason, so I came here to see if it was true.”
Lin Tianlu soothed the little girl in his arms, who was gradually falling asleep, and handed her back to her trembling mother: “Madam, please stay near the gate with your child later, don’t get too close.”
“S-Sir…”
“With us here, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Lin Tianlu took off his cloak and draped it over the young woman’s slightly disheveled clothes, smiling gently: “Your husband will return safely.”
Then, he turned to look at the pavilion again, his eyes narrowing slightly: “Now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, you’re truly a den of vipers, unforgivable.”
“You—”
Huang Qiuli’s face darkened even more.
“You do have some skills… but to dare cause trouble here, you truly don’t know what’s good for you!”
“Someone, kill this reckless scholar—”
But just as he was about to order the men in black robes in the courtyard to attack, Jiang Huijun suddenly stopped him: “Wait, my dear boy.”
“Madam?”
Huang Qiuli was stunned: “Why not let me deal with him?”
“It wasn’t this scholar who interfered with the technique just now, there’s someone else!”
Jiang Huijun’s eyes narrowed, and she said solemnly: “Which colleague is hiding in the shadows? There’s no need to conceal yourself any longer, please show yourself!”
“…”
As soon as she finished speaking, Yang Chanzhen’s figure quietly appeared beside Lin Tianlu, standing calmly, her purple eyes looking forward indifferently.
Although her face was covered by a veil, her aloof and otherworldly aura still made the entire mansion fall silent.
Even Huang Qiuli, his face full of anger, was stunned, staring blankly as if mesmerized, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.
This woman was truly like a goddess, just a glance was enough to captivate one’s mind and soul. She was far more ethereal and mysterious than any woman he had ever seen!
“It’s… you?!”
Jiang Huijun was shocked.
Huang Qiuli’s heart skipped a beat, and he whispered anxiously: “Madam Jiang, does this woman have some kind of background?”
“…She’s the Azure Lady of Mount Min, her position in the demon and ghost world is quite unique. But our Luo Xing shouldn’t have any grudges against Mount Min.”
Jiang Huijun’s face showed a hint of confusion, and she hesitated: “And the Azure Lady of Mount Min has always stayed out of worldly affairs, at most traveling to cultivate her mind, why would she be with a scholar today, and even fight against our Luo Xing for him?”
“This…”
Huang Qiuli was stunned.
This graceful and beautiful woman with an otherworldly aura was the legendary Azure Lady of Mount Min?
Her beauty and demeanor far surpassed anything he had heard of, truly stunning and breathtaking.
But now she was actually—
“Azure Lady of Mount Min, why are you interfering in our Luo Xing’s territory?”
Jiang Huijun’s expression turned cold, and she asked in a loud voice: “This Huang Mansion is one of the Luo Xing’s bases in Boyang County. By trespassing and attacking, are you making an enemy of us?”
“I have no intention of making an enemy of you.”
Yang Chanzhen said coldly: “But taking things too far will eventually lead to misfortune, it’s the so-called cycle of cause and effect, retribution is unavoidable.”
Lin Tianlu slowly stood up:
“And today, none of you will escape.”
“It seems even the Azure Lady of Mount Min can break her vows.”
Jiang Huijun’s gaze shifted coldly between Lin Tianlu and Yang Chanzhen: “To court death for a delicate young scholar, truly foolish. Or do you think you can escape unscathed from my hands?”
“There’s no need to escape, defeating all of you is more than enough.”
Yang Chanzhen’s eyes narrowed, and with a wave of her sleeve, she activated a profound technique. The Huang Mansion was instantly enveloped in a faint mist, completely isolating it from the outside world.
“This woman came prepared.” Jiang Huijun murmured, pulling Huang Qiuli behind her: “Stay back, my dear boy, let me see how capable this meddling Azure Lady of Mount Min is.”
“Please subdue this woman, Madam Jiang!”
Huang Qiuli’s expression contained a hint of excitement: “S-Such a beauty must be a rare treasure, it will greatly nourish you, Madam Jiang!”
“There’s no need to rush.”
Jiang Huijun smiled coldly: “If I can’t defeat her, we can just wait for the Soultaker to return from outside the county and capture her directly. Then, my dear boy, you can do as you please with this slut.”
Clang——!!
A streak of green light suddenly shot towards them. Jiang Huijun’s expression turned serious, and she quickly waved her sleeve to block.
As Yin energy exploded and scattered, the green light was deflected upwards, piercing through the roof of the pavilion, sending dust and debris raining down.
She stumbled back two steps, green smoke rising from her sleeves, her expression turning even colder.
“Are these the abilities of the Azure Lady of Mount Min? Nothing special.”
“Trying to provoke your opponent with words and make them lose their composure sometimes has the opposite effect.”
Yang Chanzhen lowered her right hand indifferently and walked towards the pavilion with graceful steps. “This is just a small warning, telling you to hold your tongue. Be careful not to be left speechless and embarrassed when you’re defeated.”
Jiang Huijun waved away the green smoke on her sleeves and sneered: “Then let’s see whose cultivation is more profound and whose methods are more refined!”
“Attack!”
Huang Qiuli, who was being protected behind her, suddenly shouted.
Hum!
In an instant, several men in black robes emerged from around the courtyard. A total of twelve people raised their hands and pointed at Yang Chanzhen in the center. Numerous blood-red threads, tangible and real, shot towards her from all directions, melting and tearing through the trees and rocks in their path, a terrifying sight!
Yang Chanzhen’s purple eyes flickered, and she formed hand seals, green light swirling around her, deflecting all the blood-red threads.
Flicking her fingers repeatedly, profound rays of light crushed and scattered the invisible curses and Yin techniques, creating ripples like water waves in the courtyard.
“To barge into our territory alone, you truly don’t know what’s good for you!”
Just then, Jiang Huijun grinned ferociously, spreading her arms, and a wave of pitch-black shadows instantly surged towards Yang Chanzhen!
Countless sharp ghostly hands seemed to be churning and tearing within the shadows, cold light attacking from all directions. A soul-stirring demonic chant echoed, making the old, weak, women, and children kneeling in the courtyard scream and cover their ears, trembling in fear.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—!
Yang Chanzhen remained unmoved, her gaze calm as she formed hand seals, green light swirling around her, as if a green bird was chirping and screaming. The clear and melodious sound suddenly drowned out the disturbing demonic chant, making the civilians’ eyes clear, and they recovered from their fear and confusion.
Looking up with some effort, they saw the two mysterious women clashing fiercely in mid-air, green and red lights intertwining and colliding, creating sonic booms and sending debris flying.
The ancient and elegant pavilion had already been shattered by the impact, turning into countless grains of sand, which Jiang Huijun casually manipulated, compressing and condensing them into dozens of sand swords, raining down like raindrops.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—!
Green light swirled, and the sand swords were shattered and broken one by one, scattering into dust and being swept into the air by the swirling vortex of Yin energy, disappearing into the dark and gloomy black mist.
“Th-This…”
This incredible and unbelievable scene left everyone dumbfounded, as if they were in a dream.
The aftermath of this battle between what seemed like celestial beings shook their minds and souls, making them feel as if their breathing had stopped.
“Attack! Attack! Attack quickly!”
Huang Qiuli’s forehead was covered in sweat as he shouted repeatedly. The men in black robes also quickly cast Yin techniques, trying to distract Yang Chanzhen.
But the young woman just glanced at them coldly, a glint in her eyes. An invisible barrier blocked all the incoming Yin techniques, and with a wave of her sleeve, several rays of light shot out in retaliation.
“Still trying to fight back… delusional!”
Jiang Huijun sneered again and swiped her finger. Several sand blades shot out from the surrounding black mist, shattering and breaking the rays of light.
“You dare to be distracted by other enemies while fighting against me?”
“…”
Yang Chanzhen calmly withdrew her gaze, the hand seals in her hand subtly changing, jade-like lotus petals blooming around her.
Seeing this, Jiang Huijun’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that this aura was extraordinary and shouldn’t be underestimated.
But—
She suddenly smiled strangely, tapping her foot lightly on the ground. Numerous sand blades erupted from the floor tiles beneath her, aiming at the six men who were still bound and unable to move, and countless blood-red threads and dark currents surrounded the old, weak, women, and children lying on the ground.
“Azure Lady of Mount Min, if you dare to move again, all these people will die because of you.”
Jiang Huijun smiled coldly, waving her sleeve, and sneered: “You came here to uphold justice, but if these innocent people die because of your recklessness… do you think you still have the right to call yourselves righteous?
That little girl’s father is hanging from those chains. I only need a single thought to kill him. Can you really stop me with your methods?
If you don’t want to see these people die in vain, then release your protective technique and obey my orders.”
“…”
But despite these threats, Yang Chanzhen just looked at her calmly, her gaze unwavering.
This unexpected calmness made Jiang Huijun feel a strange sense of unease, her brows furrowing slightly.
—Something wasn’t right.
Although the Azure Lady of Mount Min was rumored to be calm and indifferent, it was impossible for her to be completely unmoved by such threats.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stood up for that scholar, risking conflict with the Luo Xing.
But now, facing the life and death of these civilians, she was still as calm as ever, as if she didn’t care about their fate at all?
Could it be that the Azure Lady of Mount Min didn’t actually care about these people, and was simply acting according to… that scholar’s wishes?
In that case, she would secretly manipulate the scholar’s mind and make him kill himself, disrupting the Azure Lady’s composure!
“—Old woman, stop your delusional thoughts.”
A chuckle suddenly rang out not far away.
Jiang Huijun’s expression froze.
Only then did she snap out of her momentary daze, her heart filled with shock and horror.
Looking closely, she was horrified to find that the old, weak, women, and children who had been restrained by her had all disappeared!
And that voice was—
Clang!
As the sound of breaking chains echoed, Jiang Huijun and the others looked over in shock and disbelief.
Lin Tianlu was supporting Lin Huan, who had fallen from the torture rack, and said gently: “Sir, do you have the strength to walk to the front gate and reunite with your wife and daughter?”
“Th-Thank you for saving me, benefactor!”
Lin Huan was also dazed and bewildered, but he quickly reacted and stood up with trembling legs, his battered body limping towards the gate.
“H-How is this possible?!”
Huang Qiuli’s face was full of shock and disbelief, clearly unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Why had the hostages disappeared, and how had this scholar suddenly appeared beside the torture rack and saved Lin Huan?
Jiang Huijun’s heart skipped a beat, and she glared coldly at Yang Chanzhen: “You slut, you used some kind of bewitching technique!”
“All’s fair in war.”
Yang Chanzhen’s expression remained calm, and she said softly: “When dealing with villains like you, we can’t give you any leverage.
Otherwise, why do you think I would directly attack here in the courtyard, without caring about the safety of those civilians?”
“It’s truly thanks to Miss Yang’s help.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly: “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to rescue those people so easily. It would have been truly disgusting if you had used them as hostages.”
Jiang Huijun’s expression turned even more furious, and she suddenly reached out and grabbed at him: “Then it’s your turn to die!”
Slap!
The Yin energy that had just gathered instantly exploded and dissipated.
The disappearing strands of Yin energy swept through the courtyard, making Jiang Huijun, Huang Qiuli, and the others stare blankly at this unbelievable scene.
The scholar stood there unharmed.
“Foolish.”
Yang Chanzhen’s cold and ethereal voice drifted softly in the wind:
“Did you really think that Master Lin… was just a weak and defenseless scholar?”
Jiang Huijun’s pupils constricted, and she immediately mobilized all her Yin energy, ghostly flames formed from Crimson Sun Essence seemingly burning fiercely in her sleeves. These flames transformed into several twisted and terrifying ghostly figures, the terrifying pressure even pushing Huang Qiuli and the others behind her back, making them stumble and fall to the ground.
“You dared to trick us—”
Her face full of anger and shock, she waved her hand and struck out, the flames behind her surging like a raging wave: “Damn it!”
Facing the fierce flames, Lin Tianlu smiled coldly, extending both his hands from beneath his sleeves.
Rip!
The wave of flames was torn apart by his bare hands, crashing into the rockery behind him, sending dust and debris flying.
Backlit by the flames, Lin Tianlu walked forward step by step, his expression becoming more calm and indifferent.
“Aiding and abetting evil, you, like your lover, deserve to die.”
Jiang Huijun’s expression changed drastically, and she was about to use another technique when a black shadow suddenly approached rapidly from the corner of her eye.
Until—
Slap!
“Ah!”
With a scream, Jiang Huijun was sent flying by a slap, the layers of protective Yin energy around her shattering like paper. She tumbled through the air and landed on the ground, coughing repeatedly.
“…”
Huang Qiuli was completely stunned.
His backer, the Luo Xing envoy, had been sent flying by a single slap from this scholar?!
His mind raced in terror, and he glanced around, horrified to find that all his subordinates had already been knocked unconscious.
“There’s nothing more to say to a villain like you.”
Lin Tianlu looked sideways, a kind smile on his face: “How about atoning for your sins with your death?”
“…W-Wait! Hold on!”
Huang Qiuli immediately screamed, scrambling to his knees and kowtowing repeatedly, his face contorted: “P-Please spare my life! Although I’ve done some bad things, I haven’t killed anyone! And… and I’ve also donated money to the county these years, I can’t be said to be completely deserving of death!”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle: “Your ability to adapt to the situation is quite impressive.”
“Th-This is just me being honest with you, my lord.”
Huang Qiuli quickly put on a harmless and honest smile, shrugging his shoulders and chuckling awkwardly: “You can punish me however you want, even imprisoning me for decades is fine. I just beg you to spare my life, my lord. After all, these years… I was just being manipulated by that demoness, I couldn’t help myself!”
Jiang Huijun, who had just struggled to get up from the ground, was dumbfounded upon hearing this, even her attempt to intervene froze.
“Y-You—”
“You demoness, you still dare to speak! Now that this lord is here, it’s time for you to be punished!” Huang Qiuli, as if he had truly suffered years of injustice and humiliation, pointed at her and roared furiously: “You’ve been bullying and manipulating me all these years, even using demonic techniques to erode my mind, just so I could be your toy, forcing me to harm the people in the county and absorb their Yin energy and soul power for you, and now you still want to deny it?!”
Jiang Huijun’s eyes widened in fury. She was about to speak when her face suddenly turned pale as a sheet, and she collapsed to the ground, the Yin energy around her dissipating.
“Look, my lord! I’ve exposed the truth, and now this demoness is speechless!”
Huang Qiuli reached out excitedly.
“Merchant Huang’s ability to change his tune is truly remarkable.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly.
Then, he grabbed Huang Qiuli’s outstretched right hand.
As Huang Qiuli’s smile froze, Lin Tianlu slowly pulled out a long, blood-red needle from his sleeve: “It’s a pity that you can’t hide your killing intent. Trying to harm someone with such a sinister method is as childish and boring as a child’s prank.”
Huang Qiuli’s face instantly turned pale, and he shouted: “Madam Jiang, save me!”
“How dare you!!”
Jiang Huijun, who had been looking weak and exhausted, suddenly screamed: “A Luo Xing Soultaker is currently in Boyang County! If he learns that an envoy has been killed, both you and the Azure Lady of Mount Min will be buried with us! And the hundreds of thousands of people in this town will also die a horrible death!”
“Soultaker?”
Lin Tianlu smiled noncommittally.
But at this moment, a figure tore through the black mist enveloping the Huang Mansion and landed heavily in the middle of the courtyard!
“Luo Xing, Soultaker?”
As the dust settled, a handsome man strode out, his hands behind his back, his eyes like lightning, staring intently: “I crippled his cultivation for a hundred years, he’s already fled, who can save you now!”
