Chapter 325: A Helpless Gambit, Sighs of Hidden Worry
The blood mist dissipated, the baleful energy vanished, and the area around Immortal Phoenix Mountain gradually returned to its former peace and tranquility.
Youluo glanced at the unconscious Chi Lingyuan and couldn’t help but chuckle:
“That baleful spirit formed from the eight clans was so foolish until the very end. Trying to use this woman’s body as a vessel for rebirth, it didn’t expect her soul to be so strong and resolute, completely unyielding, instead being incinerated by the Chihuang flames into nothingness.”
After all, Chi Lingyuan was an “immortal beast” from ancient times.
Her foundation and origin were far beyond the reach of such a filthy and evil being.
If it weren’t for Fu Qingning’s sudden appearance and the successive shocks and disturbances, perhaps Chi Lingyuan, with her true abilities… could have resolved this crisis on her own.
Perhaps it was because of this that the baleful spirit of the eight clans had tried to kill her first, to eliminate any potential threats.
“…”
Lin Tianlu silently looked towards the eight clans’ secret realm, confirming that the gate had completely collapsed and been destroyed before finally relaxing.
Now, the crisis was truly over.
At the same time, Yun Yue and Mao Ruoyu were helping Cheng Yishi, who was stumbling, walk over. Both women looked rather disheveled.
Lin Tianlu’s expression changed slightly: “Yishi, your injuries—”
“Just some minor external injuries, nothing serious.”
Cheng Yishi’s hair was disheveled, and she forced a faint smile. Mao Ruoyu frowned and murmured: “Your internal injuries are serious, there’s no need to endure it silently.”
“It doesn’t really hurt, it’s fine.”
“To survive against Savage Realm corpse puppets and even fight back, you two are truly extraordinary.”
Youluo looked at them with an admiring smile: “If word of this spreads, it will surely shock many people.”
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi were about to speak when Youluo winked playfully and put a finger to her lips, shushing them.
“Alright, no need to say more, let’s find a place to rest first. The tremors just now have collapsed the original stone palace, we should—”
“Follow me.”
A cold and calm voice echoed softly.
Everyone looked towards the voice and saw the snow-white woman quietly appear.
She glanced indifferently at the unconscious Chi Lingyuan and said softly: “My dwelling is safe for now, you can rest there… Please don’t resist.”
With a wave of her sleeve, a cold aura enveloped them, and they flew towards the foot of the cliff.
…
About half an hour later.
Inside a simple and elegant bamboo house in the mountains, a faint fragrance lingered, and the warm steam from tea filled the air, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Chi Lingyuan suddenly opened her eyes, waking from her dream, and sat up abruptly in bed.
She clutched her forehead and frowned, as if she had just awakened from an unforgettable nightmare.
But after a moment of silence, she exhaled softly in relief:
“…Eh?”
Her mind clearing slightly, she blinked her beautiful eyes in a daze, looking at Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi, who were also lying in bed, momentarily unable to react.
“You’re quite energetic, Miss Chi, to have woken up so quickly?”
“Sir?”
Chi Lingyuan turned her head and saw Lin Tianlu sitting on a wooden chair beside the bed, a confused look on her face.
Her thoughts racing, she quickly realized what had happened.
“D-Did you… take advantage of me in my sleep, sir?”
She immediately put on a pitiful and seductive expression, her eyelashes drooping slightly, clutching the thin blanket covering her chest like a shy and innocent young girl, and whispered softly: “If that’s the case, then I… can only marry you, sir.”
“Cough!”
Lin Tianlu, who had been about to greet her with a smile, coughed awkwardly, his eye twitching.
“Miss Chi, since when did you learn to make such jokes?”
Chi Lingyuan couldn’t help but smile, covering her mouth with a giggle: “Seeing myself lying in bed with your two wives, I couldn’t help but let my imagination run wild. And seeing you, sir, I couldn’t resist teasing you a bit.”
Her words were truly straightforward and blunt.
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but laugh wryly. He was about to explain what had happened, but Chi Lingyuan quickly softened her tone and said gently: “I’ve already guessed most of it, there’s no need to explain.”
“Then you, Miss Chi, you’re…”
“I was caught off guard when it happened.”
Chi Lingyuan brushed her hair and smiled gently: “But after a good night’s sleep, those things are like fleeting clouds, dwelling on them would only bring sadness and frustration.”
Lin Tianlu put down his teacup, speechless.
Although she spoke lightly and casually, such betrayal would be difficult for anyone to overcome.
Having kept her promise and guarded the secret realm for four thousand years, only to be deceived and betrayed in the end, even almost killed and turned into a corpse puppet.
Although Fu Qingning was a puppet controlled by the millions of vengeful spirits of the eight clans, her words, her true nature…
…weren’t fake.
From beginning to end, she had been deceiving Chi Lingyuan.
He had learned from Youluo earlier that Fu Qingning wasn’t a “fool,” but a truly ruthless character.
Her heart was cruel and decisive, cunning and intelligent, a master of schemes and plots. No matter who she interacted with, she could manipulate them with her honeyed words.
Until she rose to the position of one of the eight emperors, relying on her extraordinary talent. In the eyes of the world, this Shaoqing Emperor, Fu Qingning, was still pure and innocent, untainted like a lotus flower emerging from mud, hence her title, “Shaoqing.”
But in reality, she had been secretly plotting and scheming, causing wave after wave of turmoil within the eight clans, manipulating power and playing mind games. Within just a few hundred years, almost half of the high-ranking members of the eight clans had been dragged into her schemes.
Either through instigation, alienation, or creating incidents—
This woman possessed extraordinary intelligence and cunning, her position becoming more and more secure over the centuries, her name as the Shaoqing Emperor known far and wide.
But it was precisely because she was too clever that she ultimately dragged the entire eight clans into an inescapable abyss, leading to their destruction.
She was no longer content with the current state of the eight clans, wanting to achieve greater things, to reach even greater heights. So, she bound the fate of the eight clans together, taking a gamble, trying to make a comeback after four thousand years and reappear in the world.
In the end, a crushing defeat.
The eight clans were annihilated, leaving behind only an endless tide of corpses and resentment.
Youluo naturally couldn’t recount all the conflicts, schemes, and betrayals that had occurred over the millennia, but Lin Tianlu understood that the Shaoqing Emperor, Fu Qingning, hadn’t changed at all.
She had approached Chi Lingyuan in the guise of a pure and innocent young girl, given her this place to live, and even entrusted her with a promise, making her guard the secret realm for four thousand years. It wasn’t an act of kindness, but a complete and utter deception.
The secret realm needed a remote location for concealment and a powerful guardian.
And when the secret realm was unsealed, Chi Lingyuan, the ancient Chihuang, her blood, bones, flesh… even her soul, would be the perfect materials, providing unparalleled power for the eight clans’ resurgence. Even if she was killed and turned into a corpse puppet, she would still be an incredibly powerful “tool.”
During their interactions four thousand years ago, Fu Qingning, with her sweet smiles and laughter, had already thoroughly understood Chi Lingyuan’s personality.
This deadly trap had been set the moment they met, perhaps even the words, ambush, and methods for their reunion today had already been planned.
“—You seem more troubled than I am, sir.”
A soft and seductive chuckle suddenly broke the silence in the room.
Chi Lingyuan casually lifted the blanket, stretched languidly and seductively, letting out a soft moan.
Lin Tianlu was stunned and quickly looked away, coughing lightly: “Miss, you’re not wearing any clothes.”
He had asked Yun Yue to help her undress and clean up so he could apply medicinal ointment.
“You’ve already seen it, sir, what does it matter if you look again?”
Chi Lingyuan smiled playfully, her golden eyes blinking, her voice even softer and more seductive, echoing in his ears like sweet syrup: “Besides, since you saved my life, even offering my body wouldn’t be too much, why worry about such trivial matters?”
“Miss, you…”
“Giggle~ I’m just joking, sir, there’s no need to be so embarrassed.”
She quickly waved her hand with a smile, and with a flick of her finger, a thin and close-fitting robe appeared on her body, outlining her alluring curves, her voluptuous figure on full display.
“However, this sudden incident with the eight clans has caused you some trouble.”
Chi Lingyuan gathered her hair and tied it up casually, glancing sideways at Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi, who were lying in bed: “Both madams are injured, it seems there was a fierce battle outside the barrier as well.”
“Indeed.”
Lin Tianlu nodded and smiled faintly: “But thanks to your practical guidance earlier, they’ve both improved significantly and were able to hold their own against those corpse puppets, stalling for time until Miss Youluo rescued them.”
Or rather…
Cheng Yishi, her body swirling with seductive blood light, had almost completely suppressed the corpse puppets, the battle incredibly fierce. That was why she had suffered quite a few internal injuries—that girl had even tried to kill a corpse puppet with her own strength, fighting desperately.
“Although the two madams are not in mortal danger, they were still frightened, I have to help them.” Chi Lingyuan raised her finger and pricked it, drawing blood.
The moment blood seeped out, she quickly pressed her finger against Mao Ruoyu’s lips.
A faint red halo appeared. Lin Tianlu had just stood up and approached when he clearly sensed Mao Ruoyu’s aura becoming calmer and more stable.
“Miss Chi, you’re…”
“They worked so hard, I naturally have to show some hospitality.”
Chi Lingyuan smiled gently and then pressed her finger against Cheng Yishi’s lips: “My Chihuang bloodline has incredibly strong life force. Let them have a taste, it can even help regrow lost limbs. However—”
She raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Although her bloodline was far superior to any treasures in this world, it wasn’t something mortals could easily absorb, it required years of refinement.
But now, as her blood entered their bodies, she could feel that they had already absorbed and converted it completely, without any leakage. Such an extraordinary physique and talent were truly rare in this world.
“Alright, after they wake up from their sweet dreams, their bodies will be completely healed, without any lingering injuries or hidden ailments.” Chi Lingyuan winked playfully: “Perhaps they’ll even benefit from this misfortune and increase their cultivation~”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned complex, and he cupped his hands: “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Chi, on behalf of my two wives, I—”
“Shh!”
Chi Lingyuan interrupted him with a gentle smile: “You saved my life, sir, and I haven’t repaid you yet, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly and suddenly grabbed her finger.
“You should take better care of yourself, Miss.”
“—Eh?”
Feeling a warm current flowing into her body through his fingertips, Chi Lingyuan was momentarily stunned.
But she quickly blushed, her eyes moist and seductive, and murmured: “Indeed… this feeling…”
“If you’re still feeling sad or troubled, Miss, tell me.”
Lin Tianlu knelt down beside her and said gently: “I will listen and help you.”
“…”
Looking at the man’s calm and deep eyes, ripples appeared in Chi Lingyuan’s heart, but a gentle smile appeared on her face: “I’ve already said, sir, you’re so kind and considerate that you’ll surely be deceived by some bad woman one day. Although you have a keen eye, you can’t see through the ever-changing human heart. If you suffer any losses, your two wives will be heartbroken.”
Lin Tianlu looked at her usual cheerful smile and sighed inwardly.
He could naturally see—
That although she wasn’t sorrowful or regretful, there was still some bitterness and helplessness in her heart.
But perhaps after experiencing so much hardship and turmoil, she had become accustomed to burying these feelings deep down, sitting alone in the mountain practicing martial arts and playing the qin, closing her eyes and feeling the passage of time.
“However—”
“Hmm?”
Lin Tianlu was about to listen attentively when he was suddenly stunned.
A soft and warm body pressed against him, her arms wrapping around his neck, like a gentle spring breeze. Her ample bosom felt as soft and light as clouds, melting in his embrace.
“I quite like your kindness, sir~”
Chi Lingyuan leaned against his ear and whispered with a smile: “Just seeing you so caring and considerate makes me content. All those past grudges are gone, and now my mind is filled with you, sir~”
Lin Tianlu raised his hands “to show his innocence” and chuckled awkwardly: “Please calm down, Miss Chi, I really just wanted to talk.”
They hadn’t even started talking seriously, why was she suddenly getting so intimate?
“Talk?”
Chi Lingyuan’s eyes flickered seductively, and she chuckled softly: “Are you trying to… steal my heart, sir?”
As she spoke, the phoenix girl, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, moved closer, standing on tiptoe and smiling as she snuggled into Lin Tianlu’s arms, her body pressing against his intimately, as if an invisible fire was burning in her chest.
“This is a small reward~”
She moaned softly and seductively, her voluptuous body twisting and wriggling, her soft flesh rubbing against him, the warm and jade-like touch making him feel as if he were floating in a sea of clouds, intoxicated and lost in the sensation.
Until—
Lin Tianlu, his body stiff, suddenly felt a kiss on his cheek.
“Hee hee~”
The seductive and passionate look on Chi Lingyuan’s face vanished as she pulled back, a bright and cheerful smile on her face, clearly teasing him deliberately.
“I thought you would at least make a strange expression.”
She chuckled playfully: “But this stunned and awkward look of yours is quite cute.”
Lin Tianlu’s lips twitched, feeling as if he had been treated like a child.
But after sighing inwardly, he smiled wryly and gently pushed her away, both of them standing up: “Since you can joke and laugh so cheerfully, Miss, it seems I was indeed overthinking things.”
“You finally realized~”
Chi Lingyuan’s expression softened, and she helped straighten his slightly wrinkled robe: “In terms of age, I’m much older than you, not some naive little girl, I know what I’m doing.”
“Oh my~”
Just then, a surprised and delicate female voice came from the door of the bamboo house.
“Did I interrupt something intimate between you two?”
Lin Tianlu felt a headache coming on, and he turned around and smiled wryly: “There’s no need to tease me, Miss Youluo.”
“This isn’t teasing, just concern and consideration.”
Youluo leaned against the door seductively, winking playfully: “If you want to kiss and cuddle with Miss Chi, Master Lin, I’ll naturally pretend I didn’t see anything and leave quietly for a while.”
Lin Tianlu felt embarrassed.
But Chi Lingyuan just blinked her beautiful eyes, a playful and meaningful smile on her face.
Youluo, being stared at like that, felt a strange and inexplicable tremor in her heart, and she couldn’t help but snort softly.
Lin Tianlu quickly coughed lightly and changed the subject: “Did you have something important to discuss, Miss?”
“…The commotion half an hour ago was quite significant. Even with the barrier around this place, it’s only a matter of time before the experts from the various factions gathered in Fengtai County arrive after hearing the noise.”
Youluo regained her usual seductive smile, playing with her folding fan, and chuckled: “The peace of Immortal Phoenix Mountain, which has lasted for thousands of years, might be broken tonight.”
Chi Lingyuan frowned slightly.
But Lin Tianlu seemed lost in thought, and he suddenly said:
“I have a good suggestion.”
