Chapter 330: A Subtle Fragrance, A Matter of Fate
Rumble, rumble—
The sound of the carriage wheels was particularly clear in the quiet night.
Lin Tianlu drove the carriage quietly, leaning against the frame and resting with his eyes closed. Unknowingly, they had left Fengtai County, following the river towards the interior, preparing to head towards Boyang Province, several hundred miles away, where the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion was located.
“…”
Youluo sat beside him with her legs crossed, glancing at his profile, and then at Yun Yue inside the carriage.
And Yun Yue, as if understanding her thoughts without needing words, smiled gently, her fluffy fox tail extending and wrapping around Lin Tianlu, “dragging” him into the carriage.
Lin Tianlu was startled awake and asked in surprise: “Yue’er, what are you…”
Yun Yue gently embraced him: “Let Miss Youluo drive for a while, Tianlu, you should lie down and rest.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a decent driver, I won’t crash the carriage.”
Hearing their conversation, Youluo waved her hand dismissively without turning around, her tone casual and frivolous.
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but smile wryly and leaned back against the soft interior of the carriage.
He had barely slept in the past few days. Although he wasn’t tired, it was good to relax and rest for a while.
Yun Yue looked down at his sleeping face, her beautiful eyes shimmering like water, the smile on her lips widening. Her delicate hand gently moved down his body, massaging and kneading his muscles.
Until… a subtle fragrance filled the air, a hint of passion emerging.
…
Youluo took the reins, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“This scholar has finally let his guard down, truly treating me as a trustworthy friend.”
Although with her current abilities, she couldn’t harm Lin Tianlu, capturing the three women inside the carriage wouldn’t be too difficult if she launched a surprise attack.
Even that Cang Hu, Yun Yue, wouldn’t be able to resist if caught off guard, she would have to kneel obediently and let Youluo have her way with her.
However—
“Although it’s a waste of my meticulous preparations, after such a dangerous incident, it’s good for you all to rest properly.”
Youluo casually leaned sideways, a gentle and playful smile on her face.
This unexpected journey had also brought her many interesting experiences, making it a worthwhile trip.
Mmm, mmm… kissing sounds
Faint sounds drifted from inside the carriage. Youluo’s smile froze slightly, and she instinctively glanced back to see that the carriage curtain had been drawn at some point.
And through the faint moonlight, she could vaguely see a figure leaning forward, their head lowered, their body moving rhythmically, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, occasionally twisting and swaying, like ripples on water. And there were also strange, wet sounds, and soft moans, a very suggestive scene.
“…That fox is truly bold.”
Youluo’s face unconsciously flushed slightly, a seductive charm appearing on her face, and she looked away, a shy and slightly annoyed look on her face, touching her forehead lightly.
Could it be… that they were deliberately “showing off” to her?
…
The fourth watch approached, the moonlight growing colder.
After passing through a steep and damp bamboo forest path, the road ahead suddenly opened up.
Looking back in the direction of Fengtai County, although they were quite far away, even a Savage Realm demon or ghost wouldn’t be able to reach them instantly. But if one carefully sensed the fluctuations of Yin energy, they could still feel the distant turmoil.
The battle showed no signs of subsiding, instead intensifying, even more so than a few hours ago.
If they were to return now, they would surely see demons, ghosts, and practitioners from dozens of factions fighting fiercely, a bloody battlefield.
“Pfft—!”
A mouthful of blood, mixed with black smoke, spurted out, staining the ground.
Tang Qianmen stumbled a few steps, looking anxiously at Qiu Shuihan, who had fallen to her knees.
“You can’t hold on any longer?”
“Ha… The Luo Xing Soultaker’s methods are truly strange. I thought I could last a bit longer after taking that palm strike.”
Qiu Shuihan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with a wry smile, her hand trembling as she pressed against her seemingly burned right shoulder, and sighed softly: “I should have just abandoned you two burdens halfway.”
Tang Qianmen helped her up from the ground with some effort and whispered: “How much strength do you have left?”
“Barely enough… to reach that town a few miles away.”
The playful look on Qiu Shuihan’s face faded, and she glanced back resentfully: “Although I think I’ve shaken off that troublesome Soultaker, he’s elusive, he might catch up again later.
We have to conceal our auras and disguise ourselves, blending in with the mortals, so he won’t recognize us.”
This was just a desperate measure.
Although their clash had been brief, Qiu Shuihan knew that she was no match for that Luo Xing Soultaker.
And having been struck by his palm, the strange and stubborn Yin energy clinging to her body was incredibly difficult to dispel, the sinister and vicious curse constantly gnawing at her body and soul.
Even if she cut off her arm and shoulder, this strange technique might continue to spread through her soul.
Because of this, Qiu Shuihan could only flee with Tang Qianmen and Mo Duanyan, not daring to stop and rest.
If they were truly caught by that Soultaker…
Even an ordinary person could imagine their fate.
“I didn’t expect to be fleeing like this with you one day.”
Tang Qianmen supported her as they continued to move forward.
Qiu Shuihan, leaning on her, couldn’t help but chuckle softly: “Meeting you last night was truly unlucky. I should have stayed away from you.”
“We’re not his primary target, it’s you… the renowned Lingluo Woman.”
Tang Qianmen retorted indifferently: “Thinking about it carefully, we’re the ones who were dragged into this escape because of you. You’ll have to compensate us later.”
“Let’s worry about that after we survive.” Qiu Shuihan bit her lip lightly, formed a hand seal, and countless silver threads quickly emerged from her sleeve, wrapping around them.
With a flash of silver light, their appearances instantly changed.
As they leaped and landed in the quiet morning streets of the town, their bodies were now clad in simple and elegant cotton dresses, looking like weary travelers. Although their skin was still delicate and their faces beautiful, they were completely different from before, as if they had become ordinary mortal women, without any spiritual aura.
“Cough, cough…”
Qiu Shuihan coughed lightly, her face slightly pale, looking weak and delicate.
Tang Qianmen also took out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth, like a close and caring friend.
After leaving the winding alley and returning to the main street—
“Young ladies, are you—”
An elderly farmer looked at them in surprise.
Tang Qianmen quickly said: “Could you tell us where the medical clinic is? My friend here has caught a cold, she has a high fever, and we want to see a doctor as soon as possible.”
The farmer pointed in a direction and said with concern: “Judging by her pale face, her illness must be quite serious. You can ask the old doctor at the Huichun Clinic, he should be able to treat her.”
“Thank you for your guidance.” Tang Qianmen nodded slightly and quickly helped Qiu Shuihan towards the clinic.
Now that they had concealed their appearances and auras, and weren’t using any Yin techniques, their behavior was like that of ordinary village women.
Walking openly on the street, even if that Soultaker came here, he probably wouldn’t notice—
“…”
But the next moment, they both stopped abruptly.
Tang Qianmen’s eyes widened, but she quickly regained her anxious and uneasy expression, about to continue walking with Qiu Shuihan.
But a light and casual, mocking chuckle suddenly made their hearts sink.
“I didn’t expect the Incense Master of the Zhaoxiao Court and the Lingluo Woman of the Lingluo Valley, despite their public conflicts, to be so close in private, almost like confidantes. Your cooperation is truly seamless and efficient, even I almost missed it.”
Looking over, they saw the masked man casually sitting on the roof of a house across the street, idly tossing a roof tile in his hand.
He had clearly seen through their disguise.
There was no point in pretending anymore.
Tang Qianmen narrowed her eyes and said in a deep voice: “Soultaker, you chased us for dozens of miles, all the way to another town, what’s the point?
Even if you capture us and bring us back to Fengtai County, with the time it takes to go back and forth, our presence there would be meaningless in this chaotic battle.”
“You’re right.”
The masked man chuckled: “You’re both injured, your strength greatly diminished. Even if you returned to Fengtai County, you would just become easy targets. Capturing you would just be adding two more playthings to my collection, pointless.”
Qiu Shuihan’s expression darkened: “Then what do you want—”
“To add fuel to the fire.”
The masked man rested his chin on his hand and sneered: “Since a great battle has begun in the demon and ghost world, and all the factions are fighting, how can I let these mortal ‘livestock’ stay out of it and watch from the sidelines?”
Tang Qianmen’s eyes widened slightly.
Could it be that this person’s target wasn’t just the two of them, but… the thousand or so villagers in this town?!
“With you two as the main ingredients, and these thousand mortal bodies and souls as supplements, it will surely make a delicious meal.”
The masked man chuckled coldly and sinisterly, raising his hand and pointing. A strange black seal spread out, instantly enveloping the area within a hundred feet, freezing Tang Qianmen and Qiu Shuihan in place, their faces filled with terror, unable to move or break free!
“I messed around with that boy for a while, and now my plan is only half-complete, and I’ve even lost track of my target… Before my true mission begins, harvesting this small appetizer is some consolation.”
As his fingers gradually tightened, Tang Qianmen and Qiu Shuihan’s pupils constricted abruptly, feeling their souls being pulled and shaken, as if they were about to be forcibly extracted!
If even they were like this, the mortals within a hundred feet would surely— But at that moment, the terrifying formation suddenly collapsed, making both of them freeze in surprise.
At the same time, the sound of a carriage slowly approached, along with a slightly surprised greeting.
“Miss Tang, long time no see, I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“Cough, cough, cough—!”
Tang Qianmen and Qiu Shuihan felt the restraints on their bodies disappear, and they trembled, collapsing weakly to the ground as if all their strength had been drained.
They quickly looked over and saw a carriage slowly approaching along the street…
After seeing the newcomer’s face clearly, Tang Qianmen’s expression turned even grimmer, her face filled with shock and terror, and she stammered: “H-How… how could it be… you…!”
“There’s no need to be so afraid, Miss Tang.”
As the carriage stopped by the roadside, a handsome scholar quickly jumped down from the driver’s seat and walked towards them with a kind smile: “I just happened to be passing through this town, our meeting is purely coincidental.”
“Y-You, you, you…”
Tang Qianmen was trembling so much that she couldn’t speak.
Qiu Shuihan, who had been puzzled, saw the terrified and shaken look on Tang Qianmen’s face, and a surprised guess arose in her heart.
Who in this world could make the usually arrogant and seductive Tang Qianmen tremble with fear, like a little girl facing a wolf?
Only… Lin Tianlu!
“However, it seems you have quite a few hidden injuries, Miss Tang.”
Lin Tianlu supported her trembling shoulders and whispered: “It seems you’ve been through a lot recently, Miss Tang.”
Although Tang Qianmen was still looking up, her eyes were filled with timidity and vulnerability, and she said in a trembling and pitiful voice: “I-I just want to… break free from the past…”
“Now is not the time for lengthy conversations!”
Qiu Shuihan suddenly interrupted, saying urgently: “Master Lin, if you’re acquainted with Miss Tang, please help us! That evil villain is chasing after us!”
Lin Tianlu looked at her in surprise.
How did this stranger know him?
However, now wasn’t the time for detailed inquiries.
Lin Tianlu patted Tang Qianmen’s shoulder and said: “Just sit here and don’t move, Miss.”
Then, he stood up and looked at the masked man sitting on the roof.
“It seems… you’re the villain who’s trying to harm people?”
“Ah… so you’re the Lin Tianlu they’ve been talking about?”
The masked man looked slightly surprised, casually looking him up and down: “You look younger and more handsome than in the portraits.”
“You flatter me.”
“…Heh! That Bai boy sent people to search and capture you for days, but they couldn’t even find a trace, watching their target vanish into thin air… and I just happened to encounter you here!”
The masked man suddenly burst into laughter.
“If I call him back now, perhaps we can have an interesting show.
So—Master Lin, would you kindly stay here and not move? We, the Luo Xing, have some scores to settle with you.”
Hum!
Numerous illusory blades materialized beside the carriage, aiming at them from all directions, a chilling and baleful aura emanating from them.
The masked man raised his hand, maintaining his deadly attack, tilting his head slightly, and sneered: “Let me see how much you’re hiding, Lin Tianlu, and if you can save the women in your carriage in an instant.”
Seeing this, Lin Tianlu wasn’t panicked or worried at all, instead, he sighed helplessly: “So it’s this trick again.”
“Hmm?”
The masked man exclaimed softly, feeling a bit strange.
Based on the intelligence he had gathered, although this scholar possessed earth-shattering cultivation, his personality was like that of an ordinary mortal, particularly concerned about the safety and well-being of his wives.
Although his two wives also possessed some extraordinary abilities and had even managed to suppress Bai Shiyi’s soul fragment in their rage, the only true expert among them was that strange fox woman.
But as long as he threatened the other villagers in this village, taking their lives as leverage, this scholar should have panicked and become flustered, but why— “You want to see my abilities.”
His five fingers had silently landed on the masked man’s chest.
The masked man’s pupils constricted as he looked at Lin Tianlu, who had appeared before him like a phantom, his face filled with shock and terror.
How did he get so close so suddenly—
Bam!!
With a single palm strike, the mask on his face shattered into countless pieces. His body was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the ground, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
Lin Tianlu shook off the mask fragments from his hand and said indifferently:
“A gentleman should be responsible for his actions. But since you aren’t, I’ll help you become more of a ‘gentleman,’ so you don’t have to hide your face anymore.”
