Chapter 344: Getting to the Bottom of Things, Sudden Changes
“Why is Mr. Lin in Qingyang…”
Shanghan’s young, pretty face was full of astonishment.
But before she could speak further, her expression turned serious as she looked warily towards the door.
Several martial artists, carrying swords, suddenly barged into the room and slammed the door shut.
At the same time, one of the men behind them formed hand seals, casting a restrictive Yin technique on the door, completely sealing off their escape route.
Their movements were smooth and practiced.
“Little girl, it was foolish of you to run into the restaurant.”
The middle-aged man in the lead sneered: “You thought you could distract us with the crowd inside, but our spies and men are everywhere, it’s easy for us to handle such a small situation.”
“Hmph!”
Shanghan frowned slightly and snorted coldly.
Lin Tianlu stood up, slightly surprised: “Miss Shanghan, what is the meaning of this—”
“…I apologize for interrupting your meal, sir.”
Shanghan bit her lip and glared at them, then quickly turned back with an apologetic smile: “I accidentally offended some villains here and was chased all the way here.”
“How did you suddenly offend them, Miss?” Lin Tianlu looked puzzled, stepping forward and asking: “And these gentlemen, they seem to be ghost practitioners?”
“Indeed.”
Shanghan snorted softly: “They’re truly malicious! They even tried to kill my senior brothers from the academy who were traveling with me. If I hadn’t been quick-witted, we would have all died in the wilderness.”
Clang——！
Blades were drawn as several shadowy figures attacked from all directions.
The previously lively restaurant instantly fell silent, the lights extinguished, a dim and gloomy darkness enveloping the private room, a chilling killing intent rising.
Shanghan instinctively tensed, ready to use her technique.
But with a flash of white light, several swords and blades clattered to the ground.
“Gentlemen, such violence isn’t appropriate, especially when traveling.”
Lin Tianlu flicked away a broken sword, his expression calm as he glanced sideways at the man beside him: “It’s always best to leave some leeway, so we can meet again in the future. To attack without explanation is a bit too lawless, don’t you think?”
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in shock.
But after a momentary daze, the men scattered around the room quickly retreated, forming hand seals— “…Kill!”
Black shadows surged, like ferocious ghosts, clawing and tearing as they pounced.
Shanghan, also caught in the attack, gritted her teeth, a heavy pressure on her chest, as if a giant rock had been placed upon it, her mind momentarily disoriented. Focusing her gaze, she saw the ghostly figures screaming and clawing before her, almost reaching her face!
—Slap!
A large hand casually swatted down, scattering the black shadows like smoke.
The dense and intertwining shadows instantly dissipated, and the chilling Yin energy in the room vanished without a trace.
“Wha—”
The villains were all dumbfounded, as if in a dream.
“Your techniques are becoming more and more sinister.” Lin Tianlu waved his hand helplessly: “Can’t you just stop and talk things out?”
“Let’s go!”
The man in the lead suddenly threw a strange black sphere as they all retreated, trying to break through the wooden walls of the pavilion and escape.
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly, raised his palm, and the black sphere, before it could explode, was blown towards the ceiling, crashing through the roof of the restaurant and exploding high in the air.
Just as he was about to capture them, the petite Shanghan beside him smiled playfully, her delicate hands quickly forming seals.
“—Don’t even think about escaping.”
The next moment, the villains collapsed to the ground as if struck by lightning, their eyes rolling back, their bodies convulsing, instantly losing consciousness.
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle, patting the young girl’s shoulder: “Your skills have improved quite a bit since we last met, Miss Shanghan.”
“You flatter me, Master~”
Shanghan smiled joyfully, clasping her hands in front of her and bowing, looking even more adorable and well-behaved.
The sudden conflict had ended silently, without even a sound reaching the outside.
Mao Ruoyu walked over with a surprised look: “I didn’t expect it to be you, Miss Shanghan.”
“Ah… Madam Mao, you’re here too!”
Shanghan turned around, her face lighting up with joy. Seeing the other two unfamiliar women, she bowed respectfully: “Greetings, sisters.”
“What a well-behaved and sensible little girl.” Youluo, sitting sideways with her chin resting on her hand, smiled with interest.
She looked closely at the young girl, who was still quite young, her figure slender and delicate, her face childish. But she was dressed in a light green Confucian skirt, a silk sash around her waist and chest, outlining her delicate figure like a porcelain doll. Standing beside Lin Tianlu, she looked even smaller, as if he could easily scoop her up in his arms.
Cheng Yishi was completely confused: “Do you know this young lady?”
“We met in Jianggai County.”
Mao Ruoyu smiled and explained: “We had a pleasant conversation and got along quite well. And Miss Shanghan’s grandfather even built an academy in the county, a righteous and respectable old man.”
Cheng Yishi suddenly remembered, vaguely recalling Linlang mentioning Miss Shanghan before.
However, she had thought she was just a child, she hadn’t expected her to be so pretty and petite, with braided hair, incredibly adorable and charming.
Shanghan’s eyes twinkled, and she bowed again with a smile: “Madam Cheng is truly a breathtaking beauty, just like Madam Mao!”
This girl…
Cheng Yishi couldn’t help but chuckle.
She truly was eloquent and clever, just as Linlang had said.
“Miss Shanghan, why don’t you tell us what happened?”
Lin Tianlu asked curiously: “Why were these people chasing after you so relentlessly?”
Shanghan quickly put away her sweet smile, straightened her back, and said seriously: “It’s the imperial examination period, and several of my senior brothers from the academy are originally from Qingyang Province, so I was instructed by my grandfather to bring them here for the exam.
But shortly after the results were announced, as we were about to return to Xima Prefecture, we were targeted by these villains.”
“Imperial examination?”
Lin Tianlu paused slightly, then realized: “No wonder you and Old Master Shang didn’t come to my wedding after I sent the invitation to Jianggai County, so that was the reason.”
“Eh? Did I miss it?” Shanghan blinked repeatedly, a look of regret appearing on her face: “Thank you for the invitation, Master Lin. Unfortunately, my grandfather and I had to take another group of examinees to other counties, neither of us were at the academy, so we didn’t reply in time. Please forgive us.”
“It’s fine.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently: “We can meet again when we have the chance.”
“Mm!”
Shanghan nodded vigorously, then glanced at the unconscious men lying on the ground, and mused: “I only had time to get my senior brothers to safety, but I realized that their true target was me. I could only flee and hide in several villages…
But I gradually figured out their methods. I originally planned to capture them all in this restaurant and then escape in the crowd, but unexpectedly, I encountered you all, Master Lin.”
Mao Ruoyu couldn’t help but admire her and bent down, patting the young girl’s head: “You’re truly clever and resourceful, Miss Shanghan.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Shanghan smiled sweetly.
Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin and asked: “What was their purpose in chasing after you?”
Shanghan’s pretty face showed a hint of seriousness:
“Because I accidentally stumbled upon… a group of strange people a while ago.”
“Strange people?”
Youluo chuckled: “For a practitioner who understands Yin techniques, what’s so strange about people?”
“Well… it truly was a gathering of strange and unheard-of people.”
Shanghan pouted slightly, her voice filled with confusion and unease: “That night, I was passing through this area, and to protect my senior brothers from any trouble, I went to scout the local villages alone. But unexpectedly, late at night, I saw several men staggering into an old mansion.
“I was curious and watched from afar, but I was immediately startled… the courtyard was filled with people, a huge crowd. And then they all disappeared into some kind of underground passage.
Looking closely, I noticed some vigorous martial artists and even some ghost practitioners among them, as if they were plotting something.”
Cheng Yishi asked, puzzled: “Although this is strange, but what about the strange people you mentioned—”
“I vaguely saw an old man dressed as a monk inside the courtyard, but his figure was incredibly thin and gaunt. He emanated a terrifying aura of death, just a glance was enough to make me tremble with fear, and I instinctively turned and fled.”
Shanghan clutched the hem of her green skirt and murmured: “After that, those villains started chasing after me relentlessly, wanting to silence me.”
“That monk didn’t attack you, Miss Shanghan?”
“He… didn’t seem to chase after me.” Shanghan whispered: “Perhaps I had concealed my presence, or perhaps they thought I was just an ordinary little girl and didn’t think much of it.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “If they truly had some grand conspiracy, their actions were truly careless and clumsy.”
Acting so openly without any concealment, easily seen by anyone passing by, and then sending people to chase and silence witnesses so half-heartedly…
They were no different from mindless bandits and thugs.
“Indeed.” Shanghan nodded slightly: “Those villains are truly foolish, I easily evaded them, they’ve been running around in circles in this town all day. However—”
Her expression didn’t improve, and she said in a deep voice: “But just a while ago, I realized that I was terribly wrong.”
Mao Ruoyu asked curiously: “What were you wrong about, Miss Shanghan? Could they be splitting up and targeting your senior brothers from the academy?”
“Naturally not.”
Shanghan shook her head: “My senior brothers are just ordinary scholars, they don’t care about their lives, even if they were drained of their Yang energy, it wouldn’t provide them with much cultivation. The reason they did this… was just to let me ‘play’ along.”
“Play?”
“They actually didn’t care about me at all, just sending those insignificant practitioners to chase after me.” Shanghan whispered: “I’m all alone in Qingyang Province, no one would believe a little girl’s words. Although I was being chased by a group of thugs, to say that these low-level practitioners were part of some grand conspiracy would be laughable.
And based on the bits and pieces I overheard from their conversations, the true mastermind has already left this place. They’re just pawns, creating a diversion and confusion. And I unknowingly became one of their ‘pawns’.”
“You’re quite a clever little girl.”
Youluo smiled: “It’s commendable that you realized you were being used as a decoy. This strategy of avoiding confrontation might have saved your life.”
Cheng Yishi frowned and mused: “It’s just a pity that we don’t know where those strange people have gone—”
“I actually know.”
Shanghan couldn’t help but smile proudly.
“Hmm?”
Seeing everyone looking at her, she seriously raised her delicate hand, gently closing it and then slowly opening it again.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, a blurry and indistinct… map materialized in her palm?!
Lin Tianlu asked in surprise: “Miss Shanghan, what is this—?”
“Those people, despite all their calculations, didn’t know that I secretly developed my own technique~”
Shanghan held up the map as if asking for praise, and chuckled: “My cultivation is very low, and I’m always at a disadvantage when fighting against other practitioners. The incident in Jianggai County made me determined to find another way.
And the result is this technique, named ‘Void Heaven Map’ by my grandfather!
Although I fled in a hurry that night, I secretly left behind some hidden anchor points, marking those dazed mortals. As long as they’re still within the range of the Void Heaven Map, their locations will be reflected on this map.”
Everyone looked closely and could indeed vaguely see a small light spot on the illusory map, and…
It wasn’t too far from here!
“I was worried about what to do, but now that you’re here, Master Lin, I’m sure you can handle it!”
“This technique of yours is truly impressive, Miss Shanghan.”
Lin Tianlu praised her with a smile.
Even Youluo looked at her with a hint of surprise.
Although this technique seemed simple and ordinary, the information it provided was astonishing. With more practice, its potential far surpassed ordinary combat methods.
This little girl, she had quite the talent.
“Since we know their location, we can eliminate them.” Cheng Yishi mused: “To be plotting in secret near Qingcheng, they must be planning something for the Qingyang Grand Ceremony… or perhaps, they’re targeting the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion directly.”
Hearing this, Lin Tianlu and Mao Ruoyu’s expressions turned serious.
Leaving aside any talk of righteousness or compassion, the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion was Shuya’s home. If they ignored this conspiracy, Shuya might be dragged into it. After all, she had already been targeted in Wuxing City, let alone in her own home?
“Miss Shanghan, you’ve been near Qingcheng recently, do you know when the Qingyang Grand Ceremony will be held?”
“It should be tomorrow at noon.”
“It seems time is of the essence.”
Lin Tianlu glanced sideways and exchanged glances with Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi.
After a moment of thought, he was about to speak when Mao Ruoyu said gently: “Husband, why don’t you go with Miss Shanghan and track down those villains? We’ll go to the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion and meet with Shuya. If there’s truly trouble in the mansion, we can help.”
“With me and Miss Yun here to protect them, no one can harm them.”
Youluo stood up gracefully, crossing her arms, her breasts swaying slightly as she chuckled: “Don’t worry, Master Lin.”
Lin Tianlu didn’t hesitate and nodded decisively: “Then I’ll trouble you again tonight. We’ll meet at the mansion tomorrow… If it’s on the way, I’ll buy some fresh pastries and bring them to the mansion.”
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi exchanged glances and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Then Yishi and I will buy some high-quality cosmetics to make Shuya and the other women in the mansion happy, so they’ll say nice things about you, husband.”
…
Lin Tianlu walked briskly along the deserted night path, occasionally looking around.
Beside him, Shanghan followed closely, her small hand clenched nervously, her face flushed as she stole glances at him. Then, as if feeling embarrassed, she bit her lip and pinched her leg beneath her skirt, the pain making her gasp softly.
This small movement naturally didn’t escape Lin Tianlu’s notice.
He chuckled and said: “Why are you torturing yourself, Miss Shanghan? Is there something you regret or haven’t finished?”
“I-I just realized that you and your two wives are newlyweds, and this is your honeymoon trip, Master.”
Shanghan shrugged her shoulders, fiddling with her fingers, and said anxiously: “I told you about this on my own initiative, interrupting your time together, I was being inconsiderate, I hope you’re not too angry, Master…”
“Silly girl.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently, rubbing her head: “It’s just for half a day, why are you acting as if we’ll be separated for ten days or half a month? There’s no need to feel so guilty.
Besides, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t know about these villains plotting in secret. It’s better to eliminate the danger before the Qingyang Grand Ceremony, dealing with it at the last minute would be much more troublesome.”
Feeling the warmth of his large hand on her head, Shanghan blushed slightly, a sweet smile appearing on her face as she murmured: “You’re always so considerate, Master.”
The thought of working with Master Lin tonight, the man she admired, made her heart pound. Her face and body felt slightly warm, she was quite shy.
“Miss Shanghan, why is your face so red?”
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly with concern: “Could it be that you were injured by those villains before?”
“Ah… n-no, I’m just a bit… flustered after running around.”
Shanghan waved her hands in a panic, her face flushed, chuckling awkwardly as she fanned herself.
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “If you’re tired, there’s no need to force yourself, I can carry you.”
He looked towards a quiet and dark mansion not far away, his gaze narrowing slightly: “Is that our destination?”
“Y-Yes!”
Shanghan quickly patted her cheeks, trying to calm herself: “The Void Heaven Map shows traces of Yin energy here, there must be something hidden inside this mansion, a secret passage or mechanism. It probably leads somewhere else.”
“Let’s go and have a look.”
Lin Tianlu scooped up the petite young girl in his arms, leaped lightly, and entered the deserted mansion.
Click-clack—
Their footsteps were unusually quiet, the hustle and bustle of the village seemingly completely isolated from this place, only a chilling silence remained.
Lin Tianlu glanced around: “It seems there are no guards in this courtyard.”
Shanghan huddled in his arms, feeling nervous and her heart pounding, but also slightly intimidated by the eerie atmosphere, her face tense: “Master, towards the center of the main hall, that’s where those people disappeared.”
“Let me see…”
Lin Tianlu quickly entered the main hall, only seeing some old and messy furniture, clearly unoccupied for many years.
But looking at the floor, he could vaguely see faint traces of a formation.
Shanghan just glanced at it and immediately said thoughtfully: “There’s indeed a formation here, with some hidden mechanism, the combination of which requires profound knowledge and cultivation to—”
Boom!!
Lin Tianlu suddenly stomped his foot, and spiderweb-like cracks spread throughout the main hall, dust and debris erupting from the crevices.
Then, the hall collapsed completely with a loud crash.
“Ugh!” Shanghan’s face turned pale from the sudden loss of balance, and she instinctively buried her face in his chest.
“…”
Lin Tianlu protected the young girl in his arms as they fell, his gaze sharpening.
This secret passage was incredibly deep!
Just who was plotting something underground?
…
Mao Ruoyu and the others traveled day and night without any rest, finally entering Qingcheng before the gates closed.
After asking for directions and navigating through the unfamiliar streets and alleys, they finally arrived at the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion.
But—
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi stepped out of the carriage, their hearts filled with surprise.
The magnificence of the mansion was truly unlike anything they had ever seen, like an imperial palace, with stone lions and pillars at the gate, grand and imposing. But what surprised them the most was…
The mansion was brightly lit, figures moving about, as if a large number of guards were patrolling with torches. Even outside the mansion, they could hear the faint sounds of footsteps.
“What… what’s going on?!”
“Who are you, daring to linger in front of the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion?!”
Suddenly, a group of armed guards approached and shouted: “Leave this place immediately!”
Mao Ruoyu was startled by the shout and quickly replied: “Please don’t misunderstand, we’re here to visit Miss Hua Shuya—”
Shua, shua, shua!
The next moment, the guards drew their swords, their faces grim, and shouted: “Miss Hua is currently missing, who are you?!
Someone, capture these two women and report to Madam Ziyu immediately!”
“Wha—”
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi gasped, their eyes wide with shock.
Shuya… was missing?!
