Chapter 373: Parting from the Villa, Thunder Strikes Again
The next morning.
Lin Tianlu and his group were at the villa gate, seeing them off, Madam Tan and the others present.
Neigh—
As the reins were tied to Meixia, she neighed excitedly, pawing the ground with her hooves.
Lin Tianlu stroked her soft mane: “It’s been a while since you pulled the carriage, you seem quite excited.”
“Snort!”
Meixia exhaled, lowered her head, and gently licked the back of his hand.
“Good girl.”
Lin Tianlu smiled.
Thankfully, she didn’t lick his face enthusiastically this time.
“The journey is quite long, can this single horse handle it?”
Mother Tan, dressed in a beautiful and elegant robe and skirt, walked over, supported by Lan’er, her eyebrows slightly furrowed: “Should we have someone bring two more horses?”
“Don’t worry, Mother Tan, Meixia is no ordinary horse, she can easily travel a hundred li a day, this journey isn’t difficult for her.”
“Neigh, neigh!”
Meixia also neighed in agreement, her head held high.
Mother Tan couldn’t help but smile: “You’re surrounded by extraordinary beings, Tianlu, even this horse.”
“Please rest assured, Aunt.”
Hua Shuya, dressed in a white robe and skirt, her sword at her side, looked neat and capable, her expression serious: “I will do my best to take care of Master Lin and the other sisters.”
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi curtsied in farewell.
Mother Tan smiled gently: “Just take care of yourselves, girls. And remember to be good wives and learn how to serve your husband.
But I suppose that Martial Aunt of yours will take good care of you, there’s no need for me to worry.”
Lin Tianlu helped the women into the carriage, then climbed onto the driver’s seat and chuckled: “We’ll see you again after the New Year, Mother Tan. Let me know when you plan to move to Changling, I’ll help you settle in.”
Mother Tan nodded slightly.
Glancing sideways, he saw Chi Lingyuan approaching gracefully with a seductive smile, her red sleeve fluttering as she handed him something: “Here.”
“Hmm?”
Lin Tianlu was slightly stunned, taking the golden-red feather, and asked, puzzled: “What is this…?”
“Naturally, it’s one of my feathers.”
Chi Lingyuan tilted her head slightly and chuckled: “Next time we meet, this feather will react, there’s no need to send letters back and forth.”
Lin Tianlu smiled: “That’s very helpful, Miss Chi.”
He carefully put the feather away, feeling a warmth spreading through his chest.
“There’s no need for lengthy farewells.” Chi Lingyuan put one hand on her hip, smiling, and stepped aside, gently supporting Mother Tan’s shoulder as she approached.
“Would you like to say a few more words to him before he leaves, Mother Tan?”
“Miss Chi!”
Mother Tan blushed slightly, giving her a playful glare.
But Chi Lingyuan just chuckled softly: “You’ll be separated for several months, quite a long time, why not say a few more words, so you won’t miss him too much?”
“…”
Mother Tan raised her head slightly and sighed softly:
“Take care, Tianlu.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression softened, and he smiled gently: “You too, Mother Tan.”
Crack!
With a flick of the reins, Meixia neighed, and the carriage started moving.
…
Mother Tan silently watched the carriage depart, her eyes flickering, her expression filled with emotion.
Chi Lingyuan quietly approached her and murmured: “Rest well for a few days, then focus on cultivating your martial arts and strengthening your spirit. We’ll move to Changling next month.”
“…You don’t seem very sad, Miss Chi.”
“To me, these few months are just a blink of an eye, there’s nothing to be sad about.”
Chi Lingyuan smiled faintly: “Besides, there’s nothing special between Tianlu and me, not like you, Mother Tan, with such a complicated relationship.”
Mother Tan’s eyes flickered, and she suddenly looked at her:
“You might have fooled those girls, Miss Chi, but do you think I can’t see the desire in your heart?”
“Ha—”
Chi Lingyuan brushed her hair back and smiled frankly: “Perhaps because I’ve lived for so long, I no longer care about such trivial matters of love.”
Mother Tan was momentarily stunned.
Such an open-minded and detached attitude was truly enviable.
“So, you’ll have to work harder.”
Chi Lingyuan’s eyes twinkled, and she teased meaningfully: “As his godmother, how can you be so passive and always rely on his protection?
I heard that Tianlu’s Martial Aunt already possesses astonishing cultivation, a hidden expert, truly a worthy elder for Tianlu.”
“…”
A sharp aura suddenly emerged.
Chi Lingyuan smiled as if she had anticipated this, looking at Mother Tan’s cold and grim expression, and teased further: “Compared to her, you’re still lacking, Mother Tan.”
“Miss Chi—”
Mother Tan suddenly said coldly: “Would you like to spar with me again?”
“I would be delighted.” Chi Lingyuan chuckled: “Living in this world, if I can’t practice my martial arts, it would be too boring.”
Looking closely at her expression, the previous sorrow and melancholy were gone, replaced by a cold and burning jealousy and fighting spirit.
Although she seemed calm on the surface, her heart…
…must be in turmoil.
“Excellent.”
Chi Lingyuan nodded inwardly, her expression satisfied.
Although the motivation for cultivating martial arts varied, this Mother Tan just needed a little push.
Fueled by jealousy, her future cultivation would surely progress rapidly.
“Miss Chi, do you… have feelings for Tianlu? Don’t give me a vague answer.”
“Eh?”
Mother Tan’s sudden question made Chi Lingyuan freeze.
After a moment of hesitation, she responded to the subtle feelings in her heart, murmuring softly: “P-Perhaps… I do like him quite a bit.”
Mother Tan’s gaze turned cold and sharp as she suddenly grabbed Chi Lingyuan’s wrist.
Chi Lingyuan couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly: “M-Madam Tan?”
“Come to my room tonight.”
Mother Tan leaned closer, her expression serious, saying each word slowly and deliberately: “We need to have a long talk.”
“…”
Chi Lingyuan’s face stiffened, and she could only force a wry smile.
This… didn’t seem very good.
…
Dark clouds gathered, obscuring the sun, faint rumbles of thunder echoing between them.
Mao Ruoyu lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the dark clouds in the distance, and murmured: “It looks like it’s about to rain heavily.”
They had just left Qingcheng, and the weather had changed unpredictably.
Hua Shuya reassured her: “The carriage Aunt Tan gave us is very sturdy, it can withstand a heavy downpour. We just need to slow down on the slippery mountain roads.”
Lin Tianlu suddenly lifted the curtain and called out: “Ladies, get me a piece of silk cloth.”
Hua Shuya quickly took out a roll of silk from their luggage: “Master, what do you need it for?”
“It’s about to rain, we need to cover Meixia with something waterproof.” Lin Tianlu smiled, tore off a suitable piece of cloth, and leaned out to cover Meixia.
However—
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi, peeking out, exchanged subtle glances.
The smooth silk cloth draped over the horse’s back and hips, accentuating her curves, making her look like a voluptuous woman, her body swaying enticingly with every step.
Her tail occasionally swished playfully, a rather seductive sight.
Cheng Yishi couldn’t help but whisper: “The horses raised in your Lunar Valley are all so… alluring and seductive. Could it truly be a den of vixens?”
Mao Ruoyu twitched the corner of her mouth and chuckled dryly: “How would I know Meixia is so…”
“Meixia truly is beautiful and strong.”
Hua Shuya, poking her head out from behind them, said with admiration: “She’s even more magnificent than many of the fine horses in the Hua family.”
“Don’t you think she’s a bit…”
“Eh?” Hua Shuya asked, puzzled: “Did you two notice something strange?”
“N-Nothing.”
Mao Ruoyu quickly chuckled awkwardly.
She exchanged glances with Cheng Yishi, feeling a bit embarrassed.
It seemed that only the two of them had noticed anything… unusual.
Could it be… their own dirty minds?
—Boom!
Suddenly, a clap of thunder echoed in the sky above.
“Husband, should we stop the carriage and take shelter from the rain?”
“No need.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and drew the curtain: “There’s a canopy, we won’t get wet.”
Yun Yue, curled up in his arms, poked her head out and chuckled: “With my technique, you don’t have to worry.”
Boom!
The thunder grew louder, lightning flashing in the sky.
Lin Tianlu looked up with a surprised and puzzled expression: “It’s the middle of winter, not even close to the new year, why is the weather so strange?”
“It is indeed a bit strange.”
Yun Yue’s figure shimmered, transforming into her beautiful and seductive human form. Dressed in a thin silk robe, she sat on his lap, her legs crossed, her arms around his neck, her gaze fixed on the distance.
She gathered her flowing, moon-white hair and murmured: “This… doesn’t seem like ordinary thunder.”
The dark thunderclouds, swirling like a vortex, grew darker and heavier as the rain poured down, as if an invisible pressure was descending.
This storm seemed increasingly ominous.
Yun Yue’s brows furrowed slightly, her gaze turning wary.
“…Is this… Heavenly Tribulation lightning?”
“Truly Heavenly Tribulation lightning?”
Lin Tianlu looked closely, a surprised look on his face. He could vaguely see lightning churning and coiling in the clouds, like dragons or beasts, their roars echoing with each flash.
“It does look quite impressive, but…”
Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin and murmured: “It seems a bit different from the Heavenly Tribulation lightning I remember.”
Yun Yue asked curiously: “You’ve seen Heavenly Tribulation lightning before, Tianlu?”
“I experienced it once in Changling County, a sudden thunderbolt struck our house.” Lin Tianlu explained softly: “That wooden sword in our courtyard was created because of it.”
“This…”
Yun Yue was speechless.
She had thought that the Locust Sword in the courtyard was either forged by Lin Tianlu himself or some kind of divine weapon he had obtained.
Only now did she realize…
…that the Locust Sword was naturally formed?!
“What did the Heavenly Tribulation lightning you saw look like, Tianlu?”
“Purple-black, I think.”
“Purple-black?”
Yun Yue’s face showed a hint of astonishment.
Even with her knowledge and experience, she had never seen purple-black lightning. Azure lightning and purple lightning already signified the birth of a powerful divine weapon or the ascension of a great demon to the peak of their cultivation.
Lin Tianlu scratched his cheek and chuckled awkwardly: “Perhaps you can explain the origins of this Heavenly Tribulation lightning, Yue’er? Although I’ve experienced it, I don’t really understand it.”
“The demon and ghost world has its own rules… or rather, the laws of heaven and earth existed even before this Dao realm was created.” Yun Yue murmured, explaining: “Whether it’s humans, demons, or ghosts, when they defy the natural order and try to alter their destinies, heaven and earth will respond with tribulation lightning.
There are monstrous beings that shouldn’t exist, divine weapons and immortal artifacts beyond comprehension, and also those who transcend their limits and ascend. I also experienced Heavenly Tribulation, and it was only after enduring the lightning strikes that my cultivation increased.”
“I see.”
Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully.
This Heavenly Tribulation lightning was indeed similar to the tribulation lightning he remembered.
“As for this sudden tribulation lightning, perhaps it’s because of the birth of some unusual object?”
Yun Yue narrowed her eyes and said in a deep voice: “I can’t sense any Yin energy fluctuations, it doesn’t seem like a demon or ghost is being born.”
Lin Tianlu smiled calmly: “Since it’s not a demon or ghost causing trouble, there’s no need for us to worry, let’s just continue our journey.”
After all, this was a tribulation from heaven. Although dangerous, it was also an opportunity. Interfering too much might inadvertently disrupt someone else’s good fortune.
“—Alright.”
Yun Yue sighed softly and smiled gently.
She leaned closer to him, her voluptuous body pressed against his, her gaze fixed on the distant lightning, her fox tails appearing and wrapping around them both.
Lin Tianlu took out a book from his embrace and casually flipped through the pages, exchanging glances with the beautiful fox woman beside him, smiling as they enjoyed the story together.
To be able to enjoy such peace and quiet together, they had to cherish it—
“Hmm?”
Lin Tianlu suddenly sensed something amiss and looked towards the distance again.
The lightning flashing in the sky was becoming more frequent and intense, its roars even louder.
And… a sharp and hostile intent was approaching.
“The tribulation lightning has locked onto us.” Yun Yue suddenly whispered beside his ear, a hint of displeasure in her voice.
Lin Tianlu’s face showed a look of surprise.
What was going on?
“Could it be that we accidentally got too close to its range and were pulled in?”
“The range of tribulation lightning can’t be that wide.”
Yun Yue shook her head: “The reason is unclear, but this tribulation lightning is definitely targeting us.”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.
They were about to be struck by lightning while traveling on the road?
They had only just set off, and they hadn’t done anything to offend heaven and earth.
“Just continue reading, Tianlu.” Yun Yue’s eyes flickered, and she snorted softly: “I’ll handle this, I won’t disturb you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a dazzling lightning bolt suddenly struck from the distant sky. The roar hadn’t even reached them yet when the blinding azure and purple lightning struck down!
—Crack!
Yun Yue’s sleeves danced in the air like brushstrokes on a painting, creating a beautiful and seductive display.
The lightning, upon contact with her sleeves, shattered and exploded, dissipating into countless tiny electric currents, crackling and exploding around the carriage as Meixia neighed anxiously.
“Meixia, don’t be afraid.”
Yun Yue leaned forward slightly, her eyes flickering, and gently stroked Meixia’s flank, saying softly: “Just keep moving forward, I’ll protect everyone, you won’t be harmed.”
“Neigh, neigh~”
Meixia whinnied uneasily but still slowed her pace as instructed.
Lin Tianlu asked with concern: “Are you sure you’re alright, Yue’er?”
“I can handle this level of tribulation lightning.” Yun Yue smiled faintly and waved her sleeve, shattering another thunderbolt.
Flicking her fingers repeatedly, more lightning bolts were shattered and neutralized, not even causing a ripple.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Thunder roared, and the area around the carriage was scorched and shattered, but the carriage continued to move steadily, without any shaking or jolting, as if it were moving against the very lightning itself.
Unknowingly, Yun Yue’s cultivation had drastically improved, yet she remained calm and composed, her demeanor tranquil and elegant.
Seeing Yun Yue dispel the lightning again, Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but ask curiously: “You seem much stronger than before, Yue’er?”
“After I overcame that bottleneck and my souls merged, I broke through the shackles of the Savage Realm.”
Yun Yue smiled gently: “And my cultivation has been improving rapidly these past few days, I don’t even know what level I’ve reached.”
Lin Tianlu exclaimed in admiration: “You’re truly talented, Yue’er.”
But Yun Yue suddenly blushed slightly, as if shy, and said softly: “It’s not talent, it’s all thanks to your help, Tianlu.”
“Me?”
“Haven’t you noticed, Tianlu?”
Yun Yue leaned closer to his ear, her voice soft and shy: “The essence you’ve given me, Tianlu, contains an extraordinary spiritual energy and Yang energy, incredibly nourishing, its effects comparable to years of cultivation.”
Her cheeks flushed, her voice a soft murmur, as if licking his ear and biting his lip: “Every time we’re intimate at night, Tianlu, I feel my body and soul being elevated, it’s truly unforgettable.”
“This…”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “So I’ve become your cauldron, Yue’er?”
“During our nightly trysts, you’re always the one making me moan and cry, Tianlu, I’m the one who’s more like a cauldron.”
Yun Yue chuckled softly, her fingers playfully tracing patterns on his chest: “However, I’m happy to be… taken advantage of by you, Tianlu.”
As they whispered and flirted, their embrace tightened, her soft body rubbing against his, her hips and breasts pressing against him, her ample bosom almost spilling out of her low-cut robe.
Lin Tianlu held the fox woman in his arms, his heart stirring. His eyes flickered as he suddenly raised his hand and swiped it upwards.
Crack!
A thin lightning bolt was casually shattered, even the dark clouds in the sky dispersing.
…
“H-How… how is this possible?!”
Dozens of miles away, in a small, desolate mountain village, inside a humble thatched hut.
A man in black robes stumbled backward, looking up at the dissipating lightning in the sky with shock and disbelief: “Th-This is impossible!”
How could the tribulation lightning that was supposed to destroy the demonic fetus suddenly disappear?!
Even if it was diverted by some external force, how could its power be completely neutralized?!
Could it be the work of a Savage Realm great demon…
No, even a Savage Realm great demon couldn’t shatter Heavenly Tribulation lightning!
“Aaaaaah——”
A woman’s scream echoed from inside the hut.
And the man in black robes trembled violently, retreating further, his voice filled with dread: “This is bad! The demonic fetus has been successfully born… our… destruction is imminent!”
As the cry of a newborn baby echoed, a faint, bloody, and baleful aura seeped out from the thatched hut.
