Chapter 394: Changes in Lunar Valley, Returning to Peace
Mother Tan smiled seductively, arching her foot and gently stroking Lin Tianlu’s chest with the tip of her boot, her every move filled with alluring charm.
Her voluptuous and tender flesh, tightly bound by the leather and bone armor, seemed to spill out even more enticingly, her fair skin shimmering like jade.
“Since those girls aren’t here, why don’t we… Mmm?!”
But her seductive and mischievous expression suddenly changed, her body trembling slightly, a blush spreading across her face.
“Y-You scholar, why are you touching me again?!”
“Just trying to calm you down, First Elder.”
Lin Tianlu sighed, gently moving the sharp tail that was wrapped around his neck.
Naturally, to prevent her from continuing her antics, he gently squeezed her tail.
Although this long tail, covered in scales and barbs, was like a sharp blade, it felt surprisingly soft and supple to the touch, the gaps between the scales smooth and slippery.
Every time he touched her tail, First Elder’s face would flush crimson, and she would quickly retract it, curling her legs and hugging her knees, glaring at him playfully: “You’re still so childish and mischievous!”
“You flatter me.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “You seem to be enjoying yourself even more now, First Elder.”
First Elder then touched her forehead and sighed softly, snorting: “You seem much calmer than before, after being married for a few months. I thought you would be shy and flustered today.”
Lin Tianlu smiled easily and cupped his hands: “Your charm is indeed extraordinary, First Elder, but my wives are no less captivating, I’ve naturally become accustomed to it.”
“Those inexperienced little girls, what charm do they possess?” First Elder couldn’t help but give him a look, twisting her purple-black bladed tails behind her, quickly regaining her usual seductive and indifferent demeanor.
She crossed her long legs, looking him up and down with interest, and said with admiration: “You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you? Compared to the frail scholar I met in Lunar Valley, you look much more handsome and robust today.”
“You flatter me, First Elder.”
“Indeed~ You’re much more pleasing to the eye now.”
First Elder smiled with satisfaction, a warm and gentle look in her eyes.
She gracefully jumped down from the ceiling, her waist bending, her hips raised, like a noble and transcendent queen, leaning closer with a seductive smile: “Should I give you a small reward?”
Feeling the ambiguous fragrance and seeing her ample bosom, straining against the leather and bone armor, Lin Tianlu quickly leaned back and chuckled dryly: “It’s been a while since we last met, please don’t tease me, First Elder.”
Seeing his awkward and embarrassed expression, First Elder chuckled softly, gently stroking his hair: “Alright, alright~ Seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll spare you this time. Sit properly, be careful not to fall off the carriage later.”
“Cough…”
Lin Tianlu awkwardly looked away.
First Elder sat sideways on the railing, leaning against it, and chuckled: “How did you feel about your visit to the Zhengyang Prince’s Mansion a while ago?”
“My feelings—”
Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow slightly and couldn’t help but smile faintly: “My only feeling was that there are truly a lot of… family matters in these noble families, endless rules and power struggles. The atmosphere there was quite stifling.”
First Elder chuckled: “It’s the same in all royal families, official circles, and military camps.”
“Compared to that, Lunar Valley is like a paradise.”
“You brat, have you forgotten about the trouble I caused a while ago?” First Elder narrowed her eyes and smiled mischievously: “Be careful when you come to the valley for the New Year, I might find an opportunity to devour you whole.”
“Since when did you start eating people, First Elder?”
“I meant it in a… different way~”
“Ha—”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle.
Although it had been a month since they last met, the atmosphere between them was still quite harmonious, like old friends joking around, relaxed and comfortable.
“However—”
He asked with concern: “Are Ruoyu and the others truly alright?”
“Don’t worry~”
First Elder waved her hand with a smile: “I was just playing around with them, seeing how much they’ve… relaxed recently.”
Lin Tianlu scratched his head: “Then, your attire, First Elder…”
“I was just helping the Valley Master with something, I haven’t had time to change yet.” First Elder smiled and retracted her sharp claws, tracing the outline of her ample bosom with her fingertip: “But it’s quite comfortable~”
Lin Tianlu ignored her seductive gesture and asked curiously: “What’s new in the valley?”
“Naturally, it’s all thanks to you.”
“Me?”
First Elder casually wagged her finger and chuckled: “Do you still remember the spiritual vein you opened in the back mountain?”
Lin Tianlu nodded slightly, a puzzled look on his face: “I do.”
“The spiritual energy gushing from that vein has become even more abundant. In just one month, it has filled the entire Lunar Valley, and the back mountain is now shrouded in a dense spiritual mist.”
First Elder shrugged her bare shoulders: “So the Valley Master and the elders are busy setting up a new secret realm, gathering and utilizing that endless stream of spiritual energy, creating a new cultivation ground for the disciples.
And besides that, we’re also channeling the spiritual energy to the other buildings in Lunar Valley, it can also be used to enhance the protective formation.”
Lin Tianlu was surprised and also impressed.
“It’s good that you’re able to utilize the spiritual energy effectively.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
First Elder’s eyes flickered, and she casually waved her hand.
Several vines extended from the side of the path, seemingly searching through the air, and quickly pulled Mao Ruoyu and the others out of the forest.
“Ah…”
Judging by their dazed expressions, they had clearly experienced something unpleasant in the illusion.
First Elder helped them back into the carriage and said helplessly: “Although their cultivation has improved, they still lack practical experience. After this honeymoon, those girls have truly become spoiled.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly: “After all, we came to Lunar Valley for the New Year, so naturally, Ruoyu and the others…”
“I’ll personally train those girls in a while.”
First Elder interrupted him, her expression turning slightly serious: “They’ve learned many secret techniques and have excellent foundations, they just lack experience.”
She looked at Lin Tianlu and said seriously: “I know you don’t want to get involved in any conflicts, but they still need to learn how to defend themselves. Especially Ruoyu, as our Moon Shadow Saintess, she’s too weak.”
Lin Tianlu’s thoughts stirred, and he quickly nodded in agreement.
There was no reason for him to refuse such a suggestion. Of course, he would still have to ask for their opinions later.
“But, First Elder, do you have any other important matters to attend to in the valley—?”
“Heh~ I’m free as a bird now~”
First Elder smiled brightly again: “After all, I’m still technically ‘grounded,’ no longer needing to teach the other disciples. I just help out around the valley and cultivate in my free time.”
Lin Tianlu was speechless.
Such a carefree and leisurely life…
“Seeing how happy you are, First Elder, I’m starting to think that you caused all that trouble just to find an excuse to relax.”
“Perhaps… that’s true?”
First Elder smiled meaningfully.
“So it was you, First Elder.”
A slightly helpless sigh suddenly echoed, and Yun Yue’s figure appeared beside them.
First Elder exclaimed softly, looking at her with surprise and curiosity: “You, thousand-year-old Cang Hu, you truly possess extraordinary luck and a solid foundation. I didn’t notice earlier, but now it seems… you’ve also broken through the shackles and entered the Nightmare Realm, and you’ve even progressed quite far?”
Yun Yue smiled gently: “And you as well, First Elder?”
“No wonder Ruoyu and the others are so relaxed, not only do they have a powerful husband, but also a strong older sister to protect them.”
First Elder suddenly smiled ambiguously, extending her claw-like hand and gently tracing Yun Yue’s abdomen: “However, you seem even more… alluring and mature than before, Miss Yun, have you been… diligently cultivating… dual cultivation?”
“This…”
Yun Yue blushed slightly and shyly retreated back into the carriage.
“Tianlu’s household is truly lively now.” First Elder glanced back at Lin Tianlu with a smile: “Four beauties, I wonder if he has enough… energy for them all~”
“Ah, hahaha…”
Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly.
He couldn’t possibly say that he and Yun Yue only had a platonic relationship, spending their nights composing poems and matching couplets.
Even he wouldn’t believe that.
“Alright, let’s continue our journey.”
First Elder shook her head and chuckled, waving her hand dismissively: “After chatting outside for so long, Jingyun must be waiting for you.”
Lin Tianlu looked towards the carriage, puzzled: “Where is Miss Bai now?”
“I sent that girl directly to where the Valley Master is. I have something to discuss with her.”
First Elder’s eyes flickered, and with a seductive smile, she leaned closer and whispered: “By the way, that illusion I prepared for you before wasn’t a lie, it was real. It’s a shame you didn’t… enjoy it, Master Lin~”
“…”
Lin Tianlu’s expression froze slightly.
Then, he quickly put on a serious face and raised his hand, saying righteously: “There’s no need for such things, First Elder, it would damage the reputation of the other elders, it’s not appropriate.”
“You’re so serious, but the other elders won’t hear us.” First Elder’s eyes twinkled with a playful glint, and she leaned closer, whispering in his ear: “Or do you want me to prepare another illusion… just for the two of us, Master Lin?”
Lin Tianlu’s expression was solemn and unmoving, like a meditating Buddha, only silently raising his right hand.
“Hmm?” First Elder blinked her eyes curiously.
Her expression suddenly froze.
Because Lin Tianlu had grabbed her mischievously twitching tail and gently squeezed it.
“Eh, you… w-wait!”
“L-Let go! You silly scholar, how can you treat your elder like this?!”
“Alright, alright! I’ll stop teasing you! Just kidding… Eek!”
Seeing Lin Tianlu and First Elder “playing around” on the driver’s seat, Yun Yue blinked her eyes repeatedly, then chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
Although there was a significant difference in their seniority, they seemed to get along quite well.
In a way, they could be considered kindred spirits.
…
After a while.
The carriage passed through the barrier outside Lunar Valley and entered.
Cheng Yishi, having recovered from the previous incident, looked around the villa square in amazement, her eyes wide with shock.
Although she had heard of Lunar Valley’s grandeur, seeing it with her own eyes, it was even more magnificent and breathtaking than she had imagined. The mysterious main hall stood atop a hundred steps, and behind it, several rocky islands floated in mid-air, shrouded in mist, like a scene from a painting, beautiful and enchanting.
Unlike the other mountains they had seen along the way, this Lunar Valley possessed a transcendent and noble aura, similar to an immortal sect, incredibly grand and impressive.
“Where are we going now?”
“To the backyard, where the elders’ residences are located. Martial Aunt’s courtyard is in a quiet corner of Lunar Valley.” As Hua Shuya replied, she suddenly exclaimed softly and looked sideways.
She vaguely saw several young girls walking together, their clothes bright and beautiful, full of youthful energy.
“Are those… the disciples of Lunar Valley?”
“Is this also your first time seeing them, Shuya?” Cheng Yishi asked curiously.
“To avoid attracting attention, we stayed in Martial Aunt’s courtyard before and didn’t see any other disciples until we left.”
As Hua Shuya replied, her mouth opened slightly as she looked in surprise at the large number of figures emerging from the main hall.
“…There are… quite a few disciples.”
“When I was at Lunar Valley, there were about twenty or thirty disciples of the same age as me.”
Mao Ruoyu sat beside them and chuckled: “Including all the younger generation cultivators, there are at least a hundred or so.”
“Girls, are you interested?”
First Elder, who had been sitting in the driver’s seat, lifted the curtain and looked back at them with a smile: “In sparring with those junior sisters?”
“Eh?”
Mao Ruoyu was stunned: “First Elder, shouldn’t we be concealing our identities? We can’t let the disciples know—”
“That was before.”
First Elder chuckled: “Don’t forget, you’ve regained your title as the Moon Shadow Saintess, you’re officially a member of Lunar Valley now, there’s no need to hide anything anymore.”
Saying this, she raised an eyebrow and teased: “However, Tianlu can’t show himself. If those inexperienced little girls see him, they’ll be completely smitten.”
Lin Tianlu’s lips twitched, and he forced a smile: “You’re exaggerating, First Elder.”
“Although it’s nothing to me, you’re quite handsome in the eyes of those little girls.” First Elder smiled and poked his shoulder: “If you show yourself, our Lunar Valley will truly be in chaos.”
Cheng Yishi and Mao Ruoyu nodded in agreement.
Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly and shrugged: “I’ll listen to my wives and First Elder and won’t appear before the girls.”
…
In front of a courtyard.
Mao Ruoyu ran up the steps with light and quick steps, excitedly knocking on the closed door.
After being away for so long, she was naturally overjoyed to see her master, whom she respected like a mother.
“Master, I’m back~”
Knock, knock, knock
She knocked for a while, but there was no response from inside.
Lin Tianlu led Meixia closer to the courtyard and asked curiously: “Could Martial Aunt be out today?”
“Perhaps the Valley Master asked Jingyun for help.” First Elder flicked her finger, and the gate opened: “You can go inside and wait, she’ll be back soon.”
“Alright.” Lin Tianlu turned around and smiled: “Yishi, Shuya, you two go inside first, I’ll take the carriage to the backyard.”
“Mm.”
Hua Shuya nodded slightly and took Cheng Yishi’s hand, entering the courtyard together.
“This place…”
Cheng Yishi looked around and said thoughtfully: “Just like Ruoyu described, it’s truly a beautiful villa.”
Flowers, a lotus pond, everything was spacious and clean, a picturesque and poetic scene. Even a large family could live here comfortably and peacefully.
“Since Master isn’t here, I’ll make some tea for everyone. You two can wait in the main hall.”
Mao Ruoyu quickly put down her luggage and hurried off with a cheerful smile.
Cheng Yishi smoothed her skirt and sat down, looking at Mao Ruoyu’s graceful figure as she walked away, and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion: “It’s rare to see Ruoyu so happy and excited, she looks like a young girl, skipping and jumping around.”
Hua Shuya, sitting beside her, chuckled softly: “For Sister Ruoyu, this is her ‘home.’ Being able to return after getting married must make her very happy.”
“Home…?”
Cheng Yishi looked sideways at the courtyard outside, her eyes flickering, vaguely seeing images from the past.
She could vaguely see a young Mao Ruoyu playing and laughing in the courtyard, seriously practicing her Yin techniques, or lazily napping in the pavilion…
After a while, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“I can’t imagine her diligently cultivating here.”
What was Ruoyu like as a child? Probably quite mischievous and adorable?
Hua Shuya smiled: “According to Miss Bai Xin, Sister Ruoyu was actually quite reliable and gentle when she was young, it’s part of her nature.”
Whoosh—
A faint rustling sound suddenly came from behind.
Hua Shuya’s expression turned serious instinctively as she gripped the sword sheath beside her and stood up, looking towards the back of the hall.
But seeing the newcomer clearly, she quickly sheathed her weapon and bowed slightly: “Martial Aunt, I apologize for the intrusion, we didn’t greet you before entering.”
Cheng Yishi was startled and quickly turned around to see Ninth Elder emerging from behind the curtain.
“Martial Aunt.”
She also stood up, her hands clasped before her, curtseying respectfully: “It’s been a while, how have you been?”
“You… arrived so early?”
Ninth Elder, who had just returned, also looked surprised.
She had thought they would arrive in a day or two, but now—
Then, the coldness in her eyes quickly melted, replaced by a gentle smile: “You’re so formal after being away for so long.”
She walked over, took their hands, and nodded with satisfaction: “You both look even more beautiful and mature after getting married, you’ve grown up quite a bit in just a month or two.”
“And you too, Shuya.”
Wu Jingyun caressed Hua Shuya’s cheek and said with emotion: “It’s a pity I couldn’t attend your wedding and see you in your wedding dress. But seeing you now, it seems your married life is quite happy.”
Hua Shuya smiled shyly: “Thank you for your concern, Martial Aunt, I’ve been very happy.”
“That’s good.”
Wu Jingyun smiled gently and then looked at Cheng Yishi, her voice warm: “Relax, Yishi, just treat this place as your home from now on. This year, we’ll celebrate the New Year together as a family.”
The slight tension in Cheng Yishi’s heart quickly dissipated, and she smiled faintly.
“But where are Ruoyu and Tianlu now?”
“Master is unpacking the carriage in the backyard, and Sister Ruoyu is preparing fruits and pastries in the kitchen, they should be back soon.”
The smile on Wu Jingyun’s lips widened slightly, a hint of tenderness in her eyes.
And Cheng Yishi, looking at her aunt’s face, couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
After not seeing her for a while, Martial Aunt looked even more beautiful and alluring, her mature charm enhanced by her black and gold dress, truly captivating. This kind of mature beauty, honed by time, was truly enviable.
…
In the backyard.
Lin Tianlu was unloading the luggage from the carriage, untying the reins from Meixia.
“Good girl, you’ve worked hard on this long journey.”
He smiled, stroking Meixia’s smooth mane: “I’ll find some delicious food for you later, get some rest now.”
“Neigh~”
Meixia tossed her head and nuzzled against him affectionately before obediently walking towards the stable.
“It seems this horse really likes you.”
First Elder sat gracefully on a stone chair not far away and said with a smile: “Are you interested in… getting closer to her?”
Lin Tianlu smiled wryly: “I’m more curious about how Lunar Valley managed to breed such an intelligent horse.”
“Do you think this horse is common in our Lunar Valley?” First Elder crossed her arms and chuckled: “She’s a precious ancient beast bred by the Valley Master, Second Elder, and Seventh Elder, using many of our secret techniques and treasures. It’s only because of Jingyun that we gave this precious beast to you.”
Lin Tianlu was speechless.
No wonder Meixia was so extraordinary.
“Jingyun is back now, I should be going.”
First Elder suddenly stood up, waving her hand casually: “See you tomorrow~”
“Are you leaving already?”
Lin Tianlu quickly said: “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”
“Ha~ Are you trying to throw me into the fire pit, Tianlu?”
First Elder’s eyes twinkled, and she teased: “If I stay tonight, Jingyun will be angry. I wouldn’t dare to provoke our Ninth Sister now.”
