Chapter 423: Duan Yan’s Journey, Lin Ling’s Trip p2
“Hu~”
The little girl skipped to the window, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the forest path outside the inn, where she could see merchants and carriages coming and going.
And as night approached, many merchants were unloading their goods from their carriages, a busy and lively scene.
“Those merchants are truly hardworking.”
“Ordinary people have to work hard to make a living.”
The young woman, who had just finished making the bed, walked over with a smile, touching the little girl’s head: “When you grow up, Ling’er, you can’t be spoiled and arrogant. Even if our Lin family is wealthy, you still have to be considerate and respectful of others.”
“You’ve told me that many times, Mother~”
Ling’er smiled playfully, standing on tiptoe to look into the distance.
After a moment of thought, she whispered: “Will Master Lin be angry that Ling’er and Mother came here uninvited?”
The young woman shook her head and chuckled: “You were the one who insisted on coming to Changling to become his disciple, and now that we’re almost there, you’re nervous?”
“Th-That’s because…”
Ling’er pouted slightly, not knowing how to answer.
She wanted to act like a spoiled child and cling to her mother, but knowing that she might be leaving home soon, she didn’t want to seem too childish.
“But I’m glad that you’re so thoughtful at your age, Ling’er.” The young woman smiled gently and caressed her cheek: “Don’t worry, Master Lin is kind and gentle, he won’t be angry.”
Besides their previous meeting and conversation, she had also inquired about him from some of the wealthy wives and now knew how renowned “Lin Tianlu” was in Changling.
Moreover, she had also heard the recent rumors about him marrying the Zhengyang Prince’s granddaughter, his impressive display of martial arts at the ceremony, and his reputation for being both talented and virtuous. Such an outstanding young man wouldn’t mind a little girl’s request.
Besides—
Arriving a few days earlier or later wouldn’t matter much.
If Master Lin hadn’t returned to Changling yet, they could stay at the inn for a few days, showing their sincerity.
“Alright, you must be tired after such a long journey, Ling’er, why don’t you lie down and rest for a bit?”
The young woman smiled gently: “Dinner will be served in about half an hour, you can take a nap.”
“Mm…”
Ling’er obediently walked to the bed and lay down, her hair falling around her.
The young woman tucked the blanket around her waist and abdomen, looking down at her with a smile.
“This girl, she’s truly different now.”
Ling’er had already fallen asleep, her childish face showing a hint of fatigue, her breathing soft and even.
She hadn’t mentioned being tired along the way, but she had fallen asleep the moment her head touched the pillow… She must have been enduring it silently, not wanting to complain.
“After that life-or-death experience, Ling’er has truly grown up overnight.”
Gently stroking her daughter’s hair, the young woman lowered her eyes slightly, a hint of pride and also a bit of bitterness in her heart.
If she could…
…she wouldn’t want her daughter to mature so quickly.
She hadn’t even fully enjoyed her childhood before she was forced to grow up. She had been having nightmares recently, often waking up crying in the middle of the night. As her mother, she felt guilty and heartbroken.
That was why she had brought Ling’er on this long and arduous journey, leaving behind the festivities and customs of the Lantern Festival, just so her daughter could find some comfort and peace after seeing Master Lin again.
“Everything will be alright…”
The young woman smiled gently and kissed her daughter’s cheek.
…
About half an hour later, night had fallen, the room dimly lit by candlelight.
Although the food brought by the innkeeper was warm, it was bland and simple, quite different from their usual meals. But the mother and daughter, knowing that this place was remote and resources were scarce, didn’t complain and finished their meal.
After chatting and whispering for a while, silence gradually fell upon the inn as the night deepened.
“…”
The young woman took off her fur-lined robe, brushed her hair lightly, and blew out the candles on the table, plunging the room into darkness.
Tightening her robe, she quietly walked back to the bed and looked at her daughter, who was sleeping soundly, a gentle look appearing in her eyes as she sat down beside the bed. Just as she was about to watch over her for a while longer, she felt a wave of drowsiness.
“I should also… rest for a while.”
The young woman sighed softly.
Not only was her daughter tired from the long journey, but she herself was also exhausted.
After all, she had lived a pampered life, never having to do any chores or even touch dirty water, her every need taken care of by servants since childhood.
And now…
She rubbed her aching temples and prepared to lie down and rest for a while, her movements incredibly careful, not wanting to wake her daughter.
“……”
But after dozing off for a while, the young woman suddenly opened her eyes, her ears twitching slightly.
A strange noise was coming from outside.
Normally, she wouldn’t have noticed such a subtle sound, but since that incident a few months ago, like her daughter, she had been having nightmares, her hearing becoming more sensitive…
Even the slightest sound would make her heart pound, making it even more difficult for her to sleep, as if she was constantly on edge.
Although it didn’t affect her physically, it was still a lingering trauma.
“Perhaps it’s just another guest in the inn…”
The young woman thought to herself and sighed softly, closing her eyes again.
She had been anxious and wary throughout their journey, but they hadn’t encountered any real danger yet— Click!
A sudden noise, very close!
The young woman’s eyes snapped open as she quickly sat up and looked towards the door in terror. She saw that the door bolt was being slowly pulled open from the outside!
A thief!
A wave of fear washed over her, her back drenched in cold sweat. Her mind racing, she hurriedly got out of bed, about to relight the candles on the table.
If a thief were to break in, lighting the candles and screaming should be enough to scare them away, with so many people in the inn. And Uncle Li was also outside, his martial arts skills, although he was old, should be enough to deal with a few petty thieves.
She struck a flint, sparks flying,
And quickly lit the candles.
The young woman’s face lit up with relief, just as she was about to call out to the innkeeper, her smile suddenly froze.
The candlelight was extinguished.
As if it had been snuffed out, black smoke rising, plunging the room back into darkness.
The young woman was speechless, her trembling hands trying to light the flint again.
But—
The flickering flame was instantly extinguished.
The young woman’s face turned pale with terror. She quickly reacted, seeing that the door bolt was about to break, there was no time for her to stop it.
So, after a momentary hesitation, she rushed to the bed, picked up her still dazed daughter, and ran to the old wardrobe, planning to hide inside.
She had noticed it earlier while cleaning the room.
Although the wardrobe was old and dilapidated, it was full of holes and cracks, a large hole even connecting to the wall behind it, loosely covered by a few planks.
This would be enough for them to hide.
Creak
As she opened the wardrobe door, before she could even enter, her eyes widened in shock.
A corpse, its face twisted in a grimace of pain and despair, lay inside.
The young woman’s face turned pale, and she quickly covered her daughter’s eyes, taking several steps back.
Something wasn’t right!
There hadn’t been a corpse inside the wardrobe when she checked this afternoon!
This… wasn’t a corpse… it was a ghost!
Clack.
The door bolt snapped, and a deathly silence fell upon the room, making the young woman’s heart pound, her face pale as she continued to back away.
And at this moment, the corpse huddled in the corner slowly grinned, a sinister and cruel expression: “—Do you… also want to come in?”
The young woman screamed, clutching her daughter tightly.
But just then, a flash of sword light, like a chilling wind, swept through the room.
