Chapter 424: Showing Kindness, Unexpected Twist
Lin Tianlu’s sharp sword light stirred a cold wind in the room, like a howling blizzard, carving a smooth line across the floor, separating the woman from the wardrobe. The woman’s breath hitched, and she blinked, surprised to see that the sword light that had flashed through the room had dissipated, as if there had never been a real sword.
“This is…”
The evil spirit in the wardrobe frowned, its blurry form emerging from the hole, its hair disheveled, its face contorted grotesquely as it glared in the direction of the sword strike.
The doors and windows of the room were still intact, no signs of damage, and no one else was there.
But the mark on the floor wasn’t an illusion—
“There’s a powerful cultivator in this inn!”
The evil spirit grinned, its bloodshot eyes turning to the mother and daughter huddled on the floor, and it reached out, grabbing the woman by the wrist.
“Let’s go!”
The evil spirit pulled the woman towards the window, about to escape.
But just then, a slender sword suddenly appeared, embedded in the window frame, its strange energy rippling outwards.
Then, a graceful figure, bathed in moonlight, leaped lightly into the room, the sword spinning and landing in her hand.
“What—”
The evil spirit’s eyes widened slightly as it stumbled backward, looking at the newcomer up and down.
But after seeing her face and figure clearly, a cruel smile appeared on its face.
The one who had appeared wasn’t a powerful demon or ghost, nor a skilled ghost practitioner, but a female martial artist.
“Truly courting death.”
The evil spirit licked its lips, a sinister and cold glint in its eyes: “Two birds with one stone.”
This uninvited female martial artist had a strong and healthy physique, her beauty stunning, her cold and aloof expression giving her a noble and unapproachable aura.
Her exposed neck and wrists were delicate and smooth, her skin like jade, incredibly alluring, a true beauty.
And most importantly…
She exuded a rich and pure Yin aura, almost fragrant, incredibly seductive, truly rare.
If it could absorb her Yin energy, its own cultivation would surely soar, easily reaching the Evil Spirit realm, even the legendary Crimson Demon Realm within reach!
Clang——！
The sword hummed.
With the woman’s panicked cry, the evil spirit suddenly felt its shoulder lighten, and it instinctively looked over, its eyes widening in surprise. Its arm was gone.
And the woman, whose wrist it had been holding, had collapsed back onto the floor.
In her hand, she clutched the severed arm, still clad in its sleeve.
“Madam, take your daughter and step back.”
The cold and elegant swordswoman said indifferently: “Cover your daughter’s eyes, so she doesn’t see anything unpleasant.”
“Y-Yes…”
The young woman quickly hugged her daughter and retreated to a corner, her heart pounding.
And only then did the evil spirit clutch its severed shoulder, its face filled with shock and terror: “You, you… what did you do?!”
“Do you have any… last words?” The swordswoman asked coldly: “Did you die unjustly, or—”
Before she could finish speaking, the evil spirit’s severed left arm suddenly regenerated, and it waved its sleeve.
Instantly, a chilling white mist filled the room, its figure gradually disappearing.
The swordswoman lowered her eyes slightly, raising her sword horizontally: “Go and reincarnate.”
She spun around, her sword flashing like a silken veil, a graceful and deadly strike.
“…”
Silence fell upon the room as the white mist gradually dissipated, revealing the evil spirit, still in its attacking stance.
But its face was frozen, its body stiff, a thin line appearing on its neck.
Without a sound, as a gentle breeze blew in from the window, the evil spirit turned into green smoke and dissipated completely.
“Hu… hu…”
The young woman, huddled in the corner, peeked out cautiously. After confirming that the evil spirit was dead, she whispered tentatively: “Heroine, that… monster… is it truly gone?”
“Yes, you’re safe now.” The swordswoman sheathed her sword, her expression calm as she looked back at them: “That was the only demon in this inn. Now that it’s gone, you can rest easy.”
Saying this, she turned and left decisively, her sword in hand.
The young woman was slightly startled and quickly put down her daughter, Lin Ling, who was looking at her with wide eyes, and she bowed: “Thank you for saving us, heroine, if it weren’t for you, my daughter and I would have been killed.”
“Th-Thank you, Big Sister!” Lin Ling also bowed politely.
“…”
The swordswoman paused slightly and sighed softly: “I’m staying in the room opposite yours. If you’re still worried, come and talk to me, it might ease your fears.”
The young woman’s face lit up.
Her meaning was clear, she would protect them for the night.
“Thank you, heroine, for your great kindness!”
…
About a stick of incense’s worth of time later, a soft knock came from the door.
“Come in.”
As the door slowly opened, the young woman, now dressed in an elegant robe, entered the room hesitantly.
After closing the door, she looked up and saw the mysterious swordswoman sitting alone at the tea table, silently sipping her tea.
“Heroine…”
“Where is your daughter?”
“Ling’er is exhausted and was also frightened earlier. After calming down, she fell fast asleep.” The young woman hesitated, taking two steps forward, and lowered her head, whispering: “She couldn’t come and thank you personally, heroine, please don’t mind.”
The swordswoman put down her teacup and said casually: “It seems this isn’t your first encounter with such evil beings, is it?”
“Y-Yes.” The young woman quickly nodded: “Our family was attacked by a demon a few months ago, we almost died. Even now, just recalling that incident fills me with fear.”
“Is that so…”
The swordswoman pursed her lips slightly, her brows furrowing slightly, a look of sympathy appearing on her face.
“No wonder your daughter wasn’t crying or screaming earlier. To have experienced such horrors repeatedly, you two are truly… quite unfortunate.”
The young woman’s heart clenched, a look of shame and guilt appearing on her face.
“But since you’ve encountered demons before, how did you escape last time?” The swordswoman suddenly asked, her voice calm: “I noticed that neither of you possess any martial arts skills or protective techniques, clearly unable to defend against demons and ghosts.”
“We were saved by a scholar, he possesses extraordinary abilities, capable of defeating demons with a wave of his hand. He’s incredibly powerful.”
The young woman bowed slightly as she replied, a hint of a smile appearing on her face: “And that scholar is kind, gentle, and refined. My daughter and I are going to Changling specifically to become his disciples, hoping that she can learn some self-defense techniques and be safe in the future.”
“Hmm?”
But at this moment, the swordswoman’s expression suddenly changed, and she asked hesitantly: “The scholar you mentioned… what is his name?”
“His name is Lin Tianlu, from Changling County, Xima Prefecture.” The young woman said softly: “It’s said that he’s quite renowned in the Changling area, heroine, you might have heard of Master Lin if you ever go there… Eh?”
She suddenly blinked her eyes in surprise, seeing the previously aloof and mysterious swordswoman stand up abruptly and quickly approach her. She couldn’t help but ask hesitantly: “Heroine…?”
The swordswoman stopped, and after a moment of silence, sighed softly and sat back down: “There’s no need to be nervous, madam, I just… reacted a bit strongly after hearing a familiar name. If you don’t mind, please sit down and chat with me.”
The young woman nodded slightly and sat down beside her, a bit hesitant.
“Heroine, do you… know Master Lin?”
“Yes.” The swordswoman sighed softly, the emotions in her eyes quickly disappearing, replaced by a calm and indifferent look.
“I’m also going to Changling. It’s quite a coincidence that we met in this remote place, madam.”
The young woman’s face lit up with joy.
With this heroine accompanying them, they would be safe for the rest of their journey, and Ling’er would also be able to sleep soundly.
“May I ask your name?”
“My name is Zhu Shutong, and my daughter is Lin Ling.”
“Beautiful names.”
The swordswoman pursed her lips thoughtfully, looking them over, and murmured: “You said you brought your daughter to Changling to become Master Lin’s disciple, madam?”
“Yes.” Zhu Shutong quickly nodded: “Master Lin saw that my daughter had some talent and took pity on us, so he agreed to take her as his disciple.
And my daughter has been incredibly excited, wanting to leave before the Lantern Festival. Seeing her unable to sleep at night and losing weight, I had to bring her here early.”
“I see—”
The swordswoman looked thoughtful.
“And you?”
“Eh?”
Zhu Shutong was stunned and stammered: “What do you mean… heroine?”
The swordswoman casually poured them tea and said softly: “What are your thoughts on Master Lin?”
“My thoughts on Master Lin…”
Zhu Shutong frowned slightly, her eyes lowered, and after a moment of hesitation, she said softly and frankly: “Master Lin is truly a kind and compassionate person. He saved our family from disaster and didn’t even accept any reward. I will never forget his kindness.
And I’ve also heard that he is a learned scholar, proficient in literature, calligraphy, painting, and even feng shui, and also possesses impressive martial arts skills. Such a talented and virtuous young man is truly a sage, worthy of admiration.”
“Those are just rumors, what are your own thoughts?”
“I—”
Zhu Shutong’s heart stirred, and she smiled gently: “Master Lin is a handsome and refined man, his appearance alone is quite captivating. And although he possesses extraordinary cultivation, he’s approachable and gentle, not at all arrogant, surely a good husband who would care for his wife.
Of course, Master Lin is surrounded by beauties, quite fortunate indeed, the only… shortcoming is perhaps… his ‘gentleness’.”
“Oh?”
The swordswoman raised an eyebrow slightly, took a sip of tea, and asked with interest: “Why is Master Lin’s gentle nature a shortcoming, madam?”
“In this era, a man as gentle and refined as Master Lin is truly rare. To find such a husband is a blessing.” The young woman smiled and said softly: “But this ‘gentleness’ also attracts many women, and although Master Lin might be loving and caring, he can’t possibly give all his attention to every wife and concubine.
Even if they don’t say it out loud, for a husband’s affections to be shared, they can’t truly experience the devotion of a single, loving partner, that is the shortcoming of Master Lin’s gentleness.”
The swordswoman smiled faintly: “You have a point.”
“Of course, these are just my personal thoughts, just idle gossip. Master Lin and his wives must have a very loving and harmonious relationship, not like my… foolish worries.” Zhu Shutong smiled gently: “Besides, how can there truly be a perfect person in this world? For Master Lin to be so respected and admired is enough to captivate a woman’s heart.
If he were truly perfect, a selfless and desireless sage, strictly adhering to rules and showing compassion to all living beings, it would make me feel… distant, like a figure from a dream, hard to approach.”
“You’re right.” The swordswoman smiled brightly.
This fleeting smile made Zhu Shutong’s heart tremble slightly, thinking that this heroine was truly beautiful.
And her elegant demeanor and noble aura suggested that besides being a “heroine,” she also had a high status, either wealthy or noble.
“For a clever and perceptive woman like you to come to Changling to see Master Lin, it seems you’re quite fortunate, madam.”
The swordswoman glanced at her meaningfully: “Although you’re bringing your child with you, if you put in some effort, you might… ‘gain something’.”
Zhu Shutong smiled gently and bowed her head slightly: “Thank you for your blessing, heroine, I’ll do my best.”
As long as her daughter could learn something from Master Lin, this arduous journey would be worth it.
“—Ugh?”
But Zhu Shutong suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, her body swaying, and she clutched her forehead with a pained expression.
The swordswoman’s gaze sharpened, and she quickly took Zhu Shutong’s wrist.
After checking her pulse for a moment, she said softly: “Your energy is depleted, and you’re exhausted. You haven’t been resting properly, have you, Madam?”
“…Indeed.”
Zhu Shutong gasped softly and forced a smile: “Although Master Lin saved us, I’ve still been quite anxious and haven’t been sleeping well.”
“…Seeing how exhausted you are, you should go back to your room and rest with your daughter.”
The swordswoman didn’t try to persuade her to stay and chat, but instead took out a delicate porcelain bottle from her bosom and poured out two jade-like pills.
“These are called ‘Clear Dew Pills,’ they can help you calm your mind and sleep soundly, just take one, and you’ll have a good night’s rest. And if your daughter has trouble sleeping, give her half a pill.”
“Thank you for the medicine, heroine.”
The young woman took the pills with a serious expression.
“There’s no need to worry, I’ll be watching over you.” The swordswoman said indifferently: “We’ll set off for Changling together tomorrow morning, I’ll protect you along the way.”
The young woman’s face lit up with joy, and she bowed respectfully before leaving with light steps.
…
As the door closed silently, the room fell into silence.
After a moment, a slender figure quietly emerged from the shadows.
“Lan’er, do we have any information on this woman?”
“Yes, Master.”
Lan’er lowered her eyes and cupped her hands, bowing slightly: “This Zhu Shutong is from Boyang County, born into a wealthy merchant family, her family has been affluent for three generations, even having connections with various officials.
She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, living a pampered life, educated in literature and business, and also learned some needlework from her mother. She was known as a virtuous and talented woman. Her personality is also quite gentle and demure. She married young, following her parents’ arrangements, and has been a devoted wife and mother, rarely leaving her home.”
“Who is her husband?”
“Lin Huan of the Lin family in Boyang County, he’s over thirty years old.”
Lan’er spoke calmly and methodically: “His grandfather and Zhu Shutong’s grandfather were business partners, both wealthy merchants. Although their fathers were… unruly playboys, he has managed to maintain the family business, doing quite well.
Although he seems decent on the surface, he has done many things to exploit and harm the people, even engaging in bribery and corruption, colluding with officials and other merchants, and participating in illegal activities. His reputation among the locals is just average, slightly better than that Huang Qiuli you eliminated a while ago, but not much better.”
The swordswoman… Tan Zisheng touched the porcelain teacup in her hand and snorted softly: “He’s hardly a righteous person.”
“Compared to Huang Qiuli and the other wealthy merchants in the area, he’s still considered decent, he hasn’t directly killed anyone.”
“Does Zhu Shutong know about this?”
“She doesn’t get involved in the family business, so she probably doesn’t know.” Lan’er said indifferently: “And Lin Huan is often away on business trips, even if she wanted to ask, she wouldn’t get any answers. She’s completely devoted to raising her daughter.”
“Truly a virtuous and dutiful wife and mother. Perhaps that’s why Tianlu took pity on them and allowed them to come to Changling.”
Tan Zisheng frowned slightly and mused: “However, there’s something strange about this woman… and her daughter… I wonder what happened to them.”
Lan’er’s face showed a hint of surprise: “Your Highness, do you mean that they’re injured?”
“Not physical injuries, but rather… something affecting their souls.” Tan Zisheng rubbed her temples and murmured: “But I’ve only just started learning Yin techniques, my knowledge is still limited, I can’t tell what exactly is wrong with them.”
“Should we inform Miss Chi—”
“No need.”
Tan Zisheng suddenly smiled faintly: “Miss Chi is enjoying her travels, there’s no need to disturb her.
If there’s truly something wrong with that mother and daughter, we’ll find out when they meet Tianlu in Changling.”
“Should we recall Fen’er and the others?”
“Those little girls, traveling with Miss Chi, is also a kind of opportunity and good fortune for them, let’s see if they can seize it.”
Tan Zisheng waved her sleeve: “You can leave now, just guard the inn. I’ll look after this mother and daughter.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Lan’er bowed and disappeared into the shadows.
As silence returned to the room, Tan Zisheng leaned sideways, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze distant and hazy, as if she could see a familiar figure.
“It’s been a while, I wonder how Tianlu is doing…”
She unconsciously tightened her grip on her skirt, her expression darkening slightly: “And I wonder if I’ll have the chance to meet Ruoyu’s adoptive mother and… test her strength.”
