Chapter 431: A Difficult Pact, Whispers in the Aromatic Chambers p2
“Hu—”
Lin Tianlu blew the fallen leaf off his nose and looked down at the young girl in his arms: “Miss, wake up, we’ve arrived at the Ghost Ming Sect’s compound.”
“Mmm…”
The young girl stirred slightly, her beautiful eyes fluttering open, a hazy and dazed look within, like someone drunk.
She touched her forehead and murmured softly: “Master Lin, you’re so fast…”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned strange: “Your words are quite… misleading, Miss.”
The young girl’s breathing gradually steadied, her pounding heart calming down, as she recovered from the dizziness caused by their swift journey.
…Truly unbelievable.
She glanced towards the distant mountain peak, where she could vaguely see the sect’s formation, easily bypassed.
That formation, which should have alerted them, had simply rippled like water as Lin Tianlu approached, creating an opening for them to pass through.
And with his incredible speed, he had brought her hundreds of miles in such a short time, arriving at the Ghost Ming Sect.
“Are you feeling better, Miss?”
“I-I’m fine now.” The young girl touched her forehead, composing herself, and murmured: “Did you… hear their conversation just now, Master?”
“That Aromatic Chambers, it seems ordinary people aren’t allowed to enter.”
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly, looking up at the building, and said in a deep voice: “From their words, that so-called primary candidate for the Cauldrons should be Miss Ren?”
“Could you follow them, Master? But don’t alert them yet.” The young girl bit her lip lightly and said calmly: “We have to confirm Sister Ren’s safety first, in case something happens, and she becomes a hostage.”
“Alright.”
Lin Tianlu focused his mind and, with a flicker of movement, silently entered the pavilion.
This place, like the Ghost Ming Sect compound, was also deserted. But walking along the corridor, he could see red gauze decorations, rows of candles, and a faint fragrance lingering in the air.
Clearly, this Aromatic Chambers was a women’s residence, but after passing through several secret tunnels, they entered a dark and gloomy underground area.
Lin Tianlu’s eyes narrowed slightly, a green light flickering within, and even through the walls, he could still clearly sense the auras of the two women.
The young girl in his arms didn’t dare to move, just quietly leaning against him, whispering: “Did you find anything, Master?”
“There’s something else down here, it seems to be a rather grand and magnificent underground palace… But upon closer inspection, it looks more like a series of interconnected prison cells.”
Lin Tianlu replied silently through a mental connection, his figure flickering repeatedly as he moved swiftly through the tunnels.
“Be careful of the barriers, Master—”
“Don’t worry, I recently learned a new technique.” Lin Tianlu had naturally seen the layers of barriers ahead.
But thanks to Martial Aunt’s guidance, having seen many of Lunar Valley’s secret techniques and Yin techniques, he could easily break through most formations with the “Realm Melting Technique.”
He casually passed through them, the barriers barely even rippling.
“This level of barrier is nothing.”
Lin Tianlu entered the underground prison with the young girl.
But the moment they entered, they both froze.
Faint moans and whispers could be heard, like complaints or pleas, or perhaps like the soft purrs of a cat, a seductive and unsettling sound, as if this place was a demonic abyss filled with an alluring darkness.
The young girl’s expression turned serious, but she remained silent.
Lin Tianlu’s mind strayed for a moment, then he quickly regained his composure and continued walking.
But as he passed by several prison cells, he caught glimpses of figures inside, their faces flushed, their bodies in seductive poses, as if deliberately trying to entice someone, their soft moans echoing.
These women…
…something wasn’t right.
Boom!
A stone door not far away opened with a rumble, and two women, seemingly having found their target, emerged, only the mature woman entering the cell.
“This is our chance!” The young girl whispered: “Let’s go in!”
“Alright!”
Lin Tianlu quickly leaped forward, knocking out the maid who was standing guard outside with a single palm strike, and then entered the cell.
“This…”
Both Lin Tianlu and the young girl were stunned.
The cell was unexpectedly spacious, with a circular platform in the center, rising about two zhang high, and…
…Ren Yinshan, bound by chains.
“Miss Ren, it’s been a while, you seem quite calm.”
Shi Ran walked towards her gracefully, swaying her hips with a smile: “But your… posture is quite amusing.”
“Hu…”
With a soft sigh, Ren Yinshan, who had been lying with her eyes closed, slowly opened them. Although her gaze was hazy, there was still a glint of clarity deep within.
But her body was suspended in mid-air by chains wrapped around her waist and shoulders, her limbs pulled taut, as if deliberately displaying her flexibility, her legs raised high like swords, spread apart like a fan, her waist arched, her head hanging back, her long, black hair cascading down like a waterfall.
And her voluptuous and alluring body was barely covered by a single white cloth, her skin faintly visible, enhancing her beauty.
“You… are Ghost Lord Shi…”
A hoarse voice, slightly tired yet still seductive, came from her lips.
“Indeed.”
Shi Ran smiled charmingly and approached her, tilting her head slightly and asking with interest: “After being trapped here for so long and having your Yin energy drained repeatedly, you’re still so composed, Miss Ren?”
Ren Yinshan managed a faint smile: “Such petty tricks are nothing. Besides, compared to the other women here, I’m quite fortunate.”
“Indeed, you’re quite lucky.”
Shi Ran nodded, seemingly agreeing: “You have a beautiful face and a naturally blessed physique.”
As she spoke, she casually tugged on the chains, pulling them tighter, making Ren Yinshan’s ample bosom strain against the fabric, almost spilling out.
“Mmm!” Ren Yinshan bit her lip, her face flushing.
“With your status as the primary candidate for the Cauldrons, I’m sure those girls in the Aromatic Chambers wouldn’t dare to harm you, even Madam Li has to be careful, afraid of ruining the ritual and facing the consequences.”
Shi Ran released the chains and chuckled: “But no matter how stubborn you are, when the time comes, you’ll still end up like those other girls, kneeling on the altar, offering your Yin essence and life force to our sect, turning into another… empty shell.”
“Life and death are determined by fate, I don’t care about such things…”
Ren Yinshan’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she chuckled softly: “But you, Ghost Lord Shi, you seem more worried and uneasy than before.”
“Oh?” Shi Ran raised an eyebrow with a faint smile: “You’re still as perceptive as ever, able to see through my thoughts with just a glance.”
“Your Ghost Ming Sect… isn’t as united as it seems.” Ren Yinshan’s smile didn’t fade, and she said softly: “Your visit this time, Ghost Lord Shi, isn’t just for… fun, but to talk to me, to… unburden yourself, perhaps?”
“…You’re such a clever and beautiful woman, yet so naive and foolish, sacrificing yourself for those mortal women, ending up in such a state.”
Shi Ran shook her head, a look of pity on her face.
Ren Yinshan simply smiled without responding.
“Alright, as you said.” Shi Ran waved her sleeve and turned towards a cabinet: “There’s been a lot of conflict within the sect recently, and I’m also quite troubled, the only one I can talk to openly… is you, a mere candidate for the Ghost Concubine Cauldron.”
“I’m honored.”
“But don’t get too comfortable, I still have to maintain appearances in front of Madam Li and the others, so you’ll have to… endure this for a bit.”
Shi Ran crossed her arms, looking at the various torture instruments on the platform, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and after a moment of contemplation, she chose two relatively “gentle” items: a short whip and a jade ruler.
She picked them up: “Let me tell you—”
“Don’t move.”
A deep male voice suddenly echoed beside her ear.
Shi Ran’s pupils constricted abruptly, her body stiffening, her eyes filled with shock and terror.
Where did this person come from?!
How had he approached her without her noticing?!
She quickly tried to use a technique, to at least create some distance and see clearly who this intruder was— “Ugh!”
Her hands were seized as if in a vise, a powerful force pinning her against the table, completely immobilizing her.
Her bones ached, and an oppressive pressure, shaking her very soul, descended upon her. Caught off guard, despite her cultivation, Shi Ran couldn’t help but cry out, her body trembling.
