Chapter 435: Returning to Peace, the Snow Clears p1
The next morning.
The wind and snow had stopped, and a thick layer of snow covered every courtyard, a bright and pristine white.
Although the snow on the main street was slow to melt, many shops and stalls were open for business as usual, steam rising from their wares, a hint of the usual hustle and bustle returning.
Compared to the previous desolation, a few customers sat at the tea stall in the market square, chatting and laughing.
“Your tea is here, guests~”
A plump old woman with a kind and friendly smile brought over a few pots of warm tea.
“Madam Wang, you’re starting work early this year.” A middle-aged man sitting at a table slapped his thigh and chuckled: “Where’s your husband today?”
“He’s at home teaching the children!” Madam Wang winked and clicked her tongue: “Our little granddaughter is quite a handful, if no one keeps an eye on her, she’ll turn the house upside down!”
“You’re working hard, Madam Wang, setting up your stall so early in this cold weather.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all!”
Madam Wang quickly waved her hand and smiled: “Thankfully, we heard that something happened to the Ghost Ming Sect, that’s why we dared to open our stalls today. A few days ago, even if you offered us silver, we wouldn’t have dared to come out.”
“That sect…”
Several tea drinkers’ faces turned serious, and they started whispering among themselves.
“I heard that there was a howling wind where the Ghost Ming Sect is located last night, as if they were struck by divine punishment.”
“I wonder which expert dealt with those villains.”
“At least we commoners can finally have some peace and quiet.”
“Indeed——”
Madam Wang sighed with emotion, picking up a cloth and returning to her stall.
But she suddenly exclaimed softly and looked up to see a familiar figure walking past.
Although this woman was dressed in a dignified and elegant robe and skirt, her alluring figure was still evident, and Madam Wang immediately recognized her.
“Oh! Madam Mao, come over here!”
She smiled brightly and greeted her warmly: “I’ve been waiting for you!”
Mao Ruoyu paused slightly, blinking her eyes in surprise, and smiled gently: “Madam Wang, what is it? Why are you so…”
“I haven’t seen you this entire New Year period, I’ve missed you!”
Madam Wang’s face was filled with a kind and friendly smile as she chatted: “When we were still neighbors, we would always visit and exchange gifts during the Spring Festival. I’m not used to not seeing you this year, it feels like… my own daughter has gotten married.”
Mao Ruoyu chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand: “You’re so popular, Madam Wang, are all the women in this neighborhood your daughters?”
“I have many daughters, but you’re the prettiest!”
Madam Wang looked her up and down appraisingly, clicking her tongue in admiration:
“You’re as beautiful as a celestial being, and your figure… you’ve become even more… womanly after marriage, you’ll surely bear many healthy and chubby children for your husband.”
Mao Ruoyu blushed slightly at her words and said shyly: “Madam Wang, it’s not appropriate to say such things in public.”
“You’re right, you’re right, I shouldn’t have said that, I don’t want people gossiping.”
Madam Wang quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Seeing that the gossipy Madam Wang next door was still the same, Mao Ruoyu’s heart eased slightly, and she smiled wryly: “Madam Wang, it seems you have something to ask me?”
“Cough, you can’t hide anything from me, Madam Mao.”
Madam Wang chuckled awkwardly and leaned closer, lowering her voice: “To be honest, a distant relative of mine just arrived in Changling this morning and told me about something strange she heard last night.”
Mao Ruoyu’s heart stirred: “Something strange?”
“She heard that a large group of women, barely clothed, arrived in Molin Village last night, crying and wailing. Many villagers went to see what was happening, and it seems they were rescued from that hellhole, the Ghost Ming Sect.”
Madam Wang whispered in her ear: “And you and your family just happened to return today, Madam Mao, could it be that… it was Master Lin who saved them?”
“This—”
Mao Ruoyu chuckled softly.
Her husband had gone out in the middle of the night to rescue people, and the news had already spread back to Changling?
“It was indeed my husband, but Miss Ji of the Golden Phoenix Tower also helped.”
“So it was Master Lin!”
Madam Wang’s face lit up with joy, and she said with emotion: “It’s truly a blessing for our Changling County to have Master Lin! That Ghost Ming Sect is so terrifying, with him here, we can finally feel safe.”
Mao Ruoyu brushed her hair lightly and smiled gently: “Don’t worry, Madam Wang, that Ghost Ming Sect won’t dare to cause trouble anymore.”
“That’s good! That’s really good!” Madam Wang smiled brightly, clearly overjoyed.
But then, a fawning and flattering smile appeared on her face as she whispered: “If you don’t mind me asking, Madam Mao, is Master Lin… looking for any more… concubines?”
“…”
Mao Ruoyu’s smile froze slightly.
After a moment of silence, she lowered her voice and chuckled wryly: “Madam Wang, your granddaughter is only five years old.”
“She’ll grow up eventually!”
“Cough… I have to go buy some groceries now, I’ll talk to you later, Madam Wang!” Mao Ruoyu waved her hand with a forced smile and quickly excused herself.
“Wait! Madam Mao! I was just joking, don’t take it to heart!”
Madam Wang reached out as if wanting to stop her, but seeing the beautiful woman’s hurriedly retreating figure, she shook her head and chuckled.
“A match made in heaven, truly an enviable couple!”
“Madam Wang! Another cup of tea, please!”
“Coming right up!”
The tea stall was still bustling with customers, the smoke from the stove rising. The so-called sect conflict didn’t seem to affect the peaceful atmosphere here.
…
Inside the Lin residence.
As the door slowly opened, a young woman in a white gauze robe and skirt emerged.
Her skin was as fair as snow, her eyes alluring, a delicate and slightly frail beauty that evoked a sense of protectiveness. Her feet beneath her skirt were dainty, her ankles slender, her figure graceful and willowy.
“Hu—”
Ren Yinshan walked with slightly unsteady steps to the corridor, looking at the snow-covered courtyard, her beautiful eyes flickering, and exhaled softly.
“It’s… snowing again.”
Feeling a slight chill, she unconsciously rubbed her still sore and aching shoulders.
But as her fingers touched a tender spot, she winced slightly, a soft moan escaping her lips, her body trembling as her ample bosom, barely contained by her robe and skirt, swayed gently.
After the pain subsided, she shook her head self-deprecatingly.
“…My body has become so weak.”
Ren Yinshan sighed softly and reached out to catch a few snowflakes falling from the eaves.
Feeling the snowflakes melt in her palm, she couldn’t help but purse her lips slightly, a faint smile appearing.
“—Hmm?”
Hearing a faint noise from outside the corridor, the frail beauty looked over and vaguely saw a small figure sweeping the snow in the courtyard, a large, silver fox lying on her shoulders.
From afar, the scene was harmonious and serene, like a beautiful painting.
“That little girl is…”
“Her name is Xueshan.”
A warm and gentle voice suddenly echoed from behind her.
Ren Yinshan’s eyes widened slightly, and just as she was about to turn around, she felt a warmth enveloping her, a cloak draped over her shoulders.
Slightly stunned, she looked back to see Lin Tianlu smiling and bowing slightly: “Miss Ren, you should have seen her at my wedding, she was sitting at the banquet, not far from you.”
“Xueshan?”
Ren Yinshan blinked her beautiful eyes and, after a moment of thought, suddenly realized: “So it’s that little girl?”
She looked again, a hint of surprise in her eyes: “She’s changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize her.”
When she had first seen Xueshan, she had thought she was just an ordinary girl.
But now, she had become quite beautiful, her delicate features accentuated by the snowy landscape, like an ethereal fairy.
Lin Tianlu smiled gently: “She’s still growing, girls change a lot during puberty, you should know that better than I do, Miss Ren.”
“That’s… true.”
Ren Yinshan’s eyes twinkled, and she chuckled softly: “So you have a keen eye for beauty, Master Lin, finding a hidden gem in this vast world?”
Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly: “Your words have a… hidden meaning, don’t they, Miss Ren?”
“Look at that little girl sweeping your courtyard now, Master, she must be quite devoted.” Ren Yinshan’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she teased softly: “In a few years, perhaps the Lin family will have another… mistress?”
“Cough! Please spare me, Miss Ren—”
Ren Yinshan chuckled softly, her beautiful eyes glancing at him playfully, a seductive glint within.
But she quickly lowered her gaze, touching the fur-lined cloak on her shoulders, her voice softening: “I should be thanking you for your kindness and consideration, Master.”
Lin Tianlu’s smile faded slightly, and he asked with concern: “Are you feeling any better today, Miss Ren?”
“Just a bit sore and tired, I’ll be fine after a few more days of rest.” Ren Yinshan’s eyes were gentle as she murmured: “And thanks to the medicine you gave me last night, I was able to get out of bed this morning.”
“Medicine is just a temporary solution, you should stay here and recuperate properly, Miss Ren.”
Lin Tianlu said gently and reassuringly: “If you feel cold, just wear more clothes, and if you need anything, just let me know, I’ll take care of it.”
“You…” Ren Yinshan blinked her beautiful eyes and chuckled: “You’re truly too kind and caring. If your wives see this, they’ll be jealous of me.”
“Ruoyu and the others already know about… the recent incident, they won’t mind.”
Lin Tianlu’s thoughts stirred, and he quickly asked: “Since you’re awake now, Miss, would you mind telling me what happened?”
“What happened—”
Ren Yinshan smiled wryly: “There’s not much to say, really. Just a while ago, those people from the Ghost Ming Sect came to the county, capturing young women, and they happened to see my establishment, so we had a… conflict.
I managed to drive away their disciples, but then a Ghost Lord appeared. I had no choice but to offer myself as a hostage, so they would spare the other girls.”
Lin Tianlu pondered.
