The next morning, the sun was already blazing overhead.
Although the calamity of the evil ghost in Changling County had been eradicated the night before, it had caused quite a stir throughout the county, and rumors were flying thick and fast.
Gossip could still be heard among the taverns and neighboring streets. From time to time, people passed by the cloth shop that had been scorched by ghostfire to take a look, eager to see what the place burned by the evil ghost's flames had become.
Amid the hurried crowds, an old man in hempen clothes with a long sword on his back removed his straw hat and slowly squatted outside the cloth shop. With a light pinch of his fingers, he lifted a bit of fine dust from the ground.
"Phantom fire. It burns without harming flesh, blood, sinews, or bones. Yin energy spills in every direction, and shrill cries linger without end."
He stroked his white beard, his aged face solemn as he pondered in silence. As expected, this is the gray ash left behind after an evil spirit was destroyed. Who would have thought that this little Changling County could have an expert capable of subduing such a terrifying evil spirit?
The old man raised his head toward the cloth shop, blackened all over by the flames. Strange glimmers flickered in his eyes.
"Judging by the might of this phantom fire, it is truly extraordinary. The residual flames around the perimeter cannot harm ordinary flesh, but anyone caught inside would inevitably be burned by real fire and reduced to dregs. These evil flames, combining yin and yang, would turn even a Pure Yang Realm martial artist to ash if touched rashly.
"Yet this person was utterly unafraid of the evil flames' searing heat. He even entered the cloth shop and forcefully slew the evil spirit. His methods are truly extraordinary!
"It is only a pity that this expert must be the sort who reveals his head but not his tail. I truly have no idea how I might meet him and seek his guidance."
He sighed and rose, shaking the weeds and dust from the brim of his hat as he prepared to leave.
At that moment, however, he vaguely heard whispers coming from the side.
"Did that scholar really charge into the cloth shop alone... and save Shopkeeper Zhang?"
"Everyone saw it with their own eyes. How could it have been faked?"
Two young men in plain clothes sat beside a breakfast stall, eating and drinking while conversing in low voices.
One of the tall, burly youths leaned close and whispered, "The ghostfire was burning then, and it was terribly strange. Not a single person dared approach the cloth shop lightly. But that scholar charged into the sea of flames first, risking his life to rescue people and bring them out. He did not have even the slightest burn on him.
"Afterward, many old folk said that the fire was connected to demons and spirits, and that the scholar must have relied on his righteous aura and abundant yang energy. That was why he was completely unafraid of those sinister flames!"
His companion took a bite of his steamed bun and clicked his tongue in admiration. "Who would have thought that even our remote little corner could produce a master of learning and virtue? To drive away evil and ward off fire with a heart full of righteousness—how enviable! I only wonder which academy that master teaches at. Or is he a gifted scholar who has just attained academic honors?"
"I'm not too sure about that. But I heard others say he seemed to have come from another town or county..."
"You two."
A deep, resonant voice sounded from behind them. The two men turned back in confusion and saw a white-bearded old man hurrying toward them with delighted excitement on his face.
Looking closely, they found that although the old man was travel-worn, every gesture he made carried an air of transcendence and an immortal's bearing.
The tall, burly man could not help feeling a few traces of respect. He hurriedly rose and clasped his hands in salute. "Old sir, you are..."
"I am merely a wild villager from the mountains. I was only passing through Changling County. I happened to hear the two of you discussing last night's fire at the cloth shop. Could you tell me where the person who put out the fire is now?" The old man's voice held a trace of urgent hope.
Seeing his agitated expression, the tall, burly man scratched his head, then hesitantly pointed toward a distant direction.
"I've never spoken with that gentleman. I only heard the neighbors chatting about it. He seems to be living beside Stonework Street on the north side. But as for the exact location..."
He was already struggling to shake his head when, in the next instant, both men's faces froze.
The old man standing before them had vanished without a trace in broad daylight!
"Th-this—was that a ghost?!"
The two men instantly turned pale. They stumbled backward, shouting as they fled in panic.
Amid the noisy crowd, however, the old man had already moved far away.
His steps were strange and illusory as he threaded through the streets, his figure as elusive and unpredictable as a ghost.
In the boudoir of Dark Fragrance.
A soft moan sounded. Mao Ruoyu's lashes trembled, and she slowly awakened.
She held her forehead and sat up on the bed in a daze, her black hair slipping slowly from her shoulders. Beneath her loose collar, her ample breasts nearly burst through her clothes, swaying like waves whenever her arm brushed against them, filling the room with springtime allure.
"Why am I at home?"
After sitting dazed for quite some time, the events of the previous night finally surged back into her mind.
Her expression immediately turned terribly grim, and her throat went dry.
"That scholar—"
She could not help swallowing.
Although she had not witnessed it with her own eyes,
there was no doubt that the evil spirit had been destroyed by a single point of that scholar's finger!
"Madam Mao, you're awake?"
A bright, clear voice suddenly sounded outside, making Mao Ruoyu's fragrant shoulder tremble as her lovely face paled with fright.
The door quietly opened, and Lin Tianlu entered the room carrying breakfast.
"Why—why, why, why are you in my house?!" Mao Ruoyu hurriedly wrapped herself in the quilt.
Lin Tianlu set down the dishes and quickly withdrew his discourteous gaze. With a smile, he cupped his hands and said, "Last night, Madam Mao was so frightened beside the sea of flames that you suddenly fainted. I had several kind elderly women carry you back to your residence.
"Madam need not worry. I did nothing improper. The elderly women handled changing your clothes as well. However... it was indeed rather inappropriate for me to enter Madam's boudoir without permission."
At that, he bowed and backed away with a slightly ashamed expression. "I prepared some hot porridge and snacks for Madam. Your qi and blood are deficient, so you should eat more and nourish yourself. There will also be medicine for replenishing qi and blood once it has finished simmering."
Mao Ruoyu listened in a daze. Only after Lin Tianlu had backed out of the room did she hurriedly say, "Mister Lin... s-sorry. My head was a little dizzy just now. Please don't take offense."
"It's all right. Madam should first steady your mind and eat something. I will wait patiently in the front hall."
Only after the door had been gently closed did Mao Ruoyu blink her beautiful eyes in bewilderment.
I wasn't killed by a single point of his finger?
Lin Tianlu was seated in the guest seat of the front hall, holding a book of ancient texts from the household to pass the time.
Although the Regular Script characters had initially made his eyes swim and his head ache, perhaps with the help of his predecessor's memories, he could now slowly read through them with increasing fluency.
After reading for a while, he found it rather interesting.
It was just the ink illustrations accompanying the book... He truly could not appreciate them. Each one was more abstract than the last.
"Ahem..."
Half an hour later, faint, delicate coughs drifted over.
A graceful, voluptuous figure emerged from around the corner. Mao Ruoyu wore a fitted plain silk dress, her coiled hair tied into a braid that fell before her chest. With an apologetic smile, she held her hands together and bowed slightly, her voice soft and alluring.
"Mister Lin, I made a fool of myself before. I hope you will forgive me."
"Madam need not apologize."
Lin Tianlu put away the book and returned the salute. "Madam Mao disregarded the danger and followed me to the site of the fire last night. I was truly moved by it. Looking after you was merely a small matter.
"It is just that your home seems rather deserted. Many of the rooms were entirely empty, with cobwebs everywhere and dust covering everything. I had nothing else to do, so I simply cleaned the residence inside and out for Madam."
Mao Ruoyu's expression immediately shifted, and she hurriedly said, "Please don't take offense, sir. It is because I... like you, I only moved back to Changling County not long ago. And as a weak woman, my strength is limited, so I cannot labor for long. That is why there is dust everywhere in the residence."
Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully. "Madam's constitution is deficient and cold. It is indeed inconvenient for you to do anything too strenuous. If you need anything in the future, you may ask me for help."
"To trouble you even with such trivial matters is truly embarrassing."
Mao Ruoyu hurriedly bowed in thanks.
Lin Tianlu smiled. "Madam need not feel uneasy. It is perfectly ordinary for neighbors to help each other. However, there is a small question in my heart. I wonder if Madam could clear it up for me?"
"Please ask, Mister Lin."
"Last night, I searched for quite some time, but I seemed not to see any trace of your daughter inside or outside the residence."
Lin Tianlu looked puzzled.
"Madam, where has the child in your household... gone?"
Mao Ruoyu's expression changed at once, and her hands clenched tightly inside her sleeves.
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