Hua Shuya retreated again and again until her back struck a corridor pillar, bringing her to a stop. Her arm felt numb and sore.
She clicked her tongue inwardly and discreetly flexed the hand gripping her sword.
This old man... His cultivation was unfathomably deep.
Though his face looked aged, judging solely by his internal energy realm, he was probably above the Azure Spirit Realm—far beyond her!
If he had not been holding back, and if she had not acted on a sudden inspiration to use the Sword Intent technique she had only just comprehended a little of, her weapon might have been stripped from her hands within a few moves, leaving her powerless to fight on.
"I never thought this old man would one day misjudge someone. Girl, you're so young, yet you've already reached such a cultivation realm. The younger generation truly inspires awe." The old man lowered his sword and stood calmly. "Might I ask whether you were the one who destroyed the evil spirit in that cloth shop?"
"An evil spirit?"
Hua Shuya frowned slightly. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Hmm?"
Seeing the girl's unusual reaction, the old man was somewhat surprised.
This girl wasn't the expert who had eliminated the evil spirit?
Then who was—
"Oh? We have a guest at the Household?"
An unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out behind them.
The old man's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly turned around and only then saw Lin Tianlu.
"This... How can this be?!"
The man was slender, with a jade-like face and the appearance of a graceful, handsome scholar.
Yet when he stepped into the courtyard, he made not the slightest sound. His aura was deep and impossible to fathom, and the old man had not sensed anything at all. If the other party had not spoken first, he would not even have known someone had arrived behind him!
The more carefully he studied the man, the more unfathomable he seemed. It was as though an abyss were gradually swallowing his mind and Sword Intent, as if he had fallen into a dark, inscrutable prison. He nearly lost himself in a daze.
Just who was this man?
The old man's pupils contracted. Sweat appeared on his brow, and a trace of unease rose in his heart.
He had roamed the martial world for decades and encountered countless strange people and unusual talents, but he had never seen anyone so bizarre and unfathomable!
At this thought, he secretly tightened his grip on his sword hilt. Faint Sword Intent glimmered in his aged eyes as he circulated his full strength through his body.
"Senior, you're back?"
Hua Shuya's voice, tinged with surprise, immediately left the old man stunned.
Senior?
"What are you two doing with swords in your hands?"
With a strange look on his face, Lin Tianlu entered the courtyard with his hands behind his back, sweeping his gaze back and forth.
Had a conflict broken out?
He discreetly focused his gaze and hid his hand inside his sleeve.
Before either side could speak, he moved with lightning speed, casually reaching out and directly snatching the longsword from the old man's hand.
"Hey! Sir, you're already so old, yet you're still carrying such a sharp weapon. If you accidentally cut one of the neighbors, the compensation and medical expenses wouldn't be a small sum."
Old man: "..."
Seeing that he had successfully taken the weapon, Lin Tianlu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the old man's reactions were slow enough. Otherwise, if they had fought over it, he really feared he might accidentally end up with a few bloody cuts.
"Miss Hua, you shouldn't hold a sword either. It's hardly dignified to get into a full-blown fight with an elderly man."
Under the old man's stunned gaze, Lin Tianlu helped sheath the longsword behind his back.
Then he removed it along with the scabbard.
He even took the opportunity to soothe him earnestly. "The same goes for you, Sir. If there's a conflict, there's no need to hold it against a junior. Brandishing swords and knives is dangerous, after all. If the yamen officials see you, you may have to spend some time sitting bitterly in prison."
"Th-this old man..."
"Senior, this person seems to have come specifically to find you." Seeing that the situation had been brought under control, Hua Shuya simply put away her weapon.
"Find me?"
Lin Tianlu's expression froze slightly.
His thoughts racing, he finally cupped his hands toward the old man and smiled. "I still don't know what important matter brought you suddenly to my door, Sir."
"You, you..."
The old man reflexively clenched his right hand, rendered speechless.
By now, he had been shaken to the core.
He prided himself on being a grandmaster of the sword. There were not many martial artists in this world who could snatch a sword from his hands.
Yet this pale-faced scholar before him—
had taken it away with such effortless naturalness.
And he had not resisted in the slightest... No, that wasn't right. In that instant, he had simply failed to react!
After a moment's thought, cold sweat poured down the old man's body. He was chilled from head to toe as he hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed.
"This old man was far too presumptuous just now and offended an expert at his own door. I only wished to conduct a little test, but I never expected the expert spoken of throughout Changling County to truly exist. My own experience and knowledge are simply too shallow."
"Uh?"
Lin Tianlu was dumbfounded for a moment.
What was this old gentleman playing at?
Though puzzled in his heart, he hurriedly said aloud, "Sir, such a grand gesture is too much for this humble scholar. There's no need to be so formal."
"You are truly benevolent, Sir."
The old man relaxed slightly, then took the opportunity to cup his hands toward Hua Shuya in the distance. "And this young lady as well. This old man must offer you a proper apology. I offended you earlier only because I became excited at the sight of a skilled hunter meeting his prey."
"It's nothing. Sir needn't take it to heart." Hua Shuya returned the salute neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Seeing how respectful and proper the other party was toward Lin Tianlu, the tension in her face eased somewhat.
"Let's not stand around here. Why don't we sit down and have a proper chat?" Lin Tianlu suggested.
The old man's face lit up, and he immediately praised the idea. "Excellent, excellent!"
After the three of them took their seats, the old man quickly explained his identity and background in full.
Only then did Lin Tianlu learn that this somewhat disheveled-looking old man was not a malicious neighbor who had come to pick a fight, but a martial arts expert wandering the world. His name was Mo Hong.
Whether it was true or not...
Lin Tianlu secretly sized him up a few times.
He could not see the bearing or aura of some peerless expert at all. The old man looked more like an ordinary grandfather who needed someone to support him while walking.
He could not help glancing at Hua Shuya, seated beside him.
The girl quietly nodded, suggesting that his words were not false.
"But may I ask the purpose of your visit, Sir?" Lin Tianlu asked curiously.
"To tell the truth, this old man has wandered outside for many years solely in search of further advancement and a breakthrough in swordsmanship."
Mo Hong let out a deep sigh. "Yet after traveling far and wide for years, I failed to find the opportunity I sought. Instead, I saw more and more demons and foul things scattered throughout the mortal world, and I became increasingly aware of the shackles binding my own realm.
"I had only just arrived in Changling County and intended to stop for a few days before continuing on my way. I never expected that, upon entering the county, I would hear that a strange fire had broken out here yesterday. The cloth shop had been burned to black ash, yet its owner had emerged completely unharmed. After asking the county's people about it, I learned of your great deed, Sir."
At this point, Mo Hong cupped his hands and said solemnly, "With an expert like you guarding Changling County, it is truly the people's good fortune."
"It was merely a coincidence." Lin Tianlu waved his hand with an awkward laugh.
"But you came all this way to find me for..."
"This old man came in search of an opportunity to break through my realm." Mo Hong's voice deepened. "I exchanged a few blows with this young lady just now. For someone so young to possess such a martial arts realm, she must have received considerable guidance from you, Sir. Might I ask... whether you could offer this old man a little guidance as well?"
Looking at the eagerness on the old man's face, Lin Tianlu was struck speechless.
Guidance?
Guidance for a martial arts expert?
Even sparring with Hua Shuya made him somewhat nervous. Discussing martial arts realms with an elderly grandfather would probably be nothing but asking for trouble.
If the old man accidentally strained his leg, Lin Tianlu could not take responsibility for that.
"I'm sorry, Sir."
Lin Tianlu shook his head helplessly. "By a stroke of fortune, I happened to acquire a few means of fighting demons and ghosts. But when it comes to martial arts, I truly possess little ability. Miss Hua has achieved what she has entirely through her own extraordinary talent; it has nothing to do with me."
Mo Hong's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said, "But your aura seems naturally integrated, difficult to measure and impossible to trace. You have probably already reached the Heaven-Human realm. If you would only allow this old man to remain and converse with you for a while, I would be perfectly satisfied!"
"You make it sound far too grand."
Lin Tianlu pondered briefly, then chuckled. "Very well. Since you insist on staying, I have no way to stop you. If it is only an occasional conversation, I do have some free time."
Mo Hong's eyes immediately lit up. He sprang to his feet. "Good! Then this old man will prepare some wine and dishes first. Later, I'll come to your door and seek your instruction!"
"Ah... Sir, take care."
Lin Tianlu rose and cupped his hands, watching the other man leave.
He was quite decisive and forthright.
It was just that, judging by the old man's footsteps... he looked almost as if he were hopping and skipping. He was absurdly lively.
How did this look like a peerless expert?
Beside him, Hua Shuya pressed her lips together and whispered, "Senior, he truly is very formidable. It's just that... he isn't as formidable as you."
"Then that settles it."
Lin Tianlu sighed forlornly.
He could not even beat a scholar. How formidable could he really be?
Before you continue