Harvesting Secret Manuals, Beautiful Woman Visits

After a night of patching and mending, the surrounding wall was finally rebuilt by morning.

Mo Hong washed the mud and sand from his hands before cupping his fist towards Lin Tianlu in the courtyard. "Mister Lin, the wall is repaired. It's just that Hua girl..."

He cautiously peered around a few times, his face filled with tension. "Why is there no sign of her?"

Being stared at by Hua Shuya's icy gaze all night had sent shivers down his spine, even for a Sword Master. He felt that the rumors he'd heard from the neighbors last night were indeed true... that girl was truly as awe-inspiring as a Yaksha from the Nine Netherworlds.

"I specifically asked Miss Hua to go back and rest, old sir. There's no need for you to be so frightened."

Lin Tianlu smiled.

He seemed to recall something and quickly added, "I wonder if you, old sir, have any martial arts manuals that I could borrow for a brief look?"

"Manuals?" Mo Hong asked in surprise. "Mister Lin, with your great talent, why would you still need martial arts manuals from the martial world?"

"I don't have any great talent; it's just what outsiders falsely claim."

Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly. "Besides, I'm quite interested in those martial arts that involve leaping over eaves and scaling walls. I'd like to practice them in my spare time. If I could learn even a move or two, it would be useful for self-defense when I go out, so I don't get robbed of my belongings by mountain bandits."

Mo Hong's expression turned strange.

In this world, what bandit would have the ability to rob you?

But then he thought, could it be that Mister Lin needed to study those martial arts manuals to draw upon the strengths of various schools and create an unparalleled martial art?

He hurriedly fumbled in his robes and pulled out an old, worn book. With a solemn expression, he handed it to Lin Tianlu.

"Mister, this 'Soaring Dragon Phantom Step' was something I stumbled upon during my travels. Its footwork is exquisite and contains profound principles. If cultivated to the highest level, one might even be able to walk on air briefly. It's truly formidable. I've practiced it for five years and have reached the fourth realm. I still haven't grasped the essence of the final realm. However, with Mister Lin's cultivation level, I'm sure these five realms of the phantom step can be revived and shine once more."

Lin Tianlu's eyes brightened at his words. He took the manual with extreme care.

"Thank you, old sir. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"Not at all. Being able to befriend Mister Lin is already my greatest fortune."

Mo Hong smiled and took a few steps back, bowing. "The high wall has been repaired, so I shall not linger any longer. We shall meet again, Mister Lin. I bid you farewell!"

With a long cry to the heavens, the old man's figure flickered, carrying a majestic and dragon-like spirit—

He cautiously jogged over to open the gate of the mansion and stepped outside.

Then, he turned back and cupped his fist towards the courtyard with a gentle smile, casually closing the gate behind him.

"..."

Lin Tianlu's mouth twitched.

This old gentleman was perhaps becoming half a comedian.

"Senior, has Swordsman Mo Hong left?"

Hua Shuya poked her head out from the inner courtyard, glancing towards the gate.

Lin Tianlu nodded. "That old gentleman had an epiphany in his martial arts realm and should be seeking a quiet place to cultivate. Naturally, he wouldn't stay long."

Hua Shuya pursed her red lips and snorted softly. "That person was shouting and yelling early in the morning. He'll probably disturb the neighbors again."

Lin Tianlu's expression stiffened.

Right...

Although that shout earlier was full of heroic spirit, it was indeed quite noisy.

Roughly calculating the time, it was probably around six or seven in the morning. He could only hope that the neighbors wouldn't come knocking to complain.

Hua Shuya walked over, blinking her beautiful eyes.

"Did Swordsman Mo Hong leave anything else for you, Senior?"

Lin Tianlu snapped out of his reverie and smiled, shaking the manual in his hand. "That old gentleman left me a cultivation manual."

"A manual?"

Hua Shuya frowned slightly.

Why would that old man leave such a meager gift in return?

However, seeing the pleased and happy look on Lin Tianlu's face, she didn't complain further.

"Then, Senior, please wait here. I'll go to the market to buy some breakfast."

"Thank you for the trouble."

"No, it's not troublesome."

Hua Shuya coughed lightly, her pretty face blushing, and quietly departed.

With no one else at home, Lin Tianlu took a seat and began to flip through the manual in his hand.

After only a few glances, he couldn't help but let out a soft sound of surprise.

The exquisite and profound incantations and cultivation methods he had imagined were nowhere to be found.

There were no seven-colored special effects that appear when flipping through divine skill manuals.

Quite the opposite, in fact. There were detailed little drawings on the pages, making it look like a children's picture book.

"Hmm, and it's even divided into two parts... a male version and a female version."

"The artwork is quite good, at least they look like people," Lin Tianlu said, looking quite amused. He struck a few poses based on the diagrams in the book.

But soon, a very strange expression appeared on his face.

"This... it looks like street dancing."

He tried to imitate the figures in the illustrations, crossing his feet and turning in place.

All that was missing was striking a pose with his hands.

"..."

Lin Tianlu flipped through the manual for a while longer before finally closing the book.

"Alright, it's not street dancing."

"It's disco dancing for seniors."

"It really does look like a martial art that old man would come up with. It suits his age group," Lin Tianlu sighed.

Of course, this didn't mean the manual was a fake.

This peculiar, asynchronous rhythm that resembled disco dancing for seniors required profound internal energy to be executed as a mystical movement technique. Without the synergy of internal energy, it would naturally become a mere display of empty movements, looking awkward and comical.

The book also included a method for circulating internal energy, but that was only if one possessed internal energy to begin with.

Lin Tianlu scratched his head, wondering if the Spiritual Energy within him could be used as a substitute.

"Ah, I almost forgot. I can't even mobilize this Spiritual Energy I have."

He shook his head and chuckled, then strolled into the courtyard, pacing back and forth casually.

Even if he couldn't cultivate the movement technique to a high level without internal energy, using it as a warm-up for his morning exercises wouldn't hurt.

Cultivating immortality and the Dao truly required prioritizing health and well-being.

Combined with some stretching and chest-expanding exercises, it would be like doing the morning broadcast exercises every day.

Knock, knock, knock--

Just then, the main door was suddenly knocked upon.

"Another visitor?"

Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow, put away the manual, and quickly went to open the door.

"Who is it... Madam Mao?"

It was Mao Ruoyu standing outside the mansion.

She was wearing an elegant, light-colored ruqun, her long gown and light gauze draped around her. Her delicate face, lightly powdered, held a hint of gentle charm.

As their eyes met, she quickly lowered her gaze, bowed, and curtsied gracefully, saying, "Good morning, Mister Lin."

"Madam, you seem to be in much better spirits today," Lin Tianlu said with a gentle smile. "May I ask why you've come to visit?"

Mao Ruoyu hesitated, appearing conflicted.

Lin Tianlu softly reassured her, "Madam, there's no need to rush. Take your time to think."

"Actually, this humble one..." Mao Ruoyu's heart pounded, her breathing quickened, and a sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead. After a long silence, she seemed to make up her mind and suddenly declared loudly, "This humble one wishes to stay by Mister Lin's side!"

Huh?!

Lin Tianlu was stunned. "Madam, you just..."

But Mao Ruoyu's reaction was even more surprising.

She quickly covered her lips, looking shocked and frightened. She hastily explained, "No, no, I just meant... Mister Lin has no relatives or friends in Changling County, so it must be very inconvenient for you. Furthermore, you took such good care of this humble one yesterday. I was thinking... I could prepare some meals for you whenever possible, so you wouldn't go hungry."

As she spoke, her words became stammered, and her face was flushed with a blush, whether from shyness or eagerness.

Lin Tianlu finally relaxed and chuckled sheepishly, "I appreciate your kindness, Madam. However, I can manage my own meals. There's no need for you to go to such trouble."

"But Mister Lin must also read many books and study, right?" Mao Ruoyu said softly. "It's really no trouble for this humble one to cook a little more food. If Mister truly minds, then... you could just pay this humble one some wages."

Lin Tianlu was slightly taken aback, then quickly understood.

He had almost forgotten.

This woman was a widow with a child. Although she had a mansion, it was in disarray and unkempt, and she likely didn't have much income. Raising a child to adulthood would probably incur significant expenses. Having an additional source of income would lessen her family's burden.

With this in mind, Lin Tianlu cupped his hands and said, "Then I respectfully accept your offer. Since you are so kind, Madam, I shall not refuse."

"Thank you for your favor, Mister," Mao Ruoyu said, lightly smoothing her hair, her eyes darting away. "Then, starting tomorrow, this humble one will come to your residence to help with the cooking."

With a hasty farewell, she immediately gathered her skirt and left quickly, her movements seeming somewhat flustered.

"Ma—"

Lin Tianlu reached out as if to speak, but on second thought, he didn't say anything to ask her to stay.

Regarding the matter of wages, he might as well give a little more. It was truly not easy for a single woman to raise a child in ancient times.

Of course, there was another reason...

Having such a beautiful woman with a graceful figure cooking and tidying up at home was indeed a pleasant sight.

This money was well worth it.

"I didn't expect I'd still be lusting after a woman's body."

Lin Tianlu chuckled a couple of times and closed the main door again.

He also felt a bit fortunate that the Spiritual Energy within him hadn't turned him into someone devoid of desire.