Mao Ruoyu staggered home in a sorry state. She leaned against the gate and froze in place, her delicate gasps continuing without pause.
"What... what the hell was I saying?!"
She pressed down on her heaving chest. Her hand met clammy sweat, and her clothes were soaked through with cold sweat.
--She had originally planned to put an end to everything, come to his door, reveal the whole truth, and beg the senior expert's forgiveness for all her many discourtesies.
But when the two met again, she had been so nervous and flustered that she was rendered speechless.
The moment she imagined revealing the truth, she thought her fate might well be like that evil spirit's—scattered into oblivion, without even a complete corpse. Mao Ruoyu was utterly incapable of calming down.
In her dazed state, she had somehow spouted some ambiguous words, then hurriedly scrambled to explain them away.
Yet after patching one lie over another, she had ultimately brought trouble upon herself.
"What a truly ill-fated bond."
Mao Ruoyu's pretty face went pale, and she felt all strength drain from her body.
From now on, she had to come to Lin Tianlu's home every day to cook for him--
Wasn't this sending a lamb straight into a tiger's jaws?!
She could hide it for a few days, but not for a lifetime. If Lin Tianlu discovered that she had deliberately concealed the truth, then she feared...
Mao Ruoyu collapsed limply onto the floor and gazed blankly up at the sky.
"I'm finished."
In the afternoon.
Lin Tianlu was leisurely leaning against the covered corridor, browsing a collection of strange tales about mountain spirits and wild monsters.
The Four Books and Five Classics treasured in the household were rigorous in diction and rich in hidden principles, but reading them all and delving into them was genuinely troublesome. These folk stories, on the other hand, were much easier to read, and quite a few of the legends within were rather interesting.
The book in his hands in particular portrayed many tales of love and hatred between mortals and monsters.
Of course, Lin Tianlu had no interest in the passionate entanglements between the men and women in the book.
From a modern person's perspective, those seemingly moving and heartrending plots were actually nothing special, and there were countless ways to resolve the incidents. It was merely that the protagonists were shackled by the culture of their era, which gave rise to some tragedies of human relations.
As for those so-called beautiful romances, most were plainly one-night stands or women throwing themselves into a man's arms. They truly held little value for close examination.
As for why he was still so engrossed in the book, it was all because these strange tales...
Loved getting raunchy.
Most folk novels circulated among the common people and were difficult to regulate, so naturally they had few restrictions. The authors' ideas could truly run wild, astonishing and peerless. Even in modern society, with its information explosion, they could probably still be called top-tier.
The vivid, lifelike descriptions, the exotic beauties of varied charms, and the bewildering array of positions were enough to make anyone's eyes widen.
Even Lin Tianlu could not help clasping his hands and praising them.
"Brother author, you're seriously damn good."
Perhaps...
The reason all the scenes of the men and women in the book flirting and cultivating affection were glossed over in a single stroke was that they wanted more space to write the steamy parts?
"Now that's spicy!"
Lin Tianlu finished the book and secretly sighed in admiration.
Clang--!
A clear sword song drifted leisurely through the air, brushing past the quiet breeze.
Turning his head, he saw Hua Shuya dancing in a lavish gown, her sword whirling as she scattered ripples of dazzling sword light. She was truly elegant and handsome, her intimidating sharpness not inferior to any man's.
Moving with the sword and acting according to her heart, wisps of profound Sword Intent flowed through her blade, as though her Sword Dao realm had risen another level.
Although there were no fox spirits, rabbit spirits, or spider spirits like those depicted in strange tales at home...
There was, at least, a stunning young woman dancing with her sword. It made for a different kind of charm, and from afar, she was even more graceful and captivating.
"Hm?"
Lin Tianlu uttered a soft sound of surprise. He felt that Miss Hua's clothes and appearance seemed... a few degrees more delicate and feminine than they had been several days ago.
Her current silk gown was as light as gauze, faintly revealing her jade arms and fragrant shoulders. Her long sleeves fluttered in the breeze, her black hair flew freely, and she resembled a sword-wielding immortal maiden descended into the mortal world.
"I didn't notice it before, but this girl is actually this beautiful."
He soon shook his head and laughed.
Thinking about it carefully, it was obvious. Before, she had either been climbing mountains in search of immortals or going out to pursue bandits. How could she have worn such light silk clothing? Now that she had some leisure, she naturally needed clothes befitting a young lady of a respectable household.
After all, Hua Shuya clearly wasn't a tomboy. Dressing up and doing her hair was perfectly normal.
I really don't know my own good fortune.
Lin Tianlu mocked himself twice.
"Hoo--"
After finishing her sword dance, Hua Shuya sheathed her sword and exhaled.
She lightly pressed a hand to her chest, a spark of spirit seeming to flicker in her eyes.
She had practiced her sword today without feeling the slightest fatigue or shortness of breath.
The Thirteen Forms of the Army-Breaking Sword passed down through her family emphasized combining motion and stillness. It required both broad, powerful movements with force like a thousand jun, and a mind as fine as a strand of hair, with every move precise. It was a profound sword art perfected by the Hua Family generation after generation for breaking enemy formations and slaying foes. It was by no means something that could be easily performed through realm and internal power alone.
She had practiced martial arts since she was seven and learned the sword at eight. Now, at sixteen, she had only gradually begun to grasp the essence of the sword art.
Yet after her usual practice, she would still be panting heavily and drenched in sweat.
But today, after practicing the thirteen forms several times, her whole body felt warm and comfortable, as though a faint current of heat were coursing through her from head to toe.
It was not that her internal power had greatly improved in a single day. Rather, it was in the realm of Sword Intent--
Every move and every form felt incredibly light and smooth, as though all the techniques had been carved into her heart. She no longer needed to think, and could simply follow her will and perform them to her heart's content.
And all of this was thanks to the senior's patient guidance.
The young woman put away her sword, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile as beautiful and dazzling as a flower in bloom.
When she looked back and saw that long-yearned-for figure, Hua Shuya felt both gratitude and warmth in her heart. She could not help calling softly:
"Senior, why don't we go to Tianhai Tower for dinner tonight?"
"Huh?"
Seeing the young woman walking briskly toward him, Lin Tianlu hurriedly closed the novel.
"This... would I be making Miss Hua spend again?"
"Senior guided me so carefully again yesterday. After thinking it over for a long time, I could only invite you to enjoy some delicious food as thanks." Hua Shuya smiled serenely, bent at the waist, and lowered her voice sweetly. "This is but a small token of my feelings. I only ask that Senior not refuse."
"With Miss Hua showing such sincerity, naturally I can't turn you down." Lin Tianlu asked curiously, "But there's something I wanted to ask... does Miss Hua have any internal cultivation manual for practicing internal power?"
"Internal cultivation?"
Hua Shuya blinked her beautiful eyes and pondered briefly. "I have indeed heard of some profound internal arts specifically devoted to internal power. But my family's martial arts center on swordsmanship, using year after year of training to nourish internal power in return. As for what I have with me..."
The young woman soon showed an apologetic expression. "I have no other internal cultivation manuals."
Lin Tianlu nodded. He was not particularly disappointed and had only asked casually.
Martial arts manuals were certainly not common wares.
If every martial artist wandered the streets each day with their family manuals stuffed in their pockets, casually pulling out five, six, or seven books whenever they met someone, as if holding a clearance sale, that would be the strange thing.
"Right, Miss Hua, you can take a look at this manual." Lin Tianlu handed over the Soaring Dragon Phantom Step manual beside him. "I obtained it from Old Mr. Mo. I originally wanted to study it myself, but as a scholar with no internal power, it's really not suitable for me to practice. You might as well give it a try. Perhaps it will suit you."
Hua Shuya's expression changed in surprise. "Senior, this... you truly mean it?"
"Will this movement technique conflict with the internal energy of your sword art?"
She flipped through several pages and shook her head. "There's no conflict."
"Then there's no problem." Lin Tianlu clapped his hands and laughed. "If we run into bandits in the mountains in the future, I'll have to rely on Miss Hua to protect me."
Hua Shuya was rendered speechless.
With her shallow cultivation, how could she... wait?
Perhaps the senior intended to test and temper her. This heavy responsibility was an even greater sign of his trust and regard!
And from the senior's words, it seemed he would be able to accompany her for a long time!
The young woman's thoughts raced. Then her eyes suddenly blazed with radiance, and she bowed deeply, shouting with ringing force, "Rest assured, Senior! I will do everything in my power!"
The corner of Lin Tianlu's eye twitched.
Why was this girl so fired up?
But seeing her seriously studying the manual, he could only awkwardly shut his mouth and fall silent.
...This was probably what a top student of martial arts looked like. Her motivation was seriously off the charts.
"Hm?"
Just then, Lin Tianlu vaguely sensed a gaze. Slightly puzzled, he turned his head toward the gate.
Beyond the crack in the door, a familiar figure seemed to be pacing back and forth timidly.
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