The Changling County Turmoil, Misunderstandings Resolved

Time flew like a white colt flashing past a gap, the sky shifted through its colors, and dusk quietly descended.

The afterglow illuminated Changling County as the autumn wind gradually rose.

An old man with a white beard was absorbed in pruning the flowers and plants in his courtyard. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a familiar figure happening to pass outside the house.

"Master Lin!"

Lin Tianlu was carrying a basket of autumn fruit he had just bought at the market. Hearing someone call him, he quickly stopped and looked back.

"Old Mr. Nie, what is it?"

This man was Nie Qinghe. He was already over seventy and happened to live not far away, right next door.

He was mild, refined, and learned, and enjoyed considerable prestige among the neighbors. Normally, whenever the two met, they treated each other courteously. After a while, they had become quite close.

But the old man's aged face was filled with worry. He hurriedly advised, "Master Lin, I know you possess extraordinary talent and aren't afraid of evil influences. But Changling County has become increasingly unsafe lately. You'd best go out less often. Especially during the transition between dawn and dusk... It's always better to be more careful."

Lin Tianlu smiled warmly and bowed. "I'll remember your warning, Old Mr. Nie. But you must also take good care of yourself. Once I've mastered chess, I'll have to sit down and properly exchange moves with you."

"Excellent!"

Nie Qinghe nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. "Master Lin, go home early. Don't keep the beauty inside waiting."

"Old sir, don't tease this junior."

The two looked at each other and laughed before returning the other's salute and parting ways.

Lin Tianlu quickened his steps and soon arrived before his own residence.

But when he turned his head to glance aside, he saw several scattered figures passing by, whispering among themselves.

Even without listening closely, he could tell what they were discussing.

—It was naturally the upheaval that had occurred at Cheng Manor.

The master of Cheng Manor was highly renowned throughout the county. For him and his youngest daughter to suddenly die violent deaths overnight had naturally caused quite a commotion.

Of course, Cheng Manor had clearly suppressed the matter of the ghosts.

After all, these rumors had originally been spread by Cheng Yishi's people. With the authorities' help, cleaning up the aftermath now wasn't difficult.

"I hope Miss Cheng can get through this ordeal."

Lin Tianlu shook his head and stopped thinking about it before pushing open the gate to his residence.

"Wah?!"

But a panicked cry suddenly rang out from behind the gate.

Lin Tianlu's expression changed. He hurriedly leaned forward and reached out to catch the figure that had nearly fallen from the wooden ladder.

"Madam Mao? How did you..."

He carefully helped her down, then cast an odd glance at the wooden ladder propped against the gate.

Mao Ruoyu gently stroked her high, full chest and exhaled, still shaken. Only then did she manage a smile.

"I saw that these trees in your residence hadn't been properly tended, so I found some time to help prune them. Otherwise, the branches would have reached over the wall."

"I'm ashamed that I made Madam Mao do such things."

"It's no trouble. It's just that occasionally... Hmm?"

She murmured twice, and a charming flush quietly spread across her face as her lashes trembled.

Lin Tianlu froze for a moment, then hurriedly withdrew his right hand from around her waist with an awkward laugh. "Pardon me, Madam Mao."

"You only reached out to support me in the heat of the moment. Why bother with such rigid formalities?" She shook her head and slightly straightened her dress before soon saying in a low voice, "I'll go to the back kitchen and prepare dinner first. Please excuse me."

Watching her hurry away, Lin Tianlu couldn't help scratching his head.

Although Madam Mao seemed to have something on her mind...

He nevertheless had to praise her inwardly: her figure was truly superb.

"Ah! Staying in the same room as such a beauty really does make it easy for one's heart to fall into depravity."

Lin Tianlu sighed to himself twice.

Then, as calm as a gentle breeze and tranquil as a cloud, he went to wash the fruit.

He had at least been tempered by the modern internet, becoming an old lecher. How could such a tiny perk possibly throw him into disarray?

"—Lewd pictures, lewd pictures, lewd pictures, lewd pictures!"

He kept muttering to himself, finally shifting his attention elsewhere after several minutes.

As dark clouds blanketed the sky, it had already dimmed until all color faded, and every lamp in the county had gone out.

The neighborhoods were utterly silent, save for wisps of soft wind.

Lin Tianlu sat alone in the pavilion in his courtyard, holding a novel, yet he felt not the slightest bit sleepy.

To be precise, he still occasionally needed sleep purely because he was following the habits of his former life. Now that he had reached an interesting part of the story, there was naturally no need to close his eyes and rest.

"Mister Lin, you seem to be rather fond of the book in your hands?"

A gentle, mature voice softly broke the silence.

"Hm?" Lin Tianlu looked up and saw Mao Ruoyu slowly approaching in a gauzy outer robe. Under the moonlight, her graceful, curving figure appeared even more alluring, her faintly seductive air impossible to ignore.

"Madam Mao, why haven't you gone to sleep?"

"I simply have something on my mind and can't fall asleep. I happened to see you sitting here, so I came over to take a look." Mao Ruoyu gently smoothed the fine hair hanging over her chest, then gathered her skirts and sat down opposite Lin Tianlu.

She lightly bit her red lips and seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally spoke.

"The matter with the Cheng Household... Was it your doing, Mister Lin?"

Lin Tianlu asked in surprise, "Madam, how did you find out?"

Mao Ruoyu smiled faintly with pursed lips. "Although the Cheng Household never announced the details to the outside world, combining that with the rumors circulating among the neighbors a few days ago, I assume you went to Cheng Manor and destroyed the powerful ghost occupying it?"

"You're truly clever, Madam." Lin Tianlu had no intention of hiding it and answered frankly. "Yesterday, Miss Cheng invited us to her residence to destroy the ghost. Who could have known that Cheng Yanghua had actually colluded with the ghost and become its accomplice, harming countless innocents.

"He was ultimately killed by Miss Hua with a single sword strike. He got what he deserved."

Mao Ruoyu's eyes flickered as she spoke softly.

"Then, Mister Lin... How do you view those who have colluded with ghosts? Do you believe that because their origins are improper and they've been tainted by yin energy, they must be eradicated in order to uphold the righteous path? Or perhaps—"

"Colluding with ghosts can't be considered a sin."

Before she could finish, Lin Tianlu laughed. "What fault lies with ghosts? They're merely souls produced after people die. How are they any different from people? Their thoughts have simply gone astray. As for those who have colluded with ghosts, they're probably just people gifted with the ability to communicate with spirits.

"To them, that is an extraordinary talent, something worthy of affirmation and envy. Outsiders have no right to point fingers. Cheng Yanghua deserved to die only because he had committed countless murders and his mind had gone mad, already fallen into demonic ways. If he wasn't eliminated, sooner or later other innocents would suffer at his hands."

Mao Ruoyu felt a burst of joy upon hearing this.

Although this scholar possessed great power, he wasn't hidebound.

"Madam Mao."

At that moment, Lin Tianlu smiled warmly.

"Actually, you don't need to be so terrified."

"Huh?" Mao Ruoyu widened her beautiful eyes.

"If you're worried that I'll regard you as something ominous and impure, you really don't need to be. As far as I'm concerned, so long as you harbor benevolent thoughts, you deserve respect and kind treatment."

His pointed words made Mao Ruoyu's heart tremble. "Mister Lin, do you truly think that way...?"

"You can rest assured, Madam."

Lin Tianlu comforted her softly, then soon smiled warmly again. "You've been keeping your face tense and looking nervous all day. Even Miss Hua could tell. Starting tomorrow, please relax. If you keep looking so troubled, we'll feel too embarrassed to eat the meals you prepare, Madam."

Mao Ruoyu fell silent for a long while.

Only after quite some time did she let out a quiet sigh.

This man... was truly considerate and kind.

Despite possessing such immense power, he had none of the arrogance or airs that came with it. He treated her with such warmth and gentleness.

For a moment, regret rippled through her heart.

She felt that her original attempt to absorb his yang energy had truly been despicable.

Looking back now, she was fortunate that none of her actions had actually harmed or frightened the man before her. Otherwise, she would have been consumed by remorse... Though with her paltry methods, they hadn't produced the slightest effect in the first place.

Mao Ruoyu's heart was a tangled skein of emotions, and her tone unconsciously softened.

"I'll remember your words, Mister."

"Enough. Let's not talk about such heavy matters for now."

Lin Tianlu took a fresh autumn fruit from the bamboo basket beside him and casually held it out. "Since you can't sleep tonight, Madam, you may as well sit here and admire the moon and the night sky. If you grow terribly bored, I can keep you company and chat with you."

Mao Ruoyu accepted the fruit and smiled gently. "There's no need to trouble yourself, Mister. I'm not so lonely. But that jade flute beside you is..."

Lin Tianlu shook his head with a laugh. "I came by this item by chance. A few days ago, several corners broke and it could no longer produce a normal tone. Today, I found a jade craftsman at the market and used some jade material to repair the damaged parts. I haven't had the chance to play it yet."

The beautiful woman's eyes brightened. "Why don't you play a few notes, Mister? I'd quite like to hear it."

"Madam, you're flattering me. I don't understand musical theory at all. I'm afraid I'll make a spectacular fool of myself."

"But now that it's been repaired, you should at least try it, shouldn't you?"

"...That is true."

Lin Tianlu laughed twice, then casually picked up the jade flute and brought it to his lips.

"Whoosh—"

A breathy stream of air leaked from the flute's mouthpiece.

Mao Ruoyu's lips curled slightly when she heard it. She felt that even someone as immortal-like as him had moments of unfamiliarity.

This flute's sound was so... so...

She blinked in evident confusion and looked around, suddenly filled with astonishment.

How had the scene before her become a magnificent mountain cloaked in immortal mist?

Orioles chirped sweetly, while clear mountain streams rang without end, their tinkling seeming to flow straight into her heart. Gradually, she felt her spirits ease. Unable to resist that trace of curiosity, she casually pushed aside the bushes and drifting mist and walked onto a mountain path.

Passing through layer upon layer of dazzling scenery, she unknowingly reached the mountaintop, where she gazed into the distance and took all the mountains into view.

Not far from where she looked, a familiar figure sat with his back to her beside a stone table. His posture was straight yet ethereal, his silver strands rippling in the wind as red flowers and leaves drifted through the air. A melodious flute song echoed across the peaks.

It was like the indistinct, distant memories of childhood, yet also like the sweet dreams buried deep within her heart.

Mao Ruoyu's spirit trembled faintly, but she couldn't bear to step forward and shatter this melody.

After hesitating for a long while, she found a spot in the peach grove and sat down with her knees hugged to her chest, gazing gently at that figure.

She gradually closed her eyes, savoring the flute music that filled her with yearning. It was as though the music of heaven resounded through the skies, immortal notes lingering all around her, and before she knew it, drowsiness had blurred her consciousness.

In her daze, she only felt warmth spread throughout her body, as though a robe of clouds had been gently draped over her.

She unconsciously clutched the edge of the garment, as if she had set down all the pressure and sorrow of these years, revealing a pure and sweet smile in sleep.

"She really is sleeping soundly."

Lin Tianlu draped his outer robe over Mao Ruoyu's shoulders and sighed inwardly.

"Looks like running back and forth today to prepare three meals truly wore her out."

After returning to his seat, he stared strangely at the jade flute in his hand.

Although repairing the broken corners had indeed stopped it from producing that strange, noisy, foul sound,

he truly had little talent for music. He couldn't even play a proper do-re-mi smoothly.

He had clearly studied a score last night and deliberately memorized a majestic, far-reaching flute piece, intending to play it once the jade flute was repaired.

Who could have expected it to sound like a baby's lullaby...

With a bit of air leaking through, too.

It felt as though he had nearly played himself into depression.

"Fortunately, Madam fell asleep early. She probably didn't hear much."

Lin Tianlu muttered as he tucked the jade flute back into his robes.