The Object of the Search

Important item?

Lin Tianlu looked closely and saw the young woman take out a palm-sized metal token.

"This is..."

"My sister and father are already dead. I had someone sort through their belongings and found quite a few rare items."

Getting down to business, Cheng Yishi's expression turned slightly serious. "This token is golden and fireproof. Even the famous craftsmen in the county couldn't identify the material."

So magical?

Lin Tianlu was surprised and took it, examining it for a few moments.

There were no signs of seams or mechanisms. It was a heavy piece, but seeing the crossed skull pattern carved in the center, his expression turned a little strange.

What is this...

What pirate crew is this from?

"I originally wanted to have those craftsmen smash this token open to see its internal structure, but the material is extremely hard, indestructible. Even heavy blows from a hammer left no mark—"

Crack!

"..."

The young woman's words faltered, and the two looked at each other.

After a moment of silence, Lin Tianlu gave an awkward smile and placed the token, now broken in two, back on the table. "S-sorry, Miss Cheng. My curiosity got the better of me, and I accidentally broke the token."

"...It was my oversight."

Cheng Yishi quickly revealed a calm smile, as if she had expected this. "With your great abilities, Mister, this so-called indestructible token is merely a trivial joke."

"You flatter me, Miss."

Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly, his right hand hidden in his sleeve clenching twice.

This token clearly looked like it was made of an extraordinary material, yet it was as brittle as a Wang Wang Senbei cracker.

He had never broken a bowl or chopsticks at home before.

"Mister, you don't need to mind. This item is just a token, after all."

Cheng Yishi said softly, teasing him, and steered the conversation back. "The pattern on this token should represent the emblem of a certain force. I once saw it by chance in a letter my father wrote."

"Although I didn't interact with my sister much these past few years, I still understood my father somewhat. He would occasionally spend time alone in his study writing letters. He rarely sent them out, but instead, he would give them to my sister, as if secretly plotting something. As for their conversations, they were about 'Ghost Arts'."

"Ghost Mage?"

Lin Tianlu let out a soft sound of surprise.

It sounded familiar.

It was like when he encountered a ghost at the cloth shop not too long ago. The ghost had struck a comical pose and coldly recited something. Because its pose was a bit funny, he hadn't paid much attention at the time.

"It seems they use the evil power of ghosts to control a method called 'Yin Art'," Cheng Yishi said in a deep voice. "Although they are still alive, their methods are equally bizarre. And my father... he was likely a Ghost Art user."

Lin Tianlu stroked his chin, lost in thought.

In essence, it was similar to those so-called ghost cultivators or demon cultivators?

But the two ghosts he met back then had spoken with disdain. It seemed the status of Ghost术者 was quite low.

Although...

He really hadn't felt any supernatural abilities from Cheng Yanghua back then. If she hadn't mentioned it, he would never have known.

"In their room, we also found quite a few vessels resembling those used in sacrifices, but they were covered in dust and rust, clearly unused for a long time. However, this item is the most peculiar."

As she spoke, she took out a piece of exquisite cloth from her robes and placed it on the table. She gently uncovered it to reveal a jade hairpin with a carved pattern.

Lin Tianlu glanced at it curiously.

It was slender and silver, with emerald jade at the tip that seemed to contain a hint of unusual light.

"I found this item by chance in a hidden compartment under the bed. The servants in the mansion wanted to take it out directly, but it was as if a supernatural ability was residing on the hairpin, making them feel uneasy and fearful, unwilling to approach." Cheng Yishi deliberated. "Perhaps this item is related to the cultivation of Ghost Cultivators."

Lin Tianlu narrowed his eyes slightly.

A gray mist lingered around this jade hairpin. Although it couldn't compare to a ghost, it was certainly not something an ordinary person could touch casually.

Could it have been dug up from a grave?

His thoughts stirred, and he chuckled, "However, with the jade hairpin in Miss Cheng's possession, it's not a problem."

Cheng Yishi's beautiful eyes widened slightly. "Mister, are you saying that I... regarding this item..."

"When you hold the jade hairpin, Miss Cheng, do you feel a chill all over?"

"Never."

The young woman's expression faltered slightly, and she whispered, "Is it that I, now... am no different from those ghosts?"

"Although I was fortunate enough to draw out the malicious yin energy from your body, the long-term erosion of yin energy is irreversible." Lin Tianlu said seriously. "Miss, you are now half-human, half-ghost. You have nothing to fear from these evil things."

Cheng Yishi remained silent.

Her eyes were complex as she gently brushed aside her snow-white hair. Her skin, reflected in the candlelight, appeared slightly pale.

Everyone said she turned white-haired overnight due to her family's passing, but she knew deep down that her body had undergone a tremendous change. Now, it was confirmed—

After a moment of silence, the expression on her face gradually softened. The sorrow quickly dissipated, and she resumed her usual gentle smile, "As Mister said, humans and ghosts are merely a thought apart, with no distinction between good and evil... I have found peace in my heart."

Lin Tianlu smiled and cupped his hands, "Then I must congratulate Miss Cheng on resolving her inner turmoil and welcoming a new beginning."

"This is all thanks to you, Mister."

Ripples appeared in Cheng Yishi's eyes, and she said softly, "Looking back now, my words and actions at the time were indeed too self-abandoning. I actually wanted to abandon everything and end my life, which was truly cowardly and timid. I will never forget your life-saving guidance."

"Miss, you don't need to be so polite."

Lin Tianlu shook his head and chuckled, waving his hand, "I only hope that Miss Cheng can cherish her life and live the next few decades to the fullest, with genuine emotion and passion. Do not do anything that harms yourself or others."

Cheng Yishi's eyelids drooped slightly, her silvery eyelashes fluttering twice:

"But... I truly don't know how to repay you, Mister. This debt of rebirth is something I fear even emptying my family fortune cannot compensate for. After all, with your great talent and virtue, you likely view these worldly possessions as dirt."

Lin Tianlu immediately gave a sheepish laugh, "Miss Cheng, you don't need to treat me like a sage. While wealth is external, if I didn't have a single cent, I'd be living rough."

Cheng Yishi covered her mouth and chuckled twice, the corners of her lips unconsciously curling up, "So, after much thought, now that I am alone, perhaps there is only one thing that can satisfy you, Mister."

"What is it?"

"It is myself."

"..."

Lin Tianlu was stunned for a moment, almost thinking there was a hidden meaning.

"Wait a moment, Miss Cheng, are you saying—"

"It is me."

Cheng Yishi suddenly intensified her tone, stood up abruptly, and walked over. "These past few days, I've been tossing and turning, unable to sleep, constantly thinking about your words. Even in my dazed dreams... it was as if I met you on an immortal mountain, but I could only watch from afar, filled with regret, my heart aching with bitterness."

Lin Tianlu felt the atmosphere was a bit strange and quickly stood up.

"I never believed in romantic love before, thinking that so-called emotions were the root of all evil, the meaningless complaints of ignorant women. But I understand now—"

She walked gracefully before him, her head tilted slightly. In her crystalline eyes, like blood jade, reflected the stunned face of the man before her. Her lips trembled, "This is love at first sight."

Lin Tianlu's mouth twitched.

"Before coming to your mansion, Mister, I was a little apprehensive. But upon seeing you again, I became certain." Cheng Yishi leaned forward slightly, her delicate face flushed, like a spoiled child, "Mister Lin, you are in my heart—"

"Hold on a moment!"

Lin Tianlu quickly raised his hand to stop her, retreating two steps with a sheepish smile, "Miss Cheng, please don't joke like this. Such mushy words leave me truly at a loss."

"Alright, then I won't speak in such roundabout ways."

Cheng Yishi pressed forward step by step, a slightly infatuated, charming smile on her lips. She lightly touched her hand, and the light gauze and shoulder straps under her white hair and silver threads quietly slipped down, revealing her smooth, jade-like fragrant shoulders and neck. She smiled and softly hummed, "Please, pity me."

"..."

Lin Tianlu's smile froze.

He never expected this young woman was serious?

Were women from this era, similar to the Tang and Song dynasties, so passionate and open?!

—Wait!

His gaze shifted, and he happened to notice strange markings on the young woman's body, resembling a lotus mark.

As yin energy permeated her body, these strange markings coiled like venomous snakes around her beautiful neck. Red light flickered in her alluring eyes, radiating a bewitching charm, like aged wine that entices one to get drunk, indescribably wonderful.

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