Kind Deeds Bring Good Rewards

The month had come to an end, and the autumn wind had quietly begun to carry wisps of chill.

In the courtyard, a graceful figure stood with a sword in hand, silently savoring the feeling of the cool breeze brushing against the blade.

Hua Shuya had not worn clothing suited for movement today. Instead, she wore an elegant ruqun, with a shawl wrapped around her body. Exquisite patterns traced the gauzy hem of her skirt, further accentuating her graceful and dazzling figure.

With the sword in hand, the girl's former ferocity and sharp edge had gradually withdrawn. She was consciously controlling her sword momentum.

After several days of cultivating through the night, her martial cultivation had already neared the Azure Spirit Realm, and her restrained pure-yang energy had transformed into Azure Spirit inner breath.

The reason her martial cultivation had advanced so rapidly was naturally the sword-art phantom she had seen on the locust tree. Its moves had long since been carved deep into her mind.

Hua Shuya was filled with gratitude and reverence. She practiced with single-minded devotion, ultimately refining and simplifying the Thirteen Forms of the Army-Breaking Sword even further until she had fully mastered it.

I'm endlessly grateful, Senior.

After pondering for a long while, she suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, and the blade in her hand abruptly turned toward the locust tree in the courtyard.

After several days of watering, the tree had grown a few tender buds again. Yet the most astonishing thing was the Sophora Sword embedded in the center of its trunk—

As if sensing the girl's sword momentum, the Sophora Sword trembled lightly. The locust tree's branches immediately shook, sending ripples like waves through the air.

Hua Shuya narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly and instantly swung her sword in a horizontal sweep. A string of crisp metallic clangs rang out as waves of force surged. Her slender figure staggered backward repeatedly until she was forced into a corner, only barely managing to catch the locust tree's attack from afar.

"Whew—"

She sheathed her long sword, rubbed her slightly sore wrist, and cupped her hands toward the locust tree from a distance.

Over the past few days, she had often sparred with this sentient locust tree in this manner. Although she still could not withstand even three or two moves, trying once each day gave her a goal to pursue.

"Miss Hua, if you're tired, come sit down and rest for a while."

A gentle chuckle drifted from the pavilion.

The girl gathered her hair and glanced back. Upon seeing that familiar figure, she could not help breaking into a smile as she walked into the pavilion with light steps.

"Senior, have you finished your painting?"

"I only doodled a couple of strokes. How could that be called a painting?"

Lin Tianlu wore blue robes and a white outer garment. A faint smile appeared on his fair and handsome face as he set the brush in his hand aside.

On the xuan paper was a fairly lifelike locust tree.

Hua Shuya leaned closer for a careful look. "Although I don't understand painting techniques, this picture looks very beautiful."

"I merely copied the locust tree in the courtyard."

Lin Tianlu picked up the xuan paper and blew gently on it several times. Looking at the ink reflection on the painting, he nodded in satisfaction.

Fortunately, even without relying on this Spiritual Energy, he had still acquired a skill in this world that he could show off.

At least he was quite good at copying ink paintings.

He had not painted some ridiculous picture of a chick pecking at rice, nor did he have a Martial Scholar Champion standing beside him.

He chuckled inwardly and casually put the painting away.

"Now that I've finished relaxing in my spare time, it's time to get down to some proper business."

Hua Shuya sounded curious. "What does Senior plan to do?"

Lin Tianlu picked up a book from the pile of ancient texts stacked beside him and gave it a light shake. "Naturally, I'll be an examiner and write some questions."

"Write questions... Who does Senior plan to test?"

"Miss Hua, you were away on official business and don't know this, but Old Mr. Nie from next door came to visit two days ago and asked me to write some notes for his grandson." Lin Tianlu chuckled. "Old Mr. Nie came from a scholarly family, and his grandson has studied poetry, books, rites, and propriety since childhood. Once he gets a year older, he plans to take the Imperial Examination. As his neighbor, there's no harm in helping him."

Hua Shuya suddenly understood.

She naturally remembered that Senior always referred to himself as a scholar.

"I remember that the examination content generally follows the Five Classics Commentary..."

"No."

Lin Tianlu waved a finger. "Ordinary students have probably memorized those standardized examination textbooks hundreds and thousands of times already. There would be no need for me to write Imperial Examination questions; it would only be redundant. Old Mr. Nie surely wouldn't ask me to do such a boring task either."

"Then what sort of questions are you planning to write?"

"I'll add some miscellaneous subjects. I'm not seeking to increase his knowledge, only to broaden the child's horizons."

Lin Tianlu smiled faintly.

These questions...

Most of them were brain teasers, all for the sake of combining education with entertainment.

Of course, the main subjects were important as well. He had specifically gathered together what he had learned and encountered during this period, along with the scholarly knowledge he had accumulated over more than a decade, and compiled them into Comprehensive Textbook Exercises, Huanggang Secret Papers, Houxiong Case Studies, and the like. He had written dozens of pages and specially bundled them with the notes before sending them over.

It was all to give that child he had never met a small surprise.

Surely the child would be moved to tears, right?

Knock, knock—

But at that moment, knocking came from outside the courtyard gate.

The girl hurriedly put down the book in her hand and went over to pull open the main gate.

"Huh?"

Yet as soon as she opened it, she saw an unfamiliar figure standing outside.

A middle-aged man stood beyond the gate with a nervous expression. The moment their eyes met, his face changed. He hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed. "I came especially to meet Master Lin. Please forgive me, miss!"

Hua Shuya was stunned.

Why did this person look so flustered?

"Did you come looking for me?" Lin Tianlu came over upon hearing the voice and asked curiously, "May I ask who you are..."

"Master Lin, I'm the shopkeeper you rescued at the cloth shop." The middle-aged man hurriedly bowed again. "My name is Zhang Songlin. I'm from Changling, and my ancestral home is here."

"It's you?"

Lin Tianlu quickly recalled what had happened and smiled gently. "Shopkeeper Zhang, your recovery seems to have gone well. You look quite healthy now."

"All of this is thanks to Master Lin risking his life to save me back then."

Zhang Songlin bowed repeatedly, his expression sincere and agitated. "I had already lost consciousness at the time and didn't know that Master Lin had entered the sea of flames to rescue us. I only learned of it after waking up. But my body was too weak to get out of bed for half a month, and I only recovered enough to move around these past two days. Thus, I immediately came to thank Master Lin in person."

As he spoke, he quietly retreated two steps. After taking a deep breath, he immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

Lin Tianlu was slightly startled and hurried forward to help him up. "Shopkeeper Zhang, you mustn't offer such a grand ceremony!"

"To me, Master Lin is my savior, my second parents. How could such a grand ceremony be inappropriate?" Zhang Songlin shook his head and insisted on bowing. "If Master Lin hadn't braved the danger to save us, my blind and pitiful mother, as well as my wife and children, would all have been left helpless and without anyone to support them.

"You saved every member of my family. How could I not bow to express my gratitude?"

Lin Tianlu widened his eyes and fell silent for a moment.

Then he revealed a peaceful smile and carefully helped him up from the ground. "Shopkeeper Zhang, I appreciate your kind intentions. Since you're safe and sound, take some time to recover and then go on living a stable life.

"After experiencing this disaster, I imagine you've gained some insight into life as well. Treasure these beautiful days all the more. A complete and happy family is naturally the most important thing."

"I will remember Master Lin's teachings." Zhang Songlin cupped his hands solemnly, a trace of tears of excitement in his eyes.

"Besides coming to thank you, I've also brought a gift. Please accept these two bolts of fine silk."

He hurriedly picked up the two rolls of silk from beside the courtyard wall and hugged them with effort. "After thinking it over again and again, this was the only thing I could come up with as repayment. Please don't refuse, sir."

Lin Tianlu pondered briefly before solemnly accepting the silk. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Zhang."

Only after seeing him accept the gift did Zhang Songlin reveal a satisfied smile. "If Master Lin wishes to have new clothes made in the future, you can come to my cloth shop and place an order. I'll certainly have the finest tailor make them. But...

"I hope Master Lin will forgive me. The inside and outside of the cloth shop still need repairs, so I can't stay much longer."

"Shopkeeper Zhang, go and attend to your business first. There's no need for excessive formalities here." Lin Tianlu smiled kindly. "Once the cloth shop has been repaired, I'll be able to bring my friends over to patronize it sooner."

"Please wait and see, Master Lin. I'll certainly do my best."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while longer before quickly bidding farewell.

Lin Tianlu watched as the other man hurriedly ran off on foot.

Hua Shuya remained silent at his side for a long while before speaking. "Senior, the clothes he was wearing..."

"The cloth shop caught fire. It must have dealt a heavy blow to his family. I can tell that his household is struggling."

Lin Tianlu glanced at the fabric in his arms and smiled faintly. "After some time passes, we'll go patronize his shop. It'll be a good chance to change into new clothes."

"Senior does need new clothes..."

"Miss Hua is the one who should buy more new clothes." Lin Tianlu turned his head and smiled. "With such a lovely face and radiant beauty, wouldn't it be a shame not to dress up properly?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Shuya's pretty face flushed red, and she nodded lightly.

Seeing the girl's bashful appearance, Lin Tianlu felt rather wistful as well.

Without realizing it, he had already been in Changling County for more than half a month. Aside from his initial confusion, he had now adapted to life here. In the days following that thunderbolt, he had also come to understand the abilities he possessed.

He had probably become an immortal or deity.

Even if he was not an immortal, he at least possessed abilities beyond ordinary people. He was no longer a mortal.

His state of mind had quietly begun to change.

There were still many things he did not understand, but he would no longer belittle himself at every turn. His mind was calm and composed, carrying quite a trace of an immortal's bearing. Living a leisurely life at home was truly carefree.

Perhaps—

This life was his worldly trial.

"What is Senior thinking about?"

A clear, ethereal voice rang beside his ear. Without thinking, Lin Tianlu replied, "Naturally, I was thinking about you... Ahem!"

He hurriedly gave two awkward laughs. "Miss Hua, don't take it to heart. It just slipped out."

But the girl had already widened her beautiful eyes. Her cheeks bloomed red, and her limpid gaze held both shyness and nervousness as she hurriedly lowered her head and said nothing.

Lin Tianlu smiled awkwardly.

As expected, he had better avoid cheesy romantic lines. Even he got goosebumps saying them.