Night Sounds Harmonize

The two were about to return to their courtyard when a carriage arrived outside the gate just in time.

"Whoa—"

As the carriage stopped, the gauze curtain was lifted, and a graceful beauty quickly emerged from the carriage.

Lin Tianlu turned his head to look, then smiled and cupped his hands. "I didn't expect Miss Cheng to visit so suddenly. I hope you'll forgive me."

"You're too kind, Mister."

Cheng Yishi was still as beautiful and elegant as ever, her smile demure. She arrived at the courtyard gate and smiled lightly as she bowed. "It is I who have come too abruptly.

However, I've come to give you an invitation. Tomorrow is the fifteenth of August. Why don't I host a few people, and we can admire the moon together at Dengxian Workshop and celebrate this golden autumn festival?"

Lin Tianlu looked surprised. "Miss, aren't you going home with your family..."

"My feelings for them are no longer what they used to be, so there's no need to force it."

Cheng Yishi's beautiful eyes flickered, and she then said softly to Hua Shuya, "Miss Hua, it's been many days. You seem to have become much prettier than before."

"Miss Cheng flatters me," Hua Shuya replied, bowing neither subserviently nor arrogantly. However, as she looked at the other woman's snow-white hair, she felt a slight surprise.

She hadn't seen Cheng Yishi during this period, so she naturally didn't know that her white hair had remained.

"But for this Mid-Autumn Festival, Miss Hua isn't going home to reunite with your family?"

"The journey home is very long, and the back and forth is troublesome. I might as well celebrate the festival here with Senior."

"You two really get along well."

Cheng Yishi showed a hint of envy and glanced into the courtyard. "I wonder where Madam Mao is now?"

"Madam Mao is still at the market and hasn't returned yet."

"What a pity. I had hoped to get to know her before the feast."

Cheng Yishi sighed slightly, but quickly composed herself. "Let's not dwell on these trivial matters for now. I have a scroll to give you, Mister."

With that, she took out a scroll from her sleeve and handed it over. "The matter you asked about a while ago, regarding most of the rumors and deeds in Fuyang Commandery in recent years, I have personally recorded it all on paper. Mister Lin can take it back to your room and read it slowly."

Lin Tianlu looked at the thick scroll handed to him, surprised.

This Miss Cheng is truly responsible, preparing everything so meticulously.

"However, Mister—"

But Cheng Yishi leaned forward a couple of steps, tiptoeing slightly, and whispered with a low laugh like a lover's murmur, "Don't forget about me~"

As she spoke, her slender jade fingers subtly brushed against Lin Tianlu's hand, and then she quickly retreated with a playful smile, as if deliberately teasing him.

Lin Tianlu was stunned for a moment before cupping his hands and saying earnestly, "Your fingers seem a bit cold, Miss. You must take good care of yourself. Although there are many household matters, don't forget that your health is your most important asset."

"..."

Cheng Yishi's expression froze. She quickly grasped her cold fingers, her pretty face blushing slightly, completely losing the alluring and charming demeanor she had moments before. She merely nodded meekly and stammered, "Then, then I'll take my leave for now. If you have time tonight... I might come to your mansion to disturb you briefly."

"I shall await your arrival."

After the carriage left, Lin Tianlu rubbed the back of his hand and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Her fingers are as cold as ice. So, as one cultivates yin energy, their body temperature can become this cold?"

He didn't know much about the so-called yin energy in this world, only judging it based on his modern memories from before his transmigration. It seemed he needed to find time to examine Miss Cheng's body, lest he make a mistake and cause trouble.

"Miss Hua, let's go inside."

"Huh?... Okay, okay."

Hua Shuya nodded repeatedly, somewhat dazed.

However, after closing the courtyard gate, she glanced back at Lin Tianlu's retreating figure, her eyes filled with a hint of melancholy.

Why did her heart become restless and her mind wander whenever she saw Senior talking intimately with other women?

Her thoughts in turmoil, she suddenly blurted out, "Senior!"

"Hmm?"

Lin Tianlu turned back in confusion. "What is it, Miss Hua?"

Hua Shuya's lips parted slightly, and after hesitating for a long time, she stammered, "S-Senior, could you... could you call me by my name... Shuya?"

By the end of her sentence, her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, her face flushed red, and her hands, clasped behind her back, were constantly twisting their fingers.

Lin Tianlu shook his head and chuckled, then called out as requested, "Miss Shuya, let's go inside."

"...Mm!!"

Hua Shuya's face flushed with excitement, and she looked so overjoyed she almost jumped. She walked quickly, radiating a brilliant smile.

Late at night, in the study.

Lin Tianlu was diligently studying the scroll collected and written by Cheng Yishi. It detailed many rumors circulating in Fuyang Commandery, such as tales of tragic love, murder cases, mountain bandits, and disturbances in taverns.

Of course, there was also the matter he cared about most—

According to an ancient farmer he met in a mountain village, there seemed to be treasure buried in a valley near a place called 'Yufeng Mountain' since ancient times. However, due to the treacherous terrain, no one had ever succeeded in finding it.

After reviewing this batch of information, only this one has some connection to 'immortals'.

After all, it's all in the mountains.

"I'll head out to take a look after the festival is over."

Lin Tianlu flipped through the pages of the book and soon found a detailed map of Fuyang Commandery, with every village and hamlet clearly marked.

"Miss Cheng is quite thoughtful."

Creak--

The door opened quietly, and a graceful figure stepped lightly into the room.

Lin Tianlu looked up. "Madam Mao."

"Earlier, when I saw Miss Hua leaving, her face was beaming. I assume Mister Lin made her happy again?" She pursed her lips and chuckled twice, placing a stack of tea cakes on the desk. "I've been worried seeing her distressed because she hasn't been able to catch the suspect, yet she refuses to ask for help. But I never expected..."

"Miss Hua is indeed understanding."

As Lin Tianlu spoke, he soon caught a faint fragrance and glanced at the square pastries on the plate. "Madam Mao, this is..."

"I made this today on a whim. Mister, why don't you try it?"

He was a little tempted and picked up a piece, putting it in his mouth. He chewed slowly and savored it. "This taste... is truly wonderful, slightly sweet, but perfectly so. This dessert is truly excellent. What is it called?"

"Nourishing Heart Cake," Mao Ruoyu said softly. "I saw you studying all night these past few days, so I thought I'd add a few nourishing herbs to the pastry to replenish qi and blood, and clear your mind."

Lin Tianlu said seriously, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Mao."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

He never expected that after coming to this world, he would actually have times when he'd eat brain-boosting supplements.

Mao Ruoyu covered her mouth and chuckled twice. "If you feel indebted, Mister, you just need to play a few tunes for me. I haven't heard flute music in days, and I'm starting to itch for it."

"Madam has refined taste." Lin Tianlu smiled and took the jade flute from his waist.

"Wait, Mister. Let me go get my instrument too."

Madam Mao quickly left the study, but returned moments later with an exquisite pipa in her arms.

Lin Tianlu said in surprise, "Madam Mao also knows how to play the pipa?"

"I've learned a bit of these common instruments. Today, I saw this pipa on the street, and it was finely crafted and inexpensive, so I bought it on impulse."

Mao Ruoyu sat beside him with the pipa, her slender fingers brushing the strings. She said softly, "Mister, you don't mind if I accompany you, do you?"

"Of course not. But I only remember a few tunes..."

"I'll just provide the accompaniment."

Seeing the beautiful woman before him urging him so softly, Lin Tianlu no longer refused. He cleared his throat and quickly brought the jade flute to his lips.

"Hoo-- "

The melodious flute music echoed in the study. Mao Ruoyu calmed her mind, lowered her eyes, and plucked the strings. As if by mutual understanding, they controlled the tone and rhythm, their music rising and falling in harmony.

The music was ethereal, seemingly melodious and pleasant.

When the song ended, Lin Tianlu put down the flute with a hint of awkwardness.

Although his flute-playing skills had improved after practicing for these past few days, they were still not at a very high level.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw that the beautiful woman before him had a strange expression. Her moist, beautiful eyes seemed to ripple with a thousand tender emotions, transforming into a faint, clear stream, gentle as water.

The atmosphere had subtly taken on a hint of ambiguity.

"Mister, could you..."

Lin Tianlu was somewhat taken by surprise, his face stiffening. He instinctively tightened his grip on the jade flute.

With such a romantic atmosphere, could it be that--

He couldn't handle this!

Mao Ruoyu leaned forward with the pipa, her pretty face flushed with shyness, appearing bashful and unable to speak.

But after a moment of silence, she finally made up her mind and said:

"Could I go have some supper? I'm feeling quite hungry right now."

Lin Tianlu: "..."

Knock, knock, knock--

The urgent knocking on the door, along with the faint shouts of 'Mister Lin' from outside the courtyard, perfectly broke the awkwardness.

Lin Tianlu quickly coughed lightly, stood up, and said with a sheepish smile, "Then Madam Mao, please go fill your stomach first. It seems there are guests outside. I'll go open the door and see."

"Mm..."

Seeing Lin Tianlu hurry out of the study, Mao Ruoyu let out a soft sigh, lightly tapping her head as if in self-reproach.

"Why are these romantic images appearing in my mind... Clearly, Mister was playing earnestly, but I was lost in thought..."

Recalling what she had just thought, Mao Ruoyu's face flushed, feeling an unbearable sense of shame, her heart fluttering.

"If Mister knew I was so shameless, how would he look at me..."

As she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt the pipa in her arms tremble, the strings moving on their own.

Just as she looked surprised, a familiar warm current surged through her body, causing her pupils to contract sharply.

She unconsciously bit her red lips, clutched the front of her robe, and the pipa in her arms pressed against her ample chest, forming a protruding curve. Her plump legs felt weak, and she stumbled, finally collapsing onto the ground.

"Such powerful yang energy... truly unbearable...!"