Chapter 51 - After Failing to Find Immortality

After the tempestuous night, the moon began to wane. In the aftermath of the passionate encounter, Lin Tianlu was no longer his usual relaxed self. Instead, he meticulously arranged the clothes of the woman in his arms, gently brushed her hair aside, and wiped away her sweat. Cheng Yishi was now exhausted and asleep, as if in a dream. Occasionally, she furrowed her brows and bit her lip, with crystalline tears slipping from her tear-stained eyes. She murmured as if sobbing, "Why leave me alone...?" "Mother... I miss you so much..." Lin Tianlu bowed his head silently, listening to the dreamlike murmurs. He allowed her to clutch his sleeve tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh, without uttering a word. — Perhaps he had made a mistake. Even though her desire to die had diminished, the loneliness and pain she harbored were still unforgettable, ingrained from a childhood spent in a cold and unfeeling household. This troubled her deeply, making her personality warped, obsessive, and sickly. Thus, Cheng Yishi regarded him, her savior, as the continuity of her life and her hope, almost as if possessed. Family, love, friendship... she poured all her intense emotions onto 'Lin Tianlu,' deifying him, seeking only a moment of peace and satisfaction from his compassionate presence. The peculiar gold and silver aura within the shadow of Mt. Taiyi was the burning manifestation of her intense seven emotions, only to be consumed in a fleeting blaze of brilliance at the cost of herself. As he absorbed the aura into his body, Lin Tianlu could distinctly feel Cheng Yishi's deep thoughts and emotions. The sorrow and grief, he felt acutely. "Such a stubborn woman," Lin Tianlu sighed inwardly. He carefully lifted Cheng Yishi in his arms and quietly left the house. The carriage parked outside the gate from last night was still there, but the coachman was nowhere in sight. Evidently, Cheng Yishi had hurried here alone last night. As he stepped onto the carriage, the girl in his arms suddenly tightened her grip on his sleeve, murmuring in her sleep, "Don't... leave me..." "I'm not leaving. I'm just taking you home to rest," Lin Tianlu gently held her cold hand and drove the carriage forward slowly. Snuggled in his arms, Cheng Yishi seemed to find comfort, her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxing. ... The sky was still dim, and the streets were deserted and quiet. After driving for a while, Lin Tianlu felt a slight movement in his arms and looked down instinctively. He met the gaze of Cheng Yishi, who had just opened her beautiful eyes. “Hmm!” Cheng Yishi instantly blushed, hurriedly averting her gaze and pretending to be calm as she repeatedly smoothed her white hair. "Sorry, Miss Cheng. The carriage shook a bit and disturbed your sleep." "It's... it's fine. I just happened to wake up," she mumbled shyly, still feeling the lingering warmth from the emotional entanglement earlier. The fierce passion and allure she had shown in the courtyard had long disappeared. Lin Tianlu chuckled, "Miss Cheng still shows such shyness?" "I just..." Cheng Yishi bit her lips but eventually buried her head in his chest, her ears turning red. "You're clearly teasing me on purpose." "Where's the teasing? I'm just surprised to see this bashful side of Miss Cheng." “……” Cheng Yishi remained silent for a moment, then murmured like a mosquito, "Sir, after today... will you abandon me?" "Why would you say that?" "I mentioned before that even if it were just for one day, I would be content to be together. But now... I can't bear to part." "Rest assured, Miss Cheng, I won't leave," Lin Tianlu smiled. "Since you seem clear-headed, let's discuss the future." "Sir..." "I understand the regrets in your heart, and I can sympathize with your actions last night. I wasn't strong enough to remain unaffected and acted beastly." Cheng Yishi's face changed slightly. She quickly raised her hand to cover his mouth, "It was my continuous seduction, not your—" "It happened, so there's no point differentiating," Lin Tianlu shook his head. "If I can't even take responsibility, how can I call myself a man?" Seeing his resolute attitude, Cheng Yishi withdrew her hand reluctantly. "So, Sir, what are you saying...?" "I wish from now on—we do not indulge in carnal desires or dwell on the past. Instead, let's get to know each other genuinely and develop our feelings until mutual love ensues." Lin Tianlu offered her a faint smile, "Miss Cheng, do you agree?" “……” Cheng Yishi stared wide-eyed, covering her lips. After a moment of silence, her red eyes glistened with tears. "Miss Cheng, is there something wrong?" "No, not at all. I'm just so happy..." Cheng Yishi quickly wiped away her tears and flashed a joyful smile, "Your kindness, Sir, will always be in my heart." Lin Tianlu smiled, "Then the first thing, Miss Cheng, is to return home and rest well. Don't forget we have an appointment at Ascension Pavilion tonight." “Mm.” Cheng Yishi nodded gently, her face still tinged with lingering charm. "I will get ready and be there ahead of time." "Ahem! But about Miss Hua and Mrs. Mao..." "Don't worry." Seeing his awkward expression, Cheng Yishi softly smiled, "Since we're starting afresh, I will contend openly with those two. Sir, just bring them along." However, her eyes sparkled as she whispered with a mischievous smile, "Hehe, I will surely treat them... well." Lin Tianlu's smile froze slightly. Miss Cheng’s nature, indeed, couldn’t be changed overnight. Now this relationship... seems even more chaotic. ... After seeing Cheng Yishi safely back to her residence with brief farewells, Lin Tianlu couldn't help but notice... The meaningful glances from the maidservant... Full of depth. ... The morning sun finally peeked out. Returning home alone, Lin Tianlu seated himself in the pavilion, eyebrows furrowed with uncertainty. He quickly closed his eyes to meditate, his internal vision unveiling a more robust flux of spiritual energy within, now tinged with hues of gold and silver. He raised his right hand, noticing that the spiritual energy condensed in his palm had multiplied several times, forming a light sphere the size of half a fist. Moreover, the solitary white lotus on the Taiyi Immortal Mountain inside him, though shyly closed, had also grown significantly. Lin Tianlu wore a bewildered look, murmuring, "Unexpectedly, engaging in intimacy has greatly enhanced my cultivation. Could the spiritual energy and opportunities I've unwittingly obtained be from some demonic sect that specializes in such acts?" He glanced at the supernatural novel beside him... Suddenly finding it quite lacking in flavor. This might be what they call the Sage's Time? Lin Tianlu laughed to himself. Perhaps it was also because he no longer suppressed his desires, achieving a breakthrough in his state of mind? What a cultivator seeks after all, is soul clarity... But always within the confines of the law, else one risks becoming a lawless rogue. Surely neighboring Hua Shuya would be sorely disappointed to know, maybe the first to bring him to justice with her blade. “Hmm?” Footsteps approached quietly. Lin Tianlu quickly turned his head to see a petite figure emerging from the corridor. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the black-haired girl he had rescued from the Li household last night. Swiftly, the girl approached and bowed, "Thank you for saving my life, Sir. Yesterday I was utterly exhausted and fainted, unable to properly express my gratitude." "No need for formalities. It was but a small effort on our part," Lin Tianlu said, noting her petite stature, her face with hints of baby fat, yet possessing budding beauty and a captivating charm. "May I know your name, young lady?" "The girl is named Mo Duanyan. May I know your name, Sir?" "I am Lin Tianlu." Lin Tianlu cupped his hands, a sudden realization striking him. "Miss Mo, since you bear the surname 'Mo' and practice swordsmanship, could you be related to an elder named Mo Hong?" Mo Duanyan was taken aback, "Do you know my great-grandfather?" "Great-grandfather?" Lin Tianlu was equally surprised. So this girl is Mo Hong's descendant? "I have interacted with Mr. Mo Hong before and consider him an acquaintance." Mo Duanyan's expression turned solemn, "As a friend of my great-grandfather, I deeply regret my earlier rudeness." She hastily bowed again. Lin Tianlu was slightly taken aback. Why is she acting like I'm an elderly man of a hundred and eighty years? "But I’m curious, why are you in Changling County?" Mo Duanyan solemnly replied, "My great-grandfather wrote me a letter suggesting I visit here for a new opportunity. A few days ago, a tremendous thunderclap over Changling County left me at a loss, and I wandered aimlessly within the county." That thunder was indeed terrifying, even after the clouds dispersed, it left an indelible mark on her mind. Since her birth, she had never felt the insignificance and powerlessness of being mortal until now. Overwhelmed, she felt utterly lost and in a daze. Adding to her confusion, the letter didn’t specify the nature of the opportunity she was supposed to find. Thus, she wandered aimlessly through Changling County, not knowing what decision to make. "It's surprising that Mr. Mo Hong invited you here," Lin Tianlu chuckled while shaking his head. "But why were you possessed by a ghost?" Mo Duanyan's face showed a hint of embarrassment as she replied hesitantly, "I happened to find a woman who had twisted her ankle and fallen in an old, dilapidated house. I immediately went to help her. But before I could speak, multiple ghostly apparitions suddenly appeared. Despite my efforts to resist and struggle, I was overpowered and eventually possessed." A female ghost actually knew how to set such a trap? Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, "How many times have you encountered such ghosts in your life?" "...Only twice," Mo Duanyan said, her expression darkening at the unpleasant memories. "Once was three years ago, and this recent incident was far more dangerous than the previous one." Lin Tianlu continued, "How much do you know about ghosts? I am quite curious about these supernatural beings." Mo Duanyan shook her head, "I do not know much. No one really knows where these ghosts come from or why they exist; their origins are shrouded in mystery. While there are superstitions and tales among the common folk, they are mostly speculative and it's hard to discern the truth from falsehood. My great-grandfather, who has traveled far and wide, might know more, but I am unaware." "I see," Lin Tianlu mused internally. This world indeed differs somewhat from his expectations. The local inhabitants, or perhaps even the entire country, lack a clear understanding of these supernatural entities. Even individuals as distinguished as Mo Duanyan and Hua Shuya are ignorant of their nature, let alone the ordinary county folks. Yet these ghosts do exist, wandering through towns and counties in broad daylight. It's extremely disconcerting upon closer thought. "It seems you have something weighing on your mind," Lin Tianlu snapped back to reality, spreading his hands in a friendly manner. "Feel free to speak." Mo Duanyan looked conflicted, "I don’t know... how to say it." "No need to be so reserved," Lin Tianlu said, pouring her a cup of warm tea. "Although Mr. Mo Hong and I have only a fleeting acquaintance, we do have some rapport. If it's something simple, I can offer a bit of assistance." After a moment’s hesitation, Mo Duanyan’s face turned red, and she bowed deeply before him, saying: "Please, take me as your disciple!" "……" Lin Tianlu's smile froze, nearly spilling the tea in his hand. Another disciple? The memories of last night’s intimate encounter were still vivid in his mind. Taking on a disciple had proved to be quite an adventurous ordeal. And now— What exactly did that old man Mo Hong write in his letter? "I know my cultivation is low and I’m still young. But after being saved by you, I was awestruck. Now, I only hope... to learn skills from you!" She seemed to gather her courage, bowing to him with great formality once more. Thud! And hit her head directly on the stone table. “Hiss—” She clutched her reddened forehead, stumbling with tears in her eyes, looking very endearing. Lin Tianlu: “……” Mo Hong and Mo Duanyan were truly cut from the same cloth. Both were equally clueless.