Chapter 81: Cornered, Dreams of Immortality
“Ho-how could this be?!”
Niu Liang’an stepped forward in astonishment. “Village Chief Lu, the rumors about Jade Peak Mountain all these years… were you intentionally spreading them?!”
“Nonsense! How could I do such a thing!”
Lin Tianlu said meaningfully, “Village Chief Lu’s actions, no matter who hears them, are utterly nonsensical.”
Seemingly sensing the questioning gazes from the people around him, Lu Ming’s face darkened slightly, and he said in a deep voice, “Mr. Lin, I respect you for your contributions to our He’an Village, and that’s why I came to visit you. But now you’re comparing me to a criminal, what do you mean by this?
I don’t understand anything about this so-called Yin energy, and do you have any evidence to say that I deliberately spread rumors to harm people?”
“Village Chief Lu’s initiative to come here is a risky move, indeed worthy of praise. If one doesn’t examine carefully, it’s easy to be fooled.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled softly. “I only have one question: how many years has Village Chief Lu been colluding with the Jade Peak Mountain spirit?”
“I don’t know any Jade Peak Mountain spirit!”
“Since you don’t know it, then Village Chief Lu probably doesn’t need the Yin energy from Jade Peak Mountain anymore.”
Lin Tianlu’s thoughts stirred slightly.
In an instant, Lu Ming’s expression changed drastically, his face filled with horror as he pressed his hand against his chest. Wisps of gray mist uncontrollably escaped from his body.
“You, you—”
This sight naturally caused the surrounding people to become suspicious and start to back away.
“Village Chief Lu, why is smoke coming from your body?!”
“Could he really be—”
“…”
Lu Ming’s thoughts seemed to be churning, his expression changing several times.
Then, a sharp glint appeared in his cloudy eyes.
His seemingly frail and hunched body suddenly erupted with incredible speed. His withered and trembling fingers were like unsheathed swords, carrying a gust of Yin wind, instantly piercing through Lin Tianlu who was standing in front!
“Ah!”
This action frightened everyone around them, causing them to scream.
However, before a hint of joy could appear on Lu Ming’s face, the beheaded Lin Tianlu turned into smoke and dissipated.
“Wha—”
“Village Chief Lu’s hidden cultivation is truly surprising.”
Lin Tianlu reappeared from the other side with a smile. “It’s a pity that your eyesight is failing. You didn’t hit my true body and needlessly exposed your true identity in front of the villagers.”
“You, how is this possible—”
“Why don’t you tell us your story, Village Chief Lu?”
Lin Tianlu’s smile turned colder. “If you’re truly pitiful, perhaps I might feel some sympathy for you.”
Of course, this was just sarcasm.
Even without this person explaining everything clearly, he had already guessed the whole story.
This old man’s life force was extremely withered and decayed, like a flickering candle in the wind. But his body was filled with an extraordinary amount of Yin energy, far stronger than the several ghost art practitioners he had seen before. His cultivation could be considered exceptional.
He had relied on that Yin energy to sustain his last breath of life and survive until now. With the disappearance of Jade Peak Mountain, he naturally had no chance of survival.
He had come here now, hoping to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.
Lu Ming took a deep breath and stopped hiding. His previously benevolent expression vanished completely, replaced by a sinister look.
“You… ruined my chance at immortality!”
“The Jade Peak Mountain spirit was my only chance to survive. Now that Jade Peak Mountain has disappeared and its energy is cut off, I won’t live past noon tomorrow!
Now, whether you’re a so-called immortal or some martial artist, I will definitely kill you two and extract your souls, using them to rebuild my path to immortality!”
Niu Liang’an cried out in disbelief, “Our He’an Village hasn’t been able to move from this place all these years, could it be because of you—”
“Humph!”
Lu Ming didn’t even turn his head as he flicked his sleeve, a wisp of Yin wind instantly rushing towards Niu Liang’an.
But this gust of wind was quickly dispersed, turning into a gentle breeze.
Niu Liang’an’s expression was stunned. After narrowly escaping death, he retreated a few steps in fear. “M-Mr. Lin—”
“Innkeeper Niu, it just so happens that you can be witnesses to this matter, so as to avoid misunderstandings in the village tomorrow.”
Lin Tianlu looked back at the other middle-aged villagers who were filled with suspicion. “Lu Ming, the village chief of He’an Village, has trapped thousands of villagers here for nearly fifty years. Many of the deaths were caused by his collusion with the Jade Peak Mountain spirit, all for his own selfish desire for immortality.”
“Is this person worthy of death?”
Niu Liang’an’s face flushed red as he clenched his fists, his eyes filled with anger.
He remembered his friend who had been drowned alive in a strange flash flood two years ago. He remembered the child next door who had turned into a pale skeleton last year.
He even remembered… his father, who had been crushed to death by a strange flying rock that had rolled down from the mountain!
Thinking of this, he roared, “He deserves to die!”
The other middle-aged villagers also recalled their tragic pasts, their faces filled with grief and indignation as they echoed in low voices, “He deserves to die!!”
“Good!”
Lin Tianlu’s eyes suddenly sharpened, and spiritual energy gathered in his palm.
Seemingly sensing the deadly threat, Lu Ming instinctively took two steps back, but a sinister smile appeared on his aged face. “Sir, have you thought it through? I heard that when your female companion came down the mountain, although her aura was extraordinary, her steps were unsteady, and she looked very weak. And now… is she recuperating in the room?”
“You’re threatening me.”
“Hehe, I have no way out!”
“This way out should have been cut off long ago.”
Lin Tianlu flicked his sleeve.
In an instant, an extremely vast surge of spiritual energy erupted from the earth, with a momentum that almost engulfed the entire village. Under Lu Ming’s horrified gaze, it crashed into the inn behind him!
Before a scream could even be heard, the wisp of his divided soul that had secretly sneaked into the inn was completely annihilated.
Not to mention the small inn, the entire He’an Village, and even the surrounding mountains were now stirred by the surging spiritual energy. It was like a massive earthquake, the sky shaking, and a terrifying heavenly might descended like a torrential downpour, causing Lu Ming to retreat repeatedly, his face filled with fear, feeling as if his entire body was about to be crushed by the pressure!
“You committed countless atrocities for the sake of immortality.”
Lin Tianlu pointed a finger. “You are not worthy of the word ‘immortality’.”
“I’ll fight you to the—”
Lu Ming had just raised his right hand when the light in his eyes instantly vanished. He maintained the posture of pushing his palm forward as he fell backward with a stiff neck. A dense Yin energy surged out from his chest.
…
This terrifying earthquake naturally startled the villagers, young and old.
In no time, they all gathered around, their faces filled with disbelief upon seeing the village chief lying on the ground.
Niu Liang’an and the others, who had recovered their senses, hurriedly stepped forward to explain what had happened.
As the many tragedies of these years coincided with Lu Ming’s actions, the villagers’ faces became increasingly grim.
Only at this moment did they truly believe…
that the thousand people of He’an Village had been played like fools by Lu Ming all along, becoming “livestock” for the Jade Peak Mountain spirit. Only because the greatest protection of Jade Peak Mountain had been taken away by an immortal, and his death was imminent, Lu Ming had no choice but to reveal his ugly true colors.
“Thank you, Young Master, for your great kindness, for allowing our He’an Village to continue!”
Many people stepped forward to bow and express their gratitude.
Lin Tianlu just smiled gently. “There’s no need for this, everyone. I will leave tomorrow. Whether you choose to move away from this place or continue to live here, no one will disturb you anymore.
As for this person, he no longer possesses any supernatural powers. You can take him away and judge him as you see fit.”
“Thank you, Young Master!”
…
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the villagers quickly worked together to carry Lu Ming away, and peace returned to the front of the inn.
Seeing that the matter had been resolved, Lin Tianlu was about to return to his room when Niu Liang’an and Jiang Xi came up to him.
“What is it, you two…”
“Thank you, Young Master Lin, for avenging our blood feud.”
Niu Liang’an and Jiang Xi suddenly knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down their faces as they kowtowed repeatedly. “On behalf of my deceased relatives and elders, I express my gratitude to Young Master Lin. If it weren’t for you coming to the village, we might never have known that the murderer was actually among us, watching this evildoer continue to roam free!”
Lin Tianlu sighed inwardly and stepped forward to help them up. “The deceased are gone, you should mourn their passing. Now that the evildoer has been eliminated, you two should live your lives well.”
“Young Master’s kindness is truly difficult to repay.”
After helping them up from the ground, Jiang Xi nudged Niu Liang’an with her elbow. “Hurry up and clean the inn. I’ll go prepare some supper.”
“Oh, right!” Niu Liang’an quickly bowed and retreated, rushing back to the inn.
“Benefactor, please rest well. Our family will take good care of you from now on!”
Jiang Xi bowed and also hurried towards the kitchen.
Lin Tianlu watched them, speechless, and couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.
This poor couple was a good match, both with genuine personalities. Their lives must be happy and fulfilling.
…
Quietly, the fourth watch of the night arrived.
Lin Tianlu couldn’t refuse their hospitality and had a few cups of light wine. Then, he smiled and saw the boisterous couple off, pushing open the door to his room alone.
He could finally have some peace and quiet for a while.
But…
His expression quickly froze.
Because the girl who had been sleeping on the bed had somehow sat up. Her head was tilted slightly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a strange light, and a faint, eerie smile played on her lips.
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