Chapter 134: The Azure Lady of Mount Wen
“…”
Lin Tianlu sipped his tea silently.
Across from him, Yang Chanzhen sat with perfect posture, her face cold and aloof, her gaze fixed on him without wavering.
Most people would have felt uncomfortable under such a scrutinizing stare, but Lin Tianlu remained calm and collected, pouring her a cup of tea.
“You’ve been staring at me for a while now, Miss. Have you come to any conclusions?”
“I… can’t see through you, Sir.”
Yang Chanzhen’s voice was soft and gentle, like a mountain spring. “Your eyes are like the night sky, vast and boundless. The more I look, the more I feel drawn in.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “Did you come here just to flatter me, Miss?”
“I’m not trying to flatter you.”
Yang Chanzhen looked down at the ripples in her teacup. “Your eyes are bright and intelligent, like a scholar’s. That’s why I couldn’t help but stare.”
Lin Tianlu was slightly taken aback, then replied, “Your eyes are even more beautiful, like precious jade.”
He hadn’t noticed before, but now that he looked closely, her eyes were indeed like purple jade, sparkling and radiant, captivating like rare gems.
Yang Chanzhen’s eyelashes fluttered, and she lowered her gaze, murmuring, “You flatter me, Sir. These eyes are unclean, meant only for—”
“You said that these eyes can see through a person’s heart. You’re kind and compassionate, Miss. What’s unclean about them?”
Lin Tianlu smiled and raised his cup in a toast. “To me, your eyes are truly beautiful.”
“…”
Yang Chanzhen tightened her grip on the paper umbrella resting on her lap, her eyes flickering as she looked away.
After a moment of silence, she said softly,
“You seem different from yesterday, Sir.”
“How have I changed?”
“Last night, your gaze was terrifying. Just one look, and I felt fear, my body trembling uncontrollably.”
Yang Chanzhen traced the rim of her teacup with her finger. “But today, your words and actions are so gentle, like a warm spring breeze. It feels like I’m with a close friend.”
Recalling his cold and intimidating demeanor from the previous night, Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly. “I was perhaps a bit harsh with you yesterday, Miss.”
“No.”
Yang Chanzhen shook her head. “You showed mercy and only gave me a warning. I’m grateful for your forgiveness.”
She raised her teacup in return. “I won’t forget your kindness.”
Lin Tianlu smiled, and their cups clinked together. He finished his tea in one gulp.
“You have a kind heart, Miss. Why don’t you tell me what brings you here?”
“I just want to understand you better.”
Her face was hidden behind a white veil, her expression unreadable. “Everything about you intrigues me, Sir. Every time we interact, I feel… a sense of familiarity and warmth.”
Lin Tianlu coughed. “If you keep staring at a stranger, Miss, you’re bound to feel warm.”
Wasn’t that just embarrassment and shyness…
“It’s different.”
She pondered for a moment. “Perhaps I’m being too forward… Sir, would you be willing to accompany me to Mount Wen?”
This sudden invitation caught Lin Tianlu off guard.
Was this girl more “enthusiastic” than he had imagined?
And…
“Forgive my ignorance, Miss, but I’m not familiar with Mount Wen. Where is it?”
“You haven’t interacted with the various factions in the Fengchen Kingdom, Sir?”
“I mostly stay in Changling County and rarely travel. I haven’t had much contact with any factions.” Lin Tianlu smiled helplessly. “I only know a little about the world through what others have told me.”
Yang Chanzhen was surprised.
This man possessed such extraordinary power, yet he…
No.
Perhaps it was precisely because of his extraordinary abilities that he chose to stay away from worldly affairs, to return to simplicity and cultivate in seclusion?
She suddenly understood, feeling even more admiration for him.
His philosophy resonated with her own, with the principles of Mount Wen. His profound cultivation could even be considered that of a senior master on her path of cultivation.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed, Sir. The Fengchen Kingdom is vast, with countless mountains. It’s normal that you wouldn’t know about Mount Wen.”
Yang Chanzhen explained softly, “Mount Wen is located in Maohuan Province, within the territory of Yizhu County. It’s a lush and verdant mountain, with excellent feng shui.”
“This place…”
“As you might have guessed, Sir, ghosts like myself have resided on Mount Wen for centuries, even millennia. It has become a faction of its own.”
Yang Chanzhen said calmly, “You don’t have to worry, Sir. Our Mount Wen lineage rarely interacts with the outside world. We live in seclusion, generation after generation. Only the Azure Lady of each generation ventures out into the world.”
Lin Tianlu was intrigued.
This Mount Wen sounded familiar.
“So you, Miss Yang, are the Azure Lady of Mount Wen?”
“Indeed.”
Yang Chanzhen nodded slightly. “I am the one who has entered the world to cultivate in this generation.”
Lin Tianlu asked curiously, “Forgive my boldness, but why does Mount Wen only send one person out into the world? Are there any specific rules or restrictions?”
Venturing out into the world alone might sound romantic and mysterious, but the reality was probably not so easy.
“Few on Mount Wen can persevere in cultivation, so there are no ghost practitioners there. And practicing our techniques makes one indifferent to worldly affairs. Most of us live in seclusion, avoiding conflict.” Her eyes flickered slightly. “The Azure Lady is the one who descends the mountain… to cultivate her mind and spirit, to temper her heart.”
“I see.”
Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully.
No wonder this girl seemed so aloof and detached, her voice flat and emotionless.
She was somewhat similar to the mysterious woman who had possessed Madam Mao last night.
“But why do you want me to go to Mount Wen, Miss?”
“You, Sir…”
Yang Chanzhen’s eyes darted around, then she sighed softly. “I just sense a kind and familiar aura from you. I couldn’t help but want to know more. If you could visit Mount Wen, perhaps we could understand each other better.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “You might seem cold, Miss, but you have a warm heart.
However, I can’t promise to visit Mount Wen right now. After the Path of the Netherworld ritual, I have to return to Changling with my companions. And I have some matters to attend to in other provinces.”
“I won’t force you, Sir.”
Yang Chanzhen’s voice returned to its usual flat tone. “It’s already an honor to have tea and converse with you.”
Before Lin Tianlu could speak, she continued, “Are you free tonight, Sir?”
“Is there something important, Miss?”
“Nothing urgent. It’s just the eve of the Path of the Netherworld ritual.”
Yang Chanzhen said softly, “Despite yesterday’s incident, the ritual will still proceed. Perhaps we could have a drink under the full moon tonight. Consider it a way for me to thank you for saving me yesterday.”
“Don’t worry, Miss. If I’m free, I’ll definitely come.”
“Mm.”
She nodded slightly and stood up. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She bowed to the cloud fox curled up on Lin Tianlu’s shoulder. “Farewell for now, Senior.”
Lin Tianlu stood up and bowed in return.
But as she was about to leave, he couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you always wear a veil, Miss?”
“?”
Yang Chanzhen paused and turned to look at him, surprise flickering in her eyes.
Her soft voice echoed through the air,
“I’m not beautiful, Sir. I don’t like showing my face to others.”
“…”
Lin Tianlu watched as she walked away, holding her umbrella, his expression curious.
This girl was unexpectedly unique.
“—The Azure Lady of Mount Wen, quite an interesting girl.”
Yun Yue’s soft chuckle sounded in his ear. “The Mount Wen lineage has existed for a thousand years. Even I’ve heard of them.”
Lin Tianlu looked down to see the cloud fox, her eyes open, a hint of amusement in her gaze as she watched the street.
“Mount Wen has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient times. Every generation’s Azure Lady is incredibly talented, but they only appear in the world for a short time, then disappear without a trace. They never have any close relationships with anyone, wandering the world alone, leaving only legends behind.”
“They’re that famous?”
“I met the Azure Lady of Mount Wen a thousand years ago.” Yun Yue said softly. “She was just as graceful and aloof, and she also liked to wear a veil.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned strange.
Was this a tradition that had been passed down for a thousand years?
“But I was arrogant back then. Hearing the legends and seeing her in person, I couldn’t resist challenging her, trying to remove her veil.”
Yun Yue sighed, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “Only then did I understand why she always wore a veil.”
“Why?”
“Because she was breathtakingly beautiful. If she had traveled the world with her true face, who knows how much chaos she would have caused.”
“She was really that beautiful?”
Lin Tianlu was surprised.
“You’ll see for yourself if you have the chance.” Yun Yue chuckled and flicked her tail, brushing it against his cheek. “Even I’ve never seen the Azure Lady so curious about anyone before. If you go to Mount Wen, perhaps you’ll get to see her true face.”
Lin Tianlu paused for a moment.
Then he chuckled and ruffled the cloud fox’s head. “I’m not that greedy.
But, don’t you need to rest for a while?”
Yun Yue purred contentedly, rubbing her head against his hand.
“I don’t need to sleep as much in this form. Even if I stay awake a little longer, it won’t affect me.”
“The bodies of demons and ghosts are truly remarkable.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and looked back at the street.
He could sense several auras, the presence of ghosts.
“It seems that many ghosts have come here, drawn by the rumors.”
…
Night fell.
Silence descended upon Jianggai County, the moonlight casting long shadows.
Only a few restaurants and inns were still open, their flickering candlelight creating an eerie atmosphere.
On the second floor of a restaurant, by the window, three figures sat around a table.
Mao Ruoyu, who had accompanied Lin Tianlu to the meeting, glanced out the window as she heard the wind whistling outside.
The previously deserted streets were now filled with the shadowy figures of ghost practitioners.
She could even hear the whispers of demons and ghosts, their ghostly flames flickering, turning the town into a spectral city.
“For many unorthodox ghost practitioners, the eve of the Path of the Netherworld is also an opportunity. They can exchange knowledge and artifacts with their peers.”
A clear and calm female voice spoke.
Mao Ruoyu looked back at the azure-haired woman sitting across from her.
Tonight, Yang Chanzhen was still wearing that alluring dress, her shoulders bare, her skin as white as snow, her figure voluptuous and captivating even with her face hidden behind a veil. Her purple jade eyes were as calm as a lake, their beauty striking.
Recalling what Lin Tianlu had told her, Mao Ruoyu bowed slightly. “Miss Yang, I left in a hurry last night and didn’t have time to thank you properly. Thanks to your help, I was able to be rescued by Sir.”
“It was my duty.”
Yang Chanzhen’s eyes flickered. “But, you seem different from last night, Miss.”
She was puzzled.
This woman had seemed so aloof and detached before, but now she was gentle and demure?
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