After Failing to Find Immortality 20

Chapter 20: A Supernatural Tale, A Stunning Revelation

Mao Ruoyu stumbled back home, leaning against the door, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

“What… what did I just say?!”

She pressed her hand against her heaving chest, feeling the clammy sweat clinging to her skin. Her clothes were drenched.

—She had intended to come clean, to confess everything and beg for the master’s forgiveness.

But upon seeing him again, she was overcome with anxiety and fear, unable to speak.

The thought of revealing the truth, of facing the possibility of being obliterated like that evil spirit, terrified her.

In her panic, she had blurted out those suggestive words, forcing her to quickly come up with an excuse.

But her tangled web of lies had only made things worse.

“This is truly a curse.”

Mao Ruoyu’s face paled, her body feeling weak.

She would have to cook for Lin Tianlu every day from now on…

Wasn’t this like walking into a tiger’s den?

She could hide the truth for a few days, but not forever. If Lin Tianlu discovered her deception, he might…

Mao Ruoyu slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the sky. “I’m doomed.”

…

In the afternoon…

Lin Tianlu was lounging leisurely on the corridor, reading a supernatural tale about mountain spirits and demons.

The Confucian classics and historical texts in his collection were well-written and insightful, but they were also dense and demanding. These folk tales were a more relaxing read, filled with interesting legends and stories.

The book in his hand, in particular, depicted the love and hatred between mortals and demons.

Of course, Lin Tianlu wasn’t interested in the romantic entanglements of the characters.

From a modern perspective, the seemingly tragic and moving plotlines were rather cliché, and there were countless ways to resolve the conflicts. It was just that the characters were constrained by the customs and beliefs of their time, leading to unfortunate outcomes.

And the so-called “beautiful love stories” were mostly just one-night stands and seductive encounters, not worth dwelling on.

The reason he was so engrossed in this book was because…

It was quite explicit.

These folk tales, circulating among the common people, were free from censorship and regulations, allowing the authors to express their wildest imaginations. Even in the information age of his previous life, these stories would have been considered quite risqué.

The vivid descriptions, the diverse and alluring characters, the countless suggestive poses… it was truly eye-opening.

Even Lin Tianlu had to admit, the author was quite talented.

Perhaps…

The reason the romantic development between the characters was always glossed over was because the author wanted to focus on the more explicit scenes?

“This is spicy!”

Lin Tianlu finished the book, impressed.

Clang—!

A clear sword hum echoed through the air, carried by a gentle breeze.

He turned his head and saw Hua Shuya practicing her swordsmanship, her movements graceful and elegant, her azure blade flashing like ripples of light. She was a vision of beauty and power, her sharp aura rivaling that of any man.

Her movements flowed with her sword, guided by her heart. A subtle yet profound sword intent emanated from her, as if her swordsmanship had reached a new level.

Although there were no fox spirits, rabbit spirits, or spider spirits in his house, as depicted in the supernatural tales…

This beautiful girl’s sword dance was a sight to behold, her movements elegant and captivating.

“Hmm?”

Lin Tianlu let out a soft exclamation, noticing that Hua Shuya’s attire seemed… more feminine than before?

Her silk dress was light and flowing, revealing glimpses of her arms and shoulders. Her long sleeves danced in the wind, her black hair swirling around her, like a sword-wielding fairy descending from the heavens.

“I didn’t realize she was so beautiful.”

He quickly shook his head with a chuckle.

Thinking about it, it made sense. She had been climbing mountains and chasing thieves before. There was no need for delicate silk robes. Now that she had some free time, it was natural for her to wear clothes befitting a young lady.

After all, Hua Shuya didn’t seem like a tomboy. It was normal for her to dress up.

He was truly blessed.

Lin Tianlu chuckled to himself.

…

“Hoo—”

Hua Shuya finished her sword dance and exhaled, lowering her sword.

She pressed her hand against her chest, a spark of enlightenment in her eyes.

She didn’t feel any fatigue or shortness of breath after practicing today.

Her family’s Thirteen Forms of the Breaking Army Sword emphasized a balance of movement and stillness, requiring both powerful strikes and precise, delicate movements. It was a profound swordsmanship style, passed down through generations of the Hua family, designed for battle, not something that could be easily mastered with mere internal energy cultivation.

She had started practicing martial arts at the age of seven, learning the sword at eight. Now, at sixteen, she had finally grasped the essence of this style.

But she would usually be out of breath and drenched in sweat after practicing.

Today, after practicing the thirteen forms several times, she felt warm and comfortable, as if a gentle current was flowing through her body.

It wasn’t that her internal energy had suddenly improved significantly, but her understanding of Sword Intent had deepened. Every move felt effortless and fluid, as if the techniques were engraved in her heart, allowing her to move instinctively, her mind and body in perfect harmony.

And this was all thanks to Senior’s patient guidance.

The girl sheathed her sword, a gentle smile appearing on her lips, her beauty radiant.

Seeing the figure she had been thinking about, Hua Shuya’s heart was filled with gratitude and warmth. She called out softly, “Senior, why don’t we have dinner at the Tianhai Restaurant tonight?”

“Ah?”

Lin Tianlu quickly closed his book as he saw the girl approaching.

“This… you’ll be treating me again, Miss Hua?”

“Senior gave me such valuable guidance yesterday. I’ve been thinking about how to repay you, and the only thing I can offer is a delicious meal.” Hua Shuya smiled sweetly, bowing gracefully. “Please don’t refuse my offer, Senior.”

“With such a sincere invitation, I wouldn’t dare to refuse.” Lin Tianlu was curious. “But I was wondering… do you have any manuals for cultivating internal energy, Miss Hua?”

“Internal energy?”

Hua Shuya blinked her beautiful eyes and pondered for a moment. “I’ve heard of some profound internal energy cultivation techniques. But my family’s martial arts focus on swordsmanship, strengthening internal energy through years of practice. I don’t…”

She quickly apologized. “I don’t have any internal energy manuals.”

Lin Tianlu nodded, not disappointed. He had just been asking out of curiosity.

Martial arts manuals were definitely not common items.

If every martial artist carried their family’s secret manual with them, casually showing off five or six books whenever they met someone, like a clearance sale, that would be strange indeed.

“By the way, Miss Hua, take a look at this manual.” Lin Tianlu handed her the ‘Roaming Dragon Phantom Steps’ manual. “I got it from Old Master Mo. I wanted to study it, but I don’t have any internal energy, so it’s difficult for me to practice. You can try it. Perhaps it’ll suit you.”

Hua Shuya’s eyes widened in surprise. “Senior, are you sure?”

“Will this movement technique clash with your swordsmanship?”

She flipped through a few pages and shook her head. “No, there’s no conflict.”

“Then it’s fine.” Lin Tianlu chuckled. “If we encounter any bandits in the mountains, I’ll have to rely on you for protection, Miss Hua.”

Hua Shuya was speechless.

With her meager skills, how could she… Wait?

Perhaps Senior was testing her, giving her this important task as a sign of trust and approval!

And from his words, it seemed he planned to stay by her side for a while longer!

The girl’s mind raced, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She bowed deeply and said with determination, “Don’t worry, Senior! I’ll do my best!”

Lin Tianlu’s eye twitched.

Why was she so enthusiastic?

But seeing the girl’s serious expression as she studied the manual, he could only shake his head and remain silent.

…This must be what a martial arts prodigy looked like. Her motivation was truly impressive.

“Hmm?”

At that moment, Lin Tianlu vaguely sensed a gaze upon him. He turned his head towards the gate, a puzzled look on his face.

A familiar figure was pacing back and forth outside the gate, peeking through the cracks.