Chapter 30: Troubles in Changling, Misunderstandings Cleared
Time flew by, dusk approached, and the sky turned a vibrant orange.
As the sun began to set, an autumn breeze swept through Changling County.
An elderly man with a white beard was meticulously tending to the flowers and plants in his garden. Glancing up, he noticed a familiar figure passing by his house.
“Master Lin!”
Lin Tianlu, carrying a basket of autumn fruits he had just bought from the market, stopped and turned around.
“What is it, Old Nie?”
The man, Nie Qinghe, was a kind and learned elder, well-respected in the neighborhood. They often exchanged greetings, and over time, they had developed a friendly relationship.
But the old man’s face was filled with concern. “Master Lin, I know you’re a man of great talent and not afraid of evil. But these days, Changling County has become quite restless. It’s best to stay indoors, especially at dusk and dawn… It’s always better to be cautious.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently and bowed. “I’ll keep your advice in mind, Old Nie. You should take care of yourself too. Once I’ve mastered Go, we’ll have to play a game together.”
“Excellent!”
Nie Qinghe nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. “Go home now, Master Lin. Don’t keep the beautiful lady waiting.”
“You’re teasing me, Old Nie.”
They chuckled and bid each other farewell.
Lin Tianlu walked briskly, soon arriving at his house.
But as he glanced back, he saw a few people passing by, whispering among themselves.
He didn’t need to listen closely to know what they were talking about.
—The incident at the Cheng mansion.
The death of the wealthy Cheng Yanghua and his youngest daughter in a single night had caused quite a stir in the county.
Of course, the Cheng family had suppressed any mention of ghosts.
After all, Cheng Yishi had been the one who spread those rumors in the first place. With the help of the authorities, it wouldn’t be difficult to control the narrative.
“I hope Miss Cheng can overcome this ordeal.”
Lin Tianlu shook his head, pushing aside those thoughts, and opened his courtyard gate.
“Wah?!”
A startled cry came from behind the door.
Lin Tianlu’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly stepped inside and caught the figure who was about to fall from a wooden ladder.
“Madam Mao? What are you…”
He carefully helped her down, glancing at the ladder leaning against the wall with a puzzled expression.
Mao Ruoyu clutched her chest, her breathing ragged as she calmed down. Then, she forced a smile. “I saw that the trees in your courtyard haven’t been pruned, Sir. So I thought I’d help you trim them. The branches were growing over the wall.”
“I’m ashamed to have troubled you with this, Madam.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I just occasionally… Hmm?”
She mumbled, her face flushing crimson, her eyelashes fluttering.
Lin Tianlu was startled, then chuckled awkwardly, withdrawing his arm from around her waist. “My apologies, Madam Mao.”
“You were just trying to help, Sir. There’s no need for such formality.” She shook her head, adjusting her clothes, then said softly, “I’ll go prepare dinner now. Excuse me.”
Watching her hurried retreat, Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but scratch his head.
Although Madam Mao seemed troubled…
He had to admit, she had an incredible figure.
“Sigh! Living with such a beautiful woman is truly tempting.”
Lin Tianlu sighed inwardly.
But he quickly regained his composure. As an experienced veteran of the internet, he wouldn’t be swayed by such a small temptation.
“—NSFW, NSFW, NSFW, NSFW!”
He chanted to himself, successfully diverting his attention after a few minutes.
…
As dark clouds gathered, the sky darkened, and the lights in the county went out.
Silence fell over the neighborhood, only the soft whisper of the wind breaking the stillness.
Lin Tianlu sat alone in the pavilion, reading a novel. He wasn’t sleepy at all.
To be precise, he still needed sleep occasionally, simply out of habit. But he was currently engrossed in an interesting chapter and didn’t feel like resting.
“You seem to enjoy that book, Mr. Lin.”
A gentle, mature voice broke the silence.
“Hmm?” Lin Tianlu looked up and saw Mao Ruoyu approaching, a light shawl draped over her shoulders. Under the moonlight, her figure seemed even more alluring, her every movement radiating a subtle charm.
“Why are you still awake, Madam Mao?”
“I have something on my mind and can’t sleep. I saw you sitting here, so I came to check on you.” Mao Ruoyu brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and sat down opposite him, smoothing her skirt.
She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment, then finally asked,
“What happened at the Cheng residence… was it your doing, Sir?”
Lin Tianlu was surprised. “Madam, how did you know?”
Mao Ruoyu smiled faintly. “Although the Cheng family hasn’t released any official statement, based on the rumors circulating in town, I assume you went to their house and vanquished the ghost?”
“You’re quite perceptive, Madam.” Lin Tianlu didn’t try to hide it. “Miss Cheng invited us to their house to eliminate a ghost, but it turned out that Cheng Yanghua was involved with the ghost, aiding and abetting it, harming countless innocent people.
He was eventually killed by Miss Hua’s sword. He deserved his fate.”
Mao Ruoyu’s eyes flickered, and she asked softly,
“Then how do you… view those who are involved with ghosts, Sir? Do you believe they must be eliminated to uphold righteousness, simply because of their origins and their connection to Yin energy? Or—”
“Being involved with ghosts is not a crime.”
Lin Tianlu interrupted her with a chuckle. “What’s wrong with ghosts? They’re just souls that remain after death, no different from humans, except their minds are troubled. And those who are ‘involved’ with ghosts are probably just people with spiritual abilities.
To them, it’s a gift, something to be admired and envied. Outsiders have no right to judge them. Cheng Yanghua deserved to die because he committed heinous crimes, his mind corrupted by madness and evil. If he hadn’t been stopped, he would have continued to harm innocent people.”
Mao Ruoyu’s heart was filled with relief.
This scholar, despite his immense power, wasn’t narrow-minded.
“Madam Mao.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently.
“There’s no need for you to be so afraid.”
“Eh?” Mao Ruoyu’s eyes widened.
“If you think I’ll see you as unclean or unlucky, you’re wrong. As long as you have a kind heart, Madam, you deserve respect and kindness.”
His words, clearly hinting at something, made Mao Ruoyu’s heart tremble. “Do you truly believe that, Mr. Lin…”
“Rest assured, Madam.”
Lin Tianlu reassured her softly, then smiled gently. “You’ve been tense and anxious these past few days. Even Miss Hua noticed it. From tomorrow onwards, please relax. If you keep frowning, we’ll feel bad about eating your food.”
Mao Ruoyu was silent for a long time.
Then, she sighed softly.
This man… was truly kind and considerate.
Despite his immense power, he didn’t act arrogant or aloof. He treated her with such warmth and gentleness.
A wave of regret washed over her.
Her earlier attempt to steal his Yang energy seemed so despicable now.
Thankfully, her actions hadn’t truly harmed or frightened him. Otherwise, she would be filled with regret… although her meager abilities probably wouldn’t have had any effect anyway.
Mao Ruoyu’s heart was filled with mixed emotions, her voice softening unconsciously.
“I’ll remember your words, Sir.”
“Alright, let’s not dwell on these heavy matters.”
Lin Tianlu took out a fresh autumn fruit from the basket beside him and handed it to her. “Since you can’t sleep, Madam, why don’t you sit here and enjoy the moonlit scenery? If you’re bored, I can chat with you.”
Mao Ruoyu took the fruit, a gentle smile on her lips. “There’s no need to trouble yourself, Sir. I’m not that lonely. But what’s that jade flute in your hand…?”
Lin Tianlu shook his head with a wry smile. “I found it by chance. It was broken a while ago and couldn’t produce any sound. Today, I found a jade craftsman at the market and had him repair the cracks. I haven’t had a chance to play it yet.”
The beautiful woman’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t you play a tune, Sir? I would love to hear it.”
“You flatter me, Madam. I don’t know anything about music theory. I’m afraid I’ll only embarrass myself.”
“But you have to try it now that it’s repaired, right?”
“…That’s true.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and brought the flute to his lips.
“Hoo—”
A breathy sound came out.
Mao Ruoyu couldn’t help but smile, finding it amusing that even this seemingly immortal figure could be clumsy.
The sound was so… so…
She blinked, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked around.
How had the scenery changed into a majestic mountain shrouded in mist?
The chirping of birds and the gurgling of a mountain stream filled the air, soothing her heart. Driven by curiosity, she parted the mist and followed a small path.
She walked through a breathtaking landscape, unknowingly reaching the summit, where she could see the surrounding mountains stretching out before her.
And in the distance, she saw a familiar figure sitting at a stone table, his back turned, his silver hair swaying in the wind, red and yellow leaves falling around him. A melodious flute melody echoed through the mountains.
It was like a distant childhood memory, a sweet dream buried deep within her heart.
Mao Ruoyu’s heart stirred, but she didn’t want to disturb the peaceful scene.
She hesitated for a moment, then found a spot in a peach blossom grove and sat down, her gaze fixed on the figure, a gentle smile on her face.
She closed her eyes, listening to the enchanting melody, her mind drifting, her eyelids growing heavy.
A warmth spread through her body, as if a soft cloud had been draped over her.
She unconsciously clutched the edge of her robe, all her worries and anxieties fading away, a pure and sweet smile appearing on her lips as she fell asleep.
…
“She’s sleeping soundly.”
Lin Tianlu draped his outer robe over Mao Ruoyu’s shoulders, sighing softly.
“She must be exhausted after running around all day, preparing meals.”
He sat back down, a puzzled look on his face as he looked at the jade flute in his hand.
Although it no longer produced that loud and strange sound after being repaired…
He clearly had no musical talent. He couldn’t even play a simple scale properly.
He had even memorized a grand and majestic melody last night, hoping to play it once the flute was fixed.
But it sounded more like a lullaby…
And it was still a bit leaky.
He was starting to feel depressed.
“Thankfully, Madam Mao fell asleep early. She probably didn’t hear much.”
Lin Tianlu muttered to himself, putting the flute away.
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