Chapter 96: Gathering Storm, A Lady’s Past
“Hoo—”
After taking a few deep breaths, Bai Xin finally calmed down a bit. The giant snake tail thrashing beneath her slowly dissipated, returning to her slender legs.
She steadied herself and said coldly, “You have no idea what the Moon Shadow Saintess truly means!
You were appointed as the Moon Shadow Saintess at a young age, shortly after entering the sect. Naturally, you didn’t understand the profound meaning behind it. It’s far from simple as you think. You missed this great opportunity, choosing to be with this man—”
She abruptly turned her head away, clicking her tongue. “He’s indeed stronger than me now, and I don’t have the confidence to say anything harsh.
But remember, something big will happen after the new year. The world will be in turmoil, and even if you choose to live in seclusion, you won’t be able to escape this calamity. By abandoning the position of Saintess, you’re handing over your destiny to someone else, becoming a completely ordinary person!”
Mao Ruoyu’s expression remained calm, unfazed. “Sister Bai Xin, those words mean nothing to me. When I left the sect, the elders mentioned it many times. I’m not interested in power or status.”
“But now, the situation is completely different.”
Bai Xin’s gaze was sharp, as if trying to pierce through her mind. “I don’t know this man’s identity or where his incredible strength comes from. But a storm is coming, and he won’t be able to stay out of it either. If you continue to be entangled with him, you can imagine the consequences.”
Mao Ruoyu’s eyes flickered, and she fell silent.
She hadn’t cared about strength in the past, choosing to avoid powerful beings and live a peaceful life in a remote corner of the world.
But now, she could only accept help without any guilt…
“Could you tell us what will happen after the new year?”
Lin Tianlu suddenly broke the silence. “If there’s real danger, I can prepare in advance.”
“A demonic tide will surge, and nine dragons will descend.”
Bai Xin sneered. “Even if you are a so-called immortal, you won’t be able to escape unscathed!”
“That sounds quite profound.” Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin, a curious look on his face. “Could you be more specific?”
“Our Lunar Valley has been in seclusion, and we don’t know much about the affairs of the demon and ghost realms. But this upheaval is an ancient prophecy, known to all major forces. You’ll experience it yourself when the time comes.”
Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment and cupped his hands. “Thank you for the warning, Miss Bai Xin.”
“It’s just a warning!”
She stared at Lin Tianlu, her gaze slightly sinister. “You’re stronger than me now, so I won’t waste my breath on empty threats.
But even though this woman betrayed the sect and became an ordinary village woman, even if she bears children for another man in the future, she still holds the title of Moon Shadow Saintess in my heart. She’s still a member of our Lunar Valley. If you dare to harm her, I will tear you apart!”
As she spoke, strange markings appeared on her forehead, even more profound and intricate than before.
Lin Tianlu was slightly stunned, then chuckled. “It seems you still have some tricks up your sleeve, Miss.”
The faint fluctuations of her aura suggested that she was even more powerful than when she had revealed her snake tail.
“You—”
Bai Xin was about to say something, but she was surprised to find that the golden ropes binding her had silently disappeared.
She quickly regained her balance and landed on the ground, staring at the man in front of her with suspicion. “What do you mean by this?”
“You had no intention of harming us. You even deliberately avoided my vital points in that last attack.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled softly. “Since you’re Madam Mao’s old friend, it’s not appropriate to keep you hanging like that. Why don’t we sit down and have a chat?”
“What is there to talk about between us?” Bai Xin’s face was cold. “I just want to teach you a lesson!”
“If you hadn’t reminded me, I would have almost forgotten.”
Lin Tianlu coughed lightly. “Now that the ropes are gone, Miss Bai, you might want to pay attention to your appearance.”
“…”
Bai Xin froze and looked down in a daze.
Her dress, torn open by the ropes, was barely hanging on her arm, leaving her body completely exposed. The cool breeze blew past, but the chill on her skin couldn’t compare to the coldness in her heart.
She quickly grabbed her dress and covered herself, her face turning pale as she staggered back two steps, as if struck by lightning.
“You, you—
I’ll gouge out your eyes someday!!”
Bai Xin screamed in panic and rushed out of the main hall without looking back, not even pausing for a moment.
Lin Tianlu reached out to stop her, but seeing her disappear in an instant, he couldn’t help but sigh. “Madam Mao, your junior sister has quite a temper.”
“Any decent woman would be angry if someone saw her naked. Moreover, she has learned the Moon Shadow Secret Art and possesses extraordinary power. Her status in the sect is high, so it’s natural for such a talented woman to be proud.”
Mao Ruoyu chuckled softly. “But Sir, you don’t have to worry. Although Sister Bai Xin’s words are harsh, her actions show mercy. She won’t really harm you in secret.”
“I can see that.”
Lin Tianlu nodded slightly.
He had carefully examined the woman the moment he saw her.
There was no bloodlust surrounding her. Instead, another profound and mysterious aura filled her body, probably obtained through some special cultivation method. If not for that, he wouldn’t have dared to joke around with her.
“Sir…”
But at that moment, Mao Ruoyu hesitated, her expression changing.
“Madam, you’ve been through a lot today. Why don’t you go and rest for a while?”
Lin Tianlu suddenly interrupted her, comforting her gently. “We can talk about these things tomorrow morning, how about that?”
Mao Ruoyu felt relieved seeing the concern in his eyes.
But her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, “Sir, what about Miss Cheng—”
“Don’t worry, Madam. I happened to pass by the Cheng residence on my way back and helped her take care of the rest of the matter. Miss Hua is with her now, you can see her tomorrow.” Lin Tianlu smiled. “The danger has been resolved, you can rest assured.”
Mao Ruoyu sighed, placing her hand on her chest. “I’ve troubled you, Sir. You just returned from your journey, and now you’re running around for me.”
“There’s no need to be so polite between us.”
Lin Tianlu hesitated for a moment, then took out a delicate wooden box from his pocket and handed it to her solemnly. “Madam Mao, I brought you a gift from my trip. Please accept it.”
“…”
Mao Ruoyu was stunned, subconsciously taking the box.
But after a moment of daze, her cheeks flushed red, and she clutched the box to her chest, her heart overflowing with sweetness, almost making her cry tears of joy.
Such concern, she hadn’t felt it in years…
She quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, trying to suppress her surging emotions. “I will cherish this gift, Sir.”
Seeing her gentle smile, Lin Tianlu was also satisfied. He stepped forward and helped her adjust her loose veil. “Madam, don’t catch a cold.”
Mao Ruoyu’s lips parted slightly as she realized that her veil had loosened in the wind. She quickly covered her chest, her face burning with embarrassment.
“I-I’ll go back to my room now!”
She hurriedly turned and left.
Lin Tianlu watched her go back to her room, then chuckled helplessly, scratching his head.
Even after half a month, Madam Mao’s figure was still so visually striking.
…
The next morning.
With the crisis resolved, peace had returned to Changling County.
Lin Tianlu sat alone in the pavilion, casually reading a book of poetry.
He had been on the road for almost half a month, and it was rare to have some free time again. After returning to a peaceful life, he felt quite relaxed.
“—Mr. Lin.”
A gentle voice called out. Mao Ruoyu, dressed in an elegant ruqun, quietly walked over to the corridor.
Their eyes met, and she seemed to recall the ambiguous moment last night, a blush creeping onto her beautiful face.
But she quickly coughed twice, composing herself before walking up to him. “I would like to talk to you about my past, Sir.”
“Madam Mao, you don’t have to force yourself—”
“This matter needs to be cleared up. Otherwise, you must have many questions in your heart, Sir.”
Mao Ruoyu smoothed her skirt and sat down gracefully, her face serious. “You should know that I learned some Yin techniques in my early years, Sir. Actually, I started learning them when I was very young.”
She then recounted her life story…
Before she was eleven or twelve years old, she was indeed a poor and starving ordinary person.
She was born into a poor family in the countryside and started working in the fields when she was very young. But after a few years of poverty, a natural disaster and famine struck, and her parents starved to death. She was the only one who barely survived, relying on the kindness of others.
After that, she became a laborer, relying on her wit to earn a living. She wandered from town to town, village to village, never having a permanent home.
But when she was twelve, she met an old woman in her seventies. As soon as they met at a restaurant, the old woman suddenly claimed that she had extraordinary talent and wanted to take her as a disciple.
Although Mao Ruoyu was poor and desperate at the time, she didn’t believe her easily… But she didn’t expect the old woman to knock her unconscious and abduct her.
When she woke up, she found herself in a secluded and vast manor.
Because her memories were a bit hazy, Mao Ruoyu couldn’t clearly describe the layout of the manor. She only remembered that the valley estate was very grand, vast, and shrouded in mist, not a place for ordinary people.
And there were many people living in the manor, but most of them were young girls around her age. She didn’t seem to see a single man in the entire sect.
“It was only then that I realized that what the old woman said… was true.”
Mao Ruoyu sighed. “That Lunar Valley was indeed mysterious and possessed profound Yin techniques. And the old woman really did want to teach me Yin techniques.”
Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin curiously. “So, it doesn’t sound like a bad thing?”
“That’s right.”
Mao Ruoyu nodded slightly. “At that time, although the Lunar Valley seemed mysterious, it did save me from hardship. I no longer had to work outside to get a full meal. I had a warm bed, clean clothes, and I didn’t have to smear dirt on my face or pretend to be a boy anymore.”
“It’s just that the process of learning Yin techniques was a bit harsh.”
She seemed to be trying hard to recall the past, frowning slightly. “All the girls in the manor had to learn to identify various herbs, prepare materials for rituals, and memorize Yin techniques. But the most important thing was to actively absorb Yin energy into our bodies, opening our meridians to become ghost practitioners.”
“This process was extremely difficult for those girls who had never experienced pain. It was like ants gnawing at their bodies, a tingling and numbing sensation. During those two years, many girls cried every day and couldn’t sleep at night. It was truly miserable.”
Lin Tianlu was surprised. “It’s so dangerous to become a ghost practitioner?”
“It’s just that the Lunar Valley’s methods are different. They require pure Yin girls with untainted bodies to absorb Yin energy using a strange cultivation method. Combined with the extremely Yin environment in the mountains and secret techniques, they strive to cultivate the most perfect ghost practitioners.”
Mao Ruoyu paused for a moment, then said hesitantly, “I don’t know what qualities I showed at that time, but I was chosen as the Moon Shadow Saintess for some reason. I became a sort of senior sister in the manor. Besides the basic training, I had to meditate in a secret place under the guidance of the elders every morning.”
“Then why did you escape from the manor, Madam Mao?”
“I wasn’t interested in being a Saintess, and I didn’t complain about the harsh training. It’s just…”
Mao Ruoyu’s eyes flickered, and she sighed. “I had a disagreement with the elders of the manor. They said that after reaching adulthood, advanced practitioners of the Moon Shadow lineage no longer need human emotions, they just need to focus on completing their missions… I couldn’t agree with that.”
“After years of stalemate and persuasion, the elders were somewhat swayed, but ultimately, they prioritized the overall situation of the sect.”
Her voice gradually calmed down. “I also understood that the sect’s lineage had to be passed down, and the elders were in a difficult position. So I voluntarily gave up the title of Saintess, abandoned the cultivation I had nurtured for ten years, and left the Lunar Valley alone. After wandering for several years, I finally settled down in Changling County.”
Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully. “So, you don’t have any deep hatred for the Lunar Valley, Madam Mao?”
“Yes.”
Mao Ruoyu nodded slightly. “After all, those elders raised and nurtured us. In the end, even though I acted recklessly, they weren’t truly angry. It’s just that our ties are broken, and I haven’t had any contact with the manor for a long time.”
“Then the girl who came last night is…”
“Bai Xin is a few years younger than me. When I was the Moon Shadow Saintess, I saw that she was cute and well-behaved, so I took care of her a bit more.”
Mao Ruoyu shook her head with a wry smile. “Perhaps my sudden departure left a bad impression on her. That’s why she came here so aggressively to demand an explanation.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned strange.
This was… a case of love turning into hate?
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