Chapter 158 - Revisiting The Old Haunts

TL-Checked by Sa.s.systrawberry; Edited by Animeart

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa, slowly walked down, and looked towards Lin Shu.

Lin Shu was supposed to focus his attention on meeting his mother-in-law’s gaze, but his thoughts were a little out of control and drifted elsewhere.

The Empress had already known his true gender, was the Headmistress of Phoenix Mountain Villa aware as well?

If she was aware that he was male, would she be like the other girls in the mountain villa, a.s.suming that he had bullied Ling Feng Xiao?

Yet if she wasn’t aware…..

However, when Lin Shu saw the expression of the Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa, he neither found the doting love for a daughter-in-law, nor any condemnation for supposed misdeeds.

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa was immersed in her reminiscence, deep in thought.

In the end, Ling Fengxiao broke the silence, “Mother?”

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa finally returned her focus to the issue at hand, and said, “Immortal Lord Lin.”

She smiled faintly and said, “Xiao-er often mentions you in our correspondence. It was a very hurried day at Jinguan City where we met briefly, and we were unable to formally be introduced. The fault is mine.”

Lin Shu considered the matter.

Considering how to proceed with this discussion with the appropriate amount of respect.

Ling Fengxiao coughed lightly and came to the rescue. “We’re a family, there is no need to be overly courteous.

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa proceeded to ask for their destination for this outward journey, and gave them a whole lot of instructions and guidance, her final words to Lin Shu were, “Xiao-er has a bad temper. The Immortal Lord has been troubled in caring for him in these few years..”

Ling Fengxiao immediately agreed, “That my state of mind has been stable during the last few years, is all thanks to Shu-er.”

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa nodded with a smile.

Shu-er.

Lin Shu, “…”

She nodded, and continued on, “It is good that your state of mind has stabilized, but you still need to be more vigilant. Particularly in regards to that blade that you currently use, even if it is not Especially the sword you use now, even if it isn’t some otherworldly magical weapon, it is still an ancient evil item. Don’t let yourself fall under its control.”

Ling Fengxiao responded with a yes, asking his mother to rest a.s.sured.

The weapon he was currently using was the Guiltless Blade.

This blade was extremely renowned in the weapon listings.

As early as five years ago, within the illusionary martial arts field, when Xiao Shao took out the Guiltless Blade, the onlookers had exclaimed in surprise, “The demonic blade, Guiltless!”

All the swords in the world had their own temperaments. The more renowned a divine weapon was, the frostier their temperament would be. If the master wasn’t able to suppress his own weapon, he would have the tables turned and would be controlled by it.

One could consider the Folding Bamboo Sword used by Lin Shu.

For many years, no one in the academy could wield it, due to the sword’s icy Qi being too powerful. If the user was incapable of controlling the sword, once they tried to wield it, they would come under the influence of the sword, and fall into qi deviation. Guiltless was no different.

Thousands of years ago, while the world was still in chaos, the Great Land of Zhong Prefecture was awash with rivers of blood. Countless formidable lords tried to conquer the territory and tried to win the throne, the chaos from battles lasted for more than a hundred years.

There was a particular emperor, who had heard that Ou Yezi, the world’s Number One craftsman, had forged weapons which could harness boundless fortune. Hence, he asked Ou Yezi to forge the Sword of the King’s Path to help him unify the world under his domination.

Ou Yezi said that the emperor did not have the right aspirations or appropriate bearing to unify the world, and refused to forge the sword for him.

The emperor flew into a great rage and killed Ou Yezi’s entire family, and forced him to forge the weapon.

Ou Yezi had no other choice but to agree to the demand.

It was said that to craft the Sword of the King’s Path, one needed to gather nine kinds of unusual metals, three kinds of meteorites from the sky, and would need to be forged with the infernal fire from the far south. It would also need to be refined during the war using the fresh blood of the people from the fourteen cities, and then buried in the ma.s.s grave for ten years for it to seize the fortunes of heaven and earth, thus possessing the immense power of life and death over all beings.

The emperor was thrilled and gave his a.s.sent to proceed. There were subsequent incessant years of battle to collect the fresh blood, and ten cities were decimated to create the required ma.s.s graves. Within five years, all the required materials had been a.s.sembled.

Ou Yezi began the process of forging the sword, within three years, the blade was forged and then buried in the ma.s.s grave. After ten years, Ou Yezi retrieved the weapon and presented it to the emperor.

The Emperor looked at it, it was a blade. He flew into a rage, and bestowed death upon Ou Yezi, for him to be buried with his family, Ou Yezi died laughing.

Although it was not a sword, only half believing, the emperor eventually still wore the blade on his body.

On the second day of having worn the blade, he bled from his seven orifices a sudden and violent death.

Subsequently, anyone who came into contact with this knife/blade also had tragic endings. The cultivators of later generations who possessed this blade would gradually enter qi deviation and culminate in an explosive death.

The Guiltless Blade has become an infamous “demonic blade”, its form was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with a limitless fiendish and b.l.o.o.d.y aura, ordinary people were incapable of controlling it.

Lin Shu thought what others could not do, Ling Fengxiao could.

This person was calm and decisive, and wasn’t easily distracted or confused by external forces or material desires. His nature was upright and honorable, without evil or selfish intentions, if even he was unable to suppress this demonic sword, then, no one on this earth would be able to.

After the exhortations ended, Ling Fengxiao said, “It’s late, mother. Shu-er and I will leave first.

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Villa said, “Wait a moment, you leave the room first, I would speak to Shu-er.”

Ling Fengxiao hesitated.

The Headmistress of the Villa said, “It’s not as if I am going to eat him.”

Ling Fengxiao said, “Mother, Shu-er is not good with words, you…”

The Headmistress said, “Don’t worry.”

Only then did Ling Fengxiao exit the room.

Only Lin Shu and The Headmistress of the Phoenix Villa were left within the hall.

Lin Shu saw that the Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa once again had a look of reminiscence, and she said to him, “Xiao-er said that you have forgotten what happened before you were 15 years old.”

Lin Shu said, “Yes.”

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa said, “Then you surely don’t remember your own Master’s appearance.”

Lin Shu, “Yeah.”

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa sighed gently, then changed to another topic, “Then, on your body, is there anything that is related to fate, and good fortune… or do you possess any ancient treasures with miraculous effects?”

Lin Shu shook his head.

“It matters not.” said the Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa.

Lin Shu asked, “Why do you ask?”

“If I have guessed it right, there will come a day that you will know.” The Headmistress thus said, “It’s just we don’t know what sort of situation will arise then”

Her words were vague and her expression indicated her reluctance to elaborate. Lin Shu didn’t pester her anymore and just said “Hmm”.

He asked about the Phoenix blood of Ling Fengxiao.

The opinion of the Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa was similar to that of the Empress, and that was for Ling Fengxiao to become the Emperor.

Lin Shu asked, “What if it’s not what he wants?”

The Headmistress of the Phoenix Mountain Villa only smiled, and said, “All that Xiao-er had learnt since his childhood… The school of the Art of War, the art of governance, insight in how to read and understand people, the three tactics and five strategies, all of these are the basics of an Emperor. When the time comes, on what basis would he refuse?”

Lin Shu didn’t speak.

So he took his leave and left the great hall.

Ling Fengxiao asked him what the Headmistress had said.

Lin Shu said, “She instructed me to take good care of you.”

Ling Fengxiao laughed and said, “You can’t even look after yourself. You’d better just not do anything, for me to take care of you.”

After which, they headed north to join the army.

Once they entered the carriage, Yingying, who was playing with Qinglu, stretched out her hands for hugs from Lin Shu as soon as she saw him.

Lin Shu hugged his daughter to his chest.

Yingying leaned on his chest, such a small, soft, peaceful, and serene little one.

Fruit also sat down here.

Fruit and Yingying were made by both of their life force, hence their natural instinct was to enjoy being in their presence, which was most obviously reflected in Yingying.

As for Fruit, he still fawned upon Lingsu, calling out “Jie Jie” innumerable times.

But what sort of person was Lingsu?

She was a fairy who had grown up upon the snow-capped mountain. She was even more n.o.ble and unsullied than the snow lotus. Her heart was as calm as water, and as icy clear as jade. No matter whether it was being called ‘jie jie’, beautiful one, fairy, etc”, she remained unmoved.

Qinglu said, “Venerable Master, this little sister Wuque’s words are so sweet. ”

Ling Fengxiao said, “He’s always been like this, he has at least thirty women whom he calls Jie jie, and another fifty whom he calls Mei mei.

Qinglu, “…”

Lin Shu called himself a snow-white crow, but he did not expect that the two blackest crows in the world would be right beside him.

In other words, he could say that he had come out of the mud untainted like a lotus flower and remained pure and unstained by the mire of the world.

After his diligent efforts bore no fruit, Fruit low-spiritedly went to the carriage and closed his eyes, as if to rest.

He was working on producing a third fruit.

——It was not that he wanted to have a younger brother or sister, it was just the fact that Folding Bamboo had failed to materialize in the past, which made him feel that he had lost face.

He planned to continuously produce fruit, and use it all on Folding Bamboo. He did not believe that there was not enough spiritual power to make Folding Bamboo be able to materialize.

Although Lin Shu thought that having both Fruit and Yingying was sufficient.

Ling Fengxiao was even more so, just Yingying was sufficient.

But Fruit spoke confidently and straightforwardly.

“Folding Bamboo had been enlightened by me. If I don’t speed up my efforts and let him be born earlier, he will have to slowly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Then he will have to wait thousands of years before he can materialize a human form. At that time, we will be either dead or ascended, Folding Bamboo will have no one to raise or educate him. Wouldn’t this be very lonely?

Ling Fengxiao thought what he said was reasonable, so he agreed.

After a day and a half of the journey, a group of people arrived at Jubei Pa.s.s.

The fortress was still as majestic and solidly built, as if it would always be impregnable —— but Lin Shu always remembered the Great Wizard’s strange magic that could kill hundreds of people with a single flick of his finger.

Xiao Xuan must have some understanding of the Great Wizard, if this person was to be on their side, perhaps it would be of some aid to their cause.

Ling Fengxiao rearranged the defense and made the patrol route to Jubei Pa.s.s, expanding it by dozens of miles. After that, he set off towards the location provided by Xiao Xuan.

Within a small inn in the border town.

Lin Shu looked at the mirror expressionlessly, and transformed his face.

The people that Xiao Xuan invited were Danzhu and Yusu, not Xiao Shao and Lin Shu. Therefore, it was necessary to symbolically wear female garb.

Young Lady Danzhu, dressed in dark red, hugged him from behind. Lovely and flirtatious, beautiful enough to cause the downfall of a city.

Young Lady Danzhu blew once on his ear.

Within the mirror, a beauty was flirting with another beauty. With her slender jade-like fingers resting on the waist of another, the atmosphere was extremely charming.

After arranging his facial features, Lin Shu was about to put on make-up, but he wasn’t skilled at it. In the end, Ling Fengxiao took the eyebrow brush and carefully drew his eyebrows.

After that, he put down the eyebrow ink and pulled Lin Shu to the bed.

Young Lady Dan Zhu was very beautiful, her movements were very gentle, her red lips were soft and had a pleasing fragrance.

He was kissed breathless by Ling Fengxiao, and during a momentary pause, he tilted his head and looked at the image in the mirror.

After three seconds, he turned his head back silently.

……It was extremely unseemly.

Young Lady Danzhu laughed.

Her beauty and charm were so overwhelming that Lin Shu was unable to handle it, he could only move his gaze away from the direction of the mirror, and away from the direction of Ling Fengxiao, which was… the wall.

While pressing on his waist, Young Lady Danzhu said softly, “Fairy jie jie, I want to kiss your fragrance.”

Lin Shu was frightened

This Xiao Shao was becoming more and more perverted.

He said, “You yourself are very fragrant, you don’t need mine.”

Young Lady Danzhu leaned over his shoulder, smiling like a courtesan. “Only Fairy jiejie’s fragrance is the real fragrance.”

However, the situation was still very urgent after all. Hence this “brothel” did not “open for business” in the end. Lin Shu was only kneaded a few times, and the two of them continued to go north.

But Lin Shu was a little fl.u.s.tered. He felt that one day, a certain someone dressed in women’s clothing would want to do certain things with him while dressed as a woman.

All the way to the north, they soon came to the foot of the Great City. In the past, one of them was at the Yuan Ying cultivation level, and the other had no cultivation, so they could not enter the heavily guarded royal capital of Northern Xia. However, today, the two of them easily pa.s.sed through the city’s defensive enchantment and snuck into the Hashe City.

The situation within the city was very shocking.

Revisiting The Old Haunts, everything should be the same, but now it is very different.

——There were no people on the street, or one could say, there were no mortals on the street.

Streets and shops were all closed. On the road, there are occasional black-robed wizards leading living corpses going past.

The whole city was frighteningly silent, without any sound at all.

The location that Xiao Xuan gave was a Great Hall within Northern Xia’s Imperial Palace.

Within the hall, there came the music of strings and woodwind instruments.

Lin Shu and Ling Fengxiao looked at each other and felt that the situation was weird.

Didn’t Xiao Xuan say that he was about to die?

When they opened the door, they saw that Xiao Xuan was drunkenly watching beauties sing and dance.

Ling Fengxiao was expressionless and pulled Lin Shu forward. Lin Shu looked on and felt that as soon as they entered the palace, in comparison with Ling Fengxiao, the beauties who sang and danced seemed like little wildflowers blooming beneath the peonies, all fading into the background.

Ling Fengxiao kicked Xiao Xuan’s ceramic glazed couch. “What’s wrong with you?”

Xiao Xuan looked at their intertwined hands. “Not having met for three years, you two beauties still are so close to one another.”

Ling Fengxiao said, “Of course.”

Xiao Xuan said, “I’m not doing well.”

Ling Fengxiao said, “I can tell. ”

Xiao Xuan, was originally handsome and distinguished-looking, with an extraordinary, elegant appearance. Although his facial features were still handsome, his eyes were bloodshot, and under his eyes were dark shadows, seemingly not having had a good night’s rest for a long time.

Xiao Xuan dismissed the beauties from the hall.

“You are from Northern Xia?” asked Xiao Xuan.

Ling Fengxiao, “Yeah.”

Xiao Xuan gently breathed out and said, “I think the Great Wizard has gone insane.”

Ling Fengxiao, “Why?”

Xiao Xuan shook his head. “The matter is too b.l.o.o.d.y, I can’t bear to speak of this to you two beauties. But I think that Southern Xia is the enemy of Northern Xia. With regards to the Great Wizard, you will naturally want to get rid of him. If we were to work together to kill the Great Wizard first. Then issue a challenge to the other party, using the outcome to determine who will rule the world, I don’t see why this would not be feasible.”

Lin Shu, “? ”

The two Crown Princes of Southern Xia and Northern Xia, one was unconcerned with the governance of the country, was habitually idle, and only cared about his sister, the other seemed to be normal, but actually wanted to kill the Great Wizard, the most powerful warrior on his own side, was there perhaps, something wrong with his brain?

Ling Fengxiao raised the same question as him, “Why did you say this? ”

Xiao Xuan sighed wearily, “The Great Wizard is very powerful and can help our dynasty to unite the world under our domination.”

Ling Fengxiao nodded.

Xiao Xuan pressed his eyebrows, “But he…but…”

Ling Fengxiao said, “Hmm? ”

Xiao Xuan said, “To you and I, uniting all the cities under one dynasty’s rule, is considered as dominating the world.

Ling Fengxiao, “Yeah. ”

Xiao Xuan continued, “However.. to the Great Wizard, even if everyone in the world has become living corpses, he would also consider this as dominating the world.”

Rose: Is it me or LFX been having his h.o.r.n.y moments?

Sa.s.sy: Bonk, go to h.o.r.n.y jail.