“Walk me around?”
Lin Wanhua walked directly to Lin Zhao, without much shyness.
“Mm.”
Lin Zhao nodded, turned, and led Lin Wanhua into the bamboo forest. Beside them was a stretch of apricot blossoms, just like when they first met again at Snow Domain Celestial Pool.
The two walked side-by-side for a long time. Finally, Lin Wanhua spoke softly, “I am about to ascend.”
Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback, frowning, “I don’t know if I should congratulate you, or say something else.”
Lin Wanhua smiled with dimples, “The legendary Lin Baiyi, so stoic?”
“Ha…”
Lin Zhao touched his forehead and chuckled, “With parting imminent, there are many things I want to say, but I don’t seem to know how to articulate them. Since that’s the case, perhaps it’s better to wait until next time, until we meet again.”
“Will we meet again?”
Lin Wanhua’s beautiful eyes sparkled. She simply looked at him and said softly, “Let alone when I can descend again after going to the Upper Realm, let’s talk about the situation in the Lower Realm. With your grand scheme, can you, as the master of Snow Domain Celestial Pool, truly survive this cataclysm?”
“I’ll try my best…”
Lin Zhao said, “Things are different now. It’s not so easy to kill me, Lin Zhao.”
He spoke his true feelings. As a player, even if he died in battle, he would at most lose a few levels and could return again. In this regard, it was too unfair to a group of NPCs. Many people truly died when they died, just like Chen Ben, Liu Xingshu, and others.
A mist seemed to gather in Lin Wanhua’s beautiful eyes. She didn’t know so much. She only knew that under this cataclysm, Lin Zhao would likely be in grave danger. In the past, when he slew Bai Lan and self-detonated his War God’s essence, facing the demons, what a resolute spirit he possessed! What was the difference between the current Lin Zhao and that time?
If Su Qingjiu, Shuizhi, Huang Tingyu, Tang Guangjun, and others at Snow Domain Celestial Pool suffered heavy losses, he, as the master of Snow Domain Celestial Pool, would have no face to live on. Perhaps, after Chen Ben, Lin Zhao would be the first to perish on the battlefield, just like back then.
“Lin Zhao…”
Lin Wanhua turned her face away, looking at the apricot grove not far away, and said softly, “Since you’ve decided to go to your death, can you hug me?”
“…”
Lin Zhao’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. He naturally knew Lin Wanhua’s feelings for him, but he couldn’t face them calmly. At this moment, Lin Wanhua, the foremost sword immortal of the mortal world, had completely withdrawn her aura. Dressed in a white dress, with bright eyes and white teeth, she looked like a woman of the mortal world. Her beautiful eyes were filled with tears, and she looked at him with deep reluctance.
At this moment, Lin Zhao no longer hesitated.
He stepped forward, opened his arms, and held Lin Wanhua tightly.
Lin Wanhua stood on tiptoe, burying her exquisite face in Lin Zhao’s neck. Her delicate shoulders trembled, and tears streamed down her face, wetting Lin Zhao’s collar in an instant.
At this moment, Lin Wanhua was no longer the Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall, but merely the confidante spoken of by Huang Tingyu and others.
She didn’t say a word, only wept continuously.
Among the thirteen realms of sword cultivators of the human race currently existing, Lin Wanhua was the earliest to enter the thirteenth realm of swordsmanship, possessed the highest talent, and had the deepest understanding of the Great Dao besides her comprehension of swordsmanship. She could see through some of the karmic causes and effects of the fallen Divine Mountains, things that others could not see. She also knew how likely it was for Lin Zhao to die in battle.
It was too, too likely. If he could survive, it would be a miracle.
“I’m leaving.”
After a long while, Lin Wanhua gently pulled away from Lin Zhao’s neck, her pretty face still tear-streaked. Her beautiful eyes looked deeply at Lin Zhao, her red lips soft. At this moment, Lin Zhao had a fleeting thought, wondering if he should kiss her, but he immediately felt it was too abrupt and inappropriate.
He had always sought stability in his life, how could he be so abrupt with Miss Lin?
“Take care of yourself.”
Lin Wanhua was a little annoyed, she lightly punched Lin Zhao’s chest with her small fist, turned, and said, “I’m really leaving. After this farewell, next time we meet, you must treat me to a drink.”
“No problem, there’s plenty of good wine.”
Lin Zhao’s smile instantly became bright. He cupped his fists and said, “Miss Lin, may we meet again by fate.”
“Mm, may we meet again by fate.”
Lin Wanhua became one with her sword, transforming into a beam of sword light and heading straight for Fusu Great Wall, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Meet again by fate, how would fate allow them to meet again? It was nothing more than you, Lin Zhao, being concerned about the world, and I, Lin Wanhua, shamelessly coming to see you.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanhua couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. Next time they met, she hoped this guy who was full of schemes and tricks when planning for the world wouldn’t be so stoic in front of her.
…
“He’s gone just like that?”
Watching Lin Zhao emerge from the bamboo forest, Huang Tingyu, who had been secretly observing with the technique of Water Moon Celestial Sight, immediately put on a serious, gentlemanly demeanor and said, “I thought we might have a mistress of the Mountain Lord join us at our Summit Villa…”
“Exactly!”
Lin Zhujie lamented, his hands clasped, “Mountain Lord, Miss Lin Wanhua is truly a good woman. Such a woman is extremely difficult to tame. Even those in the fourteenth realm would have no chance. It’s rare for her to be so devoted to the Mountain Lord. It’s truly regrettable for the Mountain Lord to disappoint such a beauty.”
Lin Zhao glanced at him, “Why don’t you, Lin Zhujie, try confessing to Miss Lin and see if you get lucky?”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”
Lin Zhujie cupped his fists, “The Mountain Lord’s romantic interests are for me, Lin Zhujie, to admire from afar. How could I harbor any presumptuous thoughts?”
Liu Liying, dressed in a red dress and holding a folding fan, watched with a smile. In fact, the only man who could enter her heart, the fan goddess, was Lin Zhao. But Liu Liying had a good mindset. The young master was an unprecedented figure, someone who held the Golden Decree of Righteousness. She didn’t need to compete for favor. As long as the young master wished it, she was willing to be a concubine at any time.
She smiled slightly, feeling a little proud. Once one’s perspective widened, all worries would vanish.
Beside her, Su Qingjiu pursed her red lips and glanced back in the direction Lin Wanhua had flown.
In fact, if Lin Zhao brother wanted to find a wife, Little Jiuer would absolutely not object, and would even help vet them. As for the method of vetting… just being able to defeat the Xun Lu Sword in my hand would suffice. As for Lin Wanhua, she was quite good. The thirteenth realm didn’t matter; what mattered was her sincere heart for Lin Zhao brother, and that was enough.
Shuizhi, Yu Wanning, Chu Yu, and others smiled calmly, all understanding without speaking. They were unlike Huang Tingyu and Lin Zhujie, those two brutes, who didn’t understand the romantic sentiments of the mountains.
…
Evening.
A feast was prepared at Summit Villa, inviting Su Shanjun and Han Buyu to drink on the mountain. With the cataclysm imminent, they drank as much as they could, as good days were numbered. After this battle, it would be impossible for so many people to gather for drinks.
As everyone was eating and drinking, a beam of sword light flashed outside.
A young sword immortal of the eleventh realm appeared outside Natural Abode. He wore the identification token of a retainer of Summit Villa, hence he passed through unhindered. His sword intent was immense, already at the peak of the eleventh realm. With such a foundation, he had a possibility of entering the twelfth realm within half a year.
There were not many young sword cultivators in the human world with such a foundation. He was Chi Zhongyu, who was dispatched from Summit Villa to guard Fusu Great Wall.
“Plop!”
Chi Zhongyu planted his long sword into the ground and knelt in front of Natural Abode, refusing to rise. His face was full of guilt, and tears dripped down, saying, “Sinner Chi Zhongyu, greets the Mountain Lord…”
“Oh my?”
Lin Zhao was holding a chicken leg, contemplating whether to give it to Little Jiuer or Zhang Luobai. Hearing the commotion outside, he took the chicken leg and led everyone out of Natural Abode. Seeing Chi Zhongyu kneeling outside, everyone was stunned.
“Chi Zhongyu.”
Lin Zhao hid the hand holding the chicken leg behind his back, exuding the aura of a Mountain Lord, and asked, “What are you doing? Why have you become a sinner? Get up and speak properly.”
“Mountain Lord!”
Chi Zhongyu looked at Lin Zhao, then at Liu Liying beside him, his eyes filled with heartbreak, and tears continued to stream down, “I already know the Mountain Lord’s plan, but Chi Zhongyu is no coward. I don’t want to listen to any arrangements and go to Dongyi Forest to preserve the lineage!
He spoke word by word, tears flowing, “Chi Zhongyu wants to stay at Summit Villa, wants to see Liying again, wants to follow the Mountain Lord, and would die without regret! I only beg the Mountain Lord to revoke the order and let Qin Yu or Liu Xilong lead the younger generation of Fusu Great Wall!”
“Chi Zhongyu.”
Lin Zhao stepped forward, gently patted Chi Zhongyu’s shoulder with his right hand, and said, “A man of seven feet, don’t be so disgraceful. If you act like this, Liying will also find you somewhat lacking in dignity. Get up.”
“Yes, Mountain Lord…”
Chi Zhongyu tearfully stood up.
“Alright.”
Lin Zhao frowned, “After leaving Hundred Flower Realm, your swordsmanship talent went wild like a runaway horse. You easily became a sword cultivator of the upper five realms. Now, after some tempering, you can even see the threshold of the twelfth realm. At this critical juncture, Miss Lin is about to ascend. If you don’t shoulder the banner of Fusu Great Wall, who will?”
“But, Mountain Lord…” Chi Zhongyu was still unwilling.
“Stop talking.”
Lin Zhao said, “You are a retainer I lent to Fusu Great Wall. Your time to return to the mountain hasn’t even arrived yet, how can you just come back? Moreover, Fusu Great Wall is in dire need of people right now and needs someone with extremely high talent to lead the younger generation to grow strong. This is my command to you. Dying easily is simple, but living arduously is difficult.”
“Mountain Lord…”
Chi Zhongyu’s eyes were red, “I will obey the Mountain Lord’s order, but the Mountain Lord must agree to one condition.”
“Speak.”
“One day, after the cataclysm of the fallen Divine Mountain passes, Chi Zhongyu wants to return to Summit Villa as soon as possible. In military terms, Chi Zhongyu should be reassigned.”
“Mm.”
Lin Zhao nodded, then handed over the chicken leg in his hand, saying, “As a reward, here’s a chicken leg. Don’t cry like a little girl. Come in and drink with everyone. After drinking, get back to Fusu Great Wall and take charge.”
“Yes!”
Chi Zhongyu gritted his teeth, nodded at Lin Zhao, then looked at Liu Liying, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Liu Liying was determined not to leave Snow Domain Celestial Pool. Perhaps her destiny was to die at Summit Villa, and Chi Zhongyu could do nothing but watch helplessly as Liu Liying followed the Mountain Lord to her death.
Chi Zhongyu was troubled, praying to heaven for mercy, hoping that good people like the Mountain Lord and Liying could survive.