Leng Yan was furious, her hands akimbo, her jade-like legs beneath her skirt armor shapely and long. Her pretty face was bathed in a golden glow under the morning sun as she glared at Lin Zhao, wishing she could strike this heartless man with her sword right away.
The heartless man, unaware of the reason, continued to look at Shen Xingchen.
Shen Xingchen was a little bewildered, her delicate brows furrowed. "Really? Do we... know each other?"
"Not really."
Lin Zhao said, "I just wanted to confirm, do you know me? If not, then forget it."
"No, I don't."
Shen Xingchen shook her head.
"Oh, thanks then!"
Lin Zhao clasped his fists again, then looked at Leng Yan and smiled, "Miss Leng, you're here too?"
Leng Yan snorted, "You only see me now?"
"No."
Lin Zhao smiled, "I was just in a hurry to ask about Shen Xingchen's dream, so I apologize, Miss Leng."
"~~~"
Leng Yan ignored him.
On the side, Yi Shi Cang Liang also clasped his fists towards Lin Zhao and smiled, "Brother Lin, hello. Tsk tsk, it looks like you've already earned merit in the Heavenly Pool Army. You're already a centurion so quickly, and even in the vanguard. Impressive!"
"It was just luck."
Lin Zhao naturally recognized Yi Shi Cang Liang, whose name was very strange.
"Lin Zhao."
Su Xinghe glanced indifferently at the young man. "It seems a great battle occurred north of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool these past few days. The demon race suffered a heavy defeat, with over ten thousand beheaded. Did you participate in this battle?"
"Yes, I participated."
Lin Zhao nodded.
"Not bad..."
Su Xinghe smiled meaningfully, "To dare to kill demons in Beishan at such a young age, and to return alive, even promoted to centurion, is truly surprising. Impressive, impressive!"
Lin Zhao somewhat caught the veiled sarcasm in his words and smiled, cupping his fists, "Lord Su Xinghe has always stayed by Miss Shen Xingchen's side, tirelessly and persistently. This is also something Lin Zhao admires greatly!"
"???"
Leng Yan looked bewildered. She had thought this fellow was pure and kind, but it turned out he wasn't one to be trifled with either!
Shen Xingchen widened her beautiful eyes. She never expected an NPC to perceive Su Xinghe's pursuit of her, nor did she expect Lin Zhao to state it so directly and openly.
"Amazing..."
Su Xinghe slowly placed his hand on his sword hilt and smiled, "I didn't expect there to be such a character in this small town, so sharp-tongued. It's a shame you weren't born a chatterbox."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Lord Su Xinghe, as one of the Top Ten in the world, possesses great magnanimity and unwavering integrity. Truly admirable."
"Oh?"
Su Xinghe smiled, suppressing his anger.
Yi Shi Cang Liang immediately held Su Xinghe's hand. "No, no, no... It's not worth it. How can you draw your sword and attack someone at the slightest disagreement? Besides, you might not even be able to defeat him. Lin Zhao is my friend. Great Alliance Leader Su, can you do me, Yi Shi Cang Liang, a favor..."
"Senior."
Shen Xingchen, holding her staff, suppressed her urge to watch the show and smiled, "Let's forget it. Why bother arguing with an NPC? We have plenty of important things to do. The level 60 demon boss in Beishan is still waiting for us to conquer. Let's not waste our time here."
"Yes, Xingchen is right."
Su Xinghe looked at Lin Zhao with a playful smile. His smile was taunting. "I hope we can meet on the battlefield in the future so I can witness the prowess of your fists, and incidentally, let you witness the prowess of my sword."
Lin Zhao smiled, "With such a small temperament, you dare to come to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool to kill demons? The people who chose the Top Ten must be blind. Otherwise, they would have struck your name off the list first."
Saying this, the young man turned and left.
Su Xinghe's expression remained calm, but a murderous intent surged in his heart. He wanted to act but was somewhat apprehensive. Killing an NPC in a town would result in a loss of reputation. Moreover, Lin Zhao was a centurion in the Heavenly Pool Army. Killing him might lead to Su Xinghe's expulsion from the Beishan battlefield. More importantly, Su Xinghe wasn't absolutely confident he could defeat Lin Zhao. A martial artist of the Fifth Realm, a sword cultivator of the First Realm, was no joke.
"This is embarrassing..."
Beside him, Leng Yan's lips curled upwards, though she was secretly happy. She hadn't expected Lin Zhao to be so tough, daring to provoke someone like Su Xinghe.
"Alliance Leader Leng Yan, enjoying my misfortune?" Su Xinghe glanced at her.
"Just stating facts."
Leng Yan smiled slightly, and with a "clang," she pushed her sword blade an inch out of its sheath with her index finger, revealing a cold glint. "What, Great Alliance Leader Xinghe, do you want to have a duel with me? Or, in the context of 'Tian Xia,' do you want to have a sword challenge? No problem, I accept."
"Forget it. You're both not children anymore."
Shen Xingchen sighed, "Can you two stop being so childish?"
Her words were quite effective. Su Xinghe and Leng Yan both gave her face. As for Yi Shi Cang Liang, the peacemaker, he was too lazy to speak. The group continued to discuss in low voices at the bridgehead about joining forces to conquer the level 60 boss.
...
Afternoon.
After lunch, Lin Zhao strolled along the White Fish Creek, practicing his fist and sword stances. Having just returned from the battlefield, he also wanted to wander around the town to clear his mind of the bloody and brutal images.
Not long after, a graceful woman appeared by the White Fish Creek. She wore a tight-fitting dress of blue and white, perfectly outlining her graceful and alluring figure. She held a blue umbrella and was also strolling by the river. As she raised her umbrella to look at Lin Zhao, a shy smile appeared in her enchanting eyes.
"Who is it?"
Lin Zhao frowned. In this small town, there didn't seem to be such a woman. Was she a newcomer from the brothel on the front street?
That couldn't be right. If she was this beautiful, why would she engage in such a profession?
"Young Master."
The woman holding the blue umbrella called out across the White Fish Creek, her voice sweet and soft. "Can you truly not see me?"
"Who are you?"
Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes.
The woman chuckled, "Young Master, why do you ask such embarrassing questions? Who I am is not important. What's important is... I've admired you for a long time. Don't you truly know?"
Lin Zhao felt a chill in his heart. The last person who had proactively confessed to him was the Snow Woman from Ten Mile Slope, who had almost cost him his life. Back then, Lin Zhao knew nothing and was practically nothing in martial arts. But now, things were different. Lin Zhao was a martial artist of the Fifth Realm and a sword cultivator who had already gained entry. His perception and senses were far beyond what they used to be. However, he was slightly puzzled. This woman holding the blue umbrella didn't have a strong demonic aura. On the contrary, her aura and the flow of fortune seemed to resonate with the town, making her seem like a local.
Locals weren't this beautiful.
Sister Chen Yu was prettier than her, but she wouldn't dress so alluringly. The other aunts and elderly women wore padded jackets, carried scallions, and spoke crudely. How could such a woman appear?
"What do you want?"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "No need to hide things. It's unnecessary."
"Alright, Young Master."
The woman holding the blue umbrella revealed a charming smile. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, and her figure was slender. Her long dress accentuated her curves, with ample fullness in all the right places and nothing in excess. It was as if all the blessings bestowed upon women in the world had fallen upon her alone. Coupled with her bright and captivating eyes, no man could resist her.
Lin Zhao was a young man of strong blood and burgeoning emotions. Looking at her figure, he felt his breathing quicken. But he knew this situation was definitely unusual, so he maintained a strong sense of caution.
"Here I come..."
The woman holding the blue umbrella actually turned around and slowly waded into the water until the water submerged her body and her blue umbrella. A few seconds later, she had already waded across the river. Ripples spread from the blue umbrella as it was slowly lifted from the water, and strands of water flowed down its branches. Beneath the umbrella, the blue dress she was wearing had long since been shed. Beneath the umbrella, she was completely naked, her skin as white as snow.
She slowly emerged from the river. This scene... perhaps no man in the world could withstand it!
"What is life?"
Her beautiful eyes, filled with mist, teared up as if she were thinking of incredibly sad past events. "Love and hate are fleeting; in the end, it's just momentary pleasure. As a weak woman in this chaotic world, it's hard enough to sustain myself, let alone protect myself. I am like a duckweed in the water, with no one to rely on. Now, I am devoted to you, yet you harbor such suspicion towards me. Do you understand the feeling of sorrow and disappointment?"
With this scene and these heartfelt words, who could remain unmoved?
Lin Zhao frowned, standing frozen in place.
If, in this life, there was a woman who could genuinely say this to him, how wonderful would that be? Unfortunately, it was all an illusion, a false image. What was the use of it?!
The next second, Lin Zhao threw a punch!
"Peng!"
The exquisite scene before him instantly vanished. The woman in blue dissolved into ripples in the wind. Immediately after, she took Lin Zhao's punch and fell heavily into the water, transforming into a spitting otter. The blue umbrella then morphed into a lotus leaf, and the otter immediately dove into the water to escape.
...
Lin Zhao frowned, his emotions undisturbed.
He often visited Qin Suihan's bookstore and read strange tales. One of the books mentioned this kind of creature. Lin Zhao remembered it.
The Blue Umbrella Woman: a woman dressed in blue who appears during rain, holding a blue umbrella, about sixteen or seventeen years old, beautiful. She is transformed from an otter or a raccoon. The blue umbrella is a lotus leaf. She bewitches young men. Once the bewitchment is successful, she will take their lives and turn them into vengeful spirits in the water.
Lin Zhao was now a Fifth Realm martial artist. Knocking down such a newly-formed spirit with one punch was a piece of cake.
He glanced at the sun. It was time to pick up Xiao Jiuer from the school. He turned and left without looking back.
...
Night, on the stone bridge of White Fish Creek.
A scholar walked by, holding a book. He looked down at the murmuring water beneath the bridge. In his eyes appeared an old woman lying in the water, her eyes a pale gold. Suddenly, the scholar became angry. "Still not giving up? Trying to disrupt Lin Zhao's Dao heart with a mere spirit? I think your time as the River Hag is almost over. I'll seal you away for three years first!"
Saying this, the scholar tore a page from his book and threw it into the river.
Instantly, the text on the page transformed into a golden net that spanned the surface of the water. The River Hag could no longer emerge from the water, only crying out in despair, "Immortal, spare me... Immortal, spare me, I will never dare to do this again!"