Lin Zhao's residence in the mountain-top villa was only half-built. As the owner of the mountain-top villa, his dwelling was a two-story building adjacent to a bamboo grove. The basic structure of the building was complete, but the accompanying corridors, pavilions, stone paths, and ponds were yet to be finished. The first floor of the building was unpainted, and the furnishings were extremely simple.
"..."
Lin Wanhua followed Lin Zhao into the bedroom. It was open to the wind on all sides, with no windows installed. There wasn't even a bed, only a dirty table. For a moment, Lin Wanhua was stunned. Was this the condition he brought her home to? At the very least... shouldn't there be a bed? Was this guy too unrefined? Should she perhaps decline later?
For a moment, the peak Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm's heart fluttered.
In her dreams, she had walked through the mountains and rivers of the world hand-in-hand with this young man countless times, a perfect couple, envied by all as an immortal pair. But the scene before her was somewhat different from her imagination.
"Miss Lin!"
Lin Zhao, full of excitement, smiled and said, "It's rare for you to visit today. I happen to have some talismans that I'd like you to help me warm with your sword qi. After all... a Sword Qi Warming Talisman from a twelfth-realm Sword Immortal must be quite powerful."
As he spoke, he took out a large pile of cyan talismans. Currently, the most he had were Sword Qi Warming Talismans drawn on these cyan papers.
"Ah?!"
Lin Wanhua's delicate mouth parted slightly. The fluttering in her heart turned into a chaotic mess. Could this guy be an idiot, bringing her back just for this?
However, upon closer thought, Lin Wanhua couldn't help but smile faintly. Wasn't this guy always like this? Back then, to earn money at Fusang Great Wall, he went to the casinos and bet on himself, sweeping away so much money from Fusang Great Wall. This matter was deeply etched in Lin Wanhua's memory. Bringing her home now to warm Sword Qi Warming Talismans was indeed his style.
However, it was precisely this kind of person, who was always meticulous about everything and liked to ponder and think more, that later led to the legend of "Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi." If he weren't like this, she probably wouldn't like him so much.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanhua couldn't help but smile. She leaped lightly and sat by the window, taking the Sword Qi Warming Talismans from Lin Zhao's hand. She said, "Warming sword qi into Sword Qi Warming Talismans takes considerable time and energy. Can you prepare some food for me after it gets late?"
"Certainly!"
Lin Zhao nodded happily. "I'll go prepare it now. Take your time, no rush!"
He sprinted down the mountain.
Lin Wanhua watched his retreating figure, feeling both amused and exasperated. She pursed her red lips. "I, a peak Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm, am being kept here to warm Sword Qi Warming Talismans by you. Is this appropriate? Is this dignified?" However, she quickly changed her mind. At least she was needed, and that felt quite good. Moreover, Lin Zhao's Sword Qi Warming Talismans could actually protect him. While warming them, it was equivalent to her personally unleashing her sword to protect Lin Zhao. Could there be anything sweeter in the world?
Thinking of this, the peak Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm leaned against the windowsill bathed in moonlight, tilting her pretty face to look at the distant bamboo forest, a smile playing on her lips.
...
At the foot of the mountain.
"Mu La!"
Lin Zhao found Mu La and asked, "Are there any high-quality delicacies at the camp recently?"
"Ah?!"
Mu La scratched his head. "Recently, most of the supplies at Xueyu Tianchi have been allocated to the craftsmen. And those brats from the Vermilion Bird Camp are so gluttonous, they've almost eaten all our meat dishes. Now, only some cured meat and grains are left. Do you want unleavened bread, sir? The really hard kind?"
Lin Zhao rolled his eyes. It would be rather impolite to send Lin Wanhua away with hard unleavened bread.
He became furious and pointed at Mu La's nose. "Damn it, Mu La! As the number one warrior of Xueyu Tianchi, you can't even procure any good food. What good are you for!"
Mu La scratched his head. "We're just talking, why are you getting angry..."
Just then, a team of Xueyu cavalry rode up the mountain, dozens of them, including many from the middle five realms. A sixth-realm squadron leader said in a deep voice, "Marshal Lin, Master Mu La, you are here too. We have just returned from hunting."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao immediately stepped forward. "What did you catch?"
The squadron leader looked a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. "The wild game around Tianchi Mountain has almost been wiped out by us. Today, we didn't hunt any wild boars or pheasants. We only shot a small deer and some badgers. Why, do you need to host a banquet, Marshal Lin? If so, I'll leave the small deer for you. A pot of braised venison would be perfect with some wine."
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
Lin Zhao repeatedly smiled and nodded. "However, I don't need the whole thing. Just give me half a side."
"Yes!"
The squadron leader immediately dismounted, drew his sword, split the venison in half, and handed one half to Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao, holding the venison, glanced at Mu La. "Stop staring, quickly prepare a soup pot, bowls, chopsticks, seasonings, and the like for me. I'll take them all."
"Yes, sir!"
Mu La chuckled and lowered his voice. "Sir is treating the great Sword Immortal Lin Wanhua at the mountain-top villa?"
"Yes, a late-night snack for her."
"Right, I'll go get the pot!"
As he watched Lin Zhao leave with a large pile of things, Mu La's eyes were filled with deep admiration. He could even handle a peak Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm. As expected of my lord, truly formidable!
...
Lin Zhao came and went in a hurry, carrying half a side of venison as he sprinted up the mountain. In the pavilion halfway up the mountain, Ruo Zhi, Chu Yu, Dong Zang, and Tong Yu sat side by side. Four pairs of large eyes followed Lin Zhao's movements as he ascended the mountain.
"Our lord is quite attentive today..." Chu Yu said.
Ruo Zhi's mouth twitched. "That's for sure..."
Dong Zang pursed her red lips and smiled. "She's a guest from afar~~"
Tong Yu blinked her eyes and dared not speak. As a young girl, she wouldn't get involved.
...
At Lin Zhao's residence, bamboo shadows swayed.
Lin Wanhua was still sitting by the windowsill, warming streaks of magnificent sword qi into one Sword Qi Warming Talisman after another. Lin Zhao watched her for a while, his heart filled with joy. Lin Wanhua's swordsmanship was unparalleled. Currently, besides Lu Xun, he was the best in the world. Last time, Lu Xun left in a hurry, and he didn't get a chance to keep him. Fortunately, he had kept Lin Wanhua now, and he wouldn't let her leave so easily.
These Sword Qi Warming Talismans would be treasures in the future. Once the demon race's upper five realms attacked the mountain, these Sword Qi Warming Talismans, if used properly, could be of great service. They might even be able to kill some of the upper five realms. After all, each Sword Qi Warming Talisman contained the sword qi of Lin Wanhua, warmed within it. Although there would be some loss during the process, and some would dissipate due to the grade of the Sword Qi Warming Talisman, overall, each Sword Qi Warming Talisman could retain ten to thirty percent of the power of Lin Wanhua's strongest strike, which was already powerful enough.
It was just a pity for Lin Wanhua. Each time she warmed a Sword Qi Warming Talisman, she became more haggard, her spiritual energy and sword intent severely depleted.
Lin Zhao felt a pang of guilt seeing this, so he set up two bonfires outside the window. One was to stew a pot of fragrant venison, and the other was to roast meat. Soon, a fragrant aroma spread around the small building. Lin Wanhua squinted her eyes, feeling somewhat unsettled. To be honest, this guy's cooking skills were indeed exceptional.
"Miss Lin!"
Shortly after, Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Come over to eat. Take a short break, and then you can continue after you're full..."
Lin Wanhua shot him a look, feeling both exasperated and amused. Did this guy really not plan to let her leave tonight? However, Lin Wanhua was also happy to spend time with him. Besides, she was also working for Xueyu Tianchi, and social interactions were very necessary. Xueyu Tianchi was currently housing her only direct disciple, Tong Yu, so it was only right to do something for them.
A pot of fragrant venison, stewed to perfection. Lin Zhao also picked many washed lotus leaves, placed the roasted venison cut into small pieces on top, and spread them all in front of Lin Wanhua, showing great thoughtfulness. DAFENG NOVEL NETWORK.
"Would you like some wine?" Lin Zhao asked.
"Yes, please."
Lin Wanhua smiled and nodded.
The next moment, Lin Zhao took out jars of his signature fine wine. Ten grams per jar. His friends in the martial world, regardless of their realm, whether they were from the lower five realms or the upper five realms, all received the same quantity, treated equally. However, Lin Wanhua felt that this wine was actually quite good. If you tasted it carefully, there was still a hint of mellow fragrance.
Thus, the two clinked their wine jars and ate large mouthfuls of meat.
After a pot of wine, Lin Wanhua's pretty face blushed again. Her alcohol tolerance was actually only one pot. Unless she used her sword qi to dissipate the alcohol, she would become somewhat unsteady. But Lin Wanhua cherished the feeling at this moment. Ever since she stepped into the twelfth realm and officially took over Fusang Great Wall from Han Fang, she had lived with extreme caution every day, almost forgetting the carefree days of going out to fight demons in the past. Now, with Lin Zhao, she had regained much of her happiness.
"Lin Zhao."
After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Wanhua squinted her slightly tipsy beautiful eyes and looked at the other person, smiling. "What do you think it takes to live a life without regret in this world?"
"Huh?"
Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment, then raised his wine pot towards the starry sky and said with a smile, "To be worthy of heaven above!"
As he spoke, he lowered his head and pointed the wine pot at Xueyu Tianchi beneath their feet. "And worthy of earth below!"
Then, he pointed the wine pot towards the Great Shang Dynasty in the south. "And worthy of all living beings in between!"
Finally, he lightly tapped his chest with his fist and said with a smile, "And worthy of my own heart."
Lin Wanhua squinted her beautiful eyes, looking at the young man before her, who was also slightly tipsy but spoke with great seriousness. The more she looked, the more she liked him.
"Miss Lin."
Lin Zhao put down the wine pot. "Enough idle talk. Let's warm a few more Sword Qi Warming Talismans..."
"Oh..."
Lin Wanhua pursed her lips, stood up, and got back to work.
...
The next morning.
Lin Zhao reaped a bountiful harvest of over 200 Sword Qi Warming Talismans. The spiritual energy within the core of these talismans was abundant, as they were all warmed with the sword qi of Lin Wanhua, the peak Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm. If these talismans were used properly, and thrown out all at once, to put it crudely... if a thirteenth-realm cultivator stood there and did nothing, they might even be battered to death!
Lin Wanhua, carrying her sword, walked down the mountain side by side with Lin Zhao.
At this moment, Lin Wanhua's face was pale, and she even had dark circles under her eyes. The night had worn her out. She had never seen someone so lacking in consideration for a lady.
"Master."
Outside the small pavilion, Tong Yu stepped forward. "You didn't sleep all night?"
"Mm."
Lin Wanhua yawned. "Alright, I need to return to Fusang Great Wall."
Ruo Zhi and Chu Yu looked at Lin Zhao together, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. Our lord is quite something!
Eighth update complete, brothers, please vote for recommendations!!!!