Chapter 13: Red Cloth
Chapter 13: Red Cloth
The next day, the rain lightened. The Lin Family members awoke from deep slumber. The old steward and several guards were horrified to discover they had slept through the storm the previous night.
To everyone’s surprise, the strange group in raincoats had vanished by morning, leaving no trace.
This both puzzled and relieved the Lin Family members. They considered themselves quite lucky.
However, the young hunter was unusually quiet that morning. He was the first to notice the change in the animal cage—his prey was gone. This clearly disappointed him.
His suspicion immediately fell upon that mysterious group.
That group had previously tried to take it by force. Now they had suddenly disappeared. It was hard not to suspect they had used some method to steal his prey and slip away quietly.
The father and daughter duo showed little change, but Lin Yuan could see flickering emotions in their eyes—doubt, fear, uncertainty. In the end, the pair hurriedly left the ancient temple, afraid of encountering such strange events again.
After the Lin Family finished packing, Lin Yuan, before departing, instructed the old steward to lead several guards in cleaning the Demon-Suppressing General Temple. Then, under the light rain, they set off along the muddy mountain path toward Shilang Village.
After the Lin Family left, a golden-armored figure strode out from the statue. It looked around the tidied temple and at a fresh bundle of Incense Offering in the central cauldron!
This incense had been lit by Lin Yuan before he left, as thanks to the door deity for secretly protecting the Lin Family members—a form of repayment.
As the faint smoke curled, the golden-armored figure glanced in the direction the Lin Family had gone, then rested its gaze beside the incense.
Moments later, it was astonished to discover that as it absorbed the incense, its originally dimmed divine light began to recover rapidly, soon returning to its peak state.
This majestic golden-armored Deity stared in silent awe toward the direction the Lin Family had departed.
Cultivation of the Divine Path relied entirely on Incense Offering. A single stick of incense from a cultivator bearing great Virtue Merit was more potent and pure than a year’s worth from dozens or even hundreds of ordinary devotees.
This young scholar was likely no ordinary, virtuous man endowed with Merit Power!
With a strange expression, the golden-armored Deity felt an impulse!
An impulse to rush forward and cling to the other’s leg!
Bigshot, take me along JPG!
…
At this moment, not only was Lin Yuan paying attention to the opportunity at Shilang Tomb, but unrest was also brewing around Shilang Village.
During the rainy season, misty curtains of rain veiled the mountains.
At the foot of a ridge, a streak of light shot down and landed beneath an ancient tree, transforming into a young Daoist. As the Daoist landed, shimmering watery light appeared on the ridge, and a thread of spiritual aura emerged from the rain curtain.
Within a circular mirror, a dignified Daoist in deep robes with wide sleeves appeared.
“Have you found Liu Ling?”
Hearing this, the young Daoist cupped his hands respectfully and replied, “Some traces have been discovered!”
“But, Master Uncle, on this journey, your disciple also detected signs of activity from disciples of the Liangjie Daoist Academy and the Longze Dao Academy!”
The dignified Daoist stroked his beard, deep in thought. Liu Ling’s Fortune/Luck was surging. What was rare was that this youth also held an official scholarly rank. Such aptitude was fully comparable to those few disciples within the Dharma Lineage blessed with profound good fortune and superior root bone.
The birth of a disciple with superior root bone in any Daoist academy was a great boon for the elders who formed connections within these academies.
When one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven—this was by no means a derogatory phrase!
Within the Daoist academies of various prefectures, it was not uncommon for seniors, after attaining the Dao, to uplift the elders they had connected with in their original academy, even seeking out reincarnated bodies to promote anew, guiding them back onto the Dao path.
This Liu Ling displayed extremely strong potential. Moreover, according to divinations by experts within the Wenchang Daoist Academy’s Dharma Lineage, the surge in Liu Ling’s Fortune/Luck would occur within the next few days!
After brief contemplation, the dignified Daoist looked at the young Daoist and said,
“If possible, try to make contact with this Young Master Liu. Help fend off some of his opponents and establish a good connection!”
Hearing this, the young Daoist was slightly taken aback. “Master Uncle, don’t you often say that we cultivators value tranquility and non-action, that we should let things take their natural course…”
The dignified Daoist glared.
“I told you to do it, so just do it. Why all the chatter?”
The young Daoist gave an embarrassed smile, cupped his hands, then soared into the air like a great eagle, heading toward Shilang Village at the foot of the ridge.
After the young Daoist left, the dignified Daoist softly sighed, his gaze resting on the village below.
“If we keep letting things take their natural course, our Wenchang Daoist Academy will be completely swallowed up by other academies. If that happens, what face would I have to meet the various true masters within our Dharma Lineage!”
…
Meanwhile, in the village, Shilang Village was unexpectedly bustling. The sound of music and drums was everywhere. In the misty drizzle, two graceful figures leaned on the railing of a stilted drum tower, gazing into the distance at the village shrouded in clouds.
From here, they could see a carriage and several guards on tall horses had arrived at the village entrance.
“It’s the Lin Family. Truly, Causality draws them together. Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad!”
One of the female voices spoke lightly.
“There is old enmity between the Lin Family and that scholar; this debt must be repaid!” The slightly older, bright-eyed Daoist nun gently swept her jade-colored horsetail whisk.
“That scholar has probably also located the Shilang Tomb by now. In the coming days, we must be careful not to let disciples from other academies snatch the prize!”
“Yes, Master!” The young female Daoist nodded gently.
…
Inside the carriage, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged. Rurong attended to him nearby, holding a small brazier. Faint smoke curled, adding a touch of elegance. Lin Yuan looked somewhat languid.
Within him, the Taixiao Dao Ming Scripture circulated mana, tempering his limbs and bones. Threads of Primordial Dao Charm, with each cycle, quietly deepened through the jade gate and golden lock, flowing through the twelve-story tower. His Reverse to Innate State was not far off.
“Young Master, we have arrived. I will send someone ahead to arrange our lodging and meals!”
The old steward’s voice came from outside the carriage. The pretty senior maid, seeing Lin Yuan with his eyes closed, quietly set down the small brazier and stepped out of the carriage to make arrangements.
Lin Yuan’s heightened senses could clearly perceive that from the moment they entered Shilang Village, various gazes came from all directions.
Appraising, indifferent, disdainful, sneering, hostile… Undercurrents were already swirling within the village.
“All sorts of monsters and demons have indeed gathered!”
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
By evening, the old steward finally found a local household at the eastern end of Shilang Village. This was the village head of Shilang Village and also the only wealthy family in the area.
However, it could not be compared to a grand manor like the Lin Manor!
The village head’s residence in Shilang Village was also quite sizable—three courtyards deep with a rather large garden. In Shilang Village, it was unique. Out of respect for the Lin Manor’s reputation, the Shilang Village head readily lent a courtyard to the Lin Family.
Naturally, this act drew many resentful, sneering glances.
At that moment, on a cliff on the mountain behind Shilang Village, a scholar in a blue robe watched this scene with an utterly cold gaze. Above his head floated a red oil-paper umbrella. Vaguely, a red-clad figure floated there. Her gaze, when looking at the scholar, held a mix of charm, tenderness, and affection, tinged with a touch of heartache. But when she looked toward the foot of the mountain, it turned incredibly fierce and bloodthirsty.
“Such wealthy, unrighteous people deserve to die a thousand deaths, Young Master. Your servant will certainly help you vent this anger!”