Chapter 56: A Frightened Bird

Upon meeting Han Lingyue, Chen Lin felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to flee Guyuan City immediately.

When he used the Thunderbolt No. 4 to blast Yu Yuehai, he had even caught the heads of the five great families in the blast!

It would have been fine if they were all blown to pieces, but he feared that if any survived, they might spread the news and come seeking revenge.

Even though they would have been refined into medicinal pills by Yu Yuehai regardless of his intervention, human hearts are unpredictable. Who would bother reasoning with a mere mid-stage Qi Refinement rogue cultivator?

What Chen Lin feared even more was that Yu Yuehai might still be alive. If the man tracked him down through the slightest clue, wouldn't he be devoured alive?

He felt like a bird startled by a single bowstring.

But on second thought, Han Lingyue didn't know him, so it shouldn't be a major problem.

Many cultivators had left Kaiyuan City; if he left for somewhere else, he might encounter even stronger foes, or perhaps even someone who recognized him. It might be better to stay here.

Furthermore, the trade fair was approaching. He needed to purchase a batch of materials to condense the Nameless Sword Qi and deal with the Black Essence Insects.

After careful deliberation, Chen Lin decided it wasn't a huge issue and returned to Guyuan City.

Switching back to his appearance as a middle-aged man, he returned to the inn, only to find Bai Yunyue sitting in the main hall with an anxious expression.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist Lin, you're finally back!"

Seeing Chen Lin, Bai Yunyue visibly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stepped forward to greet him.

"Is there something you need, Fellow Daoist Bai?" Chen Lin asked, surprised by the reaction.

"Oh, it's like this. My father's injuries have recovered somewhat, and he wishes to meet you. I have been waiting here for an hour."

"His injuries have recovered? Then I must congratulate you, Fellow Daoist Bai. But did your father say what he wishes to discuss?"

Chen Lin truly hadn't expected the man's father to recover so quickly; it seemed the effects of the Red-Patterned Ginseng were precisely what was needed.

However, as far as he knew, the primary use of that spiritual herb wasn't for healing injuries, which left him somewhat puzzled.

Unaware of Chen Lin's thoughts, Bai Yunyue said with gratitude, "Upon hearing that you sold the Red-Patterned Ginseng to me at such a low price, my father insisted on thanking you personally. He told me to invite you over no matter what, saying there were matters to discuss."

Chen Lin fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Very well. Since an elder has extended an invitation, it would be disrespectful to refuse!"

He was currently thinking about how to acquire the recipe for the Spirit-Nurturing Pill, so he naturally wouldn't turn down such an opportunity.

By the time they arrived at the Bai residence, the sky had begun to darken.

Upon entering, he saw Bai Lingshan pacing boredly near a small flowerbed in the courtyard.

"Greetings, Immortal Master Lin!"

Her eyes lit up instantly upon seeing Chen Lin. However, after her greeting, her face flushed red, and she ran off with her head bowed.

Chen Lin was left utterly bewildered, wondering what was wrong with the girl—she was acting quite eccentric.

Bai Yunyue also gave his sister's retreating figure a speechless look before gesturing for Chen Lin to follow. "Fellow Daoist Lin, because my father's injuries are not yet fully healed, he must remain bedridden and cannot come out to greet you personally. Please, follow me."

Chen Lin replied politely, "I wouldn't dare trouble an elder. Fellow Daoist Bai, please lead the way."

Following Bai Yunyue, Chen Lin passed through the front courtyard and entered the main house of the second courtyard.

Just as they reached the entrance of the hall, several women stood in a row on one side and performed a formal, synchronized bow to him.

Then, a woman with a graceful figure, slightly older but still possessing great charm, stepped forward.

"You must be Fellow Daoist Lin. Thank you for your generosity in saving my husband; I am eternally grateful."

Chen Lin waved it off. "It is nothing. There is no need for such formality. Your son and I share a certain fate, and it was a fair transaction. There is no need for thanks."

The woman was also a cultivator; though she was only at the first level of Qi Refinement, they could still address each other as fellow daoists.

After some brief pleasantries, the women withdrew.

Under Bai Yunyue's guidance, Chen Lin was led into a room, where he saw a middle-aged man sitting half-upright in a bed.

With a single glance, Chen Lin's expression changed drastically.

Not only was the man skin and bones, but a mass of black energy was churning incessantly in the center of his forehead. His eyes were lifeless, and he radiated an extremely sinister aura!

This wasn't an injury; he had clearly been possessed or struck by something evil.

Seeing Chen Lin enter, Bai Yunyue's father forced himself to stay alert. "Is it Immortal Master Lin? Please, have a seat."

Bai Yunyue hurriedly brought over a chair.

Chen Lin did not sit. Instead, he approached the bedside, stared for a moment, and asked in suspicion, "What happened to you, Fellow Daoist? Have you encountered some sort of strange entity?"

To be honest, Chen Lin strongly suspected the man might have also fled from Kaiyuan City. This state was too similar to the cultivators whose energy had been drained by the Red Threads, only even more exaggerated.

"Strange entity?"

Bai Yunyue's father froze, then gave a bitter laugh. "No, it wasn't that. I rarely leave Guyuan City; how could I encounter a legendary 'strange entity'? This whole situation is thanks to the Li family!"

"Do you mean the Li family of Li Ziqing, whom we encountered in Yellow Earth Town?"

Chen Lin understood; it seemed he had overthought it.

Bai Yunyue's father nodded. "Correct. Li Zhongshan, Li Ziqing's uncle, practices a cultivation method leaning toward the sinister and evil paths. He is skilled at controlling malevolent spirits and ghosts. I was schemed against by that fellow!"

Chen Lin nodded and did not ask further.

Asking was useless; he couldn't solve this. He had never dealt with, let alone known how to counter, things like malevolent spirits.

The atmosphere became somewhat quiet.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from outside as a maid entered to serve tea.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please have some tea. This is spiritual tea picked from Mount Duanmeng; it has a very fine flavor."

Bai Yunyue's father pointed to the teacup and spoke with a smile.

Chen Lin waved his hand and stood up. "No need for the trouble. I see that your health is still quite weak. If there is nothing else, I shall not disturb your rest."

In such an unfamiliar environment, he wouldn't eat anything—not even a spiritual pill—without being certain. One must always be wary of others.

"Is Fellow Daoist Lin interested in the recipe for the Spirit-Nurturing Pill?"

A voice sounded from behind him.

Chen Lin, who had just stood up, slowly sat back down.

He didn't bother hiding it.

"I do indeed have some interest. However, I merely have a hobby for alchemy; even if I obtained the recipe, I might not be able to refine it. Furthermore, I heard from your son that your family's recipe is an ancient one?"

Bai Yunyue's father smiled slightly and said, "Though it is an ancient recipe, it has been improved by my father. Moreover, my father has successfully refined it. Its effect on nourishing spiritual energy is quite astonishing; otherwise, so many people wouldn't be coveting it."

Chen Lin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Most ingredients in ancient recipes had long since become extinct, making them of little value. But if it had been improved and there were successful examples, the value of the recipe would skyrocket instantly. He was naturally very tempted.

However, this differed slightly from what Bai Yunyue had said earlier; it seemed Bai Yunyue hadn't been telling the whole truth at the time.

Thinking of this, Chen Lin stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Since Fellow Daoist Bai has revealed the truth, do you wish to strike a deal with me? What is it that you want?"

"Fellow Daoist Lin is quite straightforward!"

Bai Yunyue's father praised him, then looked Chen Lin up and down, lingering particularly on his disguised face for a moment before speaking slowly, "Is Fellow Daoist Lin married?"

Chen Lin's lip twitched, and he shook his head. "I am not."

"Then, what does Fellow Daoist think of my daughter, Lingshan?"

Bai Yunyue's father finally revealed his true purpose.