Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 123 - 119 Mind Upper

Chapter 123: Chapter 119 Mind Upper

"Hahahaha!!"

In a burst of hearty laughter,

at the manor’s banquet, old dad Lin Zhiwen was holding his wine cup and loudly bragging about how he was once snatched from enemies and rescued by Lin Xin.

"At that time, let me tell you, it was just me shouting! I yelled, ’If you’re going to kill then kill, if you’re going to cut then cut. If I’m not louder by one degree today? Then dammit I’m no true man!’" Lin Zhiwen’s face was red and his neck thick as he waved and gestured, exuding the air of a Jianghu hero.

By his side sat Lu Suo the Taoist, Gongsun Li, and Ou Yinghong, the heads of the three major systems, drinking in a circle, with Lin Xinyuan, Huang Puyang, and others also present. On the other side of the room, leaders of various powers within the manor were seated, with only a very few showing rigid faces with no expression, while the majority were smiling in agreement.

"And then." Lin Zhiwen chuckled, "once my son Lin Xin appeared, with just a wave of his hand—"

He paused. Seeing all the curious and eager eyes around him, and feeling everyone’s attention focused on him, he grew even prouder.

"You’d see a flash of white light! Whoosh! The head of the man next to me hit the ground right then and there, rolling down, and if my son hadn’t pushed me aside in time, I would’ve been drenched in his blood!"

Lin Xinyuan and Huang Puyang exchanged a glance, both somewhat helpless, watching as the others around them tried to suppress their laughter. In fact, everyone saw through Lin Zhiwen’s nature of boasting. Having reached old age, he had everything he ever desired and began to enjoy various pleasures. His youthful ambitions were already exceeded by his son, so what was there to worry about? Yet for some reason, he had taken up storytelling, and even his boasting had started to become nonsensical.

Zhao Yu Niang and the other ladies were dining in another room behind a beaded curtain, and upon hearing the voices from this side, they too could not help but shake their heads in helpless amusement. It had become somewhat of a tradition that during Lin Zhiwen’s birthday celebrations, his grand tales always came forth, and everyone else treated them like story-telling sessions.

He himself knew it too, but it was just a way to pass the time.

Little Lin Zhen, only ten years old, was nestled by Lin Zhiwen’s young auntie, being fed by her. And there was another little boy, also born in the same year as him, who he would occasionally talk with.

While a group of people ate, drank, and boasted, suddenly a shout came from outside.

’Villa Master has arrived!....’

As soon as the voice fell, the originally bustling hall suddenly became quiet.

A white figure flashed outside the hall.

A slender figure suddenly appeared at the doorway, dressed in white with a black belt, and the Red Flower Sword always hanging at his side.

Everyone stood up and turned towards the door.

"Greetings, Villa Master!"

Greeting voices, slightly uncoordinated, continued to sound.

Lin Xin responded with a warm smile to the crowd.

"Everyone, please be at ease, I’ve just come to look around. For my father’s birthday feast, I personally refined a Qingning Dan in the pill chamber as a celebration gift."

He walked over to Lin Zhiwen and handed him a red brocade box from his sleeve.

"Heh heh, good son! No need for thanks!" Lin Zhiwen laughed cheerfully, receiving the brocade box.

Lin Xin also smiled gently, glancing at the somewhat restrained crowd.

"Don’t be so formal, everyone. I just came by to take a glance. Drink if you’re drinking, eat if you’re eating, don’t mind me."

"Daddy..." Little Lin Zhen ran to his side and hugged his leg. "Daddy, when will you teach me the lesser talisman technique?"

"Good boy..." Lin Xin pinched his cheek, "Once you’ve practiced the foundational talisman technique to the level I’ve mentioned, I’ll teach you the lesser talisman technique..."

The lesser talisman technique was an advancement from the foundational talisman technique, mastering it was necessary before one could inscribe complex Formation Talismans. Lin Xin himself had a skill that accelerated learning, but others lacked this and had to proceed step by step.

Through the years, he had systematically mastered the basics of formation techniques, and his proficiency in talisman technique was now the best among the Outer Sect of the Formation Hall. Even the Sect’s Yellow-Robed elders would often consult him about issues related to talisman technique and formations.

A seat was specially reserved for him at the banquet, and Lin Xin sat down, holding Little Lin Zhen and whispering to him for a while.

"Daddy, why is there a weird smell on you?" Little Lin Zhen suddenly spoke up.

"Weird smell?" Lin Xin was momentarily taken aback.

"Zhen’er, don’t talk nonsense." Zhao Yu Niang quickly chided in a low voice.

"No ah... Zhen’er isn’t talking nonsense..." Lin Zhen said with a hint of grievance, "Daddy really has a strange scent on him, it’s weird..."

The voice wasn’t loud, but many of those present were martial artists with exceptional hearing, and when they heard this they all subtly glanced at Lin Xin.

Lin Xin smiled slightly.

"It’s nothing... Perhaps I picked up the scent of some herbs in the pill chamber when I came here..."

The others seemed somewhat reassured.

"Oh..." Lin Zhen replied, still somewhat skeptical.

Lin Xin only stayed for a short while before getting up and leaving.

While he was there, no one at the banquet dared to speak loudly or even breathe too heavily.

As soon as he left the room, the banquet that had been as still as a painting of mountains and water suddenly came to life, the ambiance quickly returning to its previous liveliness.

Yet Lin Xinyuan’s gaze lingered, faintly watching the direction Lin Xin had gone.

"I always feel like big brother is getting farther and farther away from us..."

She murmured, frowning slightly.

"After all, he has to steer the entire manor. Maybe it’s the pressure that’s too great, and he has to maintain his dignity in front of everyone. It’s unavoidable," Huang Puyang speculated.

"Perhaps..."

"Have all the regional payments been settled this year?"

"Yes, they are all settled, and some applications for the establishment of gangs in some regions have also been submitted, you should have a look later," Lin Xinyuan replied casually. Spirit Heart Villa managed security and stability in various places of Yuefu Realm, including the official establishment of any significant gang which must be reported to them. They would also receive requests for aid in times of disaster.

Then Ou Yinghong stood up and walked over to sit next to Lin Xinyuan.

"Xinyuan, have you noticed that the Villa Master seems to be getting colder lately? He looks kind and gentle, but in reality, there’s a barrier keeping everyone at bay, like he’s preoccupied with heavy thoughts."

"Somewhat..." Lin Xinyuan nodded slightly, "Maybe it’s because of the high pressure recently..."

"Pressure?...." Ou Yinghong fell silent for a while, saying no more.

***********************

As night deepened, moonlight sprinkled on the ground, covering it in a silvery-grey hue.

Lin Xin walked slowly through the depths of the bamboo forest, expressionless, his lips betraying only a hint of softness yet still exuding a sense of chill.

The moonlight fractured by the bamboo leaves danced and swayed, the rustling sound of the wind blowing through them filled the air intermittently.

Lin Xin walked very carefully, silent as a ghost.

Soon, faint voices of two people conversing quietly could be heard in the bamboo forest up ahead.

One of the voices belonged to the Second Uncle, Lin Zhiwu, as revealed by the moonlight falling on his face.

"Once the job is done... the deposit... eight thousand taels of gold...." Another voice, a coquettish woman’s, spoke with a flirtatious tone, discussing some kind of deal with Lin Zhiwu.

"But... managing the manor’s purchases isn’t my responsibility... This is too... I can’t do it..." Lin Zhiwu’s voice followed.

"No matter... as long as you agree, Wuye...."

Lin Xin stepped out of the bamboo forest, watching the two converse from behind.

He approached without a sound, until he was merely ten meters away, and saw the woman. The enchanting woman with a waist as supple as a water snake wriggled tirelessly into Lin Zhiwu’s arms, a flattering smile on her face.

Shhh.

The sword light flashed, masked by the sound of the bamboo leaves stirred by the wind.

Lin Xin sheathed his sword and stood behind Lin Zhiwu, watching as the woman’s eyes widened in terror at the sight of him. A slit slowly formed between her brows, the bloody incision extended upwards, splitting her entire forehead.

Lin Zhiwu, at first, didn’t realize what had happened, fondling the woman fervently. But moments later, he abruptly discovered that the beauty in his embrace had turned into a limp corpse, and he screamed in horror.

Thud.

The woman fell to the ground, her head split in two, her blood and cerebral fluid mixing and spilling out, splattering everywhere.

Lin Zhiwu trembled, his lips quivering, pale-faced, as he turned his head to see Lin Xin standing behind him.

"Nephew... it’s not my fault! She seduced me first! I never truly agreed to her, not once!! Really!!"

His complexion turned deathly pale as he trembled and cried out.

Lin Xin just quietly observed him.

"Second Uncle, at times like these, you should call me Villa Master."

A few moments of silence passed.

"Villa... Villa Master..." Lin Zhiwu’s face and forehead were covered with beads of sweat,

"The manor has provided enough for everyone; let there not be a next time," Lin Xin said flatly. With the Red Flower Sword back in its sheath, he continued walking towards the deeper parts of the bamboo forest.

Naturally, there were manor guards behind to deal with the body. As for Second Uncle Lin Zhiwu, Lin Xin had always known about him but never bothered to intervene until tonight’s unintended encounter.

In truth, he had just come out to clear his mind.

But who would believe that? No one would. Least of all the Second Uncle, who might think he was being watched all this time, just waiting for the day to catch him.

Walking on, he unwittingly arrived at the spot where An Ying had once left. An area where they had cleared bamboo to erect a small pavilion.

The pavilion was full of fallen leaves, showing that no one had visited for a long time.

"Do I carry a scent on me?" He stopped in front of the pavilion, standing still, and lifted his sleeve to take a closer sniff.

There was indeed a very faint scent.

It was the scent of blood. No, to be precise, it was the blood scent of the human-shaped beings, different from that of regular humans.

These days, he himself did not know how many of these beings he had killed—perhaps a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand. He had become numb to the killing, slaughtering targets in crowded places night after night. Initially, he would take care to discriminate between men, women, the elderly, and children, but later he stopped caring. All human-shaped beings were like livestock to him, not his kin. The act of slaughter was almost becoming an instinct, and the Red Flower Sword had acquired a faint blood scent that seemed impossible to wash away.

"Anyway, the Innate energy has accumulated enough. Perhaps I’ve been too ruthless these days, I should take a long soak when I have the time, maybe that would get rid of it..."

Murmuring to himself, he sat down in the pavilion, leaning against the bamboo that supported the structure and slowly fell asleep. Lately, he preferred to rest this way.

******************

"Lingling, these next few days, I might stay in the elixir room and secret chamber, not necessarily coming back," Lin Xin mentioned in a low voice as Xiao Lingling arranged his robes.

"Okay, don’t worry, I’ll be fine. It’s good to be alone; I can move Zhen’er over to stay with me." Xiao Lingling smiled, "It’s been a long time since I last played with Zhen’er, and I wonder if he still uncovers his blanket at night." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)