Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 57: Safety - Part One

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Safety - Part One

Yu Chang felt somewhat helpless and only approached after Shu Luoyi had walked a good distance away. He spoke softly.

"Junior Sister Shu is just too anxious. If her father can break through his realm with the help of the Human Face Fruit, her family’s status could stabilize quickly. She really needs this kind of treasure effective even for those in the Qi Refinement Realm.... Don’t blame her."

Lin Xin looked at him, having given up on that crazy woman Shu Luoyi, but the man in front of him...

He suddenly smiled faintly.

"Let’s not talk about Shu Luoyi for now. That white light just now, you saw it, right? What do you think of its power?"

Yu Chang was startled, unsure of what he meant.

"Uh... I saw it, it’s very powerful, almost akin to an area attack by a high-level innate master."

Lin Xin smiled satisfactorily, hinting mysteriously.

"About that thing, I still have a few.... Just tell me everything about the Human Face Fruit, how to use it, and so on, and I can give you one for a heroic rescue."

"Really?" Yu Chang’s eyes lit up.

"Of course."

"That’s easy." Yu Chang quickly looked towards Shu Luoyi to see she was almost out of sight. He quickly pulled a small booklet from his clothing and handed it to Lin Xin.

"Here are the materials you want. Take a look yourself! What about the item?"

Lin Xin took the booklet and flipped through it.

It contained information on various rare treasures and resources, with the fifth page dedicated to the Human Face Fruit, densely packed with detailed information.

He likely didn’t have time to fabricate this in such a short time.

After giving him a Luminous Talisman Stone and teaching him how to use it, Lin Xin left the forest, content with the booklet in hand.

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

Hiss.

A flint lit an Ignition Stick, which he then gently brought close to the incense burner’s inverted cone incense.

Lin Xin put down the Ignition Stick and gently blew it out, watching the tip of the incense slowly light up, emanating a red glow.

A wisp of white smoke streamed from the tip of the incense, cascading downward like flowing water.

The incense burner was oval-shaped, divided into three layers, all black, scaling down from the largest at the bottom, each tier shaped like three layers of lotus leaves, large leaves enveloping smaller ones.

At the very top was the inverted cone incense.

The white smoke flowed down, landing on the first layer of lotus leaves. After accumulating in the thumb-sized lotus leaves, it overflowed downwards to the second layer, continuing until it reached the third layer of leaves.

As the fragrance spread, a faint sweet scent filled the room, that of sandalwood.

"It’s said that sandalwood can ward off evil spirits, but who knows if that’s true," Lin Xin shook his head, flipping open the pale yellow booklet on his desk, turning directly to the page about the Human Face Fruit. His gaze lingered on a crucial line.

’Human Face Fruit: Fed by humans, absorbs the features of one hundred for a single facial feature or five hundred for a complete face, requiring growth on a human host. The face formed is identical to that of the host. Utilizes Sextuple-Winged Bees for gathering and absorbing nutrients.’

’Effects: Consuming Human Face Fruit harvested from one hundred people can transform into pure Innate Essence, advancing one level for those below the Innate Realm. Consuming one harvested from a thousand people can transform into Innate Essence, advancing one level for those five levels below in Qi Refinement. Human Face Fruit from ten thousand people is highly toxic, not consumable but can neutralize certain special poisons and is used in practicing Blood Path Magic Technique.’

Lin Xin gently touched the text.

"There must be at least a thousand people’s Human Face Fruit in this city; I don’t believe the Peacock Sect is unaware. It seems to be a harvest garden deliberately nurtured by some bigshots, and there’s definitely a protective umbrella of interests behind this."

He pondered briefly.

"Shu Luoyi, three of us must have touched the interests of these people, hence the assassination attempt. No wonder Kong Yuhui withdrew early on. He used to say that this plague happens every year, so it must have become an accepted practice by now."

He sneered inwardly, these so-called orthodox sect cultivators all treat common people as livestock, and if it were those genuine Heretic Sect Demonic Cults, who knows how much worse they could be.

"So... should I take it, or not?" he hesitated briefly.

Then he thought of Shu Luoyi’s expression.

"If she can take it, why can’t I? There must be some bigshots here who are not in the know, and there’s also an internal power struggle.

"With so many Sextuple-Winged Bees gathering in the same place each time, then feeding back to the Human Face Fruit, the right location must be chosen for this."

Lin Xin tapped softly on the desk.

"A secure place, for sure. Since anyone intent on following the bees would easily find the source."

He already had a few suspect locations in mind.

"The sect asked me to come and meet Duan Qi, who was already dead, which means someone has noticed what’s going on here. Duan Qi’s death likely was a silencing. It looks like there are two forces entangled within the sect. If I act quickly and manage to obtain the Human Face Fruit, whether I hand it over to the sect or keep it for myself, there would be significant benefits either way."

Of course, it would be best to keep it hidden for personal use.

Risking it for potential fortune, Lin Xin was no longer the cautious ordinary person he used to be. After securing the Human Face Fruit and then aligning with the faction of the sect opposing the use of the fruit, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

He closed his eyes, organized all his thoughts, tucked away the booklet and pulled the bathhouse bell.

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

In the guesthouse downstairs, Jade Spring Room.

In the modest room, every decoration on the walls and carpets featured pink floral patterns that evoked a sense of spring.

The air was also filled with a faint scent of powder and the fragrance of a girl’s body.

A row of girls, each with distinct graceful figures, hurriedly applied makeup and arranged their hairstyles. Those changing clothes did so without concern for exposing themselves.

Jade Hairpin was sitting in front of a bronze mirror, picking up a pink lip paper and pressing it to her lips, then checking her application meticulously in the mirror.

"Tu’er, hurry up, the bathing gentleman’s tub has already been sent up," urged Madam Wu, The manager, as she pushed the door open.

"I know, I know, I’ll be right there," replied Jade Hairpin, who was responsible for Lin Xin’s suite. Once a client chose a girl, they typically stuck with the same one unless they requested a change. Thus, she was still in charge of the bath service.

Her actual name contained the character for ’rabbit’, so everyone called her Tu’er.

Standing up and satisfied with her pure and pretty reflection in the mirror, Jade Hairpin opened her wardrobe, packed densely with somewhat revealing clothes, mostly in red and pink.

"Eh? Did I buy this dress?" she suddenly noticed a white dress with a silver-edged white belt hanging beside it.

"The gentleman upstairs is quite proper, sigh... I just wonder when I’ll meet one who really wants to take me home..." She couldn’t help but feel a bit self-pitying. "Perhaps only such a gentleman could give me hope..."

She had originally planned to go up in a pink skirt, but at that moment, she saw this set of clothes.

As if possessed, she grabbed it and quickly put it on.

"What are you doing? Dilly-dallying!" Madam Wu’s voice came through again.

"Coming, right away," said Jade Hairpin as she changed her clothes. After checking her appearance in the mirror and making a seductive gesture, she left for the door.

As she reached the door, as if driven by a ghost, her right hand unconsciously picked up a small pair of scissors from the dressing table next to her, fingers brushing against the tip of the scissors, which then glinted a sinister green.

A mysterious smirk began to curl at the corner of Jade Hairpin’s lips as she opened the door and left.

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

Lin Xin set down the four swords on his back, carefully placed them on a rack beside him, removed the sword at his waist, undressed, and then pulled open the curtain to the bathing area and lightly stepped into the tub from a wooden stool.

The hot water, slightly burning, soaked him up to his neck, helping him to relax completely.

He scooped up some water and splashed it across his face; the hot water, carrying pink petals and a hint of fragrant powder, had a faint pleasant smell.

The door curtain was slowly pulled back, and Jade Hairpin entered, wearing a plain white long dress.

"Sorry, my lord, I am late," she said with a pitiful expression on her face as she closed the curtain behind her.

"It’s fine," Lin Xin closed his eyes and exhaled. "Come, give me a shoulder massage."

"Yes..." Jade Hairpin respectfully walked to Lin Xin’s front, first wiping her hands clean with a hot towel, ensuring her nails were smooth, then stationed herself behind him.

Her hands gently rested on Lin Xin’s shoulders, starting to knead softly and weakly.

As her massage progressed, Lin Xin’s expression grew increasingly relaxed and comfortable.

"If you feel sleepy, my lord, you can relax and rest well, I will keep changing the hot water for you," whispered Jade Hairpin.

"Thank you, that would be great." Lin Xin had indeed been tired these past days; investigating the human-faced fruit demanded constant vigilance, and even he could get tired.

He was very sleepy now, his eyes barely staying open.

"Tomorrow, I’ll visit Kong Yuhui to see if I can gather more information, then check thoroughly those key places. But pursuing the Six-Winged Bee is no longer viable, as the ambush that Shu Luoyi and others fell into has proven," he thought to himself.

Jade Hairpin’s hands continued their gentle massage, and after about fifteen minutes, she switched to using only one hand while her other hand, slipping out of her sleeve, suddenly held a sharp pair of scissors.

The tip of the scissors faintly glowed green.

As she raised the scissors, she slowly aimed at the back of Lin Xin’s head with a strange red glint in her eyes.

Her fingers gripped tightly, she suddenly exerted force.

"What’s the matter? Only one hand?"

Lin Xin’s lazy voice rang out.

Jade Hairpin paused, a seductive laugh escaping her lips.

"I’m just getting ready..."

She leaned forward, pressing her ample bust gently against Lin Xin’s back, while the hand that had been massaging moved across his shoulder, inching forward.

Moving across the chest, her hand slowly entered the water, heading to massage his abdomen.

"You.. aren’t you the one who doesn’t sell yourself?" Lin Xin closed his eyes, almost groaning in pleasure.

"Yes... but it depends on the person," Jade Hairpin giggled. Her right hand with the scissors slowly approached Lin Xin’s neck.

"Then I am indeed honored..." Lin Xin casually responded.

Snip!

Jade Hairpin suddenly thrust the scissors forward.

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