Chapter 265

After singing the song, Lin Shuyou left the private room and went to the restroom at the end of the hall. He turned on the faucet and splashed water on his face.

He had lived in a temple his entire life. Although the temple was not completely isolated from the outside world, and he attended school normally, his master and grandfather, though a bit traditional, were never feudal. However, his childhood training in Guanjungshou still took up most of his free time.

It wasn't until he went to university that he truly gained his freedom. Because of this, he was always grateful to Tan Wenbin, who had proactively invited him to hang out during military training.

However, he had to admit that what he found oppressive in his youth might not have been about the activities themselves, but simply a dislike for the feeling of suppression. When he finally had the freedom to indulge, he unexpectedly found that he didn't actually enjoy such places.

A click sound came from behind him. Chen Lin, standing there, opened her lighter and lit a cigarette.

"Nice singing."

"Thanks."

"Yunyun told me you two started your internships a while ago."

"Yes, that's right."

"That's surprising. I heard that people working in engineering often know their way around places like this."

Lin Shuyou waved his hand. "That's a project manager's perk, nothing to do with us."

"Alright, wait for me." Chen Lin tossed her car keys, makeup bag, cigarette pack, and lighter to Lin Shuyou before entering the restroom.

Just then, a group of clearly inebriated people approached. Thick gold chains, bald heads, prominent scars, extensive tattoos... they fit the stereotype perfectly. It was genuinely hard to encounter this type of group on a regular day, but it was common in entertainment venues like this.

Lin Shuyou stepped back a few paces to give them space. Chen Lin emerged and came face to face with them.

The scar-faced man leading them chuckled. "Hey, look what we have here. How about you come to my private room for a few drinks?" As he spoke, he reached out to touch Chen Lin's face.

"Slap!" Chen Lin slapped his hand away and glared at him.

Someone nearby advised, "Forget it, she doesn't work here. You got the wrong person."

The scar-faced man gave an awkward smile, said nothing, and walked into the men's restroom.

Chen Lin went to the sink to wash her hands, and Lin Shuyou handed her belongings back to her.

"You know, if they had kept bothering me, I would have suspected you two arranged it beforehand."

Lin Shuyou replied, "How could that be?"

Chen Lin said, "A classic damsel in distress scenario."

Lin Shuyou smiled and said nothing further.

Chen Lin continued, "I know you wouldn't do something like that, but your Brother Bin? He just might arrange it. He's very good at orchestrating things, no wonder Yunyun is so devoted to him."

Lin Shuyou responded, "Brother Bin values relationships highly."

Chen Lin scoffed, "Who says they don't have feelings?"

Lin Shuyou actually thought of someone immediately.

Chen Lin reached out to touch Lin Shuyou's face. She expected Lin Shuyou to flinch away, but he was thinking of Brother Xiaoyuan at the moment and didn't move. Chen Lin paused slightly but still proceeded to touch his face.

To her surprise, his skin felt remarkably good—smooth, firm, and faintly cool. This made Chen Lin instinctively glance at Lin Shuyou's arm, and then his chest. Logically, those areas should feel even better to touch.

She withdrew her hand and asked, "Do you usually take care of your skin?"

Lin Shuyou snapped out of his thoughts. "No, I don't do any of that."

"Then how do you manage it? You're running around on construction sites every day, yet your skin is so fine and tender. Is it natural beauty?"

Chen Lin had not activated her Yin side; being in her Yang state, her perceptions were similar to an ordinary person's. Therefore, she didn't realize she had just touched the body of a True Lord. After the Boy entered Lin Shuyou's body, it had undergone profound transformation.

Lin Shuyou simply said, "I don't know." He had no interest in her to begin with, and after learning she was a yin-yang master, Lin Shuyou was even less inclined to get involved. Out of respect for Zhou Yunyun, he would entertain her, but Lin Shuyou felt that once she left Nantong, their paths would likely not cross again.

They returned to the private room, where the singing continued. Chen Lin quickly rejoined the group, while Lin Shuyou returned to his corner spot, quietly drinking Jianlibao from a can with a straw.

Finally, everyone had had enough fun. Tan Wenbin suggested going for a late-night snack, but Aunt Liu declined, intending to go home. So, the groups parted ways. Yin Meng drove the others back in her pickup truck, while Tan Wenbin took Zhou Yunyun, Chen Lin, and Lin Shuyou to a late-night food stall near the karaoke place.

The stall was run by a middle-aged couple, whose young daughter was fast asleep on a chair, covered by a blanket. Tan Wenbin ordered a few dishes and a bowl of small wontons for everyone.

Chen Lin asked, "Is Aunt Liu really a helper at Old Master Li's house?"

Zhou Yunyun replied, "Yes, Aunt Liu's husband, mother-in-law, and daughter also live at Old Master Li's. You should have seen them when you went there today."

Chen Lin said, "The girl on the second-floor terrace? She's very pretty."

Zhou Yunyun nodded. "Yes, that's A-Li."

Chen Lin commented, "I just felt that Aunt Liu's singing didn't sound like an amateur's."

Zhou Yunyun said, "I wouldn't know about that, but she certainly sings beautifully."

Chen Lin continued, "And the one who sang 'Qian Qian Que Ge' – when I first sat next to her, I felt quite a chill. I only changed seats later by using the restroom as an excuse to move around."

Tan Wenbin said, "Everyone's constitution is different. Some people just have a cold body type."

The stir-fries and wontons arrived. Chen Lin took a spoonful of soup and asked, "Where to next?"

Zhou Yunyun asked, "Linlin, where else do you want to go?"

Chen Lin clarified, "I mean, are you planning to go back to Shigang or get a hotel nearby? If it's a hotel, just book a room for me too."

Tan Wenbin suggested, "Let's go back to Yunyun's place in Shigang. You can sleep with Yunyun tonight."

Chen Lin probed, "So, you two found a spot in the village this afternoon and already did the deed?"

Zhou Yunyun exclaimed, "Linlin, there you go again!"

Chen Lin then turned to Lin Shuyou and said, "I'm just curious, shouldn't your partner be Brother Bin? So why was it A-You working so hard on farm chores at your house this afternoon?"

Lin Shuyou was speechless.

Zhou Yunyun paused, looking at Lin Shuyou in confusion. "A-You, you..."

Lin Shuyou quickly raised his hands in explanation. "I was just idle anyway, so I helped Grandpa with some work."

Zhou Yunyun said, "My apologies, A-You, I was not a good host."

Lin Shuyou quickly replied, "No, not at all. I can't stay idle at Old Master Li's house; I enjoy working."

Chen Lin remarked, "Looking like this, you're destined to be bossed around by Brother Bin forever."

Tan Wenbin pulled out a cigarette pack, took out two cigarettes, handed one to Chen Lin, and asked, "Didn't you say you weren't interested? Why are you suddenly sticking up for him?"

Chen Lin replied, "That's a separate issue. He's an honest person; you shouldn't exploit him like that."

Tan Wenbin said, "There's no need for formalities between us."

Chen Lin commented, "You say that as if you've already been through some major storms together."

Tan Wenbin asked, "Do you have siblings?"

Chen Lin exhaled a smoke ring, her expression shifting slightly. She said, "I have an older brother. He's been away from home for a while, and I haven't seen him in a long time."

Tan Wenbin asked, "Ran away from home?"

Chen Lin shook her head. "He left to work on boats and has been on the river almost constantly, rarely coming home."

Tan Wenbin commented, "Your family doesn't seem to be short on money."

Chen Lin sighed, "Every family has its own difficulties."

Tan Wenbin picked up a piece of food and chewed it. What she said sounded like a description of a wandering adventurer. Logically, Chen Lin's lineage shouldn't have any need for river travel. Could her brother be deliberately seeking a challenge? If that were the case, it would truly be a good thing that A-You had no feelings for her. Imagine if they met one day amidst the waves and A-You inadvertently killed his own future brother-in-law.

Zhou Yunyun said, "Linlin, how come I've never heard you mention this before?"

Chen Lin replied, "Haven't I? Well, I'm mentioning it now, aren't I?"

Just then, Tan Wenbin looked up towards the area behind Lin Shuyou, and Lin Shuyou also slightly turned to look behind himself. The little girl who had been sleeping there was now standing and watching them. An ordinary person would have simply thought the girl woke up, nothing major, but Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou both sensed a strange aura. Moreover, this aura felt somewhat familiar.

The little girl turned and walked into the alley ahead. Tan Wenbin glanced at Lin Shuyou. Lin Shuyou nodded slightly, stood up, and said, "I'm going to the restroom."

Chen Lin asked, "Where's a public restroom around here?"

Tan Wenbin said, "He's a man, no need to be so particular."

Lin Shuyou walked into the small alley, where the little girl stood, watching him. As Lin Shuyou approached, the little girl knelt on one knee and saluted him.

"Greetings, Lord."

Through his vertical pupils, Lin Shuyou could see a girl's figure of similar build standing behind the little girl. Her aura belonged to Lady Baijia.

"What is it?"

"Someone has come to Nantong and entrusted my Baijia Town with finding a person."

Lin Shuyou frowned slightly. "Tell me more details."

The little girl also paused, seemingly contemplating how to elaborate.

Lin Shuyou asked, "Your Baijia Town can still accept commissions now?"

The little girl heard a hint of blame in Lin Shuyou's words and quickly said, "Baijia Town is subservient to Dragon... to Li, the Nantong Corpse Retriever. However, you, my Lord, have not intervened in the daily operations of my Baijia Town. My Baijia Town indeed rarely interacts with the outside world, but when it comes to matters of the jianghu, there are occasional exceptions. If the person's identity is particularly special, Baijia Town will also grant them favor."

After Li Zhuiyuan established his dojo in Nantong, he forced Baijia Town to submit to him. However, Li Zhuiyuan did not deeply interfere with Baijia Town's operations, partly because he lacked manpower and partly because he had no interest. Broadly speaking, Li Zhuiyuan had two requirements for Baijia Town: first, they were not to go ashore and harm people, and second, they were to come out and accept his command when needed.

Lin Shuyou asked, "Who is the client?"

"Our Lady said he is using a false identity."

"A false identity?"

"But he offered a sufficiently high stake."

"And who is he looking for?"

"The one currently eating with you, my Lord."

Chen Lin?

Lin Shuyou nodded. "I understand. You may leave. Continuing to possess the little girl is not good for her body."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shuyou's eyelids began to swell, and the enraged voice of the Boy echoed from his heart. Why could she just leave? "Keep her here for now. She can provide location clues to that person and lure him out."

Lin Shuyou replied, "I'm not sure if that's necessary." The person looking for Chen Lin likely had a grudge against her or her old family residence. Lin Shuyou felt he currently had no motive to help others resolve such matters. Moreover, whether or not to get involved in the karma of other family powers was not for him to decide.

The Boy insisted, "Keep her for now. You can ask Tan Wenbin's opinion."

Lady Baijia had just exited the little girl's body and was preparing to leave.

"Hey, wait a moment."

The little girl's figure, which had been about to sag, immediately straightened again.

"You'll stay here for now, follow us, and await our notification."

"Yes, Lord."

"Also, you don't need to occupy her body anymore. Just float beside us."

"Yes."

Lady Baijia left the little girl's body again. Perhaps sensing Lin Shuyou's concern for the girl's health, the Lady floated in front of the girl after leaving and breathed three times onto her forehead. The little girl's glabella then gradually darkened.

Lin Shuyou asked, "What are you doing?"

Lady Baijia replied, "Lord, she has a hidden ailment. I'm helping to bring it forth so it can be discovered and treated early."

"Hmm, that's thoughtful of you."

"It is your kindness, Lord."

The little girl groggily walked out of the alley, sat back on her original chair, and continued to sleep, occasionally coughing once or twice.

Lin Shuyou returned to the small table and, as his eyes met Tan Wenbin's, he reached for his chopsticks.

Chen Lin asked, "Did you wash your hands?"

Lin Shuyou replied, "No..."

Chen Lin picked up a bottle of purified water from the table. "Hold out your hands; wash them roughly."

Lin Shuyou held out his hands to catch the water and rubbed them together.

After finishing their late-night snack, Tan Wenbin told the two girls to wait there while he and Lin Shuyou went to get the car. On the way, Lin Shuyou recounted what had happened earlier to Tan Wenbin.

Tan Wenbin said, "That must be an enemy of her family."

Lin Shuyou asked, "Brother Bin, what should we do?"

Tan Wenbin asked, "What do you think Brother Xiaoyuan would do if we reported this to him?"

Lin Shuyou replied, "Brother Xiaoyuan dislikes trouble; he probably wouldn't care."

Tan Wenbin shook his head. "No, Brother Xiaoyuan would likely choose to intervene. Since the person looking for Chen Lin knows she's in Nantong, they must have known she was studying in Jinling previously. There must be a reason they chose to seek revenge in Nantong. I suspect it's because Chen Lin possesses some special ability, one that leans towards the sinister, and it's suppressed by the entity under the peach grove once she enters Nantong. Either she couldn't bring it in, or she brought it in but can't use it. That's what allowed that person to seize the opportunity for revenge. Elsewhere, they wouldn't be confident of success.

"Certainly, you and she haven't taken a liking to each other. But if you had, and truly intended to be together, then for your sake, A-You, even Brother Xiaoyuan would have to intervene and help resolve the issues of your partner's family, just as he helped Xue Liangliang back then. As for now, we truly have no need to help Chen Lin or the Chen family with this matter. However, they're exploiting the window of opportunity while Chen Lin is in Nantong. After all, Chen Lin is a guest accompanying Zhou Yunyun here. If some of her abilities are unusable due to suppression here, allowing someone to take advantage, then we can't really justify that on our end."

Tan Wenbin opened the car door and was about to get into the driver's seat when he paused. "A-You, I don't recall you drinking, did you?"

"No, I didn't."

"Then you drive. I've been drinking, so I shouldn't."

"Okay."

The two got into the car. As Lin Shuyou was about to start the engine, Tan Wenbin held his hand. "Call out Lady Baijia."

Lin Shuyou activated his vertical pupils and scanned the surroundings. Soon, Lady Baijia appeared at the car's front windshield. The ghostly silhouette of a pale little girl knelt there; it was quite unsettling in the middle of the night.

Tan Wenbin instructed, "Go report the location to the one who commissioned you: Siyuan Village, Shinan Town. After Shijia Bridge, take the second turn into the village road, and it's the house on the north side with a two-story building and two single-story houses on the east and west."

Lin Shuyou blinked. Brother Bin was giving Old Master Li's address.

"Yes, Lord."

"Wait, I'm not finished yet."

"Please continue, Lord."

"Tell your Great Lady that some rules need to change. From today onward, if your Baijia Town encounters similar incidents, you must report them to us in advance. If we're not home..." Tan Wenbin took out a small notebook, wrote down a number, tore off the paper, and handed it to the figure. "...then report to him first."

The number was for the discount store, and the record keeper was Lu Yi. Actually, reporting directly to Xiong Shan and Lihua would also work, but strictly speaking, those two weren't 'their own people'; they had pledged allegiance to the Dragon King's family. Lu Yi, on the other hand, had extensive experience in this area. The discount store was now considered property of their own team, and Lu Yi was working for them.

Lady Baijia opened her mouth, inhaled the paper slip, and respectfully said again, "As you command!"

"Tell your Great Lady that in a couple of days, when I'm free, I'll go visit her and her son."

"Yes, we await your esteemed presence."

"You may go."

Lady Baijia drifted away with the wind.

Lin Shuyou took out his mobile phone and asked, "Brother Bin, should we inform Brother Xiaoyuan beforehand?"

"Why inform him?"

"After all, we're leading someone to his home."

"Exactly, if we're leading them right to his home, do you think there's still a need to inform him?"

Lin Shuyou realized. "You're right, of course." Other people's homes might be their weak spot, but their home was the opposite—literally 'unyielding as iron.'

Tan Wenbin said, "Anyway, we'll be driving back, so we can just tell Brother Xiaoyuan then. The main thing is, if you send a pager message, should Brother Xiaoyuan have to run out and knock on Aunt Zhang's convenience store iron door just to call us back for something like this? Tsk, I really feel like we need to install a landline at home, or it's just too inconvenient."

Lin Shuyou agreed. "We really should install one."

Tan Wenbin explained, "I was originally going to install one during the New Year. Old Master Li was even convinced, but then Xue Liangliang said something about phone installation prices becoming cheaper in the future, and Old Master Li changed his mind."

Lin Shuyou said, "But having a phone would be convenient."

Tan Wenbin looked at the mobile phone in his hand. "It's fine. Before I visit Lady Baijia in a couple of days, I'll talk to Brother Liangliang and subtly hint that we need a second mobile phone. He'll get it. If it were anyone else, I'd genuinely feel embarrassed to take advantage like this, but him... there's no need to feel embarrassed. He's genuinely wealthy, the kind with money to burn and nowhere to spend it."

Lin Shuyou nodded. "Yes, that's right." Last time, Lin Shuyou went to Beijing for a presentation. The hotel and its standards... sigh. Xue Liangliang was so rich he was essentially funding his own entertainment.

Tan Wenbin concluded, "In summary, we're not responsible for the Chen family's affairs, nor are we interested in getting involved. However, Chen Lin herself cannot be harmed in Nantong, or it would mean disrespecting Li, the Nantong Corpse Retriever."

Lin Shuyou immediately felt enlightened.

The Boy's voice came: "That's what I thought too."

Lin Shuyou asked, "Then why didn't you tell me just now?"

The Boy stammered, "I..."

Lin Shuyou pressed, "So your second venture still can't compare to Brother Bin's."

The Boy retorted, "You..."

Lin Shuyou scoffed, "And you still dream of replacing Brother Bin? Dream on."

The Boy wailed, "Waaah!"

Tan Wenbin said, "Let's try courtesy first, then force. If that fellow understands and retreats from Nantong, then this matter is settled. But if he insists on making a move in Nantong, then we'll put an end to him."

The car pulled over to the side of the road. Chen Lin walked to the passenger side door and tapped on the window.

Tan Wenbin rolled down the window and chuckled. "What, can't be away from my A-You?"

Chen Lin asked, "Aren't you going to sit in the back with your Yunyun?"

Tan Wenbin quoted, "If two hearts are in love for long, why cling to day and night?"

Despite his words, Tan Wenbin still got out and climbed into the back seat. Chen Lin took the front passenger seat.

Tan Wenbin said, "It's late. Going home might disturb our families. How about we stay at Old Master Li's house tonight?"

Chen Lin asked, "If Yunyun doesn't go back, won't her family worry?"

Tan Wenbin countered, "Aren't you quite open-minded? Why worry about this?"

Chen Lin replied, "I am me, and Yunyun is Yunyun. If she doesn't come back, her family will get anxious."

Tan Wenbin chuckled, "Yunyun is out with me, staying overnight. What reason would her family have to be anxious?"

Chen Lin found his point valid, turned forward, and said nothing more.

In reality, Tan Wenbin's intention behind this arrangement was concern that the revenge-seeker might be able to sense Chen Lin's aura from close proximity. To fish, one must first cast the bait.

The car arrived at Siyuan Village and parked below Li Sanjiang's courtyard. Tan Wenbin first walked to the door of the west room and knocked. The door quickly opened, and Yin Meng, dressed in pajamas, appeared before Tan Wenbin.

"What's up? Do you need to knock and say hello at night too?"

"Yunyun and Chen Lin are staying here tonight."

"I have no objection."

"There's no other room available in the house, so we need you to vacate yours."

"Then where do I sleep?"

"There's a coffin in the living room you can lie in."

Yin Meng asked, "Is there something going on?"

Tan Wenbin nodded. "Yes, there is."

"Alright." Yin Meng walked out.

"By the way, have you tidied up all your bottles and jars inside?"

"They're all covered. As long as they don't touch them, it's fine."

"Thank you, Mengmeng. You know, if I had a choice, I wouldn't have them stay in your room either."

"Heh heh."

Tan Wenbin settled Zhou Yunyun and Chen Lin inside, then brought them a basin and hot water for washing up before bed. Afterward, Tan Wenbin checked the time and gestured to Lin Shuyou.

"Understood!"

Lin Shuyou walked down from the courtyard and his figure disappeared into the fields. There was no need to wait for them to actually show up at the door. What if they caused a commotion and woke up the family? Therefore, it was better to spot them from a distance, intercept them, explain the situation reasonably, and make them retreat.

Tan Wenbin ran upstairs. As soon as he pushed open the room door, he saw Brother Xiaoyuan sitting up in bed.

"Brother Binbin, what's wrong?"

Everyone's footsteps were different, and Tan Wenbin rarely came to the second floor when there was nothing important.

"Brother Xiaoyuan, it's like this..." Tan Wenbin briefly summarized the situation.

After listening, Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Are you sure A-You has no feelings for her?"

Tan Wenbin replied, "No."

"Then do as you see fit, Brother Binbin." After saying this, Li Zhuiyuan lay back down, closed his eyes, and continued to sleep.

Although A-Li's gaze had been diverted by himself earlier in the day, preventing Chen Lin from revealing her Yin side, to be directly suppressed by A-Li's gaze meant Chen Lin's strength, no matter how high, had its limits. And someone who had to bide their time to seek revenge on her was not worth Li Zhuiyuan's attention. With Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou handling it, it was more than enough.

As Tan Wenbin was about to leave, Li Zhuiyuan's voice spoke again. "Brother Binbin, go notify the east room."

"Okay, I'll go right now."

The matter wasn't major, but Li Zhuiyuan worried the Old Lady had gotten addicted to the fun last time and would want another trip down memory lane.

As Tan Wenbin went downstairs, he saw Yin Meng sitting beside a new coffin, gnawing on an offering apple in her hand. She asked, "Do you need my help?"

"No, you can sleep."

"If anything happens, please don't hesitate."

"I've already told you to sleep in a coffin; see? I truly don't treat you like an outsider."

"Heh."

Yin Meng leaned back and sank into the coffin. Tan Wenbin walked over and thoughtfully pulled the coffin lid up for her, leaving only a small gap for ventilation. In the adjacent coffin slept Runsheng. Tan Wenbin couldn't help but amusedly lean his head over to check. How strange, Runsheng was uncharacteristically not snoring today. Upon closer inspection, he realized Runsheng wasn't breathing through his nose or mouth at all; he had shifted to other spiritual gates. *Damn it, why didn't I see you use this trick before? So, you only snore loudly when you're sleeping next to me, huh?*

Tan Wenbin walked to the courtyard, sat on a small stool, and quietly lit a cigarette. The two girls in the west room had already washed up and gone to bed, but they weren't in a hurry to sleep. Instead, they were whispering. Tan Wenbin didn't deliberately eavesdrop, but his hearing had significantly improved, allowing him to pick up even subtle sounds around him.

"Honestly, Yunyun, have you two really never done it?"

"No."

"I don't believe you. How does he manage to hold back?"

"We're not married yet, so it's not good."

"So, you'll help him in other ways?"

"There you go again, Linlin."

"Wow, Yunyun, yours are so big, much bigger than mine. Is it because he often touches them?"

"Sleep, sleep! It won't look good if we're still in bed when they wake up for breakfast tomorrow."

"Then let me touch yours too, I want mine to get bigger as well."

Sitting in the courtyard, Tan Wenbin took out a cigarette and bit it. Chen Lin, clearly inexperienced, seemed to enjoy chasing after such topics constantly.

Time slowly passed. The cigarette end in Tan Wenbin's mouth glowed intermittently, reflecting the countless 'cigarette ends' of stars above, as if all the celestial bodies had become his smoking buddies, accompanying him in alleviating the boredom of the night. There had been no movement from the west room for a long time, only steady breathing, indicating they were likely all asleep.

But just then, the door to the west room opened, and Chen Lin walked out. Her luggage had been in the car earlier, and Tan Wenbin had helped carry it into the west room. Chen Lin had changed into pajamas; her daytime rock-and-roll attire was gone, replaced by a nightgown with a hint of classical elegance, its patterns exquisitely detailed. Such material and needlework were genuinely hard to find on the market. Tan Wenbin, having seen A-Li daily in the past, had developed a better understanding of clothing over time. Besides, the Old Lady would occasionally make him clothes, so he,