Chapter 93: The Lady Bites

That night, Li Lin introduced Hong Luan’s identity to several retainers.

Zhang Afu’s eyes held relief—his master was about to marry, so the household would continue, and they, the servants, could keep living here.

Over this period, they had come to understand Li Lin’s character.

He was a rare kind master.

They hoped to live here for the rest of their lives.

The maids looked at Hong Luan with envy.

Li Lin was handsome and wealthy, with status—becoming his wife was a rare blessing, let alone his concubine.

The maids had dreamed of it too.

But Li Lin never took liberties with them.

He even seemed to keep a subtle distance.

After eating, bathing, Li Lin lay on his bed; not long after, someone knocked on the door, then quietly entered.

The room was unlit, dim and dark.

But Li Lin knew who it was.

Soon, a warm body lay beside him, accompanied by a nervous heartbeat.

Li Lin reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her close, and said, “Not tonight—we’ll sleep well. Tomorrow, I’ll take you back to Shangtikou Village. I must tell her first.”

“Her?”

“The Tree Immortal Lady!”

Li Lin was lustful, but not impatient.

Matters must be prioritized.

The next day, Hong Luan rose first, dressed Li Lin, combed his hair, washed his face.

After breakfast, Li Lin rented a donkey at the market, had Hong Luan ride it, and returned to Shangtikou Village.

Seeing Li Lin return with a woman, the villagers grew excited, gathering at a distance to watch; some bolder ones asked, “Li Xunshou, is this your wife?”

In the countryside, there were no eight-man palanquins.

Often, one simply carried a quilt, informed relatives and friends, and married into the groom’s home.

“Yes!” Li Lin answered without hesitation.

This naturally sparked cheers.

Back home, Li Lin said, “Stay here for now. I’ll be back soon.”

Hong Luan nodded. After Li Lin left, she sat idle, glanced around, found the place messy, and her servant’s instincts kicked in—she began tidying up.

Meanwhile, Li Lin arrived at the altar; the green sprouts on the nearby “dead trees” had multiplied.

The Tree Immortal Lady did not appear.

Li Lin didn’t mind, saying, “Liu Zhe…”

He no longer called her “Lady” as before.

“I told you before—I expected to marry soon. Do you remember?”

Still no one emerged from the altar.

“If possible, I’d have you as my wife—after all, men having three wives and four concubines is normal.”

Li Lin said this with a smile, without a trace of guilt or hesitation.

At last, the Tree Immortal Lady appeared, glaring at Li Lin, clearly furious.

“Staring won’t help—I’ve already chosen Huang Damei.”

The Tree Immortal Lady flew into rage, seized Li Lin’s left arm, and bit down hard.

Her fangs concealed venom.

Two specialized fangs pierced Li Lin’s forearm, fortunately avoiding the bone.

Perhaps the Tree Immortal Lady deliberately avoided it.

Blood slowly dripped from Li Lin’s arm; the Tree Immortal Lady bit him, unmoving.

Li Lin’s face showed no pain—he used his right hand to gently stroke her hair, then slowly moved downward, touching her soft ears, then her smooth neck.

And that hand seemed ready to go further.

Then the Tree Immortal Lady finally reacted.

She released Li Lin, stopped biting, and sharply pulled back.

Though her expression remained cold, Li Lin noticed she seemed slightly shy.

“Liu Zhe, when I reach the Seventh Rank, I’ll marry you! Then your yin energy won’t harm me.”

Huh!

A long green serpent tail fell beside Li Lin.

On the loess ground, it carved a deep trench three zhang long.

The Tree Immortal Lady hovered midair, her fury seeming to stir the air with cold.

But Li Lin wasn’t afraid—he only smiled at her.

After a while, she snorted, turned, and vanished into the altar, no longer showing herself.

Li Lin turned and walked home.

On the surface, he wore a calm smile, but his back was already drenched in sweat.

A little fear, a little pride.

Back in the room, he saw the house had become… clean and orderly.

Though Li Lin’s quarters were never dirty, men naturally let things get messy.

Hong Luan heard the sound, turned, saw Li Lin, and smiled, “Li Lang, you’re back… ah, your sleeve is covered in blood!”

The arm bitten by the Tree Immortal Lady bled heavily—the sleeve was soaked, dripping blood.

Hong Luan rushed over, unafraid of the blood, lifting his left forearm—though stained red, the skin showed no wound, only two pink circular marks.

That was where the Tree Immortal Lady had bitten him. He hadn’t expected her, in such fury, to heal him.

Li Lin felt moved inside—the Tree Immortal Lady was gentler than he’d imagined.

“It’s nothing—I’m a Spirit Hunter, after all. A little special ability is normal.”

“Good, you’re unharmed,” Hong Luan sighed in relief.

“Rest awhile. After lunch, we’ll return to the county.”

Hong Luan was puzzled: “Didn’t you say we’d meet the Tree Immortal Lady?”

“I already met her.”

“I haven’t seen her.”

“She saw you.”

The entire village lay within the Tree Immortal Lady’s spiritual sense—Li Lin bringing a woman home, how could she not know?

That was why she hid at first.

“Oh!”

Hong Luan didn’t fully understand, but she had one virtue: she never asked too many questions.

After lunch, Li Lin lay on the bed, eyes closed, resting—he didn’t let Hong Luan work, instead drew two spirit-paper figures to do chores.

At first, Hong Luan feared the paper figures, but after a while, she joined them in household tasks.

“You don’t need to lift a finger.”

“Three of us work faster.”

At Weishi… the sun began to slant westward; Li Lin took Hong Luan back to the county.

Eat, bathe, sleep.

Hong Luan lay beside Li Lin as she had the night before, tense.

But this time, Li Lin pulled her close and undressed her.

She didn’t rise until near noon the next day.

The bed was empty; she dressed, walked with an awkward gait to the main hall, and saw the man seated, reading a scroll with focused attention.

Her gaze instantly grew dazed.

Li Lin looked up: “Awake? I told Zhang Bo to prepare white porridge for you…”

“Li Lang,” Hong Luan bowed slightly, “I must go to the Huang residence immediately—urgent business. I didn’t expect… I rose so late, I’ve missed the hour. I’ll return this afternoon.”

Seeing her urgency, Li Lin nodded: “Shall I accompany you?”

Hong Luan blushed and shook her head: “No need.”

The distance between the Li residence and the Huang residence was short—a single incense stick’s time.

She returned to the Huang residence and was immediately spotted by several maids, who cried out excitedly, “Hong Luan’s back! Hong Luan’s back!”

Then, surrounded by a cluster of maids, she entered the side hall of the fourth courtyard—the women’s quarters.

There, the Lady, the Huang sisters, were all present.

Hong Luan knelt before the Lady, blushing: “Lady, your servant has returned.”

(End of Chapter)