Chapter 91: The Raid (A 5000-character chapter, please subscribe!)

"Mu'er, you're back."

A look of joy appeared on Zhao Cui Yun's face.

At this moment, Wang Yi also spoke up: "Brother Qi, look who has come?"

Lin Chao looked over.

Zhao Ran sat there quietly, like a clear lotus untouched by dust.

She raised her head, looked at Lin Chao, and revealed a faint smile.

Her smile was very light, like the new moon entering the clouds.

"Miss Zhao." Lin Chao greeted her.

This was the second time he had met Zhao Ran.

The first time they met was on a blind date.

Zhao Ran was the very woman Wang Yi had been urging Lin Chao to pursue.

According to Wang Yi, Zhao Ran was unmarried, had no parents, and possessed quite a few land deeds.

She was the image of a perfect, wealthy, and beautiful woman.

"Brother Qi, what do you think of Miss Zhao?" Wang Yi winked at Lin Chao.

Beside them, Zhao Cui Yun and Qi Pinggui were also constantly winking at Lin Chao.

Lin Chao naturally knew what they were thinking.

After thinking for a long time, Lin Chao squeezed out this sentence.

"Miss Zhao is, naturally, excellent."

Having experienced several reincarnation simulations, Lin Chao naturally would not have a flippant attitude toward life.

To him, the people before him were all living, breathing individuals.

Even if this might be the past.

This was also something that happened on that timeline.

And he was currently creating the past.

Beside them, joy appeared in the eyes of Zhao Cui Yun and Qi Pinggui.

"Miss Zhao, what do you think of this lad, Qi Mu?

Don't look at the fact that he is three years younger than you; he is very considerate," Wang Yi said from the side.

Zhao Ran glanced at Lin Chao, a hint of a smile on her cold, clear face.

Zhao Ran stayed at Lin Chao's home for dinner.

The dinner was cooked by Zhao Cui Yun.

The five of them eating together was quite harmonious.

Zhao Ran and Lin Chao spoke little, while Wang Yi, Zhao Cui Yun, and the others spoke a great deal.

"In ten days, it will be the Fenglan Temple Fair.

Little Brother Qi, why don't you take Miss Zhao and go for a stroll together?" Wang Yi suggested from the side.

Zhao Cui Yun also played matchmaker: "Mu'er, staying in the bookstore all the time and being cooped up in the house is no good; young people should go out more."

Lin Chao glanced at Zhao Ran; Zhao Ran's gaze was clear, and she neither refused nor agreed.

Lin Chao smiled.

He hadn't expected that in reality, he hadn't yet begun to experience blind dates, but he had experienced one in his reincarnation.

"Alright," Lin Chao agreed.

Zhao Ran remained as calm as water.

The joy on the faces of Wang Yi and Zhao Cui Yun, however, was visible to the naked eye.

"It's dark, Mu'er; it's not safe for Miss Zhao to go back alone. You see her home."

"Alright," Lin Chao nodded.

Soon, under three pairs of burning gazes, Lin Chao and Zhao Ran stood side by side and left.

Along the way, both of them were very quiet.

Zhao Ran's temperament had always been cold and clear, and she spoke even less.

"Don't mind it; my parents are pushing hard," Lin Chao said casually to break the awkwardness.

"It's nothing," a hint of a smile appeared on Zhao Ran's cold, clear face. "Isn't life just like this?"

Some people have others pushing them.

Some people want to be pushed, but have no one.

It is hard to say which kind is happiness.

"Why did you come to my house?" Lin Chao asked casually.

"Wang Yi called me, so I came," Zhao Ran's voice was flat. "At our age, we are indeed pushed hard."

"Indeed," Lin Chao highly agreed with Zhao Ran's words.

However, if it were in reality, he would still be in school at this age and wouldn't have this kind of distress.

But Lin Chao knew that once he graduated, all sorts of voices from his family would appear.

It was quite like how they forbid you from dating while you're in school, but the moment you graduate, they hope you can bring a partner back.

Nowadays, his and Zhao Ran's ages were indeed considered quite old.

The night in Fenglan also had light.

Especially since the Fenglan Temple Fair was approaching, the night in Fenglan was already like the day.

Lin Chao and Zhao Ran stood side by side, walking under the lights of ten thousand homes.

Up ahead, a couple snuggled together, whispering sweet nothings.

"Why did you come back today? Weren't you supposed to return tomorrow?"

"I wanted to see you sooner, so I changed caravans a day early."

"You can't do that next time, in the desert..."

As a martial artist, Lin Chao's hearing was naturally superior.

He turned his head to look at the serene Zhao Ran beside him: "Do you want to get married?"

Zhao Ran stopped in her tracks, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes: "I hadn't thought about it before, and now I don't know."

Zhao Ran's answer did not exceed Lin Chao's expectations.

Zhao Ran didn't look like an ordinary person at first glance?

"What about you? Do you want to start a family?"

Lin Chao was also stunned for a moment: "I suppose I will."

"It's not that you want to?" Zhao Ran murmured.

Lin Chao did not answer.

Whether he wanted to or not, he didn't know either.

Lin Chao stopped walking.

Up ahead was a large courtyard.

Two lanterns hung on the courtyard gate, though the light of one was dim.

This was Zhao Ran's home.

"I've arrived, thank you," Zhao Ran said softly.

"Mm," Lin Chao responded.

His interaction with Zhao Ran felt a bit like a gentleman's friendship, as light as water.

Just then, the hanging lantern fell to the ground, and Lin Chao caught it just in time.

"This lantern is broken," Lin Chao looked at it and concluded.

"Throw it away, I'll change it tomorrow," Zhao Ran said calmly.

"I'll take it back and fix it," Lin Chao looked at the lantern and added, "Back in our time, when things broke, we would fix them and keep using them; now, when things break, we just replace them."

Feelings are the same way.

Zhao Ran was slightly stunned; she hadn't expected to hear Lin Chao say this.

"You're so young, yet you sound so old-fashioned, little brother," Zhao Ran's eyes carried a hint of a smile.

This was the first time Lin Chao had sensed a hint of emotion in Zhao Ran's words.

"I'll trouble you with this lantern, little brother."

"Alright," Lin Chao replied.

Zhao Ran entered the house.

In the large courtyard, only three people lived.

Her, a maid, and an older woman.

Zhao Ran closed her eyes, and the image of that refined young man immediately appeared in her mind.

"Qi Mu... Qi Lin... can I still not leave the Jianghu?"

Zhao Ran was an Electric-level Assassin of the Wind and Rain Tower.

A year ago, she had slain a high-ranking official who was steeped in evil.

That official had always been surrounded by many experts.

However, the official's daughter fell gravely ill, and in order to find medicine, he went to the Miluo Temple alone.

This gave Zhao Ran an opportunity.

She killed that official with a single sword strike.

Before the official died, he took out a packet of medicine and begged her to bring it to his daughter.

Looking at the official's pleading expression, Zhao Ran, who was already very weary, betrayed the Wind and Rain Tower and came to Fenglan.

"Get married?"

As her clothes slipped off and she felt the stimulation of the warm water, Zhao Ran closed her eyes.

As she closed her eyes, the water in the tub began to boil.

Zhao Ran opened her eyes: "The Star-Shifting Divine Art is truly extraordinary, but unfortunately..."

The Star-Shifting Divine Art was a powerful Martial Arts technique.

This divine art progressed extremely quickly and had immense power.

However, this divine art had flaws, and furthermore, what Zhao Ran had obtained was an incomplete version of the Star-Shifting Divine Art.

Practicing this divine art meant that for twelve days every year, her Martial Arts cultivation would vanish entirely, leaving her like a mortal.

At this moment, she had no Martial Arts cultivation.

However, there was a way to resolve this flaw.

That was the dual cultivation so favored by people of the Jianghu.

Zhao Ran knew that Su Yunqiong practiced the Star-Shifting Divine Art and often engaged in dual cultivation with powerful individuals to absorb their internal energy.

For Su Yunqiong, the powerful men and women in the Jianghu and the imperial court were merely tools for her cultivation.

Therefore, even when those twelve days of her own Martial Arts cultivation dissipated, Su Yunqiong could still exert powerful combat strength.

……

Lin Chao arrived at the bookstore.

Inside the bookstore, Wu Xiangyi was still standing outside the door, her eyes filled with a resolute expression.

Lin Chao took a glance and entered the bookstore.

At this moment, a young woman walked over: "Xiangyi, the weather is so hot, let's go drink some tea."

"I'm not going." Wu Xiangyi shook her head, "I want to take him as my master."

"Xiangyi, the owner of this bookstore looks like he isn't even twenty years old; he really isn't some reclusive expert, he isn't worth you taking him as a master," the young woman persuaded from the side.

The young woman was born into an official's family and was on good terms with Wu Xiangyi.

These past few days, having heard of Wu Xiangyi's situation, she had been feeling indignant for her good friend.

"I have my own judgment." Wu Xiangyi's attitude was firm.

"But..." the young woman said anxiously.

In her view, the man inside the house was playing hard to get.

Moreover, a teenager in his teens, who might not even be older than her, what kind of skills could he have?

"Xiangyi, I'm going in right now to expose his true colors!"

Wu Xiangyi's expression turned cold instantly: "Tianyun, do not disturb the master, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite."

Seeing Wu Xiangyi's expression, Tianyun felt a flicker of fear inside.

With the persuasion failing, Tianyun left; she did not dare to make any more trouble.

Although Wu Xiangyi was on good terms with her, she was, after all, a Princess of Fenglan.

Wu Xiangyi stood quietly.

At this moment, a woman walked over; the person who arrived was none other than Zhao Ran.

Wu Xiangyi saw Zhao Ran, and her expression was slightly stunned.

She had seen Zhao Ran at the master's bookstore again.

Zhao Ran saw Wu Xiangyi, nodded in acknowledgment, and entered the bookstore.

"Why have you come?" Lin Chao stood up and fetched a chair for Zhao Ran.

He put down his wine gourd and then poured tea for Zhao Ran.

"Passing by, came to take a look, and incidentally to pick up the lantern."

"I was just about to say I would send it to you today."

"Mm." Zhao Ran looked at Wu Xiangyi outside, revealing a puzzled expression.

"Her? Her name is Wu Xiangyi. She has been wanting to take me as her master and has been standing in the room for several days."

"You really don't know how to cherish the fairer sex; she is the number one beauty of Fenglan.

If it were anyone else, they probably would have agreed long ago, unable to bear seeing her suffer outside."

"Fate is something that cannot be forced." Lin Chao shook his head, "Just let it be; perhaps one day when the sunlight is just right and I am in a good mood, I will agree."

"Let it be." Zhao Ran repeated the two words, "Qi Mu, your life is quite interesting."

Zhao Ran chatted with Lin Chao for a few sentences, then flipped through books to read in the bookstore.

Sometimes, when customers came, Zhao Ran would even help out.

The sun set in the west, and the sky grew dim.

"I'm leaving."

"I will see you back."

Wu Xiangyi watched the two people leaving, feeling a bitter taste in her heart.

Is there a problem with the method I chose?

If I didn't try to take him as a master, would there still be a chance?

Of course, she was only thinking about it.

Returning to the royal palace, Wu Xiangyi rubbed her legs.

Having stood for a day, her legs were a bit sore and numb.

"Xiangyi." Chongan walked over with a smile on his face, though deep within the smile, a trace of worry was hidden.

"Are you still trying to take him as a master these days?"

"Mm." Wu Xiangyi nodded.

"That person still hasn't agreed?"

"No." Wu Xiangyi revealed a disappointed expression, "It is likely that I haven't done well enough and haven't moved the master."

Chongan smiled: "Sometimes, one cannot be too gentle when treating men.

Doesn't our Fenglan have an old saying: kiss a man, but don't be good to him, and he will become anxious and fearful of loss."

"Father." A wisp of red climbed onto Wu Xiangyi's face, "I am looking for a master, not a man."

"Haha." Chongan laughed loudly.

Only when he was beside his daughter could he forget that he was the King of Fenglan.

"Yesterday, a scout reported that they saw the Wei Great General Cao Wuji outside Wangcheng.

These few days, try to go out of the royal palace as little as possible; there might be danger," Chongan said.

"If Cao Wuji wants to come, I am afraid it will be even more dangerous if I stay in the royal palace." Wu Xiangyi revealed a sorrowful expression on her face.

"Sigh." Chongan let out a sigh.

The Saint once said, if a country is small and does not act humbly, it may perish.

However, Fenglan is already very polite and courteous; will it still invite destruction?

In the following few days, Zhao Ran would come to Lin Chao's bookstore to read every day.

The books Zhao Ran read were very miscellaneous, covering all kinds of things, from biographies of wandering knights to stories of scholars and fox spirits.

When Zhao Ran was reading, Lin Chao was also reading, and the two would occasionally discuss things; the days were quiet and good just like that.

"I'm leaving."

"I'll see you home."

It was still the same words.

After seeing Zhao Ran home, Lin Chao did not go home; he went to the bookstore once more.

At this moment, Wu Xiangyi was still standing outside the bookstore.

She saw Lin Chao, and a look of excitement appeared on her face: "Sir!"

Lin Chao responded with a sound, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

"I originally thought the people in the shadows were here for you; I didn't expect that it's possible they are here for both you and me."

"Ah?" Wu Xiangyi was slightly stunned, not understanding what Lin Chao was saying.

Just at this moment, four figures appeared.

These four people exuded an obscure aura; one look and it was clear they were martial artists.

The leader looked toward Lin Chao, a trace of confusion appearing in his gaze: "How did you discover us?"

These four people were none other than the Tai Nan Si Gui.

Originally, they had planned to capture Qi Lin first, then capture Princess Fenglan.

Only in this way would they not alert the Fenglan side.

They did not expect that Qi Lin and Wu Xiangyi would actually be in the same place.

"You are such big targets, naturally I could discover you." Lin Chao's voice was calm, like clouds drifting and wind blowing.

"Big Brother, why waste words with him? Just take him and this girl away directly and send them to Great General Cao Wuji." Beside him, another man spoke.

Lin Chao was slightly stunned: "I don't seem to know Cao Wuji."

He truly did not know Cao Wuji; they had not yet had any dealings.

Why would Cao Wuji want to have someone abduct him?

"Wind and Rain Tower wants you." One of the Tai Nan Si Gui revealed a smile, "Will you obediently surrender, or will you resist a little?"

Beside them, Wu Xiangyi was panicked inside.

At this moment, the guards protecting her had not yet appeared.

I fear she was already in grave danger.

Cao Wuji had really sent experts over!

She looked at Lin Chao, her heart filled with expectation and also panic.

She felt that Qi Mu was not an ordinary person.

But that was only her own perception.

Her good friend told her that Qi Mu was an ordinary person.

Her father the King also felt that Qi Mu was very ordinary.

The Commander of the guards told her that Qi Mu was a Fifth Grade martial artist, not worth mentioning.

However, she was the only one persisting.

Now, with the Tai Nan Si Gui before her, with Wu Xiangyi's discernment, she naturally discovered that these four were experts, and not just ordinary experts.

"If I don't resist, wouldn't life be boring?" Lin Chao spoke calmly.

The Tai Nan Si Gui spoke: "If your father were still alive, perhaps we four would have to be afraid, but you?"

As he spoke, one of the Tai Nan Si Gui instantly attacked Lin Chao.

He was a First-Grade Martial Artist, his speed extremely fast; with every gesture, he could shatter Gold and snap Jade.

An ordinary horse, in terms of speed, could not compare to a First-Grade Martial Artist.

But the next second, this First-Grade Martial Artist's body suddenly stiffened.

One could see a piece of paper fly past, wedged into his chest.

His body fell straight down.

He no longer had any breath.

"Fourth Brother!"

The remaining three of the Tai Nan Si Gui were greatly shocked.

They naturally saw that the youth just now had casually torn a piece of paper from a book page.

He threw it lightly.

An ordinary piece of paper pierced through the body of a First-Grade Expert, killing him in one blow.

Even a Grandmaster could not do this.

"You... who exactly are you?"

Many thoughts flashed through the hearts of the other three.

Could this person not be Qi Mu?

To be able to Slay a First-Grade Expert with paper, I fear only the legendary Heavenly Human could do it.

Could it be that this Qi Mu is a Heavenly Human of Fenglan in Camouflage?

Thinking of this, without any hesitation, the remaining three instantly wanted to flee.

Watching the three, Lin Chao's expression was calm: "Quite a waste of paper."

He tore out three pieces of paper.

The three pieces of paper flew past, and immediately, three corpses landed.

Lin Chao attacked, killing four people with paper.

Four sheets of paper killed two First-Grade Experts and two Grandmasters.

However, Lin Chao did not pay much attention to it.

Legend has it that there are powerful beings who can slaughter hundreds of millions of living creatures with a single sheet of paper.

And that is not even this kind of book paper.

Beside him, Wu Xiangyi's eyes widened.

The scene before her eyes exceeded her expectations.

Her guess was correct, her persistence was correct!

The young man before her was a true hidden expert.

"Do not speak of today's events; I still wish to live a quiet life for the time being," Lin Chao said calmly.

As he grew older, he would only move further and further away from a quiet life.

Finally, he would enjoy a moment of peace once more.

Beside him, Wu Xiangyi's face was full of joy, and she looked at Lin Chao with nothing but admiration: "As you command, Sir. Even if I were threatened by others or subjected to the punishment of the hot iron, I would not speak a single word about today's events!"

Lin Chao smiled: "There is no need to take such a solemn oath."

After speaking, Lin Chao stretched out his hand, retrieved the four pages of paper, and entered the bookstore.

Only Wu Xiangyi remained, her heart still inexplicably shocked.

With this move, the Sir must at least be a Grandmaster, right?

After several dozen breaths, Wu Xiangyi discovered that the guards protecting her had all been hit by soul-bewitching incense and had fallen into a coma.

Clearly, the Tai Nan Si Gui feared causing too great a disturbance, so they had acted in secret.

Soon, Jinyi appeared in the palace to take the four corpses on the ground away.

Due to Wu Xiangyi's involvement, no Jinyi were ignorant enough to come and interrogate Lin Chao.

Regarding the questions from Chongan, Wu Xiangyi also made up a story.

She said that at the time, she saw a monk with hair fighting against the Tai Nan Si Gui, and he ultimately killed the four ghosts.

Fenglangguo also began to have undercurrents surging.

Especially Chongan and the others, who recognized the identities of the Tai Nan Si Gui.

To kill the Tai Nan Si Gui, one must at least be a top-tier expert among Grandmasters, or even a Great Grandmaster expert.

Moreover, based on the injuries and cause of death of the Tai Nan Si Gui, the more information Chongan obtained, the more shocked he became.

Had a true top-tier expert come to Fenglan Royal City?

Why would he help Fenglan?

Or was it that he had a grudge against the Tai Nan Si Gui?

Two days later.

In the morgue.

The scholar in green robes had a worried expression on his face.

Beside him, Cao Wuji frowned, his eyes full of wariness.

Cao Wuji, the Great General of Wei, had actually snuck into the Fenglan Royal Family.

"Sword Qi? Or iron pages?" Cao Wuji looked at the wounds and frowned.

The cause of death of the Tai Nan Si Gui was very strange; the injuries went from the outside in.

On the surface, there were gaps in their chests, but in reality, the meridians and internal organs inside the bodies of the Tai Nan Si Gui were completely shattered.

Even if a Great Luo Immortal appeared, they could not be saved.

"Great General, could it be that Fenglan has a hidden Great Grandmaster expert?" The scholar in green robes could not stop his body from trembling.

He naturally knew the power of the Tai Nan Si Gui.

Two Grandmasters, two First-Grade Experts.

They died cleanly and efficiently.

To be able to achieve this level, one must be a Great Grandmaster expert.

"No," Cao Wuji shook his head, "I cannot perform such a feat."

"What?" The scholar in green robes was shocked.

Cao Wuji could be considered an expert even among Great Grandmasters.

If even Cao Wuji could not do it, then what kind of existence was it that killed the Tai Nan Si Gui?

"Moreover, at the wounds of the Tai Nan Si Gui, I sensed sword moves; it is Jinyu Langjun's Golden Cloud Sword Technique." Cao Wuji closed his eyes slightly.

He thought of the destruction of the Three-Color Pavilion, once the number one assassin organization in the world.

That mysterious expert had only struck once, yet it shook the entire martial arts world.

Among them, on the corpses of the Three-Color Pavilion assassins, countless martial artists comprehended many novel and rare martial arts moves.

Among them, the Three-Color Pavilion Master died specifically by the Golden Cloud Sword Technique.

Now, on the corpses of the Tai Nan Si Gui, Cao Wuji also discovered moves from the Golden Cloud Sword Technique.

"Could it be that Jinyu Langjun is still alive?" Cao Wuji closed his eyes slightly.

He remembered the news he received a year ago that several assassins from the Wind and Rain Tower had died under the Golden Cloud Sword.

"Even if Jinyu Langjun is still alive, he could not be this strong.

The person hiding in Fenglangguo and the expert who destroyed the Three-Color Pavilion are very likely the same person.

Who exactly is he? Is he staying in Fenglan also for the Immortal Corpse Bone?"

A trace of wariness flashed in Cao Wuji's eyes.

Only the unknown is terrifying.

That powerhouse's strength is likely comparable to the legendary Heavenly Human.

Thanks to 【Mo Kuang Sheng Shen】, 【Ge Yue Zhi Fire】, 【Chen Feng, De Ji Yi】, 【Gu Du De Xiao Pang】, and 【Book Friend 160928172851356】 for the tips; thank you all for your support.

(End of this chapter)