Return the book

The scene of yesterday's farewell is still vivid in my mind, but today I see Liu Xubai strolling around on the street.

On the cobblestone street where the morning mist had not yet dissipated, Liu Xubai, still wearing the same red dress as yesterday, ran towards the two, waving and shouting, "What a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you here."

The two nodded slightly. They really hadn't expected to run into her in the city. They thought she was going back to Qiling City to report yesterday.

When she reached the two men, she explained, "I was supposed to go back to report yesterday, but I didn't have enough silver to compensate the shopkeeper."

The city magistrate was willing to help with the compensation, but she found it difficult to accept that it would be paid with the money of a corrupt official.

Liu Xubai looked at his toes. "So, the current situation is that Fan Qingdu will take that evil cultivator back to Qiling City to report. I will stay here for another day to wait for someone to send the money."

Sang Zhao left in a hurry and didn't have much silver on him, so he didn't ask how much money was still owed.

Lin Yunwang then thought of the Jingyin Sect's hidden agents here. Did Qiling City not have any? However, as an outsider, it was really inappropriate for her to ask this question, so she swallowed her doubts about the hidden agents.

For a moment, silence enveloped the three of them.

By the time someone spoke, Liu Xubai had already scraped a small crater in the ground.

"My senior brother and I are going to the library to return some books. Would you like to come with us?"

Liu Xubai, having nothing else to do, gladly agreed to go along.

However, the three of them were turned away.

The library doors were tightly shut.

Lin Yun and the other two stepped onto the stone steps. The door studs rippled with the knocking, and the knocking sounded even louder in the quiet environment, but no one opened the door.

Strange, the library used to open on time every day.

"Perhaps something has come up; let's come another day."

After waiting for a while without any movement from inside, Lin Yun turned to leave. She thought she would stay here for a few more days and wasn't in a hurry to return the book.

Their master, who had been urging them to return to the sect as soon as possible, had gone on another journey, so they had more time to stay here.

Most importantly, she hadn't figured out how to talk to the village chief.

Just as the group turned to leave, the door suddenly opened, and an extremely thin and fair-skinned woman stepped out, bowed, and said, "The master invites you to a chat."

Yunwang had visited the library a few times, but this was his first time in the backyard.

The backyard wasn't large, but it was quite charming. The paths were all paved with cobblestones, and bamboo, plum trees, and crabapple trees were planted along the way.

But it was an awkward time of year; the plum blossoms had long since faded, the crabapple blossoms had not yet opened, and only green bamboo adorned the courtyard. However, the rustling of the bamboo leaves in the spring breeze created a unique charm.

The owner strolled to the eaves, the dappled bamboo shadows reflecting on his moon-white robes, adding a touch of flair to his plain attire.

"In another half month, the crabapple blossoms will be in full bloom." He raised his hand to push aside the withered branches. "At that time, I hope to enjoy the crabapple blossoms with you all."

Yun nodded and smiled slightly in response.

Bathed in the morning light, the cobblestone path appeared even smoother.

She followed him into the inner room.

Sang and Liu wanted to follow, but were stopped by a maid. She bowed her head and said in a cold tone, "Please forgive us, distinguished guests, but the master and Miss Lin have important matters to discuss. Please wait."

As Lin Yun turned back, he gave Sang Zhao a reassuring look.

"Refreshments and tea have been prepared in the side hall. We hope you two will do us the honor." The maid stepped aside with neither servility nor arrogance. "This way, please."

Seeing the two go to the side hall, Yun Wang turned around and said with a hint of teasing, "Don't you feel lonely with only the master and a maid in the mansion?"

"What do you mean? Miss Lin, after seeing the beautiful scenery in the courtyard, would you like to move in as well?"

Upon hearing this address, she raised an eyebrow. She had indeed heard the maid address her as Miss Lin.

Using the act of turning her head to avoid the light to conceal the sharp glint in her eyes, she had never revealed her name to this person.

Lin Yun's smile widened. "Not at all. What I asked just now was just a joke. If the master minds, I apologize and hope you will forgive me."

Passing through the beaded curtain, you enter the main hall.

Tea and snacks were prepared on the table, and the incense burner was exceptionally clean, without a trace of incense ash.

“Since it was a joke, let’s not take it to heart. There are two servants at home who went to the market to buy groceries today.” He looked at the sun outside the window and estimated the time. “I don’t think we’ll run into them today.”

"If we are destined to meet, we will meet again."

The owner picked up the purple clay teapot and filled it to about seven-tenths full. The rich aroma of tea filled the room, giving people a sense of tranquility and joy.

"It would have been impolite of me to introduce myself upon first meeting." He raised his teacup to offer tea to Lin Yunwang, the rim of the cup stopping three inches below his lips, his gaze piercing through the rising steam. "Jiang Yanchi, a man from the northern frontier."

Yunwang's teacup trembled slightly. "Lin Yunwang also comes from the northern frontier."

The setting sun casts bamboo shadows onto the blue brick ground, as if someone had carefully sketched them.

"We were so engrossed in chatting that we forgot about the important matter." Lin Yun took out "The Love Story of the Demon Lord Immortal Cultivator" from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "I've come to bother you today to return the book."

Jiang Yanchi paused in his tea-drinking motion. "Young friend, have you finished reading?"

Seeing Lin Yun nod, he asked again, "What are your thoughts?"

“Too much wishful thinking.” She answered mercilessly, Yun’s fingertips tracing the worn spine of the book. “To put it mildly, it’s a ridiculous dream.”

"Ah..." The person in front of me swayed his wrist almost imperceptibly as he held the teapot, and the tea spilling from the spout onto the table was quite noticeable.

She looked up at the curator, her eyes scrutinizing him. "Has Curator Jiang read this?"

Under her sharp gaze, Jiang Yanchi admitted, "I have read through all the books in the library."

"So what are your thoughts?" she pressed.

"...I can't remember." Master Jiang suddenly covered his mouth and coughed lightly.

Lin Yun took the teapot and poured tea for him, but the tea was getting cold.

"However, it is written with genuine emotion, and it left me with a bittersweet feeling after reading it. In terms of emotional description, it is a fine work." After saying this, she looked at him with a smile.

The coughing stopped after a while.

“I had never heard of such an insight before.” He gently stroked the book cover, his face showing a hint of fondness, a far cry from his previous claim that he couldn’t remember.

"You are destined to have this book, and I would like to give it to you."

As Jiang Yanchi pushed the storybook across the table, a dried ginkgo leaf bookmark slipped off. He picked it up, placed it on the book, and gave it to her.

Lin Yun waved his hands repeatedly, politely declining, saying, "A gentleman does not take what others cherish."

"This is also one of my wishes. If it were with you, it might just be a storybook, but with me, it would only turn to ashes."

Hearing this, Lin Yunwang had no choice but to accept it. "I hope that when we meet again someday, I can share my new insights with you and return this book to its rightful owner."

According to Liu Xubai, the evil cultivator had already confessed that he had secretly learned the secret techniques of the demon race and handed over the book containing the demon race's spells. In addition, the barrier was not damaged, and the demon race was still sealed.

According to historical records, the Demon Lord had already perished.

There will never be another Demon Lord in the world.

Based solely on the effectiveness of the Rejuvenation Pill and Lin Yun's own conjecture, naturally no one believed it.

Could the person before me be a witness to the past? Otherwise, how could their appearance be so coincidental? And why are their whereabouts so mysterious?

Yun Wang had already spent too much effort on the previous probing, but she still had many questions, and a little irritation was inevitable between her brows.

Just as she was about to say something, the sound of Sang Zhao and Liu Xubai arguing suddenly came from the side hall.

"I shall take my leave now."

As Yun turned to leave, he heard Jiang Yanchi say behind him, "Young friend, have you ever seen the crabapple blossoms under the moon? They are truly beautiful."

The three of them went out the gate together, and Lin Yun's face still had a somewhat solemn expression.

"I'm sorry, I saw you were gone for a long time and didn't come back, so I couldn't help but worry." Liu Xubai quickly caught up with Yun Wang. "Fellow Daoist Sang always says that I should trust you, but I didn't agree, which is why we had an argument."

"It was my fault for acting improperly." Her fingertips hooked the tassels on her clothes, and she looked very ashamed.

Lin Yun shook his head slightly and said, "It's not because of that. I know you're worried about my safety. I was just returning the books, which I've already done. I just wanted to chat with some people for a while."

Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something more. However, the two people beside her were a person from Qiling City and someone who had unwavering faith in the document issued by Immortal Venerable Qiming.

The words of doubt weighed heavily on my throat, but eventually turned into a wisp of mist on my lips and dissipated into the rising mountain mist.

Seeing that she wasn't angry about it, Liu Xubai returned to his previous lively self.

In the twilight, Lin Yun observed Liu Xubai more closely than ever before.

Her phoenix eyes, slanted upwards towards her temples, resembled black jade immersed in cold stars, yet at the corners of her eyes lay a barely perceptible curve.

Whenever she gazes intently, her eyes are like frost-covered blades drawn from their sheaths.

Perhaps it was these eyes that made her appear so heroic.

Yun looked at her more and more and more, and felt that her appearance was somewhat familiar, but no matter what he did, he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

However, he has an interesting personality and is a nice person.

Suddenly, he recalled the way she looked when they first met, drunk and tipsy under the moon, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

As dusk approached, a sword-like aura suddenly pierced through the clouds on the horizon.

Lin Yun looked intently and saw that the point of light instantly transform into a figure in a green robe fluttering in the wind.

“I originally wanted to take you around to experience the local customs and culture… but it seems a bit too late,” she said to Liu Xubai with a hint of regret.

The newcomer was Fan Qingdu. The brocade pouch with gold and copper coin patterns hanging from his waist belt swayed incessantly with the movement of his sword, completely shattering the aloofness of the immortal and adding a touch of humanity.

"Why is it you?" Liu Xubai took a half step back and pointed at him. He seemed very reluctant to have him come.

As Fan Qingdu pressed down the sword incantation, the silver coins in his purse jingled incessantly.

"By order of the Immortal Venerable Qiming." His tone was as cold and aloof as yesterday.

No one else wanted to take on this shameful task, but Fan Qingdu didn't care; he just didn't want to make the trip again.

Faced with the predicament that no one was willing to come, Immortal Venerable Qiming was speechless and had no choice but to order Fan Qingdu, who had accepted the mission along with Liu Xubai, to come.

“If it were someone else, I could have a few more days to travel with you,” Liu Xubai whispered in Yunwang’s ear. “But if this regional envoy comes, don’t even think about it.”

The disdain in his tone was palpable.

Fan Qingdu seemed oblivious to this, lowering his eyes to weigh the money pouch.

He had read countless military books in the Gui Cang Tower in Qiming City, and he could even recite the classics from memory.

Military strategy and spiritual practice permeated his life, which led him to regard "human relationships" as the most useless and redundant thing in the world.

Just then, as the mountain wind carried Liu Xubai's complaints past his ears, he suddenly stopped—recalling this mission, he had already made many exceptions.

Perhaps, as the Immortal Venerable Qiming said, he was a sentimental person. His gaze unconsciously fell on the waist token that originally belonged to him, and then a faint smile appeared on his face, but only for a moment.

"They're gone."