Chapter Thirty-Six: Mysterious Visitor, News from the North

The sun rose higher, and the mist in the bamboo forest had long since dispersed.

After Lin Xuan finished the breakfast sent by Old Wu, he did not continue to Cultivate. Instead, he sat quietly in the courtyard, waiting for that "visitor from the north." Old Wu's words had been vague, but he could sense that today's matter would likely be extraordinary.

Wang Mang and Li Dali had also been called out by him. The three of them sat together at the stone table in the courtyard, chatting idly. Though it was called chatting, in reality, both of them were tense, their eyes glancing toward the courtyard gate from time to time.

"Brother Lin, do you think that visitor might be sent by the Yunni Sect?" Wang Mang asked in a low voice.

Lin Xuan shook his head. "If it were someone from the Yunni Sect, Old Wu wouldn't have said 'don't be in a hurry to refuse, but don't be in a hurry to agree either.'"

Li Dali was thoughtful. "Does Brother Lin mean... this visitor might be here to talk about cooperation?"

"It's possible." Lin Xuan picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Or they could be here to test the waters."

"Test the waters?" Wang Mang scratched his head. "Test what?"

Lin Xuan didn't answer, his gaze shifting toward the courtyard gate.

Because at this moment, a series of light footsteps came from outside the gate.

The footsteps were very light, yet they carried a unique rhythm, as if every step landed on a certain beat. Immediately after, a crisp, pleasant female voice, tinged with a bit of lazy amusement, rang out:

"Is Young Master Lin in? This humble one has taken the liberty of visiting. I wonder if it is convenient?"

Wang Mang and Li Dali exchanged glances, both stunned.

A woman?

Lin Xuan stood up and said calmly, "Please come in."

The courtyard gate was gently pushed open.

A graceful figure walked in.

The visitor was about twenty years old, dressed in a plain white long dress with a light green gauze outer robe. She wore a jade belt around her waist, and her jet-black hair was casually tied in a simple bun, held by a green jade hairpin. Her face was extremely beautiful, her features like a painting, with a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Her entire being exuded a lazy and composed temperament.

Her cultivation... Lin Xuan's gaze narrowed slightly. He couldn't see through it. But that faint sense of pressure was at least at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, or perhaps even higher.

Behind the woman followed an ordinary-looking middle-aged man with a restrained aura, dressed in gray, silent like a shadow. His cultivation was also at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, but his eyes flashed with an extremely subtle glint as they swept over Lin Xuan.

"This humble one, Liu Yanran, greets Young Master Lin." The woman gave a graceful bow, her eyes sizing up Lin Xuan for a moment, a trace of imperceptible admiration flashing through them. "I have long heard of Young Master Lin's great name. Seeing you today, it is indeed well-deserved."

Lin Xuan returned the salute, his expression calm. "Miss Liu overpraises me. Please, have a seat."

Liu Yanran was not formal and sat down gracefully. The gray-clad man stood silently three steps behind her, like a statue.

Wang Mang and Li Dali hurriedly stood up and tactfully retreated to the side.

"These two are..." Liu Yanran looked at Wang Mang and the other, curiosity in her gaze.

"My companions," Lin Xuan said plainly.

Liu Yanran smiled slightly and asked no more. She took a Jade Slip from her sleeve and placed it on the stone table.

"Young Master Lin, my sudden visit today is at someone's request, to bring Young Master a message." She pushed the Jade Slip toward Lin Xuan. "Young Master, please have a look."

Lin Xuan took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

A moment later, he looked up, his gaze narrowing slightly.

The information in the Jade Slip was very brief, but it carried immense weight:

"Zhao Yuanqing of the Yunni Sect has contacted three Sects of the Northern Region, intending to jointly pressure Bailian Villa to force them to hand over Lin Xuan. Additionally, after the collapse of the Black Wind Ridge ruins, abnormal fluctuations in the earth's veins have attracted attention from various parties. Several forces have already begun investigating the inside story of the ruins in secret. Young Master's name has already entered the eyes of certain people. Please be cautious."

At the signature was a unique mark—the silhouette of a nine-story pavilion.

Lin Xuan looked at Liu Yanran: "Xuanji Pavilion?"

A flash of surprise crossed Liu Yanran's eyes, followed by a deeper smile. "Young Master has a good eye. Indeed, I am from the Northern Region Branch of the Xuanji Pavilion. For Young Master to recognize our pavilion's mark at a glance, it seems you are not entirely ignorant of the forces in the Northern Region."

Lin Xuan did not reply. He simply placed the Jade Slip on the table and looked at her calmly. "The Xuanji Pavilion is the number one intelligence force in the Northern Region. It has always only done business and never involved itself in grudges. For Miss Liu to visit in person, it shouldn't just be to deliver this single Jade Slip, right?"

Liu Yanran covered her mouth and chuckled, her laughter as pleasant as silver bells. "Young Master Lin is indeed straightforward. In that case, I won't beat around the bush."

She tucked away her smile and said seriously, "Our Xuanji Pavilion is quite interested in what Young Master obtained in the Black Wind Ridge ruins. Of course, it's not to snatch it, but... we wish to make a deal with Young Master."

"A deal?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed." Liu Yanran nodded. "Does Young Master know the true origin of the Legacy you obtained in the Black Wind Ridge ruins that day?"

Lin Xuan remained silent.

Liu Yanran didn't mind and continued on her own, "In ancient times, the Martial Dao flourished, and Body Cultivators were rampant. Those 'Ancient God Martial Training Grounds' were one of the top training grounds for Body Cultivators at that time. Those who could enter to undergo trials were all heavenly geniuses. And those who could walk out of the inner Forbidden Ground alive and obtain the recognition of the Legacy..." She paused, looking at Lin Xuan with burning eyes, "In ten thousand years, there have been no more than ten people."

Lin Xuan's heart jolted. No more than ten people? This number far exceeded his expectations.

"So, Young Master should understand that what you carry is not just a Legacy." Liu Yanran's voice became solemn. "It is a piece of Karma, an ancient Karma that stands in opposition to the entire system of the Immortal Dao. Once targeted by certain people, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Lin Xuan looked at her, his gaze deep. "What deal does the Xuanji Pavilion want to make with me?"

Liu Yanran smiled slightly. "It's very simple. Our Xuanji Pavilion can provide Young Master with intelligence support, helping Young Master avoid risks, and even provide protection at critical moments. And what Young Master needs to do is simply... at an appropriate time, allow the people in my pavilion to study certain methods within that Legacy. That is all."

"Study?" Lin Xuan's gaze turned slightly cold. "Miss Liu's words are a bit too casual."

Liu Yanran was not angry, she just sighed. "Young Master has misunderstood. Although our Xuanji Pavilion does intelligence business, we never force anyone. The 'study' I mentioned is not for Young Master to hand over the Legacy, but... after Young Master's cultivation is successful, to allow several Elders in my pavilion who specialize in Body Refining to observe Young Master in action, or to spar and exchange ideas with Young Master. That is all."

She looked at Lin Xuan, her eyes full of sincerity. "Our Xuanji Pavilion has stood for a thousand years, relying on the word 'reputation.' If Young Master does not believe me, you can first cooperate with our pavilion once, see the results, and then decide whether to continue."

Lin Xuan was silent for a long time before slowly saying, "I need time to consider."

"Of course." Liu Yanran stood up, took a small jade talisman from her sleeve, and placed it on the table. "This is a Communication Jade Talisman. If Young Master makes up his mind, just inject a trace of spiritual power, and I will naturally know. Regardless of what decision Young Master makes, the information in this Jade Slip can be considered a meeting gift from our pavilion."

She turned to leave. When she reached the courtyard gate, she suddenly stopped, looked back at Lin Xuan, and a meaningful smile curled on her lips:

"By the way, I almost forgot to tell Young Master—that Su Qingyue has recently been placed under house arrest by the Yunni Sect. It is said that there seems to be some incredible secret within her body that has attracted the attention of the Sect's high-level officials. If Young Master still has a trace of old affection for her, you might want to pay more attention."

After saying that, she departed gracefully.

The gray-clad man followed silently, and their figures soon disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest.

A brief silence fell over the courtyard.

Wang Mang scratched his head, his face full of confusion. "Brother Lin, that Su Qingyue... isn't she the one who broke off the engagement with you? What happened to her?"

Li Dali had a solemn expression. "Brother Lin, the Xuanji Pavilion's proposal..."

Lin Xuan raised his hand, stopping their words. He looked at the jade talisman in his hand, his gaze deep.

Xuanji Pavilion, intelligence deals, Su Qingyue under house arrest...

The news brought by this Liu Yanran was much more than he had imagined.

And her last sentence—was it a well-intentioned reminder, or did she have other motives?

He didn't know.

But one thing was clear to him—from now on, he, Lin Xuan, had been completely drawn into this intricate chess game of the Northern Region.

And chess pieces always have only two outcomes:

Being eaten, or... becoming the chess player.

He tucked the jade talisman into his robe and looked toward the north.

That was the direction of the Yunni Sect.

Su Qingyue...

He thought of that cold figure who had stepped forward on the day of the public trial to testify for him, and remembered her words "I'm sorry" and "Thank you" before she left.

If she really fell into a predicament because of him...

Lin Xuan's gaze gradually became sharp.

(End of Chapter 36, Volume 2)

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[Next Chapter Preview]: The visit of the Xuanji Pavilion's messenger, Liu Yanran, brought a series of startling news—the Yunni Sect's alliance with three Sects to exert pressure, the Black Wind Ridge ruins attracting attention from multiple parties, and Su Qingyue being placed under house arrest due to a secret within her body. Lin Xuan faces a new choice: to cooperate with the Xuanji Pavilion in exchange for intelligence and protection, or to rely on himself and walk alone through the undercurrents? And how will the change in Su Qingyue's situation affect his decision? Next chapter: Weighing the Pros and Cons, a Visitor in the Dark Night!