The moon hung high as Lin Mu and ng Bai soared beyond the city's edge atop Little Shrubby. The twinkling lights behind them faded into the distance, replaced by the quiet hush of hills cloaked in mist. Pine trees rustled beneath them, and the cool night air whistled past their ears.
"I swear, if one more woman tries to 'accidentally' sit in my lap, I'm going to move into a cave," ng Bai muttered, adjusting his robes for the third ti that evening.
The Young Man was still nervous after having experienced the won's flirtatious actions that seed to hide so nefarious intentions. At first he had thought that they were rely being friendly, then flirty but later he knew there was more to them than the playful facade.
Lin Mu gave a short chuckle. "Consider it a learning experience. Daoist Chu didn't just teach you lines—he taught you to dodge nets."
"Yeah, well, I feel like a fish that flopped out of one net and into another frying pan."
Just as Lin Mu was about to reply, Little Shrubby let out a low growl and abruptly stopped in midair.
"Down there," he said, his ears perking. "People fighting."
The three landed on a ridge overlooking a moonlit clearing. Below them, several figures clashed—three young won in pastel robes wielding slender blades were desperately defending themselves against a group of armored cultivators in dark, jagged armor.
"Surrender your storage treasures, and you may leave with your lives!" one of the attackers shouted.
The won looked exhausted, their spiritual energy visibly flickering around them.
Without hesitation, Lin Mu leapt down from the ridge, his form blurring in a streak of golden light. Before the attackers could even react, he landed between them and the won with a thundering step.
"Back away," Lin Mu said coldly. "You've lost the mont you raised your hand."
The attackers turned, confused—just in ti to be flung back by a sweeping wave of force as Lin Mu lightly flicked his sleeve. The earth cracked beneath his feet, and the n crashed into the trees like leaves in a storm.
Silence fell. Only the wind stirred.
One of the won gasped, her voice breathless. "You saved us…"
ng Bai landed beside Lin Mu monts later, blinking as he watched the dazed attackers groaning in the distance.
The lead woman, who wore a peach-colored sash and a jade pendant at her waist, stepped forward. She gave Lin Mu a deep bow, eyes shimring with gratitude.
"We owe you our lives, Senior," she said sweetly. "Please, allow us to repay you. Our sect is not far—we would be honored if you would visit us and receive proper thanks."
The second woman clasped her hands together, her smile radiant. "We have fine tea, spirit wine, and healing salves. And perhaps we could show you so of our sword dances… if that pleases you."
The third blushed demurely, casting a sidelong glance at ng Bai. "And perhaps your junior disciple might enjoy the company of our younger sisters…"
ng Bai's eyebrow twitched. He leaned toward Lin Mu and whispered, "Master… I don't like this."
"Good," Lin Mu replied softly, without turning his head. "That ans your instincts are finally working."
He let his immortal sense drift further. The attackers had been real cultivators—but strangely, none of them had died. Their strikes were sloppy, coordinated just enough to appear threatening, but not truly dangerous.
A play.
Lin Mu smiled thinly and turned toward the won. "Your offer is generous, but we are on a journey and cannot delay."
"But surely—" the lead woman began.
Lin Mu's gaze sharpened.
Suddenly, the ground behind them trembled. A rune flickered briefly in the clearing, revealing a hidden formation—one ant to ensnare or perhaps teleport.
The won froze. Their smiles cracked.
Lin Mu stepped forward, his tone turning to iron. "Drop the act. The only thanks I want is for you to explain who sent you."
The three won imdiately stepped back, their charm evaporating like mist. The one in peach let out a small sigh and shook her head.
"We were told you might see through it. But we had to try."
"Try what, exactly?" ng Bai asked, hand on his sword hilt now.
"To lure you," the second woman said bluntly. "To our mistress. She wants to et you… and is very, very interested in the Lotus Temple's golden prodigy."
Hearing this Lin Mu wondered just how they had found out about his departure and how they knew exactly who he was. He had thought that news about him had long since died down.
Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. "And if I refused?"
"She told us not to force you," the third woman said. "But we were told… that others might not be so gentle."
A soft cracking sound echoed nearby. Lin Mu's spiritual sense snapped to attention.
From the surrounding forest, shadows began to stir—more figures, so cloaked, others shrouded in veils of cursed energy that clung like ash. And deeper within the woods, he sensed sothing more dangerous still.
Lin Mu sighed.
"Should've known. Too neat. Too tily. Too theatrical."
He looked to ng Bai. "Ready to cut the curtain?"
"With pleasure," ng Bai said, drawing his spear.
Little Shrubby growled, his body already shifting, red fur bristling with heat.
Lin Mu turned back to the won. "You've delivered your ssage. Now get out of the way—unless you're ready to face the consequences."
The lead woman hesitated, her lips tightening. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she and her companions vanished in a shimr of illusion—slipping into the formation and disappearing from view.
A heartbeat later, the true ambush began.
From the trees ca dark cultivators, their bodies marred with flickering black veins of cursed energy, eyes dim and wrong. No words, no negotiation—just the hissing howl of attacks unleashed in tandem.
Lin Mu's aura flared to life like a miniature sun.
ng Bai stood ready, his breathing steady.
"Looks like we're popular now," the young man muttered.
Lin Mu smiled calmly. "Then let's give them a show worth rembering."
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