Volume One: The Revival of All Things, Spring in Every Season Chapter Fifty-Two: The Battle Ends, Long-Awaited Intimacy

A strange aura invaded his body, and the sword energy within Mo Wen reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, instantly entangling itself with the eerie presence. At that moment, Mo Wen felt his soul in turmoil; he mobilized the sword energy to fiercely guard his consciousness, refusing to let the sinister aura penetrate even a fraction deeper.

“Ah!” With a painful roar, Mo Wen looked at Lin Xi approaching and shouted hoarsely, “Stay back!”

Lin Xi halted, her heart twisting with anguish. The others, now freed from the entanglement of the bizarre aura, gradually regained their senses. Zhao Tiansheng raised his long sword, and with a sweeping strike severed the head of the Lin family’s Great Master. Another blow shattered his consciousness.

The body of the Lin family’s Great Master toppled backwards like worthless straw; the gaping wound at his neck did not spill a single drop of blood. Flesh and blood had long been corroded by the strange substance, leaving only black, crumbling bone.

The eerie Great Master dissolved into countless tendrils of sinister aura, wreaking havoc within Mo Wen and the coal ball. At last, the coal ball succeeded in absorbing and digesting the invading aura. Meanwhile, Mo Wen’s sword energy guarded his bloodline and consciousness with unwavering strength, locked in a stalemate. The coal ball flew over to assist him.

Suddenly, the bizarre aura departed from Mo Wen’s body of its own accord, coalescing in the air into a mass of black mist, which screeched resentfully: “Just wait! When our lord returns, every human will be nothing but food!”

With that, the black mist darted away at incredible speed. The coal ball chased after it; after the mist exited the banquet hall, it vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.

“He still escaped!” Lin Wudao felt a lingering fear; though their plan had been meticulous, they overlooked the eerie Great Master. If not for Mo Wen and the coal ball, everyone would have perished!

Faced with the strange presence, ordinary techniques and secret arts were utterly useless.

Mo Wen collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Lin Xi, heart aching, gathered him into her arms. Mo Wen was surprised to discover that perhaps because his sword energy was transformed from Buddhist inner energy, it exerted a restraining effect on the strange substances; otherwise, he would have been consumed long ago.

At that moment, a group of people arrived, descending from the skies. After landing, they saluted Lin Wudao: “Father, the main base of the Zhuo family has been wiped out. Many are dead, and the rest have been captured. This is a resounding victory!”

It turned out the Lin family had made two arrangements. At Yanshan Villa, they lured the Zhuo family’s Great Master into a trap and killed him, while the other six sons of the Lin family attacked the Zhuo family’s stronghold.

In this way, the Zhuo family was uprooted entirely.

Feeling fully recovered, Mo Wen stood up, his expression once again carefree and unruly.

“We owe much to Brother Mo this time. The Lin family is grateful!”

Mo Wen was stunned. Lin Wudao called him ‘Brother’—didn’t that make him two generations senior to Lin Xi? Or perhaps, from now on, each would address the other separately: I’d call you my wife, you call me grandfather?

He dismissed these absurd thoughts as Lin Wudao personally bowed to thank him, and Mo Wen did not pretend to be aloof.

“What I seek, the Lin family knows well. Also, there are many ways to lure out the Zhuo family’s Great Master—why choose this method?”

Seeing Mo Wen’s lingering resentment over the Zhuo family’s engagement, Lin Wudao’s old face blushed with embarrassment. Lin Xi hid behind Mo Wen, tracing circles in his palm, as if urging him to let go of his anger.

Zhao Tiansheng raised his eyebrows at Mo Wen, giving him a hint. Mo Wen instantly understood and began to extort Lin Wudao: “Master Lin, I came to attend the wedding banquet, yet the food and drink have not even been served, and you all started fighting. I am truly famished!”

Zhao Tiansheng smacked his forehead, silently cursing Mo Wen’s foolishness. If Mo Wen had asked Lin Wudao to approve his marriage to Lin Xi now, how could he refuse? But instead, this lad was thinking about tricking Lin Wudao for wine!

Zhao Tiansheng was both amused and exasperated.

Lin Wudao gladly seized the opportunity, laughing, “Come, let’s dine in the side hall. Tianci, fetch a few jars of good wine!”

Soon, they were seated, exchanging toasts as the aroma of wine filled the air. During the meal, Lin Wudao praised Mo Wen continuously, calling him a leader among the younger generation, and encouraged Lin Yaoheng to foster a closer relationship with him.

Lin Xi drank quite a bit, lively throughout the banquet. With each cup, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmered with charm, and she would occasionally rub against Mo Wen.

Before long, Lin Xi was obviously drunk. Lin Tianci several times wanted to scold her, but seeing Lin Wudao unconcerned, he held back. Soon, Lin Xi could not even stand and, in front of everyone, lay asleep in Mo Wen’s arms.

“This…” Mo Wen spread his hands in helplessness. His young brother-in-law, Lin Guoguo, had long wished to leave the scene and said, “Brother-in-law, take my sister back to her bedroom. I’ll show you the way!”

Mo Wen was glad for the suggestion, so he carried Lin Xi and followed Lin Guoguo. Lin Tianci seemed uneasy and wanted to intervene, but Lin Wudao rebuked him: “Seventh, you still don’t see it—children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. You couldn’t even defeat Zhuo’s fourth, and your cultivation has stagnated for years. If not for Mo Wen’s help, you’d be dead by now! Why fuss over these things?”

Lin Tianci smiled bitterly, downing his cup. Perhaps, as a father, he could never quite see through Mo Wen, and so harbored resentment.

After many twists and turns, guided by Lin Guoguo, they arrived at Lin Xi’s boudoir. The spacious suite was fully equipped, even boasting a small gym and cinema.

Mo Wen laid Lin Xi on the bed and turned to the dazed Lin Guoguo. Guoguo drew out his words with a long “Oh,” then grinned, “Brother-in-law, take good care of my sister. I’m off!”

Guoguo was clever beyond his years. Mo Wen smiled, tucked Lin Xi under the covers, and was about to fetch some water when, unexpectedly, Lin Xi sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Trying to run? I’ve been hungry for so long—let’s see where you go!”

Lin Xi’s breath was fragrant as she whispered in Mo Wen’s ear, showing not a trace of drunkenness.

He had been careless, falling into the trap of this enchantress!

A thread of sword energy shot from his fingertip, quietly closing the bedroom door as the two sank together onto the bed.

Separated for so long, their longing was unbearable.

Like rain after drought, they clung close, waves of passion surging, crashing against the shore, ebbing only after a long while.

After the wild storm came tranquil warmth. Nestled together at the head of the bed, they poured out their hearts. Mo Wen spoke lightly of the events after their parting; when he mentioned Mi Lu, Lin Xi’s jealousy flared. She gripped Mo Wen’s most vulnerable spot and said angrily, “That friend of mine is utterly infatuated with you! Behave yourself—don’t go flirting, or else… or else…”

“Or else what?” Mo Wen laughed softly, following her words.

Lin Xi was momentarily tongue-tied. She had meant to say she’d ignore him forever, but knew it was self-deception. Her eyes rolled, and she ground her teeth, threatening, “Or else I’ll bite it off!”

With that, Lin Xi moved again, slowly lowering herself. Mo Wen felt a gentle, jade-like warmth, the sensation spurring him back into action.

Such wild, absurd hours lasted all night. When Mo Wen next saw Lin Tianci, Tianci was helpless, wanting to say something but swallowing his words, only telling Mo Wen that Zhao Tiansheng had already returned to the Devil’s Metropolis.

The implication was clear: Mo Wen should leave as well. But Lin Xi cheerfully said, “Dad, we’re preparing to return to the Devil’s Metropolis too!”

Fine, daughters are hard to keep at home, Tianci thought, resigned.

At that moment, Zhao Tiansheng suddenly called. Mo Wen quickly answered.

“Hurry back to the Devil’s Metropolis—don’t linger in the land of tenderness. Something unexpected has happened. We’ll discuss it face to face when you return!”