Chapter 721: The Escaping Youth

Chapter 721: The Escaping Youth

In the twenty-first century, there was a saying: “Today’s bricks are extraordinarily hot; I hope a rich lady sees through my pretense, helps me drop my façade, and steps into her thousand-square-meter heart.”

And now, Lin Nuo had met one.

Liu Shuqin, the rich lady, the young lady of the General’s Liu Family. While not as rich as a country, her wealth was considerable—she was the very definition of a wealthy woman.

But this rich lady was different from the one in the saying.

She was young, beautiful, understanding, gentle, and virtuous. Rather than a teasing rich lady, she was more like a celestial being descended to Earth.

She saw through Lin Nuo’s pretense, recognizing the grievance hidden beneath his aloof exterior.

After all this time, aside from his mother, she was the first person to say such a thing to him.

In that moment, he felt moved.

However, he couldn’t act like a whiny person, crying his eyes out. After all these years of concealing his past, it was no different now.

Lin Nuo remained silent, not speaking. If he were to express his grievance, it truly was considerable, but after enduring it for so long, he had become accustomed to it.

Seeing Lin Nuo’s silence, Liu Shuqin felt she had guessed correctly; he possessed a powerful inner strength and skill, likely born from countless hardships along his path.

“Junior Martial Brother, should you bear it all alone, it will be very tough. Though I’m nowhere near your level, I still wish to share your burdens. You must have gone through something. If you feel wronged, you can tell me. I just want to see a happy Junior Martial Brother.”

Liu Shuqin’s delicate hand continued to gently stroke Lin Nuo’s cheek, and he lifted his hand, softly grasping hers.

“It’s already enough. Just saying this is enough. I’m very grateful to you. But you can’t understand this; no need to ask more.”

“If you don’t express your grievances, how can I understand?”

“Alright, that’s enough. I’m not a child anymore. If nothing’s wrong, please go back.”

“Junior Martial Brother, do you remember this ring?”

Liu Shuqin extended her hand toward Lin Nuo, the silver ring on her ring finger gleaming softly, rich in luster.

“I remember. I gave it to you.”

“Then Junior Martial Brother, do you still have your ring?”

Lin Nuo was momentarily taken aback. While he didn’t wear the silver ring, he kept it in his clothing.

It was nothing; he just felt that if hidden away, he might not find it again.

He didn’t hide it from Liu Shuqin and pulled the silver ring out from his clothes.

“Here it is. Do you want it back?”

“No, no, how could I take it back? Junior Martial Brother, why don’t you wear it?”

“No need. It’s a hassle to wear it while out and about,” Lin Nuo said coldly.

“Then, Junior Martial Brother, would you be willing to wear it now?”

“Not willing.”

“Why not? Just wear it for a moment.”

“No need; wearing it won’t make you fly.”

“No, can’t you?”

Liu Shuqin put on a pitiful look, saying the four words that Lin Nuo found hard to refuse.

Can’t you?

He wanted to say it was impossible, but subconsciously he rejected the thought.

It was quite frustrating.

Moreover, she had just perceived his grievances; it made it even harder to refuse.

Unable to withstand Liu Shuqin, he ultimately compromised.

“Fine, fine, just for a moment.”

Lin Nuo reluctantly put the silver ring on his finger. He wasn’t married, but he didn’t want to wear it on his ring finger. Yet, at Liu Shuqin’s insistence, he relented.

These small matters were truly hard to refuse; if it had to be worn, then so be it.

“How fitting! Junior Martial Brother, it fits perfectly on your ring finger.”

Liu Shuqin held Lin Nuo’s hand, with two silver rings shining on their ring fingers. Liu Shuqin’s delicate, fair hand contrasted sharply with Lin Nuo’s rough hand, which also bore scars.

“Junior Martial Brother’s training is really strenuous.”

Liu Shuqin lifted Lin Nuo’s hand and placed it against her face. His hand was rough and a bit cold, but she didn’t mind.

If she could give him a bit of warmth, she would do her best. Perhaps this was the small thing she could manage.

She closed her eyes, her cheek against Lin Nuo’s palm, once fantasizing that perhaps this way, she could understand her Junior Martial Brother better.

Lin Nuo didn’t withdraw his hand, allowing her to do as she pleased, their silver rings emitting a faint glow.

However, at that moment, Liu Shuqin’s mind conjured a scene:

“He has turned to dark magic? He has developed a Demon Spirit?”

“Yes, and injured other disciples. He has been discovered and escaped from Tianling Mountain.”

“This is a serious matter. He shouldn’t have gone far; we must bring him back.”

This was the report from a Xuanyun Sect disciple to the elders. Only a few members remained in the sect, having left Tianling Mountain to pursue the fugitive mentioned.

At that moment, another scene appeared in her mind:

A youth, fleeing chaotically through the forest, panting heavily, glancing back frequently.

Liu Shuqin recognized him at a glance; it was Lin Nuo, but he didn’t appear aloof—he resembled how he did before setting out to Wind Sea Forest, a bit innocent.

He was running, desperately fleeing, even with blood flowing from his wounds, he continued to escape.

“Junior Martial Brother!”

Liu Shuqin called out, but her voice did not reach Lin Nuo’s ears; like in the previous dream, she was just an observer, watching everything unfold.

The boy, exhausted from running, leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.

“I didn’t turn to dark magic! I didn’t! Why are you chasing me? Those disciples weren’t injured by me…”

The boy clutched his head in frustration, clueless about what he had done wrong to be branded as a dark sorcerer.

As for the injured disciples, the power that surged within him had erupted unexpectedly, and he had no knowledge of it.

It would have been fine if he remained an inconspicuous disciple of the Xuanyun Sect, but now this incident forced him to flee and be pursued.

“Why does no one believe me… why…”

He muttered to himself, even as his body grew weary, he could only keep running. Otherwise, he would be captured, and being taken back would only lead to a dead end.

As he ran, he encountered Zhao Kuo’s intercepting forces.

“Capture him!”

Zhao Kuo commanded, and the experts he brought immediately moved in. But the youth suddenly unleashed his Demon Soul Power, causing the experts to find it difficult to approach him. They could only gradually close in, trying to wear him out.

“There’s no other choice; I can only…”

Summoning his courage, the boy jumped into the raging river, swept away by the fierce waters.

At that moment, all the scenes faded from Liu Shuqin’s mind, leaving her with nothing more.

She reopened her eyes.

What was that?

She was unsure, but she looked at Lin Nuo and felt that it was extraordinary.

Could it be connected to the previous dream? Was there some hidden meaning?

Misunderstood, being pursued, exhausted yet still running, even jumping into the river.

This was strikingly reminiscent of what Junior Martial Brother had described before.

Did that mean he really experienced this?

Lin Nuo noticed Liu Shuqin’s unease. She was staring at him intently.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Liu Shuqin did not respond and immediately hugged Lin Nuo.

“It’s okay, Junior Martial Brother. I’m here; everything is fine.”