Chapter 746: The Plan of the Refining Demon Sect

Chapter 746: The Plan of the Refining Demon Sect

Lin Nuo returned, re-entering this quaint little village town known for its simple folk.

He kept a low profile on his return—his skin was darkened, dressed in the brown cloth of a humble villager, with a cloth wrapped around his face, so the townsfolk couldn’t recognize him.

But Xia Hanmo could easily spot him; after all, he was her child, and his figure and eyes gave him away.

Seeing her son back home, Xia Hanmo was naturally overjoyed, unable to contain her excitement, and quickly walked over to grasp Lin Nuo’s hand.

“Child, child! You—you’re back! Come, come, sit down!”

Although Xia Hanmo wasn’t very old, she looked like an elderly woman longing for her child’s return. The moment she saw her son, her previously despondent self was filled with vigor, positively thrilled.

She pulled Lin Nuo to sit down, then poured him tea and prepared snacks, truly attending to him without missing a beat.

“It’s fine, I can manage myself.”

Lin Nuo removed the cloth, revealing his handsome face, snatched the teapot from Xia Hanmo’s hands, and began pouring tea.

“Master Lin Nuo, it’s been a while.”

Ruo’er’s foster mother quickly greeted him with respect. She came from a poor background, her husband a gambler who almost sold Ruo’er off, leaving their family in shambles. Fortunately, Lin Nuo, with his courage and gambling skills, brought Ruo’er back.

“Save it! You’re not my servant; no need to call me ‘Master.’”

“That won’t do! The Lin family and Madam have shown great kindness to us; we’d work ourselves to the bone to repay that debt.”

“We don’t need any labor; just live your life as you should.”

Lin Nuo waved his hand and poured her a cup of tea too, but she was too flustered to accept.

Like mother, like daughter; though not related by blood, Ruo’er’s maidservant was trained by her foster mother, absorbing her lessons like a sponge.

“Just leave the tea there; I won’t insist if you choose not to drink it.”

Then Lin Nuo lifted his cup and drank it down in one go. Although the tea was a bit subpar, it tasted nostalgic, bringing forth a hint of rustic flavor.

Having tea and some snacks was pleasing enough—if only he had a recliner, it would feel like a retirement lifestyle.

“Child, you must be busy now, right? I can’t help with much, but if you have worries, feel free to share them with your mother.”

“Not busy at all, just idling. Look, I even have time to come back, don’t I? It’s like a vacation every day, quite carefree.”

Even as the Great Villain, Lin Nuo always reported good news and not bad to Xia Hanmo, never sharing his difficulties.

After all, everyone wishes for their child to live easily and happily; whether they achieve great accomplishments and fame is secondary.

“Really? You better not be lying! You’re famous now! The village is buzzing about your deeds, calling you a knight and hero! Hmm, I’m truly proud of you!”

Xia Hanmo held Lin Nuo’s hand, her face beaming with joy.

Indeed, she was glad.

Lin Nuo found it rather annoying when others spoke of his so-called glorious deeds, as it wasn’t how he wished things to be; it was all just sheer luck.

However, when his mother Xia Hanmo discussed it, he had no qualms.

That was the image she hoped for her son, and she could see it clearly.

Lin Nuo looked at her and cracked a long-lost smile.

“Yes, I am a knight and hero; that won’t change. But if anyone tells you I’ve fallen into darkness or started indiscriminately killing, don’t believe them. There are many frauds out there trying to deceive women like you in this village. Remember, I am a knight and hero, and nothing else.”

“Alright, I understand. If anyone says that, I won’t believe them.”

In Xia Hanmo’s heart, Lin Nuo was the ultimate knight and hero, and for now, she harbored no slander about him; furthermore, she refused to believe any negative gossip.

Lin Nuo lied, but only dared to call himself a knight in front of Xia Hanmo.

Honestly, if the day ever came when he truly fell, he hoped she would genuinely have faith in him.

“Child, about you marrying a wife…”

“Cough…”

Lin Nuo nearly choked on his tea. This sudden topic was simply too much.

This woman just couldn’t help but bring up the subject of marriage!

“Why not hurry and marry Ruo’er? Your mother is feeling quite lonely, and I’m looking forward to holding a grandchild.”

Xia Hanmo chuckled, glancing over at Ruo’er’s foster mother.

“If Ruo’er marries Master Lin, of course, the bride price won’t be small.”

“No, no, no, Madam! That can’t be. If Ruo’er marries Master Lin, that’s a blessing for our family; how could we accept a bridal price? If Master Lin wishes to marry, then please do so. Our Ruo’er will surely abide by the proper ways…”

Ruo’er’s foster mother rambled on, so used to being a servant that even after rising to the position of a host, she still found it hard to adjust.

Lin Nuo: “…”

Fortunately, news in this village was slow; the legends of him being a hero circulated long ago. If that business about Qin Shili reached them, his mother would surely pressure him into marriage.

If they were aware of his dual cultivation, they’d definitely push for a wedding right away, believing he should marry since he was already involved with those girls.

“Don’t worry about marriage; I’ll figure it out myself. For now, just walk the dog, play with the cat, and grow some veggies.”

Lin Nuo hurriedly dodged that topic; better not prolong it. If Ruo’er were present, she might insist on getting married right there.

After spending some time with Xia Hanmo, Lin Nuo left the village.

He made a special trip back, but he couldn’t stay long; he had important matters to attend to.

His next destination: Demon Abyss Valley.

…

Inside Demon Abyss Valley, darkened skies loomed, suffused with thick Demon Qi, and echoes of Demon Beasts’ howls reverberated.

At this moment, the valley was formidable, shaking the surroundings, as ferocious Demon Beasts fell to the ground.

It was a battlefield, and amidst the darkness of the valley, a young girl fought fiercely, her body drenched in blood.

Outside the valley, Demon Disciples stood guard, with some delving into their spiritual awareness to observe everything that unfolded.

“This Ling Meng possesses strange powers. From my spiritual perception, she seems to unconsciously unleash bizarre abilities when danger approaches.”

The speaker was Chen Tian, the eldest son of the Refining Demon Sect. He had witnessed Ling Meng’s prowess before; it was comparable to that female cultivator from Xuanyun Sect, both exhibiting uncanny abilities. Now that the Ling family was in trouble and sought protection, he placed Ling Meng in Demon Abyss Valley to guard against the ferocious Demon Beasts.

Claiming to guard, in truth, they had simply thrown her there to fend for herself.

In Demon Abyss Valley, she would encounter many ferocious mutated Demon Beasts, which would be hard for her to handle alone. However, in moments of near-death, she erupted with astonishing strength, truly surprising them.

They believed this could be of use.

Now, they were developing a destructive magic device that required a powerful burst of energy to operate.

They wanted to employ demonic techniques, but couldn’t find a suitable individual among the demon masters.

Ling Meng was the perfect candidate; they would leave her to survive in Demon Abyss Valley, equip her with a power-conducing magic ring, and unleash her strength to activate the destructive magic device.

Currently, this plan was progressing smoothly.