Lin Qingge, whose skull was chilled by a gust of wind, was about to retort with, "Do I need to tell you I'm still alive?", when she was suddenly embraced by Leng Ningyue.
"It's good that you're alright."
Hearing the slight tremor in her voice, Lin Qingge was about to comfort her.
But for some reason, Leng Ningyue released her as if shocked.
"Madam?"
Lin Qingge looked down at her own hands, frozen in mid-air, somewhat bewildered.
In previous situations like this, if not a full embrace, at least some comfort was always offered.
Could she be angry again?
But this time, she was truly innocent!
As Lin Qingge was about to speak and explain herself, Old Man Wang beside them suddenly exclaimed, "Lin girl, you call her Madam?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
Old Man Wang glanced at Lin Qingge, who was dressed in a fiery red wedding gown, then at the beautiful, aloof, and ethereal woman before him, and shook his head instinctively.
"No problem, no problem.
As they say, those not of the same path do not enter the same household.
Lin Jingxing found himself a male bride, and you, Lin girl, have taken a female bride.
Good heavens!
Is it illegal to marry someone of the opposite sex these days?"
After Old Man Wang's quiet muttering, Lu Mingxuan, who had been hiding to the side due to insufficient martial prowess, suddenly rushed forward without regard, grabbed Old Man Wang's patched sleeve, and shouted emotionally, "Master!!!
Your disciple has finally found you!!!"
"Master?"
Lin Qingge, feeling the situation become even more chaotic, raised a hand to rub her throbbing temples and pointed at the disheveled old man beside her, asking, "Lu Mingxuan, is he the Master you've been searching for so desperately?"
"Yes, my lord. Even if Master were to turn to ash, I would still recognize him, let alone the fact that he is standing here, whole and complete."
Sensing a hint of gritted teeth in Lu Mingxuan's words, Lin Qingge suddenly recalled something.
"Lu Mingxuan, I remember Lu Sanniang once said that your Master was originally the guardian of the previous dynasty's treasure."
At the end, Lin Qingge cast a scrutinizing gaze upon the slovenly old man beside her and stated with certainty, "So, old man, you are the guardian of the previous dynasty's treasure?"
"Lin girl, listen to me explain, oh no, listen to this old man explain!"
"Old man, even if I were willing to listen to your explanation, someone else does not have the patience to wait."
Lin Qingge gestured towards the distance with her chin. She saw Lin Yan, supported by his subordinates, stand up again and walk towards them.
At the same time.
Lin Yan's subordinates, having received their orders, ceased their actions simultaneously.
Yan Tinghao and the others, who had been fighting fiercely, finally noticed their lord's presence and stopped their actions, rushing over.
"My lord, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, your lord is in excellent health, eats well, and is as good as can be."
However, Yan Tinghao seemed not to understand her words, saying with a look of annoyance and self-blame, "My lord, you have suffered.
But, my lord, your outfit... it actually looks quite good."
After saying this, Yan Tinghao's ears turned red.
He turned his head away, then slightly back, stealing a couple of glances.
At this moment, Lin Yan had already approached Lin Qingge. He said with a look of dejection, "Qingge, you still refuse to marry me?"
"Stop, that's enough!
Don't make it sound like I'm willing!"
Upon hearing Lin Qingge's words, the hurt expression on Lin Yan's face deepened. He clutched his chest with his hand, his tone surprisingly calm.
"Qingge, since you do not choose me, then I can only reluctantly destroy you.
But rest assured, Qingge, to prevent you from being lonely on your journey to the underworld, I will have all the elders and villagers of Dalin Village buried with you."
"You're insane!!!"
In response to Lin Qingge's accusation, Lin Yan suddenly smiled.
"I am indeed insane.
Perhaps I went mad when he died..."
Muttering, Lin Yan raised his hand and pointed to Lin Qingge's feet.
"Beneath Dalin Village, I have buried enough gunpowder to blow up the entire village.
As soon as I give the command, my hidden subordinates will ignite the gunpowder.
At that time, the sky above Dalin Village will be lit with the most spectacular fireworks."
Looking at the almost deranged Lin Yan before her, although there was no concrete evidence, Lin Qingge felt that 'he' referred to her older brother, Lin Jingxing.
However, she could not ignore the lives of everyone in Dalin Village.
With this thought, Lin Qingge said in a deep voice, "Lin Yan, what you truly care about is not me, but the treasure of the previous dynasty, the restoration of the Lin clan!
I can help you find the treasure left by the imperial family of the previous dynasty, but in return, you must not harm the elders and villagers of Dalin Village or any innocent lives!"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of resistance and struggle crossed Lin Yan's eyes. He stood there for a long time.
Just as Lin Qingge thought this fellow had completely succumbed to madness and was about to initiate a self-destruct sequence, the latter's lips touched and he replied with a single word:
"Good."
"A gentleman's word is his bond, like a chariot with four horses. First, have your people remove the gunpowder buried in Dalin Village.
Rest assured, I will stand here and will not leave, nor will I go back on my word."
As if to demonstrate her resolve, Lin Qingge strode towards her home.
However, upon seeing the damaged doors and windows and the splattered bloodstains everywhere, she changed direction and entered Old Man Wang's house next door.
Yan Tinghao, who followed her in, asked confusedly, "My lord, how can you help that scoundrel Lin Yan find the treasure of the previous dynasty?"
"Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
Even if I narrowly escape today, it's hard to guarantee that a second or third Lin Yan won't emerge, coercing me for various reasons to find the treasure for them.
But speaking of which, since it's a treasure left by the royal family of the previous dynasty, it should at least be a hundred years old. Why has the search for it only become a recent concern in the past few decades?"
Lin Qingge's final question was directed towards the owner of the house, and also the guardian of the treasure, Old Man Wang.
"Well, that...
It all started with the ancestors of the Lin family.
The royal family was suspicious and liked to keep good things hidden. So, in the beginning, only the Grand Princess, who was the Empress of the founding emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom, knew about the treasure.
Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps for some other reason.
Before she died, the Grand Princess revealed the secret of the treasure to her younger brother, who advocated for a stable life, thus the Lin lineage of Dalin Village.
But walls have ears.
The secret that your ancestors, Lin girl, guarded for generations was eventually known to the Lin clan of Xiaolin Village.
And then, as expected, it triggered a storm of blood and gore."
"I see."
Lin Qingge habitually rubbed her chin, calculating.
"The treasure must be found, and Lin Yan must be dealt with.
Otherwise, if anyone can simply bury explosives and I have to rush over to save people, I'll probably be exhausted to death before I even find the treasure.
Therefore, we must split into two groups."
Lin Yan's men were all stationed outside the courtyard, so Lin Qingge did not worry about her plan being overheard.