Decaying World

Chapter 113:

Jixiang Tower.

As one of the main buildings of the Jixiang Residence, it appeared as just an ordinary five-story structure amidst the many white buildings of the Inner City. However, the small silver decorations hanging from the eaves of each floor made it clear to passersby that the expenses here would not be low.

Lin Hui had changed into casual clothes—clad in plain white, a piece of black jade hanging at his waist, his long hair bound by a silver hairpin, and two long swords carried on his back.

“I say, are you sick? Bringing weapons to a blind date?!” Wang Yueheng, standing beside him, was speechless, feeling a headache coming on.

“Why did I come here? Wasn't it precisely so it wouldn't affect my sword practice? Since that's the case, why should I compromise on account of this?”

Lin Hui had ample reasons.

“…You make so much f*cking sense…” Wang Yueheng felt that straightforward people were quite difficult to deal with. Fortunately, he didn't dwell on it. Neither of these two intended to actually get together anyway, so this time, rather than a blind date, it was more like a transaction.

Thinking of it that way, his mood instantly improved.

“Let's go.” He took the lead and stepped forward, entering the restaurant.

Compared to Lin Hui’s plain white, he was dressed up like a peacock: a white robe edged with silver gauze exposing his chest, dark red metal earrings with flame patterns, skin like congealed cream, and exquisite features carrying a trace of coquettishness. His long hair reached his waist, tied loosely with a silver fur hairband.At a glance, one might think a fox spirit from a storybook had escaped into the world.

This appearance was quite conspicuous even in the Inner City, so much so that ever since he met up with Lin Hui, he had been enduring many unkind and jealous gazes.

Although Lin Hui really wanted to explain that this guy was actually male, presumably many people in this Inner City didn't care about gender at all.

Upon entering the first floor, they saw few guests in the hall. One or two waiters waited quietly by each table. There was very little noise;

everyone spoke in hushed tones or simply used voice transmission. In the air, there were only the soft footsteps of waiters coming and going and the slight sounds of chopsticks brushing against plates.

“The agreed location is on the fourth floor. Follow me.” Wang Yueheng led the way up the spiral staircase.

“What is her name?” Lin Hui asked from behind.

“Did I not tell you?” Wang Yueheng paused for a moment. “Her surname is Han, full name Han Xiaoyue.”

“Alright.” Lin Hui acknowledged.

“Also, you need to be mentally prepared. Because she was injured in the past, her appearance might be a bit…” Wang Yueheng reminded him. “Try not to show any reaction. Stay steady. You aren't really marrying her anyway;

everyone is just taking what they need. Remember that.”

“Mm, okay. Don't worry, my concentration is very good,” Lin Hui said calmly, though a trace of curiosity rose in his heart.

What kind of injury would make Wang Yueheng give advance warning, telling him not to lose his composure?

The two spoke no more for a time, heading all the way up. The waiters passing by along the way would stop and bow slightly to them, gentle and silent. Some came forward to ask if they needed guidance but were waved off by Wang Yueheng.

“Because of you, I often come here to eat. I know this place like the back of my hand,” he explained.

“Your words are prone to misunderstanding. Can you speak clearly? Look at your appearance;

are you deliberately trying to prank me?” Lin Hui said speechlessly.

His reputation had been bad recently, and now he was frequently seen with this fellow Wang Yueheng. Hiss…!

Suddenly he realized something and looked up at Wang Yueheng, whose face was prettier than a woman's.

The other party also thought of something at this moment and turned to look at him, likewise sucking in a breath of cold air.

The two coincidentally stepped a few paces away from each other.

“Sorry, I still like women!” Wang Yueheng hurriedly said.

“Rest assured, I have no interest in you. I only have an interest in beating you.” Lin Hui’s expression turned cold.

“Hehe.” Wang Yueheng wanted to retort, but realizing he really couldn't beat the other party right now, he gritted his teeth and pointed at Lin Hui.

“Just you wait! I'll fight you after I break through!”

“How long until you break through?”

“At most five years!”

“Fine!” Lin Hui chuckled inwardly. Five years? His Typhoon Sword Technique would be completed by then. At that time, fighting Wang Yueheng would likely be as easy as crushing him with one hand.

Soon, they arrived at the fourth floor.

Wang Yueheng led the way to a private room furthest from the stairs. He extended a finger;

a white light flashed at the tip as he tapped the heavy black wooden door.

Transparent ripples immediately spread across the door panel, resembling water patterns.

Click.

This was a recognition mechanism;

the door unlocked automatically and opened inward.

The layout inside the private room was straightforward.

A rectangular wooden table stood in the center, flanked by wooden chairs. The table and chairs were all carved with many ornate floral patterns. The surrounding walls were full of hollowed-out dark niches holding many books, packed densely and numbering no fewer than several hundred.

Soft yellow light shone from the four corners of the ceiling;

no lamps were visible, and the source of the light was unknown.

In the corner stood a two-meter-tall silver-white mermaid sculpture holding a water jar in her hands, pouring out wisps of white mist.

The moment the door opened, Lin Hui’s gaze focused on a person on the left side of the wooden table.

It was a woman with long black hair sitting with her back to them. She held an instrument similar to a pipa, head bowed as she gently plucked it, producing intermittent, melodious notes.

The woman wore a wide-sleeved red dress, her skin pure white. Hidden amidst the hair at the back of her neck, a pitch-black pattern was faintly visible—it was unclear if it was a tattoo or something else.

Lin Hui knew that many martial arts and The Call could leave marks on the body, but he truly didn't recognize this one.

Hearing the commotion, the woman set the instrument aside, turned slightly, and looked at the two at the door.

“Heng'er, did you bring the person?” Her voice was very gentle, not particularly beautiful, but revealing a very firm quality.

Heng'er? What the hell??

Lin Hui glanced at the red-faced Wang Yueheng, feeling like he'd been set up.

“Come in and talk first.” Wang Yueheng slammed the door shut and pulled Lin Hui to sit opposite the woman.

Upon sitting down, Lin Hui instantly saw the other party's face clearly.

He had imagined many possibilities for her appearance, but he never expected that this face would be… so ugly!

The left side of her face was passable;

the left eye and half the nose and mouth could be seen clearly. But the right half of her face was truly terrifying.

It was like a dried corpse drained of moisture—skin plastered to muscle, only a thin layer. From the front, it looked like half a face of white bone.

“Are you a bit scared?” the woman asked gently. “It doesn't matter;

no need to endure it. I am already used to it.”

“It is a bit ugly.” Lin Hui ignored Wang Yueheng poking him with his foot and nodded honestly.

Then, under Wang's ‘You actually dare to say it’ expression, he continued.

“But it doesn't matter. We are just taking what we need from each other. Appearance is irrelevant.”

“You don't mind?” The woman was surprised for a moment, then sized up Lin Hui seriously.

“Why should I mind? I need a tool, and so do you. We simply cooperate. Does your appearance affect our mutual cooperation?” Lin Hui said calmly.

Surfing the internet in his previous life, he had seen far too many strange diseases;

he really didn't care much about a face like this.

“Very good…” The woman smiled slightly, pulling the skeletal half of her face along with it, appearing hideous and terrifying. “Tool… yes, a very precise description. I like it.”

She extended her hand.

“Let me introduce myself again. Han Xiaoyue.”

“Lin Hui.” Lin Hui reached out and shook her hand lightly.

“Then it is settled. From now on, you are my fiancé?” Han Xiaoyue said.

“Agreed.” Lin Hui nodded.

“Is there a token to exchange? To make it convenient to decline others,” Han Xiaoyue continued.

“Take this.” Lin Hui casually removed the black jade he brought and tossed it to her.

“You really are casual… This jade is worth maybe a few hundred qian at a roadside stall, right?” Han Xiaoyue said helplessly. Catching the black jade, she took a red jade pendant from her own waist pouch, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it toward Lin Hui.

“This is my personal jade pendant. Remember to keep it safe. When we separate later, I will want it back.”

“Okay.”

After exchanging tokens, the two fell silent, not knowing what to say.

After all, they were strangers, and both had cold personalities, caring only for cultivation. If not for Wang Yueheng pulling the strings, presumably, the two wouldn't be sitting here discussing an engagement at all.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three minutes.

Awkwardness began to spread.

Wang Yueheng sat on the side, itching all over, feeling nothing but unbearable discomfort.

“I say, shouldn't you two introduce yourselves? What do you like? What do you usually do?” He couldn't help but speak up.

“Cultivation, sword practice, pill refining,” Lin Hui answered quickly. “This is what I like.”

“Cultivation, reading, playing the zither,” Han Xiaoyue also answered. “I spend every day like this.”

“…” Wang Yueheng looked at these two, suddenly feeling his scalp tingle.

Are they not embarrassed at all???

“Then shall we do our own things now?” Han Xiaoyue proposed.

“Good!” Lin Hui’s eyes lit up immediately.

Immediately, one sat cross-legged to cultivate, while the other took a book from her sleeve and slowly flipped through it. Both acted as if no one else was present, completely leaving Wang Yueheng out in the cold, as if he didn't exist.

After sitting blankly for a while, Wang Yueheng felt his hair stand on end;

he was uncomfortable everywhere.

Helpless, he could only secretly get up, open the door, and flee.

Only after exiting did he feel relieved, his heart relaxing.

Thinking about the two in the private room again, he realized that they seemed unexpectedly compatible.

“Can't handle it, really can't handle it. Sure enough, the world of nutjobs is still too far away from me…”

Leave, leave quickly.

He felt that even just staying near those two made him uncomfortable. How could they endure that awkward atmosphere and just mind their own business??

After Wang Yueheng left, inside the private room, Lin Hui cultivated his Internal Force for a while. Feeling that he really couldn't make an inch of progress, he gave up. Opening his eyes, he saw the small book Han Xiaoyue was holding.

Chronicles of Lin Sha.

“Can I inquire about some things regarding the Inner City?” He thought for a moment and asked aloud. “In exchange, you may also ask me questions at will.”

“Of course, if you are unwilling, then forget it.” He was just probing. There was still much he didn't understand about the Inner City;

if this noble lady of the Inner City before him could explain, perhaps he could form an overall impression more quickly.

Of course, the premise was that she had an interest in exchanging information with him.

“It doesn't matter. It is just chatting. What do you want to know?” Han Xiaoyue put down the book and answered gently.

“You like reading;

I wonder if you can tell me, how exactly did the entire Inner City come to be?” Lin Hui asked.

“It was opened up,” Han Xiaoyue said. “According to records, in a very distant ancient era, all things were forever shrouded in mist, humanity lived in confusion, and survival was incredibly difficult.”

Become a Pledge Member to read chapters in advance.

Join our Discord community to explore exclusive visuals and connect with fellow readers.

Please leave a 5-star rating on Novel Updates!

[Index]

[Next Chapter]