Chapter 101: Yun Xing’s Doubts

Lingxiao Peak, Jiang Yan’s residence. A rabbit, panting and out of breath, crawled into the secluded cave where Jiang Yan was in seclusion.

“Little bunny, you’re back! Where did you go?”

Jiang Yan scooped up the rabbit. She had picked up this little one in the sect a few days ago. It was a rare find, so she brought it home.

At this moment.

As the Zongzhu, Yun Xing naturally had to show care for his disciples during the Reunion Festival.

But as for Jiang Yan, though she claimed to be in seclusion, in reality she was holed up in her cave, spending time with her cats.

Daju was particularly lazy today, distracting Jiang Yan from her cultivation.

“My disciple! I’ve come to see you! Have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation?”

“Ah!”

Yun Xing called out loudly outside the stone door, giving Jiang Yan a sudden fright.

“Mas—Master!”

(Dahuang! Don’t make a sound!)

“Meow~”

Yun Xing stood at the entrance, holding back his laughter. He had long known his disciple liked raising these adorable little pets.

“My disciple! What was that sound just now? May your master come in and have a look?”

“Master! Please don’t!”

“Oh~ So my disciple has private matters to handle, hmm? Then your master will come back later.”

Yun Xing made a sound as if to say, “I understand,” and turned around with a smile. At that moment, the stone door rumbled open.

Jiang Yan’s figure appeared.

Her fist was clenched tightly; it was with that very fist that she’d pressed the stone door’s switch just now.

She swore, if this old man wasn’t here on serious business, she’d definitely flatten him with a punch!

“Master, didn’t you come to see me for a reason? What’s the matter?”

Jiang Yan’s tone and expression returned to normal, but seeing the danger in her eyes, Yun Xing’s face stiffened, thinking perhaps he had overdone the joke.

He was just paying a visit as an elder, wanting to see his disciple and the younger generation. But with Jiang Yan’s expression, if he said the wrong thing, he’d probably get beaten.

With that in mind, his mind spun rapidly, reviewing all the recent affairs of the sect.

“Well… about that, recently, many noble families have recommended promising talents, and we need a representative to assess them.”

Although Shenxiao Sect held recruitment events, these were mostly to replenish the ranks of outer and miscellaneous disciples.

But these recommendations were mostly young people with real talent.

“Isn’t this Elder Wanzhen Peak’s responsibility this year?”

Jiang Yan glared at Yun Xing.

“Uh, also… there’s another thing. Shenxiao Town seems to be restless lately. As Da Shijie, would you like to investigate?”

“That? Didn’t Lingjian Peak just recruit new disciples this year? Why not have them go down the mountain to investigate after some time?”

“That’s true, but…”

Yun Xing stammered, feeling this was a dangerous situation.

Just then, Yun Xing’s gaze sharpened, as if he’d sensed something.

……

Lingjian Peak.

Along the way, Lin Yin hadn’t said a single word, while Xu Qianlan’s face was streaked with dark lines.

Why was Lin Yin allowed to carry Jiang Che, while she herself had to lug around a girl and escort a prisoner as well!

“Hey! Junior Sister, why did you take so long to fetch the medicine? I was really worried about you!”

Xu Qianlan said guiltily. She’d originally tricked Lin Yin into searching for Xuan Sui Jade Essence and Yulong Grass, hoping she’d take as long as possible.

But she hadn’t expected her to be gone for over half a month.

Lin Yin looked back, a red light flickering in her eyes, exuding an inexplicable aura.

Since returning, Lin Yin had become strange.

Qin Zifeng’s mind was already muddled, but Xu Qianlan still had him chained, bringing him back to Shenxiao Sect.

Soon, they reached Lin Yin’s residence. Lin Yin laid the weakened Jiang Che down on the bed.

She had just infused a great deal of spiritual energy into Jiang Che.

Though her control over spiritual energy wasn’t as refined as Xu Qianlan’s, in terms of cultivation and strength, Lin Yin still held the advantage.

Her hand gently caressed Jiang Che’s cheek. These past ten-odd days, she had missed Jiang Che every moment.

She longed to see him, but she knew Jiang Che didn’t wish to see her.

She took out a Jade Bottle and a Spirit Herb from her Storage Ring and handed them to Xu Qianlan.

“You wanted me to find the ingredients, but it looks like there’s no need now, is there?”

A faint, hard-to-read smile tugged at the corner of Lin Yin’s mouth. The feeling sent a chill down Xu Qianlan’s spine.

She sensed a touch of wickedness that hadn’t been there before.

“Not at all! Junior Sister, these are definitely useful!”

Xu Qianlan forced a smile.

“But, Junior Sister, what happened to you? Why have you become like this?”

Lin Yin played with a lock of her hair, the strand of white looking so out of place.

“Maybe it’s guilt. I used to regret it… now I just feel sorry for Che’er.”

“Hmph, you finally realize you were wrong? What took you so long?”

Xu Qianlan folded her arms, puffing up in defense of Jiang Che.

Lin Yin’s mouth opened slightly, then she bit her lip.

Seeing Lin Yin like this, Xu Qianlan sighed and sat down beside her.

“If there’s something you want to say, just say it… Let your senior sister share the burden…”

“Mm…”

Lin Yin softly spoke about that piece of memory she had lost back then.

During this time away, Lin Yin had worked hard to verify her missing memories.

Aside from Jiang Che’s Heart Demon Oath, Lin Yin had also forgotten some crucial memories involving Jiang Che.

She’d always witnessed Jiang Che’s diligence—otherwise, she wouldn’t have realized so late how important Jiang Che was to Lingjian Peak.

“So that’s how it is.”

Yun Xing stood at the door, not entering, and murmured softly to himself.

No wonder Lin Yin had been so ruthless to Jiang Che back then, showing no mercy.

But who could alter the memories of someone at the Xuxu Stage? Even he couldn’t calculate it.

Could it be the Upper Realm?

But was that likely?

Yun Xing frowned. The more he thought about it, the stranger everything seemed. Many matters appeared connected, yet the links were tenuous.

“Zongzhu? What are you doing here?”

Bai Rushuang, Lin Yin’s second disciple, sensed someone had come to Lingjian Peak and decided to check it out.

She certainly wouldn’t admit she’d just been rifling through her Da Shijie Jiang Che’s residence, searching for something.

Seeing the lights in her master Lin Yin’s home, she hurried over, only to catch a glimpse of Yun Xing’s back outside the door.

“Zongzhu, is that you?”

Yun Xing turned, displaying his usual kindly smile toward his disciples—though his face was a bit swollen.

“It’s you, Rushuang. Why do you seem even thinner lately? My face got swollen from a cultivation mishap, and the night chill made it worse.

You girls should be careful not to cultivate at night.”

“Uh… yes, Zongzhu.”

Bai Rushuang cupped her hands.

“Zongzhu, since you’re here, please come in. Don’t eavesdrop outside.”

It was a little awkward. Who knew if rumors would spread tomorrow that the Zongzhu of Shenxiao Sect liked eavesdropping.

The two entered.

Bai Rushuang saw Lin Yin in the room. Though her appearance had changed a bit, she could still recognize her.

What shocked her was Lin Yin carefully tending to the young man lying on the bed.

“Zongzhu, what happened to your face?”

Xu Qianlan asked Yun Xing with a secret smile.

“Haha, just a little injury, nothing serious. But, Chief of Lingjian Peak, since you’re back, why didn’t you let me know?”

“Apologies… Zongzhu, I’ve only just returned, and haven’t had the chance.”

Lin Yin then glanced at Bai Rushuang.

“Shuang’er, you go back first.”

“Yes.”

Bai Rushuang looked once more at Jiang Che on the bed. Xu Qianlan handed Hu Qiao’er and Qin Zifeng to Bai Rushuang, instructing her to take Qin Zifeng to the dungeon and lock him up.

After Bai Rushuang left.

Yun Xing gazed meaningfully at Lin Yin.

He had, of course, noticed the changes in Lin Yin’s appearance.

But in the next instant, Lin Yin did something no one could have predicted.

“Thud.”

Lin Yin suddenly knelt down before Yun Xing.