The air fell silent in an instant.
This was the first time Xu Qianlan had ever seen Lin Yin kneel before the Zongzhu, or rather, their Shibo.
Yun Yan stroked his white beard, and the atmosphere subtly shifted.
“Lin Shizhi, what is the meaning of this?”
“Shi…bo, after being away these past few days, I wanted to resolve my Heart Demon, but instead it’s only deepened. The doubts in my heart have grown even more.”
“I wish for Shibo’s guidance to dispel my confusion.”
Lin Yin spoke earnestly.
Yun Yan narrowed his eyes and did not speak for a long while.
“I say, Zongzhu, you are the Taishu Zunzhe, your mastery of the Divination Technique allows you to see through the heavens’ secrets. What’s the harm in giving some advice to a Shizhi in distress?”
Xu Qianlan’s tone was disgruntled, speaking up on Lin Yin’s behalf.
Yun Yan cast a glance at Xu Qianlan, who was making light of things while standing there. Normally, Xu Qianlan and Lin Yin were never on good terms, so why was she helping her today?
“Sigh.”
Yun Yan let out a heavy sigh.
“Lin Shizhi.”
“Mm.”
“What was your question again?”
“……”
Xu Qianlan was speechless, glaring fiercely at Yun Yan.
Her gaze bore into him, the meaning clear as day: Old man! Keep pretending to be clueless and I’ll send you flying!
A sheen of cold sweat broke out instantly on Yun Yan’s forehead. He subconsciously shrank his neck back a little.
“Sigh, well… The secrets of heaven cannot be revealed, you know.”
He had barely finished when he sensed Xu Qianlan’s glare was about to erupt into flames. The anger in her eyes made his heart skip a beat.
“But!”
He quickly added, trying to ease the tension.
“Lin Shizhi, you needn’t worry too much. In my view, all you need do is keep Jiang Che by your side and look after him. As you spend your days together, the doubts in your heart will, sooner or later, be unraveled.”
Yun Yan’s eyes narrowed, his tone inscrutable.
He wasn’t trying to deliberately conceal anything; it was just that if he truly told Lin Yin that the clues regarding Jiang Che pointed toward Zhao Zi’ang, given her current state of mind and her guilt toward Jiang Che, she might immediately take up her sword and cut down Zhao Zi’ang in a fit of anger.
But what good would that do? It would only alert the enemy and thoroughly disrupt his plans to secretly investigate the strange secrets surrounding Zhao Zi’ang.
Even though he still didn’t have any specific plan.
Xu Qianlan glared at Yun Yan, thinking: This old fox, if you won’t say it, I will! She was just about to expose Yun Yan’s excuse, but her throat suddenly felt blocked, and not a sound could come out.
She instantly understood—it must have been Yun Yan secretly sealing her voice!
Although Yun Yan’s words seemed sincere, the straightforward Lin Yin was clearly not convinced. She immediately questioned, “Is it possible that even you, Shibo, can’t calculate all this?”
“Cough, cough!”
Having his abilities in the Divination Technique so bluntly doubted by his own Shizhi, Yun Yan’s old face couldn’t help but look a little embarrassed, and he coughed awkwardly.
Standing to the side, Xu Qianlan—though muted—watched Yun Yan’s discomfort with an openly mocking smile, as if enjoying a good show.
Seeing Yun Yan’s silence, Lin Yin was disappointed. She bowed again.
“In that case, I won’t ask further. But there is one more thing I’d like Zongzhu’s help with.”
“Oh? What is it?”
Yun Yan’s eyes lit up.
“I would like Zongzhu to help me prepare for the Shou Tu Da Dian of a direct disciple…”
As she finished, her gaze fell upon Jiang Che, who lay unconscious.
“I wish to accept Che’er as my direct disciple.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Qianlan could no longer sit still.
Her eyes widened, her mouth opened and closed, and she stomped her feet in agitation.
She’d already made preparations for the ceremony for a direct disciple at her own Xuandan Peak, and even the Personal Token was ready—just waiting for Jiang Che to agree!
Now Lin Yin wanted to beat her to the punch! No way!
But try as she might, she couldn’t utter a sound.
“What’s wrong, Senior Sister?” Lin Yin noticed Xu Qianlan’s oddness and looked at her in puzzlement.
“No problem, no problem! Don’t mind her!” Yun Yan hastily interjected with a cheerful laugh, afraid Xu Qianlan’s antics would provoke Lin Yin’s suspicion.
“Lin Shizhi, I think your idea is wonderful and I fully support it!” He stroked his beard, then his tone changed.
“However… this is indeed something that must be considered carefully.”
“After all, this child Jiang Che’s identity is unusual. To openly accept him as a direct disciple may bring unnecessary trouble—it wouldn’t be good for him.”
“Che’er is Che’er. Why make things so complicated?” Lin Yin’s brows knitted, a red glint flickering more intensely in her eyes. “If anyone dares to object, I’ll just cut them down with my sword…”
These words made both Xu Qianlan and Yun Yan’s hearts leap at the same time!
Lin Yin—her condition was truly serious!
“Er, Shizhi! You must understand, the matter from back then is still unclear. If it’s exposed, it may put him in danger.”
Originally, Yun Yan wanted to say it could cost Jiang Che his life, but he swallowed the words, afraid of agitating Lin Yin.
“I have an idea: let’s change Jiang Che’s name to Jiang Huai. Isn’t that a pleasant name? What do you think?”
Lin Yin gave it some thought and, finding it reasonable, nodded her agreement.
“I’ll trouble you, Shibo. At present, there’s no one else on Lingjian Peak. Please help host the Shou Tu Da Dian—I want to give this child a grand ceremony.”
……
Time passed quickly.
News of Lin Yin’s Shou Tu Da Dian spread swiftly.
Some people were shocked, while others found it perfectly reasonable.
It was probably just that Lin Yin had picked up another talented child somewhere; after all, her luck was always unusually good.
Many people had to wait for referrals from noble families to take in a good seedling.
Jiang Che was staying in Lin Yin’s quarters. He hadn’t eaten in two days, and his complexion looked poor.
“Che’er, do you still refuse to eat?”
Lin Yin entered the room and saw the untouched food on the table. She sighed inwardly.
She approached the bed, gazing at the youth’s pale profile.
“Che’er, I made these dishes according to the ones you used to cook for me. Don’t they taste good?”
Jiang Che turned his face away, remaining silent.
He already knew that Lin Yin had decided on her own to hold the Shou Tu Da Dian for him as a direct disciple, and had even given him the name “Jiang Huai.”
Seeing Jiang Che like this, Lin Yin’s heart ached with bitterness. She quietly picked up the dishes and walked out.
Her footsteps faded into the distance, and the room returned to silence.
Jiang Che kept his eyes tightly closed, lying still as a statue.
Suddenly, a deliberately hushed and urgent voice came from the window:
“Ah Che!”
“Qiao’er-jie!”
Jiang Che instantly recognized the voice.
Since being rescued by Lin Yin, two days had passed, and though he knew Hu Qiao’er was likely unharmed, he still missed her dearly.
Hu Qiao’er’s face appeared outside the window, her hands gripping the sill.
Seeing the Jiang Che she’d longed for day and night, her heart filled with joy.
“Ah Che, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
For the past two days, Hu Qiao’er had searched for Jiang Che, even visiting Senior Sister Bai Rushuang, but to no avail.
Later, Yun Fan returned and told her Jiang Che had likely been taken to Lin Yin’s residence, and only then did Hu Qiao’er find him.
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