Chapter 107: Since When Did Lin Yin Learn to Use Her Brain?

Jiang Che overheard the conversation outside the door.

A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

That bastard Xu Yan wants to take Lin Yin as his Master? And Head Elder Wen actually came in person to plead for him.

But Wen Ping’s temperament was always rather gentle, though not truly weak in the strictest sense.

The feeling Jiang Che got from Wen Ping was that she’d become stronger when facing the strong, and softer when facing the weak.

When dealing with honest, timid, or pitiful children, she always showed compassion.

But when she encountered mischievous ones, she would be especially strict, and towards the lively and active, she would appear open and cheerful.

As for her ruthless side, probably not many alive had witnessed it.

It seemed that Xu Yan had done a good job of presenting himself, even managing to fool Wen Ping.

But wait, if Xu Yan was so shrewd, and he wanted to become Lin Yin’s disciple, wouldn’t that be a case of dog eat dog!

But if this really allowed Xu Yan to get what he wanted, that wasn’t something Jiang Che wanted to see either.

People with such complicated thoughts were just disgusting.

Outside the door, Lin Yin was carefully sizing up Xu Yan.

This young man looked about the same age as Zhao Zi’ang, maybe even younger, yet he was already at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Any sect would scramble to take in such a promising talent.

Yet, hesitation showed on her face.

“Sorry, Shishu Wen,” she said, her tone polite but distant, “Tomorrow is my ceremony to accept a true disciple. During this time… I don’t want to be distracted by other matters.”

Wen Ping was a bit surprised. First, because she had come in person; second, because Lingjian Peak was short on people these days, and taking in another talented disciple seemed nothing but good.

She truly hadn’t expected Lin Yin to refuse.

With a light sigh, she said, “If that’s the case, then I won’t force you. We…”

“Head Elder Wen, please wait.”

A voice floated out from the slightly open door, carrying the bright and youthful clarity unique to teenagers, breaking the silence outside.

Wen Ping looked up in surprise at the sound, only to see a young man walking out from inside the door.

She recognized this youth—he was the child the Sect Master Yun Yan had personally taken away after the Secret Realm incident, who had then vanished from sight!

Lin Yin’s heart skipped a beat for no reason. She didn’t even know why she was nervous.

“It’s you, little fellow!” Wen Ping’s aged face showed a gentle smile. “Could it be that you’re the one whom Chief of Lingjian Peak intends to take as a direct disciple?”

“Head Elder Wen flatters me.” Jiang Che’s tone was bland, unwilling to admit to such a status.

Wen Ping’s gaze towards Jiang Che took on a new curiosity.

Yun Yan had suppressed much information about this child.

Although she hadn’t seen the scene at the heart of the Secret Realm with her own eyes, she had heard bits and pieces.

“Little one, did you come out because you have something to say?”

She asked with a hearty laugh.

Jiang Che raised his hand to scratch his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

“It’s nothing much, just that I heard Chief of Lingjian Peak didn’t want to accept this… Senior Brother Xu? I thought it was a bit of a pity, so I wanted to come out and put in a few good words.”

He wore a faint, sincere smile on his lips, looking every bit the honest one.

Yet in his heart, he had already cursed Xu Yan a thousand times.

Whatever Xu Yan’s real intentions, if Lin Yin could give him a hard time and at the same time trip her up, why not?

Let the dogs fight each other!

Of course, Wen Ping had no idea what Jiang Che was thinking.

She just felt the child was rather worldly-wise, and chuckled, “You’re quite considerate for someone your age. Hiss, sorry, Lin Yin.”

She turned to Lin Yin, her tone tinged with apology.

“Not to criticize you or anything, after all, when it comes to taking disciples, it’s your own decision that matters most.”

As she finished, her gaze swept across Jiang Che, Lin Yin, and Xu Yan, finally settling, together with Xu Yan, on Lin Yin, waiting for her final response.

Off to the side, Xu Yan’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. Clearly, he hadn’t expected someone to speak up for him at this critical moment.

He had planned to use Wen Ping’s sympathy to get himself accepted by Lin Yin, but Lin Yin was even more stubborn than rumors had said, barely giving any face even to Head Elder Wen.

Lin Yin’s expression remained as frosty as ever, as if shrouded in a cold mist.

Jiang Che, while cursing Xu Yan in his heart, quietly observed Lin Yin’s reactions.

Given how obsessed she had been with him lately, now that he’d spoken up “on Xu Yan’s behalf,” surely… she wouldn’t refuse, would she?

“Sorry,” Lin Yin’s cool voice shattered the brief silence. She looked at Wen Ping, her words crisp and resolute, “I still don’t want to accept this child.”

Wen Ping’s mouth parted slightly, a clear flash of shock crossing her face.

She had not expected Lin Yin to refuse so firmly, especially after the little fellow had put in a good word as well.

“Alright then,” Wen Ping regained her kindly smile and did not insist further.

She turned to Xu Yan, “Yan’er, it seems Chief of Lingjian Peak has made up her mind. Let’s head back for now.”

“Yes, Master.” Xu Yan replied respectfully, his face betraying no emotion.

With that, Wen Ping turned and slowly left with Xu Yan, though before leaving, Xu Yan didn’t forget to glance back at Jiang Che.

At that moment, Lin Yin suddenly bent down, her arms slipping under Jiang Che’s knees and behind his back, scooping him up horizontally without a word.

“What are you doing?!” Jiang Che was caught completely off guard, his body suspended in the air, astonishment mixing with utter speechlessness.

Lin Yin said nothing, simply carrying him straight back into the room. In just a few steps, Jiang Che felt the absurdity and stifling awkwardness, so he simply gave up struggling.

Jiang Che was set down on the bed.

Before he could even sit steady, Lin Yin leaned down, pressing her forehead against his.

“Che’er, you don’t want me to take that child as my disciple, do you?”

“Eh?” Jiang Che froze at her abrupt question, unable to keep up with her train of thought.

Had he ever said he didn’t want that? He’d just wanted to make trouble for Xu Yan and Lin Yin!

Lin Yin acted as if she hadn’t noticed his bewilderment, continuing quietly in a lowered voice.

“Che’er, I could feel it. When you spoke just now, I sensed an inexplicable anger in your heart.

I don’t know why you would say those things with such feelings, but after thinking it over… the only reason I could imagine is that you’re upset that I was going to take in another disciple.

Since I want to make it up to you, I shouldn’t be half-hearted, right?”

Lin Yin had indeed hesitated earlier about whether to accept Xu Yan, originally intending to wait until after the disciple-accepting ceremony to consider it.

But after Jiang Che’s remarks, she’d started to regret ever wavering at all.

Jiang Che’s mouth twitched uncontrollably, leaving him utterly speechless for a moment.

He had only one thought running wild in his mind.

When did this girl learn to use her brain?

And with such precise, yet utterly outrageous reasoning!

This melodramatic, novel-like logic was even more exhausting than her unreasonable brute force.

……

Lingjian Peak’s back mountain, Chiyu Chicken farm.

“Mother Hen! Just a quick look, let me check your egg for a moment, it’s for both our good!”

Yuan Qingqing rolled up her sleeves and took an egg from the nest, a smug smile on her face.

“Hehe! When these eggs hatch, let’s see if Wang Hao still dares to say I can’t raise chickens!”

“Junior Sister Yuan is in high spirits.” A cold voice suddenly sounded behind her. Zhao Zi’ang had approached without her noticing.

“I heard Bai Shijie wants to grant you Inner Disciple status, but you refused. Why? You really prefer being an Outer Sect Disciple? Content to spend all your time with these chickens?”