Jiang Che immediately wondered if Lin Yin had been possessed, given her series of strange actions.
His Master had always been aloof and proud, maintaining a pure and detached demeanor.
There was absolutely no way she would sleep with someone else, especially after he had just touched a place he shouldn’t have.
“Che’er, can you come with me to a place first?”
After helping Jiang Che wash up, Lin Yin prepared to take him away.
Although Jiang Che had no idea what Lin Yin was up to, he had no choice but to be forcibly led along.
Only this time, no matter what, he refused to let Lin Yin carry him on her back.
She had no choice but to take his hand and walk slowly.
But once again, Lin Yin shattered Jiang Che’s previous understanding of her.
She actually brought him to a Humble Clothing Shop.
The storefront was simple, but the scale was decent—considered mid-to-upper tier in the town.
Stepping inside, unlike outside, the shop was filled with a dazzling array of clothes and fabrics.
The Shop Assistant Sister inside seemed to be playing a dress-up game as she helped Jiang Che try on various outfits.
However, Jiang Che’s slender figure meant many of the clothes didn’t fit properly and had to be altered.
At this moment, Lin Yin’s face was full of smiles, her gaze gentle as she watched the scene.
Last night, as she passed by, she had seen a mother and son buying new clothes here, both wearing happy smiles.
That scene had made her reluctant to return to the Zhumen so quickly.
“Wow! Young Master is so handsome! Everything looks good on him. Miss, do you want this one too?”
“Yes, wrap them all up.”
Lin Yin had been thinking last night that she had never really accompanied Jiang Che to buy anything, nor had she given him many gifts.
The only gift she had ever given him was the Longyuan Sword when he reached Foundation Establishment.
At that time, Jiang Che had taken the sword and smiled brightly at her, saying he liked his Master the most.
Recalling that moment, Lin Yin was filled with nostalgia.
Since she had decided to make it up to Jiang Che, she’d start by buying him some new clothes—after all, with his current body, none of his old clothes fit anymore.
Jiang Che struggled to suppress his emotions.
It seemed his former Master had nothing in her head except cultivation.
To the point that buying new clothes for a blind person was something she could actually think of doing.
A moment later, Lin Yin led Jiang Che out of the Humble Clothing Shop.
She had been admiring Jiang Che’s new clothes, completely immersed in her own joy.
She didn’t even notice the faint message left behind in Jiang Che’s Shen Shi.
Facing Jiang Che, she wanted to ask if he liked the clothes they had just bought, but a subtle pressure on her hand immediately made her sense something was wrong.
Hurriedly, she activated her Shen Shi to sense the changes in Jiang Che’s emotions.
Only then did she discover a suppressed anger hidden deep inside him.
Realizing this, Lin Yin felt a wave of panic.
Jiang Che remained silent for a long time; in that moment, Lin Yin felt like a condemned prisoner awaiting execution.
Until the next second, Jiang Che finally slapped her hand away forcefully.
The impact was like a tidal wave crashing through Lin Yin’s heartstrings.
“Che’er, aren’t you happy? If Master did something wrong, I apologize.”
Lin Yin frowned deeply, unable to figure out what she had done wrong.
“Heh.”
Jiang Che let out a soft, cold laugh. He was beginning to understand why Lin Yin had acted this way—only for her own self-satisfaction.
“You couldn’t possibly be wrong! If anything, it’s my fault.
Besides, don’t you think it’s stupid to buy clothes for a blind person and then ask if he likes them?”
Hearing this, Lin Yin panicked instantly—she realized she had made such a huge mistake.
“No, Che’er, listen to Master’s explanation.”
Slap!
As Lin Yin spoke and reached out to hold Jiang Che’s hand again, he ruthlessly pushed her away.
Her hand, pushed away like that, felt like a sharp sword piercing her chest; her throat tightened painfully, leaving her unable to speak for a long time.
She had been avoiding the truth, afraid to say a word for fear it was her fault for what had happened back then.
Afraid of making amends, but also afraid it was already too late.
She had been waiting all along for Jiang Che to speak.
But when the time came, she couldn’t utter a single word.
Only when the passersby began whispering did Lin Yin realize Jiang Che was truly angry.
She desperately wished someone could teach her how to be a Master.
Seeing Lin Yin silent for so long, Jiang Che didn’t press further. He had long given up on the past; he only wanted to live in the present.
“Don’t follow me anymore.”
……
Jiang Che walked through the small town, feeling a bit hungry.
But he had no money. Following a scent, he found himself in front of a Baozi Shop.
The aroma felt oddly familiar.
“Hey! Little brother, are you hungry?”
The Baozi Shop’s Boss was a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a brown apron dusted with white flour.
Feeling the hunger gnawing at his stomach, Jiang Che instinctively stepped forward.
The Boss took a careful look at Jiang Che, his eyes fixed on the Blindfold covering his eyes.
“Little brother, hungry? Come have some baozi.”
Jiang Che felt tempted but didn’t dare take another step.
“Well, I don’t have any money.”
The Boss said nothing further. He grabbed a greaseproof paper bag, took several baozi from the steamer, and came over.
Standing before Jiang Che, he handed him the bag of baozi.
“Alright! Little guy, no charge. Take it and eat.”
“Why are you helping me?”
Jiang Che was puzzled. Ever since he was crippled, few had genuinely helped him.
He remembered when Hu Jingzhong had saved him, and he had asked the same question.
The answer had been, saving a life was a duty, especially for such a pitiful child.
“Looked like you were in need, and a few baozi don’t cost much!”
Jiang Che was touched but decided to find a way to repay later.
He started devouring the baozi.
The Boss chuckled upon seeing this.
“Little guy, I remember three years ago, someone who couldn’t see like you passed by here. But he was taller.”
Jiang Che paused, baozi halfway to his mouth.
He suddenly remembered—three years ago, just after being expelled from the Zhumen, he had passed a Baozi Shop.
At that time, he had a few copper coins given by a passerby who felt sorry for him.
So he had bought some baozi to fill his stomach.
“But later, that person’s Master actually came by and gave me a big bag of Spirit Stones. I’ll never run out of money! She said whenever her disciple comes to buy baozi in the future, just put it on her tab.”
Jiang Che hadn’t expected that story to have a sequel.
“Just that I never saw that person again, and I don’t know what mistake they made to end up like that.”
The Boss recalled that day and the Spirit Stones he had hidden away, hoping to return them if he ever met their owner again—he had only accepted them because he’d been confused at the time.
Jiang Che quietly finished his baozi.
The Boss muttered to himself.
Listening to the Boss describe the scene, Jiang Che thought it really did sound like Lin Yin’s style.
Just then, a figure appeared at the Baozi Shop’s entrance.
“Boss, two baozi please.”
Jiang Che recognized the voice but couldn’t recall exactly.
It sounded like an elderly man, perhaps in his fifties, with a kindly tone.
“The Town Chief has time to come by my shop today? Wait a moment! All the baozi today are fresh out of the steamer!”
Town Chief? Jiang Che finally realized the man’s identity.