Xuandan Peak, Xu Qianlan’s residence was rather secluded.
She preferred tranquility, so she didn’t live in Danding Wu.
Instead, she chose a spot that resembled a small valley within the medicinal garden and built a small wooden hut.
At this moment, Lin Yin was already standing at the door of Xu Qianlan’s wooden hut.
She and Xu Qianlan were old acquaintances.
However, Xu Qianlan had joined the sect decades before Lin Yin and was extremely devoted to the path of alchemy.
Thanks to this passion and perseverance, she had successfully become the head of the first seat of Xuandan Peak.
Compared to Lin Yin, she was much more mature, and because of this, even though her cultivation barely reached the Void Refining Stage, she was widely respected.
Although her strength was far below, in terms of Shen Shi, Xu Qianlan was not inferior to the other peak heads; she was even better at utilizing it.
Because of this, Lin Yin understood that Xu Qianlan must have already known she was here.
There was no need to call out; if she didn’t want to come out, it was equivalent to not wanting to see Lin Yin.
After all, they had quarreled many times over Jiang Che in the past.
Jiang Che’s face was pale as paper. Although Lin Yin had supplied a large amount of Spirit Power, it only temporarily stabilized his condition.
As for the physical strength that had been drained, Jiang Che needed to recover gradually.
The wooden door slowly opened.
Out came a graceful woman.
She wore a dark green broad-embroidered robe, the slanting collar loose and sliding off to reveal half a white, fragrant shoulder.
Her body lines were clearly outlined, the robe’s hem split to reveal snow-white long legs as she walked, coupled with a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth like a stroke of divine brushwork, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
Only her expression looked very displeased.
“What are you doing here? Carrying a child? Since when did you learn to do good deeds?”
Her voice was rich and slightly slow, with a trace of laziness, as if she had been sleeping here for days.
Lin Yin didn’t respond for a long time, only silently watching Jiang Che in her arms.
“Speak. Didn’t you go out to find your senior disciple Jiang Che? Did you find him?”
There was a lot of dissatisfaction in Xu Qianlan’s tone.
Among the Shenxiao Sect elders, she had spent the most time with Jiang Che.
She also hated how such a good disciple was taken away by Lin Yin.
When she heard Lin Yin had picked him up from a small village outside, she had also taken leave to try her luck, but the truth proved that not everyone was so lucky.
Yet, not everyone with good fortune has eyes to see and cherish it.
Otherwise, why would there be so many people seeking regrets in this world?
When that incident happened, Xu Qianlan happened to be away, so she couldn’t stop it in time.
Lin Yin’s lips trembled slightly as she said, “I found him.”
Xu Qianlan didn’t understand and looked more closely at the boy in her arms who looked about eleven or twelve years old.
She simply couldn’t connect him to the once heroic and spirited genius.
If there was one common point, it was that his eyes were blind.
Xu Qianlan even suspected that Lin Yin, who wasn’t the sharpest, might have just randomly found a substitute.
For Xu Qianlan’s doubts, Lin Yin didn’t directly answer.
“Help me check this child first. You’re better at this than I am, and your inner sight is better.”
Xu Qianlan sighed. Looking at Lin Yin’s expression, she felt Lin Yin was very serious—very serious.
It was the first time she had seen such a look in Lin Yin’s eyes.
Lin Yin usually never gave others a second glance; she thought it was a waste of time.
Xu Qianlan sighed again and reluctantly said, “Fine, bring him in.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Yin hurriedly carried Jiang Che into Xu Qianlan’s wooden hut.
A gentle, non-pungent refined medicine fragrance wafted out — Xu Qianlan’s unique formula.
Mixed in was a faint aroma of wine; Lin Yin was very familiar with this scent.
The room had no special decoration — just a wooden table and chairs.
On the table was a censer, and under the table sat a wine jar.
Drinking was also one of Xu Qianlan’s hobbies.
Xu Qianlan invited Lin Yin to place Jiang Che on the simple bed in the room.
Lin Yin obeyed.
Seeing Lin Yin so silent, Xu Qianlan was truly curious what had upset her to come “beg” her like this.
Lin Yin had never behaved this way before.
From this perspective, she was already begging Xu Qianlan.
Looking at the child, Xu Qianlan found him somewhat delicate-looking and slightly resembled Jiang Che.
But this boy appeared pale and weak.
She said nothing more, her slender, fair fingers carrying a faint chill, lightly resting on Jiang Che’s wrist to feel his pulse.
Her movements looked casual but were executed with expert precision.
Almost at the moment she touched his pulse, a pure and dense Shen Shi force quietly flowed from her fingertips, cautiously probing inside Jiang Che’s body.
This was the second time Jiang Che’s body had been probed by a woman, but this time he was unconscious.
After a moment, Xu Qianlan noticed quite a bit of Lin Yin’s Spirit Power mixed inside Jiang Che’s body.
Just as she was pondering what Lin Yin had done, her probing reached the Dantian.
She started doubting the child’s relationship to Jiang Che, but while others might be unfamiliar, she knew Jiang Che’s Linggen quality too well.
His Linggen was extraordinarily rare; if he had been born in the Hehuan Sect, his life would have been doomed.
But upon probing, she found it empty.
Normally, every person’s Dantian was rich with spiritual energy, where the Linggen resided.
But Jiang Che was different — his Spirit Power was thin, and there was no Linggen at all.
Even if Lin Yin had severed it, there shouldn’t be nothing.
At that moment, Xu Qianlan sensed a chilling aura.
That emptiness was not truly empty; she saw clearly that it was a worm — a creature covered with dark purple patterns.
Its body had a shell and several threadlike tentacles cleverly connecting to Jiang Che’s meridians.
This meant it could freely control the child’s life and death.
Feeling this aura, Xu Qianlan immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
“Do you know anything about this child’s condition?”
Seeing Xu Qianlan’s reaction, Lin Yin knew she had seen that thing.
Xu Qianlan didn’t rush to explain but instead looked at Lin Yin.
“I roughly understand, but you have to tell me who this child is. Also, why are you injured? Who else could hurt you?”
Lin Yin took a deep breath; this was a question she could not avoid.
She stepped forward, covered Jiang Che with Xu Qianlan’s quilt, then slowly spoke.
“He is Che’er. As for my injuries, I’ll explain later.”
“What?!”
Xu Qianlan was shocked.
“You’re not lying to me, right? You’re not telling me Jiang Che has turned into a child?
As a cultivator, you should know that rejuvenation like that violates the laws of the world.
As far as I know, no one can achieve it.
Besides, Jiang Che’s cultivation was crippled by you back then. He shouldn’t have the ability to do this.”
In this rare emotional moment, Lin Yin gently untied the bloodstained cloth covering Jiang Che’s blindfolded face.
Revealing the shocking sword scar.
Then she loosened his clothes to expose Jiang Che’s upper body.