Just as Ye Chen was feeling a hint of confusion at Yan Hongxiu’s sudden retreat, Lin Tianzheng and his wife returned.
This time, they did not come empty-handed.
Several family servants followed behind, carrying heavy Pearwood Chests.
When the lids were opened, inside were neatly stacked gold ingots, silver bars, and all sorts of radiant jewels and jade artifacts, glittering under the hall’s light.
In Lin Tianzheng’s hands, he held an even more exquisite Jade Box, containing a few bottles of clearly ancient pills and the “Spirit-Condensing Pearl” he regarded as a family heirloom.
He and his wife, Madam Su, knelt once more, their faces bearing the perfect balance of grief and humility.
“Immortal Master, Immortal Lady…”
Lin Tianzheng’s voice was hoarse, yet Ye Chen could sense the sharpness of a worldly merchant beneath it.
“My elder brother’s misfortune, and the great kindness of the Immortal Master and Immortal Lady, are favors the Lin family will never forget.
These mundane offerings may offend your immortal eyes—please… please forgive us. This is… all our Lin family can offer.”
He did not speak directly of “gifting,” but instead took a pitiful stance, framing this heavy tribute as an apology for not being able to present anything better—leaving no room for fault.
Ye Chen glanced over the gold and jewels without the slightest pause.
To him, these things were no different from pebbles on the roadside.
He said nothing, merely turned his head, and with his eyes, consulted Yan Hongxiu beside him.
Yan Hongxiu felt his gaze.
Her wavering eyes instantly steadied.
She met Ye Chen’s eyes and gently shook her head.
Then, taking a deep breath, she actually stepped forward, speaking on Ye Chen’s behalf.
“We… don’t need these. Please take them back.”
Lin Tianzheng and his wife turned pale at her words.
They wanted to speak, but as their eyes met those of the two immortals, it felt as if something had lodged in their throats, leaving them speechless.
They exchanged glances, seeing the despair in each other’s eyes, and could only kneel there, paralyzed.
Ye Chen understood.
With Lin Tianxiong dead, the pillar of the Lin family had collapsed.
A mortal family without a cultivator, holding enormous wealth in Zixiao City, was like a three-year-old child carrying gold through the market.
This offering, rather than gratitude, was more like a desperate plea for protection.
Ye Chen had no interest in this.
He had fulfilled his commission; the karma was settled.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Yan Hongxiu spoke again.
“Lin Tianxiong’s death is… related to me.”
Her voice was low, as if making a difficult decision.
She did not explain further, but her tone firmed.
“Within a hundred years, your Lin family shall be protected.
This karma, since it began with me, should end with me.”
As she spoke, she took out a bronze Command Token engraved with a sword pattern from her storage ring and tossed it.
The token landed steadily in front of Lin Tianzheng.
“With this Command Token, one person may join the outer sect of our Zixiao Sword Sect without examination.
There is only one spot—decide among yourselves.”
At her words, Lin Tianzheng and his wife were struck as if by lightning, then overwhelmed by wild joy.
A spot as an outer disciple of the Sword Sect!
This was worth a hundred times more than ten thousand taels of gold or a thousand acres of land!
Not only did it secure the Lin family, but it also offered them a chance to soar.
“Thank you, Immortal Lady! Thank you, Immortal Lady!”
The two of them could only kowtow desperately, lost for words.
But Yan Hongxiu did not look at them again.
It was as if she had used all her strength to make a decision that even shocked herself.
She bit her lip.
Before Ye Chen could react, she reached out and grabbed his arm.
The warm, delicate touch made her pale face flush.
“Senior Brother, let’s go.”
Yan Hongxiu’s voice trembled slightly, but she pulled Ye Chen toward the hall’s exit.
Ye Chen was a bit surprised, but allowed himself to be led out of the hall filled with mingled sorrow and joy, leaving only the sounds of kneeling gratitude behind.
Sunlight fell on him once more.
From where their arms touched, he could feel warmth radiating.
Yan Hongxiu’s hand was warm and gripped tightly—almost unnaturally so.
Walking ahead, her steps seemed hurried, her robe fluttering in the wind like a dark red flame.
They passed through the courtyard.
When they reached a secluded spot, Ye Chen suddenly stopped.
Yan Hongxiu, still holding his arm, halted as well and turned in confusion.
Ye Chen did not look at her.
His gaze fell on the sleeve she was gripping—five slender fingers clinging like a stubborn vine to stone.
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint sound of wind under the eaves.
Then, Ye Chen raised his other hand and gently placed it over hers.
Without a word, with a gentle yet firm motion, he loosened her grip from his arm.
Yan Hongxiu’s hand hovered in the air, empty.
Moments ago, it had been tightly holding something.
Now, it held nothing.
The light in her eyes flickered like a candle touched by the wind, then faded.
She looked at Ye Chen, searching his calm face for any trace of emotion—but found only a deep, still silence.
“…I just…”
She began, her voice dry, unsure how to explain her sudden impulse.
The words she’d prepared—”overwhelmed by gratitude”—seemed pale under his cool gaze.
Slowly, she drew back her hand, her fingertips curling as if to grasp the fading warmth.
“You and I are both Sword Cultivators—there should be clarity within and without.”
Yan Hongxiu looked away, her gaze drifting to the distant sky.
Her voice lowered.
“It was I who overstepped.”
Ye Chen’s eyes lingered on the faint red at the tip of her ear, then shifted away.
“Let’s go.”
He spoke the two words softly, as if nothing had happened, and stepped toward the Lin estate gate.
Yan Hongxiu stood in place, watching his back.
The sunlight stretched their shadows, leaving between them a distance that could not be crossed by footsteps.
The wind blew, carrying a hint of chill.
After a moment, she followed, her steps no longer hurried.
Ye Chen did not look back, but he sensed that the intense gaze that had once followed closely behind had now become restrained.
After the trial of life and death, a rock split open by fire, and in the crack, a small, burning flower had blossomed.
But now, with an unexpected chill, that newly-bloomed flower seemed to curl its petals.