Chapter 8: Is broken, I’ve become a long-term laborer.

“By the way, Senior Sister Gu, about what I just said…”

“Oh, that. It’s possible, but…”

“But what?”

Her tone of wanting to set conditions made Lin An’s teeth ache.

He didn’t want to come anymore even if Gu Yingge’s place wasn’t a problem, but he couldn’t guarantee other places.

If he kept coming here, he would be discovered sooner or later.

Seeing that he hadn’t spoken for a long time, Gu Yingge’s slightly dissatisfied voice sounded.

“What? You won’t even agree to such a small request? Who was it just now saying they’d help me see the outside world? Going back on your word so soon? Hah, men…”

Lin An: “…”

‘Wait, that line makes me sound like a scumbag.’

“Senior Sister Gu, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that I’m ultimately an outer sect menial disciple. It’s fine for a short time, but if I skip tasks for too long, people will gossip.”

Sun Yao was a precedent.

If he hadn’t seen the other’s malice, he would have capsized in a ditch sooner or later.

“I see. Then I’ll just issue a long-term commission. What’s so hard about that?”

“This, that…”

Seeing him like this, Gu Yingge glared at him angrily, turned around, and wouldn’t look at him.

“Making excuses. If you don’t want to come, just say so. Am I forcing you? Hmph!”

Lin An was truly miserable.

It was too agonizing to have something to say but not be able to say it.

“Senior Sister Gu, don’t be angry. I see you have enough ores to last a while. How about I come every few days?”

Gu Yingge bit her lip and spoke softly, “Three days. At most three days. You must come to relieve my boredom, or else I won’t care about you anymore.”

Three days then.

At least it wasn’t too frequent.

“Fine, three days.”

Lin An secretly observed Gu Yingge.

Seeing that she seemed to accept it, he said no more.

The atmosphere fell silent.

The sticky sensation on his body became more noticeable.

Although Gu Yingge said this uncanny blood was extremely yin and cold, Lin An, standing by the shore, felt the cave temperature was fine.

He looked at his hand.

It seemed only direct contact had that effect, and leaving the pool didn’t make it go away.

There was still something in the pool, but that didn’t concern him.

“Senior Sister Gu,” Lin An asked while wiping the slime off his body, “this stuff is so sticky. How do you usually wash it off? I feel like water alone won’t do it.”

She hadn’t told him to leave yet, waiting for him to ask on his own.

“Mm, indeed, plain water won’t cleanse it. You need to put a special medicinal powder in the water, then soak your body and clothes in it. Within a quarter of an hour, the blood will dissolve.”

Lin An felt a bit puzzled.

Gu Yingge’s words seemed strange, but he couldn’t pinpoint why.

“Then… where’s the powder? Can I use some?”

He didn’t see the slight curl at the corner of Gu Yingge’s lips.

“In the cupboard in my room, under the clothes. But…”

‘Again with the but?’ Lin An was getting numb.

“But what?”

“It’s just… those are my undergarments. It’s a bit inconvenient.”

“I see. That is inconvenient…”

Hidden so securely, it seemed precious, but he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Is there any other…”

Before he could finish, Gu Yingge’s laughter interrupted him.

“Haha, I’m just kidding. It’s on the table.”

Then she continued teasing, “I didn’t expect Junior Brother Lin to be such an upright man. I wouldn’t have guessed~”

Lin An: (＾_＾)

‘Do you think you’re funny?’

“Since that’s the case, I’ll go get some. I won’t disturb Senior Sister’s bath. Farewell.”

He walked out, and behind him came Gu Yingge’s teasing voice.

“Hey! Are you mad?”

“No!”

Lin An waved his hand without turning back.

Gu Yingge watched his retreating figure, her eyes flickered.

The corners of her lips moved slightly, as if smiling but not.

“Entering my room without a second thought. Junior Brother Lin doesn’t seem like an honest person… but whatever, honest people are boring, hehe~”

Lin An naturally didn’t see Gu Yingge’s final expression.

Reaching the cave entrance, the night breeze blew, making him shiver, and then a flash of insight struck.

He didn’t go out immediately but instead slipped into the shadows.

It wasn’t that he had any scruples about entering a woman’s boudoir, but he felt something was off tonight.

Based on his earlier observation from afar, the hidden agent was Qu Hongling, but the one who came was actually Mu Qinghan.

The hidden agent said to meet tonight.

Mu Qinghan had just returned to the sect recently.

The time matched, but the clothes didn’t.

According to intelligence, Mu Qinghan was cold and always wore an ice-blue robe.

Never changed.

A person’s character can be expressed through clothing.

Mu Qinghan seemed like that.

But… that doesn’t mean she couldn’t change clothes.

Clothing characteristics don’t prove anything.

Logically, after discovering Lin An didn’t go to the Sword Testing Platform, the first person to come find Gu Yingge would be the hidden agent.

Yet Mu Qinghan didn’t ask about what Lin An was worried about, which mostly cleared her suspicion.

This made Lin An’s mood heavy.

He really wasn’t sure.

Could it really be a coincidence?

No, he didn’t believe in such a coincidence.

Coming not early not late, but right at this time.

He unconsciously fiddled with his sticky sleeve and made a bold assumption.

Suppose the hidden agent was Mu Qinghan.

And suppose she had discovered someone in the slime pool earlier.

What would she do?

Lin An squinted at the distant bamboo grove courtyard.

The answer was obvious.

Ambush over there.

If anyone other than Gu Yingge came out, kill them.

That was the safest bet.

Putting himself in her shoes, since Gu Yingge chose to hide it, she definitely wouldn’t let her succeed.

So she wouldn’t act here.

Then it had to be over there.

The moment someone walked out of the courtyard, a one-hit-and-run was the safest method.

Similarly, if the hidden agent was Qu Hongling, she probably had arrived and was lurking outside.

Finally, even if it was neither of them but a third person, the most important thing now was to stay hidden here.

As long as he didn’t go out, after tonight he’d be safe.

Lin An leaned against the cold stone wall, looked up, and sighed softly.

Although it was possible he was fighting shadows, caution was the mother of survival.

Suffering for one night was better than getting insta-killed as soon as he stepped out.

Might as well meditate and get used to this boring training time.

If there was one thing that had been most satisfying these days, it was that his cultivation problem, which had stumped him for over ten years, had miraculously been solved.

Oh, maybe not completely solved.

Partially solved?

Sort of solved?

…

…

The next day.

Morning sunlight shone into the cave, illuminating Lin An and making him sparkle.

“Hey? Junior Brother Lin, what are you doing here? You didn’t stay here all night, did you?”

“Oh, I suddenly thought last night that I should help keep watch for Senior Sister Gu. If someone came, I could notify you in advance.”

“Heh, since when are you so kind?”

“Senior Sister, what are you saying? Your younger brother is full of sincere intentions, only to protect Senior Sister’s purity!”

He really had no other choice.

He overslept.

“Purity? Then what are you looking at now? Close your eyes!”

“I…”

“I’m going to punish you! Not three days—you must come every night to keep me company!”

“Huh?”

“Are you refusing?”

‘Fine, fine. At night no one sees. Better than daytime.’

“…Alright, but not tomorrow night.”

“Why not tomorrow night?”

“I have something to do.”

“Tch~”