Chapter 187: Learning One’s Lesson
Luo Luo didn’t see Qingying all day and into the evening.
At dinner, she asked Chen Yin, “Young Master, where’s Sister Qingying? Shouldn’t she be back by now? We didn’t see her at dinner yesterday either.”
“Who knows,” Chen Yin said casually, picking up some food with his chopsticks. “Maybe she got caught doing something stupid and is being punished.”
Luo Luo: “…?”
Seeing her worried expression, Chen Yin reassured her, “Don’t worry about her. She can take care of herself.”
Luo Luo nodded and continued eating her dumplings quietly.
Only Chen Yin and Luo Luo were at dinner. Not only was Qingying absent, but Nan Xiaoxiang was also nowhere to be seen.
However, Chen Yin knew why.
Nan Xiaoxiang had become obsessed with treating the villagers, her compassion extending to everyone within a radius of several miles.
Even the Wu Xuan Cave disciples occasionally sought her help.
Her reputation as a kind and skilled physician was spreading throughout the Ten Thousand Mountains.
She seemed to genuinely enjoy helping others.
It wasn’t for any specific reason or reward, just a simple, pure desire to heal.
And when you’re doing what you love, you’re always happy.
She didn’t seem to be in a hurry to reveal her connection to the Wu Xuan Cave, and the Grand Witch hadn’t recognized her either. Chen Yin was glad.
He didn’t want to deal with another conflict between them.
After dinner, Chen Yin, anticipating the masked figure’s nightly visit, prepared to leave.
As he stepped outside, he noticed a figure lurking in the shadows.
The figure quickly retreated, then cautiously peeked out.
It was Qingying, her eyes filled with a mixture of resentment and apprehension.
“Don’t hide.”
Chen Yin glanced at her. “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”
Qingying emerged from the shadows, her voice defiant. “I’m not hungry!”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then let’s continue where we left off.”
Chen Yin started walking towards her, and Qingying quickly retreated, yelling, “Are you even human?! I’ve been in bed all day, and you still want to—”
“One day isn’t enough. You should stay in bed for a week,” Chen Yin said with a deadpan expression.
His words truly frightened her.
She knew he was capable of doing it.
“I’m sorry! You’re very… enduring… okay?!”
“Why are you so angry? I-I was just joking…” she pouted, her eyes still red and swollen.
She had spent the entire day in bed, questioning her life choices.
From afternoon to night, she had only had a sip of water, while Chen Yin had kept her pinned to the bed, her body aching all over.
She couldn’t understand how he had so much energy.
He had finally relented after she begged and cried for a long time, and she had slept for an entire day, still feeling sore and exhausted when she finally woke up.
Chen Yin looked at her, his gaze calm and indifferent.
He walked towards her, and Qingying, thinking he was going to carry her back to the room, flinched.
But he just gently touched her forehead and said softly, “Fish-flavored shredded pork with pancakes. Be right back. Can you walk?”
Qingying bit her lip and didn’t answer.
Chen Yin glanced at her awkward gait and, without another word, lifted her into his arms.
He carried her back to the room and said gently, “Stay put. Don’t run around.”
Qingying obediently burrowed under the blankets, watching him through the gap.
He returned shortly with a plate of fragrant fish-flavored shredded pork and pancakes.
“If you had just said you were hungry, you wouldn’t have had to wait until now.”
Qingying remained under the blankets, her eyes wary.
Chen Yin sighed and placed the plate on her bedside table. “Are you going to eat, or do I have to feed you?”
“It’s not like you’re the one who’s sore! You had all the fun! I don’t see why you can’t feed me now.”
“Fine,” Chen Yin said calmly, “One bite, one extra hour tonight.”
Qingying immediately sat up and started eating.
The food was delicious, and she was starving, having not eaten since last night.
She ate quickly and quietly, afraid to say anything that might provoke him.
Chen Yin sat beside her, watching her eat.
“Are you just going to stare at me while I eat?”
“What else should I do?”
Qingying didn’t dare retort and quickly finished her meal.
Chen Yin reached out to her.
Qingying flinched and backed away, her voice filled with a panicked fear. “C-can’t you wait? I-I just finished eating! That’s not how post-dinner exercise works…”
Chen Yin frowned, and she immediately fell silent.
He gently took her wrist and asked softly, “Does it still hurt?”
His gentle tone surprised her.
Qingying looked at him cautiously, then pouted slightly.
“Of course it hurts…”
“Where does it hurt?”
“E-everywhere!” Her face flushed crimson.
Chen Yin took out a pill from his pocket.
“For the pain. Take it.”
Qingying blinked, surprised by his sudden kindness.
It felt like the calm before the storm.
“Are you… planning another all-nighter?” she asked hesitantly.
Whether you sleep or not is irrelevant. The problem is, if you don’t sleep, I’ll die.
But Chen Yin just looked out the window and said softly, “I won’t be sleeping here tonight.”
Qingying breathed a sigh of relief.
She suddenly felt a little strange.
Why wasn’t she happier about him not staying?
“Are you… going to find Luo Luo? Or Nan Xiaoxiang? Don’t tell me you’re going to find Lian’er.”
Chen Yin flicked her forehead lightly.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He frowned slightly. “I have to deal with that masked figure from Shen Li.”
“You’re going to drink with him again?”
“It’s my only way to get information about Shen Li. It’s just a few drinks.”
“Are you going to come back reeking of alcohol again?” Qingying’s voice was soft, almost a whisper.
Chen Yin looked at her intently for a long moment, then gently ruffled her hair.
“Cultivators don’t die from drinking.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Qingying nodded and burrowed back under the blankets.
Chen Yin put on his robe and glanced at her before leaving.
Qingying peeked out from under the blankets, her eyes meeting his.
“Take your medicine and get some rest. If you’re still awake when I get back, you won’t be sleeping at all.”
With that, he left.
Qingying shivered, remembering certain unpleasant events, and grumbled, “Why are you so mean…”
But then she felt a pang of loneliness.
She was used to sleeping alone, and she hadn’t spent much time in bed lately.
Now, lying alone under the blankets, she felt strangely empty.
As if something was missing.
She hugged the pillow, burying her face in it, and took a deep breath, then frowned.
“…What am I doing?”
It was a strange and slightly indecent gesture.
But she couldn’t resist.
His scent was comforting.
She took another deep breath.
It was so calming that she felt her eyelids growing heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.
On the cliff behind the village, the masked figure stood motionless.
Chen Yin joined him, and without a word, they sat down and started drinking.
After several such encounters, Chen Yin had realized that this man either didn’t like to talk, or there was some reason he couldn’t.
Just as he was wondering how to start a conversation, the masked figure spoke first.
“The girl in your room earlier… wasn’t the same one as last time.”
Chen Yin paused, then asked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement, “What can you even see from that distance?”
“I can’t see anything. But I saw you carrying her into your room.”
Chen Yin didn’t bother explaining and countered, “Do you have a voyeurism fetish?”
“Would you be angry if I did?” the masked figure asked in return.
“No one likes having their private life observed.”
“I… didn’t actually see anything.”
“But you saw me carrying her into the room,” Chen Yin said innocently, spreading his hands.
The masked figure was silent for a moment, then raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.
“I’ll punish myself. If you mind, I won’t watch anymore.”
“I don’t mind.”
Chen Yin asked curiously, “If you don’t mind sharing the reason, I’ve been wondering… why are you watching my room?”
The masked figure was silent for a long time, but he continued drinking.
Finally, he said quietly, “Just consider it me… living vicariously through you. I’ve never seen someone so… carefree and surrounded by women.”
His tone was strange, a mixture of mockery and envy.
Chen Yin seemed to understand something but just smiled and said, “You flatter me.”
“Are you married?”
“…No.”
“Do you even have a sweetheart?”
The masked figure didn’t answer, just stared at him, his silence conveying his displeasure.
Chen Yin shrugged and raised his cup. “My bad. I shouldn’t have asked. I’ll punish myself.”
He covered his face with his cup, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
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