Chapter 75-76: They Both Learned Bad Habits
As Chen Yin’s figure vanished into the night sky, Nan Xiaoxiang stood there, her gaze lingering on his retreating form.
A moment later, a commotion erupted throughout the clinic.
“The young mistress is back!”
“Young Mistress?! Are you alright? Did that cultivator do anything to you?”
“I’m fine.” Nan Xiaoxiang shook her head calmly. “He just needed my help urgently and was a bit rough. He didn’t harm me.”
“Thank heavens!”
The servant said with lingering fear, “We were so worried about you, Miss. We immediately contacted the governor and your father. The master has already prepared the carriage and was about to personally request help from the Canghe Sword Sect!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to my father.”
Nan Xiaoxiang paused after taking a couple of steps and instructed in a low voice:
“Don’t speak of this matter to anyone. Pretend it never happened, understand?”
“Yes, Miss…”
“Also, prepare a few empty guest rooms.”
She lowered her eyes, her voice calm. “There will be patients coming in a few days. We’ll need them.”
The servant nodded, then said with a hesitant expression:
“Miss, about the Canghe Sword Sect… should we still inform them that you’re safe?”
Hearing this, Nan Xiaoxiang frowned, seemingly troubled.
“I’ll… handle it myself.”
The servant didn’t dare to ask any further questions and left.
Nan Xiaoxiang stood alone in the moonlit courtyard, her gaze fixed on the night-blooming jasmine flowers swaying gently in the breeze.
“Perhaps… being kidnapped would have been more peaceful.” She murmured to herself.
***
When Chen Yin returned to Luo Luo’s inn, dawn was breaking.
As he pushed open the door, a soft voice whispered:
“Be quiet. She just fell asleep.”
Chen Yin turned and saw Luo Luo lying beside Ya Ya, both sleeping soundly.
He was silent for a moment, then asked, “Don’t you need to rest as well?”
“It’s fine. Those of us in this line of work are used to going without sleep.”
Qingying replied softly, then gently closed the door, leaving the little foxes to sleep peacefully.
The two of them walked along the corridor outside the room.
“What are your plans now?”
“I’m going with you.” She said seriously. “You’re the only one who knows where my brother is in the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.”
Chen Yin chuckled. “You’re choosing to trust me? What about your sect?”
Qingying was silent for a long time before shaking her head slowly.
“I agreed to join the secret division because I wanted to protect A’Chen.”
“If something really happened to him in the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain, what’s the point of me staying in the secret division?”
“You’re more resolute than I expected.”
Chen Yin’s smile faded, and he said seriously, “In that case, I have something to ask you.”
“Was your secret division… involved in the Changli Palace incident?”
Qingying narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing Chen Yin.
“Why are you so fixated on Changli Palace?”
“It’s related to my Junior Sister. It’s important to me.” Chen Yin said, his gaze unwavering.
Sensing his determination, Qingying’s eyes softened slightly.
“…You’re right. The secret division was involved in the Changli Palace incident.”
“But unfortunately, that was over a decade ago.” She crossed her arms casually. “A’Chen and I hadn’t joined the secret division yet. We only heard snippets of information from other members.”
Chen Yin frowned slightly. “The secret division is responsible for handling the sect’s dirty work. Since they were involved in the Changli Palace incident, I assume the truth is far different from the rumors circulating outside.”
“I don’t know the specifics.”
Qingying hesitated for a moment, then said slowly, “But… it’s said that the Changli Palace incident was truly horrific.”
“And with the secret division’s methods, there’s no way anyone from Changli Palace could have survived.”
Chen Yin nodded silently, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions.
“I understand. But you don’t have to follow me.”
He said softly, “Stay here and take care of Luo Luo and the others. In a couple of days, when Ya Ya and the others are feeling better, take them to Yanxia Province and find Miss Nan, the physician who treated them.”
“Her clinic can help them recover.”
“What about you?” Qingying asked, her brow furrowed.
“I need to return to Mount Yu.”
Chen Yin’s gaze drifted towards the distance. “I have to take Xiang’er home.”
Qingying didn’t ask any further questions and simply said coldly, “Alright. Come find me in Yanxia Province as soon as possible.”
“And do I still need to keep the sword energy in my body?”
“Keep it.” Chen Yin grinned. “Consider it a souvenir.”
“If you ever miss me, just look at that sword energy. It’ll help ease your longing.”
Qingying pursed her lips, a cold glint in her eyes. She ignored his teasing and returned to her room.
After Qingying left, Chen Yin’s smile faded.
…He still didn’t fully trust her.
Since Luo Luo, Ya Ya, and the others were all relying on Qingying’s care, keeping that sword energy in her body was a necessary precaution.
As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, Chen Yin entered the room one last time.
Luo Luo was sleeping soundly, her lips moving slightly as if she was having a sweet dream.
She hadn’t rested properly for the past few days, worried about Ya Ya and the others. Now that they were finally safe and stable, exhaustion had finally overcome her.
Chen Yin left a note, then sat beside the bed and gently stroked Luo Luo’s hair and ears.
“Now, you can finally reunite with your friends safely.”
“…And I don’t have to feel so guilty anymore.” He murmured softly, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Luo Luo, in her sleep, seemed to have dreamt of something pleasant. Her ears twitched, and a sweet smile appeared on her chubby face.
Chen Yin leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, then, bathed in the first light of dawn, he set off to find Xiang’er.
***
“Senior Brother, wake up!”
Before the rooster had crowed three times, Yu Xiang was already banging on Chen Yin’s door.
“If you don’t get up, I’m coming in and pulling your blanket off!”
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a refreshed-looking Chen Yin.
“What’s all the commotion… It’s so early. Can’t we sleep a little longer?”
“Look at the time! You’re still sleeping?”
Yu Xiang looked at him suspiciously. “Why do you always look so tired?”
“Don’t tell me you’re staying up all night… doing things that are bad for your health?”
Chen Yin: “…”
Crap. Has Xiang’er been corrupted too?
He coughed awkwardly and said, “Just assume I have needs that I need to take care of myself. I’m too tired to explain.”
The moment he said those words, he regretted it.
Because he saw Shen Shuanglian standing behind Yu Xiang.
“Uh, that’s not…”
Chen Yin was about to explain, but Shen Shuanglian didn’t seem to mind. She just asked softly:
“It’s getting late. We’ve rested for a night. Shouldn’t we head back today?”
Chen Yin nodded. “Yes. If we don’t take Xiang’er back soon, I’m afraid Master will lock me out of the mountain.”
Shen Shuanglian didn’t say anything more, just lowered her eyes slightly.
Sensing her mood, Chen Yin asked, “What about you, Senior Sister?”
“Me?”
Shen Shuanglian hesitated, her lips pressed together. “I… I’ve completed my mission, I should probably return to the sect.”
“Are there any other options?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want you to go back to the sect now.” Chen Yin looked into her eyes seriously.
Shen Shuanglian was surprised by his words and became flustered.
“B-but where else can I go if I don’t return to the sect—”
“Come back to Mount Yu with me.”
Chen Yin said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
But his words left both Shen Shuanglian and Yu Xiang stunned.
“Go to Mount Yu? Why?” Shen Shuanglian’s face flushed slightly.
“I want to talk to Master about Changli Palace properly.”
He looked at Shen Shuanglian calmly. “It might involve some secrets of the Mist Spirit Sect. I want you to hear it too.”
Shen Shuanglian’s eyelashes fluttered in confusion.
“But… Master Yu Ling… she doesn’t seem to like me very much.”
“Don’t worry.”
Chen Yin grinned. “Master might act tough, but she’s actually a softie deep down. She’s just tsundere, you know.”
“She’ll be delighted to have a beautiful girl like you visit Mount Yu.”
Shen Shuanglian was still hesitant, but then she heard Chen Yin whisper, “There are some things I don’t want to put you in a difficult position.”
“Be obedient. Okay?”
His tone was gentle, like he was coaxing a sulking girlfriend.
Shen Shuanglian felt a warmth spread through her heart and nodded obediently.
Yu Xiang watched them silently.
A faint, dim light flickered in her dark eyes.
“Alright.”
Chen Yin said cheerfully, “Let’s go. Back to Mount Yu.”
Yu Xiang said nothing, quietly following behind them.
Shen Shuanglian, however, walked up to Chen Yin with a hesitant expression and whispered through voice transmission:
“By the way, there’s one more thing…”
“Hmm?”
“If you…” Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she seemed embarrassed to say it out loud. “If you really have needs that you can’t handle…”
“You c-can come to my room…” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Chen Yin stared at her for a long time.
After a while, he took a deep breath.
“Senior Sister, you’re still recovering. Regular checkups are necessary.”
“But I still have to say… what I said to Xiang’er earlier, it was just a joke.”
“Don’t take it seriously, okay?”
Shen Shuanglian blinked playfully.
Chen Yin frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
…Crap.
Senior Sister has learned bad habits too.
Leave a Reply