Chapter 91: An Apology
“Who the hell are you?”
The five words echoed clearly through the morning courtyard.
Not only was Ju Shaohé stunned, but his subordinates were also dumbfounded. Even Nan Xiaoxiang was momentarily speechless.
Only Chen Yin, with a mischievous grin, seemed to enjoy the unfolding drama.
“You’re courting death! How dare you speak to our Young Master like that!”
Ju Shaohé’s subordinates, regaining their composure, were about to draw their swords when their young master stopped them.
“Did you already forget the rules after just dealing with one person?”
Ju Shaohé said sternly, “This is Miss Nan’s clinic! Anyone who dares to break the rules and harm someone here is disrespecting me, Ju Shaohé!”
The subordinates reluctantly sheathed their swords.
Chen Yin looked at Ju Shaohé with amusement. It was clear he was seething with anger, yet he was trying to maintain a facade of magnanimity and composure.
“Brother Chen, didn’t we introduce ourselves yesterday? I am Ju Shaohé, the Young Master of the Canghe Sword Sect.”
“We didn’t have a chance to chat properly yesterday. Why don’t we have dinner together today and get to know each other better?”
“Well, I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
Chen Yin waved his hand dismissively. “I spend all my time on a small, insignificant mountain peak, a branch of the Mist Spirit Sect. I’ve never heard of the Canghe Sword Sect, and I don’t know any Young Master.”
“Are you a beautiful girl? If you are, I’ll have dinner with you.”
His words made Ju Shaohé’s eye twitch and a vein bulge on his forehead. It was clear he was on the verge of exploding.
Even Nan Xiaoxiang, standing beside him, glared at Chen Yin with a murderous glint in her eyes.
“Brother Chen… seems rather unfriendly.” Ju Shaohé narrowed his eyes dangerously.
“I’m not trying to bully anyone with my status as the Young Master of the Canghe Sword Sect. I simply wanted to invite Miss Nan to dinner. Why are you being so hostile?”
“If you weren’t trying to use your status to bully me, wouldn’t you have noticed that she doesn’t want to go?”
Chen Yin said casually, his arms crossed, looking like a street thug. “Insisting on forcing a girl to do something she doesn’t want to do, aren’t you blind? Should I recommend you for a judging position at the Tokyo Olympics?”
“You!”
Ju Shaohé’s anger reached its peak, but his reason prevented him from losing his temper in front of Nan Xiaoxiang. He snorted coldly:
“Hmph. It seems not everyone who comes to seek treatment is reasonable.”
“Since Miss Nan is reluctant, I won’t bother you any longer.”
“Let’s go.” He turned to leave, a menacing glint in his eyes as he glanced at Chen Yin.
Chen Yin ignored him and grinned mischievously.
After they left, Nan Xiaoxiang let out a sigh of relief and looked at Chen Yin.
“You’re something else. I was just trying to use you as a shield, and you went and provoked him directly.”
“Now you’ve caught the attention of the Young Master of the Canghe Sword Sect.”
“Let him be.” Chen Yin shrugged nonchalantly. “He’s obsessed with his own father. So, by extension, I’m practically his dad now.”
Hearing this, Nan Xiaoxiang couldn’t help but giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Of course, there’s another reason.”
Chen Yin crossed his arms and said with a playful tone, “I don’t like being used as a shield.”
“I-I didn’t mean any harm.”
Nan Xiaoxiang’s eyes flickered with embarrassment. She explained in a soft voice, “With my words earlier, you just had to agree that it wasn’t appropriate to discuss the patient’s condition openly, and Young Master Ju wouldn’t have pressed further.”
“How can you be so sure? What if he’s petty and holds a grudge against me?”
Chen Yin said casually, “You’re just trying to shift the blame, using me as a scapegoat because I’m a cultivator. If you didn’t have any malicious intent, why not find a mortal to do it? Are you afraid that the mortal would ‘accidentally’ die after leaving?”
“What if I were just a weak and powerless cultivator? Your actions could have gotten me killed by the Canghe Sword Sect the moment I stepped out of here.”
Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t argue any further. She simply lowered her gaze, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“…I apologize. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Her voice carried a trace of unspoken grievance.
“I-I’m sorry, okay…”
Chen Yin looked at her with surprise.
This woman, who had been so calm and composed in front of him, even unafraid of Qingying, was now apologizing to him?
And her apology lacked her usual indifference.
…She was actually quite cute.
“But now that you’ve escalated the situation and completely offended Young Master Ju, aren’t you in even more danger?”
She said with concern, “Why don’t you stay at the clinic for the next couple of days? When Young Master Ju calms down, you can find a chance to leave—”
“Forget it.”
Chen Yin suddenly waved his hand dismissively. “Since you apologized, I won’t hold it against you.”
“As for that Ju Shaohé… don’t worry about him.”
“I said, if I were just a weak and powerless cultivator, then yes, I might be in danger.”
“But unfortunately…”
“…I’m not.” He left those words hanging in the air, then turned and walked towards Ya Ya’s ward.
Nan Xiaoxiang watched his retreating figure, as carefree as an old man strolling through the park, a flicker of confusion and admiration in her eyes.
What was this man thinking?
Chen Yin’s temper wasn’t that good.
Although he was grateful to Nan Xiaoxiang for saving Ya Ya’s life, he was still annoyed that she had thrown him under the bus twice, putting him in the crosshairs of the Canghe Sword Sect’s Young Master.
He could somewhat understand her intentions, knowing that she didn’t have a good impression of cultivators.
Since she wasn’t interested in playing along, he might as well just flip the table.
But after Nan Xiaoxiang apologized, Chen Yin decided to let it go.
…She was just a mortal after all.
A young woman, barely twenty years old.
Caught between the Young Master of the Canghe Sword Sect and her own principles, her reputation as a physician offered her little protection.
Even if she didn’t like it, what could she, a mere mortal, do?
In the end, she was just a pitiful person.
A teenage girl couldn’t be expected to think everything through. Since she had apologized, Chen Yin didn’t want to dwell on it any longer. She was still Ya Ya and the others’ savior.
Returning to Ya Ya’s ward, he found the little foxes gathered around the bed, listening intently as Luo Luo read from a book:
“…This Li boy was just an innkeeper’s helper, he knew nothing about martial arts! But seeing the young lady in danger, his youthful spirit surged, and he grabbed a stool and charged at the villain!”
Chen Yin recognized the story as the one he had read to her before. He leaned against the doorframe, listening with amusement.
“But who would have thought, by sheer coincidence! The stool struck the villain’s weak point!”
“The young lady seized the opportunity, drew her sword, and killed the villain. Just as she was about to thank the Li boy—Ah, Young Master!”
Luo Luo, who had been engrossed in the story, noticed Chen Yin standing by the door and greeted him excitedly.
“It seems you really like the novel I bought for you.”
Chen Yin walked over, smiling as he ruffled the heads of the little foxes. Luo Luo held up the book with a grin.
“Of course I like it! It’s a gift from Young Master!”
“And the stories inside are so interesting! Ya Ya and the others love them too.”
“Glad to hear it.” Chen Yin casually took out a handful of candy from his pocket and scattered them on the table. Then he sat down on the bed, crossing his legs, and continued petting the foxes. “Keep reading. Let me hear it too.”
Luo Luo scratched her ears shyly. “Luo Luo… I’m not very good at reading… How about Young Master reads to us instead? I’m telling you, Young Master is an amazing storyteller, even better than the storytellers at the teahouse!”
…Is she really complimenting me? Chen Yin couldn’t help but touch his nose awkwardly.
But as soon as she finished speaking, the little foxes gathered around him eagerly, their eyes shining. Surrounded by so many fluffy ears, Chen Yin couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“Alright, alright, I’ll continue reading to you.”
A while later, Qingying arrived at the door but hesitated before entering.
Inside the room, Chen Yin was vividly narrating the legendary tale of the innkeeper’s helper, surrounded by the little foxes, who were snuggled close to him, their laughter echoing through the air.
It was a heartwarming scene.
After hesitating for a moment, Qingying decided not to disturb them. She leaned against the doorframe, listening quietly.
But suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and she glanced sharply at the ceiling beams.
“System, mark that person.” She said coldly.
“Already done.”
The System replied casually, “You’ve become quite lazy lately. He’s been lurking there for a while now, and you only just noticed.”
“The old you would have detected him before even reaching the room.”
Qingying didn’t respond, her cold and indifferent eyes flickering slightly.
“…Is he hostile?”
“It’s hard to say.” The System said calmly. “He’s probably just observing, since it’s not convenient to attack inside the clinic.”
“I wouldn’t want to fight here either. Just keep him marked and let’s scare him off.”
With that, a surge of killing intent erupted from Qingying, directed at the mysterious figure on the roof.
Sensing he had been discovered, the figure didn’t hesitate and quickly retreated.
Through the System, Qingying confirmed that the person was moving away before focusing her attention back on the room.
Inside, the scene was still peaceful. The little foxes were listening to Chen Yin’s story with rapt attention, enjoying their snacks and drinks.
Qingying observed them with an impassive expression, then suddenly asked:
“System.”
“Do you think I’ve become too complacent lately?”
“The answer is obvious.” The System replied. “But with that Chen Yin to rely on, it’s understandable to relax a bit.”
“You’re not like other Chosen Ones, burdened by a heavy destiny and facing death if you don’t complete your missions. Isn’t it nice to just relax and enjoy life?”
A rare flicker of uncertainty appeared in Qingying’s cold and beautiful eyes.
But the next moment, she shook her head.
“…Relying on others is never reliable.”
“I can’t trust him completely. Not until he takes me to find my brother’s remains.” She murmured to herself.
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