WBICDPH Chapter 55 Part 1

Chapter 55 — Gentle Words

“….”

Lin Jin lowered his eyes slightly.

Why had the Twelve Guards of Mingzhu come after him?

Instinctively, he glanced at Qiuqiu, who was curled up beside his hand, resting. The little creature had its eyes closed as if asleep—but Lin Jin knew it wasn’t. He had noticed its ears twitch upright the moment the question was asked.

Yes.

Why had the Twelve Guards made such a huge effort just to seize a green-eyed hound puppy?

The same question surfaced again in Lin Jin’s mind.

Was Qiuqiu really just a green-eyed hound?

He knew that if he told the whole truth today, Qiuqiu would inevitably be taken away for investigation. If the puppy really had some hidden identity, it would only bring endless trouble.

But if he hid that part…

In the end, one thought remained.

No matter what, right now, Qiuqiu was his contracted companion.

The little dog had never harmed him—in fact, it had helped him many times.

As long as it was still his companion, he had the responsibility to protect it.

With that resolve, Lin Jin pressed his lips together and suddenly pushed himself up from the bed.

Liu Xun hurried to support him. “What are you doing? I told you not to move—you’re injured! Are you trying to throw your life away?”

“I’m sorry, Master,” Lin Jin said softly, “but if I’m going to confess my mistakes, I should do it properly.”

Seeing his determination, Liu Xun didn’t argue further. Together with Mo Yuzi, she carefully helped him to his feet.

But once he stood, Lin Jin said nothing. Instead, he suddenly dropped to his knees and bowed deeply before them.

“I have failed the trust placed in me by my Master and the Sect Leader. You believed in me, cared for me, and taught me everything you knew, yet I kept secrets from you. The fault is mine alone. I do not ask for forgiveness—only that you don’t drive me away. Even if I remain on Yanyu Mountain as nothing more than a servant sweeping floors, I beg you…”

“Enough. Get up first,” Mo Yuzi interrupted, wincing at the blood seeping faintly through Lin Jin’s robes.

But Lin Jin refused to stand and insisted on kneeling. Mo Yuzi sighed heavily and exchanged a glance with Liu Xun.

Her expression was grim. Hearing Lin Jin’s words, her mind ran through every worst-case scenario.

Why was he suddenly apologizing? What had he hidden?

Was he a demonic cultivator? A runaway member of the Twelve Guards? Was that why he had been hunted?

Or perhaps some unknown demon in disguise?

Her thoughts grew increasingly outrageous—she had practically braced herself for him to admit he was the long-lost brother hated by the Lord of Mingzhu—when Lin Jin finally spoke:

“When I joined the sect, I concealed my true identity. I am not an ordinary wandering cultivator, but a direct disciple of Daoist Mushan from Piaomiao Pavilion—Lin Jin.”

“What?!” Liu Xun, Mo Yuzi, and Hua Nanzhi all exclaimed at once.

Sanzong Yu reacted more calmly but still raised his eyebrows in surprise. Even Xiao Yunkong at the doorway glanced over. Only Han Ao, who already knew the truth, remained relatively composed—though he still worried silently for his friend.

“So you were already a direct disciple of Piaomiao Pavilion and still joined Yanyu Mountain?” Liu Xun burst out. “And not only that—you took two Masters here? That makes three Masters total! You brat…!”

Before she could explode further, Mo Yuzi grabbed her sleeve. “Calm down! Let the kid finish talking!”

“I’m perfectly calm!” she shot back, then sighed and waved her fan. “Fine. Go on—what happened next?”

“You’ve probably noticed that although I come from Piaomiao Pavilion, I know none of its cultivation methods. That’s how I managed to hide my identity for so long. Though I called Daoist Mushan ‘Master,’ he never taught me anything about cultivation. I grew up by his side, and every day my task was simply to consume spirit pills and immortal herbs to raise my cultivation rapidly.”

“That’s outrageous!” Liu Xun exclaimed. “External methods may boost cultivation quickly, but the resulting spiritual energy is unstable. Without proper training, it’s useless! What kind of Master raises disciples like that?!”

“…Because they never truly considered me a disciple,” Lin Jin said quietly. “What they needed was a furnace vessel. I later learned I possessed the Sacred Jade Body. My purpose was to build spiritual power until one day my flesh and blood could be used to enhance someone else’s cultivation.”

“Wait…” Sanzong Yu frowned. “I once heard rumors that Piaomiao Pavilion offered a furnace vessel to the Lord of Mingzhu to make peace. I assumed it was nonsense. Don’t tell me…”

“Yes,” Lin Jin said, lowering his gaze. “That vessel was me.

“When I learned my fate, I decided to escape and sought refuge at Yanyu Mountain. Here, I met Masters who treated me sincerely and friends who cared for me. I was so happy that I forgot my past. Then I went to Jinlin City with Han and Miss Hua for the Treasure Fair. We encountered the Twelve Guards—they recognized me and tried to take me back as an offering to their lord. That’s how everything that followed happened. I can’t hide the truth any longer. I’ve betrayed the sect’s trust—please punish me.”

He bowed deeply again, feeling the pain in his abdomen throb as he closed his eyes.

Truthfully, he felt conflicted. Most of what he had said was true—but he had still concealed the real reason. He was still deceiving people who trusted him.

But if he didn’t… Qiuqiu would suffer.

Lost in his turmoil, he suddenly felt gentle hands lifting him.

“That’s enough. Don’t kneel—the floor’s cold. Go lie back down. No one’s punishing you over this,” Mo Yuzi said, tucking the blanket around him. “Focus on healing. Everyone has secrets and hardships—I understand. No matter what others think, you’ll always be my good disciple.”

“What do you mean by that?” Liu Xun huffed. “Stop insulting me while you talk!”

“Enough arguing,” Mo Yuzi groaned, dragging her toward the door. “Let the kid rest.”

“Don’t touch me!” she snapped, brushing off his hand. Then she walked back to the bedside, placing a small pouch near Lin Jin’s pillow.