Chapter 91: A Clash Between Sisters-in-Law
“Huh?”
Lin Jin looked at the silver ornament on the table, then up at Xiao Lanqi, completely bewildered. After a brief pause, a thought suddenly clicked into place.
“You need travel money? Sure—I can help you sell it. Do you want spirit stones, or gold and silver used in the mortal world?”
“…?”
Xiao Lanqi raised an eyebrow.
“It’s for you. I don’t want it.”
“…Huh?”
Lin Jin was even more confused.
He nudged the strand of Heavenly Star silver with his fingertip, uncertain.
“You’re giving it to me?”
“What else?”
Xiao Lanqi snapped irritably.
Lin Jin felt both flattered and a little helpless.
He pushed the ornament back toward him and said stiffly, “Why are you giving me this? I… don’t really need it.”
“Don’t need it?!”
Xiao Lanqi looked at him like he’d grown a second head.
Wasn’t this the guy who said he had no money and owed a ton of debt? Didn’t he need money? Then why, now that he was giving it to him, was he saying he didn’t need it?
Annoying!
Humans were so annoying!
Xiao Lanqi was fed up trying to guess all these twisted human thoughts. He lifted a hand, about to take the ornament back—but after a pause, he shoved it toward Lin Jin again.
“If I told you to take it, then take it!”
After thinking for a moment, he added, “You’d have to pay to stay at an inn. Consider this my payment to you.”
Oh!
That made sense.
Lin Jin smiled at him. “No need. I’m helping Senior Sister anyway—what kind of logic is it to take your money on top of that?”
Hearing that, Lin Jin suddenly felt like he might have misunderstood this big, intimidating guy. It seemed like he was actually pretty reasonable. Maybe it was just his imagination, but although he looked fierce, there was something awkward about the way he acted… and if you looked closely, it was almost kind of—
“Enough talk. Take it!”
Lin Jin swallowed the word “cute” before it could leave his mouth.
Okay. Definitely his imagination.
He obediently shut up, stopped insisting, and quickly stored the silver ornament in his storage ring, lowering his head as if reflecting on his mistakes.
Xiao Lanqi looked at him, not understanding why he’d gone back to looking so pitiful.
The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. In the end, he huffed and dragged a stool over to sit on the other side of the room.
Say one thing and you get scared. Give you money and you look wronged.
Fine. I’m fierce. I’m scarier than that red-clothed brat—scarier than the Asura Blood Prison!
Forget it!
Ungrateful brat. I won’t bother with you anymore!
There were clearly two people in the room, yet the atmosphere was as stiff and silent as an empty house.
Lin Jin sat on his stool, nearly dozing off. After who knew how long, he suddenly received a message talisman from Liu Xun. To him, it felt like a lifeline pulling him out of misery.
He’d had enough of being alone in a room with the big, scary guy. All he wanted now was to slip away.
He sneaked a glance at Xiao Lanqi.
It was already evening. The sky outside had darkened, and the room was dim.
Xiao Lanqi sat in his chair with his arms crossed, head lowered, eyes closed—apparently asleep.
Lin Jin swallowed nervously, quietly stood up, and tried to sneak out without making a sound, hoping not to wake him and trigger unnecessary conversation.
He moved as carefully as possible—but the moment he stood up, a low voice came from across the room:
“Where are you going?”
Lin Jin jumped, nearly losing his balance.
He turned back to look at Xiao Lanqi and saw him watching him. In the dim light, his emerald eyes glowed faintly—like a wolf lurking in the dark.
“The Sword Trial Assembly starts officially tomorrow. My master called me over to give some instructions.”
After saying that, Lin Jin hesitated, then added, “Can I… go?”
The moment he said it, he almost laughed at himself.
This was his house! Xiao Lanqi was just a temporary guest—why did he need permission to leave?!
Who’s the хозяин here, you or him?!
Lin Jin mentally screamed at himself, took a deep breath, and tried to stand a little straighter.
“Why are you asking me? If you need to go, then go. What—do you want me to come with you?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Lin Jin forced a dry laugh and turned to leave—but when he reached the door, he hesitated, then turned back.
He took out a few communication talismans from his storage ring and placed them on the table.
“Uh, big guy… I’ll leave these here. If you need anything, you can use them to contact me.”
Without waiting for a response, Lin Jin bolted out the door.
Xiao Lanqi watched as the door opened and shut, and for a moment, it felt… strange.
Back then, wherever this guy went, he dragged him along—stuffed him into his clothes even. It had been so annoying. But now he didn’t even want him to follow, and ran off that fast?
And also…
What the hell is “big guy”?!
No weird nicknames allowed! You annoying, green-shelled idiot!!
Meanwhile, Lin Jin ran as fast as he could, afraid that if he slowed down for even a second, the “big guy” would call him back.
The elders and disciples of the various sects weren’t housed together. Lin Jin stayed at Qiuyun Terrace, while Liu Xun and Mo Yuzi were assigned to Chunshui Ravine on the other side.
Lin Jin knew the route. After leaving his cottage, he ran onto the long bridge leading to Chunshui Ravine. Halfway across, he suddenly heard someone call his name from behind:
“Lin Jin!”
It was Hua Nanzhi.
He turned and saw her approaching with Han Ao and Qi Xiaolang.
As she walked, she looked him up and down.
“Why do you look so flustered? Come on—what guilty thing did you do?”
“Spare me, Miss Hua. In your eyes, everything I do looks guilty.”
Though he said that, this time Lin Jin really was feeling guilty.
He just wanted to change the subject. “You guys heading to Chunshui Ravine too?”
“What are you talking about?” Hua Nanzhi crossed her arms and looked at him strangely. “Didn’t you read Elder Liu Xun’s message talisman? My master and senior brother haven’t returned yet, so this meeting will be led by Elder Liu Xun for all of us. We were just about to go to your place to get you—then we saw you running out like your pants were on fire. What are you so nervous about?”
“Oh, I didn’t read it carefully. Just glanced and ran out—didn’t want to be late…”
Lin Jin was sweating bullets.
“Oh, please. You’re always late. Since when do you care about that?”
Hua Nanzhi narrowed her eyes, growing more suspicious.
“I—”
“Oh? Isn’t this Lin Jin?”
Before he could finish, someone else called out his name.
He turned toward the voice and saw several young disciples in Piaomiao Pavilion uniforms.
Their uniforms were primarily white with peach-pink accents—clean and elegant.
The one leading them was the one who spoke. He had decent features, but the smirk on his lips made him look mean-spirited.
Hearing his name from a stranger, Lin Jin’s heart dropped.
Damn.
The thing he feared most had happened.
Someone who knew the original owner had appeared—and he had no idea who this person was.
Who is he? What’s our relationship? Judging from his tone, they clearly had a grudge.
But Lin Jin knew nothing.
Inside, he was in chaos—but on the surface, he remained calm.
Just as he was thinking how to respond, Hua Nanzhi delivered a perfect assist:
“Hey, Lin Jin—who’s that? You know him?”
Lin Jin raised an eyebrow slightly, sized the boy up, and replied lightly:
“Who? Don’t know him.”
“Hah?!” The boy’s expression changed immediately. “Are you joking? You don’t know who I am?!”
A faint smile curved Lin Jin’s lips.
This kind of person was the easiest to read—everything written plainly on his face. A few counter-questions would be enough to make him lose his cool.
“Do I need to remember you?”
“You—!” The boy’s face flushed purple. He let out a cold laugh. “Looks like someone’s forgotten who he is after being away for a few years. I heard this morning that Lin Jin was back—I didn’t believe it. Who would’ve thought you actually betrayed your sect and joined Yanyu Mountain? Guess they’re really desperate—letting a useless furnace cauldron represent them at the Sword Trial Assembly. Won’t you get beaten to a pulp on stage tomorrow? That’d be embarrassing.”
“What did you just say?!”
Before Lin Jin could respond, Hua Nanzhi snapped.
“Who do you think you are? You think you can bully people from Yanyu Mountain?!”
“Wow.” The boy shook his head and exchanged glances with his companions. “Lin Jin, you haven’t changed at all. Back at Piaomiao Pavilion, whenever something happened, you’d just cry and run to your senior sister. Now at Yanyu Mountain, you’re still the same—hiding behind women and letting them protect you. What about tomorrow’s match? Going to send a woman up to fight for you?”
The group burst into loud, grating laughter.
Hua Nanzhi couldn’t take it anymore. She shoved Lin Jin aside and drew the large blade from her back.
“Say that again if you dare!”
“What, you want a private fight?”
The boy looked her up and down casually. “Seems Lin Jin really attracts pretty girls. No wonder someone’s always standing up for you. Back then, it was your senior sister—now it’s this little beauty. Not bad. Not as good as your senior sister, but still decent-looking. Shame about that temper.”
“Watch your eyes, or I’ll gouge them out!” Hua Nanzhi snapped, disgusted. “Do you even know who I am? Who is my father?!”
“Private fight it is, then. Even if my master punishes me, I’ll beat you into tears, you disgusting creep!”
She raised her blade to strike—but Lin Jin grabbed her wrist in alarm.
Han Ao seized the sheath from behind, and Qi Xiaolang threw himself in front of her.
“Senior Sister! The punishment for private fighting is severe! Don’t act rashly!”
“Severe? So what?! When have I ever been afraid of anything?!” Hua Nanzhi shook them off and dragged Han Ao along as she charged forward.
The blade arced high—and just as it was about to strike the boy’s face, a stream of cold spiritual energy deflected it effortlessly, forcing Hua Nanzhi back a couple of steps.
“Enough!”
A figure in pale robes landed before her.
Xiao Yunkong frowned slightly, a rare hint of anger on his face.
“What did you just say? Say it again.”
Moments ago, Hua Nanzhi had been fearless—but in front of him, she immediately shrank like a quail.
“They started it… I just wanted to teach him a lesson.”
“They’ll be dealt with by the proper person. Why must you step in?”
Then Xiao Yunkong lifted his gaze toward the far end of the bridge.
“You’ve been watching long enough. Why not act?”
“…Heh.”
A soft chuckle came from the darkness.
Jiang Zhenfeng, dressed in white, strolled forward slowly. As she approached, she cast a cold glance at the Piaomiao Pavilion disciples.
“If they can’t control their mouths, shouldn’t they be taught a lesson?”
The two renowned figures—Xiao Yunkong, pure as frost, and Jiang Zhenfeng, clear as the sea breeze—stood on the narrow bridge at dusk, the atmosphere between them subtly tense.
Xiao Yunkong pressed his lips together.
“The lesson they deserve is yours to give. Why use my junior sister’s blade?”
“I’m her senior sister, not her nurse.”
Jiang Zhenfeng let out a faint, ambiguous laugh.
“If someone’s wronged, how can it be satisfying without taking action themselves? Don’t worry—if anything happens today, I’ll vouch for your junior sister. I won’t let your people be wronged.”
“You’d better not.”
Xiao Yunkong sighed softly, then turned to the four juniors behind him.
“Let’s go. The elders have been waiting.”
Jiang Zhenfeng also spoke coldly to the others:
“Go accept your punishment. Don’t drag anyone else into it. Just say you were arrogant and spoke out of line.”
“Yes…”
The previously arrogant group now didn’t dare lift their heads. They hurried off.
Jiang Zhenfeng stayed where she was, watching as the Yanyu Mountain group left.
As Xiao Yunkong passed by her, he paused slightly and glanced at the sword at her waist.
“You still haven’t found your own sword.”
“So what?”
Jiang Zhenfeng glanced at him. As she walked away, she left behind a single line:
“It’s enough to beat you.”
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