WBICDPH Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Feigning Madness with Disheveled Hair

The big dark guy clearly had something on his mind. Even lying on the floor, he couldn’t stay still. Listening to all the noise he was making, Lin Jin felt his temples throb.

It wasn’t loud—but it was just loud enough to keep him from falling asleep.

Sighing inwardly, Lin Jin decided to pick up where they left off and soothe him a little.

“I’m not actually afraid of you.”

“…?”

Sure enough, Xiao Lanqi stopped moving.

Lin Jin explained, “I’ve gone through some bad things too. I’ve been hurt by demons before, so I’m afraid of demons—but that’s not directed at you specifically. I agreed to help hide you because I owe my senior sister a favor, so I’ll treat you sincerely. But I can’t help being wary of those… demon traits you have.”

“….”

Xiao Lanqi frowned slowly, his voice lowering.

“Not all demons would hurt you.”

“I know.” Lin Jin paused, then asked softly, “Would you?”

“I—” Xiao Lanqi opened his mouth, but swallowed his instinctive answer. Instead, he said bluntly, “I hate humans the most!”

He snorted. “So it depends on my mood!”

“Alright then—let’s hope you stay in a good mood.”

Lin Jin couldn’t help but laugh, even though Xiao Lanqi had clearly been trying to sound threatening.

That laugh inexplicably irritated Xiao Lanqi.

“Who are you calling ‘big dark guy’? Use my name properly!”

“Okay, A’Qi.”

Lin Jin said it gently, almost like coaxing a child. “Then I hope A’Qi stays in a good mood.”

For some reason, even though Lin Jin had done exactly what he asked, Xiao Lanqi felt even more uncomfortable hearing it.

What a mistake. He never should’ve told him his name.

That name had once only been used by his elder brother and mother.

Who did Lin Jin think he was, calling him that?

Annoying!

Xiao Lanqi kicked the blanket again.

Damn, irritating human!

—

Although Xiao Lanqi had flopped around like a fish out of water before falling asleep, once he was asleep, he became surprisingly quiet—no snoring, no teeth grinding.

When Lin Jin woke the next morning, he saw that Xiao Lanqi had kicked the blanket aside. The mat beneath him had shifted, and he was half on it, half on the floor. Maybe because of the cold, he had curled up slightly in his sleep, looking almost like a small animal.

The same person who had reacted to the slightest movement the night before was now sleeping so deeply that even when Lin Jin finished getting ready to leave, he didn’t stir at all.

Before leaving, Lin Jin picked up the discarded blanket and carefully covered him with it.

At the door, he paused and glanced back.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a stack of message talismans from his storage ring and placed them on the table, weighed down with a teacup.

“If you waste them again, I really won’t give you any next time.”

He muttered the warning quietly while Xiao Lanqi slept.

—

On the first morning of the Sword Trial Assembly, Piaomiao Pavilion was bustling with activity. Its disciples hurried around the training grounds, setting things up, while visiting disciples gathered in small groups, chatting casually. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Lin Jin walked with Han Ao and Hua Nanzhi, intending to find a quiet place to wait—but as they went along, he began to notice something strange.

People were looking at him… oddly.

Strangers would glance at him, then turn to whisper to their companions, casting amused looks his way.

Once or twice might’ve been a coincidence—but nearly everyone they passed reacted the same way.

How could he not find that strange?

He nudged Han Ao and pointed at his own face. “Hey, is there something on my face?”

Han Ao looked him up and down. “Nope. Still as handsome as ever.”

“Then why does everyone keep looking at me like that?”

Lin Jin felt increasingly uncomfortable.

By the time they reached the training grounds, the event was about to begin. Disciples in various uniforms filled the area, chatting and waiting.

The moment Lin Jin stepped in, however, he instantly became the center of attention.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward him. Even the chatter grew louder.

“…?”

For a moment, Lin Jin felt like he’d somehow become a celebrity overnight.

He even glanced behind him, just to make sure he wasn’t unknowingly riding someone else’s reputation.

“What are they staring at?” Hua Nanzhi muttered, equally annoyed.

She had no patience for this nonsense. Grabbing a nearby Qingxin Sect disciple, she demanded directly:

“Hey, what are you all looking at? Haven’t you had enough? What—never seen someone from Yanyu Mountain before?”

“I—I haven’t…”

The disciple shrank back and nervously pointed at Lin Jin. “Are you Lin Jin?”

Lin Jin raised a brow. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

“Well… you’re the one who trained at Piaomiao Pavilion for years without accomplishing anything, completely useless but always showing off, crying and running for help when criticized, then betraying the sect out of ingratitude, joining Yanyu Mountain—and now even shamelessly coming back to compete in the Sword Trial Assembly as their representative…”

He hesitated, then muttered the last word:

“…a loser?”

Hearing that long list, Lin Jin felt his vision go dark.

So that’s why everyone had been looking at him like a joke.

Because he was the joke.

Taking a breath, he asked, “Who said that?”

“I—I don’t know.” The disciple fidgeted nervously. “I just heard it last night. Everyone’s saying it—that the young man in green from Yanyu Mountain is that ‘loser.’ I got curious, so I looked…”

Even without being told, Lin Jin could guess who spread it.

Since arriving at Piaomiao Pavilion, aside from Jiang Zhenfeng, he’d only encountered one “old acquaintance”—that arrogant rooster-like guy from yesterday.

Jiang Zhenfeng wouldn’t stoop to something like this.

So who else could it be?

Lin Jin felt a headache coming on.

The worst part was, he didn’t even know what the original “Lin Jin” had really been like—how much of this was true, and how much was fabricated. He didn’t even know where to begin defending himself.

“You said it’s just a rumor,” Hua Nanzhi snapped, hands on her hips. “You don’t even know the truth—so why spread it? Why believe it? Why stare? What if he’s being framed? Then all of you are accomplices!”

“Who cares if it’s true?” the disciple chuckled. “Something this interesting doesn’t come around often. Why not watch the show?”

Then he even added cheerfully to Lin Jin:

“Good luck in the competition! Hope you win first place!”

“….”

It sounded like well-wishing—but under the circumstances, it felt more like mockery.

Hua Nanzhi was furious. She waved her fist and scared the disciple off, though he bumped into someone as he ran.

“Watch where you’re going! In a hurry to die?”

The arrogant “rooster” from yesterday snapped, then glanced at Lin Jin and smirked.

“Oh? So that’s it—you’re scared of being exposed as a traitor? My master’s been looking for you everywhere. Why are you still hiding here like a coward? Afraid to face him?”

“Hm?” Lin Jin raised a brow.

The guy didn’t wait for a reply. He strode over and grabbed Lin Jin’s sleeve.

“Trying to dodge responsibility? Not today! Come with me to see my master!”

“Hey—!”

Hua Nanzhi reached out instinctively, but Lin Jin gestured for her to stop.

Since they’d come looking for him… why not play along?

He wanted to see what they were really planning.

Dragged through the crowd, Lin Jin soon spotted several elders gathered beneath an old peach tree.

He didn’t recognize any of them—but the man in the center, wiping tears, had to be his former master, Daoist Mushan.

Looking at the scene, Lin Jin almost laughed.

If they really wanted a quiet reunion, there were countless secluded places in the pavilion.

Instead, they chose the busiest spot possible—surrounded by layers of spectators.

It felt less like a reunion… and more like a stage, already set with actors and audience, just waiting for him—the clueless clown—to step in.

“Senior brother—!”

Just as he was about to “take the stage,” Qi Xiaolang suddenly appeared and tugged at his sleeve.

“Our masters were called to a meeting at the back mountain,” he whispered. “My master thinks something’s off—like they’re luring the tiger away from the mountain. He told me to remind you: don’t panic, don’t try to explain yourself, don’t say too much. Just endure until Elder Liuxun gets back and blows things up.”

Despite the seriousness, Lin Jin couldn’t help finding it a little funny.

He blinked at Qi Xiaolang. “Got it. I know what to do.”

With that, he composed himself, pushed through the crowd, and stepped onto the stage prepared for him.

Under the peach tree, Daoist Mushan stood among the elders.

Lin Jin took a moment to size him up—average height, average build, dressed like a proper immortal master… but something about his face and demeanor gave off a sly, untrustworthy air.

At the moment, he was wiping tears—but the performance felt exaggerated and greasy.

Lin Jin calmly looked away and bowed. “Lin Jin of Yanyu Mountain greets the seniors.”

“Jin’er!”

Mushan hurried forward, grabbing him and looking him over. “Let me see you… have you suffered all these years? Why did you leave without a word? Did I wrong you somehow? I searched everywhere for you… and now you’ve become someone else’s disciple? Jin’er, you know you were always my favorite—if I did anything wrong, you could’ve told me. Why leave so suddenly?”

He spoke while wiping tears, his tone humble.

With Lin Jin already branded a traitor, this act only pushed him further into the fire.

Lin Jin didn’t know what the original personality had been like—but someone who’d been used as a furnace for years without noticing clearly wasn’t very sharp.

Separating him from his current sect elders… they must be counting on him being soft-hearted and foolish.

But was this really just about ruining his reputation?

No—that wasn’t worth it.

Lowering his eyes, Lin Jin gathered himself. When he looked up again, tears poured down like rain.

“Master—! Can I still call you that?!”

With a thud, he dropped to his knees and clung to Mushan, wiping tears and snot all over him.

“It’s all my fault! I’m useless—I deserve to die! I should’ve died six years ago! I know I was wrong—I know now! Please don’t say those things!”

“….”

Mushan froze for a moment, caught off guard.

Awkwardly, he tried to pull Lin Jin up. “What are you saying? Everyone makes mistakes—if you know you’re wrong—”

“Master—!!”

Lin Jin raised his voice, cutting him off, loud enough for the entire crowd to hear.

“I’m already a joke! Everyone’s already laughing at me! Please—don’t say things like that in front of everyone! If this continues, I might as well hang myself from your bed tonight! Just don’t humiliate me like this—please!!”