Chapter 48: Luo Qiaoqiao's Mother
At least one thing his master said was true.
If one fully cultivates the Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart, it indeed grants an almost immortal state.
Although her injuries looked terrifying now, with proper rest, she would recover in no more than ten days or half a month.
Chen Yin wasn't worried that her wounds wouldn't heal. What troubled him was the person capable of wounding her so gravely.
—and the matters his master refused to tell him.
"If you can stay peacefully on Yushan Mountain for the next year or so, I won't press you about this," Chen Yin said softly. "In that case, I'll try to finish my current tasks quickly and return to Yushan Mountain to take care of you."
"Hah."
Yu Ling let out a peal of laughter. "You brat. You can't even manage your own life, and you want to take care of me?"
"Oh? Really? If not for me cleaning up your messes every day, the debt collectors chasing you would've burned Yushan Mountain to the ground by now."
Chen Yin retorted without missing a beat, clearly annoyed.
Yu Ling and Chen Yin quickly returned to their usual banter, teasing and bickering with each other lightheartedly.
Moments later, her gaze casually landed on the sword in Chen Yin's hand.
"This sword…"
Chen Yin immediately hid the sword behind him, adopting an unapologetically defensive posture. "W-what? I bought it at Wanxiang Pavilion."
"Yeah, right."
Her disdain was palpable as she curled her lips. "Do you think I'm blind? Or that I wouldn't notice you stealing from my treasure vault?"
Chen Yin could only smile sheepishly.
"Changming…" For some reason, her expression grew distant, as if lost in thought.
"What's the deal? Is it some ancient divine artifact that's chosen me as its master?"
"Read fewer novels; it'll do your brain some good," she mocked.
"This sword isn't anything special. If I had to say, its only redeeming feature is how sturdy it is. But beyond that, it's just a lump of hard, worthless scrap metal."
She flicked the blade lightly with her small finger, chuckling as she continued, "At its core, it's nothing more than a particularly hard piece of junk."
"…At least for now," she murmured, her gaze lowering.
Chen Yin fiddled with the sword, flipping it over and examining it. "Really?"
"Whatever. As long as it's tough, it'll do. I need something unbreakable like this—it suits me just fine."
"…Why does that sound so weird?" she asked suspiciously.
"Because you're wearing yellow-tinted glasses, so now everything looks yellow," he quipped.
After adjusting her breath, she lazily stretched and asked curiously, "So, where are we? Where did you take me?"
"Just an abandoned hut at the foot of Wan Yun Mountain."
"Eh… By the way, when I was unconscious, you didn't… do anything to my body, right?" she suddenly asked, crossing her arms defensively over her chest.
Chen Yin responded with mock seriousness, "Of course I did. I hugged my master's soft, sweet-smelling body and kissed it to my heart's content."
"Yuck! That's disgusting! You little perv, go die already!"
"…You didn't have to curse me that badly," he muttered.
She waved dismissively, clearly exasperated. "Fine. I'll just consider it a dog bite."
"Well, I'm heading back up the mountain. Whatever you need to do, get on with it."
Chen Yin nodded but hesitated, then murmured, "Master…"
"Hm?"
"…Don't always make me worry."
She glanced at him sideways, offering a faint, silent smile.
"Understood. You cheeky brat."
With a playful swirl of her wide palace robes, her hair swept through the air in a graceful arc, and even her steps seemed lighter.
In the next moment, her figure vanished without a trace.
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In the misty bamboo forest of early morning, Chen Yin left the abandoned hut in the woods after his master had departed.
They had exited the Tiantu Abyss and were now at the foot of Wan Yun Mountain. From here, Xiang City wasn't far—only half a day's journey on foot.
As Chen Yin walked through the bamboo forest, he caught the faint rustling of movement.
A large group of cultivators was traveling together, clad in the attire of the Tianluo Sect.
Chen Yin didn't bother hiding, assuming the Tianluo Sect wouldn't harbor any significant hostility toward him.
However, the moment the group spotted Chen Yin, the Tianluo Sect disciples grew visibly tense. They quickly drew their weapons, whispering amongst themselves, "Hurry! Send word to Senior Sister! We've found Chen Yin!"
Chen Yin frowned slightly.
"Friends, as I recall, there's no great enmity between me and the Tianluo Sect, is there?"
"You—you've got the gall to ask that?" one of them stammered. "Our senior sister was worried for your safety and sent disciples to search for you. And what did you do? You repaid kindness with cruelty and killed them all!"
The realization dawned on Chen Yin.
—So, this was another mess left by that masked, black-clad figure, and he was the one taking the blame.
The designated scapegoat, once again.
"I think there's been some misunderstanding," Chen Yin explained with a sigh. "I didn't kill those people. Besides, why would I harm members of the Tianluo Sect?"
"Call for your senior sister. I'll explain everything to her face-to-face."
Though the disciples remained tense, clutching their weapons and staring him down, none dared act rashly. The group stood in a wary stalemate.
Chen Yin could only wait patiently.
Fortunately, it wasn't a long wait. Within half an hour, the sound of commotion reached them. In the distance, a grand procession approached—a luxurious celestial palanquin, surrounded by a large contingent of Tianluo Sect disciples.
The disciples encircling Chen Yin quickly sheathed their weapons and stepped respectfully aside.
—Strange. Did Luo Qiaoqiao always make such an extravagant entrance? Chen Yin wondered.
The opulent celestial palanquin came to a stop amidst the bamboo grove. At once, a disciple stepped forward with great reverence to lift the curtain.
But the figure who emerged wasn't Luo Qiaoqiao.
It was a strikingly beautiful woman who bore a slight resemblance to Luo Qiaoqiao. Her radiant elegance, flawless makeup, and stunning jewels couldn't overshadow the natural grace and poise that commanded attention.
Her mere presence seemed to drain the color from the surroundings, drawing all the brilliance of the world to herself.
Chen Yin wasn't foolish. Seeing how reverently those around her behaved, he immediately understood who she was. Bowing respectfully, he greeted her:
"Junior Chen Yin of Yushan Mountain greets the Tianluo Sect's Deputy Leader."
—Within the Tianluo Sect, only one woman deserved such formality.
The dignified lady before him was none other than Mu Susu, the illustrious deputy leader of the Tianluo Sect and Luo Qiaoqiao's mother.
Her captivating eyes swept over Chen Yin with a playful glint, her voice rich with an entrancing tone as she said slowly:
"So... you're Chen Yin?"
"Yes, that's me," Chen Yin replied humbly.
"Not bad. Your manners are in place. But today, manners alone won't suffice."
Mu Susu tilted her chin slightly, her tone growing heavier. "Regarding the deaths of so many disciples of my Tianluo Sect, you must provide an explanation."
"If your explanation satisfies us, the Tianluo Sect won't mind making a friend. But if it doesn't..."
Her voice took on a faint chill, laced with killing intent: "Don't count on that foolish girl Qiaoqiao to save you."
"For when I, Mu Susu, wish to erase someone, it's a trivial matter."
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