Chapter 266

Tan Wenbin followed, but he wasn't in a hurry to act; instead, he concealed himself.

He and Chen Lin had come together, and neither had seen Tongzi beat himself until he bled. However, Tan Wenbin could confirm that Tongzi was putting on an act. After all, in a truly desperate situation, how could he have no real injuries?

Tan Wenbin quickly realized Tongzi's intention, but this made it even more inconvenient for him to intervene.

Should he go out and act as a wingman, helping Lin Shuyou deceive a young woman?

Logically, it seemed like he should.

But this wasn't a pleasure house, nor was it a casual one-night stand where you could just walk away after mutual consent.

If something serious came of it, future interactions would need to be considered.

Therefore, Tan Wenbin didn't approve of Tongzi's approach; an insincere beginning often struggles to yield genuine results.

However, listening to Lin Shuyou shout that he could easily beat the old man to death, Tan Wenbin suddenly realized that Tongzi had another layer of intention.

Perhaps Tongzi was too aware of what kind of person he was as a spirit medium, so all blame and subsequent notoriety would be borne by him, allowing Ah You to simply focus on being himself.

Since someone had already stepped up to take responsibility, there was even less need for Tan Wenbin to intervene; he simply watched from the sidelines.

His gaze fell on the old man, who was clearly bewildered by the current situation.

Tan Wenbin noticed the old man's gem-studded cane and the patterns on parts of his body not covered by his clothes.

Earlier, he had seen a figure emerge behind Chen Lin, so he assumed the old man likely had something similar on him. However, he either knew not to use it, or he had left it outside before entering Nantong territory.

This was why, when facing the White Crane Immortal, he could only take a beating without any means of retaliation.

When Lin Shuyou first arrived in Nantong, he was also a "foreign evil" possessor. Ah You had once opened his vertical pupils towards the peach grove, causing his eyes to bleed.

If Ah You hadn't been standing among their group, clearly an ally, then according to the rules, the entity beneath the peach grove would likely have directly attacked Tongzi.

Now, of course, there was no such issue, so the home-field advantage was quite obvious. Others entering this area were restricted, while they had absolute freedom.

Chen Lin's willingness to sacrifice herself for the old man's convenience received no response from him.

Instead, it severely provoked Lin Shuyou. Even if he couldn't win, he wouldn't let such a thing happen, let alone if he could.

At worst, they would die fighting together. There was no need to sacrifice anyone to save another.

Lin Shuyou understood Tongzi's intention and also realized that this unfamiliar Chen Lin had truly misunderstood.

So, Lin Shuyou no longer hesitated and forcefully stood up.

This action caused Chen Lin, who was half-leaning on him, to slide down.

The young woman was already severely injured, and an Onmyoji's physical constitution was inherently a weakness. She was truly about to fall, so Lin Shuyou had to reach out and hold her waist.

There were no soft, tender fantasies, no pitying stirrings in his heart. Lin Shuyou looked at her with a serious expression, like a high school math teacher explaining a problem:

"I told you, I'm fine. I can beat him!"

Chen Lin looked at Lin Shuyou, particularly the bloodstain remaining at the corner of his mouth.

There was nothing she could do; as an involved party, she was confused. She didn't know the true strength of this blind date arranged by her university junior, nor did she realize that the old man opposite, whom both she and her family feared, was utterly insignificant here.

Therefore, in her eyes, Lin Shuyou at that moment possessed a sort of adorable stubbornness.

The truth could be explained, but feelings were hard to dispel.

The old man took a deep breath and tried to speak:

"Enough. I've let go of the grievances from back then. Let bygones be bygones. I believe this is what my son's spirit in heaven would wish to see."

Chen Lin looked at the old man in disbelief. She truly couldn't imagine such words coming from his mouth.

She knew what kind of pressure her family had endured because of that incident back then, and her brother had even been forced to "light a lamp" and wander the jianghu as a result.

The old man turned, intending to leave. He had already sensed the malevolence of this place and began to associate Lin Shuyou with the formidable entities that had established the rules here in Nantong.

Firstly, because Lin Shuyou was powerful, and secondly, because the other party dared to cause such inexplicable trouble here, which was a sign of confidence.

With one arm around Chen Lin and the other holding his mace, Lin Shuyou pointed at the old man: "No, you're not allowed to leave!"

Chen Lin reached out, trying to cover Lin Shuyou's mouth. In her view, regardless of whether the old man was telling the truth, at least for now, if he was willing to let go and leave, everyone here would be safe.

However, Lin Shuyou's back was too straight. Chen Lin's hand reached out as far as it could but couldn't touch Ah You's mouth, finally settling for a light pat on his chest.

The force was like a mosquito bite.

Lin Shuyou didn't even lower his head, completely ignoring it.

The old man, bewildered, said, "I only have a grudge against her. It's our first time meeting today. Why would you..."

Lin Shuyou: "If you leave, I won't be able to explain myself."

The old man: "..."

A strong sense of humiliation arose from the old man's heart. Was this the reason he wasn't allowed to leave?

Outside, he considered himself a prominent figure, one whom people in the jianghu would always show some respect. But this inexperienced young man clearly had no regard for him at all. What was more infuriating was that he had left his strongest Soul General outside, and currently, he was no match for this hothead.

The old man took another deep breath: "Then what do you want to do?"

Chen Lin grabbed Lin Shuyou's arm: "Let him go. Let's just drop it. He's not simple, and neither is his family. You don't need to get involved in something like this for my sake, truly."

Lin Shuyou remained silent, continuously looking around. He was searching for Brother Bin.

Brother Bin should have been nearby, but he couldn't see him. It must have been because after forming his own Five Senses Diagram, Brother Bin could conceal his presence even better.

But this was precisely the moment for Brother Bin to step in; he only needed to follow Brother Bin's instructions.

Seeing this, Chen Lin thought Lin Shuyou had truly listened and was considering his family and companions.

This action didn't disappoint Chen Lin; instead, it made her feel that the man holding her was extremely genuine.

Even with his weaknesses and concerns, he was still willing to stand up for her.

Chen Lin, with her "yang" (active) and "yin" (passive) aspects, naturally embodied two extremes. Her yang side deliberately pursued ostentation and individuality, seemingly breaking conventional boundaries just for the sake of it. Her yin side, however, was traditional and delicate, with a meticulous mind. In short... she tended to overthink things.

Brother Bin was nowhere to be found.

Tongzi also fell silent. Of course, even if he weren't silent, Lin Shuyou wouldn't want to hear Tongzi's advice right now.

Without outside help, Lin Shuyou now had only himself to rely on.

He finally lowered his head, looking at Chen Lin in his arms.

In Chen Lin's eyes, there seemed to be a hint of moisture as she softly said:

"Let him go. Thank you."

Lin Shuyou asked, "Has he or his family ever done anything wicked in the past? Be specific, if possible."

Chen Lin: "Abducting people as cauldrons, extracting their destinies to extend life..."

Lin Shuyou looked up at the old man: "Alright, that's enough."

Chen Lin's eyes showed confusion: "Enough... for what?"

The old man asked in surprise: "Enough for what?"

Lin Shuyou: "You didn't deny it."

The old man: "That's just bestowing immortal fortune upon ordinary people. How many sects and families do that secretly? It's nothing."

Lin Shuyou: "Go to hell."

His vertical pupils opened again, and the patterns of the White Crane Immortal appeared on his body, his aura surging forth.

Honestly, Tan Wenbin had always found Ah You's appearance after "opening his face" very appealing, possessing both masculine vigor and a delicate aura.

Unlike other divine pantheons, which were too traditional and awe-inspiring but lacked aesthetic appeal or approachability.

Especially after transforming into an Immortal, the patterns that emerged from within fitted his body even better, maximizing the unique aura of an Immortal.

Chen Lin's eyes widened slightly. She felt the man before her was somewhat unreal, with an unreal substance and an unreal power, as if she were experiencing a dream.

With one arm holding Chen Lin and the other wielding his mace, Lin Shuyou charged forward.

His idea was simple: to prevent Chen Lin from misunderstanding, he would take her with him and let her witness firsthand how he beat the old man to death!

Even burdened by someone and using only one hand, the White Crane Immortal in full power struck with his mace, and his momentum was like a rainbow!

Only then did the old man realize that the opponent had definitely held back when he hit him earlier.

There was no time to dodge; he swung his cane to block.

"Bang!"

Under the heavy blow, the cane didn't break, but all the gems embedded in it were instantly pulverized.

Tan Wenbin, watching from the shadows, felt a pang of regret. He was still figuring out how to get another mobile phone from Xue Liangliang, and here Ah You was wantonly destroying gems.

If he had truly dug out a piece and casually sold it on the black market, wouldn't that have solved the mobile phone and home landline problem?

Never mind, it's better to take less ill-gotten gains; it easily leads to karma.

Tan Wenbin could only console himself this way: "Avoid dirty money if possible, just take a little occasionally. Really relying on it to get rich easily invites trouble. If you need money, just hint to Xue Liangliang; Brother Liang is good at money laundering anyway."

After the first blow shattered the gems, and the second strike landed, the cane finally buckled under the strain and broke into two pieces.

The old man spat out another mouthful of blood, his body continuously retreating.

In the face of overwhelming strength, complex techniques were largely unnecessary.

They had all experienced similar situations with powerful evil entities before. Now that they had grown stronger, they could naturally "bully" others in this manner.

Shock appeared on Chen Lin's face: "How is this possible..."

Lin Shuyou: "I told you, I can beat him to death!"

Chen Lin: "Then why did you spit blood just now..."

Lin Shuyou stopped speaking.

He didn't like to speak ill of his friends, except for Three-Eyes.

Tongzi, who had been silent for a long time, spoke again from within his heart, urging him:

"Quick, sell me out, sell me out, sell me out!"

"Why are you silent now? Don't you want me to hide it for you and then have another misunderstanding?"

Lin Shuyou said, "There's a deity living inside me. He wants me to be a hero and save you, make you like me so you'll have children with me. He needs my bloodline for his inheritance."

Tongzi: "Phew... that's better. Excellent, you did very well. I'm satisfied."

For a moment, Lin Shuyou felt a strange guilt, as if he were lying despite speaking the truth.

After hearing the explanation, Chen Lin turned her head, looking away, avoiding Lin Shuyou's gaze.

Lin Shuyou was unhappy; what was originally a simple matter had now become unnecessarily complicated.

The displeasure in his heart transformed into even greater force as he swung his mace, striking the old man.

A green glow appeared on the old man's body, and a phantom figure emerged behind him.

His strongest Soul General wasn't here, but he still had other, weaker ones he could rely on, though using them made him feel very uneasy.

Chen Lin, who had turned her face away, sensed this aura and immediately turned back to Lin Shuyou, worriedly warning him:

"Be careful, he has many Soul Generals on him. Those are his and his family's trump cards."

"It's fine..."

The axe-wielding phantom figure behind the old man had just appeared when it was instantly torn to shreds, leaving no trace behind.

"Pfft..."

The old man spewed a mouthful of fresh blood, and black blood also seeped from his eyes, ears, and nose, suffering an extremely severe backlash.

A thin line of blood appeared at the back of his neck; a little deeper, and his head could have been sliced off.

Tan Wenbin, leaning against a tree in the distance and watching the show, smacked his lips. It seemed that because Chen Lin was staying at Uncle Li's house, the entity beneath the peach grove had still held back.

The phantom figure behind Chen Lin was merely severed and severely wounded, with a chance to recover after rest. Moreover, Chen Lin herself had no obvious external injuries, which was considered a lenient punishment.

As for the phantom figure behind the old man, it was utterly annihilated.

However, the old man himself was also shown leniency. It would have been easy to use the peach wind to slice off his head, but the entity didn't do so, deliberately leaving him alive for a bit longer.

Presumably, that entity was also granting someone's wish.

That entity was truly idle, probably watching the spectacle just like him.

After Tan Wenbin returned, he heard from Xiong Shan that the reason Old Mrs. Liu came to the peach grove with her sword to fight that entity was because the entity under the peach grove kept watching the old lady kill Taoists, simply enjoying the show.

Even after the old lady warned him, the entity continued to watch.

Lin Shuyou swept his mace horizontally, striking the old man's chest. His chest caved in significantly, and his body flew out like an arrow shot from a bow.

Activating "Three-Step Praise," Lin Shuyou moved faster than the old man. Before the old man could even be fully launched, the golden mace struck down!

"Boom!"

The old man was slammed violently into the ground, creating a crater in the soft field.

Lin Shuyou, holding Chen Lin, landed at the edge of the pit.

By this point, the old man was covered in blood, his limbs twitching uncontrollably. He was completely crippled, with only a faint breath remaining.

Lin Shuyou: "See clearly? I wasn't lying to you. He's no match for me."

Saying this, Lin Shuyou deliberately released his grip.

Chen Lin swayed and stumbled forward.

Lin Shuyou instinctively wanted to embrace her again, but Chen Lin already fell to the ground, leaning forward to look at the old man in the pit.

"He was really defeated... or is this... his Soul General clone..."

The old man and the family behind him were a nightmarish source of pressure that the Chen family had always faced. After that incident, the Chen family had consistently been oppressed.

When a formidable opponent you've always feared is so easily dealt with, anyone would instinctively disbelieve it and start to suspect other possibilities.

Lin Shuyou: "This isn't a puppet, nor a clone. If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you."

The method of proof was a bit too direct.

Lin Shuyou plunged the tip of his mace into the old man's chest, then slashed it left and right, disemboweling him and revealing his organs, which were already covered in dense, shattered patterns.

Blood splattered everywhere. Because Chen Lin was so close, a spray of blood even hit her face.

She didn't feel nauseated; instead, it was the hot temperature that finally made her believe the old man had truly been defeated.

Lin Shuyou apologized: "Sorry, his heart was dislocated when I hit him earlier, so I couldn't control the bleeding when I opened him up."

He paused, then added, "You should wipe your face with your nightgown first, then wash it later when we go back."

The old man was tough; he wasn't dead yet. While blood foam continuously overflowed from his mouth, he could still make intermittent sounds:

"Don't kill me... spare... my life... I'll never... never dare again... My family will come... to take me back... For the rest of my life... I'll stay in seclusion... never leaving..."

The old man was ostensibly begging for mercy, but in reality, he was trying to leverage a threat, informing Lin Shuyou that someone in his family knew he had come to Nantong.

But this indirect hint was useless to Lin Shuyou, because he couldn't process it.

Furthermore, for the current Lin Shuyou, using family background to intimidate others was almost completely ineffective.

In the entire jianghu, it seemed only their group could leverage family background to suppress others; few could use their influence to suppress them in return.

He was still preoccupied with whether Chen Lin fully believed that the old man was not a clone.

So, Lin Shuyou walked over to Chen Lin, took the young woman's hand, and together they gripped the golden mace.

Chen Lin: "His family's influence is very strong. Many ancient Soul Generals have been dormant. Once they awaken, things will become very complicated, so..."

The young woman was still explaining the old man's family background and power, intending to suggest that Lin Shuyou resolve the conflict peacefully and not push things too far.

But before she could finish, there was a crisp "thwack."

The golden mace struck the old man's face, and his head exploded.

With a follow-up twist, the golden mace vibrated, and a shimmering light attached itself to it. This was a spell from Tongzi, crushing the old man's remnant soul and all the remaining weaker Soul Generals on him.

Tongzi, once a Ghost King and now a spirit, was more adept at completely eradicating non-physical entities.

Chen Lin: "...so spare his life."

The last few words were uttered brokenly, but the old man was already thoroughly dead.

At this moment, Chen Lin's earlier belief that Lin Shuyou was "deceiving" her vanished completely. She said with great concern:

"Because of what happened back then, my family could only offer compensation and exile my brother and me. His status in his family is different from his son's. If you killed him today, his family won't let it go. You shouldn't have done this. I'm not worth you going to such lengths for me."

Lin Shuyou pulled out the mace, wiped off the red and white grime on the ground beside him.

"It's no big deal. He's dead, so what?"

Chen Lin: "But next, his family might send people..."

Lin Shuyou: "Let them come."

As he spoke, a solemn expression appeared on Lin Shuyou's face.

He was thinking about how to ensure procedural justice for this matter.

He carefully read every issue of Brother Xiaoyuan's "River Walker's Code of Conduct." He used to read it by himself, but now he could also discuss it with Tongzi.

Tongzi said there was one crucial rule: procedural justice. Doing things in the name of the Heavenly Dao would bring convenience and ensure success.

Plus, Brother Bin had explained to him in the car last night that this was Nantong, their family's Fishing Corpse Li's territory. If someone dared to come here and break the rules, it meant they were disrespecting Fishing Corpse Li.

According to Brother Xiaoyuan's consistent character, if the old man were a lone wolf, the matter would end here. But if there was a family power behind him, then they would have to go "close the account."

At this thought, Lin Shuyou's initial thoughtful solemnity on his face turned into deep self-reproach.

It was all because Tongzi messed things up and complicated matters. If they had pushed these troubles outside, everyone could have continued their vacation. Now that things had turned out this way, they would have to make a special trip to exterminate that family. What a hassle.

Chen Lin watched Lin Shuyou's changing expression, thinking it was the realization of a hot-blooded youth, finally understanding fear.

"I killed him; it has nothing to do with you. After we leave Nantong, I'll release this news. Although the Chen family is oppressed, they also have means of self-preservation. My brother is 'lighting a lamp' on the river, so they wouldn't dare do anything overtly. As for me, I'll just carefully hide so they can't find me."

Originally, with a guardian on her, she wasn't too afraid; no matter what, the guardian could save her life. But now her guardian was severely wounded and dormant, and she couldn't even attend university.

Lin Shuyou looked down at her and smiled.

Chen Lin: "You... what are you laughing at?"

Lin Shuyou: "Laughing at how silly you are."

In the team previously, Brother Bin claimed to have half a brain, and Runsheng would occasionally come up with profound insights. Only he and Mengmeng were considered equally proficient at being silly.

Having always been at the "bottom," he found it rare and amusing to meet someone even dumber than himself today.

She still didn't understand that his strength and the power he belonged to simply didn't care about this old man and his so-called family.

All the entanglements, confrontations, and stalemates between the Chen family and the old man's side were, in their eyes, just like children playing house.

Not to mention that Old Madam could wipe out an entire lineage from thousands of miles away just by reminiscing about her youth, or that Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu, either of them, could easily destroy an entire faction. Even Xiong Shan, who just did odd jobs, had avenged himself against three of the four families of the Old Heavenly Gate before coming here to work.

Chen Lin: "I'm talking about something very serious, and I don't want to drag you and those around you into a vortex because of me."

The young woman's tone was sincere, and her expression showed genuine emotion.

With such a massive information gap, it was almost impossible to derive the correct conclusions. For Chen Lin to quickly accept the current reality would be as absurd as your roommate on the bunk above suddenly popping their head out and telling you: "Her family is the richest."

The main reason was that Tan Wenbin protected Zhou Yunyun too well, which meant Zhou Yunyun had no idea what her boyfriend actually did.

Lin Shuyou pursed his lips and said, "Sorry, I shouldn't have called you silly. My master and my grandpa used to be even sillier than you."

Chen Lin: "I..."

Lin Shuyou: "Alright, you go back, wash your clothes, and rest. I'll clean up here."

Chen Lin didn't leave. Instead, she sat on a nearby field ridge, hugging her knees, watching Lin Shuyou straighten the crops that had just been trampled.

Thanks to Uncle Li's re-education in the countryside, Lin Shuyou was now quite adept at manual labor.

What Li Sanjiang said when promoting him earlier was truly not false: in the countryside, a young man who was hardworking, honest, and good-looking truly had no shortage of potential partners.

Tan Wenbin felt there was no need for him to intervene, so he didn't show himself and headed straight home.

As he walked, he pulled out his mobile phone, preparing to call the unofficial captain.

Old Madam and the others certainly wouldn't know the old man's family background; it was too minor.

If he wanted to inquire, Zhao of Jiujiang was the most suitable person.

He first sent a pager message, and after a while, the call came through.

"Hello."

"Erlang Immortal, it's me."

"It's so late, what can I do for you, Grand Companion Tan?"

"I'd like to inquire about a family."

Tan Wenbin described the opponent's techniques, particularly giving a detailed account of the scene where the axe-wielding phantom appeared.

"Onmyoji family?"

"Mm."

"The Onmyoji families have long declined. In the jianghu now, those with some foundation and reputation include the Chen family..."

"It's the other family then."

"The Lu family, an Onmyoji family skilled in raising Soul Generals and fond of that technique of borrowing lifespan from destinies. I heard that because of a certain incident in recent years, they've severely suppressed the Chen family, to the point where Chen family members barely dare to go out. What? Did they offend someone named Li?"

"No, Brother Xiaoyuan is sleeping."

"Then there's still a chance for survival."

"They offended Ah You."

"I'll take people and kill them."

"So eager?"

"Ah You is, for better or worse, the only good person among you. I can't let him turn dark."

"You don't need to intervene. We'll handle it ourselves. Just get me the address and background information."

"No rush then. In a few days, I'll be in Nantong to pick up the cultivation method that someone named Li helped me modify. We can go together then."

"Really, no need."

"Yes, there is. We can't always make someone named Li run around for such matters, and I'm too lazy to go myself. You guys might not be decisive enough. I'll send some of my subordinates to go with you. That way, Li and I can stay in the village, chat, and have more discussions."

"Three-Eyes, you really dream big."

"Don't dismiss my concerns. We'll have to cooperate in the future, after all. Damn it, now I'm thinking about Fengdu again. I just managed to adjust my mindset."

"Alright, fine. That's settled. You can bring more medicinal herb seeds. I'll see if they can be planted here."

"No problem. I'll bring Old Man Tian here to guide you. But I must warn you beforehand, these medicinal herbs can't be grown in ordinary fields."

"What kind of fields do they need?"

"The more sinister, the better. In myths, guardian demons often appear near spiritual herbs; this isn't just a baseless rumor."

Tan Wenbin looked towards the peach grove:

"It's fine. Let Old Man Tian plant them. He'll definitely be satisfied with that place; he might not even want to leave."

"If you were living in the ancestral homes of the Qin and Liu families, I'd believe it, but you're living in a mundane village. What kind of formidable setup could you possibly have?"

"You'll know when you get here. Then I'll treat you to flower cakes made from peach blossoms."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment. Just as Tan Wenbin wondered if the connection had been lost due to bad signal, an angry curse came from the receiver:

"You bastard, you're trying to dig a pit for me again! I finally understand now why righteous individuals in ancient times were always at odds with eunuchs!"

"Beep..."

Tan Wenbin hung up the phone himself.

Three-Eyes cursed him, but he wasn't really angry, nor did he feel it was appropriate to be angry.

After all, it was because of him that Three-Eyes' entire family was listed on Emperor Fengdu's Underworld employment roster.

Returning home, he saw Zhou Yunyun standing on the courtyard.

Immediately, Tan Wenbin noticed that Zhou Yunyun's pajamas were refashioned from old clothes. They seemed fine usually, but compared to what Chen Lin was wearing, they were quite lacking.

Ultimately, it was his own oversight. He didn't spend much time with Zhou Yunyun normally; well, mainly he hadn't had the chance to see her pajamas before.

"Yunyun, what's your size? I'll find someone to make you some clothes."

"Binbin, Linlin is gone. When I woke up, I found she wasn't in bed, nor was she in the bathroom."

Both spoke completely unrelated things at the same time, then:

"She and Ah You went out for a walk to admire the moon." Tan Wenbin looked up; the sky was full of stars, but the moon wasn't visible. "Oh, no, they went stargazing."

"I have enough clothes. Auntie also bought me a lot, no need to get more."

They exchanged smiles.

Tan Wenbin stepped forward: "Tell me your size, or I'll measure it myself."

Old Madam had a hobby of designing clothes. Tan Wenbin thought he could coax her into designing two outfits for Yunyun; wearing that kind of clothing would feel truly different.

Zhou Yunyun nudged him with her arm: "It's late at night, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Tan Wenbin: "But, it seems even less appropriate during the day."

Zhou Yunyun pouted, then asked again, "Did they really go out? I thought they didn't like each other."

"Oh, you sensed it too?"

"It's very obvious, they're not compatible. I'll never make such introductions again."

"Maybe they're just saying one thing and meaning another." It was cold outside, so Tan Wenbin ushered Zhou Yunyun into the house. "By the way, how did you and Chen Lin become good friends?"

Regardless of Chen Lin's "yin" personality, her "yang" personality truly didn't match Zhou Yunyun's.

Zhou Yunyun quietly explained, "Linlin is actually very nice and always stands up for me. I don't really have many friends... at school."

After that incident involving the curse and the roommate who was a killer, Zhou Yunyun no longer served as class monitor or participated in club activities, focusing solely on her studies instead.

Tan Wenbin also remembered that when he later visited Zhou Yunyun at her school, she rarely had classmates with her. Only that wealthy second-generation girl, whom he had rescued from the mountains in Anhui, had briefly pestered Zhou Yunyun for his sake.

Now that he thought about it, his mother often inviting Zhou Yunyun home for meals and shopping was also because she knew about this aspect.

As for him, her boyfriend, he had truly been remiss.

Therefore, only someone like Chen Lin wouldn't care about the gossip, and Yunyun would also tolerate her deliberately outgoing personality.

At that moment, footsteps were heard outside, and Chen Lin appeared at the doorway.

Seeing the two sitting by the bed inside the room, Chen Lin immediately lowered her head and apologized, "I was reckless and presumptuous."

After saying that, she immediately turned and retreated, closing the door behind her.

This scene was an extreme contrast to the Chen Lin from earlier, who kept asking if they had "done it."

Zhou Yunyun: "Linlin feels so..."

Tan Wenbin: "It's normal. Everyone, regardless of gender, puts on a disguise sometimes."

Zhou Yunyun: "Then, have you ever disguised yourself in front of me?"

Tan Wenbin: "After my internship, we'll get married. I like children now. We'll have several even if we have to pay a fine."

Zhou Yunyun, blushing, spat, "Pfft, why are you always like this, so improper?"

Tan Wenbin spread his hands, feigning innocence: "Wasn't it just to get the attention of you, the class monitor? That's why I, a good kid, deliberately acted naughty and sat next to the teacher's desk. I thought you liked that sort of thing?"

After their chat, he comforted Zhou Yunyun until she lay down. Tan Wenbin then walked out of the west room, and, without Zhou Yunyun noticing, discreetly pulled out a set of clothes for Chen Lin from her open suitcase.

Lin Shuyou had just finished farm work and was standing by the well, rinsing off the mud and blood from his body.

Chen Lin stood nearby and said, "Take off your clothes, I'll help you wash them."

Lin Shuyou shook his head: "No."

Tan Wenbin handed the clothes in his hand to Chen Lin.

"Thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome." Tan Wenbin was afraid that Chen Lin wearing blood-stained clothes might scare Zhou Yunyun.

Chen Lin held the clothes, unsure where to change.

Tan Wenbin pointed inside: "The red coffin. Wake up the person inside, then you can lie in there and change."

"Is... is that allowed?"

"It's fine, she's a light sleeper."

Chen Lin went inside.

Tan Wenbin took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and as he lit it, said, "I've found out. It's the Lu family. Their background isn't clean. We'll find some time in a few days to wipe them out."

When he called, Zhao Yi had pointed this out about the Lu family, but sometimes that's how it is in the jianghu: doing unsavory things isn't always a problem, as long as you don't step on someone you shouldn't.

Lin Shuyou: "Sorry, Brother Bin, I didn't handle things well, making everyone busy with a trip."

Tan Wenbin: "What are you talking about? Eliminating demons, defending the righteous path, and upholding justice are our inherent duties."

Blowing out a smoke ring, Tan Wenbin asked, "You couldn't accept Chen Lin during the day. How do you feel about this one now?"

Lin Shuyou mumbled, "She's quite silly."

At that moment, Chen Lin walked out, dressed in her usual rock attire, yet her delicate, pitiful aura still lingered.

Yin Meng stood at the doorway with her arms crossed.

She was furious. They were busy with a blind date, and she ended up being chased from the room into a coffin, and then couldn't even lie comfortably in the coffin.

Tan Wenbin first offered an apologetic smile to Yin Meng, then asked Chen Lin, who was walking back with the dirty clothes, "Is this your 'yin' aspect?"

"Yes."

"How long can your 'yin' aspect be maintained?"

"It can be maintained indefinitely, but the 'yin' aspect easily attracts karma."

"Then don't change back before leaving Nantong."

Chen Lin looked at Lin Shuyou's back and nodded: "Okay."

"One more thing: don't tell Yunyun about us."

"I understand. I get it. You're protecting her to the extreme."

"You really speak much more pleasantly now than during the day."

Which one, after all, is the real you?

"The 'yin' one."

There weren't enough coffins downstairs, so Tan Wenbin had slept here last night.

At dawn, he sensed Ah Li coming upstairs and entering the room. A little later, Brother Xiaoyuan got up and came out.

He reported last night's events to Brother Xiaoyuan, who then answered his questions.

"'Yang' aspect was deliberately created to avoid karma. Chen Lin's 'yang' side was already somewhat extreme and distorted, like a mask."

"Is this a form of personality completion?"

"Normally, the second personality created by each person is the opposite of their original self."

Downstairs in the kitchen, Aunt Liu was preparing breakfast.

Zhou Yunyun could only help with odd jobs like fetching bowls and handing water, while Chen Lin, with a smile, made steamed buns and dumplings. Aunt Liu couldn't help but praise her skillful hands.

At the kitchen doorway, Yin Meng's eyes were practically rolling to the sky.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Tongzi is still not disciplined enough."

Tan Wenbin: "After all, it's about life, not work. Sometimes, certain things in life still need the old guy to push them along. If you truly relied on Ah You's personal initiative, throwing him into the wild, he might just ensure he has no descendants. His lineage of Immortal inheritance also belongs to our Dragon King's Sect."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Actually, that last sentence didn't need to be said."

Tan Wenbin glanced at the old lady sitting below, drinking tea.

Li Zhuiyuan nodded slightly, indicating he understood.

This was deliberately said for the old lady to hear, to let her know that he, Little Binzi, had been tirelessly working for the revival of the Dragon King's Sect.

Soon, he would also have to go downstairs and coax the old lady to make clothes for Yunyun.

Li Zhuiyuan frowned slightly. He felt he had been slow to react; by rights, he should have immediately detected Tan Wenbin's intention behind that remark.

The young man lightly pinched his fingertips, found a broken formation in his mind, and completed it. His deduction speed remained swift.

Li Zhuiyuan's brow then relaxed.

It wasn't that he was slow; it was that, just as his companions could unhesitatingly accept the red threads he offered, he too was gradually no longer instinctively applying his observational and calculating mind to those close to him.

This was a manifestation of a sense of security; he was beginning to truly trust people.

"Breakfast is ready!"

Aunt Liu called out happily.

Lin Shuyou climbed out of the coffin, couldn't find his mouthwash cup, and when he reached the well, he found the cup already filled with water, with a toothbrush on top that had toothpaste squeezed onto it.

Yin Meng's voice came from behind him: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, oh, oh, oh."

As an evenly matched opponent, Lin Shuyou wasn't afraid of Yin Meng. He directly called out to Runsheng, who was getting up behind him:

"Runsheng, I just found out today that you don't even have to squeeze your own toothpaste!"

Runsheng: "Are your hands crippled?"

Lin Shuyou: "..."

On the second-floor balcony, Li Zhuiyuan went into the room to call Ah Li to come down for breakfast together.

Tan Wenbin stood at the doorway, looking through the screen door as Ah Li put down her brush at