CSMCDB - Chapter 98
Chapter 98
"No, that's not… I didn't mean anything else. You know about my Star Power Mutation, right? At the Flowing Cloud Sect, I might not be able to improve much. I want to keep fighting…" Wen Yuncheng hurriedly explained, but her explanation didn't sound very reasonable. It was almost as if she were badmouthing the Flowing Cloud Sect.
"I understand." Lin Jinyu tugged Wen Yuncheng's hand. She understood what Wen Yuncheng meant, but understanding didn't prevent the inevitable feeling of disappointment. However, Lin Jinyu didn't want to make things difficult for Wen Yuncheng, so she reined in her emotions. Her upbringing had always taught her not to be willful, so she didn't press the topic. "Do you want to keep fighting in the Dueling Arena?" she asked, remembering Wen Yuncheng's obsession with it and using it to change the subject.
"Of course not. I was thinking… I might take on some bounties? You know about that organization, 'Fu,' right? And those other evil organizations that massacre villages and ordinary people. Once I'm strong enough, I want to go and wipe them out," Wen Yuncheng revealed her plans to Lin Jinyu. The experience points from 1947 were one reason, but the actions of these forces also infuriated her. Even without the reward, she would have taken the initiative to destroy them if she came across them.
"I see." Lin Jinyu nodded. In that case, Wen Yuncheng would have to become very strong. She didn't question the feasibility of Wen Yuncheng's words; in this regard, Lin Jinyu had great faith in her. "So, would you consider joining the Dragon Tiger Guard?"
"N-no, I don't really like being tied down." Wen Yuncheng still hoped for a bit more freedom. Although the Dragon Tiger Guard also wiped out Fu and cleaned up various organizations, that wasn't all they did. Those tasks were just part of their job. Besides, most of the Dragon Tiger Guard remained stationed in the Imperial Capital; only the elites were sent out on missions.
Lin Jinyu was about to say that no one would tie her down at the Flowing Cloud Sect either—that she would be free to come and go as she pleased. But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it. She just nodded, agreeing with Wen Yuncheng.
After bidding farewell to Lin Jinyu, Wen Yuncheng checked her three current unrestricted missions. The first was "Heart of a Victor," which had been triggered a long time ago. The second required her to kill members of Fu, and the third was to enter a secret realm. They were all long-term missions.
Secret realms… those depended on timing and opportunity, and there was currently no news of any new ones emerging. Wen Yuncheng didn't want to trouble Lin Jinyu over the secret realms controlled by other sects. As for the imperial family… she could ask the First Princess.
That evening, as Wen Yuncheng lay in her dorm bed trying to rest, she suddenly recalled how she had repeatedly rejected Lin Jinyu's offers during the day. She had a strange, bad feeling. Would the Little Ice Mountain misunderstand something? Probably not, right? I did explain… Wen Yuncheng rolled over, thinking that Lin Jinyu was just too naive and gullible. If she hadn't met her, who knows how others might have taken advantage of her.
[…What if she wants you to take advantage of her?] 1947's dad persona asked suddenly after a long silence.
"…" Wen Yuncheng was stunned. Thinking about it seriously, given Lin Jinyu's personality, she must have already considered the consequences before making those suggestions. Wen Yuncheng fell silent. She fidgeted with her blanket and said hesitantly, "Really…? But I can't… do that to her. And I really have no intention of staying at the Flowing Cloud Sect. The title of guest elder is more than enough."
Meanwhile, Lin Jinyu was in low spirits. Whenever she had doubts, she would seek out Qiu Fei for answers. Today was no different. After parting with Wen Yuncheng, she contacted Qiu Fei and went to her teacher's office to see her.
"So you're saying Wen Yuncheng refused the secret realm, doesn't want to stay at the Flowing Cloud Sect after graduation, and you're very upset about it?" Qiu Fei summarized after listening. The sight of Lin Jinyu sitting so primly and seriously on the sofa gave her a headache. "Well, you know, as a boy, he wouldn't want a girl to… 'keep' him like that, you understand? It's the pride of a genius."
Lin Jinyu didn't quite understand, but she didn't explain that Wen Yuncheng wasn't a boy. Pride?
"Alright, my dear disciple, what is your relationship with Wen Yuncheng? Hasn't he said anything to you?" Qiu Fei was a bit exasperated. She didn't really want to deal with this, so she asked Lin Jinyu directly. The two youngsters had known each other for so long, yet she still had no idea what the situation between them was.
"Friends."
"Friends? Alright, hasn't your father arranged any marriage alliances for you?" Qiu Fei grew even more exasperated at this answer and decided to change tactics, approaching from this angle.
However, Lin Jinyu shook her head. "Father told me to focus on my cultivation and not think about other things."
"Then which family's young lady do you think Wen Yuncheng might like?"
"She doesn't like young ladies," Lin Jinyu replied. But as soon as the words were out, she realized she had misspoken. For a rare moment, Lin Jinyu became flustered. She opened her mouth to explain but didn't know where to start.
Qiu Fei's eyes widened, and for a moment, she was speechless. Her gaze darted about before she gave a light cough, managing to compose her expression so she didn't look too utterly shocked. "Th-then which family's young man might she like? Regardless, she'll eventually have a partner in the future. Do you think…" Qiu Fei trailed off when she saw her disciple's brow suddenly furrow and her expression darken. It was obvious Lin Jinyu didn't want that to happen.
"She should also be focused solely on cultivation."
"And what about after she reaches a certain Star rank? Ten, twenty years from now?"
Lin Jinyu fell silent.
"Sigh, go back and think about it yourself first. It's alright if you can't figure it out. You're still young, and now is indeed the time to focus on cultivation." Qiu Fei didn't say much more. She walked over, patted Lin Jinyu's shoulder, and added, "That kid is not bad."
Lin Jinyu said Wen Yuncheng doesn't like girls…? Perhaps that kid was just using a ploy to get close to Lin Jinyu. After all, the way Wen Yuncheng looked at Lin Jinyu couldn't be faked.
Confused and in a bit of a daze, Lin Jinyu left the office.
While Wen Yuncheng was tossing and turning, unable to sleep from anxiety, Lin Jinyu was sitting quietly on the edge of her own bed. She held the guardian robot Wen Yuncheng had given her, not cultivating, just staring into space.
Even the best of friends wouldn't have this level of… possessiveness, would they? Not wanting Wen Yuncheng to marry, wanting her to stay by her side forever. She was being far too selfish for a friend. Lin Jinyu raised a hand to stroke the guardian in her arms, her mind drifting back to the first time she had met Wen Yuncheng. Wen Yuncheng had stared at her intently, and at the time, she had dismissed her as just another ill-mannered rake. After glaring back, she had bluntly brought up annulling their engagement.
She had expected Wen Yuncheng to cause a scene and thought annulling the engagement would be incredibly difficult. After all, once a small, remote family got ahold of a rope to climb higher, they would surely cling to it and never let go. But Wen Yuncheng had bypassed her clan head and agreed herself. When the great elder deliberately proposed a compensation of one hundred thousand Star Stones—a point that was open for negotiation—it was accepted on the spot.
After that came the farce at the entrance of Star Academy, the string of victories in the placement matches, and the high-spirited youth who climbed the ranks step by step. And then, the chance encounter in the Fire Tempering Bath, where the youth was revealed to be a young woman.
Passionate, gentle, kind, determined, hardworking… Wen Yuncheng loved to smile. That's what she realized after getting to know her. Whenever and wherever you saw her, she would greet you with a brilliant smile. She could quickly build a rapport with anyone; if she wanted to, it seemed no one could refuse her. She had all sorts of strange things and carried many unspeakable secrets.
Lin Jinyu fell back onto her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She and Wen Yuncheng had been through so much together. Was that why she wanted to be the one and only friend in Wen Yuncheng's life? …A friend? Suddenly, she recalled the sight of Wen Yuncheng's face flushed crimson. Her own fingertips seemed to grow warm again, the memory of that touch still vivid. She then thought of what Wen Yuncheng looked like when she cried, and the feeling of holding her tight in her arms.
Lin Jinyu raised a hand to cover her eyes, feeling increasingly agitated and confused.
Annulling the engagement back then, that annulment… what if… what if…
If the engagement hadn't been annulled, what would things be like now? What kind of relationship would she and Wen Yuncheng have…?
Her feelings for Wen Yuncheng… what were they, exactly…?
[Special Mission Complete: Face Slapping]
[Reward Acquired: 2000 EXP, 80 Points, 100g of Strawberries]
[???] 1947 was stunned. What the (expletive) just happened?! How did this mission get completed so inexplicably?
Wen Yuncheng had been on the verge of sleep, only to be jolted awake by the mission notification. She stared at it, dumbfounded. Lin Jinyu regrets annulling the engagement? Why?! Did someone say something to her? Or was it because I rejected her this afternoon and made her overthink things? Does she think that if we hadn't annulled the engagement, I would have joined the Flowing Cloud Sect and wouldn't have refused the secret realm?
[Can't you just consider the possibility that Lin Jinyu likes you?!]
"But… Lin Jinyu doesn't seem to… have those kinds of feelings for me. She's so naive, she must just be overthinking… Do you think I should go see her now and explain again? Never mind, it's too late… Tomorrow. I'll go tomorrow. The reward was strawberries, just in time…"
1947 listened as Wen Yuncheng's voice grew softer and softer until she actually fell asleep again.
The dad persona was silent for a moment, then decided that his cub's spring had finally arrived. As a Long Aotian, she should face matters of the heart head-on, growing stronger with every setback! This timid, hesitant behavior where she didn't dare say anything was not the style of a world-conquering Long Aotian. It was simply shameful! But since there was no mission option for "pursue a romantic relationship," 1947 could only sigh and note its disappointment in the system log.
Speaking of which, with the previous Long Aotians it had guided, all sorts of pretty girls would fall for them every time they changed maps. Why hadn't this cub encountered any? Was it because she hadn't changed maps yet? 1947 pondered this, glanced at the sleeping Wen Yuncheng, and didn't do anything further. Instead, it went to check on the scholar it had been observing to see if the Empire had any upcoming moves.
The cub was already a Star Lord, so why hadn't the Starry Sky Continent opened up another secret realm yet? It really had no tact at all!
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