Chapter 49 Just Friends
The new story about the teahouse wasn't widely known, and Ren Yi hadn't heard it much before. He listened to it for most of the day out of curiosity, but his expression became somewhat subtle when he returned home.
Something's weird...
But I want to hear it again.
So he went again the next day.
Ren Yi listened for most of the day, and when he returned, he looked dazed. He thought uncertainly that as long as he didn't identify with the protagonist, it was actually quite good.
The third day.
Everything was normal at first, but the plot took a sharp turn for the worse after the first kiss, gradually veering in an indescribable direction.
Ren Yi?
Ren Yi!!!
Damn it!
No wonder I'd never heard of it before! It turns out it's an 18+ doujinshi!!
Xiao Hanzhou, who was standing next to him, had not expected this either. His expression changed, and he suddenly looked towards a corner to the side. There, the teahouse owner had a bitter taste in his mouth, and his facial features were all twisted together.
He already said that the head of the family wouldn't like to hear such stories; they would only offend his ears.
But the head of the household left too quickly that day, giving him no chance to explain. What else could he do?
For those of them who manage worldly businesses, it would be extremely difficult to see the patriarch unless he took the initiative to summon them. Although they have been able to see him these past few days, the patriarch comes and goes in a hurry every day, and his eyes are always fixed on the person in front of him. How can he have a chance to interrupt?
Therefore, he had no choice but to do as he was told.
Ren Yi, of course, didn't know the story behind it, nor did he think much of it.
He emerged from the teahouse with a sallow face and walked silently with Xiao Hanzhou for most of the way. Xiao Hanzhou remained silent, but the cool breeze on the street calmed Ren Yi down. He pondered and reviewed what he had just heard, and objectively speaking, the book was quite well-written.
If the protagonist in the disguise had a different name, Ren Yi might have listened to it.
However, once he associated the name "Sword Master Qingran" with the character, he couldn't help but break out of the story.
Although the perspective was somewhat unusual, Ren Yi still took the opportunity to reflect on himself and realized that his cultivation was still insufficient and his mentality was unstable.
What does the matter of Sword Master's alternate account have to do with Ren Yi?
Ren Yi repeated the sentence to himself again, gradually calming down, but he really didn't want to go to that teahouse again.
Fortunately, after what happened, Xiao Hanzhou was also embarrassed and didn't invite him out again. Ren Yi simply took this opportunity to "coincidentally" meet Xiao Zhiyu.
Xiao Zhiyu saw him freeze for a moment, then his expression changed, and he turned to leave.
Before he had taken more than a few steps, Ren Yi stopped him. Was he kidding? He had gone to great lengths to "coincidentally" meet the other person; how could he just let him go like that?
Ren Yi cut to the chase: "You said last time that your Uncle Bai was seriously injured?"
Xiao Zhiyu, who had been avoiding eye contact, suddenly looked up warily upon hearing Ren Yi's words, "What do you want to do?!"
Ren Yi clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that this child really wore his heart on his sleeve and was far too easy to understand. He couldn't help but worry about whether the child could truly support the Xiao family in the future.
However, this was only a fleeting thought, and Ren Yi quickly added, "I just wanted to visit him."
Seeing the wary, suspicious and doubtful look on the latter's face, Ren Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Don't look at me like that. Why don't you go ask your Uncle Bai? He must want to see me right now too."
This is also why Ren Yi felt that what he was about to do wasn't too difficult. No matter how conflicted Xiao Hanzhou was, Bai Jinliu, as the person involved, definitely wanted his spiritual root. Ren Yi's only request at this moment was to push the development of events back on track. If we don't consider the limitations of the plot, this is purely a matter between him and Bai Jinliu. Whether Xiao Hanzhou agrees or not is really not that important.
...
Even as Xiao Zhiyu led Ren Yi on their way to see Bai Jinliu, he still couldn't figure out what was going on.
Uncle Bai actually agreed?!
They actually agreed to visit this person with ill intentions?!
In fact, Xiao Zhiyu found it even more unbelievable that he, the one who went to deliver the message, actually did as the person said.
Knowing full well that this person had ulterior motives, they still listened to his advice without question.
Xiao Zhiyu even suspected that he had been cursed.
Thinking about all this, he couldn't help but pause in his steps, a sense of regret creeping into his heart, and a hint of retreat arising within him.
But they'd already gone more than halfway, and turning back now would seem inappropriate. Besides, what if he refused this time, and the other party resorted to some trick to secretly harm Uncle Bai? It would be better for him to stay and watch, just in case anything went wrong.
Ren Yi, who was a step behind, couldn't possibly fathom the complex thoughts of the young man in front of him, but he could see the other's reluctant and conflicted state. Ren Yi had been wondering what he would do if Xiao Zhiyu changed his mind halfway through, but unexpectedly, the other actually took him to Bai Jinliu's courtyard where he was recuperating.
Ren Yi couldn't help but glance at the people several times after arriving smoothly.
Xiao Zhiyu was embarrassed and annoyed by such a gaze. He lowered his voice and warned with a sour face, "I'll be watching you! Don't even think about doing anything to Uncle Bai!!"
Ren Yi thought that if he laughed out loud now, the other party would probably get angry and turn on him on the spot.
He forced a serious expression and said, "Okay, I understand."
Xiao Zhiyu froze again, and only after Ren Yi had entered the courtyard first did he come to his senses and follow him with a not-so-good expression.
Although he had promised Xiao Zhiyu that he would behave well, Ren Yi still displayed the demeanor of a tool when he met Bai Jinliu, relying on his superb professionalism. Before they could even exchange a few pleasantries, he condescendingly informed Bai Jinliu that he was going to become a Daoist couple with Xiao Hanzhou.
His arrogant expression and obnoxious attitude made him look like the kind of cannon fodder who wouldn't survive more than three episodes.
—Although Ren Yi didn't intend to actually become a Daoist partner, it didn't stop him from using this to provoke Bai Jinliu.
After all, Bai Jinliu's cooperation is indeed needed for the matter of spiritual roots, and it doesn't make sense for him to do all the work alone.
Sure enough, as soon as Ren Yi finished speaking, Bai Jinliu's face turned pale.
The other party truly lived up to his reputation as the true love of the chosen one. His pale face and frail figure were particularly pitiful. The influence of this pitiful appearance could be seen from the furious look in Xiao Zhiyu's eyes when he realized he had been fooled and glared at Ren Yi.
Even so, Bai Jinliu still forced a gentle and calm tone, "Young Master Ren, please consider carefully the matter of you and Brother Xiao becoming Daoist partners."
Ren Yi understood the meaning in his tone and subtly raised his lips.
He didn't need to hide his joy at this moment. Given his established persona, he had successfully provoked and gained the upper hand over his true love, so he certainly had reason to be happy.
In stark contrast to Ren Yi's mood, Xiao Zhiyu, standing next to him, was practically about to explode.
However, before Xiao Zhiyu could speak, Bai Jinliu gave him a look, interrupting the boy's anger, "Zhiyu, go out for a moment, I have something to talk to Young Master Ren about."
"Uncle Bai, I..."
Xiao Zhiyu was naturally worried. After he left, who knows what this beautiful, ruthless, and fickle femme fatale might do to the seriously injured Uncle Bai!
Bai Jinliu interrupted him, saying in a deep voice, "Zhiyu."
Bai Jinliu held the seniority, and with his insistence, Xiao Zhiyu had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
He didn't actually leave. After taking a few steps, he saw the slightly ajar window and couldn't help but turn back. Normally, Xiao Zhiyu would never do something as sneaky as eavesdropping, but this situation was different. What if that person was shameless enough to attack Uncle Bai?
Comforting himself with the thought that "extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times," Xiao Zhiyu hesitated for a long time but ultimately did not leave. Instead, he listened carefully to the sounds inside the room and even prepared to rush in immediately if there were any unusual noises.
But I never expected to hear this—
It was that person's voice. That person's voice was very special, and you could recognize it at a glance. It wasn't particularly melodious or lingering; it even had a clear and melodious quality. But the moment they opened their mouth, they could captivate you completely.
Xiao Zhiyu bit his lip hard, inwardly cursing himself, before barely managing to suppress his wildly wandering thoughts.
After understanding the meaning behind Ren Yi's words, the boy froze on the spot.
Xiao Zhiyu heard the person inside the room speak, "Are you saying that Han Zhou is willing to become my Daoist partner in order to obtain my spiritual root?"
Xiao Zhiyu felt a buzzing in his head, and was momentarily dizzy because of those words.
What does that mean? Spiritual root?
The patriarch... no, he couldn't have done that! How could the patriarch do such a thing?!
If Ren Yi had said these words, Xiao Zhiyu would never have believed them. He would have thought that this person was going to tarnish the reputation of the family head again. But judging from the meaning of what he said just now, the other party was clearly relaying the words of Uncle Bai.
Xiao Zhiyu composed himself and realized that the situation might not be so simple.
Perhaps this person is taking things out of context and deliberately saying something that could be misunderstood?
Thinking about it, he listened even more carefully, but the conversation that followed only made him feel colder inside.
Really? Is that really true?!
Uncle Bai is seriously injured and needs the Ice Spirit Root to heal his wounds. Xiao Zhiyu knows that the person has the Ice Spirit Root, and the patriarch agreed to become his Daoist partner in order to obtain his spirit root.
Xiao Zhiyu stood there, lost and bewildered, not knowing when he had stopped hearing what was said after that.
His mind was racing with a jumble of thoughts. One moment he thought, "The patriarch would never do such a thing," and the next he was thinking about the events of the past few days. The patriarch had issued a bounty, searching frantically for someone, even sending people to villages in the mortal realm to test people's spiritual roots, regardless of age—clearly not to take on disciples. That night, the patriarch had suddenly punished many people, as if someone had said something they shouldn't have. Was this to keep it a secret from that person before the ceremony of tying up their Daoist partners? The date of the ceremony had been postponed again and again, and there was still no specific date. The patriarch was actually unwilling to tie up this Daoist partner...
The more Xiao Zhiyu thought about it, the colder he felt.
Even the statement "The patriarch wouldn't do such a thing" sounded incredibly weak. Although he respected the patriarch, he knew the patriarch was an extremely cold-hearted person. He wouldn't care about the life or death of strangers, but if it were for Uncle Bai... the patriarch might really do it.
Even when Ren Yi came out, he was still squatting blankly by the window, seemingly unresponsive to what was happening outside.
Ren Yi raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled.
He certainly noticed Xiao Zhiyu eavesdropping, given the difference in their cultivation levels. Unlike the heavily injured Bai Jinliu, he hadn't noticed Xiao Zhiyu's eavesdropping the moment he returned. However, Ren Yi didn't think there was anything wrong with listening to it. He figured he'd need Xiao Zhiyu's help to get to Bai Jinliu's side later, so he let him be.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhiyu had listened to the whole thing and was still there.
Are they just waiting to get caught?
Ren Yi felt that he didn't quite understand the thought process of young people. He thought about whether he should make a little show of anger, but then he thought it would be too much trouble. In the end, he just went over and patted the person, and said briefly, "I'm leaving."
Xiao Zhiyu was so startled by the slap that he almost fell to the ground.
Just as Ren Yi was beginning to suspect that the man was trying to stage an accident, the boy staggered to his feet and followed Ren Yi without saying a word.
The two walked back in silence. Ren Yi noticed that Xiao Zhiyu was in low spirits, and he couldn't help but feel strange.
Why? He thought the kid should be happy right now.
Ren Yi understood that Xiao Zhiyu's attitude towards him had not been very good before.
After all, as a fan of C who has repeatedly helped the chosen one and true love get together, it's perfectly normal for Xiao Zhiyu to dislike this third party who's meddling in their relationship. What's more, he's now going to become Xiao Hanzhou's Daoist partner, which is practically tearing C's house down, foundation and all. Xiao Zhiyu is probably already seething with hatred for him.
Now that the "misunderstanding" has been cleared up, and he knows that Xiao Hanzhou's marriage to him was a compromise to save his true love, and that their love is still stronger than ever, he is still the villain who interfered. Even if Xiao Zhiyu glared at him and attacked him on the spot, Ren Yi would understand. So what does this distraught and disillusioned look mean?
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