Chapter 100: This Is Just My Cup of Tea as Your Master
The veil was removed. Although Jiang Lin couldn’t explain why he felt a certain illicit thrill, it was oddly stimulating.
“Teacher, what do you think?” Qian Xiaopang, standing beside Jiang Lin, smiled nervously, his tone betraying a fear that Jiang Lin might be dissatisfied.
“Hmm, not bad. Her features are delicate, with a slender, oval face. I am quite satisfied,” Jiang Lin nodded, gazing at the young woman before him.
Truthfully, Jiang Lin felt his standards had been raised too high by his master and senior sisters. He acknowledged the girl’s beauty, yet for some reason, he felt nothing. It was like looking at a bowl—large and round, but simply not to his taste for noodles.
“Thank you for your praise, sir,” the maid replied, bowing shyly, her eyes timid and filled with bashfulness as she glanced at Jiang Lin. She had expected to be handed to some decrepit old man, but to her surprise, she was chosen by such a handsome young gentleman! Heavens, what luck!
Jiang Lin, catching her gaze, was momentarily stunned: Why did he sense eagerness in her eyes? What was that about?
“Come, Teacher, let’s see the next one,” Qian Xiaopang urged, pulling Jiang Lin toward the next maid. Jiang Lin gently lifted her veil, “Yes, also quite good. I enjoy women with a more mature aura.”
Next...
“A bit of baby fat—I like it.”
Next...
“This young lady has the face of an internet celebrity...”
Next...
“Hmm? How old are you?”
“Sir, I’ve just turned fourteen...”
“Uh... It’s too dangerous to play with fire these days. Let’s pass.”
“Understood!” Qian Xiaopang smiled and shouted to the attendants, “Take this maid away and care for her well for two years. Bring her back when she turns sixteen.”
“Please, sir, don’t! I want to serve you... Sir... Sir...” The girl being led away cried out, her voice full of reluctance.
“Teacher, here, this is the last one.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Lin walked to the final girl. She wore rough linen, stood about five foot three, her figure unremarkable, head bowed, body trembling—clearly afraid.
“Don’t worry, girl.” Jiang Lin unfurled his fan with a gentle smile. “I’m not some villain.”
As he reached out to lift her veil, the maid stepped back two paces.
“Please, sir, don’t...”
“Nonsense! Your contract is in my estate. You can’t simply refuse. Stand still.” Qian Xiaopang scolded, then gestured to Jiang Lin, “Teacher, please...”
Jiang Lin didn’t intend to force her, but given the situation, if he didn’t lift her veil, even if he spared her, word would spread and the steward would likely make trouble. After all, this was ancient times, and especially for a maid bound by a contract, pride was dangerous—it could provoke resentment within the household.
[Forget it; I’ll lift her veil and simply say she’s not to my liking.]
Jiang Lin reached out again. Though she tried to dodge, he managed to unveil her.
To be honest, at that moment, Jiang Lin felt a strange, illicit satisfaction—the kind that said, “If you won’t, I will.”
“Girl... you don’t fit my...”
Just as he was about to deliver the prepared line, he paused, his body tensing in surprise.
He knew his attitude was impolite, even improper, but imagine lifting a bride’s veil expecting a beauty, only to find someone plain—what could he do?
As he saw her face, Qian Xiaopang was so shocked he fell straight to the floor.
“You... you... your looks are too... mmph...” Before he could finish, Jiang Lin shoved an apple into his mouth.
The girl kept her head down, staring at her shoes, fingers nervously twisting her hem, tears welling in her eyes. Her head was so low, afraid the others might see her scarred face. If not for Qian Xiaopang ordering her to stand still, she might have fled.
Looking at the girl—plain, with burn scars and knife marks—Jiang Lin felt awkward. Now he understood her resistance.
“System, are you there? Can the ‘Restore Beauty Fist’ heal this girl?”
[Beep... Yes, Host. Once you train the Restore Beauty Fist to a semi-mastered level, you can repair all burns and scars on her face, making her skin supple, firm, and radiant.]
“How long will it take to train to that level?”
[First, Host must reach the fifth level of the Martial Artist realm. Counting all training time, including practice sessions, it will take you five years.]
“Do you have any face-restoring pills or something?”
[All products in the shop are too potent, only suitable for cultivators. If used by ordinary people, the effects would be harmful.]
“...”
Jiang Lin had no intention of playing the saint—he was a villain, after all. Saving the world wasn’t his concern; he might even bring disaster to it. But when it came to things he witnessed or could help with, he felt compelled to try.
But... it would take five years...
“Xiao Qian, I’ll take this girl. Leave only her in the courtyard.”
“Teacher... Are you sure? This was my mistake, the steward responsible for choosing—”
“No need. I prefer this.”
Honestly, Jiang Lin felt tears in his heart... He wanted to flirt with beautiful maids—what man wouldn’t? If he hadn’t met her, fine, but she was right here, chosen as his maid. If he ignored her, his conscience wouldn’t allow it.
He would take her to the Sun and Moon Sect; after all, the place was full of oddities and eccentric customs. Pretty girls were stared at on street corners, but even plain ones were teased. In the Sun and Moon Sect, as long as you were female, looks didn’t matter.
There, she could make a living without being hindered by her appearance. In five years, once he reached the fifth realm, he could use the Restore Beauty Fist, and then let her choose her own path.
“As long as you like her, Teacher! Anything is fine!” Qian Xiaopang immediately agreed, “Everyone else, leave! You stay!”
The other maids looked at the girl whose looks couldn’t compare to theirs, biting their lips in resentment, their eyes full of unwillingness.
They wanted to serve such a handsome scholar themselves.
“Didn’t you hear?”
“Yes...”
The other maids withdrew.
The girl before Jiang Lin lightly replaced her veil, her eyes stealing a glance at him.
Silver-white pupils glimmered faintly.