Chapter 149: No... Not me (Redeeming a chapter for the generous tip from benefactor "Sword Walks Nine Nether")

"I don't care, little Linlin belongs to Master!"

Even after receiving a light knock on the head from Jiang Lin, Jiang Yuni still protectively stood in front of him.

Although this woman wasn't as pretty as she was, what if...

What if this woman possessed some charm that she lacked? What would happen if little Linlin didn't want her anymore?

For Jiang Yuni, even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she had to nip that possibility in the bud!

Looking at his master acting like a fierce guard over her food while he held little Niannian, Jiang Lin was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He felt as though Lotus was a hawk, and he was just a little chick.

And his master was terrified that this hawk would swoop down and carry him away...

"Master, Lady Lotus is a guest! If you keep acting like this, I'm going to get mad, and that promise I made you will be off."

Jiang Lin pinched his master's little cheek with a feigned stern look, threatening her.

"Ah... Little Linlin doesn't like Master anymore. Little Linlin is actually threatening Master for the sake of another woman. Little Linlin is fickle in his affections, a huge bad guy! A huge beast! A heartless jerk..."

Her cheeks being pinched, Jiang Yuni's eyes welled up slightly as she threw herself into Jiang Lin's arms, her little fists pounding repeatedly against his chest.

"Wuwu... Daddy, don't bully Mommy... Daddy, don't leave Yuni Mommy behind... Daddy, don't, don't leave Niannian..."

Nearby, little Niannian came pattering over on her short legs, continuously tugging at the hem of Jiang Lin's trousers while dragon tears spilled endlessly from her wide, moist eyes.

For a moment, the Twin Pearl Peaks echoed with endless crying, making for a very lively scene...

"Master, stop crying... Niannian, stop crying... How could Daddy ever not want Niannian..."

"As expected... Little Linlin only wants Niannian and doesn't want Master anymore... Master will pack up her things and leave right now..."

"No... I want Master too... It's not the way Master thinks..."

Jiang Lin crouched down, helplessly and gently wiping away the tears of both Niannian and his master.

Though he looked flustered and frantic, in Lotus's eyes, what she saw was Jiang Lin's gaze filled with gentle doting.

On the way to the Sun and Moon Sect, Lotus had asked Jiang Lin many times:

"What is Young Master Jiang's master like?"

"What is she like? Silly... a crybaby, and whenever I get close to any other girl, Master gets all jealous and sour."

Remembering the look on Young Master Jiang's face whenever he spoke of his master, every single time, the corners of Young Master Jiang's mouth would curl up involuntarily—that sense of secure happiness was heartwarming and made others envious.

At that time, Lotus knew she probably couldn't compare to her rival.

Yet Lotus still hadn't given up. In her heart, even though the other person was a cultivation practitioner, she was still a woman after all; at least in terms of appearance, she was unwilling to fall behind.

However, the moment she arrived at the Twin Pearl Peaks and caught a faint glimpse of Jiang Yuni in the distance, Lotus knew she truly couldn't compare.

That delicate, pretty face wore no makeup yet remained alluring and captivating; her willow-like eyebrows were as vibrant as peaches and plums, her eyes as gorgeous as spring blossoms, and her sword-dancing posture was so graceful and moving that a single smile could make ten thousand flowers lose their color.

Even judged purely by appearance, the other woman far surpassed her.

Although the master had the mind of an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl, whether she was crying or laughing, making a fuss or causing trouble, Jiang Lin's eyes when looking at her were always filled with such tenderness, as if this woman was his entire world.

She had no way of winning...

Though as the premier beauty of Donglin City, she was extremely reluctant to admit it, purely in terms of external appearance, she had already lost.

And what did it matter even if she was prettier than the other woman? She could never make Young Master Jiang wear that kind of tender, gentle expression.

Jiang Lin was naturally oblivious to Lotus's inner thoughts; he was still busy trying to comfort his master and little Niannian.

"Little Linlin doesn't like Master anymore."

"I do, I like Master the most!"

"Daddy doesn't like Niannian anymore."

"How could that be? Daddy likes Niannian the most."

"Master doesn't believe you. Little Lin has even brought a girl home; you must be planning to chase away our mother-daughter pair—stories always go like this."

"......"

"Daddy, is what Mommy said true?" Little Niannian tugged at Jiang Lin's sleeve. "Daddy, don't chase Niannian away."

"No... I didn't..."

"Little Linlin doesn't want Master anymore."

"Daddy doesn't want Niannian anymore."

"......"

His head scrambled into a complete mess by all the crying, Jiang Lin offered reassurance after reassurance.

He no longer knew how many times he had repeated, "I like Master the most," and "I like Niannian the most"...

"Alright, Master, stop crying. I'm really completely innocent with Lady Lotus. Besides, Lady Lotus came this time having promised to meet Wu Ke. Did Master forget? Lady Lotus is the very girl Wu Ke has always wanted me to find."

"Really?" Jiang Yuni, having made Jiang Lin say "I like Master the most" a full hundred times, was immensely happy inside.

Yet those expressive, pretty eyes still looked as though they might shed tears at any moment, staring pitifully at Jiang Lin like a little squirrel.

"Really." Jiang Lin gently smoothed out the corners of his master's brow. "If Master doesn't believe me, you can ask Lady Lotus."

Only then did Jiang Yuni pitifully turn her head, her worried eyes shifting toward Lotus.

"Lady Lotus? Lady Lotus?"

Seeing Lotus standing there in a daze, Jiang Lin called out softly.

Hearing his voice, the distracted Lotus slowly snapped out of it, lowering her head to give Jiang Lin and the others a gentle nod.

Only, Lotus's absent-minded and somewhat lost expression left Jiang Lin completely baffled.

What is wrong with Lady Lotus now... Could it be that she's homesick?

Due to the Twin Pearl Peaks having no extra rooms—there were only two small thatched cottages—and frankly speaking, even if Jiang Lin were to lay down a makeshift bed outside on the ground at night, he would feel far too embarrassed to make a guest stay in a thatched cottage.

Therefore, after finishing dinner in the evening, Jiang Lin planned to take Lotus down to the Sun and Moon Town and find an inn for her to stay in.

"This inn is truly a sand sculpture." The innkeeper was actually a sand sculpture (a mystical beast known as a Sandy Vulture), and was well-acquainted with Jiang Lin, Wu Ke, and the others.

Hearing that Jiang Lin wanted to rent a single room, the sand sculpture shook its head: "Before that bald man Wu Ke left, he guessed that Brother Jiang would come to this Sandy Vulture Inn, and specifically had me pass along a message to Brother Jiang: his residence is currently empty, and if Lady Lotus doesn't mind, she can stay there temporarily."

"Huh? That bald guy guessed Lotus would come? Did he say anything else?"

"This..."

The sand sculpture glanced at Lotus, who was standing quietly beside Jiang Lin, and directly imitated Wu Ke's tone of voice.

"Brother Jiang... I, Wu Ke, only fancy this one girl in my entire life, so please show some mercy..."

Jiang Lin's eyebrow twitched slightly, and he turned to look at Lotus. A faint blush had crept onto her face.

"Lady Lotus, what are your thoughts?"

Feeling rather awkward, Jiang Lin changed the subject.

"Lotus..."

Looking at Jiang Lin and knowing full well that he would never fall for her, Lotus shook her head, shaking off her gloomy thoughts.

"Lotus would like to go and take a look at Young Master Wu's place..."