Chapter Nine: Let That Foolish Girl In

"So, Master, do you admit your mistake now?"
Inside the inn, Jiang Lin propped his chin, gazing at his master—a woman who had already returned to her original form and left home without permission.
Jiang Yun-ni sat obediently across from him, her eyes glistening like those of a little girl who knew she'd done something wrong.
Despite the fact that his master was several decades older than himself, Jiang Lin always felt she was a child who would never grow up, someone who needed his care.
"If you won't admit your fault, then I won't return to Shuangzhu Peak for an entire year."
With that, Jiang Lin rose decisively and turned to leave.
"Don't... Xiao Lin, don't leave your master, don't refuse to come home, don't stop speaking to me. Master was wrong, truly wrong!"
Jiang Yun-ni knelt beside him, hugging his leg, her adorable, tearful face and sniffles compelled Jiang Lin to sigh.
He helped his master up, gently wiping her tears and nose. Jiang Yun-ni placed her hands on her slender thighs, looking as aggrieved as a little hamster whose chestnuts had been snatched away.
Once, she was a formidable cultivator of the Second Tower at the tenth level, the Yuan Infant stage.
"Do you know where you went wrong?" He patted her head, watching as she tried, and failed, to hold back her sobs. Jiang Lin couldn't help but smile.
"Mm... Master... I... know I was... wrong..."
"And what was your mistake?"
"My mistake... was deceiving you by changing my appearance."
Jiang Lin tapped her head, half amused, half exasperated. "Is that really the reason?"
She hugged her head, her pitiful gaze made Jiang Lin avert his eyes lest he lose his composure.
"Then my mistake... was leaving home without permission, I should have waited for you to return."
"Alright, as long as you know."
Squatting before her, Jiang Lin pretended to be stern, though warmth filled his heart.
He knew his master had followed him out of worry, and in this world, perhaps only she truly cared for him.
For Jiang Lin, Jiang Yun-ni was not just a master, but family.
Precisely because of this, Jiang Lin feared something might happen to her. Within the Sun and Moon Sect, things were safe and the people honest, nothing to worry about, and Sister Fang Ruo looked after her. But outside, it was a different matter.

Moreover, his master was so beautiful, with such a figure, and so naïve—if she were sold off, Jiang Lin dared not imagine what he would do.
"Master, hurry home. In three days, I'll send a letter to Sister Fang Ruo. If you haven't arrived by then, I'll truly be angry."
"But I'm worried about you, Xiao Lin..."
"Don't worry, Master. I can take care of myself. It’s you I worry about when you’re out alone." Jiang Lin pondered. "Forget it, I'll put off matters at the Dragon Gate Sect and escort you home myself!"
He thought he could use the excuse of returning home to pack, then head to Xuanwu City to meet Lin Qingwan. It shouldn’t be a problem.
"No need! Master will return on time, I'm not a child! You handle your affairs, I won’t interfere."
"Are you sure?" Jiang Lin still felt uneasy.
"Yes! Master is very strong!"
She lifted her sleeve, showing off her pale, lotus-like arm to demonstrate her "strength."
"Alright then."
Jiang Lin cast a GPS spell on Jiang Yun-ni, so he could track her whereabouts at any time.
He knew he was being overly cautious; even if her cultivation had fallen, she was still at the First Tower of the Yuan Infant stage. The chances of an accident on the way home were slim.
"Master, forgive me. I need to stay here a while longer. Once I finish my business, I'll return immediately."
"Mm, Master will wait for you."
Before Jiang Lin could react, Jiang Yun-ni planted a kiss on his cheek, blushed, and flew out the window on her sword.
Touching his face, watching his master soar away, Jiang Lin smiled and shook his head.
He decided he would not wash his face today.
...
Above Xuanwu City, people drifted through the air—some with companions, some hurrying on errands, some hawking wares. Outside the suburbs, in a deserted spot, Jiang Yun-ni leapt off her flying sword.
With a delicate gesture, she removed the tracking spell Jiang Lin had placed on her and attached it to an ordinary messenger sword.
With a gentle tap, the sword sped toward the Sun and Moon Sect.
"Xiao Lin is still a child, so easily fooled by girls."

Thinking of Jiang Lin's feigned anger and his adorable attempts to comfort her at the inn, Jiang Yun-ni couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
She knew her disguise might be discovered, but hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. No matter—she had prepared for this.
Besides, being discovered so soon meant that Xiao Lin truly cared for her, didn’t it?
The thought made her smile blossom like a flower.
She chanted a spell, and in moments, her stature grew ten centimeters, her long legs standing proudly, her hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders, her graceful curves accentuated by her slightly small dress.
Her once babyish face sharpened, her alluring gaze could captivate anyone; the phrase “born seductive” fit her perfectly.
Mounting her sword, Jiang Yun-ni flew toward the City Lord’s Manor at the heart of Xuanwu City.
…
City Lord’s Manor, Xuanwu City.
"Let that silly girl in."
The guards were about to block her, when a woman’s voice echoed in everyone’s mind, the formation opened.
"A rare visitor."
In the manor’s rear garden, a woman rose slowly, toy in hand, teasing a cat.
"My, after so many years, who would have thought our Lord Sect Leader is still untouched?"
She smiled softly at the cool beauty before her.
"The leaders of the Sun and Moon Sect have always cultivated the Dual Sun and Moon Arts, haven’t they? Without dual cultivation, the bottleneck at the Great Dao is severely restricted, and entry to the Fifth Realm is impossible. So, no matter how gifted our Lord Sect Leader is, she’s at most at the Third Tower of the Yuan Infant stage, right? Or has no man ever entered the jade eyes of our leader?"
"You do talk a lot."
Jiang Yun-ni cast a cold glance at the woman. Even that single look made the experienced City Lord's heart race, let alone any man.
She lifted her skirt, crossed her slender jade legs, and settled on an autumn swing woven from flower branches.
"To speak plainly, I’m here to participate in the sect competition this time!"