The night was still, and the evening wind blew cool.
The inn had seen little business lately.
Traveling merchants from the Great Shun Dynasty had suddenly become scarce.
As for travelers from the Liang Kingdom, they had all begun avoiding Shihu City after hearing of the conflict between the two Immortal Descendants.
"Master, you should get some rest."
After Chen Xiangzhu’s disappearance, Yan Jin had switched to cultivating the Yu Family’s Inner Technique.
The Half-Life Immortal Technique was of a much higher tier than what a Scattered Immortal practiced. Coupled with Yu Sheng’s own formidable cultivation, the transition wasn’t difficult.
Although Yu Sheng had no intention of taking on a disciple.
But Yan Jin was undergoing a trial at Yongzhou Pass and needed a plausible identity. Thus, in front of others, she always respectfully addressed her as Master. After a while, it just became natural.
"With Senior Brother Lin stationed at the Border Region, there shouldn’t be any problems."
"Ugh!"
The little chick sat sprawled out behind the counter, staring listlessly at the ceiling.
She just found it strange.
’The Signal Towers around Shihu City hadn’t been threatened by enemy cultivators in ages. So why was Lin Shu so much busier now than when he’d first arrived?’
’He’d be gone for days at a time, and when he did pop into the inn, he would leave again almost immediately.’
’Is it because I’ve grown up? Do I have to sleep alone from now on?’
’Nooo...’
"Sigh."
Yan Jin gave a resigned smile and was about to close the inn’s doors.
She looked up, and froze.
Through the hazy gloom of night, a figure was strolling closer.
The beautiful, gentle-looking woman’s cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held a hint of dissatisfaction.
She straightened her magnificent cyan-feathered robe, clearly making for the inn.
"Master, an elder from your family is here."
A wary look entered Yan Jin’s eyes as she softly called out to Yu Sheng.
With all the rumors going around, even she knew of the injustices within the Yu Family, so she was naturally wary of these Mountain Gods.
Even though her Master was now an adult, Yan Jin couldn’t help but feel a little insecure with Senior Brother Lin away from the inn.
"Huh?"
Yu Sheng reacted in a flash, hopping up and hurrying to the entrance.
She had just peeked her head out to look when a slender, delicate hand began to gently stroke her hair.
"It’s been months, and look how much you’ve grown. You’ve become such a divine beauty; it’s a true delight to see." Yu Xin was all smiles, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
It had to be said, the woman possessed a natural, approachable charm.
Otherwise, back in Black Water City, a much younger Yu Sheng would never have approached her on her own, wanting to tug on the woman’s sleeve.
"Hiss!"
At that, Yu Sheng’s small face instinctively scrunched up.
She really hated it when people touched her head like that. That was an act reserved for Lin Shu alone.
But the little chick didn’t lash out. She simply pulled her head back nonchalantly and looked up with a curious expression. "Oh, it’s you! Please, come in."
’The grown-up isn’t home. I’ll put up with you for a little while.’
"So you do remember your Aunt Xin. I was starting to think you’d forgotten all about me."
Yu Xin first chuckled behind her hand, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons.
Then, she glanced back at the woman by the door and said coolly, "Close the door."
"..."
Yan Jin found it hard to imagine how a person’s expression could change so drastically in an instant.
Having lived in Black Water City for ten years without being very talkative, she much preferred to observe others from the shadows.
The glance the woman had just shot her was laced with a clear thread of disdain.
It was a disdain not only for her, but for the inn—for everything the woman’s eyes fell upon.
’For her to step inside while suppressing such disgust,’ Yan Jin thought, ’she must have an ulterior motive.’
At this thought, Yan Jin quietly closed the door, her expression unreadable, but a knot of tension tightened within her.
"Aunt Xin heard you’ve been bullied recently."
Yu Xin came to the long table and sat down, a look of heartfelt sympathy in her eyes. "You’re the child I personally brought back from Black Water City. If you’ve been wronged, you must tell me all about it."
"I haven’t been wronged at all."
Yu Sheng deliberately sat at the other end of the long table and blinked. "I’m doing just fine."
Hearing this, Yu Xin was taken aback for a moment.
’Didn’t that old coot Qiheng say everything was arranged? This girl doesn’t look frightened in the slightest.’
After a moment’s hesitation, she put on a displeased look. "You’re a proud one, child. Are you treating your Aunt Xin like an outsider?"
With that, she turned back to Yan Jin at the door. "You. Tell me. Is someone at Yongzhou Pass bullying your Master? Don’t you dare hide a single thing. I heard some whispers on my way here, so you’d better not be taking an outsider’s side."
"There have been some rumors."
Yan Jin glanced at Yu Sheng. Only after seeing her give a subtle nod did she softly recount the recent rumors.
It all boiled down to the conflict between her Master and Yu Duchuan.
"That rotten brat! Doesn’t he know to go easy on his own sister?!"
Yu Xin’s brow furrowed as she listened. Then, she slammed her hand on the table in a sudden rage. "He’s just relying on the fact that his branch of the family has more people to bully you for being all alone, is that it? Well, he’d better not forget that my husband and I are keeping an eye on Yongzhou Pass!"
Yan Jin froze for a second.
She had never seen this beautiful woman at the Old Woodshed.
If it hadn’t been for that look of disdain from earlier, she might have actually believed this act—that the woman was truly here to stand up for Yu Sheng.
"Sigh!"
Yu Xin let out a heavy sigh, then said abruptly, "And what about that disciple of yours, Lin Shu? Call him out. Aunt Xin has something to say to you both."
"Huh? What?"
Yu Sheng had been watching the woman’s performance with great amusement.
But when she heard that, her heart suddenly began to pound.
She had no idea where Lin Shu had gone.
’But judging from Blackhead’s strange behavior last time, Lin Shu probably isn’t just guarding the pass. He’s doing something he doesn’t want others to know about.’

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