"I ask you again! That Sister Lin, her younger sister is gravely ill, and their whole family is working for the master to cultivate Spirit Plants. Isn’t it only right for the master to lend a helping hand? Isn’t it setting a good example of helping others for you two disciples?!"
His righteous outburst left the two little girls stunned, and they forgot to cry.
Could it be that the master secretly meeting with the young girl was just to heal her?
Somehow... somehow, it makes sense?
Their little minds couldn’t quite wrap around it immediately.
Although...
They felt very wronged, precisely because they cared, they felt wronged.
They had been looking forward to how the master would comfort them all day...
If the master was really busy or had other things to do.
Both girls could understand the master, and they had even thought of ways to reward him.
But it turned out he was just spending time with another girl.
But now, did they find out they misunderstood?
The master was simply treating others’ injuries—whether they were a girl or a boy, he would still do it.
Just then, the dim inner room’s wooden door creaked open.
Lin Qiongyu staggered out, almost unable to stand steadily, as she supported herself against the wall.
Earlier, she secretly checked on her sister in the inner room and was astonished to find that her sister’s legs were healed!
Lin Qiongyu’s face still bore the traces of tears shed in joy, her beautiful eyes shining with a kind of almost ecstatic light.
She did not look at the two dazed little girls but instead walked straight to Chen Ye, falling to her knees with a thud and kowtowing to him earnestly.
"Steward Chen! Your... Your great kindness and virtue, Qiongyu and her family will never forget for a lifetime!"
She lifted her head, her delicate face gleaming with excitement,
"My sister... my sister’s legs can really... really move!"
!
At this, the two little girls were completely dumbfounded.
They both lowered their heads, feeling guilty.
Sure enough, they had misunderstood the master!
It turns out he was truly healing and saving people!
"I... I..." Qing Jun’s little mouth opened and closed, but not a word came out.
Zhiwei’s small face could no longer hold back, her eyes dodging, not daring to land on the master.
Seeing them like this, Chen Ye immediately turned the tables!
Feigning a sigh full of grievance, he said with anguish:
"Sigh... I, the master, have been working hard, toiling outside, got hurt, but didn’t tell you, afraid you’d worry. With good intentions, healing and saving, yet still being taken for a villain, a fraud..."
Qing Jun, easier to handle, just felt more guilty, shuffling her toes non-stop.
But how could Zhiwei bear the master’s grievance?
"Master... I’m sorry! Don’t be upset, it’s all Zhiwei’s fault!"
The older girl couldn’t care about anything else, and immediately rushed into Chen Ye’s arms, holding him tightly.
"Alright, alright."
Chen Ye sighed with relief, ruffled her little head, and suddenly grinned mischievously,
"Just, in the future, don’t readily misunderstand the master. But just one apology? Is that it? Unless..."
"Unless what?" the two little girls asked in unison.
"Unless..."
Chen Ye rubbed his chin, going a step further,
"Unless, you two serve the master well today! I, the master, have been tired all day... massaging shoulders and legs, serving tea and water, until I’m satisfied!"
...
The matter was settled.
A great procession returned to the Inner Valley.
As for Lin Qiongyu, she pushed her sister’s wheelchair, taking her to their new home.
After all, Lin Jin’s legs had just been healed of cold, still needing time to adjust, not able to walk alone yet.
With every step deeper into the valley, Lin Qiongyu felt more and more amazed beyond measure.
The Spiritual Qi within the valley was so dense it seemed nearly tangible, merely breathing it in filled her with a sense of relief and joy.
On either side of the road, bizarre flowers and herbs were everywhere, all Spirit Plants, the environment far better than the Outer Valley.
"Jin’er, did you see it?" Lin Qiongyu said softly, "We... we have a new home. And your legs are healed..."
She pushed the wheelchair, finally stopping in front of an independent and elegant small courtyard surrounded by bamboo.
And in the wheelchair, the girl who had been silent all along, a barely noticeable quiver flashed in her eyes.
Uncontrolled, her mind replayed everything that had happened in that dim little room earlier.
Actually... he had been very clear from the start, he was healing her legs.
But she had assumed otherwise, thinking of him as one of those ill-intentioned bad people lusting after her sister’s beauty.
Taking off her dress was just for treatment...
Lin Jin looked down at her slender legs, for the first time feeling a complex mix of emotions.
...
"Master..."
A pair of tender little hands gently rested on his shoulders, kneading with just the right amount of strength.
Chen Ye turned his head, only to see Qing Jun standing behind him, her little face full of an obedient smile, seriously massaging his shoulders.
"Master, you’ve worked so hard today!" the little girl’s voice was as sweet as honey, "Qing Jun will rub your back, knead your shoulders, to help you relax!"
Chen Ye had no leniency being wronged, let alone when right?
He immediately put on a stern face: "Humph! Didn’t have enough to eat? Use more force!"
"Goo!"
The little girl’s face puffed up reluctantly, but there was nothing she could do, she could only blush and massage the master more vigorously.
And the older disciple, who knows since when, had kindled a small red-clay stove, boiling a pot of Spirit Tea.