But he understood, this was clearly something Lin Jin did!
No wonder, in the original plot, she would indiscriminately slaughter the cultivators of Peach Mountain District in the future...
At this moment, Chen Ye suddenly realized he had underestimated Lin Jin’s mental illness. Throughout the long years of suffering, her soul had long been distorted by the Anomalous Fire.
Her mental illness was not characterized by introversion and silence; on the contrary, this was something she did deliberately to suppress the madness in her heart.
Indeed...
This little girl shook not just because of fear but possibly because she was on the brink of losing control?
Chen Ye was startled. Gee, isn’t this like a ticking time bomb?
It should be known that this disciple of his was never a weak and easily bullied girl. If she were to fully succumb to her darkness, she could erupt with Fake Pill level strength!
"Creak creak..."
The black-haired girl bowed her head, her teeth chattering.
As if she decided not to pretend anymore after being confronted with her inner darkness.
Just as Chen Ye was taken aback, the door was pushed open with a "creak".
"Jin’er, sister’s back!"
Lin Qiongyu walked in hastily from outside, holding a bowl of steaming Spirit Porridge.
Phew... Fortunately, Senior Mao returned to Lisong Valley, giving her a reason to leave.
If she didn’t take care of her sister, this girl might not even eat for a day!
Lin Qiongyu’s smile hadn’t disappeared, but when she saw Chen Ye and the doll in his hand, her smile froze.
"Clatter—"
The tray in her hand, along with the bowl of Spirit Porridge, fell heavily to the ground, making a sharp crashing sound.
The warm porridge spilled all over her, but she seemed oblivious.
"Jin’er!"
Lin Qiongyu’s voice sharply rose in pitch, filled with panic.
She rushed to the wheelchair in three quick steps, scolding angrily:
"Why have you messed with things again! Haven’t I told you countless times not to touch these things!"
As she spoke, she forced a smile at Chen Ye, one that was uglier than crying, stammering with her explanation:
"Master... please don’t mind. Jin’er... she has always been like this since childhood. When she’s bored, she just fiddles with things around her randomly. She doesn’t mean any harm, it’s just... she plays around without knowing the limits."
It should be known that in the Cultivation Realm, accepting a disciple means carefully considering their temperament.
Lin Qiongyu was afraid that if Chen Ye realized her sister’s temperament was problematic, he wouldn’t take her as a disciple, or worse, he would despise her!
If that happened, her Lin Family’s hard-won good days would be ruined! And her sister’s condition wouldn’t receive Chen Ye’s treatment!
"Hmm?"
Chen Ye was even more shocked. He glanced at Lin Jin.
Exposed to the public shame of her inner darkness and now scolded mercilessly by her sister, her trembling was getting more intense.
This... is not okay.
He frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Master...?" Lin Qiongyu raised her charming face in confusion, not understanding his meaning.
Chen Ye clicked his tongue in wonder: "Your sister’s craftsmanship is not bad, huh? Look at these eyes, gouged cleanly and without excess. The sneer at the corner of the mouth also captures the spirit quite well, capturing the despair and madness intricately."
He spoke earnestly, carefully scrutinizing the doll, and the more he looked, the more amazed he became.
"..."
Lin Qiongyu kneeling on the floor went completely stiff, her mouth agape, a bewildered and indescribable expression filled her beautiful eyes.
Master... what is he saying?
Is he complimenting?
Is he actually praising Jin’er’s cruel and twisted actions?
Meanwhile, the girl in the wheelchair, whose eyes were aflame with cold fire, suddenly froze.
She had prepared herself for her darkest sides being exposed, ridiculed, and scorned.
But instead, she received praise.
Oblivious to their shock, Chen Ye flipped the doll over, pointing at the densely packed pinholes, continuing to critique in a nearly appreciative tone:
"Especially this stitching, fine and dense, with powerful force, showing the meticulousness and patience of the person behind it. However..."
He shifted his tone with regret, pointing at the doll’s half-torn ear, shaking his head:
"...it’s just this ear, torn a bit crudely, detracting from the overall aesthetic. Next time, you could use scissors, it would be cleaner."
Next time?
There would be a next time?!
Lin Qiongyu felt her mind had completely stopped working.
She even started to doubt whether the man in front of her was a lunatic like her sister?
Indeed, in Lin Qiongyu’s view, her sister had become mentally unstable due to prolonged suffering, almost like a lunatic.
It was just her sister’s quietness that hid all the madness beneath.
With a chuckle, Chen Ye placed the doll into his Storage Bag, apologetically saying:
"After all, this doll was a gift from me to Jin’er, so... I’ll give her more new ones later."
Lin Qiongyu was speechless. Apparently, the master liked her sister’s dolls so much he even "forcefully seized" the one he gave out... this doll was tainted with her sister’s self-attributed blood.
There are actually people who fancy such grotesque dolls?
Lin Qiongyu respectfully said, "Everything of the Lin Family belongs to the master."
"No... no!"
But what took Lin Qiongyu by surprise was that her sister, against all odds, spoke, gripping the armrest tightly, barely propping up her weak body, looking firmly at Chen Ye,
"That’s mine... I’m not giving it to you!"
"But I am your master, not even allowing your master?"
Chen Ye hesitated, somewhat reluctantly offering the doll to Lin Jin.
"Liar!"
The little girl, seeing Chen Ye handing the doll out, appeared disappointed.
She quickly snatched the doll back, hugging it to her chest, curling back into the wheelchair, draped in her black, slightly wavy long hair, refusing to look at him.
Chen Ye felt a pang in his heart.
Judging from Lin Jin’s reaction, perhaps he shouldn’t have taken the doll out. In her eyes, if he truly liked it, he wouldn’t have returned it no matter what he said.
Thus, the girl felt disappointed, thinking he was just comforting her.
This was indeed the case.
Chen Ye was a normal person, naturally feeling disgust at such a tragically terrifying doll.
But he understood,
The reason Lin Jin had such a violent reaction after the doll was exposed was because she felt her distaste was publicly shown.
Like a mouse used to hiding in sewers for years, accustomed to darkness and stench. When one day, it is suddenly exposed naked under a sudden light, it feels not warmth but bone-deep fear and indelible shame.
Usually, such a foul-smelling mouse would warrant a shout-and-chase by everyone — hence the mouse’s fear and shame.
But what if someone said they liked this mouse?
Chen Ye, an expert with girls, realized that this girl, Lin Jin, was deeply troubled. He could not forcibly alter her mindset.
Hence, he should accommodate her preferences, gradually integrating into the girl’s heart, then subtly trying to cure her.
"Liar..." Lin Jin clung to the doll, her voice low.
"Because it belongs to Jin’er, how could the master snatch it?"
Chen Ye quickly salvaged the situation, his voice gentle, as if coaxing a sulking child,
"However, Jin’er, look, this cotton fabric is ultimately a bit lacking, not durable enough. Master has some leftover materials from making puppets, with durable demon beast skins and sharp bone spikes, perhaps capable of making a more exquisite doll: one that never breaks and can accompany you much longer?"
"An everlasting doll..."
The girl muttered to herself, her chin resting on the doll’s head, sneaking a glance at Chen Ye.
Humph!
Chen Ye, of course, noticed Lin Jin stealing a peek.
He felt rather pleased.
A girl is a girl, already piqued by his offer, right?
Hmm... since this little girl seems interested in dolls, maybe she could walk the path of puppetry in the future.
But her temperament is a bit skewed.
Chen Ye worried she would stray off the righteous path, using body cultivation to create Corpse Puppets.
He himself was a Body Cultivator!
However, with his guidance, Jin’er would not stray onto an evil path!