Chen Ye suddenly stopped in his tracks, the smile on his face freezing.
Damn it!
How could he have forgotten Jin’er!
The thought of that little girl curled up in her wheelchair, with her empty and fragile eyes, filled Chen Ye with genuine guilt.
She was also his disciple.
But his attitude and attention toward Lin Jin were far less than those for Zhiwei and Qing Jun.
He was just planning for his return to the sect and the start of a new life.
But he completely forgot that he also had a registered disciple in this Lisong Valley to whom he had made a promise!
His disappearance for six months had already been a huge blow to her.
Now he was finally back, only to leave in a hurry again, without even thinking about how to settle her... How was this any different from abandoning her once more?
"Master, what’s wrong?"
Zhiwei’s expression remained unchanged, looking at her master with admiration.
"But, Master always keeps his word. Surely, he wouldn’t bring others to Luoli Courtyard... that’s our home, Master and disciples."
In fact, the last time Bu Feifan stayed at Luoli Courtyard, even if only in the storage room at the back, it made Zhiwei unhappy.
Luoli Courtyard, like the small courtyard on Shunshui Street and the shanty house, was the home of them and their master!
In her heart, not even Lisong Valley could compare!
Since it was their home, how could outsiders stay?
Chen Ye was stunned; it turned out his eldest disciple deliberately set him up...
But, on the other hand, only Chen Ye could really pull the wool over his disciples’ eyes!
Chen Ye’s expression remained unchanged; he looked at his disciple’s smiling face and nodded:
"Zhiwei is right."
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared in Zhiwei’s eyes. She knew Master cherished them the most.
"Luoli Courtyard is our home, naturally, it can’t house outsiders."
Chen Ye continued, suddenly changing the subject,
"But Zhiwei, tell Master, what... constitutes an outsider?"
The smile on Zhiwei’s face slightly froze.
Chen Ye said sternly, "Lin Qiongyu is your personal maid, attending to you with great care along the way, even if there is no credit, there’s hard work. Besides, even wealthy mortal families have maids and stewards. If we leave her in Lisong Valley alone, wouldn’t that make her feel heartbroken?"
In fact, cultivators in Lingyin Sect with a certain status could bring followers.
Even Granny Li could be taken along—but Chen Ye surely wouldn’t humor the absurd request of his young disciple to bring an elderly person such a distance to the Lingyin Sect, especially since her son Li Dageng was still in Lisong Valley.
"Oh..."
Intuition told Zhiwei that her master’s words concealed something.
But in the face of her master’s righteous words, she couldn’t refute.
Seeing his eldest disciple at a loss for words, Chen Ye felt satisfied inside.
To think of outsmarting Master? My dear disciple, you’re still too green!
He waved his hand and strode off. Finally, he tossed back a sentence:
"Master will first go urge Lin Qiongyu to pack, and I’ll be back soon. Take a look at what you might want to bring to Luoli Courtyard... Hmm, Qing Jun likes the stone table, bring it back as well."
"I understand," Zhiwei said respectfully, but a slight ripple appeared in her lowered eyes.
Master must be hiding something! He... seemed a bit guilty.
Lin Qiongyu?
No, Master’s attitude towards Sister Lin is aboveboard, Zhiwei can see that clearly.
There are no secrets between the two of them.
Zhiwei suddenly recalled a certain day from more than half a year ago.
That day, Master suddenly disappeared.
When they went searching for Master, they found him at Lin Qiongyu’s home, treating a girl for injuries.
That girl... was Lin Qiongyu’s younger sister?
Could it be that the hidden matter Master conceals has to do with her?
Zhiwei pondered silently.
To confirm this matter was simple.
Lin Jin was frail and had parents to care for her in Lisong Valley.
Logically, she should stay in Lisong Valley.
At that time, they just needed to see if Master would bring Lin Jin along. If he did, it would certainly indicate there is another relation between Master and Lin Jin.
As for the treatment?
Master hadn’t treated Lin Jin over the past six months, and he didn’t seem to care these days.
Come to think of it, Lin Jin’s illness must have already improved considerably.
Even though Zhiwei understood that all would be revealed once they reached Luoli Courtyard,
at heart, it was like a little kitten was constantly scratching inside her.
She really wanted to know what Master was up to...
She quietly moved her steps, just about to follow, when her palm suddenly throbbed in pain.
The little girl with black hair stared blankly at her small hand.
Back then, it was because she overheard her master that she got tricked to the back mountain and received ten lashes in anger...
"Maybe... I shouldn’t make Master angry anymore."
Unless it was utterly unbearable.
...
Chen Ye hurried along, almost running all the way to the Lin Family’s small courtyard.
He already thought of how to explain to Lin Jin.
"Master couldn’t help it; he didn’t forget Jin’er. It’s just that the Wei Family extended an invitation, leaving him no choice but to go. After a fierce struggle, he barely made it back..."
In short,
Chen Ye had many, many reasons.
But many things in this world wouldn’t be understood just because there are reasons.
Chen Ye took a deep breath, pushed open the courtyard door, and ran right into Lin Qiongyu, who was coming out with a basin of water.
"Master... Master?"
Seeing the sudden arrival of Chen Ye, Lin Qiongyu was startled, especially upon seeing his stern expression, which made her even more anxious.
Chen Ye had no time to deal with her at this moment, instead, he asked in a serious tone, "Where’s Jin’er? How is she?"
The young girl’s face lit up with a layer of joy, "Master came to treat Jin’er’s injuries? She... she’s the same as before. She used to wheel herself to the courtyard to relax, but now she doesn’t want to come out all day."
Chen Ye frowned deeply, feeling secretly regretful.
If he had known this was going to happen, he shouldn’t have looked for Jin’er first thing back then.