'Did I... Did I make a fool of myself?' Lin Feng wondered, watching Jiang Chen's retreating figure. His heart was filled with complex emotions.
Mostly, he was overwhelmed by a strong sense of shame, stemming from the realization that he had been looked down upon.
His heart, already fragile and sensitive from the labels 'crippled' and 'shattered Dantian', had grown slightly arrogant since acquiring the Burning World Red Lotus. This made him especially troubled by the current situation.
Beyond the shame, he felt disbelief and a trace of anticipation he couldn't quite admit to himself.
If Jiang Chen's words were true, and he hadn't come to kill him, it would be like surviving a significant catastrophe.
...
A short while later, at the inn's entrance, a group of cultivators escorting an opulent sedan chair appeared before the crowd.
One of the cultivators at the forefront of the group approached Jiang Chen, addressing him respectfully. "Young Master, we have brought the Ninth Young Miss. Alchemist Xie, accompanying her, is also present."
"Mhm!" Jiang Chen responded with a subtle nod.
This was the 'motive' he had crafted for his visit to the Vast Spirit House.
Ning Xian was far from naive or innocent, and she was not someone who could be swayed by mere sweet words, much less easily conquered.
Without a valid justification, Ning Xian might quickly suspect that Jiang Chen's reasons for visiting were not honorable, leading her to become wary and distrustful.
Such a development could have serious implications for Jiang Chen's future plans.
Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi exchanged knowing looks, swiftly inferring that Jiang Chen's arrival was linked to the Ninth Young Miss.
'Ninth Young Miss? Could it really be that Jiang Chen didn't come here for me?' Lin Feng's eyes also narrowed subtly, a mix of vigilance and suspicion in his gaze, tinged with a hint of relief.
"Yu'er, come out," Jiang Chen said, ignoring Lin Feng and the master-disciple duo, as he addressed the occupant of the luxurious palanquin.
"Yes, big brother," came the soft, frail voice of a young girl from inside.
The curtain of the palanquin was swiftly drawn back, revealing an elegantly mature woman assisting a young girl, about 15 or 16 years old.
The young girl's appearance, while not strikingly exceptional, bore a subtle resemblance to Jiang Chen, marked by a slight hint of sickly pallor.
"Allow me to introduce her. This is my cousin, Jiang Yuqian," Jiang Chen announced, directing his words towards Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian, "I have come today to seek your assistance for her illness."
Jiang Yuqian gave a humble bow to Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian before sitting down with the aid of Alchemist Xie.
"Illness?!" Lin Feng questioned, his brow furrowed. "Your Jiang Clan, being one of the two great clans in Autumn Glory City and having numerous alchemists at its disposal, why would they seek a cure from the little-known Vast Spirit House?"
His instincts drove him to closely analyze every move Jiang Chen made.
Upon hearing his question, Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian also became somewhat skeptical.
Unperturbed, Jiang Chen explained calmly, "My cousin suffers from a peculiar ailment. Numerous alchemists in Autumn Glory City were unable to provide assistance."
"As for Alchemist Qiu, it's evident to me that your skills surpass what's immediately apparent." He looked at Qiu Liaoxi with a faint smile, his gaze conveying confidence, as if he were in control of the entire situation.
In response to these words, both Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian turned pale.
This was especially true for Qiu Liaoxi. Not being a native of Autumn Glory City, she had kept a very low profile since her arrival for reasons unknown. She had been careful not to do anything that might expose her true identity.
Yet, unexpectedly, Jiang Chen had still managed to uncover her background!
What she didn't realize was that Jiang Chen had only recently surmised that her identity was far from ordinary.
"Alchemist Qiu, Miss Ning Xian, please rest assured," Jiang Chen reassured them, his smile gentle, radiating warmth and sincerity.
"If I had intended to act against you, I would have done so already, wouldn't I? Why wait until now?"
"For all these years, I have never disturbed you, nor have I divulged your identities to anyone."
"Now, with my cousin's grave illness, I truly have no other option but to seek your help," he explained earnestly, looking at them directly. "Additionally, I've heard about the troubles the Di Clan has been causing you, so I'll assist in resolving some minor issues while I'm here."
'So that's how it is,' Ning Xian thought to herself, coming to terms with Jiang Chen's explanation.
'If it weren't for Jiang Chen's kindness in keeping our secret, our enemies would have caught up with us long ago,' she reflected internally, her eyes revealing a mix of realization and admiration.
[Ding! Heroine Ning Xian's impression of you has changed once again, and Protagonist Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 100 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 200 points of Villain Value!]
These system prompts immediately sounded in Jiang Chen's sea of consciousness, filling his heart with a sense of triumph.
"Young Master Jiang truly deserves praise for his noble character and unwavering integrity!" Qiu Liaoxi exclaimed, her aged face showing a blend of understanding and gratitude.
"Master... Ning Xian..." Observing Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi's growing favorable impression of Jiang Chen, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel a stir of agitation in his heart.
"Lin Feng, from what I observe, is there perhaps a misunderstanding between you and Young Master Jiang?" Qiu Liaoxi asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
She had discreetly watched Lin Feng, and her extensive experience in judging character led her to think that he was not a bad person.
Similarly, Jiang Chen seemed kind and good-hearted.
How could there be any conflict between the two?
Could it be the result of internal disputes within the Starry Abyss Sect?
She considered this possibility thoughtfully.
"I..." Lin Feng, realizing he couldn't fully explain the situation in just a few words, responded in a tense tone, "Jiang Chen, I'll trust you this time."
Jiang Chen silently smiled and shook his head, his gesture resembling that of someone of higher standing who found it unnecessary to argue with someone he deemed inferior.
Witnessing this, Lin Feng felt a wave of shame swell in his heart.
"I won't say much more," Jiang Chen spoke earnestly. "Please, Alchemist Qiu, do your utmost to help Yu'er with her illness."
"After the matter is resolved, I'll ensure you're amply rewarded," he assured them, then slightly bowed to Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian.
Jiang Yuqian, with Alchemist Xie's assistance, also stood up and offered a humble bow.
"Young Master Jiang, please rest assured. I'll handle this matter," Qiu Liaoxi immediately agreed. Her willingness was not solely due to Jiang Chen's promise of a reward; knowing her true identity was reason enough for her to consent.
Then she addressed them with professional courtesy, "Please, Alchemist Xie and Miss Jiang Yuqian, follow me."
"Thank you," Jiang Chen responded with a faint smile, nodding to Alchemist Xie and Jiang Yuqian.
The two promptly followed Qiu Liaoxi's lead.
"Xian'er, you come too," Qiu Liaoxi called out to Ning Xian, who then joined them.
Shortly thereafter, the four women entered a secluded room, activated a concealment formation, and commenced the diagnosis of the illness.
Back in the inn's lobby, only Jiang Chen, Lin Feng, and a group of cultivators from the Jiang Clan were left.
Suddenly, another system prompt emerged in Jiang Chen's sea of consciousness.
[Ding! You have altered the plot, gaining 200 points of Villain Value!]
'Another 200 points earned, fantastic! My total Villain Value is now at 1,300 points!' Jiang Chen thought to himself with inward jubilation. However, outwardly, he maintained his composure and calmly instructed one of the guards to prepare tea.
After the tea was ready, he even had the guard serve a cup to Lin Feng.
Throughout this time, Jiang Chen remained silent, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the room, reflecting his deep concern for his cousin Jiang Yuqian's illness.
As for Lin Feng, Jiang Chen showed no particular attention, treating him as if he were merely a stranger.
Lin Feng himself was deeply puzzled by the situation, thinking to himself, 'Is this Jiang Chen really here for his cousin's illness? Did he truly just coincidentally encounter me here?'
Despite this, an inexplicable intuition warned Lin Feng that there was more to Jiang Chen than met the eye, yet the concrete evidence eluded him.
After casting a glance at the tea brought by the Jiang Clan's cultivator and then at Jiang Chen, Lin Feng resolved to bide his time and see how events would unfold.
As this happened, time continued to move at its own steady pace.