As soon as Xu Han caught sight of Lingxi, his snickering ceased, and he swiftly returned to his usual cold and serious demeanor as he called out, "Lingxi!" while swiftly running towards her. Instantly, he stood before Lingxi, causing her to jump in fear. However, as soon as she recognized him, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Master!" After taking a few deep breaths, she continued, "You scared me."
Ignoring her fright, Xu Han inquired calmly, "I couldn't find you at home, so I came looking for you. Where were you?"
"Um, I went to the servant's quarters to get new clothes because my old ones were in bad condition," Lingxi said, showing Xu Han the white bag containing the clothes.
"But you said you were going to cultivate and didn't want to be disturbed, so I didn't tell you," Lingxi said shyly.
"Hmmm, but did something happen? Like, did someone bully you or say something mean?" Xu Han asked with curiosity in his words.
"Ummm... No," Lingxi replied.
'Was I overthinking?' Xu Han thought. 'My instincts aren't usually wrong.'
After some contemplation, he came to a realization: 'Perhaps my sudden appearance disrupted the plot. While I was dealing with those two people, the person who was supposed to bully her got distracted by the commotion, causing a delay in the plot and altering the course of events. And now that I am with her, that person doesn't dare to come near Lingxi, which prevents the plot from unfolding.'
'Hmmm, that seems like the most likely explanation.' Xu Han nodded, fully convinced by his reasoning.
As Xu Han continued to ponder, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Lingxi. He noticed her face had turned red, and she was quietly giggling to herself, her gaze fixed on the ground.
Slightly taken aback by Lingxi's appearance, he couldn't help but wonder, 'What's wrong with her? Could it be that she's facing some backlashes from the heavenly Dao because the plot didn't unfold as it should have?'
'Just like in those villain novels where the antagonist seizes the protagonist's opportunity, making them feel like something has been taken away from them.'
Xu Han shuddered at the thought of his opportunities being stolen and couldn't help but think, 'I hope I'm not the protagonist of a villain novel. Let's first leave before another plot unfolds.'
"Lingxi! Let's go," Xu Han said, walking away from her. Lingxi also snapped back to reality and seeing Xu Han walking, she started following him. While walking behind Xu Han, she couldn't help but repeat to herself in her mind, "Master cares for me."
…
Opposite to Xu Han's laughter at the rumors, Zhu Ying's fury burned as she walked through the streets, drawing peculiar and amused gazes from onlookers. Their whispers reached her ears, weaving a tapestry of doubts and criticisms.
"Do you really think Xu Han will fall for someone with his demonic nature? And even if he does, why would he choose Zhu Ying, who appears to be child?"
"Hahaha! Who cares if he's heartless? Xu Han is still handsome and talented, no doubt about it. Even with that cold demeanor, he's still so captivating."
"I can't help but wonder how much luck Zhu Ying must have accumulated from past lives to seize this opportunity,"
Despite the hurtful words that reached her ears, Zhu Ying knew that she couldn't make them stop no matter what. Instead of reacting, she pressed on, swallowing her anger as she made her way home.
As she approached her house, she spotted a bulky figure standing outside—her brother, easily recognizable from afar due to her strong eyes as a cultivator. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother!" as she walked quickly towards him.
As Zhu Ying approached her brother, her heart sank at the sight before her. Zhu Ming's once vibrant and robust face had paled, replaced by weariness etched across his face. The toll of the injuries encountered during his fight with Xu Han was obvious, evident in the strain and difficulty that marred his once nimble and confident movements.
He stood with the support of the wall with great difficulty. Her anger surged, knowing Xu Han was the cause of both her and her brother's current predicament. But she collected herself quickly and first gently assisted her brother to his room.
Zhu Ming suffered severe injuries, including broken organs and bones. Under normal circumstances, such grievous wounds would have rendered him unable to speak or even walk for months.
However, the mystical herbs found only in the cultivator's world worked their wonders, speeding up his recovery in an astounding way making him recover fast.
After entering the house, Lingxi gently assisted her brother in sitting on a chair. Zhu Ying also settled herself on a chair in front of him, concern etched on her face. "Brother, you should be resting. Why are you here?" she inquired, her voice laced with worry.
Zhu Ming let out a weak smile, grateful for his sister's care. "I couldn't bear to stay in bed when you were out there, facing those rumors alone," he replied softly.
Lingxi nodded in understanding, appreciating her brother's concern. "Thank you, Brother, but you should rest more."
Zhu Ming patted her hand gently. "Don't worry about me; I'll be fine. But you, Zhu Ying, promise me you won't let those rumors affect you. People talk, but their words can't define who you are."
Her heart warmed by her brother's support; Zhu Ying nodded gratefully. "I won't let those rumors bother me. But I can't help but feel angry about Xu Han and what he's done."
Zhu Ying sighed deeply; her frustration evident as she said. "Sigh! If only I was powerful, I would have ripped Xu Han apart for what he did."
Her brother, Zhu Ming, looked pained by her distress. "Don't blame yourself, Zhu Ying. It's not your fault. I should have been stronger and protected you from such situations."
As the atmosphere grew more emotional and Lingxi fell silent, Zhu Ming felt that he had no more words to comfort her. He prepared to depart, saying, "I just wanted to say this, so I should get going."
Instantly rising to her feet, Zhu Ying insisted, "Let me help you." She gently supported her brother, walking beside him to ensure he reached his destination safely.
…
As Xu Han walked home, he didn't simply ignore the rumors that were spreading like wildfire. Maintaining his fearsome and intimidating reputation was crucial to him, so he decided to take action. Along the way, he made sure to beat a few people who were spreading these malicious rumors.
As Xu Han entered his house, his laughter echoed through the halls, catching Lingxi off guard as she had just arrived herself.
"Mas... Master, aren't you upset about those rumors?" Lingxi asked cautiously, curious about his reaction.
"Pfft, no. I find it amusing how childish they are," Xu Han replied with a smirk. "I didn't bother pursuing the matter of her scheming against me; I had other plans. But they assumed that I wanted to pursue her. And as for the fight earlier, it was simply to uphold my image."
"Let's not dwell on that now; I'm feeling quite hungry. Could you prepare something for me to eat?"
Lingxi wanted to say more, but she thought better of it and simply nodded, heading to the kitchen to prepare a meal for Xu Han.