Wen Mingyuan chuckled. He squatted down to examine the other person closely and politely asked, "May I know how you address this Daoist friend?"
"That's not important," Jian Lin put on an air of profoundness, lowering her voice. "I only have one question for you, Young Master Wen. Do you want to save your junior sister? I know how to repair her Golden Core."
Wen Mingyuan was truly startled by this statement. He had initially thought this person had merely encountered him by chance and intended to swindle him for food and drink. He hadn't expected her to know anything about his junior sister.
His junior sister, an unremarkable disciple of the Guanlan Sect. If he hadn't coincidentally arrived at the Guanlan Sect, no one would have known she had died.
One coincidence was just a coincidence. Two coincidences meant this Daoist friend must possess some genuine skill.
"Esteemed Master, please, have a seat. Let's chat slowly," Wen Mingyuan made a respectful gesture, then requested a pot of good tea from the waiter. He said with utmost respect, "Master, my junior sister is truly pitiful. If you are willing to help her, I will be eternally grateful. Please state any request you have, and as long as I can fulfill it, I will."
Jian Lin was touched by his sincere words. After so many years, her senior brother remained kind and gentle, his disposition unchanged by the immense setbacks he had faced.
She couldn't help but think that if he had cultivated smoothly, he would undoubtedly become a cultivator of noble character, punishing evil and promoting good, living up to his learning.
Recalling their trio, her senior brother was the first to give up and leave, proactively severing contact with his two junior sisters, fearing he would hinder their cultivation.
Later, when Lin Zhi refined her Golden Core, Jian Lin, following her senior brother's example, also distanced herself from her. These three were all good children, unfortunately all harmed by that Yuan Shuo. It was detestable. She was determined to make him suffer a terrible fate.
Pulling her thoughts back, Jian Lin said gently, "Young Master Wen, there's no need to be so formal. I'm helping you for my own cultivation. However, there's one thing you must remember: you must trust me. Otherwise, the guidance I give you will not be effective."
Wen Mingyuan's gaze swept over the worn fortune-telling banner. The words "Fulfill all wishes" pierced his eyes.
He chose to believe her because he had no other choice.
After his cultivation failed and he returned home, his parents and brothers did not welcome him. He lived alone in Daliang City, running a small business, and his life was reasonably prosperous.
However, he carried a burden and did not wish to speak of cultivation to anyone. He had distanced himself from the immortal sects over the years, not cultivating any relationships, and had no one to turn to. Now that someone had proactively offered help, he naturally welcomed it.
Even if the person before him intended to deceive him, what could they possibly take from him?
The only valuable thing he possessed was a small amount of spirit stones. To save his junior sister, he was willing to take the risk.
"I understand. I will strictly follow your guidance, Master," Wen Mingyuan's usually calm eyes rippled with emotion. "You need not have any reservations. Please speak freely."
Jian Lin cleared her throat, steadied her mind, and began to explain the incredulous requests, such as him marrying Lin Zhi.
It was all the Demon Lord's fault for acting recklessly and filling Lin Zhi's head with nonsense. Jian Lin could only now try to patch up the loopholes, hoping to mend all the cracks.
As for explaining why Wen Mingyuan would appear that afternoon to save Lin Zhi, Jian Lin racked her brain but couldn't come up with anything. She decided to use a flimsy excuse: that Lin Zhi was dreaming.
Now, one was severely injured, and the other was anxious. They surely wouldn't be in the mood to dwell on the inconsistencies.
By the time they noticed, Jian Lin would likely be long gone. They could think whatever they pleased.
Jian Lin chattered on for a long time, and Wen Mingyuan listened attentively. Only after she finished and fell silent did he speak.
"Master," Wen Mingyuan asked sincerely, "Marriage is not a trivial matter. May I first inquire about my junior sister's wishes?"
Jian Lin dared not say that the Demon Lord had already asked on his behalf, and Lin Zhi had agreed.
"There's no need to ask," Jian Lin said with certainty. "You'll know when you meet tomorrow. She will definitely agree."
Wen Mingyuan was taken aback. He looked at the Master devoutly and said tactfully, "Thank you for your auspicious words, Master. If it is successful tomorrow, I will be immensely grateful."
Having completed the main task, Jian Lin breathed a sigh of relief and felt inclined to gossip. She subtly asked, "Young Master Wen, have you liked your junior sister for a long time? I've observed the celestial phenomena, and it seems your fates have long been intertwined. By rights, you should have become companions long ago. Why has it been delayed until now?"
"At that time, I was young and foolish. It was merely a flutter of the heart, not yet at the stage of speaking it aloud. Then life took a drastic turn, and we had to go our separate ways," Wen Mingyuan said slowly. "Later, I heard that they were not doing well. I hurried back, and only then did we reconnect. Fortunately, I met you, Master. It's not too late for everything."
Jian Lin keenly caught a word: "They? Who else?"
Wen Mingyuan's expression visibly stiffened. He quickly pretended nothing was amiss and smiled, "No one else, just a sister. However, she has now gone to where she belongs, finding release early."
Jian Lin paused. Even though Wen Mingyuan hadn't stated it explicitly, she understood. He was referring to Jian Lin.
"They were not doing well."
In their youth, at the Guanlan Sect, they were the closest trio. He couldn't possibly be referring to anyone else.
Right, why had Wen Mingyuan returned to the Guanlan Sect after so many years? Jian Lin had initially assumed he was there for the Immortal Sect Assembly, but now she thought that reason was unsuitable.
Wen Mingyuan was at most in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, practically like an ordinary mortal. Why would he attend the Immortal Sect Assembly?
That left only one possibility: Wen Mingyuan heard the news of Jian Lin's execution. Cherishing their past friendship, he rushed to the Guanlan Sect, coincidentally encountering Lin Zhi with a shattered Golden Core, and stayed to care for her.
Jian Lin pursed her lips, feeling a pang in her heart. Why did good people suffer? Wen Mingyuan and Lin Zhi shouldn't be living such tragic lives. They should have been a pair of envied celestial companions.
With these thoughts, Jian Lin made up her mind. She was determined to do her utmost to change their lives.
Good people must be rewarded. If they weren't, Jian Lin would create a reward for them.
After chatting with Wen Mingyuan for another half a day until nightfall, Jian Lin stood up to bid farewell, instructing Wen Mingyuan to go up the mountain early the next day. She would wait for him at the agreed-upon location.
Leaving the inn, Jian Lin blended into the crowd and walked along North Street towards another inn. She and the Demon Lord planned to rest there for the night and not return to the small courtyard.
As she neared the inn, Jian Lin quickly ducked into an alley and shed her disguise.
While she was fumbling with her clothes, a dark shadow suddenly descended from the sky, startling her.
The familiar approach, the familiar presence. The Demon Lord was acting childish again.
"Annoying!" Jian Lin stomped her foot in anger, preparing to kick the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord dodged with a smile and offered her a paper-wrapped package. "For you."
The aroma of roasted chicken wafted towards her, immediately diverting Jian Lin's attention. She eagerly opened it and exclaimed, "Wow, it looks really good. You're not entirely without conscience."
Jian Lin happily squatted in the corner, placing the paper package on her lap. Using the light filtering from the window, she first broke off a chicken leg for the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord shook his head. "You eat it. I'm not interested."
"Just one leg for you, the rest is mine," Jian Lin said with a grin, stuffing it into his hand. "Eating together is more delicious. Come on, keep me company."
The Demon Lord reluctantly took it, took a bite, and swallowed before asking, "How did your business go?"
"Quite smoothly. Mainly, I know too much. My senior brother thought I was a master and agreed without much suspicion," Jian Lin gnawed on the roasted chicken. She had been busy all day and was exhausted; she needed to replenish her energy.
The Demon Lord glanced at her, unable to resist advising her as he watched her eat, "Slow down. No one's snatching it from you."
After devouring a wing, Jian Lin slowly said, "Lord Chongyuan, you wouldn't understand. The feeling of being so hungry that you could choke to death is incredibly satisfying."
The Demon Lord elegantly bit into a chicken leg. "Then I truly don't understand."
Having eaten half a roasted chicken in one go, Jian Lin finally slowed down. She tore at the chicken meat and said in a relaxed tone, "By the way, Lord Chongyuan, I've decided to give the seed of Lord Huaiyin to my senior sister. Will you... object?"
That item was very precious; it was given to her by the Demon Lord. However, Jian Lin felt she didn't have the sole right to decide.
The Demon Lord remained silent upon hearing this. He continued to eat the chicken leg. After finishing it clean and handing the bone to Jian Lin, he slowly stood up, leaned against the wall, and gazed at the sky, saying, "That's your possession. You can use it however you wish. However, you must consider carefully. That is the only way I can think of to refine a Golden Core for you."
Jian Lin also looked at the starry sky, chewing chicken meat with immense satisfaction, so she didn't hesitate. "I've considered it. I'll find my own way to handle my affairs, but my senior sister cannot wait. A shattered Golden Core is more painful than having no Golden Core. It should be used for her first."
"Why?" The Demon Lord lowered his head, looking into her eyes, and asked seriously, "Your senior sister believes you are dead. If you repair her Golden Core, she won't be grateful to you. You've given so much without any return. What are you doing it for?"
"Because I am kind and lovely, a good person," Jian Lin said righteously, holding up a chicken leg. "I seek heavenly justice. I want to act on behalf of heaven."
The Demon Lord fell silent. His gaze was hidden in the darkness, making his emotions unreadable. After a long pause, he let out a soft scoff, mocking her, "Truly... like an idiot."
Jian Lin shrugged indifferently, smiling self-deprecatingly. "Yes, I am an idiot. Fortunately, Lord Chongyuan doesn't dislike me and keeps helping me. Otherwise, I would have been sold off long ago."
She flattered him with a smile. Regardless, the seed was the Demon Lord's. She had to thank him properly on behalf of her senior sister.
As Jian Lin was smiling happily, her mind suddenly pinged. The system prompted her with a +5 affection point.
Jian Lin: ...
Why did he have an affection point now?
She carefully recalled their conversation. Could it be because she was flattering him?
No, definitely not. If that were the case, the Demon Lord would have shown affection long ago.
Then it must be because she was kind.
Jian Lin realized that no matter what the Demon Lord said, he actually recognized Jian Lin's decision and found her actions charming.
A man who says one thing but means another. Jian Lin smiled slyly. Let's see how she would deal with him tonight!