Chapter 58: What’s Done Is Done, Let’s Eat First

“Lin Daque, you’re still as amazing as ever!”

The duel on the martial arena had concluded. Back at the Glazed Pavilion, Ao Xinyu cheerfully patted Lin Que on the shoulder.

“So now, you’re willing to leave things to me without worry, right?”

Lin Que smiled and said to Ao Xinyu.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you… I just… I’m afraid you’ll get hurt, and I won’t know how to explain it to Sister Wanyuan.”

As the conversation returned to its starting point, Ao Xinyu fiddled with the hem of her dress and spoke softly.

“I’ve said it before. How could the path of cultivation ever be smooth sailing? If one becomes timid and hesitant out of fear of death, then their path to immortality is doomed from the start.”

Perhaps it was because he had died once in a past life and faced near-death again in this one that Lin Que had come to see life and death with remarkable calm.

“What’s more, a battle against Gu Minghao would actually be a great opportunity to temper myself.”

Lin Que said this with a smile.

“Are you really going to be alright? Gu Minghao is said to be at peak Nascent Soul. He could break through to Soul Formation at any moment…”

In the cultivation world, the breakthrough from Nascent Soul to Soul Formation was seen as a turning point. It was akin to the difference between mortal and immortal. Some geniuses might reach the Nascent Soul stage by the age of twenty, but crossing into Soul Formation could take over a hundred years of enlightenment.

This was especially true for those who followed the path of battle. For those on the path of Enlightenment, the gap was even wider. That’s why most high-end fighting power in the Eastern Region came from Soul Formation cultivators.

Once someone managed to go beyond even that, they’d earn the right to join the top-tier sects of the Eastern Region and maybe even relocate to the more resource-rich Central Continent and establish a foothold there.

It was said that the Sect Master of the Sword Seeking Sect was expected to break through to Soul Formation within the next hundred years and ascend to an entirely new realm.

This was what Lin Que meant when he said the Sword Seeking Sect was flourishing.

“It’ll be fine. Even if he does break through to Soul Formation, it doesn’t mean I’ll lose. Besides, there’s still a whole month to prepare, isn’t there?”

Lin Que’s tone was calm, but within it was a sense of reassurance that words couldn’t describe. As if, the moment he said it, it was guaranteed that he would not lose.

“Lin Daque, you really… are still just as dependable as ever.”

Hearing his words, Ao Xinyu was momentarily lost in thought, as if she had been transported back to a few years ago, when the Glazed Pavilion had not yet found its footing.

Back then, the pavilion was far from the scale it had reached today. And in this world, the tallest tree catches the wind. Many of the local powers had no interest in letting an upstart split their profits. During that time, there had been countless open and covert attacks, but all of them had been blocked by Lin Que.

At that time, he had not yet become the now-famous Chief Lin. In fact, when viewed from the perspective of the Eastern Region as a whole, he could only be considered a completely unremarkable nobody, with little to no reputation.

Yet this obscure young man had slain numerous renowned assassins. And the more he fought, the stronger he grew. It was as if life-and-death battles were his whetstone, sharpening this never-sheathed sword into something fiercer, sharper, and unstoppable.

In the end, Lin Que did not let Ao Xinyu down. He rose to fame in the Hundred Sect Tournament of the Eastern Region, becoming the well-known Lin Que we know today.

Whenever Ao Xinyu thought back to those difficult days she had shared with the now-famous Chief Lin, she couldn’t help but smile.

It was a kind of reassurance no one else could give. Something unique to Lin Que alone.

“Alright, alright. I believe you’ll definitely win. Don’t forget, you helped me make a huge profit today.”

Ao Xinyu chuckled. “Before your fight with that guy, a lot of people had already started setting up betting tables beneath the stage. I secretly sent people in waves to place all the bets on your win!”

As she spoke, she made a beckoning gesture with her slender hand. Her older sister and innkeeper Cui’er brought forward a tray. At its center sat a storage pouch, stuffed full of spirit stones.

“This is half of the profit we made from that. Let’s split it fifty-fifty.”

“Then I won’t hold back.”

Lin Que accepted it without hesitation, entirely at ease.

As expected of the businesswoman who had built the Glazed Pavilion into such a colossal organization. She could seize any opportunity to make a profit.

But just as he accepted the pouch, he noticed something unexpected underneath it…it was a contract.

“What’s this?”

“Since you’ve decided to represent the Glazed Pavilion in battle, I won’t let you go unrewarded. This is the contract I just had drafted. Thirty percent of the Pavilion’s total profits for the next ten years, plus the right to choose ten treasures from the vault.”

Ao Xinyu said this with a smile.

“I can’t accept that. The reward is too much,” Lin Que frowned.

He knew full well why Ao Xinyu had previously been negotiating with the Blade Sect genius Liu Yongge. It was all for the Pavilion’s profits and the treasures stored in the vault.

Cui’er had even been slapped by Liu Yongge over the matter.

“You’re one of us. How could I deceive you?”

Ao Xinyu looked seriously at Lin Que. “Besides, I trust you.”

Opening the vault to Lin Que without restriction meant that from this moment on, the Glazed Pavilion had no reservations when it came to him. He could pick ten treasures, whether cultivation resources, priceless worldly rarities, or even the Pavilion’s foundational assets, such as contracts and trade secrets, all of which were stored in the vault.

It was essentially Ao Xinyu handing Lin Que a sword and then letting him place it at her own throat.

“Trust, huh… Xinyu, that’s not exactly how a merchant should operate. You’re going to suffer losses like this.”

Lin Que sighed helplessly, but for some reason, he smiled all the same.

“I’d only do this for you.”

Ao Xinyu smiled back, then suddenly realized the ambiguity in her words. Her face flushed bright red, and she hurried to explain herself:

“Don’t get the wrong idea! I meant it in the sense of being partners, that’s all!”

“Mhm, I know,” Lin Que nodded.

His calm, neutral reaction left Ao Xinyu feeling a little disappointed, though she didn’t show it openly.

Well, he is already a married man… It’s not like he’d react in any special way, right?

And so, their cooperation was settled just like that. But Lin Que ended up bargaining in reverse, reducing the offered thirty percent share of profits down to twenty-five percent. As for the ten treasures from the vault, he brought that number down to five.

With Ao Xinyu placing such trust in him, how could he possibly take advantage of her generosity? Friendship had to go both ways. If one only ever took without giving, that bond was bound to fall apart.

A merchant and client making mutual concessions like this…it was likely a rare sight in this world.

After chatting idly for a while, Lin Que glanced at the starry night sky outside the window and got ready to leave.

“It’s getting late. I should head back. Let’s discuss the rest of the details next time.”

“Eh? You’re leaving already? Won’t you stay for a celebratory feast?”

Ao Xinyu tried to keep him a little longer. “I’ve got some fine wine imported from the seafloor, you know.”

“Maybe next time. If I don’t get home soon and start cooking, my partner will probably end up making dinner herself. She might still be waiting for me, hungry.”

Lin Que knew Qin Wanyuan’s personality well. Since he’d told her he’d be home tonight, if he didn’t arrive by dinnertime, she would definitely have prepared a meal in advance and be sitting there obediently, waiting for him.

Even though cultivators didn’t get hungry from missing one meal, Lin Que still couldn’t help but feel tender-hearted toward her.

Seeing the undisguised happiness in Lin Que’s eyes, Ao Xinyu’s outstretched hand froze midair.

She forced a smile.

“You’re right. Spending time with your partner comes first. You’d better head back, then. Next time, be sure to bring Sister Wanyuan along to visit the Glazed Pavilion.”

“Of course.”

Lin Que cupped his hands in farewell, then leapt out the window and flew off on his sword.

Gazing out at the pure white sword light slicing through the night sky, Ao Xinyu seemed a little lost in thought.

“My Lady, it’s time for your meal,” Ping’er said.

“I’m not eating. Just bring me some wine, then leave me alone.”

Ao Xinyu said with a wave of her hand, not even turning around.

“As you wish.”

The older sister Cui’er brought over a jar of wine, placed it on the table in front of Ao Xinyu, then took her younger sister by the hand and quietly left.

***

Lin Que returned home shortly after.

Just as he’d guessed, Qin Wanyuan and Qin Qian’er were sitting at the dining table, which was covered in carefully prepared dishes.

“You’re back, Lin Lang?” Qin Wanyuan looked at him, her eyes somewhat vacant, her smile more forced than genuine.

It was like she’d just caught her partner cheating and now sat at home waiting to question him.

And wasn’t that exactly it? She’d been cultivating at home this afternoon when, out of nowhere, the system’s congratulatory message rang in her head, saying that a “potential target” Ao Xinyu and Lin Que had just completed their first hand-holding event. Then it rewarded her with system points and a bottle of Patience Potion.

Qin Wanyuan had been like: ????!!!!!!!

What the hell? She hadn’t even selected Ao Xinyu as a romance target yet! How had they ended up holding hands all of a sudden?!

Did that dragon woman have no sense of boundaries whatsoever? They always said dragons were inherently lustful. Was it actually true?!

At first, she thought it might just be a misunderstanding, but when Lin Que didn’t return home at the agreed-upon time, Qin Wanyuan’s heart sank.

Still, just like always, since Lin Que hadn’t come back on time, she went ahead and cooked dinner herself and waited for him to return.

Qin Wanyuan tried to comfort herself, thinking that maybe Lin Que had just run into something that delayed him. It probably wasn’t a big deal.

But the longer she waited, the more restless she became, and the light in her eyes gradually dimmed. By the end, she looked like a lifeless, broken doll, scaring Qin Qian’er, who sat at the table with her.

“Mm.”

Lin Que nodded calmly and gave a brief explanation. “I ran into something at the Glazed Pavilion today and got into a fight at the Arena, so I came back a little late.”

“You fought at the Arena?!”

Qin Wanyuan blinked, instantly scanning Lin Que’s body with concern. Seeing no visible injuries, she finally let out a small breath of relief but still asked worriedly, “What exactly happened?”

“When I went to see Ao Xinyu today, she happened to run into some trouble, so I…”

Lin Que didn’t hide anything and told her the whole story from beginning to end.

“A genius from the Blade Sect, huh? But Lin Lang, you injured him….could that get you into trouble?”

Seeing that Lin Que had gotten into some trouble, Qin Wanyuan no longer had the heart to be jealous about Ao Xinyu holding his hand that afternoon. She immediately asked with concern.

“It’s nothing serious. I only broke one of his arms. It’ll heal in about a month.”

Lin Que shook his head and said calmly, “If his elders want to come after me for it, I’m not afraid.”

That casual tone made Qin Qian’er, sitting nearby, raise her eyebrows slightly.

To speak so lightly about breaking someone’s arm… was this the path of the cultivator who walks the Path of Slaughter?

As for Qin Wanyuan, she let out a breath of relief.

“As long as that’s the case.”

“Mm. In any case, what’s done is done. Let’s eat first.”

Lin Que smiled, then reached out and took Qin Wanyuan’s soft hand. “While I was out, I kept thinking about your home-cooked meals.”