Not a Transient Guest

The fastest update to Seeking the Dao in the Mortal World!

Qin Yi was carrying Qing Cha and walking towards the back of the house when he heard the door open. He stopped and turned around. Qing Cha's hands and feet were still flailing in the air, but the scene seemed to freeze, and there was complete silence.

The two stared at each other for a long time before Qin Yi weakly said, "I... well, if I heard anything strange, it's not what you think."

Ju Yunxiu said irritably, "Then put the Qing Cha down!"

"Oh, oh." Qin Yi carefully put the Qing Cha down, and Qing Cha exclaimed, "That pool is for washing brushes! You stinky uncle!"

If you're just talking about washing calligraphy brushes, please don't use such easily misunderstood language...

Qin Yi felt fortunate to have Qing Cha as a third wheel; otherwise, he would have been incredibly awkward facing Ju Yunxiu alone.

The next second, Ju Yunxiu said, "Qing Cha, go outside to do your homework. Your martial uncle and I have something to talk about."

With tears in his eyes, Qin Yi watched his only support run away.

The room quieted down, leaving Ju Yunxiu and Qin Yi facing each other.

"That painting..." After a long while, Qin Yi finally broke the silence.

"I know that wasn't painted by you; it was painted by my master."

Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could exhale, he heard Ju Yunxiu say, "So actually, those sex toys are yours."

Qin Yi nearly choked to death while trying to exhale, his old face turning bright red.

"If I had overheard Qing Cha saying something vulgar outside the door in the past, I definitely wouldn't have thought anything of it. But today, I immediately did." Ju Yunxiu glanced at him sideways and said, "Your image has been completely ruined, Junior Brother."

Qin Yi was both amused and exasperated. "You're quite knowledgeable, Senior Sister."

Ju Yunxiu sneered, "Is it the position of a monk and a woman that you study every day?"

"I'm innocent! I haven't seen the images stored in the mirror!" Qin Yi was truly innocent; he really hadn't seen them because he didn't know how to use that thing, and Liusu wouldn't teach him!

That Elder Wu was quite impressive; he could even see the reflection in the mirror through the ring. He's a true veteran...

"Whether you've seen it or not makes no difference. I knew you were well-informed and much more sophisticated than that monk," Ju Yunxiu said expressionlessly.

"I already said I didn't write that..."

Ju Yunxiu waved her hand. "Whether you wrote it or not, you weren't planning to play the gentleman, and you even wanted to just leave, right? You really wanted to annoy me before you left."

Qin Yi was taken aback; that was indeed the case.

Why would I have planned to stay? Staying overnight was just because Liusu wanted to learn more about the Painting Dao and observe it. After seeing the Painting Souls, you can leave; otherwise, what story couldn't you tell...

On the contrary, Ju Yunxiu didn't mind these things, kept him as a protector, and accepted him as a disciple...

Ju Yunxiu said, "It's because you showed yourself to be more knowledgeable than those lewd monks from the very beginning that I was the one who kept you here. They didn't know, and neither did you?"

Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "I didn't think that much about it, I just felt really awkward for a moment."

Ju Yunxiu smiled and said, "Anyway, since I kept you in the first place, I didn't take this kind of thing to heart. No matter what bad intentions or evil skills you may have, you know nothing about Huiyang's abilities."

Qin Yi nodded, also realizing the problem.

Zheng Yunyi and Xi Xiangzi's plan to embarrass him or falsely accuse him of learning the Great Joy Temple's Cultivation Method wouldn't actually cause much harm. The Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace isn't a rigid, Righteous Path; they wouldn't resort to violence just because someone saw such things. The real purpose was to make it impossible for him to stay. First, he himself would be too ashamed to remain, and second, Ju Yunxiu would become highly wary and want him gone. This was merely part of a sectarian struggle; having recognized Qin Yi's potential to help their sect rise, they didn't want him to continue.

As long as he is thick-skinned enough and Ju Yunxiu doesn't take it to heart, then even if they succeed in their scheme, it won't matter much, which is what the chess fanatic calls a "Carefree Tribulation".

"Carefree Tribulation ko" is a Go term. Winning a ko is certainly welcome, but losing one doesn't result in any real loss. It all depends on how Ju Yunxiu handles it. As long as she doesn't care, nothing will happen.

But is Ju Yunxiu truly indifferent? Why does the lingering blush on her face make it seem like she's just putting on a brave face...?

Yes, she cares about something else...

Sure enough, Ju Yunxiu continued, "The problem isn't that; it's the painting. Everyone thinks it's yours!"

Given that everyone assumes Qin Yi is secretly in love and has been forced to confess in public, Ju Yunxiu must react. She can either draw a clear line by "rejecting the confession," or keep him by her side, which would be tantamount to "accepting the confession."

Qin Yi didn't know how to answer, Ju Yunxiu didn't know how to handle it either. The two stared at each other in silence once again.

Most importantly, deep down, Ju Yunxiu also wanted to know whether this was just a pure accident or if it happened to reflect some of Qin Yi's true feelings.

Otherwise, why would he insist on changing that painting instead of just replacing it with a sword?

If he is indeed somewhat genuine, then how should I handle this?

—I didn't come for her; my actions were upright and honest, truly delightful.

—He didn't come for her; he had no intention of doing so, yet he was also heartless.

Ju Yunxiu's mind was in turmoil. She knew her thoughts were contradictory, and she hoped that Qin Yi could give her an answer so that she wouldn't have to think about this complicated matter.

Qin Yi also realized that he seemed to be at a crossroads, and how he answered would determine the completely different direction of his relationship with his Senior Sister.

Don't let her mature and sophisticated appearance fool you; she's also a powerful figure in Huiyang, the leader of a sect, and possesses immense strength and an otherworldly aura.

But she also has another essential attribute: a female literary youth.

The hearts of artsy girls are sensitive and delicate, easily moved to tears. They might feel melancholy at the sight of withered leaves falling, or lament the fading beauty of fallen petals in the rain. Their hearts are filled with a word that doesn't yet exist in this world: "Romance," and they yearn for it deeply.

It is said that music and calligraphy complement each other, but in essence, the rare companionship of kindred spirits is itself an extreme form of romance, leaving no room for loneliness.

If you answer with a denial like, "Announce that the painting isn't mine, whatever," or a more moderate approach like, "Nominally expel me from the clan or order me to stay away from Transient Peak," she will actually be disappointed.

That's all called "boiling the crane and burning the zither".

Otherwise, she could have announced it on the spot; why would she wait until now to ask you?

Then, if you were to confess by saying "Just consider that painting mine," Qin Yi himself wouldn't have the nerve to do it, since he genuinely didn't mean it that way, and Ju Yunxiu might not be able to accept such directness.

No plan seemed appropriate, and they couldn't say anything. They could only look at each other for a full half-incense stick's time. Finally, a little disappointment appeared in Ju Yunxiu's eyes.

In the end, he was just a passerby; his fate was already sealed.

She slowly turned her head and sighed softly, "Never mind. Let them think what they want... I won't say anything, I won't answer, and it will all dissipate naturally."

What naturally dissipates is not only the opinions of outsiders, but also their relationship, which will be completely forgotten from then on.

Qin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, unable to contain himself, "No..."

"Hmm?" Ju Yunxiu turned to look at him.

"I didn't paint that picture..."

Ju Yunxiu looked extremely disappointed, hummed in agreement, and was about to leave.

"That painting wasn't painted by me, and the Senior Sister in the painting isn't someone I know. That's not what I wanted..." Qin Yi's throat moved, and he finally said, "I want to paint one myself, a painting of Ju Yunxiu that I know."

Ju Yunxiu's face flushed crimson, and instead of disappointment, her eyes filled with panic. "You... you..."

"Uh..." Qin Yi chuckled, "When you tested my drawing skills, didn't you ask me to draw something? Senior Sister, this isn't artistic at all."

"Pah!" Ju Yunxiu retorted, "Your drawing skills are terrible. You need to practice for another ten or eight years, otherwise you're not allowed to draw me!"

The complexity in her expression vanished without a trace, and her demeanor returned to its usual calm and composed state. Yet, a blush still lingered on her face, and her eyes sparkled with joy and liveliness.