No! That's not it!

Walking in the courtyard of the White Emperor City's inner palace, Jiang Lin touched the teeth marks on his neck, shoulders, and face where his master had bitten him, and couldn't help but sigh.

Fortunately, I finally managed to explain the name "Jiu Yi" to my master.

Otherwise, Jiang Lin felt that it wouldn't have been as simple as just being bitten a few times...

But the thought of his master standing with his hands on his hips, demanding that he call her "Yuni," gave Jiang Lin's head a headache again...

I've been calling him "Master" for so many years, how can I suddenly change it...?

And this change... it just feels a little strange...

It feels kind of awkward, and my face turns bright red every time I call out to someone...

But Jiang Lin knew his master wouldn't give up if he didn't shout.

Crying, making a scene, and biting are the least of my worries; I'm afraid my master will turn evil again, and I really can't handle that.

Finally, after being entangled by Jiang Yuni's constant pulling and tugging, Jiang Lin had no choice but to blush and whisper the words. Then, his master, like a little girl who had finally gotten candy, happily picked up Niannian and ran away.

Recalling how happy his master had been just because of a title, Jiang Lin touched the teeth marks on his neck and couldn't help but shake his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.

It seems that wherever Master and Niannian are, that's home.

"Alright, time to go check on the other silly girl..."

Although he finally managed to get rid of his master and had time to check on Bai Jiu Yi, Jiang Lin still had many doubts in his mind when he thought about what happened last night.

So, why did Jiu Yi suddenly give up resisting last night? As if she wanted to commit suicide?

Jiang Lin remained uneasy about this matter.

I always felt that she had a big knot in her heart.

Upon entering Bai Jiu Yi's palace, she was still lying in bed, unconscious, due to the backlash from the Spiritual Power generated when the City Protection Magic Array was shut down in an emergency the previous night.

Bai Ling was still taking care of him at the bedside.

Looking at her unconscious master, Bai Ling's eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying.

She was still in a daze even after Jiang Lin up to her.

"Alright, go and rest for a bit. Your master isn't dead, he's just unconscious. I'll come check on him."

Jiang Lin reached out his hand as if to take Bai Jiu Yi's pulse.

However, when Jiang Lin's hand came into the girl's sight, Bai Ling, with red eyes, stepped in front of her master to block him.

"???"

Jiang Lin was somewhat bewildered.

"What's wrong?"

Her pearly teeth gently bit her red lips, and tears welled up in Bai Ling Ling's eyes.

"I'll give you anything you want, I'll do anything you want, please... don't hurt Master anymore. It's true that we were wrong ten years ago, but Master didn't..."

Suddenly, Bai Ling realized that she might have said something wrong. Her voice stopped abruptly, her lips pursed tightly, and her eyes filled with deep self-reproach.

"Ten years ago? What ten years ago? You mean...?"

Jiang Lin Jiang Lin was completely bewildered, but in an instant, when he saw the ordinary bamboo stick on the sandalwood Dressing Table by the bed, his Jiang Lin contracted slightly.

Jiang Lin felt like he understood something...

Ten years ago, when I went out to train, I think I snatched a little girl's Sugar-coated Haws, and then seven or eight Nascent Soul Realm elders jumped out.

If it weren't for my master helping me Run Fast, I probably would have been gone...

Should I say I hate that little girl?

Actually, I didn't hate him that much. After all, who told me to trigger the quest to steal a Sugar-coated Haws from a girl from a powerful sect? It was understandable that I was seen as having ulterior motives.

If you're going to hold a grudge for the fact that you "provoked" someone first, then it becomes a ridiculous scenario where I steal someone's Sugar-coated Haws, they hurt me, and then I'm not satisfied and go looking for revenge...

Moreover, cultivators are responsible for their own karma. After that day, Jiang Lin only felt guilty for not being strong enough and for not protecting his master. He did not harbor any hatred towards that sect. There was no need for it.

Otherwise, the whole book's style would be off; people who write like that these days basically all fail...

After that incident, for Jiang Lin, making a living and earning revenue became the key...

Besides, if he really had to say something, Jiang Lin felt he should thank the person, after all, his current master was so adorable...

Cough cough cough... No, we've gone too far.

In any case, Jiang Lin actually had a very shallow impression of the little girl who was the female protagonist in this incident.

But unexpectedly, she turned out to be Jiu Yi...

Jiang Lin even had a terrifying idea.

If Jiu Yi intentionally wanted to hurt her master back then...

If this was all a setup from the beginning...

Then the nature of the problem is completely different.

Will I forgive her? And what will I do?

For a moment, Jiang Lin felt a little confused.

"Bai Ling, ten years ago, your master came to Wutong Province disguised as a little girl, right?"

Looking at Bai Ling, Jiang Lin calmly asked.

"Um."

Her fingers gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her head bowed, and Bai Ling nodded gently.

"Your master came here for me?"

"Um..."

"Your master deliberately tried to harm my master for my sake?"

"Um... no! That's not it!"

Bai Ling, who habitually nodded, quickly shook her head, her eyes fixed on Jiang Lin without any impurities.

"When the master went to Wutong Province, he only wanted to bring you back; he had no intention of harming anyone."

When your owner found out about you, she could have just taken you away, but then she realized you had your eye on her.

The owner wanted to see what you were up to, so they didn't do anything at first. But unexpectedly, you suddenly came and snatched the owner's Sugar-coated Haws...

The owner seemed a little disappointed when they saw you only grabbing the Sugar-coated Haws...

"..."

Jiang Lin was speechless for a moment...

Is it my fault that the system told me to go steal Sugar-coated Haws? Besides, I'm not a metallurgical major, and I've never studied copper smelting!

Yes! That's right! I never thought of that!

I don't envy those two anime protagonists who teach elementary school students how to play shogi or basketball!

"Then..."

Bai Ling continued.

"After his master became somewhat disappointed, he stopped waiting and wanted to tie you up and take you back, but unexpectedly your master arrived, and in the end, a fight broke out."

"But your master's realm is too high, and his strength is simply too great. Even our servants couldn't hold back, but our master didn't make a move from beginning to end."

As she spoke, Bai Ling bravely looked Jiang Lin in the eye.

"No matter what! We are the ones who hurt your master. Although our master never intervened, I know that's not an excuse."

I cannot beg you to forgive your master, nor can I make you stop hating your master, but please do not hurt your master. All the blame rests with me...

Before Bai Ling could finish speaking, Jiang Lin placed his large hand on the girl's head.

The girl lowered her head, her arms crossed over her chest. A gentle breeze blew through the blinds, and sunlight streamed in, softly kissing her hair.