Temporarily Resolved

Miss Yun?

Zhuang Jin's heart stirred. Because of what had happened with Song Lan that day, he and Miss Yun had formed a slight bond. When they ran into each other on the road these past few days, they would nod in greeting. Compared to having some other important figure from the Shen Family handle this matter, Miss Yun's arrival was clearly far more favorable to him.

Guo Jun's pupils shrank slightly. He quickly took two steps forward and greeted her with an ingratiating smile. "Steward Chen? It's nothing, nothing, just a small misunderstanding."

Though he was a Two-Striped Servant, his rank in the Shen Family was actually lower than that of a First-Class Maid in the Outer Courtyard. What was more, as a First-Class Maid of the Outer Courtyard, she might well have connections with some noble figure in the Inner Courtyard. Naturally, he did not dare slight her.

Chen Yun arrived and, after hearing the full story, nodded slightly.

"Master Guo, you were in the wrong here." With a single sentence, she defined the matter. After a pause, she continued, "Martial Student Recruitment is something even the Family Head pays attention to. How could Master Guo bring unrelated people in and disturb the Martial Students' Martial Practice?"

Her attitude was plainly tilted toward Zhuang Jin.

This little lady is quite pretty, but her words and actions are really crooked-backed!

Earlier, when Hou Yong had been called a "scoundrel down-and-out" by Zhuang Jin, the look on his face had been as though he wanted to devour him alive. Yet now that Chen Yun had called him an "unrelated person," he did not dare make the slightest move. He could only hunch his back, lower his head, and listen obediently, at most grumbling a few words inwardly.

He might have cut an imposing figure before the Beggars under his command, but what was he in the Shen Family? He had to fawn over even a One-Striped Servant, much less someone whom even his own backer had to treat with great care. Even if he was scolded, he had to endure it cautiously.

"Yes, I was indeed at fault in this matter. I have troubled Steward Chen." Guo Jun had not wanted to blow the matter up in the first place, so he naturally took the offered way down.

Then, he apologized to Zhuang Jin. "My apologies. I failed to keep him under control and allowed him to offend Brother Zhuang. In the future, I guarantee that I will not let him come here again and disrupt Martial Practice."

Those words were meant both for Zhuang Jin and as a promise to Chen Yun.

Chen Yun neither agreed nor objected. She looked at Zhuang Jin, clearly asking for his opinion.

"Since this lord is giving me face, I naturally cannot refuse it. Let it be so."

As Zhuang Jin spoke, he too let out a breath of relief. If he had a choice, he did not want to make the matter bigger either. Making it bigger meant losing control. Being able to ensure a peaceful month of Martial Practice was already not a bad outcome.

"Then let it be so. I hope Master Guo will keep his word." Chen Yun looked at Guo Jun. Her words also made clear how seriously she regarded the matter, preventing him from trying anything underhanded.

"Of course! Of course!" Guo Jun replied with a placating smile, then left with Hou Yong.

Watching the two depart, Zhuang Jin thanked Chen Yun again. "Many thanks, Steward Chen!"

He meant it sincerely. If things had escalated just now, Guo Jun and Hou Yong certainly would not have come away well, but he himself would also have left an unfavorable impression on the Shen Family as someone who caused trouble. Worse still, before the Shen Family's colossal power, his past could not be concealed at all. His history as a Beggar was also a fact. If everything were laid bare and discussed openly, with how glib-tongued he had been, he would most likely be punished as well, perhaps even driven out.

He did not want that outcome where both sides were beaten fifty strokes and left mutually wounded. Jade did not collide with earthenware jars; if it could be avoided, it was better avoided. He truly had Chen Yun to thank for this.

—Of course, if Guo Jun and Hou Yong knew what Zhuang Jin was thinking, they would probably grab him by the collar and ask him just who was the earthenware jar and who was the jade. You really were damn confident!

"There is no need to be so formal. It would feel warmer if you called me 'Miss Yun,' as before. And there is no need to thank me. Consider today's matter repayment for what I owed Sister Lan that day." Chen Yun's smile was faint, elegant and gentle as roses blooming by a wall. After a pause, she added, "I will keep an eye on things lately, so nothing should happen in the Outer Courtyard. But if you leave this place, there is little I can do. You should be careful, young sir. It would be best if you strive to stay."

"Yes, thank you for the reminder, Miss Yun." Zhuang Jin naturally knew that he had only passed this hurdle for the time being. If he failed at Martial Practice, there would surely be backlash once he went out. But conversely, if he could become a Formal Martial Artist and remain here within a month, then there would be no problem at all. Instead, Hou Yong would be the one afraid of him.

Afterward, when Zhuang Jin returned, Xiong Lei hurried over and asked, "Jinzi, why did you suddenly start arguing just now? I was about to go over, but Sister Yun came. What did Sister Yun say to you?"

Zhuang Jin glanced at him. Why did it feel like, despite him being the one in trouble, this fellow was more concerned about Miss Yun than he was?

He shook his head slightly. "It's nothing. Let's go collect the Qi Channel Opening Soup first."

After they collected the Qi Channel Opening Soup and Chen Yun left, many Martial Students looked at Zhuang Jin with strange expressions in their eyes.

"Master Guo, I'm certain that was Little Mute!" After leaving the Training Ground, Hou Yong said unwillingly.

"So what if it was? Could you tie him up and drag him out?" Guo Jun shot Hou Yong a glance. "If you can trick him into leaving, that would be one thing. But inside the Shen Family, what can you do? What do you dare do?"

Hou Yong was immediately left speechless by the rebuke.

Guo Jun looked at him. He was still rather satisfied with Hou Yong. The man generally did not cause him any trouble, and his monthly tributes were considerable. Thinking of this, his tone softened somewhat. "Just wait. One hundred and twenty people are recruited in each Martial Student Recruitment. How many can stay? At most, seven or eight. If this man fails at Martial Practice and comes out after a month, won't he be yours to deal with?"

Although Chen Yun's attitude had favored Zhuang Jin, Guo Jun believed it was more because she wanted to ensure the Martial Students were not disturbed, not because she had any particularly close relationship with Zhuang Jin. After all, this group of Martial Students had only been here for a few days. What sort of connection could he possibly have with Chen Yun?

A month later, if Zhuang Jin—or rather, Little Mute—could not stay, they would become people of entirely different standing. He would not even be able to meet Chen Yun, so there would naturally be no need for caution.

"Yes, Master Guo, I understand." Only then did Hou Yong feel somewhat better.

Little bastard, I'll wait for you to come out! he vowed viciously.

As for Zhuang Jin becoming a Formal Martial Artist and staying within a month—haha, how could that possibly happen? Hou Yong himself had participated in Martial Student Recruitment before. There had been thirty people in one Training Ground then, and only two had made it. Both had been from the neighboring dormitory; not a single person from his own dormitory had succeeded. He refused to believe that Little Mute could have such fortune as to become a true Martial Artist.

Still, just in case, he asked, "Then... Master Guo, what if—just what if—what if Little Mute succeeds?"

Guo Jun glanced at Hou Yong. "If he becomes a true Martial Artist and stays in the Shen Family, then he is Zhuang Jin. What does he have to do with the Little Mute under your command?"

"Th-this..." Hou Yong was dumbfounded. But he soon understood. If Zhuang Jin failed, he would still be nothing more than a little Beggar. But if he truly became a Formal Martial Artist and remained in the Shen Family, then Hou Yong could no longer control him. And if he could not control him, then naturally he was no longer the Little Mute among his Beggars.

What a flexible standard of identification.

"There is no need to be afraid either. If it truly comes to that, prepare a gift and apologize for today's offense. That will be enough. I still have some standing in the Shen Family Outer Courtyard." After thinking for a moment, Guo Jun added this.

"I'll follow Master Guo's arrangements." Hou Yong agreed, but at the thought of that possibility, his heart still felt stifled, miserable, and bitter. Then, remembering how unlikely that possibility was, he relaxed again.

A sparrow is a sparrow. Can it turn into a phoenix? Even if it flies onto a branch and flaps around twice, it is still a sparrow. He snorted inwardly. Fine, just as Master Guo said. Let this Little Mute be smug for another couple of days.