Too Hard

I was being sentimental for nothing!

When Zhuang Jin heard that Ni Ying had taken the initiative to go to the Inner Courtyard, he instinctively felt a flicker of disappointment. But it was crushed in an instant, and he regained his calm rationality.

Once he no longer viewed Ni Ying through a filter, he recalled all their interactions over these days. On careful reflection, he realized that she had been making subtle, deliberate efforts to draw closer to him.

Even he had failed to notice it, partly because he had not paid close attention and the time had been short, but also because Ni Ying was simply too beautiful. When people interacted with her, they unconsciously focused more on her appearance, and so had yet to detect it.

Sure enough, that saying was right: the prettier a woman is, the better she is at deceiving people!

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly. Once he recognized this, everything suddenly became clear. Ni Ying's actions over these past ten days or so were probably because she saw potential in me and wanted to make me a path forward. But now that she has found a better opportunity, she left without the slightest hesitation.

A Third-Class Maid in the Inner Courtyard was equivalent in rank to a One-Striped House Guard.

Yet one relied on the favor of a powerful patron and could be cast down with a single word, while the other possessed strength of his own.

Furthermore, a maid's potential peaked at becoming a First-Class Maid in the Inner Courtyard. Beyond that, unless she encountered some great stroke of fortune, became the Concubine of some young master in the Inner Courtyard, and bore him a son or daughter, she had reached the end of the road.

—Note that this referred to a Concubine who had borne children, not an ordinary concubine. Those concubines without children or favor, who possessed nothing but an empty title, were truly less respectable than a First-Class Maid of the Inner Courtyard who held real authority.

Martial Artists were different. After the Six Meridians Realm and the rank of Three-Striped House Guard, reaching the Seven Meridians Realm meant attaining the level of a guard!

The "guard" here was not an ordinary outside guard, a soldier assigned to protect someone. It carried the meaning of Protecting Family and Clan. To put it more plainly, once you reached the Seven Meridians Realm, you could be considered one of the Shen Family's reserves for protecting the family and clan!

Chen Yun saw the contemplative look in Zhuang Jin's eyes and seemed to understand something.

That day, her cousin Ni Ying had asked her about Zhuang Jin, but afterward she had not heard her ask again... Yesterday, after discussing it with her family, her cousin had gone to take part in the selection without any lingering attachment. Chen Yun had thought her cousin simply had not acted on her intentions, but now it seemed that might not be the case.

In truth, though Zhuang Jin's heart had stirred, he showed nothing on his face. Others would never have seen through him, but Chen Yun was thoughtful and skilled at sensing others' emotions. She still detected that something was off, and in a moment, she understood. A deep sense of guilt arose in her heart.

"Martial Instructor Zhuang, that day, my cousin asked me about you. I also had the thought of helping bring two people together... Yet I never expected..." Chen Yun apologized over the matter.

Though Ni Ying was her cousin, Chen Yun was a reasonable person. She had her own judgment of right and wrong in this matter, and clearly believed that her cousin was in the wrong.

"Miss Ying did not do anything... Besides, even if she had, that would have been Miss Ying's matter. One thing is one thing, and this has nothing to do with Miss Yun. There is no need to be like this."

Zhuang Jin shook his head slightly. In his current state of extreme rationality, he had long since cut off that last trace of romantic fancy in his heart. Now that I think about it, even if Ni Ying had not gone to the Inner Courtyard, after the decision I made last night, I would have seen through her sooner or later once I began paying attention. Still, having this happen early on and avoiding wasted time and effort is indeed a good thing.

Hearing Zhuang Jin say this, Chen Yun still felt deeply guilty. She took out a Food Box containing several pastries. "Originally, these were meant to thank Martial Instructor Zhuang for looking after my cousin. Now, consider them an apology instead!"

"There is no need. I truly did not help Miss Ying with anything, and an apology is even less called for." Zhuang Jin tried to decline.

"Martial Instructor Zhuang himself said that one thing is one thing. Since I asked Martial Instructor Zhuang to look after my cousin in the first place, no matter what she is like now, I ought to accept this favor. Please take them." Chen Yun insisted.

"Then so be it!"

Seeing Chen Yun put it that way, Zhuang Jin did not refuse again. He accepted the pastries, and as he took them, his hand inadvertently brushed her slender fingers, feeling a touch of soft warmth and smooth delicacy. Yet after the matter with Ni Ying, his heart was already still as water, and not the slightest romantic thought arose.

Just as Zhuang Jin and Chen Yun were going back and forth over the pastries, someone came hurrying over in high spirits, only to see this scene directly before him and freeze in place.

It was Xiong Lei!

This month, he had chosen to work at the Internal Affairs Office of the General Affairs Department, guarding the gate, all because of Chen Yun.

Over these past ten days or so, the happiest part of Xiong Lei's day was when he had some free time in the morning to wander about and see whether he might run into Chen Yun. If he did, and they exchanged greetings, he would be happy all day long.

Originally, Xiong Lei had been delighted to wander over to the Huang-grade Training Field today and run into Chen Yun. But why was there an extra person?

And they were even...

One had once been his best brother, and the other was the goddess of his dreams whom he secretly loved. The two chatted and laughed together—at least in Xiong Lei's imagination—pulling and tugging at each other. This was simply... In broad daylight, what kind of indecency was this! How dared they? How could they?

Nooo—

Xiong Lei cried out in his heart, feeling an icy chill surge from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. He subconsciously clutched his chest.

It hurt!

It hurt too much!

I was clearly here first... Oh, Chen Yun was someone he and Zhuang Jin had met together.

But Xiong Lei had seen it himself a few days ago. Zhuang Jin clearly already had Chen Yun's cousin, that exceptionally beautiful girl named Ni Ying. Why did he still have to compete with him for Chen Yun?

Could this be revenge for what happened in the dormitory last month? Xiong Lei's mind was in utter chaos.

As he stood there in a daze, Chen Yun said goodbye to Zhuang Jin, came over, and saw Xiong Lei. "Martial Master Xiong?"

"Ah, Sister Yun, you're here. M-morning!"

The instant Xiong Lei saw Chen Yun, he became excited again. His first thought was that Chen Yun had left so quickly rather than staying with Zhuang Jin to continue their tender entanglement. Could he have misunderstood?

Then he began finding excuses for Chen Yun himself. Now that I think about it, I didn't see Miss Yun's cousin today. She probably had something to do, or perhaps she was thanking Zhuang Jin for some reason, which was why they were like that... He swiftly convinced himself.

Then came his next thought: although Chen Yun had been touched by Zhuang Jin, he would not despise her for it. He would still treasure her like a jewel...

"Martial Master Xiong, what is wrong with you? Why did your complexion look so terrible just now?" Chen Yun asked.

Xiong Lei was snapped out of his thoughts and instantly returned to reality. When he heard the question, he immediately looked as though he had put on a mask of pain. "Huh? Huh? Just now? Ahahaha, I, um... Right, I was walking along when I suddenly thought of a cultivation puzzle. Hard! It was far too hard!"

Chen Yun blinked. With her keen and perceptive heart, she said, "If the puzzle is truly that difficult, why not put it aside for now and change your way of thinking? Perhaps the path will wind around the mountain, and suddenly open into bright clarity?"

Her words clearly carried another meaning, using one thing to allude to another... To be honest, how could Chen Yun fail to see through Xiong Lei's "chance encounters"? They had indeed caused her some trouble, but Xiong Lei had never confessed his feelings or done anything explicit, so it was not appropriate for her to reject him outright. Previously, she had hinted at things and pointed him toward focusing on martial cultivation, yet Xiong Lei had taken it as concern for him and become even more enthusiastic.

Now, whenever she encountered him, she could only greet him before hurrying away.

And just now, when Chen Yun had come over and seen Xiong Lei, she had actually guessed some of his feelings. She had deliberately asked that question because she wanted Xiong Lei to let go completely.

Well, Chen Yun was not entirely as gentle and graceful as the other maids of the Outer Courtyard saw her. She also had a lively side—playful, sly, and keenly perceptive.