Sharing the Burden, Only to Get Himself Tangled Up

"All right, no problem now, is there?"

Lin Xiaotian's voice broke the two of them from their wandering thoughts.

Xiao Jingli took a deep breath. His gaze hardened as he looked straight at Lin Xiaotian. "If I let her go, my household will have plenty to answer for."

Lin Xiaotian smiled.

"Come on, Brother Jingli. Stop teasing me on purpose."

"The moment you broke through that opening and killed those men, the Ouyang Household was bound to figure out it was your household."

"This underground river, this waterway, the place where you broke through, and the people who might know something about it—there are bound to be clues."

He stopped there. His meaning was clear. Did he really need to say more?

"Fine, little brother. Since you've put it that way, she can know, and I can let her go."

Ouyang Nianci felt a great weight lift from her heart. Her life was safe.

"But..."

At the turn in Xiao Jingli's voice, her heart leaped straight back into her throat.

"You have to make her your woman in truth. Otherwise, even if I have to risk these old bones, I'll cut her down."

Lin Xiaotian sighed. "Why go that far, Brother Jingli? If I really touch her and then send her back, are you trying to make the Ouyang Household hound me to the death?"

Xiao Jingli's voice grew firmer this time.

"Not necessarily. With your potential, little brother, once you reach External Force, the Ouyang Household will be fighting to take you in."

Lin Xiaotian raised an eyebrow. "Then what are you after?"

"Heh. I want to be a thorn in the Ouyang Household's side and cost them some face. She's the jewel of their household. Once word gets out, where will they hide their old faces?"

"And if the Ouyang Household flies into a mad rage and turns against you, all the better. You can come straight over to the Xiao Household. Haha!"

Xiao Jingli laughed heartily.

Lin Xiaotian turned to look at Ouyang Nianci. Her hands were clenched so tightly that they had gone white.

Yet her cheeks were flushed, as though painted with red rouge.

"What do you think, senior sister?"

Lin Xiaotian asked her directly.

He did not object to Xiao Jingli's proposal, nor was he so hidebound that he would argue over it. Blood Qi had stirred and provoked his thoughts again and again, and he wanted to know why.

Besides, though she had acted for her household, this woman had intended to kill him. Was he supposed to let her off so cheaply, without making her pay any price?

What would that make him, a charity? He could have a kind heart without being a fool.

His offhand question reached Ouyang Nianci's ears. She shuddered, her face reddening further, the tips of her ears burning scarlet.

Of course, Lin Xiaotian would not force her. If she truly stood firm and refused, he could punish her another way before letting her go.

The Ouyang Household had to know that the Xiao Household had forced his hand, and that none of this was his doing.

"Well?" Lin Xiaotian asked again.

Ouyang Nianci wanted to crawl into a hole. Who pressed someone like this?

"Well?"

Lin Xiaotian asked once more. When Ouyang Nianci still said nothing, he went on.

"Fine. If you don't want to, senior sister, I can't help that... I'll do my best to get you home, but as for Senior Dongli's location, there's nothing I can do."

He even wore a helpless expression as he said it.

"Hahaha! That's the way to do it, little brother. The Ouyang Household's young mistress may be lovely, but the women of my household are no less so. I could introduce you to one—or several."

Ouyang Nianci panicked. She looked over at him, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"I agree. I agree to be your woman. Lin Xiaotian, give me the map and I'll leave right now."

Xiao Jingli looked disappointed. "So she agreed after all. Very well. I, Xiao Jingli, keep my word. There's a room aboard this boat. Once it's done, she can leave."

Lin Xiaotian suddenly reached out and pulled Ouyang Nianci into his arms.

She cried out and reached for her sword. "Lin Xiaotian, don't you dare!"

Lin Xiaotian raised an eyebrow.

"What, senior sister? Changed your mind? Fine, you can go."

He loosened his hold, about to let her go.

"Don't! That was just a reflex. I agreed to this."

Holding her in his arms, Lin Xiaotian said to Xiao Jingli,

"Give me some time."

Xiao Jingli waved a hand. "Go on! I'll sit farther away. Don't worry—no matter how loud you get, I won't hear a thing."

Lin Xiaotian could not be bothered to trade barbs with him. He carried Ouyang Nianci into the cabin and slammed the door shut with a heavy bang.

Xiao Jingli laughed, walked to the bow, and sat cross-legged to continue healing his body.

Before long, broken sounds reached his ears. Though they were deliberately muffled, he could still hear them clearly.

That kid sounds like he knows what he's doing.

He paid them no mind. Gradually, he shut out the noise, focused on circulating his blood and qi, and absorbed the pill to replenish and restore his body.

After roughly the time it took a stick of incense to burn, most of his strength had returned. Even if a powerful enemy appeared, he would not be afraid—nor would he fear any new tricks from that little brother.

"Hmm? What's going on... That sound..."

Xiao Jingli opened his eyes, his face darkening.

He looked at the cabin door. It was still shut tight, with no sign it had opened. The voice belonged to Ouyang Nianci, now hoarse and faint, as though she had no strength left.

That kid's too fierce. It's been this long.

"Damn it. Even a man made of iron couldn't keep at it like him."

A while later, Xiao Jingli checked the time, then looked at the closed door. He had no choice but to interrupt.

If they delayed much longer, the Ouyang Household might catch up.

"Little brother, are you done yet? If you don't open the door, I'm coming in."

Bang! The cabin door was shoved open with little care.

Lin Xiaotian stepped out looking refreshed. His face glowed as if he had swallowed a potent tonic, and boundless energy seemed to surge through his body.

What...? His legs aren't weak. He's walking steadily, and he looks more energetic than ever! Xiao Jingli stared as though he had seen a ghost.

Anyone else, even the strongest Martial Dao expert, would have turned into a weak-kneed shrimp after going for so long. Yet this little brother was still bursting with life...

Could all those sounds he had heard while meditating have been an illusion?

He shook his head and looked at the young man again, then at the cabin door.

The door now stood wide open. Faint breathing came from within, along with wisps of a woman's distinctive scent.

Only then was he certain that it had all been real. He had not imagined the sounds.

"Brother Jingli, why are you shaking your head? Not happy to see me? You've already interrupted my fun."

Xiao Jingli froze again, his expression darkening.

He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Well, it'll be trouble if the Ouyang Household catches up. They might send someone with Internal Force. If they do, I won't be a match for them."

Lin Xiaotian smiled.

"Relax. I won't ruin your plans, Brother Jingli. The Ouyang Household won't react that quickly."

"But senior sister needs a little longer. She has to rest and collect herself."

Xiao Jingli was speechless again, though he looked at the young man with a touch of envy.

He truly envied the kid's stamina. If he brought him into the Xiao Household, finding him one wife certainly would not be enough. Would he need two, or three?

When he had offered to introduce the young man to several women, he had only been talking. Now that he had seen the young man's prowess for himself, he really would have to work out how many would be appropriate.

A short while later, Ouyang Nianci came out.

She swayed slightly and was unsteady on her feet. She looked rather like a flower battered by a downpour.

Yet her rosy face held both shy pleasure and joy.

Xiao Jingli muttered to himself that, though she looked the worse for wear, she had clearly enjoyed herself.

"Not bad, little brother! Even I'm jealous of you now."

Lin Xiaotian drew Ouyang Nianci close, and she did not resist.

Then he reached into his clothes and unfolded the map. A route was marked on it.

"See it? This is where Senior Dongli might have been taking me."

Xiao Jingli and Ouyang Nianci grew serious. They studied the map closely and committed it firmly to memory.