A breeze brushed past, and the courtyard gate opened without a sound.
Chen Qiaoqian stood outside, a complicated expression on her face.
She took a deep breath and finally stepped inside.
In the courtyard, Jing Wen sat beside a stone table, leisurely sipping tea.
Seeing Chen Qiaoqian enter, he smiled faintly and gestured with one hand. "Miss Chen, please sit."
Chen Qiaoqian fell silent for a moment, then slowly approached and sat across from him.
Her eyes were lowered, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the teacup, as though she were weighing how to begin.
Jing Wen was in no hurry. He simply poured her a cup of tea in silence, its fragrance curling through the air between them.
"What is your name, miss?" Jing Wen asked calmly.
"Chen Qiaoqian," she answered softly, glancing up at him before quickly looking away.
"A disciple of Yellow Maple Valley?" Jing Wen asked to confirm.
Chen Qiaoqian nodded, but her thoughts churned.
She did not know what Jing Wen wanted, much less why he had drawn her here.
She felt both gratitude and wariness toward him, along with a trace of inexplicable fear and resentment.
Seeing her remain silent, Jing Wen dispensed with pleasantries. "While traveling that day, I saw someone attempting to violate you, so I intervened."
At the word "violate," Chen Qiaoqian's face instantly turned pale, and her fingers trembled slightly.
Memories of that day surged back like a tide. She bit her lip and forced herself to stay calm.
Watching her reaction, Jing Wen continued, "I believe in fair exchanges.
"I saved your life and took your Storage Bag as payment. That settled the account between us.
"What do you think?"
Chen Qiaoqian drew a deep breath and finally spoke. "If we're even, why did you summon me here