Xiao Mei glanced at Lin He and her young mistress, then covered her mouth with a smile and left, remembering to close the door behind her.
"Senior, please accept Ru Yin's bow in gratitude for saving my life!"
Xin Ruoyin forced her weak body to move, preparing to bow. Lin He reacted swiftly and supported her before she could lower herself, his brows drawing together as he asked,
"Miss Ru Yin, what are you doing?"
"You saved me once before, Senior, and now you have given me millennium spirit medicine to save my life again. I am only a lowly Qi Condensation cultivator. I truly don't know how to repay you."
It was hardly surprising that Xin Ruoyin felt pressured. Although Lin He had handed her a stalk of millennium spirit medicine without asking for anything, she could not leave his kindness unreturned. But did she possess anything that could satisfy a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him?
After turning it over in her mind, Xin Ruoyin still felt that he must have taken an interest in her talent for formations. She decided to speak plainly.
"I cannot leave a life-saving debt unpaid. Whatever you require, Senior, please tell me. If it is within my power, I will do it."
Looking at the clever woman before him, Lin He could not help frowning. Her words were truly watertight. Xin Ruoyin had said she would do anything within her power, but what about something beyond her abilities-or something she simply did not wish to do?
Xin Ruoyin was also looking at Lin He, her eyes filled with anxiety. She feared he might seize this chance to make some excessive demand, such as taking her as a cultivation cauldron or forcing her to remain by his side as his personal formation specialist.
Seeing Xin Ruoyin's unease, Lin He understood her worries perfectly. He, too, was weighing the gains and losses and considering what to say.
If he wished, he could immediately ask Xin Ruoyin to give him the Five Elements Reversal Formation. It was a powerful formation capable of trapping Core Formation cultivators, and its immense value to Lin He went without saying.
But Lin He also understood that once he made that request, the entire debt of gratitude would be settled. Whether Xin Ruoyin would continue helping him afterward would be difficult to say.
At that thought, Lin He suddenly spoke. "Miss Ru Yin, are you worried that I have ulterior motives and will use this opportunity to demand something you cannot agree to?"
"Ah... well..."
With her thoughts exposed, Xin Ruoyin flushed, feeling somewhat ashamed. Lin He, however, continued,
"Please rest assured, Miss Ru Yin. Though I am no saint, I would never take advantage of someone in distress. In truth, I simply wish to make an investment!"
"An investment?"
Lin He nodded and explained, "Throughout the ages, many people have wanted to reap without sowing. Some, for example, hope to marry a wealthy man or a high official and defy heaven to change their fate. What I want to do is the exact opposite. You are in difficult circumstances now, Miss Ru Yin, and need help from others. Yet your talent for formations won praise even from Xu Yan of the Heavenly Star Sect, which shows that you truly have ability. If I help you now, would you really treat me poorly after becoming a formation master? That is my investment. To my mind, adding flowers to brocade is nowhere near as valuable as delivering coal in the snow!"
Lin He laid out his thoughts without reservation. After all, when dealing with a woman as intelligent as Xin Ruoyin, it was better to be candid.
Xin Ruoyin's eyes brightened as she listened. Her clear, beautiful eyes studied Lin He several times, filled with admiration. Then something occurred to her, and her expression dimmed. She sighed. "Senior Lin, your far-reaching vision and profound intentions truly earn Ru Yin's admiration. Unfortunately, I fear I will disappoint you!"
"What do you mean?"
"I possess the dragon chant body. Whenever my cultivation breaks through, it can easily trigger dragon chant qi. This unexpected breakthrough nearly cost me my life. I fear I will be confined to the Qi Condensation stage for the rest of my days. Even with my talent for formations, my low cultivation will limit me, and I doubt I will accomplish much. In the end, the investment you made at such great expense will leave you with nothing."
At the mention of this, Xin Ruoyin's face filled with sorrow. Did she want to reach Foundation Establishment? Of course she did! Did she want to become a formation master? Of course she did! But alas...
"Alas, heaven will not grant me the years!"
As though venting her pain, Xin Ruoyin unleashed the grief and anger she had buried in her heart for years. Then a pair of strong hands patted her shoulders. Only then did she calm down and look at the man before her.
Lin He stood before her, handsome and extraordinarily powerful, his eyes filled with concern for her. For some reason, a rosy blush rose to Xin Ruoyin's cheeks, making her look particularly lovely.
"Miss Ru Yin, there is no need for such grief and anger. The magical power I cultivate is yang in nature, so I cannot personally help you. But that does not mean I am powerless in this matter."
"What?" Xin Ruoyin grew excited at his words, and even the way she addressed him subtly changed. "Young Master Lin, what solution do you have?"
"Come to think of it, I have yet to tell you who I am, Miss Ru Yin. I am actually a disciple of Yellow Maple Valley, one of the Seven Great Sects of the Yue Kingdom. Among our seven sects, the Covering Moon Sect is the most powerful. Within that sect, female disciples hold higher status than male disciples. You could say yin flourishes while yang wanes. I believe that if you join them, you will certainly find a cultivation method that produces cold yin magical power."
"Yellow Maple Valley? The Covering Moon Sect?"
Xin Ruoyin had naturally heard of the Seven Great Sects of the Yue Kingdom. After all, the Yuanwu Kingdom was not very far from the Yue Kingdom, and cultivators from the Yue Kingdom often appeared even in the Heavenly Star Sect Market.
Xin Ruoyin was indeed tempted by what she heard, but once she calmed down, she began raising questions. "Young Master Lin, as a cultivator from the Yuanwu Kingdom, wouldn't joining the Covering Moon Sect be difficult? Besides, I am still ill. If my condition flares up, it will be troublesome."
"Those problems are indeed troublesome, but..." Lin He smiled faintly, looking entirely unconcerned. "By a fortunate coincidence, I became acquainted with a Core Formation senior from the Covering Moon Sect. If you take a token to her, I believe she will most likely not turn you away."
"A Core Formation senior?" For some reason, Xin Ruoyin's face paled slightly. Reluctant to let the matter rest, she asked, "Young Master, forgive my impertinence, but is this senior a man or a woman?"
"Well..."
Lin He frowned at the question. Noticing his expression, Xin Ruoyin's face dimmed. "If you do not wish to say, Young Master, then forget it. In any case, I will naturally find out whether the senior is a man or a woman when we meet."
"A woman," Lin He answered helplessly. After all, as Xin Ruoyin had said, she would find out sooner or later.
At this answer, Xin Ruoyin swayed slightly, then immediately regained her usual composure. She took a deep breath and said, "Young Master, Ru Yin will remember your great kindness until her dying day. If you ever need anything in the future, you need only ask."
Only after receiving Xin Ruoyin's promise did Lin He breathe a sigh of relief. The next task was to arrange for her to join the Covering Moon Sect, but that clearly could not be rushed. Thus, he said,
"We cannot rush your admission. How about this? Come back to the Yue Kingdom with me first. I will settle you in the Yellow
Maple Valley Market. Once the time is right, I will take you to the Covering Moon Sect."
Xin Ruoyin naturally had no objection. Then her bright eyes suddenly turned toward Lin He, and she spoke with a faint blush.
"Young Master Lin, would you be willing to call me simply Ru Yin from now on?"