Chapter 351

Chapter 351

"Miss, the Seventh Young Master seems unwilling to send that man away. I believe the Seventh Young Master has been bewitched. At such times, why keep an outsider in our group?" Wu Da voiced his dissatisfaction.

Lin Yu smiled, brushing her fingers, and asked, "How is that man now?"

"He was unconscious for a few days. I heard he woke up recently, but he's still quite weak," Wu Da said with disdain.

Lin Yu's spiritual energy dispersed in an instant, and the resting Mu Yuanfeng in the carriage felt a probing force sweeping over him.

Sensing this probing spiritual force, a realization flashed in Mu Yuanfeng's mind, "This force must belong to the revered Miss Lin from the caravan."

Lin Yu withdrew her spiritual energy, a teasing glint in her eyes, "That man is quite handsome. I wonder if my brother has taken a fancy to him. After all, Mu Yuanfeng is only forty, considered young in this realm."

Wu Da pondered, "It's possible."

A glint of contempt flashed in Lin Yu's eyes, "Do you know anything about that man's background?"

"Judging by his attire, he's probably just a rogue cultivator," Wu Da replied.

In the city where the Lin family resides, there's a prevalent trend of one-upmanship. Local cultivators prefer to wear lavish robes, making Mu Yuanfeng's simple attire appear destitute to the average observer.

Lin Yu brushed her hair back, sounding concerned, "He seems poor and worthless. I wonder what my Seventh Brother sees in him. But considering his current condition, I doubt he can do any better."

...

"Seventh Brother!" Lin Yu approached Lin Xie.

Lin Xie glanced at her, frowning slightly.

"What is it?" Lin Xie inquired.

Lin Xie knew all too well that Lin Yu genuinely despised him. Yet, she was skilled at pretending, always making the family elders believe she had deep affections for him.

"I'm sorry, Seventh Brother. It was my recklessness that caused your disfigurement. However, there's a Facial Restoration Elixir in the upcoming auction. I can propose to the family elders to forfeit the Moon Soul Elixir and try to get it for you," Lin Yu said, looking at Lin Xie earnestly.

Lin Xie frowned, feeling a bit upset. He was merely a three-star martial emperor.

Lin Yu, younger than him, was already a seven-star martial emperor and a sixth-level alchemist. The family had high hopes for her, and they wouldn't forfeit a chance for her advancement for his sake.

"Little sister, you're joking," Lin Xie said awkwardly.

If Lin Yu genuinely wanted to help, she would've done so quietly instead of telling him directly. Even if she did ask the family elders, they wouldn't assist him at the expense of her advancement. They'd only see him as ungrateful and shortsighted.

Lin Yu, looking aggrieved, said, "Seventh Brother, I'm sorry. If not for me, perhaps you and Jin..."

Lin Xie frowned in annoyance, "There was never anything between Jin and me. You are now his wife; please don't keep linking me with your husband."

Lin Yu gazed at Lin Xie, her voice tinged with sorrow, "Seventh Brother, you've remained unmarried. Do you still have feelings for Jin?"

Lin Xie clenched his fist in frustration. Who would want to marry someone with a ruined face?

Lin Xie pursed his lips, "No, I just haven't found the right person."

Mu Yuanfeng stepped out of the carriage. Lin Yu glanced at him, an understanding flashing in her eyes.

"Seventh Brother, you like him, don't you?" Lin Yu pointed at Mu Yuanfeng.

Although Lin Xie's expression was hidden by a veil, Mu Yuanfeng could imagine the awkwardness he felt.

"No, don't make baseless claims," Lin Xie replied with a frown.

Lin Yu said dismissively, "Seventh Brother, if you don't like him, why did you save him?"

Lin Xie gritted his teeth. The two matters were unrelated. He merely saved the man on a whim.

Before Lin Xie could formulate a response, Lin Yu's attention had already shifted to Mu Yuanfeng.

"He owes you his life, and one way to repay such a debt is through marriage. I'll talk to the family elders about you two. Ensure you treat my Seventh Brother well. Despite his appearance... remember, he's of noble birth and saved your life. Don't ever be ungrateful!" Lin Yu said, her tone stern.

Mu Yuanfeng was taken aback, unsure of how to respond.

Lin Xie furrowed his brows, his face turning a deep shade of red.

Does Lin Yu think he cannot find another match? That he must rely on a life-debt to force someone to marry him out of obligation?

He's gender-fluid. He can marry and be married to someone. However, Lin Yu never mentions him marrying someone else but is obsessed with the idea of him being wedded off. After all, he is of martial royalty.

"Bamei (Eighth Sister), you've misunderstood..." Lin Xie looked at Lin Yu, somewhat frustrated.

Lin Yu cast a slightly reproachful gaze at Lin Xie, her voice tinged with sadness, "Qige (Seventh Brother), are you mad at me? I'm doing this for your sake!"

Mu Yuanfeng sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected to be caught in the crossfire of this woman's match-making schemes.

"This is my business, stay out of it," Lin Xie said with a hint of annoyance.

Lin Xie didn't want to fall out with Lin Yu, but her actions made him lose his composure.

Yu Jin quickly approached them. Seeing Lin Yu's tearful expression, he pulled her into a tight embrace and glared at Lin Xie, demanding, "Lin Xie, what have you done to Ayu?"

Lin Xie replied with a stern face, "Nothing."

Yu Jin glared back at Lin Xie and said, "Our annulled engagement was the decision of our family elders. It had nothing to do with Ayu. Direct your anger at me, if you must."

Turning his head away, Lin Xie replied wearily, "I'm aware. Rest assured, I know our engagement is off. Don't worry about me clinging to you."

Yu Jin's face alternated between dark and light shades.

Lin Yu looked at Lin Xie and asked, "Qige, have you fallen for him? Is that why you've given up on Jin?" Then she turned to Mu Yuanfeng.

Once again, Mu Yuanfeng felt targeted, a hint of resignation in his heart.

Lin Xie frowned and reluctantly admitted, "Yes."

Lin Yu was taken aback and responded similarly, "Yes."

Lin Yu looked questioningly at Mu Yuanfeng after her brief surprise.

Lin Xie clenched his fist, casting an uneasy glance at Mu Yuanfeng, fearing that the man might make things difficult for him.

Mu Yuanfeng smiled, "Truth be told, I am quite fond of Qi Shao (Seventh Young Master). I promise to take good care of him."

Lin Yu looked Mu Yuanfeng over and said, "In that case, it's good. Qige has been alone for so long, and I've been worried."

Mu Yuanfeng smiled again, "The bond between siblings is truly special."

"Though my Seventh Brother's appearance is marred... he has a very good heart," said Lin Yu.

"Beauty is born of the heart. As Qi Shao is kind-hearted, his appearance is secondary," replied Mu Yuanfeng.

Standing to the side, Mu Yuanfeng thought: Lin Yu may appear protective of Lin Xie, but her continuous reminders of his disfigurement, poking at his sore spot, is too much.

"You're very understanding. No wonder Qige likes you," Lin Yu said, sizing up Mu Yuanfeng.

"Thank you for your praise, Eighth Miss," replied Mu Chen gracefully.

Feeling bored, Yu Jin and Lin Yu soon left.

As Lin Xie watched Lin Yu's retreating figure, he slowly relaxed his clenched fist, then turned to Mu Yuanfeng with a forced smile, "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

Mu Yuanfeng shook his head, "It's okay."

Mu Yuanfeng could sense the tension between Lin Xie and Lin Yu. With such a sister and a former fiancé, Lin Xie's life is truly challenging.

Lin Xie lowered his head, his emotions in turmoil.

Back then, when he was engaged to Yu Jin, Yu Jin already had an affair with Lin Yu. At the time, Lin Xie was kept in the dark.

Later, he went on a journey with Yu Jin, Lin Yu, and others.

He felt that it was enough to venture around the outskirts of the forest. Yet Lin Yu insisted on entering the forbidden areas deep within, persuading the young ones with them to consider him timid.

In the end, the majority ruled. Despite his reluctance, he followed them deep into the jungle, where they encountered a Level-7 Bloodflame Toad.

In the ensuing chaos, he was struck by the toad, leaving his face scarred.

Others believed it was simply bad luck. However, Lin Xie knew it wasn't just misfortune; he had been set up.

The Bloodflame Toad was provoked by Lin Yu, so its primary target was her.

But someone pushed him from behind, placing him directly in the toad's path.

Lin Xie gritted his teeth. He knew all too well who pushed him that day — his then-fiancé, Yu Jin.

Only after Lin Xie's disfigurement did she realize that between a hermaphrodite and a woman, Yu Jin preferred women.

Yu Jin was always somewhat discontented because he was a hermaphrodite.

After the disfigurement, both families tacitly changed the engagement to Lin Yu.

Lin Yu possessed a robust spiritual power. In her youth, a Level-7 Alchemy Master took her under his wing, making her the pride of the Lin family.

The Lin family is only of moderate size, with limited resources to nurture their kin. After Lin Xie's disfigurement, resources gravitated towards Lin Yu. As the gap widened, the family invested more in Lin Yu and less in Lin Xie.

Nowadays, Lin Xie has gradually become a marginal figure in the family.

Faced with such unjust treatment, Lin Xie felt anger, but her anger was futile; the family elders sided with Lin Yu.

Hermaphrodites in Zhongzhou already held a lower status than women, let alone a disfigured one.