That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

36. Jin ShuLin

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Feeling a bit guilty that his disciple had caused so much trouble in the Ming household, Shuǐ ChénLín had refused Lord Ming's offer to remain in the Ming manor.

"Whether he was framed or not, Disciple Zhao and I have brought you some trouble. My disciple is also to blame for making himself such an easy target.

"If he wasn't drinking and flirting with the ladies in the first place, Fourth Miss Ming might not have done something so unrighteous."

Lord Ming had insisted none of it was their fault, but Shuǐ ChénLín had still insisted on leaving, much to Ming QiuHe's displeasure, and he sighed as he watched them leave.

"Father, I think I found love for the first time..."

Lord Ming playfully hit the back of his son's head. "You better forget that one, if you don't want to lose your place here...

"She's the sole successor of a ruling clan, so even if you win her heart, you will have to follow her to Camellia City and live there!"

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Since it was still quite early in the day, and they were no longer in the Ming manor, it felt a bit pointless to remain in Lode City, so Shuǐ ChénLín decided they should leave quietly, before the townspeople could throw them a feast of appreciation.

"I mean, Fènghuáng-Jun, why can't we just stay for the food and wine?!" LanFen protested. "You have no idea how things were, after you left! I was thrown in the prisons, and wasn't properly fed!

"After tasting honey, I was reduced to *gold-thread! All I want is a feast to wash away the four days of suffering!"

*gold thread- a bitter tasting herb. One of the fifty fundamental herbs in traditional chinese medicine.

"Hmph. 'You reap what you sow'." Shuǐ ChénLín just kept walking ahead. "No one asked you to flirt with Ming QiuHua, and no one asked you to do something reckless like imprison yourself."

"Fènghuáng-Jun! Fènghuáng-Ju~~n!!"

"Silence! You can accompany me quietly, or you can choose to go with the Weight talismans!"

LanFen instantly held up her hands. "Ehehehe, peace and quiet is good for a person!" And she fell silent after that, though she continously glared at him.

'Weight talismans? Tch! Shouldn't I just kill him, and say bandits attacked us?!'

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That evening, they had come to the gates of a small town, called Lin, which they had passed on their way to Lode City.

Before, they had just passed on by, ignoring the town altogether. But now, Shuǐ ChénLín stopped suddenly, as they were passing by the gates.

"Let's stop here for the night. There's no feast, but at least, you can get some decent food."

"Ei?" LanFen was a bit surprised, and she raised a brow. "Did the sun rise in the west? What made you decide to stop? Knowing how you usually function, wouldn't we have walked straight to Jade City, without any stops?"

Shuǐ ChénLín scowled at her. He himself wasn't sure why he decided to stop, but he had suddenly remembered that Zhao LanFeng's demons constantly fed on his qi, and slowly drained his energy.

However, he wasn't willing to tell Zhao LanFeng his reason, so he spoke a half-truth.

"My father has an old friend here." More like an old acquaintance neither of them had seen in years. "I will use the opportunity to pay a visit, so you can eat well for just one night..."