bookrebus Chapter 1027: Borrowing People
Chapter 1027: Borrowing People
Compared to Lin Junzhao’s preference for savory food, Lin Ruxue clearly likes sweets more. She casually picked up an osmanthus cake in front of her, put it in her mouth, and while chewing absentmindedly said, "It’s just dealing with a few traitors among the subordinates, nothing worth the effort. It’s not worth mentioning compared to having a meal with you."Saying this, a smile suddenly appeared on Lin Ruxue’s face as she leaned towards Lin Junzhao and jokingly said, "My actions from the past two days were anticipated by those few, so they’re no surprise. But my visit to you today will surely unsettle someone and get them thinking wildly."
"Whether you meet me or not won’t stop their wild thoughts." Lin Junzhao swallowed the bun skin in her mouth, picked up the silk handkerchief from the table to wipe the soup at the corner of her mouth, looked at Lin Ruxue with a smile and said, "I know you would come, and I have some matters to discuss with you. As for your agenda, there’s no rush; let me clarify our issues first, Pei Yan!"
"Uh~ ah!" Pei Yan, who was eating while eavesdropping with ears pricked, showed a bewildered expression when she heard her name called and raised her head.
"Didn’t you want to ask your big sister something? Go ahead and ask!"
"Ah~, what to ask! Should I ask? Should I say it all?"
"Alright, stop pretending to be foolish! When I say ask, you ask! Speak up without holding back." Lin Junzhao, seeing Pei Yan still acting, threw the silk handkerchief on the table and said irritably.
"Oh, okay!" Having received Lin Junzhao’s command, Pei Yan was no longer cautious, turned to Lin Ruxue, and chuckled.
Seeing this, Lin Ruxue became interested and focused on Pei Yan for the first time today. After giving him a casual once-over, she said, "Ask whatever you want to know."
"It’s about Celestial Sword Manor..." When Pei Yan started asking, Lin Ruxue began speaking of her experiences with Celestial Sword Manor and her speculation on the matter.
"Are you done?" After listening to the whole process silently for a long time, Lin Ruxue asked back at Pei Yan, who was sitting upright in place and looking at her expectantly.
"All finished, Sister Lin. Our investigation team has no intention of interfering with your internal affairs at Immortal Palace, but this matter is quite puzzling. I thought you should know. If Immortal Palace indeed has internal problems, it could adversely affect our cooperation and future battles against Blood Fiend." Pei Yan explained cautiously at the end, worried Lin Ruxue might become over-suspicious.
"Ah, my Immortal Palace really is a mess. Even our internal issues are visible to outsiders, worrying them." Lin Ruxue said, shaking her head with an ambiguous wry smile.
"As you say, in terms of seniority, we are of direct lineage. I’m at least your disciple-grandson. In terms of affection, your bond with my big sister is as close as siblings. You are my big sister’s big sister, which makes you my big family. How can I be counted as an outsider? We are family. Your business is my business." Pei Yan said earnestly, patting his chest and starting his tall tales.
"Pfft!" The two women in the courtyard couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Lin Ruxue pointed at Pei Yan with her finger, smiling and scolding, "It’s only you, with a skin thick enough yet hitting the right spot every time, so I don’t find it so annoying. Direct lineage, family! Good, well said about family; I hope we can really be like a family in the future."
Lin Ruxue’s last meaningful words were not immediately responded to by Lin Junzhao, who changed the subject instead and said, "He is just playing the opportunist. Although his talent is not high, his slick tongue and sincere treatment won my favor, allowing him to live until now."
Lin Junzhao spoke with hidden meaning, which Lin Ruxue noticed but chose not to delve into, and jokingly said, "Don’t kid me. His talent is not high? Then none of my disciples can compare. The sword tournament is not over yet, and someone already calls this lad the number one under the supreme."
"He still has a long way to go! Don’t praise him; he can’t handle compliments. Once praised, his tail will rise to the sky. If your Disciple had not been tricked, who knows who would win between the two! Not to mention those old monsters hidden in the shadows, he is the number one under the supreme. If believed, who knows what loss he’ll suffer in the future." Lin Junzhao looked towards Pei Yan with eyes full of approval and pride, but her words were harsh. After speaking, she turned the conversation back to Lin Junzhao and softly said, "Actually, I guessed you have long noticed some problem with Celestial Sword Manor. You just haven’t dealt with it yet. It’s just these young people are a bit anxious, feeling the need to speak up. You don’t need to cater to them; do what you want according to plan."
"I saw the problem, but there’s no conclusive evidence." Seeing Lin Junzhao express her stance this way, Lin Ruxue nodded in relief, casually brushed her hanging hair, and said helplessly.
"Are there suspected targets already?" Hearing this, Pei Yan’s eyes brightened with urgency, but Lin Junzhao’s fierce gaze silenced him immediately, realizing his impatience, he closed his mouth and huddled back.
"Ah!" Lin Ruxue stopped Lin Junzhao with a motion and said, "Since everything’s been said openly, don’t constrain him!" Before finishing, Lin Ruxue nodded at Pei Yan, saying, "Yes, there are suspects, very suspicious, but not definitive evidence."
Lin Ruxue still didn’t name the sect, indicating she didn’t want to disclose the info before confirming the facts. Upon hearing this, Pei Yan frowned lightly and glanced at Lin Junzhao. Seeing her nod as a sign for him to speak, he coughed dryly and puzzlingly said, "Sister Lin, I don’t mean to dictate your actions! I’m just curious, according to Director Mei, in these matters, suspicion alone is enough to convict; evidence doesn’t seem very crucial. Of course, such a perspective is unfair and unreasonable to those involved, but isn’t this normal across several realms?"
"Director Mei? Uh~." After hearing Pei Yan’s words, Lin Ruxue tapped her forehead with a finger and said, "Isn’t he the recently successful, genius and ghost hero walking close to several sects?"
"Yes, that’s him."
"Hmm!" Lin Ruxue nodded, her hand landing on the armrest with a sigh, "Although he spoke of my Daoist Realm so heartlessly, it’s true. In the past, just suspicion could strip a sect of their qualification from the Six Mansions of Immortal Palace, thoroughly investigating or even destroying the sect, but not now!"
At this point, Lin Junzhao paused for a moment. After a while under Pei Yan’s eager gaze, she slowly said, "The fall of Peach Blossom Spring and the appearance of the Embroidered Robe Envoy under my command already unsettle the remaining five mansions of the Immortal Palace, leaving them anxious. If at this time, without definitive evidence, I directly deal with a mansion of Immortal Palace, need not those remnants of Underworld retaliate or Blood Fiend’s counterattack, my Daoist Realm would plunge into chaos. Pei Yan, what would you do?"