Chapter Twenty-Four: A Heavy Burden and a Long Road Ahead!

A sudden prick at the nose, he murmured softly with ease, “How long has it been since I last saw this world? It’s truly beautiful...”

Amidst his joy, he couldn’t quite understand how his vision had suddenly returned.

Seeing this, the enchanting Fox Maiden, who had quietly stood behind him all along, stepped forward slowly and explained, “This is an eye elixir I arranged through someone. Though it’s meant for a woman, it suits you perfectly, young master.”

Lin Chen bowed gratefully and smiled, “Thank you.”

The Fox Maiden instinctively dodged his bow, but Lin Chen was still too delighted by regaining his sight to notice her action.

“Don’t celebrate too soon, young master. This is both a blessing and a curse. Every once in a while, you’ll experience rejection reactions and endure some hardship,” she warned.

“It’s nothing. A little suffering is worth it! Being able to see the light again is a tremendous blessing,” Lin Chen said resolutely.

“If you think that way, it’s for the best. Take this pain-relieving elixir; it will help during sudden rejection episodes,” the Fox Maiden said, producing a delicate jade vial out of thin air and handing it to him.

“Alright, many thanks,” Lin Chen bowed slightly again, and this time she did not avoid his gesture.

Lin Chen’s eyes flicked to her. He had always thought the Fox Maiden was beautiful, but seeing her today, “beautiful” hardly sufficed.

She was breathtakingly exquisite, a peerless beauty fit to topple kingdoms—mature cheeks, long legs, and especially the undulating curves of her chest that seemed impossible to grasp with both hands, truly a rare earthly goddess.

Noticing his gaze, the Fox Maiden straightened her waist and said with a half-smile, “Well? Do you like what you see, young master?”

Lin Chen almost instinctively blurted out, “Yes...”

At the same moment, behind the two of them, Xiao Yun Yao clenched her fists tightly.

Lin Chen scanned the faces of the others: first, Xiao Yun Yao, her cheeks flushed deeply.

Then Li Baoping’s rosy, plump face, which was also very lovely.

Especially little Baoping’s pink cheeks, so irresistibly pinchable.

It wasn’t until he saw Old Huang’s toothy yellow grin that Lin Chen suddenly snapped out of his daze.

He shook his head and hurriedly said, “Time to eat, time to eat!”

He stepped into the room and looked at his own reflection in the mirror—these eyes, familiar yet strangely foreign.

He seemed to have seen these eyes somewhere before—eyes pure and untainted.

So bright, so clear... but where exactly?

Meanwhile, at Peach Blossom Temple’s Cliff of Reflection, Su Xiangling murmured, as if sensing something, “Junior Brother, did you see it?”

Her cultivation had leapt forward in recent days, revealing many inexplicable mysteries of the world.

She no longer sought forgiveness. Thinking of the hardships Lin Chen had endured, half of which she had been part of, she felt too ashamed to ask for pardon—just striving to keep a clear conscience.

Mei Xiulan stared at the senior sister before her—her clothes torn and singed by lightning, skin torn, hair disheveled—and was at a loss how to face her.

“Senior sister, are you alright?” Mei Xiulan asked with concern.

“It’s you, Fourth Junior Sister! I’m fine. Why have you come? The Cliff of Reflection is not a place to enter lightly. Go back quickly! Be careful not to anger Master,” Su Xiangling said anxiously.

Ironically, none of the junior brothers and sisters who usually fawned over her had come to see her.

Instead, it was Mei Xiulan, with whom she had no close relationship, who had come.

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister! I told Master I was bringing you something. Perhaps Junior Brother Lin would agree to give it to you,” Mei Xiulan said, pulling a small wooden doll from her belongings and placing it in Su Xiangling’s hand.

Su Xiangling fumbled with it and smiled, “Is this me, Junior Sister?”

“Yes. It might help with your cultivation,” Mei Xiulan said uncertainly.

In any case, it was useful to her, though Master said it was just a useless piece of wood.

She didn’t know if it would help the senior sister, but since it was hers, she should try.

“Thank you, Junior Sister,” Su Xiangling said sincerely.

Now she couldn’t leave the Cliff of Reflection even a step—not to mention Lin Chen’s things, she couldn’t even eat a bite.

Luckily she could endure fasting, else she might starve to death here.

But the Cliff of Reflection was always haunted by dark thunder, frequently struck by lightning—miserable indeed.

Mei Xiulan then took out a bamboo basket filled with various spirit fruits.

Handing it to Su Xiangling, she continued, “Senior Sister, these are from down the mountain. I must leave now. Thank you for helping Junior Brother so much.”

Saying this, she turned and walked away from the Cliff of Reflection. In truth, she had lied to Su Xiangling; Master had said not to bother with such a spiteful person, to let her fend for herself.

But Mei Xiulan thought Su Xiangling was much better than Master—at least she was brave enough to face consequences. As for punishment, if Master wanted to punish her, she would accept it.

Outside Qinghe Town, Lin Chen rode his old donkey toward Jinxiu City, traveling alone.

Li Baoping called after his retreating figure, “Brother Lin, come back soon!”

Lin Chen’s heart warmed. Smiling, he waved and said, “Alright! Wait for me at home. I’ll bring you some delicious treats when I return.”

Behind him, five others came to see him off, exchanging some farewell words before watching him disappear from sight.

Lin Chen felt fortunate—more and more people depended on him. Yet, the weight on his shoulders grew heavier.

Ultimately, it was because his cultivation was still too weak. If he were strong enough, just the mention of his name would keep others from acting recklessly. But that path was long and arduous indeed.

For safety, he still entrusted Fox Maiden with their protection. Otherwise, if he was fighting in Jinxiu City, and his home was robbed, it would be disastrous.

Now that his sight had returned and he had grown a bit plumper, his appearance was becoming steadily more handsome.

Jinxiu City lay at the northernmost edge of Jing Kingdom, a long journey. If possible, he hoped to return before the new year.

As a child, he had always dreamed of going to Jinxiu City to see if it was as prosperous as others said.

Now that he was truly going, he felt a certain reluctance to leave.

Some time later.

Lin Chen arrived in Jinzhou City, leading his old donkey and about to enter an inn when several men dressed like guards surrounded a young boy, beating him mercilessly.

“Damn it! Didn’t we already pay you? Can’t you understand human words? Get lost!”

A scruffy man cursed as he beat the boy with fists and feet.

“You’re lying! You’re the ones who kidnapped the village girl! Let my sister go, or I’ll report you to the authorities!” The boy’s face was bruised and swollen, but his defiance remained undiminished.

“Hahaha... Go ahead! If you don’t, I’ll look down on you!”

The men laughed boisterously, clearly not fearing the law, clearly backed by someone.

The boy bit hard onto the bearded man’s thigh. The man shouted, “Damn it! How dare you bite me? Were you born a dog?”