Chapter Twenty-Six: Innate Sluggishness

"It was in the past," Lin Chen said, his expression cooling slightly. "I have since left the Daoist sect and am now nothing more than a rogue cultivator."

Yan Ruyu frowned. "What a pity. Would you like to join the Yaoguang Holy Land? I could assist you."

"Miss Yan, you jest. My aptitude is far too dull for the Yaoguang Holy Land," Lin Chen replied, shaking his head.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, you truly are a joker. When we last met, you were only at the Third Realm. In barely over a month, you have already reached the Fifth Realm. If that is considered dull aptitude, are you trying to be the death of everyone else?" Yan Ruyu chuckled.

Lin Chen was not lying. Even if he were to go to the Yaoguang Holy Land, they might not accept him. His aptitude was abysmal, and his progress was entirely due to the System and the Golden House.

He possessed "waste-grade" Dao roots. Dao roots are categorized as supreme, superior, middle, inferior, waste, and the "void" grade, which cannot cultivate at all. When Lin Chen had originally died, he had possessed void-grade roots.

"I have waste-grade Dao roots. Do you think your Holy Land would take me?" Lin Chen said honestly.

Waste-grade roots are practically the same as having no roots at all. When his master’s master first brought him into the temple, he had possessed middle-grade roots, but for some unknown reason, they had been deteriorating ever since. Fortunately, they had stopped declining over the past month.

"That is impossible! With waste-grade roots, one cannot breakthrough so quickly," Yan Ruyu said, looking suspicious.

Shocked, she reached out and pressed a finger to Lin Chen’s forehead to examine his roots. It was indeed the waste grade, but what baffled her was that such roots should not allow for such rapid advancement. Had she not witnessed his cultivation level herself, she would never have believed it.

"How strange," she murmured.

Lin Chen sipped his tea and changed the subject. "Miss Yan, where are you headed?"

With the help of the Golden House, his cultivation had reached the Fifth Realm, and his Breeze Sword Technique had been upgraded to Level 5. He had neglected the Heart-Cleansing Mantra, however, as he prioritized offensive abilities, and his lifespan remained fixed at ten years.

Recalled to the present, Yan Ruyu smoothed her hair and replied softly, "I am heading to Jinxiu City. It is, in a way, my home."

"So you are from Jinxiu City? Do you happen to know someone named Mo Qinghai?" Lin Chen asked.

"Of course I know him. He is a notorious playboy in Jinxiu City. However, he has an older brother named Mo Qingshan who is ranked in the top ten of the Inspectorate. Why? Do you know him?" Yan Ruyu spoke freely, sharing everything she knew.

Lin Chen shook his head. "I see! I do not know him personally; I have merely heard the name."

Lin Chen finally understood what Mo Qinghai’s leverage was. No wonder even the imperial family dared not question him. It was because he had the colossal Inspectorate behind him. Was this what they called "relying on power to bully others"?

"If you need to find him, I can pass a message for you when we reach Jinxiu City," Yan Ruyu said sincerely. She understood that Lin Chen would not mention such a playboy without cause, and she did not mind helping if she could.

Lin Chen waved his hand. "No need, I was just asking."

He would not reveal his full hand to a stranger, especially one who was from Jinxiu City and might have connections there. Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, she let the matter drop. Feeling drowsy, she said lazily, "Very well, I shall rest for a while."

She curled up under the covers and closed her eyes, quickly drifting off to sleep. To Lin Chen, this behavior showed a lack of awareness of the dangers of the world, but to Yan Ruyu, it was a display of absolute confidence in her own strength. Although she appeared to be sleeping soundly, she was confident she could slay him in an instant if he dared to make a move.

The carriage raced along the main road, the wind whistling past. Occasionally, a cold gust blew through the gaps in the window. The old donkey followed closely behind, showing no signs of fatigue. Even though Yan Ruyu’s two horses were spirit beasts, the old donkey could have left them in the dust if it hadn't deliberately slowed down. Lin Chen did not know the extent of the donkey's abilities, and the animal never said—or more accurately, it could not speak.

Lin Chen rested his chin in his hands and closed his eyes.

Late that night, Yan Ruyu woke up and sat up, pushing aside the blanket. Seeing Lin Chen slumped over, drooling slightly, she found him foolishly cute. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and closed her eyes again. A moment later, she couldn't help but peek through one eye, her lips curving into a subtle smile.

Baiyun Town awoke in the biting wind. Lin Chen looked over to see Yan Ruyu still resting, so he opened the curtain to look outside. The streets were filled with busy figures setting up their tools for the day. It was a snapshot of life, and Baiyun Town was much larger than Qinghe Town. Perhaps because it was closer to Jinxiu City, the people there were dressed much better than those back home.

Yan Ruyu, who had long been awake, pretended to be groggy. "Fellow Daoist Lin, where have we arrived?"

"It should be Baiyun City," Lin Chen said without turning his head.

"Dabao, Erbao, find a place to get some food," Yan Ruyu called out. The two horses neighed in response.

Soon, they entered a private room at an inn. Lin Chen had not wanted to go in, but he couldn't refuse her insistence.

"Lin Chen, there is no need to feel embarrassed. It is just adding another pair of chopsticks. Besides, you know that gold and silver are merely worldly goods; they are meant to be used." Yan Ruyu stopped calling him "Fellow Daoist" and spoke at length to put him at ease.

"Then thank you for your hospitality, Miss Yan," Lin Chen smiled slightly.

To those in sects, gold and silver were indeed worldly, as their needs were managed by their organizations using merit coins. For a rogue cultivator like him, however, the need for money was constant.

"Let's eat," Yan Ruyu said, picking up her chopsticks.

Lin Chen did not hesitate, digging in with gusto until his mouth was oily. Yan Ruyu watched the young man devouring his meal with a sidelong glance. She stopped eating early, spending the rest of the time just watching him.

When Lin Chen looked up and met her eyes, he felt a bit awkward. "Miss Yan, am I interrupting your meal?"

Yan Ruyu blushed and shook her head. "No, no, please, eat as much as you like. I am just full."

"You should eat more. My master’s master once said that only those with a bit of meat on their bones can produce healthy, chubby children." Realizing what he had said, he quickly added, "I am sorry, Miss Yan! I did not mean to imply that you couldn't."

Yan Ruyu’s face turned bright red. She turned her head away and snapped, "What nonsense are you talking about!"