Every time when Lin Xun was mentioned, Mu Wansu standing nearby became irritable immediately.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “It’s true, but he’s good at making trouble, and always needs the Keystone Business to clear up the mess for him, really detestable.”
Shi Shuan was confused, “What do you mean?”
Mu Wansu told him what happened that day with nothing concealed and sneered, “See, isn’t he very hateful? How could he strut in borrowed plumes like this?”
Shi Shuan was lost in thought. After a long time, he burst out laughing, “What a shrewd youngster! Previously I thought he was just a young boy with big potential, but now, I think I have underestimated him. It’s really uncommon that a 13-year-old youngster should have such kind of shrewdness and tact.”
When he was speaking, his voice was full of appreciation, which made Mu Wansu nearly doubt her ears. “Childe, for someone so shameless, treacherous and crafty, why do you always think highly of him?”
Shi’s smile suddenly wavered and disappeared. “Was it the first day he came to the Green-sun Tribe?” He asked.
“Exactly.” Mu Wansu replied.
“And do you know why he killed the people including Wu Jie in public instead of being a low-key guy at first?”
Mu Wansu answered indignantly, “Of course he had already planned to let us save the situation for him, otherwise how could he do that without fear?”
Shi Shuan smiled, “Yes, but you’ve been mistaken about one thing. The token is a gift from me. If he doesn’t use it, then what’s the value of the token in his hands?”
Mu Wansu felt puzzled, but at once she retorted with a frown, “Even though he needed our help, he could directly inform us in advance, instead of acting first and reporting afterwards, which left us in a passive situation. How could we bear that?”
Paused for a few seconds, she gnashed and continued, “Most egregiously, far from keeping a low profile after he came to Keystone Business, he fought with others, which put everyone on the spot. If I were not there at that time, it was going to be a big mess.”
Shi Shuan sighed, “That’s what he wanted.”
The frown on Mu Wansu’s forehead became deeper. All of a sudden, she found that the Childe didn’t change his view of Lin Xun at all even she had said so much just now; on the contrary, he seemed to appreciate him more, which made Mu Wansu feel aggrieved.
“I know his purpose. He just wanted to lure Shopkeeper Yan out!”
Shi Shuan shook his head, “It’s just one of his aims. More importantly, to let all the people know, he was right in the Keystone Business at that time!”
Hearing that, Mu Wansu was confused completely, “Why did he do that?”
Shi Shuan asked instead of answering, “If Lin Xun took an initiative visit to Yan Zhen and you, and proposed that the Keystone Business shall stand opposite to the Wu Business, would you agree?”
Mu Wansu hesitated. Finally, she admitted though she was unwilling to do that, “Probably not. He’s just a rural youngster. Even he was holding your token, we would at most save his life. It’s not in our interest to offend the Wu Business openly just for him.”
Shi Shuan nodded, “Yan Zhen would surely do the same. That’s why Lin Xun took the risk to attract the people with the Wu Business to the Keystone Business by this action. It’s to force you to make a decision.”
“We would certainly become a laughing stock in the Green-sun Tribe if we flinched, which would damage the reputation of the whole Keystone Business. While if we chose to patch up the quarrel and protect Lin Xun only, we would appear to be not grand enough and afraid of the Wu Business, which could also damage our reputation if known by others.” When it came to this, Shi Shuan laughed spontaneously, “You have seen the end. The Wu Business was forced to surrender, while Lin Xun became the final winner.”
Hearing that, Mu Wansu recalled the behavior of Lin Xun at that night, and thought again combining Shi Shuan’s words, a blob of fear sprung up in her mind somehow, “Would it be possible that you have overestimated him?”
Shi Shuan replied lightly, “I know you have prejudice to him, but you will agree with me after you think of it calmly.”
Mu Wansu fell into silence, shocked on the inside for a long time. She pondered over everything Lin Xun did at that night, but still felt hard to accept him.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Don’t forget that he’s just a teenager from a remote rural village. He only came to the Green-sun Tribe for the first time and could make such a sensation overnight. What he relies on all the time is just a token useless for me.” Shi Shuan said with exclamation, “He is really something...”
Mu Wansu felt less consistent obviously, but still unwilling to yield, “It’s Childe’s token. How could it be useless? But for that token, I’m afraid he had already been sliced into pieces by the Wu Business.”
Shi Shuan frowned, took a glimpse at Mu Wansu and said, “Without this token, according to Lin Xun’s intelligence, he would find another way. At least he wouldn’t expose himself so quickly under the nose of the Wu Business. Remember, don’t act on impulse, otherwise you’re bound to suffer a great deal.”
With her face turning solemn, Mu said while nodding, “I will always keep that in mind.”
After a brief thought, Shi Shuan suddenly asked, “Wansu, have you ever been to the Forbidden City?”
Mu Wansu shook her head, “It’s the imperial capital. I’m afraid it won’t be accessible for me in this life.”
Shi Shuan continued, “Someday, if you get a chance to enter the Forbidden City, you will be targeted by mighty enemies who want to kill you as soon as you get there. While you have no power to contend against them, what will you do?”
Mu Wansu answered with her mouth closed slightly, “Make an escape or seek a shelter from others.”
Shi Shuan added, “But if others refuse to offend these enemies, then what would you do?”
Mu Wansu’s expression immediately shifted like clouds.
She took a tumble that Shi Shuan was contrasting her with Lin Xun.
Indeed, Lin Xun came to the Green-sun Tribe from a faraway mountain village, just like Mu Wansu going to the Forbidden City from Donglin Town. Under the same condition as Lin Xun’s, how would she save herself?
Mu Wansu finally understood, and bowed with a deep breath, “Thanks a lot for your instruction.”
But the prejudice to Lin Xun still remained in Mu Wansu’s mind. This foxy boy took advantage of her for so many times, which made her suffer more than once. How could she forgive him at one stroke?
Mu Wansu made up her mind. Though big Childe appreciated him so much, she would not open a gate for Lin Xun to take advantage of her anymore.
Shi Shuan waved his hand and smiled, “Doesn’t matter. Take notice of your attitude henceforth. After all Lin Xun is still young without enough experience. It will take a long time for him to succeed. One day if he is qualified to enter the Forbidden City, maybe I will invite him in person to the Keystone Business. As for the present, just take it as a good karma. It’s up to him to be a winner or a loser.”
Mu Wansu nodded in approval, “Absolutely.”
Shi Shuan glanced at her and shook his head speechlessly. He knew it’s hard to iron out Mu Wansu’s prejudice to Lin Xun, so he stopped saying more.
Suddenly it seemed that something passed through Shi Shuan’s mind. He muttered, “Now that Shie Yutang has killed the golden flame beast and taken the innate spiritual-crystal away, he should be going back home now to ask the elders to help him forge the armor with spiritual tattoos—Red-butterfly Jade Armour. If he succeeds, his battle power will become more terrifying. By that time, there might be some changes on the top 30 of the Sea Spirit List...”
Mu Wansu got shocked on the spot, “The Red-butterfly Jade Armour should have such a big power?”
Shi Shuan nodded, “It’s the secret of the Shie Clan from the Celebrity Lane, which can generate marvellous energy matched up with Sword Scripture Invincible.
When it came to this, Shi Shuan stood up and said determinedly, “It’s time for me to go back home. Shie Yutang has his luck, but I should not give up.”
Mu Wansu asked promptly, “Childe, once you are away, what should I do about the Peerless Treasure? Just give up?”
Shi Shuan shook his head, “There’s no need to seek for it anymore. In my judgement, this treasure perhaps doesn’t exist at all. Even it exists, maybe it has already been obtained by others. Don’t forget, the treasure mentioned by the Flamen from the Observatory of the imperial capital is just a conjecture rather than a truth at first, thus, it is unworthy of more attention.
With this, he pushed the door open and left.
On this day, not only Shi Shuan, but many eminent people who gained nothing in the Three Thousand Mountains also went away with despair.
The sensation caused by the Peerless Treasure finally ended in silence just after Shie Yutang killed the golden flame beast.
But the stir concerning with the Three Thousand Mountains wasn’t terminated by this. The great disturbance caused by the death of Liu Yukun had only just begun.
However, by far, it had nothing to do with Lin Xun.
Continuing trudging for a day, Lin Xun finally saw the familiar Feiyun Village at dusk, which made his hanging heart completely relax.
Along the way, except for several assaults from some fierce beasts sometimes, no more accidents happened.
“Uncle Lin is back!”
A group of kids playing at the entrance of the village cheered as soon as they saw Lin Xun, and then they immediately ran to the village to deliver the good news.
Soon, the village head Shiao Tianren and other villagers flocked to him with excitement and delight on their faces.
Lin Xun felt warm in his heart. Maybe he could only enjoy the warmth given by others in Feiyun Village, which was pretty cherished by him.
Lin Xun got down from the horse, introduced Gao Guiyong and Zhou Quan to Shiao Tianren and briefly reported what he had gained during this trip. Then he laid other things aside and hurried home alone.
He didn’t see Shia Zhi just now. Though it was just four or five days since they separated, he still worried about if the little girl was alright these days.
Opening the door and stepping into the yard, Lin Xun saw Shia Zhi sitting beside a stone table under the willow tree and having dinner alone.
The setting sun was shattered into fine golden halo hanging over the girl, looking quite peaceful and pure.
Seeing Lin Xun, Shia Zhi stood up, took out a pair of chopsticks from the kitchen, filled a bowl with spiritual grains and then put them on the stone table opposite her, “Have dinner first.”
No excitement, no cheer and no even greeting.
But Lin Xun smiled and his heart was full of warmth. As he remembered, this was the first time that Shia Zhi got chopsticks and bowl for him since she broke into his life, and also the first time that she scooped up grains for him.
This was the way Shia Zhi welcomed him back, special as herself.