Chapter 35: The Seventh

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Liu Jin thought he had grown used to the weight of everyone’s stares, yet the walk to the Xiao Sect shows him how naive those thoughts had been. The looks are there. The whispers are there. It is nothing he has not seen or heard before.

“Is that him?”

“Haven’t you heard?”

“Doctor Liu’s son…”

At least, that is how it should have been.

“An engagement? Truly?”

“Wasn’t it just was a rumor?”

“…Xiao Zheng’s daughter, they say. I didn’t even know he had a daughter.”

However, the content is undeniably different.

The looks are no longer full of pity or disdain. The whispers do not just carry a hint of mockery. All those things are still present. That much is true, but there is something new as well. The people of Eastern Port City are curious. They are interested in him.

What is so good about this person? They all seem to be asking themselves that question.

It is similar yet different from the type of attention Liu Jin received in New Moon Town, and he is similarly at a loss as to how to deal with it. The only thing Liu Jin can do is ignore it. At least, he pretends to ignore it. He walks through the streets of Eastern Port City with his head held high and his back straight as if his ears weren’t burning.

One thing is certain. Xiao Zheng has no intention of keeping the wedding a secret.

If Xiao Zheng wanted the wedding to be a secret, the rumors wouldn’t even exist. Not a single careless word would have left the Xiao Sect. Instead, it seems like the entirety of Eastern Port City has learned of his engagement in a matter of days. That can only mean Xiao Zheng wants this to be known, something that makes very little sense to Liu Jin.

Wasn’t his daughter’s Body of Extreme Yin a very sensitive condition that had to be kept a secret? Wasn’t that the reason he kept his daughter’s existence hidden for so long?

Why be so careless now?

No. Liu Jin shakes his head. That is not the right question. In fact, it is most definitely the worst question he could ask. Xiao Zheng is not a man who can be called careless, not even in jest. His father has spoken well of him quite a few times. For Xiao Zheng to be acting this way means he must have a good reason.

One week.

No. Not even one week. It is only a few more days now. Liu Jin just needs to wait a few more days until he learns the reasoning behind the actions of the Xiao Sect’s Patriarch.

“Welcome back, brother,” one of the guards greets Liu Jin as he reaches the gates to the Xiao Sect’s compound.

“Greetings to you as well,” Liu Jin says before walking in, a new thought running through his mind.

Is he imagining things or were the guards’ nods a little deeper than usual just now?

For a moment, the young child wants to dismiss it as a figment of his imagination, but it is a fruitless endeavor. The moment he crosses the gates, he suddenly becomes the target of a lot more stares.

For most of his time in the Xiao Sect, Liu Jin has been just another Outer Disciple. Liu Jin knows some people look down on him due to his father, Xiao Fang chief among them. However, Xiao Nan’s influence has prevented anyone from trying to take advantage of him. For the most part, his experience in the Xiao Sect has been rather peaceful, if a little isolated.

The past year saw a small change to that. His inability to progress past the first level of the Inner Realm earned him a few mocking jeers. Still, it never went beyond that.

Now though…

Most of the Outer Disciples and a few of the Inner ones have unfortunately been gathered in the main courtyard, which means they all see him coming in. There is wariness in their eyes as they look at him now.

Most of all, there is envy.

It only makes sense. Seemingly overnight, an Outer Disciple like them has become engaged to the daughter of the Sect Master. Even a small child can understand what such a union will do to Liu Jin’s standing within the Sect. No, not just what it would do, but what it has already done.

From the very moment the information began to spread, Liu Jin’s status changed.

No longer is Liu Jin a mere Outer Disciple. He is now the betrothed of Patriarch Xiao Zheng’s daughter. He is to be Patriarch’s Xiao Zheng’s son-in-law and Xiao Fang’s brother-in-law.

His robes may be blue, but he might as well have become a Core Disciple.

That is why the emotions in the eyes that look at him now are anything but positive.

What is so good about him? They are all wondering that. His cultivation level is not that different from theirs. In fact, some Outer Disciples are stronger than him. They are all likely wondering why it was him that was chosen and not them.

If the Outer Disciples are reacting like this, Liu Jin does not want to imagine what the Core Disciples are thinking.

“Little Brother, over here!”

Liu Jin’s head instantly whips around the moment he hears Xiao Nan’s voice. Sure enough, the young man is standing to the side, waving at him.

Liu Jin instantly starts making his way to him, his steps a little more hurried than usual. Even as he does this, Liu Jin is certain some of the people watching him are already thinking less of him. They are probably thinking he is someone who can only hide behind Xiao Nan. Perhaps some are even assuming the only reason the engagement is happening is that he is an efficient bootlicker.

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Right now, Liu Jin is willing to let people think that.

Hiding behind Xiao Nan may cause him to lose some face, but it is better than the alternative. While Liu Jin is sure the first person who tries to do something stupid will receive a heavy punishment, he’d rather not risk a confrontation. Thus, Liu Jin decides to be cautious for now.

“It is good to see you, Elder Brother,” Liu Jin says, once he is within a few paces of Xiao Nan. He inclines his head to him as a show of respect. “I trust everything went well for you.”

This is the first time he has seen Xiao Nan since the two parted ways upon arriving at Eastern Port City. Since then, Xiao Nan has been in the main house, most likely reporting everything that happened in New Moon Town to Xiao Zheng.

“You need not worry about anything. Uncle was happy with our job. He was quite pleased to hear how you handled things.” Xiao Nan raises his voice a little for the last two sentences. Liu Jin is fairly sure he does it intentionally. “But enough about that.” He waves a hand dismissively. “I am happy you came today. If you hadn’t, I was planning on going to the clinic to drag you here.”

“Naturally, I was not going to miss this. It is important, is it not?”

There is a reason why all the Outer and some of the Inner Disciples have been gathered in the main courtyard. They are not here to fight against each other or to demonstrate their skills.