Chapter 804: Be Careful When Making Friends

Outside the hall, Chu Lingyu had already led Ye Chen down the stone steps and onto the winding path between the mountains.

Along the way, Chu Lingyu supported Ye Chen, her usually cold expression softening slightly as she occasionally glanced at him, her beautiful eyes clouded with a strange mix of emotions.

Ye Chen walked carefully, step by step, like a frail old man weathered by time, unable to withstand even the slightest breeze.

"You've changed so much from before," Ye Chen said, breaking the silence as they passed through the shaded depths of flowers and trees.

"Then tell me, how have I changed?" Chu Lingyu replied lightly.

"You seem like a completely different person." Ye Chen smiled faintly. "I always thought you were just a foolish woman without a clue, but when I came back from Dan City last time, I suddenly realized you have your own story."

"Everyone has a story." Chu Lingyu helped Ye Chen up the small stone steps on the path, her tone still laced with coldness. "People always choose to share it at some undefined time, in a place that's both familiar and strange, with those who come after."

"That's true—everyone has a story, and it's usually about love for women. Am I right in thinking that?" Ye Chen continued walking at an unhurried pace, speaking just as casually.

"Does blindness make people talk more?" Chu Lingyu glanced at Ye Chen, her tone growing even colder, as if she didn't want him to probe into her past.

"Then consider it me seeking some reassurance." Ye Chen coughed dryly. "I'm just a blind man now, surrounded by darkness. If someone chats with me, it makes me feel a bit more grounded. You're not blind, but if you ever experience it yourself, you might end up talking even more than I do."

"Do you believe that once, in some year and month, I was supporting a blind man along a winding path just like this?"

"Is that so?" Ye Chen instinctively turned his head toward Chu Lingyu. "So you're an old hand at this! From what I can tell, that blind man you helped back then must have talked even more than I do now."

"He's nothing like you." Chu Lingyu glanced at Ye Chen.

"Nonsense." Ye Chen shrugged it off. "In my opinion, he was probably faking it to gain your sympathy. That way, you'd keep taking him for walks. Sounds like a new trick for wooing women."

"Your imagination is really something." Chu Lingyu glared at Ye Chen. "Do you think everyone is as sleazy as you?"

"Hey, don't joke around—I'm a proper guy." Ye Chen scratched his ear. "You just don't know me well. Sure, I might seem carefree on the surface, but I'm actually very reliable."

"Is that so?" Chu Lingyu couldn't help but laugh at his self-absorbed comment. "I've heard you used to do all sorts of shady things, like kidnapping your ex-girlfriend for ransom. Is there anything you, Ye Chen, wouldn't do? I'm surprised Ji Ningshuang didn't strangle you on the way back."

"Why do I feel a chill down my back?" Ye Chen shivered involuntarily. "You wouldn't secretly throw me into the river, would you?"

"If I threw you in, I'd do it out in the open." Chu Lingyu glanced at him again.

"That puts my mind at ease, then... Ah!" Ye Chen's words cut off as he lost his balance and tumbled to the ground, his head hitting the stone steps squarely. Luckily, his skull was tough, or it would have been a real mess.

"You're setting me up." Ye Chen scrambled up awkwardly, clutching his forehead and glaring at Chu Lingyu with a face full of irritation.

"You, that little chubby one over there—come here, yes, you. Stop staring." Chu Lingyu ignored Ye Chen's darkened expression and pointed toward a nearby figure, calling out.

Hehehe!

Soon, Ye Chen heard the hehehe laughter and knew exactly who it was. Even blind, he could picture Xiong Er rubbing his plump hands together, eyes gleaming as he stared at Chu Lingyu.

"Beautiful senior, you're calling me?" Sure enough, Xiong Er's mannerisms matched Ye Chen's guess perfectly, his little eyes shining brightly.

"Your sect leader has committed too many sins and gone blind. Take him back." Chu Lingyu tossed out the words and vanished from sight.

"Blind? Blind?" After Chu Lingyu left, Xiong Er paused, waving his chubby hand in front of Ye Chen's face. Seeing no reaction, he stroked his round chin, deep in thought.

"Your granny's, had enough of staring?" Ye Chen snapped.

"You're really blind? That doesn't make sense!" Xiong Er still looked skeptical as he eyed Ye Chen, his plump hands sneaking to grab a spirit jade hanging at Ye Chen's waist. He tugged twice but couldn't pull it off.

"Believe I'll punch you?" Ye Chen growled.

"Hey, don't get worked up—I'm just testing you." Xiong Er said it with a straight face.

As he spoke, he pulled a square wooden board from his storage bag, scribbled on it haphazardly, and hung it around Ye Chen's neck. "There you go, brother. I'll hang this on you. It's a peace talisman my wife got for me—I'm letting you have it cheap. Don't lose it, and when you're better, you have to give it back."

"A peace talisman?" Ye Chen felt doubtful, touching the board on his chest, his mouth twitching. "Isn't this a bit too big for a talisman?"

"You don't get it!" Xiong Er said seriously. "This isn't just any board—it's super tough. It works as a peace talisman and a heart protector. Very practical."

"I should probably take it off—feels weird."

"Take it off? No way—this is my heartfelt gift." Xiong Er brushed Ye Chen's hand away and grabbed his arm. "Let's go."

With that, Xiong Er dragged Ye Chen along, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

From then on, their path became a lot more lively.

Many disciples were out training in the early morning, and they passed quite a few elders along the way. But whenever Ye Chen and Xiong Er went by, people's expressions turned strangely amused. Almost everyone twitched their mouths at the sight of the wooden board hanging on Ye Chen's chest.

It wasn't anything special about the board itself—the problem was the four crooked characters scrawled on it: "I'm an Idiot."

"I feel like a lot of people are staring at me." Ye Chen sensed the odd atmosphere and coughed awkwardly.

"Did you hear that? He's talking to you all!" Xiong Er pointed at the onlookers and shouted. "Don't you see the sect leader? No greetings?"

Snapping out of it, the disciples hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, sect leader."

"Go on with your training!" Ye Chen waved dismissively, acting serious despite his blindness, carrying an air of authority as the sect leader. But paired with the words on his chest, it was...

Oh dear!

Just then, Xie Yun, Situ Nan, and Huo Teng appeared out of nowhere. They first glanced at the board on Ye Chen's chest, then at him, their faces full of admiration.

Xiong Er quickly filled them in on the situation through divine sense.

"So that's what's going on!" The three rolled up their sleeves, rubbing their hands with increasingly sleazy grins.

Clang!

Huo Teng quickly set up a stone tablet on Ye Chen's left side, scribbling on it before stepping back. It boldly read: "801 per Night."

On the right, Xie Yun erected another stone tablet with flourishing strokes: "No Refunds."

Situ Nan wasn't idle either, hanging a signboard above Ye Chen's head, centered between the two tablets like a banner. It proclaimed in bold characters: "Guaranteed Satisfaction."

"What are you guys up to?" Ye Chen, though blind, shot a glance toward the four troublemakers.

"Come on, sit here." Xie Yun thoughtfully found a chair for Ye Chen and pressed him down into it. "You're free for once—share some of your cultivation insights with your juniors."

"You must be sick! Do I look free to you?" Ye Chen scowled and tried to stand.

"Just half an hour—only half an hour." Situ Nan pushed him back down, speaking earnestly. "This is what everyone wants. We never see you around, and now you can't back out. All the past sect leaders did this—it's just going through the motions!"

"Come one, come all—don't miss out! Hengyue Sect Leader is sharing wisdom!" Huo Teng had the loudest voice, banging a gong enthusiastically as he bellowed.

"Spread the word—get as many people as possible! This is a great opportunity." Xiong Er, Xie Yun, and Situ Nan joined in the chaos, clearly hoping for a bigger crowd.

The watching disciples' mouths kept twitching—they couldn't stop. Each one looked at the four instigators with a knowing expression, their faces silently saying: Be cautious in making friends.

"Fine, I'll talk!" Ye Chen, none the wiser, straightened his clothes and sat up straight. "Alright, listen up—I won't say it twice. Cultivation is tough, but it's not that hard if you think about it. The key is having unwavering determination, got it...?"

"Brilliant!" Xiong Er, Xie Yun, Huo Teng, and Situ Nan each grabbed a stool and sat right in front, munching on watermelon slices. They looked so attentive that anyone would think they were Ye Chen's biggest fans.

"The sect leader's reputation is done for!" The onlookers couldn't bear to watch anymore, covering their faces and losing all interest in listening.