Zijing wasn’t someone who could easily tolerate inconvenience.
Since I had already decided to stay here for the time being, I felt it necessary to take care of certain matters for him. After all, even though he was only one person, he had three valuable swords in his possession, and it wasn’t as though he didn’t have enemies watching him. From my perspective, if something didn’t look right, it was better to deal with it early to avoid unnecessary problems later.
Everything I did had to be done properly. If it wasn’t perfect, I wouldn’t be satisfied. This was simply my way of handling things.
For now, I was Zijing’s disciple, even if only temporarily. Although he didn’t seem to need much help, I wasn’t going to neglect even the smallest details during my stay.
When he didn’t respond, I glanced at him briefly, then went to find Jin Xiaonian, the young lady from before. She lived on the same floor as us, in one of the other two rooms. Zijing’s room was next to mine, while she stayed across the hallway.
Jin Xiaonian had been scolded by the innkeeper earlier, likely for being caught sneaking around too often. She didn’t cry, though—she seemed to have learned early on how to endure hardship. However, when she saw me, she hesitated before lowering her head.
I decided to break the silence, gently patting her shoulder and saying, “That man earlier, the one chasing you… He’s probably an old enemy of my master. He has no reason to hurt you, and my master will protect you.”
Her eyes widened slightly, as if my words provided some comfort. But after a moment, she nervously asked, “Why does your master seem so indifferent? I thought he was ignoring everything.”
I smiled and replied, “That’s just his nature. He’s used to focusing on important matters and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. But don’t worry—he’s aware of what’s going on.”
Jin Xiaonian nodded quietly. Then she lowered her voice and whispered, “Actually, I overheard them say that they’re not here for your master alone. They seem to have another target in mind.”
Hearing this, I furrowed my brows and stood up. “Alright, stay here for now. If anything happens, come find me. And don’t wander around alone.”
She nodded obediently, her gaze filled with both fear and gratitude. I turned and left, ready to report this to Zijing.
Jin Xiaonian blinked in confusion, hesitating for a moment before asking, “What… what kind of grudge does he have against your master? I’ve already sent a letter back home. Perhaps someone will come for me in a few days, and if they do, I’ll ask my elder brothers to help mediate and resolve this issue.”
“Hmm…” I tried to recall any notable conflicts Zijing might have had, but nothing significant came to mind. Just as I was about to speak, I turned my head and saw Zijing standing silently nearby. His calm gaze landed on me as he said, “Well, since you’re curious, why don’t you ask me directly what kind of grudges I have?”
“Ah…” I froze and awkwardly greeted him. “Master…”
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