The day was drawing to a close. The sun slowly leaned toward the horizon, casting the streets of Qinghe in a soft, warm light. People gradually retreated to their homes, while merchants, lazily chatting among themselves, began closing their shops, putting away goods and lowering wooden shutters.
After walking a little further, Xiao Yu began to wonder where exactly the man was taking her. She opened her mouth to ask, but at that moment, he stopped.
Before them stood the finest building in the entire town—a neat two-story mansion with carved wooden railings and warm light spilling from the windows.
Looking up at the sign above the entrance,
Xiao Yu read the name and immediately understood.
Inn "Green Shore"
«Of course… we need somewhere to spend the night,» Xiao Yu mentally slapped her forehead.
Entering, she immediately began turning her head, curiously studying the interior. The space was neither too large nor cramped. The décor was simple, not luxurious, but neat and well-kept—perfectly respectable for such a modest town.
The wooden floor was carefully swept, exuding a faint scent of fresh timber. Simple tables and benches lined the walls, and in the corner, a brazier crackled quietly, filling the room with gentle warmth. Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling beams, casting a soft, muted glow.
At that moment, there were only a few people in the inn—two or three patrons at most. Some dined quietly, while others sipped tea, lazily watching the street through the window.
Behind the counter sat a portly middle-aged man, presumably the innkeeper. His eyes were closed, and his head tilted slightly forward, as if he were napping. It was impossible to tell whether he was asleep or simply resting after a long day.
Xiao Yu glanced at Ren Zun, expecting him to say something, but he stood calmly and silently, as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.
«I wonder… will he wake him, or just stand here until the man wakes up himself?» she thought curiously.
They stood like that for a few more minutes, and by the look of the Honorable Immortal, he had no intention of taking action.
Puzzled, Xiao Yu lifted her head—and unexpectedly met his gaze.
It turned out he had been watching her all along.
This surprised and embarrassed the girl. She quickly looked away, pretending not to notice, but the feeling of being observed didn't disappear. On the contrary—it seemed to intensify.
Xiao Yu tried to feign ignorance, but she couldn't maintain the strange pause for long. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Ren Zun.
"Do… you want to say something?" she asked quietly.
The man didn't reply. Instead, he simply turned his head slightly toward the counter, where the innkeeper was peacefully dozing.
He said nothing, but somehow Xiao Yu immediately understood the meaning of the gesture.
He wanted her to wake the man behind the counter.
The realization left her a little flustered. A question flickered in her mind—why couldn't he do it himself?—but of course, she didn't voice it. After all, arguing with such a person was the last thing she wanted.
Quietly approaching the counter, Xiao Yu gently tapped on the wooden surface.
"Um… sir?" she called softly.
No response.
"Sir, please wake up," she said a little louder this time.
Fortunately, it worked. The portly man behind the counter twitched, blinked as if unsure where he was, and then hurriedly opened his eyes. Sleepiness hadn't entirely left him, but professional habit took over—upon seeing guests, he immediately jumped from his chair.
"O-oh! Dear guests, welcome, welcome!" he babbled, bowing hastily.
"Please forgive my rude behavior, you know… fatigue, end of day and all, haha…"
He awkwardly smiled, quickly regaining composure, and got straight to business:
"Well then, let's not dwell on that. What would esteemed guests like? Dinner… or perhaps rooms for the night?"
His tone remained friendly, but his eyes involuntarily flicked to the man standing beside the girl.
Immediately, he shuddered slightly.
He couldn't explain why—there was no obvious spiritual aura, no pressure—but something about this person… felt dangerous. Something that made one straighten up and speak more politely than usual.
"Um…" he cleared his throat quickly. "If you wish, we have free rooms. The best ones are on the second floor, away from street noise. Clean, quiet…" He paused briefly, then added even more respectfully, "And I can serve dinner immediately; the kitchen hasn't closed yet."
He threw a quick glance at Xiao Yu and smiled more gently.
"There's also something light for the young lady, if you wish."
The girl blushed slightly at this and smiled awkwardly at the innkeeper.
"One room on the second floor," said the Honorable Immortal, producing another low-quality spirit stone and placing it on the counter.
Seeing this, Xiao Yu turned to look at the middle-aged man. As she expected, his reaction mirrored that of the guard at the city gate.
The only difference was that on his kind, slightly round face, it looked far more comical, making her barely able to suppress a laugh.
Finally snapping out of his stupor, the innkeeper spoke in a trembling voice:
"S-sir, um… this… ahem… I… I don't think I can…"
"No need for change," Ren Zun interrupted calmly, clearly already anticipating what he was about to say.
"But how…? This is far too much…"
"If it bothers you," continued the Immortal in the same even tone, "simply allow this person," he briefly gestured toward Xiao Yu, "to stay here as long as necessary. Including meals and other needs."
"WHAT?!" Xiao Yu exclaimed, eyes wide.
She hadn't expected this. She was certain that after spending the night here, he would leave the next day, not worrying about her at all. And honestly, that was how things should have gone by their agreement. She wouldn't have minded or complained—he had already done too much for her. Just the fact that he saved her and didn't leave her in the forest was enough to make her feel indebted to him for life.
Even if she had imposed herself on him… it didn't change the situation.
Now he had not only helped her reach the city, but also ensured she had a roof over her head and decent conditions. Considering the value of this spirit stone in the mortal world, she could live in this inn without worries for years.
"No, Master Ren Zun, this is too much," Xiao Yu hurriedly began to protest. "I can't accept this. You've already done far too much for me, and I'm endlessly grateful. You don't need to do anything more."
The man slowly turned his head, staring at the girl with his deep, cold eyes, where, as always, no emotion could be read. It was impossible to know what he was thinking or feeling at that moment.
Just as Xiao Yu was about to say something more, he finally spoke in a calm, almost indifferent voice:
"You're too noisy."
Xiao Yu froze.
She hadn't expected him to find a reason to scold her for chatter even now.
The innkeeper was also stunned. He had prepared himself to witness an interesting scene, but who could have guessed that one participant would so abruptly and decisively end it?
While the middle-aged man lamented the lost spectacle, and Xiao Yu hesitated whether to speak another word, Ren Zun spoke again—this time to the innkeeper:
"Well, then?"
"Huh?…" The man didn't understand at first, but soon realized. "Ah-ah, you mean for the young lady to stay here? Of course, of course! That's quite possible. For such a spirit stone, she could stay here her entire life, haha! Don't worry about her other needs either—I'll take care of everything. You can trust me, haha!"
"But, sir…" Xiao Yu tried to object again.
However, meeting Ren Zun's cold gaze, she immediately fell silent.
Even though she hadn't learned much about him in the past two days, she understood perfectly the meaning of that look.
«Shut up and don't chatter.»
Realizing she couldn't change his mind, Xiao Yu had no choice but to gratefully accept his silent kindness.
Once everything was settled, the innkeeper bustled about, giving orders to left and right. He instructed the servants to prepare the best room for the guest in their modest inn.
Xiao Yu stood silently to the side, watching as he gave directions to two servants. They bowed respectfully and hurried upstairs, trying to fulfill the order as quickly as possible.
At that moment, she noticed movement beside her.
The man was heading toward the exit.
Xiao Yu snapped around to look at him. The Honorable Immortal walked slowly, as if in no hurry, and this calm, measured pace stirred that all-too-familiar feeling in her.
Two days ago, in the cold cave, he had left exactly the same way—slowly, without hesitation, leaving her alone.
Back then, he was ready to abandon her there.
Now he left again… but ensured she had a roof over her head and decent conditions.
Snapping out of her memories, Xiao Yu realized the man had already exited the inn. A restless feeling suddenly filled her chest.
Before she could think, her feet carried her after him.
Xiao Yu ran into the street, nervously scanning the darkness for the familiar figure—the only person with whom she had any connection in this world.
Fortunately, he hadn't gone far.
"Master Ren Zun!" Her voice came out louder than she intended.
Hearing her, the man stopped. A fraction of a second passed before he slowly turned.
Xiao Yu saw the cold man in white turn toward her. She quickly closed her eyes and took two deep breaths, trying to steady the surge of emotions.
Then she looked at him again.
She simply stood there, unsure where to begin.
The Honorable Immortal was already beginning to lose patience and was about to leave when he noticed the girl cup her hands and bow low.
"Master… thank you," she whispered. "No words can express my gratitude. I will never forget your kindness."
Her voice trembled, and moisture glimmered at the corners of her eyes.
Straightening up, she looked at him with unexpected determination:
"I promise… one day I will repay you for everything. I will return it all in full."
Xiao Yu stood in the night, illuminated by the warm light of the lanterns above the inn entrance.
The man snorted shortly—it was enough to indicate he had heard.
And yet, even he didn't notice how the corners of his lips barely lifted into an almost imperceptible smile. Perhaps he didn't even realize that in these two short days, the bothersome chatterbox had grown somewhat closer.
He turned to continue walking, but again heard her voice:
"Master… wait!"
She hesitated, clearly gathering courage.
"Master Ren Zun," she awkwardly continued, "maybe… you could tell me your real name before you leave? I really want to know."
The man sighed.
«Chatterbox… and very stubborn,» he thought.
And yet this time, it seemed harmless. Even if their paths never crossed again.
He looked at her.
Xiao Yu's blue eyes shone with hope so brightly that for a moment it unsettled him.
"Lin Chen," he said calmly. In his voice, despite himself, soft notes slipped through.
Xiao Yu seemed to bloom.
"Lin Chen… Master Lin Chen," she repeated, smiling widely. "Hahaha, I finally know your name."
She chuckled softly, then suddenly asked excitedly:
"What does the character 'Lin' in your name mean? Isn't it 'deep forest'?"
Seeing the girl rejoice at such a small detail, the man finally concluded that she was strange. Yet he answered:
"'Lin'—like a silent forest.
'Chen'—like the stars."
With that, he turned and walked away.
«Silent forest under the stars… Lin Chen,» Xiao Yu repeated to herself, watching as his figure gradually dissolved into the night.
Only when his silhouette disappeared completely did she bow respectfully once more and return to the inn.
Back inside, Xiao Yu felt as if she had fallen out of another world.
The street noise stayed outside the door, and the warm glow of the lamps softly enveloped the spacious hall.
At that moment, the servants descended from the second floor and reported that the room was ready.
The innkeeper, noticing the girl, immediately approached with a kind smile.
"My dear, your room is ready. Do you want to go up now or eat first?"
Xiao Yu shook her head.
"I'll go up," she said, stepping after the servant, when she suddenly remembered something important.
She hesitated, then awkwardly added:
"Ah… could you also prepare hot water for a bath?"
Only now did she truly realize the state she was in.
Since awakening in this body, two days had passed. Two days of anxiety, cold, and filth—with no chance to clean up.
The longer she thought about it, the more she felt she smelled of dust and sweat.
The innkeeper laughed softly and understandingly.
"Of course, of course. I'll have it prepared right away."
The room welcomed Xiao Yu with quiet and coziness. It was small but clean: a neat single bed, a corner wardrobe, and a round table in the middle. After everything she had endured, this place felt almost luxurious.
While she looked around, hot water was brought—and along with it, neatly folded new clothes.
Xiao Yu raised her eyes in surprise at the servant.
"This…?"
"By the innkeeper's order," he replied briefly.
Hearing this, she happily accepted the clothes, deciding to thank the innkeeper properly the next day.
The hot water washed away all the dirt, along with her fatigue.
Xiao Yu sat in the bath for a long time, letting the warmth relax her body and mind.
When she finally emerged, dressed in clean clothes, the world seemed a little brighter.
Refreshed and clean, she sank onto the bed.
The mattress was soft, the pillow unexpectedly comfortable.
As soon as her head touched it, her eyelids grew heavy.
Sleep washed over her in waves.
Yet, at the very border between wakefulness and sleep, one name surfaced in her mind.
Lin Chen.
Xiao Yu frowned.
The thought clung to her—and pulled another along.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Lin… Chen?" she whispered into the darkness of the room.
Her heart raced.
"Wait…" she slowly propped herself up on her elbows. "Lin Chen… Bi Ren Zun…"
Fragments of plot, scenes, descriptions surfaced in her memory.
—The Honorable Ice Blade… from the Xuan Yuan sect…—she murmured, feeling a chill crawl up her spine.
Xiao Yu's face slowly paled.
—No… —her voice trembled. "Don't tell me…"
She sat up sharply on the bed.
—Don't tell me I ended up in the very novel where the main character strays from the righteous path…
…becomes a demonic cultivator…
…and mercilessly destroys anyone in his way?!
The room answered her with silence.
Xiao Yu stared into the void, realizing the magnitude of the disaster.
—Mom… —she whispered in despair.
—It's over for me… 🥲🥲