"So it is Senior Brother Wu. I have long heard of your great name!" Though Lin Haoming felt a twinge of annoyance toward him, he still maintained appearances and cupped his hands in a polite greeting.
Xie Ruolan continued, "Lin Haoming, you've finally arrived. For this trip to Red Leaf Mountain, you will follow Senior Brother Wu. His strength is immense—even Kong Yuanliang might not be his match if he doesn't rely on the life-saving treasures gifted by his elders. Do your job well; I believe you will have your opportunity!"
"Martial Aunt Xie, what about the third person?" Lin Haoming intentionally changed how he addressed her, emphasizing her new status.
Xie Ruolan's eyes flickered with a playful glint at his deliberate choice of words, but she remained composed. "It's Wang Chen. You two are old acquaintances, so there's no need for an introduction."
Hearing it was the Bearded One, Lin felt a bit more at ease. If the third person had shared Wu Hongfei's arrogant temperament, he wouldn't have high hopes for this mission. Even if Wu Hongfei had a sour face, at least having Wang Chen along provided some familiar company.
"Since I've successfully reached Foundation Establishment, a Sect Ancestor has decided to take me as a disciple. I'll be leaving this area in a couple of days, so I needed to finalize your arrangements," Xie Ruolan explained.
Lin was curious. "May I ask which Ancestor has favored you, Martial Aunt?"
"Ancestor Luo Wanying," she stated.
"Luo Wanying? The Great Perfection Golden Core Ancestor!" Lin was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Xie Ruolan to be taken in by such a powerhouse. Even Lin's own Ancestor would likely treat Luo Wanying as a senior.
"I was a bit surprised myself," Xie Ruolan said casually. "Ancestor Luo is getting on in years, with perhaps only a century of lifespan left and little hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage. She decided to take a disciple now—call it my good luck."
---
The "Devoted" Suitor
"Ruolan, why didn't you tell me about this?" Wu Hongfei asked, sounding slightly slighted.
Xie Ruolan sighed. "I was afraid you'd overthink things."
"Ah, you're just too soft-hearted. Why would I, Wu Hongfei, care about such things?" His tone softened immediately upon hearing her explanation.
Lin Haoming found it hilarious. Xie Ruolan, soft-hearted? Remembering her ruthlessness, she was a true demoness through and through.
"I am happy for you, Ruolan. Don't worry about me; even without a master, I will climb up step by step until I achieve the Golden Core. By then, no one will be able to stop us from being together!" Wu Hongfei declared with fierce determination.
Xie Ruolan hadn't expected him to say such a thing in front of Lin Haoming. For some reason, she glanced at Lin with a hint of guilt. Seeing Lin's shocked expression, she felt a mix of frustration and amusement, but she had to maintain her gentle persona.
"Senior Brother Wu, I believe in you. By the way, I have a few Crimson Sun Ginsengs here. Take them to exchange for Contribution Points. Use this time to enter the Library and study more ancient texts; it will help you against opponents from other sects."
"Ruolan, you are too good to me. Rest assured, I won't fail your kindness!" Wu Hongfei was visibly moved as he accepted the hundred-year-old ginseng.
"It's a small matter. Your cultivation is what's important." Xie Ruolan turned to Lin. "Lin Haoming, tell me about the shop. I'm leaving soon and have tasks to assign you."
Lin brought up Li Shuntian's situation, and Xie Ruolan began questioning him with extreme detail, as if trying to dig up eight generations of the man's ancestry.
Feeling like a third wheel, Wu Hongfei eventually excused himself. "Ruolan, since you have much to arrange before meeting Ancestor Luo, I won't stay and take up your time."
"Senior Brother Wu, I'm truly sorry. If I didn't have to see the Ancestor so soon, I would definitely spend more time with you!" Xie Ruolan looked genuinely remorseful.
Lin watched her performance, thinking that if he didn't know her true nature, he'd actually believe she loved this scarred man.
---
The Mask Falls
As soon as Wu Hongfei was gone, Xie Ruolan let out a long breath and slumped into her chair, crossing her legs. "Finally, that guy is gone. My god, that's exhausting!"
Lin Haoming laughed, realizing she felt no more for Wu Hongfei than she did for Ling Shengjie.
"Martial Aunt Xie, watching you is exhausting enough for me. You deal with the Second Generation types because you have to, but Wu Hongfei? Even if his reputation is great, I bet if you used your trump cards, he wouldn't be your match."
Xie Ruolan rolled her eyes. "You think I like this? Wu Hongfei was scouted by a Sect Ancestor ages ago—it's already decided he'll be a disciple once he reaches Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, do you think I'd waste my breath? That man is a lunatic. He's decided in his head that I'm his woman, so I must be his woman. If I had a choice, I'd never want to see his stupid scarred face again!"
"No wonder he uses your name so freely. If you're that unhappy, do you want me to... handle him for you?" Lin asked tentatively.
"You? Not to look down on you, but three of you wouldn't be his match!" She dismissed him with her usual disdain.
Lin felt a bit piqued. "Don't mind me. If he really goes into that mine and doesn't come back, would you be sad?"
"Just focus on getting a high rank," Xie Ruolan said, showing a rare bit of concern. "He's not as easy to kill as you think. Whether you get your Foundation Establishment Pill might actually depend on him. The sect expects a lot from him. Just make sure he doesn't kill you—he has a terrible temper."
Lin understood her logic, but he could feel that she genuinely disliked Wu Hongfei—perhaps even more than Ling Shengjie, because the Number One Outer Disciple was far harder to control than a spoiled rich kid.