Chapter 78: “He Hasn’t Even Written Me a Single Letter! I’m Not Thinking About Him! Hmph!”

“From now on… our little Jin’er will be in Young Master He’s care at Wuji Sect! Haha! We’re counting on you, Little He!”

Inside the small, warmly lit wooden cabin, Grandma and Grandpa kept piling food onto He Yimo’s plate, their kind eyes twinkling as they beamed at the young couple seated across the small table. Beside them, a certain little golden-haired girl was wolfing down rice like there was no tomorrow.

When they’d first arrived, Grandma had gotten quite a shock seeing the little girl pop out from behind Yun Jin. For a wild second, she’d thought, `Goodness me! Has it only been a year? Am I already a great-grandma?!` But that thought lasted all of, well, a second. Grandma might be old, but she wasn’t senile. She quickly figured the little girl with the ahoge, just like Yun Jin’s, must be another disciple from Wuji Sect.

Grandma had urged them all inside. Despite He Yimo’s polite protests, she’d insisted on firing up the small stove again and quickly whip-up a simple three-dishes-and-a-soup meal. I mean, come on! This was the first time her granddaughter had brought a boy home! And such a polite, handsome young man too! The cabin might be a bit chilly, but a host’s hospitality must be shown!

“Grandma, you’re too kind!” He Yimo replied, not acting like a stranger at all, happily eating whatever was put on his plate. “I only just joined Wuji Sect this year; I’m still a junior… It’s really Senior Sister Yun Jin who’ll be looking after me!” Maybe his enthusiastic eating habits would seem uncouth in a fancy city, but out here in the village, old folks loved to see youngsters with a healthy appetite. Just watching them eat so heartily made Grandma’s face light up. Truth be told, they’d arrived so late, well past dinnertime, and the old couple usually ate very simply. There wasn’t much fancy food to offer on such short notice. Grandma had even worried the dishes were too plain, offering to go slaughter an old hen in the backyard for a stew, but He Yimo had managed to talk her out of it, citing their tight schedule.

“Eat up, eat up! If it’s not enough, Grandma will make more!”

“Wangxue wants another bowl! Pweeease~!♡” The golden-haired girl beside He Yimo chirped enthusiastically, holding up her sparkling clean little bowl, eyes shining expectantly at Grandma Yun.

Grandma chuckled, delighted, and started to get up to serve her more rice, but Yun Jin quickly intercepted. “Grandma, your legs aren’t what they used to be! You rest! I’ll get it!” Yun Jin took Wangxue’s bowl and ladled a heaping portion of fluffy white rice from the wooden bucket.

He Yimo, observing Grandma’s slightly stiff movements, commented casually, “Grandma, that bottle of antler powder I brought… you can mix it with some traditional herbs… and apply it as a poultice to your legs. It should help with the cold and dampness…”

“Oh my, Little He, you’re so thoughtful!” The old woman smiled warmly, but her gaze lingered on the bottle of antler powder with a slightly distant, wistful expression.

Yun Jin noticed. “Grandma…” she began softly, “We… We came to Northfall this time to investigate the… the Snow Village incident…”

“Then… H-Have you… Have you heard any news about the Deer God…?” Grandma asked, her voice laced with an anxiety she couldn’t quite hide. She felt awkward asking about sect-confidential matters, but her deep-seated worry for the divine protector of their region wouldn’t let her stay silent.

“Hmph hmph~!” Wangxue’s little golden ahoge twitched. She abruptly stopped shoveling rice into her mouth, about to raise her hands and make a grand announcement—

—but He Yimo swiftly pressed her thigh under the table, silencing her.

Yun Jin glanced at the vigorously-eating-and-now-forcefully-silenced Wangxue beside her, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. She nodded reassuringly at her grandmother. “The Deer God is fine, Grandma. We… We just found out where the Deer God is.”

“Oh! Oh, thank goodness! That’s wonderful news!” Grandma sighed in relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing. Grandpa, a man of few words, also let out a quiet breath, his own worries easing.

A comfortable silence settled over the table for a moment.

After Wangxue had demolished her final bowl of rice, Grandma asked, a little hesitantly, “It’s… It’s gotten so dark already… Are you… Are you sure you can’t stay the night…?”

“…….” Yun Jin said nothing, looking down at her lap. She’d promised He Yimo she’d follow his arrangements for their upcoming travel.

All eyes in the little cabin turned to He Yimo.

He Yimo put down his chopsticks, a calm smile on his face. “Grandma, it’s precisely because it’s so late that we must be going. We… We still have an important mission to attend to, and a schedule to keep.”

“Oh… Oh, yes, of course… The Snow Village investigation is very important…” Grandma’s hopeful expression fell slightly. She didn’t press further, too polite to impose. But… this was her precious granddaughter. She couldn’t help asking one more worried question: “Then… Where will you stay for the night?”

“Next… We might need to head to Xizhou City…” He Yimo stated confidently. “Once we reach the city tonight, we’ll find an inn to stay at.”

Grandma had lived in the mountains her whole life; Xizhou City was just a name to her, a distant, grand place she’d only heard stories about. But she knew it was a major city, probably the most prosperous in the Western Regions, a vital trade hub between the Daxia Dynasty and the western territories. “Ah, yes… Staying in a big city is much safer… At least you won’t have to worry about bandits or wild wolves out there…” She nodded, reassured, not questioning him further.

Yun Jin, however, blinked in surprise. “X-Xizhou… City~?!” She leaned closer to He Yimo, cupping her hand to her mouth and whispering.

He Yimo glanced at her and nodded.

“But… But Xizhou City is on the other side of Wuji Peak! Why are we going all the way out thereeeee…?” Yun Jin whispered urgently.

“I have a friend in Xizhou City, ” He Yimo explained, pulling out a bottle filled with delicate, folded paper cranes from his Storage Ring and placing it on the table. He examined the shimmering, crystalline patterns on the paper cranes under the flickering oil lamplight. “Before I came to Wuji Sect… my… uh… all-powerful Little Aunt… told me she has a friend there. If I take this bottle of paper cranes to the Immortal Alliance Tavern in Xizhou City and find an immortal named Jinyu… Jinyu will lead me to this… mysterious important person…”

“Your… Your amazing Little Aunt again~?” Yun Jin asked, intrigued.

“That’s her, ” He Yimo confirmed with a shrug, even he found the story a bit far-fetched. “Little Aunt said each paper crane represents a favor owed. Once I hand them over to this important person… I can apparently redeem them for anything I need.”

“Wow… So many paper cranes…” Yun Jin murmured, her face cupped in her hands as she gazed at the bottle, half-convinced, half-skeptical. “Your Little Aunt must have done a lot of good deeds in her life to have so many favors owed to her~!”

Suddenly, He Yimo stood up. “Grandma, let me help you with the dishes.”

“Oh my, absolutely not! How could we let a guest—!”

“It’s alright, Grandma. I insist.” He Yimo was firm and quick, already gathering the plates and heading towards the small kitchen area before the old couple could properly protest. Even Yun Jin, sitting right there, was caught off guard by his swiftness. It almost felt like… He Yimo was more familiar with her own home than she was.

Grandma and Grandpa settled back down, watching the young man’s back as he diligently washed the dishes in the kitchen. They exchanged a knowing glance, then looked at their granddaughter, who was still sitting there, looking a bit dazed.

“See, Jin’er?” Grandma clucked softly, a teasing smile on her lips. “Such a well-mannered boy! So considerate! A good child, that one!” She was clearly very pleased with the young man her granddaughter had brought home.

Yun Jin puffed out her cheeks, pouting slightly. “Graaaandmaaaa~…”

“What Grandma means, dear, ” the old woman continued, her smile widening, “is that such a thoughtful young man is a rare find! You must cherish him, understand~? And try to bring him back again for the New Year! Grandma will prepare a special Snow Village New Year’s Eve feast for you both!” The old woman’s eyes sparkled with genuine hope. Just watching He Yimo’s focused back as he washed dishes, she could already vividly imagine herself proudly showing off her granddaughter’s handsome and capable ‘future husband’ to the other villagers.

Yun Jin’s face, which had just started to cool down, flushed fiery red all over again. Oh, gods… She wanted to protest, to explain that Grandma had it all wrong! They’d only known each other for less than a month! They hadn’t even… done anything… beyond holding hands! And even coming here for dinner tonight… it had been He Yimo’s idea, under the guise of her ‘repaying’ him!

Honestly? Yun Jin felt a fresh wave of guilt. She knew He Yimo had been incredibly kind and protective of her. She’d always assumed… he must have some ulterior motive for being so nice. But in reality… he’d not only introduced her to the (humanoid) Nine-Colored Deer, but he’d also cleverly used the ‘free meal’ excuse to resolve that awkward ‘repayment’ debt she owed him. Technically, after tonight’s dinner, her ‘debt’ was repaid. She shouldn’t feel any obligation anymore.

But Yun Jin wasn’t the type to take advantage of others’ kindness. He Yimo’s actions… they just made her feel even more indebted, in a different, more confusing way. His gentleness wasn’t over-the-top or suffocating; it was in the small, considerate, almost unconsciously pampering things he did…

And what could Yun Jin offer in return? She racked her brain… and came up with the same conclusion as before. The only truly valuable thing she had to ‘repay’ him with… was herself. …Ah…

But if it really came to that… Yun Jin still felt incredibly shy and flustered. If… If He Yimo ever actually confessed to her… she’d probably, after a moment of blushing panic, happily accept! But the thing was… He Yimo hadn’t said anything about confessing! He hadn’t asked for anything from her, ever! Even last night, with that… intimate atmosphere, sharing a tent… he hadn’t tried to sneak a hand anywhere inappropriate. Okay, sure, he’d had a bit of a… morning situation… in his lower regions when they woke up, but that didn’t necessarily mean he had improper thoughts about her, right?! R-Right?! Gulp.

Gradually, Yun Jin felt more and more confused, more and more… unsettled. He Yimo kept making her heart pound like a drum… but then nothing would happen! No progress! Apart from her own feelings rapidly intensifying… He Yimo’s attitude towards her seemed exactly the same as when they’d first met! What kind of game was this?! What did he want from her?! He couldn’t possibly just be leading her on, could he?! Just flirting without any intention of… of… marrying her?! (Okay, maybe marrying was a bit fast, but still!)

In the end, He Yimo’s confusing behavior was making Yun Jin’s head spin. She was too shy to ask him directly, so she just kept overthinking everything, her thoughts racing in circles. And the more she thought about him… the more she noticed him… the more acutely sensitive she became to even accidental physical contact. Her face and body would flush hot at the slightest brush of his hand. Because… once you start feeling things for someone… those ‘accidental’ touches stop feeling quite so ‘accidental’ or innocent anymore, do they? Sigh…

Lost in her thoughts, Yun Jin found herself gazing at He Yimo’s back again. But this time, her usual anxiety was mixed with a new, unfamiliar impatience. Her heart felt like it was constantly suspended on a string. Logically, she worried about things progressing too quickly… but emotionally? She kind of wished He Yimo would just hurry up and confess already! Then she wouldn’t have to overthink everything! She could just… be with him! Properly! Without constantly analyzing every single casual, friendly gesture for hidden meanings! She had no dating experience! She had no idea what He Yimo was really thinking!

`Logically speaking…` she mused, `…we did just have ‘meet the parents’ dinner… So he must like me, right…?`

`But… He Yimo still hasn’t said anything… Maybe… Maybe he’s not sure yet? Maybe he’s afraid I’ll reject him, and then we couldn’t even be friends anymore…?` (Oh, please no!)

`Or…! Or maybe Young Master He is just really proud… and too shy to say it out loud? Maybe he’s trying to make me fall for him first… and then I’m supposed to be the one to confess?! Is that it?!` The thought sent another wave of heat rushing to her cheeks.

Just then, He Yimo finished with the dishes. He emerged from the kitchen, having already packed his few belongings, and stopped beside Yun Jin. “Senior Sister, we should get going now.”

“AH—!” Yun Jin yelped, startled out of her reverie. She looked up at him, completely forgetting her face was still burning hot.

He Yimo frowned slightly. “Senior Sister, are you… running a fever? Why is your face so red?”

“I-I-I-I… I’M FINE!” Yun Jin’s ahoge shot straight up like an antenna. She frantically patted her cheeks, trying to banish all the wild, romantic fantasies from her mind. Go away! Go away!

He Yimo looked even more concerned. He reached out a hand to feel her forehead. “Senior Sister, your face is really hot. Are you sure you didn’t catch a cold out in the snow?”

“I-I-I… I’m fine! Really! No fever!” Being touched so casually in front of her grandparents made Yun Jin want to shrink away in embarrassment… but her body leaned into his touch, not resisting the ‘accidental’ contact at all. Just as she’d been thinking… that ‘accidental’ touch… didn’t feel so ‘accidental’ anymore. Her body seemed to crave the warmth of He Yimo’s hand. Blushing, heart racing, stammering… this whole routine was becoming a habit, an almost Pavlovian response He Yimo had unknowingly conditioned into her.

Across the table, the two old folks were beaming, absolutely delighted by the scene.

“Oh my, oh my! Old man, look at these young ‘uns! Doesn’t it remind you of when we were young~? Hehe!”

“Indeed! Never seen our Jin’er so shy in all her life! Heh heh!”

“GRAAAANDPA! GRAAAANDMAAAA!” Yun Jin shrieked, jumping up from her seat, her face a mask of mortified indignation. “WHAT ARE YOU SAAAAYIIIIING~?! STOOOOP!”

Just then, He Yimo pulled his hand back from Yun Jin’s cheek. “My apologies, ” he said calmly to the grandparents. “It seems I may have caused a misunderstanding.”

“Eh…?” The sudden absence of his warm hand left Yun Jin feeling… a little bereft. For a split second, she actually wanted to grab his hand and put it back on her cheek, to let him check properly if she was sick. But with her grandparents watching… her shyness won out. This time.

She took a deep breath, her face still beet red, quickly gathered her own small bag, then rushed over and grabbed He Yimo’s arm, practically dragging him towards the door. “GRANDMA! GRANDPA!” she called out breathlessly. “Young Master He and I still have to travel to Xizhou City tonight! It’s a long way! So we’ll be leaving now! No need to see us out! BYE!” And with that, she yanked He Yimo out of the cabin and into the cold night.

(Meanwhile, back at Xuanfeng Pavilion – Top Floor Chamber…)

“Pavilion Master… Thinking about the Young Master again, are we~?” A slender woman in a tight black bodysuit, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, stood respectfully before a veiled screen, a curious lilt in her voice. Through the sheer silk of the screen, she could just barely glimpse the silhouette of her mistress within – clad in a stunning red gown with jade embroidery, one delicate, exquisitely embroidered golden-tipped foot peeking out from under her robes, leg elegantly crossed over the other.

“Hmph! Thinking about that ungrateful little pervert? As if!” The voice from behind the screen scoffed dismissively. “It’s been a whole month since he left for that… that Wuji Sect place! And he hasn’t even bothered to write a single letter to say he’s safe! I am NOT thinking about him! AT. ALL!” As she spoke, the red-gowned figure hastily hid a small, plush doll resembling a certain black-haired youth behind her back, her tone deliberately nonchalant.

The black-clad woman just pursed her lips. It was her master’s private life, after all. Even though she could see right through the act, it was best to keep her mouth shut.

“Next time, remember to knock before entering. Don’t just sneak around like a ghost…” The red-gowned figure straightened up, composing herself, tucking her playfully swinging, golden-feather-adorned foot back under her robes. “Well? What is it? Spit it out.”

“Pavilion Master, the Holy Son Zichen of Jianlan Sect is downstairs requesting an audience.”