Chapter 79

Recalling all this, Ling Zaixin found herself unknowingly standing in front of Li Yi's small wooden house. She hesitated for a moment but then mustered up the courage to step forward, just about to knock on the door. From inside, Li Yi's voice came: "Valley Master Ling, what brings you here at such a late hour?"

Ling Zaixin took a deep breath and said, "Thanks to your timely assistance earlier, I have come to express my gratitude! I hope you will open the door and see me!"

Li Yi replied, "Valley Master Ling, you are too kind. The White Crystal Mountain's bullying and plundering deserved intervention. However, your hesitation suggests that your visit is not merely to express gratitude. It is late, and we are of different genders, so let's talk through this wooden door."

Li Yi's attitude was peculiar; he neither opened the door to see her nor chased her away, but instead had her speak through the door. Ling Zaixin had worried that Li Yi might not want to see her and had all sorts of chaotic thoughts, but she never expected such a situation. Stunned, she didn't know where to begin, and a long silence ensued. Li Yi in the wooden house never spoke first.

Ling Zaixin said softly, "You intervened when the White Crystal Mountain bullied the weak, but why did you not intervene when my two senior sisters forced me to hand over the position of Valley Master?"

Li Yi's voice came from inside: "This is an internal matter of the Hundred Flowers Valley, and I am not in a position to interfere."

"Is that true? Did you really not intervene? Why did my two senior sisters suddenly have a change of heart just before they were about to kill me? If you hadn't used your great magical powers, would they have suddenly had a change of heart?" Ling Zaixin was firmly convinced that Li Yi had intervened.

Li Yi said, "There is no magical power that can change a person's mind."

Ling Zaixin detected a hint of something more and smiled, "So, did you really not intervene?"

Li Yi said, "People are often confused because they focus only on what they desire and forget other things. All I did was have them drink a cup of Hundred Flowers Brew!"

"Drink a cup of Hundred Flowers Brew?" Ling Zaixin was puzzled, wondering how it was related to the brew.

Li Yi nodded, "After drinking the Hundred Flowers Brew during the day, I noticed that its five flavors could deeply move a person's seven emotions. These emotions can greatly disturb one's thoughts, encompassing the past, present, and future. So, I used this to enlighten Yu. Similarly, I used the same method to create an illusion, making your two senior sisters' emotions rise, disturbing their thoughts, and making them recall past events. It was as if they had each drunk a cup of Hundred Flowers Brew! However, while Ling Qinghui repented immediately, Ling Jianlan was still full of calculations. Seeing the situation was not in her favor, she pretended to repent."

Ling Zaixin finally understood why her two senior sisters had a sudden change of heart at the last moment. Indeed, Li Yi had intervened, and his method was so subtle. As for Li Yi pointing out Ling Jianlan's hidden thoughts, which she herself had not noticed, she asked, "At the time, both my second and first senior sisters were weeping bitterly. How could you tell that the second senior sister was pretending?"

Li Yi answered straightforwardly, "A truly repentant person wouldn't have so many words. Their words and actions reveal everything! This person is too calculating and scheming. In cultivation, physical tribulations are easier to overcome, but mental tribulations are harder. With such a mind, her achievements will likely be far less than Ling Qinghui's! However, after the chaos caused by the White Crystal Mountain, she will have seen your abilities and will not dare to have other thoughts. After all, we are fellow disciples, and I advise you not to hold a grudge against her!"

Lian Huanchen had also mentioned that Ling Jianlan's scheming would hinder her cultivation, but as a teacher and student who spent time together, it was natural to make such a judgment. However, Li Yi, who had only heard her voice and never seen her, said the same thing, which surprised Ling Zaixin, but also warmed her heart. She said softly, "Mr. Li, you have gone to such lengths, not only helping me retain my position as Valley Master but also bringing back two good senior sisters, avoiding a fratricidal conflict... I truly don't know how to thank you. I have a small token of appreciation, and I hope you will not refuse it!"

Li Yi said, "Valley Master, is this your 'token of appreciation'?"

His voice revealed no emotion, and Ling Zaixin had to steel herself to answer, "I have no other intentions, Mr. Li, please don't misunderstand..."

"Is that so? In your eyes, a living person can be given as a token of appreciation! What else could be a misunderstanding?" Li Yi interrupted her, his voice cold.

Ling Zaixin hurriedly said, "That's not what I meant, I just wanted to..."

Li Yi said coldly, "If that's not what you meant, then why did you do it? Valley Master, from the moment you saw me, you started to scheme, didn't you? Because you recognized me as Li Yi from the first glance!"

Ling Zaixin stood there, stunned. The wooden door in front of her seemed to disappear, and she felt as if she could see Li Yi's piercing gaze, which penetrated her completely.

Li Yi continued, "You deliberately created a difficult situation to invite me into the Hundred Flowers Valley. Inviting a man into the valley gave your two senior sisters an opportunity to challenge you. No matter what, as an outsider, I wouldn't interfere in the valley's internal affairs, which wouldn't raise their suspicions. Instead, it gave them an excuse to challenge you. In fact, your two senior sisters were no match for you, as you had been hiding your cultivation level from them. As for me, you needed my help to deal with the White Crystal Mountain people brought by your junior sister, Ling Baixiu. To ensure I would intervene, you deliberately spoke to Yu, knowing I would hear it, as you used your powers to make it seem accidental. Even just now, when I hesitated to act, you even hinted to Ling Baixiu to attack Yu Baiyun. Am I right?"

Ling Zaixin's mind was in chaos, and she found it hard to speak. After a long pause, she managed to say, "Mr. Li, when did you realize?"

Li Yi said, "When you invited me into the valley, I sensed your ulterior motives."

Ling Zaixin asked, "If so, why did you still agree to come with me?"

Li Yi said, "Because of Yu Baiyun, wasn't that what you expected? When you saw me, you could tell from my eyes that I was moved by Yu. So, you knew I wouldn't refuse, and everything unfolded as you predicted. Although not everything went as planned, it was close enough, and you achieved your goal. Your ability to read people and use their emotions is impressive."

Ling Zaixin detected the sarcasm in Li Yi's words, feeling bitter. Although she knew they were separated by a door, she forced a smile and bowed deeply, "Mr. Li, you are absolutely right. I did use you. Now that you have seen through me, I am at your disposal."

To her surprise, Li Yi said from behind the door, "Valley Master, you are too kind. I said you are good at using people's emotions. Entering the Hundred Flowers Valley was my choice, and intervening in the conflicts was also my choice. You have done nothing to wrong me. In fact, I should thank you for the Hundred Flowers Brew!"

Usually, if someone discovers they have been used, they would be furious. Li Yi, however, remained calm, his words devoid of emotion, as if he wasn't angry at all. His gratitude sounded sincere.

Ling Zaixin asked cautiously, "Mr. Li, you are not angry that I used you?"

Li Yi said, "Of course not. I never assume how others should treat me; I only see how they do. You neither deceived nor coerced me. What could I blame you for? How you use your mind is your business, and how I respond is mine. We both achieved our goals, so what is there to blame?"

Ling Zaixin felt a mix of emotions. Li Yi's words left her at a loss for how to respond. She said, "Mr. Li, you are truly an extraordinary person! Your realm is beyond my comprehension, and the wisdom in your words is not something I can grasp immediately. However, from your words, it seems you have feelings for Yu Baiyun. Are you willing to take her with you?"

Li Yi said, "Not at all! I will leave the Hundred Flowers Valley tomorrow afternoon."

Ling Zaixin urged, "Mr. Li, why not stay a few more days?"

Li Yi sighed, "I came here to taste the orchid fish. Since I can't taste it now, I should return."

Ling Zaixin immediately said, "Mr. Li, if you want to taste the orchid fish, I will have my disciples catch some for you tomorrow."

Li Yi sighed, "Valley Master, do you think I can still eat the orchid fish after meeting Yu Baiyun?"

Li Yi's words openly revealed his affection for the naive orchid fish spirit, Yu Baiyun, seemingly unconcerned about his own status and the fact that she was just a newly transformed fish spirit. Ling Zaixin was surprised and asked, "If you have feelings for Yu Baiyun, why won't you take her with you?"

There was a moment of silence behind the door.