165: Chapter 165 When the mind is in turmoil, the will is in turmoil

At the venue of the World Martial Arts Tournament, the fighting on the arena was fierce, and the spectators below were even more impassioned.

On one side of the venue, within an elegantly furnished seating area with an excellent view, the atmosphere felt somewhat subtle.

Those sitting here were all young talents who were highly regarded in this World Martial Arts Tournament.

He Linfeng of the Zhengyang Sword Sect, carrying that heavy sword as wide as a door panel on his back, sat on his chair with a bold and unconstrained posture, his burning gaze fixed on the arena.

Not far from him was a young girl wearing a simple and elegant green dress.

The girl had a sweet appearance and a gentle temperament; she was none other than Bai Nianci, a Core Disciple of the Ciyin Medical Valley.

Besides the two of them, there were several True Disciples from other Sects also in this seating area.

The capital had specially invited many Sects to come and show their support for this tournament, and they were the ones specially invited.

"Brother He, looking at you, it seems you can't wait to jump down and have a fight right now," a young man dressed in brocade with a golden thunder-blade pattern engraved on it said with a teasing smile.

He Linfeng withdrew his gaze.

"The strength of these people is too weak; it's no fun to fight them."

He patted the heavy sword behind his back.

"I came down the mountain this time to meet the heroes of the world in this capital."

"I heard that there are many hidden experts in this World Martial Arts Tournament, and I hope they can let me fight to my heart's content."

He Linfeng's words were full of confidence and arrogance.

As the "Pure Yang Sword Physique," a talent rarely seen in the Zhengyang Sword Sect for a hundred years, he had the capital for it.

The Young Master in brocade smiled and turned to look at Bai Nianci beside him.

"Miss Bai, what about you?"

"The Ciyin Medical Valley has never liked fighting; why did you come to participate in this World Martial Arts Tournament this time?"

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Bai Nianci's face.

"I am not here to compete for superiority."

Her voice was soft, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Master said that in the path of medicine, working behind closed doors is not the way."

"Only by seeing more of the world's variety and encountering various difficult and complicated diseases can one improve their medical skills."

"In this World Martial Arts Tournament, experts from all sides have gathered, so casualties are inevitable."

"I came here to see if I can be of any help, and by the way, to learn about the martial arts styles of various Sects, which might inspire my medical skills."

Bai Nianci paused, a trace of curiosity flashing in her eyes.

"Besides, this is my first time leaving the valley."

"The capital is so big and lively; I have never seen anything like it before."

Hearing Bai Nianci's words, the surrounding True Disciples couldn't help but nod secretly.

The Disciples of the Ciyin Medical Valley truly possessed the benevolent heart of a healer.

He Linfeng glanced at Bai Nianci and curled his lips.

He was also out of the mountain for the first time in the last few months, and he had suffered quite a few losses while gaining experience in the Jianghu during this period.

"Miss Bai, your nature is too soft."

"The Jianghu is treacherous; you can't travel the world relying solely on medical skills."

"If you encounter those unreasonable villains of the Demonic Path, your medical skills won't be able to save your life."

Bai Nianci was not angry, just smiled slightly.

"Young Master He is right."

"However, I believe there are still many good people in the world."

"If I really encounter danger, aren't you young heroes of the Righteous Path like Young Master He there?"

He Linfeng was somewhat flattered by Bai Nianci's words and patted his chest, promising, "That is only natural."

Meanwhile.

In the capital, at the Lin Residence.

Outside Lin Wan's boudoir, the maid Xiao Qian was pacing back and forth anxiously.

"Young Miss, you haven't eaten anything all day; please come out and eat something."

Xiao Qian carried a food tray and knocked gently on the door.

There was no response from inside the room.

Xiao Qian sighed, her eyes full of worry.

Since the Young Miss returned from outside last night, she had kept herself locked in her room, neither eating nor drinking tea.

This had never happened before.

The Young Miss was a Gold-Badge Constable of the Six Doors, usually decisive and acting like a god when handling cases; when had she ever been so dispirited like this before?

"Could it be that she encountered some trouble while handling a case?"

Xiao Qian guessed to herself.

However, even if she encountered the biggest trouble, the Young Miss wouldn't torture herself like this.

Inside the room.

Lin Wan leaned on the bed, hugging her knees with her arms, burying her face in the crook of her arms.

In her mind, she didn't know why, but the scene that happened yesterday kept replaying.

That man.

Last night, he actually...

Lin Wan shook her head violently, trying to drive that image out of her mind.

"It was clearly just acting; what is wrong with me?"

Lin Wan bit her lip, her heart full of confusion and panic.

However, that strange feeling could not be waved away no matter what.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she could feel that man's strong heartbeat, as well as that faint scent of soap.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Xiao Qian's knocking sounded again outside the door.

"Young Miss, if you don't come out again, I'm coming in."

Lin Wan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"Come in."

She stood up and walked to the table to sit down.

The door was pushed open, and Xiao Qian walked in carrying the food tray.

As soon as she saw Lin Wan, Xiao Qian was startled.

"Young Miss, why is your face so red?"

Xiao Qian hurriedly put down the food tray, walked to Lin Wan's side, and reached out to touch her forehead.

"Oh my, it's so hot!"

"Young Miss, do you have a fever?"

Xiao Qian was so anxious that tears were about to fall.

Lin Wan shook her head and pulled down Xiao Qian's hand.

"I'm fine; I don't have a fever."

With her current cultivation, she had long been immune to cold and heat, so how could she be sick?

However, her current state was indeed very strange.

"Then what is wrong with you?"

Xiao Qian looked at Lin Wan with a worried face.

"You've been like this since you came back last night; did you encounter any bad people?"

Lin Wan hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to tell Xiao Qian about what happened yesterday.

After all, Xiao Qian was the person she trusted the most.

"Xiao Qian, I..."

Lin Wan bit her lip and recounted everything that happened yesterday, haltingly.

After listening to Lin Wan's story, Xiao Qian's eyes widened, her face full of shock.

"Young Miss, how dare Prison Officer Chen do that!?"

Xiao Qian covered her mouth, simply unable to believe her ears.

Her own Young Miss had actually been taken advantage of by a mere Jailer.

Although it was just acting, this sacrifice was too great!

"Young Miss, you..."

Xiao Qian looked at Lin Wan's flushed cheeks and suddenly seemed to understand something.

"Young Miss, could it be that you are... harboring romantic feelings for him?"

"Nonsense."

Lin Wan was startled, stood up abruptly, and made a gesture to hit Xiao Qian.

Xiao Qian nimbly dodged Lin Wan's attack and said with a grin, "Young Miss, stop lying to yourself."

"If you really hated him, why didn't you resist yesterday and let him hold you?"

"And, the way you are now, you clearly have romantic feelings."

Lin Wan was rendered speechless by Xiao Qian's words, and her cheeks turned even redder.

Xiao Qian didn't expose her further, but leaned close to Lin Wan and asked mysteriously:

"Young Miss, tell me the truth, do you really dislike that Prison Officer Chen?"

Lin Wan was stunned for a moment.

Dislike him?

She used to dislike him quite a bit.

She felt he had no ambition and spent his days just drifting along.

However, after spending this time together, she found that Chen Ran didn't seem as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Although he was greedy for money, he obtained it in a righteous way.

Although his talent was mediocre, he could always turn danger into safety at critical moments.

Moreover, that calmness and confidence gave her an inexplicable sense of security.

Her sixth sense vaguely felt that the two of them had met several times before; everything felt both familiar and strange.

Finally, she said helplessly, "I... I don't know."

Lin Wan lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzzing.

Xiao Qian looked at her Young Miss's appearance and sighed inwardly.

It seemed that the Young Miss had really fallen for him this time.

"Young Miss, then what do you think of how he treats you on a daily basis?"

Xiao Qian continued to ask.

Lin Wan recalled.

Chen Ran's attitude toward her always seemed to be indifferent.

He didn't try to please her, nor did he offend her.

Sometimes he would even deliberately make her angry.

However, every time she encountered trouble, he seemed to always help her in the dark.

"He is a person who is sometimes quite annoying."

Lin Wan said, biting her lip.

"But, sometimes I also feel that he is... quite reliable."

Xiao Qian nodded, looking like someone who had been there before.

"Young Miss, that's it."

"Matters of the heart are inherently unclear and difficult to define."

"You just haven't seen your own heart clearly yet."

Xiao Qian patted Lin Wan's shoulder and said earnestly, "Young Miss, if you really have feelings for him, don't miss out."

"After all, it is not easy to meet someone who can make your heart flutter."

Listening to Xiao Qian's words, Lin Wan fell into deep thought.

Have I really fallen for Chen Ran?