31: Chapter 31 Ambiguous Testing

Huo Linger was a bit unsteady on her feet, her body swaying slightly.

Xu Changkun steadied her arm: "You've had too much to drink."

"No... not too much..." Huo Linger shook her head, "It's just... my head is a bit dizzy, and my legs feel weak."

Xu Changkun put his arm around her waist; it felt warm and soft to the touch. Her waist was shockingly slender, yet it possessed the suppleness of someone who practiced martial arts.

Huo Linger looked up at him, her eyes glistening with moisture, carrying the effects of the alcohol and some indescribable emotion.

"Senior," she lowered her voice slightly, "Why... why did you help me? We are complete strangers."

Xu Changkun looked at her: "Does one need a reason to intervene when witnessing injustice?"

"Yes," Huo Linger said very seriously, "In this world, there are too few people who intervene when witnessing injustice. Most people would choose to stand by and watch, or... take advantage of the situation."

"So, what kind of person are you, Senior?"

She leaned closer, her faint fragrance mingling with the scent of alcohol, drifting straight into Xu Changkun's nose.

Xu Changkun lowered his head, meeting her gaze: "What do you think?"

Their eyes met, and for a moment, silence descended under the corridor.

Huo Linger was the first to look away, her earlobes turning slightly red: "I... I think you are a good person, Senior."

"A good person?" Xu Changkun laughed, "Not necessarily."

"At least to me, you are." Huo Linger looked at him with hazy eyes.

At this moment, the two had arrived at the door of the guest room, and Xu Changkun pushed it open and entered.

"We're here," Xu Changkun said, "You should go back and rest early too."

Huo Linger, however, did not leave. She stood at the door, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Is something the matter?" Xu Changkun asked.

Huo Linger bit her lip, then suddenly looked up: "Senior, did you... did you really just happen to pass by and save me?"

Xu Changkun raised an eyebrow: "What else?"

"I..." Huo Linger's face turned even redder, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, "I heard that some cultivators specifically target lone female cultivators, playing the hero to save the damsel, and then... then harbor ulterior motives."

Xu Changkun paused for a moment, then laughed: "Then do you think I am that kind of person?"

Huo Linger didn't answer, just looked at him with complex eyes. There was gratitude, curiosity, and a trace of... anticipation that was hard to detect?

Xu Changkun took a step forward, and the distance between them closed instantly. Huo Linger's breath hitched, but she didn't retreat.

"What if I said I was?" Xu Changkun's voice was low, carrying a hint of playfulness.

Huo Linger's heart pounded like a drum. She could smell his scent, mixed with the faint pressure that belonged to a powerful expert.

"I..." She opened her mouth.

Xu Changkun reached out and gently brushed her cheek; the touch was warm and soft: "Didn't your father teach you not to casually probe a man? Especially one... you don't understand."

Huo Linger trembled all over. His fingertips were warm, making her feel flushed from her cheek all the way to her heart.

"I... I just wanted to confirm." Huo Linger's voice trembled.

"Confirm what?" Xu Changkun withdrew his hand, without making any excessive moves, "Confirm whether I have ulterior motives toward you?"

Huo Linger's cheeks turned bright red, so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, yet deep down, there was an indescribable restlessness.

She was indeed probing, to see if the man who saved her was a gentleman, or... had ulterior motives.

If it was the former, she would be grateful, but if it was the latter... she surprisingly didn't find it repulsive.

Xu Changkun stepped back, increasing the distance.

The sudden loss of pressure made Huo Linger breathe a sigh of relief, yet she felt inexplicably disappointed.

"Go back and rest early," Xu Changkun's tone returned to calm.

Huo Linger stared at him blankly, unable to react for a moment. Is this... the end?

"I..." She still wanted to say something.

"By the way," Xu Changkun interrupted her, taking a small jade bottle from his storage bag, "This is a Heart-Clearing Pill, used for sobering up. Take it and circulate your energy, and your head won't hurt tomorrow."

He handed over the jade bottle.

Huo Linger took it, her fingertips brushing against his palm, and she trembled again.

"Thank you..." she whispered, clutching the jade bottle tightly.

"You're welcome." Xu Changkun smiled, "Good night, Miss Huo."

He closed the door.

Huo Linger stood outside the door, stunned for quite a while. The jade bottle in her hand still carried his body heat. Her cheeks were burning, and her heart was in a mess.

What exactly did he mean? Teasing her a bit, then suddenly pulling away?

Or was it... that he really just saved her in passing and had no interest in her?

Huo Linger bit her lip, feeling inexplicably unwilling. Since she was young, she had been pampered and pursued by so many people, and this was the first time she had encountered such an... unfathomable man.

Returning to her room, Huo Linger took the Heart-Clearing Pill and sat cross-legged to regulate her breath. As the pill dissolved, a wave of coolness surged through her body, and the drunkenness immediately dissipated by more than half.

She opened her eyes, her gaze much clearer. Recalling everything from tonight, her face flushed hot again.

"Xu Changkun..." She murmured this name, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously.

...

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Blood Wolf Gang on the other side of Yunyang City, a conspiracy was underway.

In the great hall, a burly man with a fleshy face and a scar at the corner of his eye sat in the main seat; he was the gang leader, Blood Wolf.

"Five Qi Refining Level 6 cultivators, all killed by some guy of unknown origin?" Blood Wolf's voice was hoarse, "Trash!"

A thin man below whispered: "Gang Leader, that person's strength is not weak, at least at Qi Refining Level 8. And... he followed Huo Linger into the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce and is now being treated as an honored guest."

A fierce light flashed in Blood Wolf's eyes: "Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce... that old thing Huo Lie has been opposing us all these years. This time, we finally found an opportunity to capture his daughter and force him to submit, but it was ruined by an outsider."

Another hall master spoke up: "Gang Leader, that person killed our men, we can't just let it go. And since he is staying at the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce, he is clearly on their side. Should we..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Blood Wolf pondered for a moment and sneered: "We definitely have to kill him, but we can't be reckless. That person could easily deal with five Qi Refining Level 6 cultivators, so his strength is not weak. Plus, the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce must have strengthened their security now, so breaking in by force is unwise."

"Then what should we do?"

"Wait," Blood Wolf said sinisterly, "I heard that person came for the millennium cold jade marrow. He will definitely appear at the Baibao Pavilion auction in three days. At that time... we will strike outside the auction. As long as he leaves the territory of the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce, it will be our chance."

"But the Yanhuo Chamber of Commerce might send people to protect him..."

"Protect?" Blood Wolf grinned ferociously, "Then kill those who protect him along with him! It will serve as a warning to Huo Lie—the consequence of opposing our Blood Wolf Gang in Yunyang City!"

Several hall masters looked at each other and revealed cruel smiles.

"Go, find out that person's background," Blood Wolf ordered, "Also, bring more men on the day of the auction. I want to make sure he doesn't return alive!"

"Yes!"