367: Chapter 367 Suspicion Arises

"Mother, I've encountered a Bottleneck while trying to Cultivate. Could you take a look for me?"

Murong Wan put down her book, held her daughter's hand, and probed her Meridians with her spiritual energy.

Qin Lin stood by the window watching the mother and daughter. Murong Wan was carefully examining her daughter's body, while Murong Xue sat obediently, like a little girl who hadn't grown up yet.

"Your Meridians are fine, and your spiritual energy is sufficient. You're just being too impatient; Cultivate is not something that happens overnight. You need to take it slowly."

Murong Xue nodded and leaned on her shoulder.

Murong Wan reached out and stroked her daughter's hair, her movements very gentle.

Qin Lin watched this scene, recalling what Murong Xue had said.

"My mother has suffered a lot."

He turned and walked out of the room, not wanting to disturb them.

That evening, Qin Lin was looking at the star chart on the Bridge.

Murong Wan walked in and sat down on the chair next to him.

She had changed her clothes and was wearing a pale pink loungewear set. Her hair was loose, her face was lightly made up, and her lips were coated with a thin layer of lip glaze.

Qin Lin looked at her; her eyes were bright in the light of the screen.

"Auntie Wan, you look really beautiful today."

Murong Wan's face flushed slightly.

"Stop sweet-talking me. I came to discuss business with you. That person, Su Han—do you think she's reliable?"

Qin Lin thought for a moment.

"Reliable or not, once she's on The Ark, she's family. She's not a bad person; I can tell."

Murong Wan nodded.

"She lives next door to me. I heard her Cultivate in her room at night. The sound wasn't loud, but the fluctuations of her spiritual energy were very strong. She's certainly not ordinary."

Qin Lin reached out and took her hand.

"Auntie Wan, why are you listening to the movements next door instead of sleeping at night?"

Murong Wan glared at him.

"I can't sleep. You come to my room every night, and after you leave, I can't fall asleep."

Qin Lin's fingers gently caressed the back of her hand.

"Then I won't leave tonight."

Murong Wan's face turned even redder.

"No, Xue'er stayed in my room until very late today and just left. What if she comes looking for me in the middle of the night..."

Qin Lin laughed.

"Then I'll go to your room, and you can lock the door."

Murong Wan looked at him, remained silent for a while, and then stood up.

"I'll go first, you wait a while before coming over."

She turned and walked away, her steps quick.

Qin Lin watched her back, the corners of his mouth curling up.

He sat on the Bridge for a while, then stood up, turned off the star chart, and walked out of the Bridge.

The corridor was very quiet, and the night lights had been dimmed.

He took the stairs and walked to the door of Murong Wan's room, knocking three times.

The door opened, and Murong Wan stood at the threshold, wearing that dark blue nightdress, her hair loose.

She turned sideways to let him in and closed the door.

Only a bedside lamp was on in the room, casting a soft light.

Qin Lin walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, and Murong Wan sat down beside him.

The two remained silent for a while, with the starry sky outside projected onto the ceiling, casting faint points of light.

"Qin Lin," Murong Wan called him.

"Hmm."

"In the future, when you go to pick up new people, can you let me go with you?"

Qin Lin looked at her.

"Why?"

Murong Wan lowered her head.

"I want to help you. I still have a good eye for people."

Qin Lin reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Murong Wan leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Alright, we'll go together next time."

Murong Wan closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth turning up.

That night, Qin Lin did not leave Murong Wan's room.

The corridor was very quiet, with only the slight humming sound from The Ark's life support System.

Murong Wan fell asleep in his arms, her hand still clutching the corner of his clothes.

Qin Lin looked at her face; moonlight spilled down from the projection System, her eyelashes long, her breathing even.

He lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead. She stirred slightly, mumbled something indistinctly, and then drifted back into a deep sleep.

Qin Lin closed his eyes and fell asleep as well.

The next morning, when Qin Lin woke up, Murong Wan was no longer on the bed.

...

He got up, washed up, changed his clothes, and walked out of the room.

In the corridor, Han Qing happened to be passing by, holding a stack of medical records.

She saw Qin Lin coming out of Murong Wan's room, and her pace slowed.

"Did you go to check her body again?"

Qin Lin nodded.

"Her Recovery is going well."

Han Qing looked at him, remained silent for a while, and said:

"You spent all night checking her body?"

Qin Lin remained calm.

"Her situation is relatively complex and requires long-term observation."

Han Qing sighed and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.

"You really are something, taking down another pair."

She walked away.

Qin Lin stood in the corridor, watching her back, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

He turned to look in the direction of Murong Wan's room; the door was closed.

He remembered how she leaned in his arms last night and recalled her saying, "I want to help you."

He took a deep breath and went to the Bridge.

The Ark continued to cruise through the inland of the Central Region.

New targets were still ahead, Qin Lin's journey continued, and so did Murong Wan's.

...

The Ark flew through the inland of the Central Region for several days, picking up three new survivors. Besides Su Han, there were two other women.

One was a Formation Master named Yun Shu, in her early thirties, with a comprehensive rating of 95.

One was a medical cultivator named Bai Zhi, twenty-six years old, with a comprehensive rating of 94.

All three women boarded The Ark, were assigned rooms, and began their new lives.

Su Han remained very cold, didn't talk to people, and locked herself in her room every day to Cultivate.

Yun Shu was talkative, liked chatting with people, and was curious about everything.

Bai Zhi was quiet but not as cold as Su Han. She was willing to help, assisting Han Qing in the Medical Room, learning the medical System on The Ark, and at the same time teaching Han Qing her own medical skills. Han Qing had finally found a colleague.

"You finally picked up the right people." These were Han Qing's exact words; she liked Bai Zhi very much.

Qin Lin's daily life became very regular.

During the day, he handled affairs on The Ark, picked up new people, and arranged accommodations.

At night, he would first go to Murong Wan's room for a while, and then go to Murong Xue's room for a while.

He thought his arrangements were seamless, until one night when Murong Xue asked him.

"Qin Lin, have you been feeling unwell lately? Every night before you come to my room, there's a scent on you—the smell of the shampoo my mother uses."

Qin Lin's heart skipped a beat, but his expression didn't change.

"It might have drifted over from the corridor; your mother's room isn't far away."

Murong Xue looked at him, silent for a while.

"Perhaps."

She didn't ask again, but Qin Lin noticed a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

The next day, Qin Lin went to find Murong Wan and told her about this matter.

Murong Wan's face changed, and her hand trembled slightly.

"Does she know?"

Qin Lin held her hand.

"She doesn't know, she's just suspicious. I will be careful."

Murong Wan lowered her head, looking at their clasped hands.

"Qin Lin, how long can we keep this up?"

Qin Lin thought about it.

"We'll keep it up as long as we can. When she finds out, I will explain it to her."

Murong Wan looked up at him.

"Explain what? What will she think?"

Qin Lin did not answer.

He didn't know the answer.