81: Chapter 81 Rice for He Chaoge

Returning from class, Gu Wanquan suddenly noticed an extra person in the courtyard.

The youth, dressed in black clothes and trousers, stood in the courtyard, his originally arrogant face now tinged with a hint of bewilderment and helplessness.

Like an abandoned puppy, he stood all alone in the courtyard.

Dressed in white, Gu Wanquan cupped his hands toward Yin Chaoge with his signature harmless smile and said, "Congratulations to Junior Brother Yin on your successful Foundation Establishment!"

When the helpless Yin Chaoge saw Gu Wanquan, it was as if he had seen a savior.

"Se... Senior Brother Gu, I seem to have provoked Senior Brother Su's Life Qi!"

The smile on Gu Wanquan's face faded slightly. Looking at Yin Chaoge, he said, "Senior Brother Su has a very good temper. He was probably just joking with you, Junior Brother!"

Yin Chaoge shook his head and recounted everything that had happened since he entered the Inner Sect.

Gu Wanquan unconsciously tapped his fingers twice on the hilt of the long sword at his waist. "Are you saying that Senior Brother Su saved you, yet you feel his methods were too despicable?"

Yin Chaoge remained silent. Even if it was to save him, Yin Chaoge still felt there was something wrong with Su Yi's actions.

Gu Wanquan nodded and said, "That really is quite despicable!"

Yin Chaoge looked up, a trace of gratitude on his face for being understood.

But Gu Wanquan tucked his hands into his sleeves, looked at Yin Chaoge, and said with a smile, "I was talking about you, Junior Brother Yin!"

"If you throw a bone to a stray dog, it will still wag its tail at you instead of baring its teeth!"

Although Gu Wanquan had a smile on his face, a cold gleam flickered in his eyes. His voice was gentle, yet it made the hairs on one's back stand on end.

Sensing danger, Yin Chaoge leaped back to distance himself from Gu Wanquan, a long sword suddenly appearing in his hand.

Yin Chaoge looked at Gu Wanquan, who stood there quietly in his white robes with his sword hanging at his waist, feeling as if he were being targeted by a venomous snake.

"Exposing your belly to beg for mercy when facing the strong, yet righteously drawing your sword against a friend?"

"You really are despicable, Junior Brother Yin!"

Gu Wanquan did not take Yin Chaoge's defensive stance seriously at all, merely looking at him with a touch of sarcasm.

Yin Chaoge said word by word, "What I, Yin, seek is nothing but to be open, upright, and honorable!"

Gu Wanquan rested his right hand on the hilt of his sword and said, his smile unchanged, "But does your honorableness need to be built upon Senior Brother Su's 'despicableness'?"

Hearing Gu Wanquan's words, the Qi of Yin Chaoge's offensive stance suddenly deflated.

He seemed to see those disappointed yet calm eyes from this afternoon.

Unconsciously loosening his grip, Yin Chaoge lowered his head in guilt and muttered, "I naturally know what Senior Brother Su did for me, but I..."

Seeing Yin Chaoge like this, Gu Wanquan felt that he wasn't completely beyond saving, but a sudden surge of annoyance rose in his heart.

This Su Yi was just too much of a do-gooder, meddling in everything and sticking his nose into everything!

What was even more ridiculous was that after helping someone, they actually disdained him for being despicable!

Gu Wanquan snorted coldly, suppressing the unpleasantness in his heart. He cast a contemptuous look at Yin Chaoge before turning around to return to his room to review what he had learned today.

Yin Chaoge was angered by Gu Wanquan's contemptuous glance, but in the blink of an eye, he lowered his head again in dejection.

In the courtyard, a gentle summer breeze blew, but it could not disperse the stubbornness of the obstinate youth.

After a round of clattering in the kitchen, Su Yi walked out carrying a tray.

Seeing Yin Chaoge still standing at attention in the courtyard, he found it a bit strange.

Yin Chaoge stole a glance at Su Yi and quickly lowered his head again.

Oh crap, did I overact today and drive the Mute Demon Venerable into a state of depression?

Su Yi realized this in hindsight, but he still didn't want to offend the future Demon Venerable too much.

He placed the tray on the stone table and set out the dishes.

Although he had already reached Foundation Establishment and achieved Inedia, Su Yi still liked to stir-fry a couple of dishes to satisfy his cravings.

What's more, a newcomer had joined the small courtyard, so Su Yi had specially made a couple of extra dishes.

"Hey, Wanquan, time to eat!" Su Yi habitually shouted toward Gu Wanquan's room.

Dressed in white, Gu Wanquan walked out of his room with a book in one hand and a bright smile.

Seeing Yin Chaoge still standing there, he felt a slight displeasure in his heart.

Gu Wanquan didn't understand why Yin Chaoge hadn't left yet. Was Yin Chaoge going to live here too?

Although puzzled, Gu Wanquan did not speak. After all, those on different Daos could not make plans together!

Once Su Yi and Gu Wanquan sat down, Su Yi looked in surprise at Yin Chaoge, who was still standing at attention.

Has this silly kid been tied up so much that he's gone stupid?

It's time to eat, and he doesn't even know to come over?

Su Yi called out to Yin Chaoge, "What are you standing there like a statue for? Come over and eat!"

Hearing Su Yi's voice, Yin Chaoge looked up blankly.

He only wanted to wait until Su Yi finished eating, say sorry, and then leave.

After all, his actions this afternoon had hurt Su Yi's feelings, leaving him with no face to continue staying here.

But Yin Chaoge, who was naturally arrogant and suffered from social anxiety, simply couldn't bring himself to speak the words of apology.

His lips parted, but just as he was about to speak, a hand grabbed his wrist.

"Hurry up, hurry up! Back in the Outer Sect, aside from Ling Yao and Xiao Tian, you were the one who ate the most!"

As if he had completely forgotten what happened this afternoon, Su Yi naturally pulled Yin Chaoge toward the stone table.

Yin Chaoge wanted to pull his hand back, but before he knew it, he had already been dragged to the stone table by Su Yi.

"Sit down! You've just arrived in the Inner Sect, and the hard days are still ahead. Eat more, don't be polite!"

Su Yi said cheerfully as he scooped rice for Yin Chaoge, "This courtyard is even bigger than the one in the Outer Sect. We each get our own room, so there's no need to guess leaves anymore. Let me tell you, I always felt Wanquan cheated during that leaf-guessing game last time!"

Hearing Su Yi say this, Gu Wanquan's body stiffened. How did I get dragged into this?

Gu Wanquan was about to speak, but then he saw Su Yi looking at him mischievously, with an "I know everything" expression.

Knowing he had a guilty conscience, Gu Wanquan could only lower his head, pick up some food, and eat.

Yin Chaoge's lips quivered as a faint voice squeezed out of his throat, "Senior Brother Su, about this afternoon..."

"Ah, we're brothers, don't worry about that!" Su Yi patted Yin Chaoge's shoulder dismissively and said generously.

The more open-minded Su Yi was, the more narrow-minded Yin Chaoge felt himself to be.

Sitting on the stone stool, he stared down at his clenched hands, feeling tormented.

It wasn't until a bowl was pushed in front of him that Yin Chaoge looked up.

What met his eyes was a pair of happily smiling peach blossom eyes, followed by the bright, clear moonlight behind them!

The bright moonlight poured generously into the courtyard, shining so brightly that Yin Chaoge was momentarily dazed.

The lighthearted and lively voice rang out in its usual offbeat tone once more:

"With this bowl of rice, congratulations to Chaoge on his successful Foundation Establishment!"