Chapter 19: Confrontation

Here he comes, here he comes, the Young Sect Master Su has indeed arrived.

He must have heard that Miss Lin was dating the Holy Son of the Blaze Yang Sect at the Flower Language Pavilion, and out of jealousy and resentment he rushed over, ready to demand an explanation!

Su Chen, passing by with medicinal pills: "???"

What are these people imagining? Why do I kinda not understand?

What's this about a date and jealousy?

He clearly had a date with Liyan to enjoy the flowers at the Flower Language Pavilion, and incidentally brought some pills that aid cultivation.

It seems Miss Lin still has the upper hand; I thought the Young Sect Master Su had moved on, but I didn't expect he couldn't live without Lin Jianran—look at the storage ring on his hand, he must have prepared plenty of precious pills, likely ready to beg for forgiveness.

He's gone, he really entered the Flower Rain Pavilion!

What was I saying? The Young Sect Master Su has been entangled with Sister Yan for so long; you can't just cut ties like that. Today we'll see how he begs for forgiveness.

On the street near the Flower Rain Pavilion, the bustling loose cultivators buzzed, all eyes on Su Chen, faces full of schadenfreude.

Just two hours ago.

Lin Jianran entered the Flower Rain Pavilion laughing and chatting with the Holy Son Qin of the Blaze Yang Sect; the atmosphere between them was ambiguous, and from time to time they shared an affectionate hug.

This scene was deliberately spread by Lin Jianran's servant.

Within the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the young masters of noble families and the holy maidens of the sects appeared one after another, intending to watch Su Chen's joke.

Some even started placing bets, wagering on when Su Chen would show up and how long he would have to grovel without dignity to earn Lin Jianran's forgiveness.

Coincidentally, Su Chen appeared at the Flower Rain Pavilion just then.

"He still came." Lin Jianran had been keeping an eye on the commotion downstairs; upon hearing someone call the Young Sect Master, her face could immediately display an air of supreme confidence.

She whispered to the servant beside her: "Go check for me."

The servant immediately went out, then returned with a delighted face and whispered: "Miss, the Young Sect Master Su has not only come, but seems to have brought a storage ring—looks like he prepared many generous gifts."

It seems the Young Sect Master still can't hold back; have him make preparations beforehand, for when he regrets it!

Upon hearing the servant's words, Lin Jianran's innate pride welled up again.

Her eyes were full of triumph, and the inexplicable unease in her heart was finally completely dispelled.

Lin Jianran rose to her feet while glancing at Holy Son Qin beside her.

Holy Son Qin was thin as a stalk of hemp, not tall, looking utterly drained, yet as one of the four great sects of the East Wasteland Region, he was more than a match for the Lin family.

He would occasionally sip tea, then sneak glances at the pure and lively Lin Jianran; this sudden appointment left him somewhat restless, but he still had to put on an act. Moreover, the woman before him was truly out of his league: "Yanran, what's wrong? Anything on your mind?"

Lin Jianran glanced at his cowardly demeanor and flared with anger.

She had never even given a proper look to this kidney-deficient man.

Yet this kidney-deficient man always acted deeply devoted, often scrimping and saving, giving his own cultivation resources to her.

Mainly because this kidney-deficient man still had some use value; otherwise Lin Jianran would want to vomit after just another glance and leave the private room: "Sitting here, aren't you bored? Want to go out for a stroll?"

"Mm, ah, okay!" Holy Son Qin immediately rose and followed behind Lin Jianran's heels.

He lowered his head, a flicker of lust flashing in the depths of his eyes: "I'm not bored; actually, just seeing you once makes me happy. Yanran, I never thought you'd take the initiative to ask me out. Besides, Ye Xuan—isn't he supposed to be coming back?"

I've also heard lately that Su Chen hasn't been pestering you anymore, and you've always disliked him—he's overbearing, loves to throw his weight around, vulgar and uncultured, knows nothing of refinement, all he thinks about is spirit stones, spirit stones, and has no idea what you truly need.

Someone as outstanding as you, like a fairy descended to the mortal realm, could hardly be moved by a few measly spirit stones.

Good thing Su Chen finally... knows... Su, Su Chen, why are you showing up here?

That abrupt shout silenced the entire Flower Rain Pavilion.

All the cultivators present who witnessed this scene fell silent.

They looked toward the source of the sound.

Su Chen held a box made of golden-thread premium wood, and bumped into Lin Jianran on the steps of the Flower Rain Pavilion.

Their eyes met!

Su Chen felt rueful: you seem to be everywhere, truly eight lifetimes of bad blood.

In his pupils was reflected someone confident and poised, yet lacking confidence in their own charm, lifting a snow-white chin to try to show off their allure.

Su Chen: "???"

Take another look at Lin Jianran, nose in the air, looking down on you, truly arrogant: "Su Chen, I already swore a heavenly way oath at the gate of the Heaven Mystic Dao Sect; from that moment on, I will have nothing to do with you, never speak another word to you!".

"You, you personally lost the woman you loved most!"

"Now who I date or eat with is my personal freedom, Lin Jianran; it has nothing to do with you—please leave!".

Lin Jianran's bosom rose and fall as she let out her feelings.

Then she crossed her arms over her chest, staring straight at Su Chen, expecting him to drop to his knees, tearfully begging for her forgiveness.

She had even imagined the whole scene ahead of time, rehearsed the lines, but the next second she saw Su Chen spit at her, then walk straight past her.

He left?

He didn't shout at her angrily?

He didn't question her harshly?

He didn't tearfully beg her to stay?

What on earth gave him the right?

Where did he get that confidence?

How could this be!!!

"If you'd done this earlier, wouldn't it have been better? Yanran already despises your entanglement... sigh... pathetic!" Holy Son Qin stood aside, sighed, then intended to assert his claim, mustering all his courage, taking Lin Jianran's little hand and leaving.

Lin Jianran stepped back deliberately, keeping her distance.

Then she gave the other a displeased glance.

Then she continued to glare at Su Chen, hysterical roaring, afraid other cultivators wouldn't know: "Su Chen, I've had enough of you; I dislike those precious pills, I loathe those top-tier magical artifacts and robes, yet you, relying on your backing, force me to accept them."

"As you expected, I accepted, yet you then went outside to ruin my reputation, spreading rumors that I took your love-token and forcing me to marry you."

Then you go to all sorts of lengths just to make me jealous and angry—I was only doing what I wanted, yet you keep bothering me, intruding on my private life. Don't you realize how irritating that is?

Then there are those who go to great lengths to make me jealous, anger me; I was just doing what I wanted to do, yet you come bothering me again, interfering with my private life—don't you know how disgusting this behavior of yours is?

I've sworn a heavenly oath to cut ties with you. No matter what you do—or even if you try to win me back—there's absolutely no chance left for us. Got it?

I have sworn a heavenly oath, decided to cut off all contact with you; no matter what you do, or even if you try to win me back, there is no possibility left between us! Understand?

She's laid it all out like that—surely she ought to get some reaction, right?

She's said it to this extent; shouldn't there be some reaction by now?

Lin Yanran stared intently at Su Chen's face, not wanting to miss even the slightest expression.

Lin Jianran stared fixedly at Su Chen's face, not wanting to miss any micro-expression.

Sure enough, his emotions shifted. Su Chen slowly raised his gaze; his eyes held an incredibly complex look as they fell on Lin Yanran's face. He said, agreeing: "Hmm, I get it right away. I know you're aloof—you can't stand vulgar things—so I've already had my servants draw up a list just as you wanted.".

Sure enough, there was an emotional shift—Su Chen slowly lifted his gaze, that infinitely complex look landing on Lin Jianran's face, and he said in full agreement: "Mm, instantly understood. I know you're aloof; you won't tolerate those vulgar things in your eyes, so I've already had the servants draft a list as you wished.".

Miss Lin, could you give me a few days? I'll quickly send those who received it to your manor to haul away all those vulgar items.

Miss Lin, could you grant a few days' grace? I'll quickly have those I've taken send people to your Lin Manor to carry off all those vulgar items.

As for Qin Shou, the Holy Son...

As for Holy Son Qin...

Su Chen eyed the scrawny, stick‑thin man who fearlessly stood in front of Lin Yanran, protecting her, and curled his lip in a cold sneer: "Don't worry—I won't quarrel with this Qin sycophant over you; this rotting corpse is better off given to him as charity—he's pretty pitiful to look at.".

Su Chen looked at the thin-as-a-reed man who, despite his frailty, fearlessly stood before Lin Jianran, and curled his lip in a cold sneer: "Rest assured, I won't contend with this Qin licking dog over this rotten piece of flesh; better to give it to him as charity—he looks pitiful enough.".

If there's nothing else, please step aside.

If there's nothing else, please move aside.

Su Chen's almost indifferent attitude felt like a steel needle driven deep into Lin Yanran's heart.

Su Chen's almost indifferent attitude was like a steel spike, deeply piercing Lin Jianran's heart.

Her dignity and pride were ruthlessly trampled!

Her dignity and face were ruthlessly trampled!

She seemed as if struck by lightning and left dazed—her gaze vacant, her hair standing on end.

She seemed utterly stunned, as if struck by lightning, her gaze dull and her hair standing on end.

Her eyes locked onto Su Chen's face, trying to read something, but aside from his coldness there was no hint of emotion.

Her eyes fixed on Su Chen's face, trying to discern something, but aside from coldness there was no emotional fluctuation.

Su Chen's gaze was steady and expressionless; looking into his eyes, there was no sign of joy, anger, affection, or concern.

Su Chen's gaze was steady, his expression blank; looking into his own eyes, he saw no joy, anger, affection, or concern.

It was as if… as if she were a total stranger to him, and whether she existed or not meant nothing to him.

It was as if… as if she were a complete stranger to him, her existence or non-existence utterly irrelevant to him.