Chapter 88
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Chapter 88: Caught in the Act?
“Thank you for your kindness, Aunt, but it’s unnecessary. Without building my career first, marriage isn’t on my mind. As for the matter of chasing others… I’ll agree, but with one condition.”
Chu Lingluo’s mother replied calmly, “Demanding more payment?”
Mu Lin froze. He hadn’t expected his reputation for seeking extra compensation to be exposed.
This deepened his wariness toward powerful clans. He needed to end this quickly—the waters here ran too deep for someone as weak as him to navigate.
Yet he shook his head. “I’ll agree to the plan of appearing unfaithful, but I won’t waste time actually doing it. I’ll periodically leave Chu Lingluo’s side to cultivate elsewhere. During these absences, you can spread rumors about me pursuing others.”
This was Mu Lin’s solution: let the Chu family fabricate stories instead of him acting them out, saving his cultivation time while achieving the same result.
Rumors worked. As the old sayings went, “Three lies make a truth” and “Enough voices can bend steel.” Though wise men might see through falsehoods, if Mu Lin himself didn’t deny the rumors, they’d solidify into “facts.”
Chu Lingluo’s mother didn’t refuse. Fabricated scandals would swiftly sever her daughter’s attachment. Still, she added terms:
“Normally you needn’t act, but when rumors spread, you must publicly play along occasionally.”
“Done.”
Thus they conspired to make Chu Lingluo voluntarily distance herself.
Leaving Yan Yunyu’s small courtyard, Mu Lin noticed he felt little anger over being thwarted. No vengeful thoughts of “fortune’s reversal” crossed his mind.
Partly because he held no romantic feelings for Chu Lingluo.
Also, though her mother clearly disdained him, she’d avoided public humiliation—handling matters privately with logical reasoning.
Yet the sting of condescension remained. It fueled his urgency to grow stronger.
But after two steps, he halted. A petite yet steady figure stood waiting near Yan Yunyu’s residence.
Seeing Mu Lin emerge unharmed from the room, Dongfang Ya’s tense shoulders eased.
“No trouble?”
“Thank you for worrying, Teacher. I chose reason—she didn’t press harshly.”
“Reason? You’re parting with Chu Lingluo… *cough* A wise choice. Powerful clans offer much, but their internal battles grind outsiders to dust. You’re safer staying free.”
Dongfang Ya had clearly anticipated Chu Lingluo’s mother’s purpose. She’d rushed here fearing for her student’s safety.
Her steadfast care warmed Mu Lin’s heart.
After confirming Mu Lin was unharmed, she casually comforted him before turning to leave.
But just before departing, Mu Lin’s next question made her expression stiffen awkwardly.
"Teacher, when will that puppet master arrive?"
The earlier events still weighed on Mu Lin.
He now desperately sought to strengthen himself.
Apart from Hard Practice, his best method involved upgrading his paper figures using superior materials, talismans, and formations.
A cultivation-type Substitute Paper Figure crafted this way could boost his training efficiency beyond its current twelvefold multiplier.
…
Mu Lin’s query made Dongfang Ya tug nervously at her hair. "I wish I could say soon," she admitted, "but he’s traveling out of town. Could return in days… or months. If urgent, I’ll contact other Taoist Palace teachers."
Mu Lin… refused.
Knowing Dongfang Ya’s standards, he understood her recommended masters would be exceptional. Such a rare apprenticeship opportunity couldn’t be wasted.
…
After leaving Yan Yunyu’s courtyard, Mu Lin appeared calm at the Taoist Temple next morning.
He mostly focused on cultivation.
Previously, he’d spent entire days with Chu Lingluo – training together, then crafting elaborate paper artworks during breaks using Grandmaster-level origami and master-level painting to entertain her.
But now he kept leaving for unspecified errands.
Soon, whispers about Mu Lin meeting other girls spread through class – carefully orchestrated by Chu Lingluo’s mother.
"Did you hear?" gossiped students. "Anping City merchants want Mu Lin as son-in-law since he made the rankings!"
"But he fell off the list!"
"Still, he was ranked once!"
"Lucky! I wish I got attention like that…"
Chu Lingluo dismissed the initial rumors.
As weeks passed, the gossip worsened. Some classmates swore they’d seen Mu Lin with other women.
Rumors multiplied and tarnished Mu Lin’s reputation.
Chu Lingluo clung to her faith in "Brother Mu" – until two developments shattered her composure.
First, Mu Lin rarely stayed with her anymore. Worse, she began smelling other women’s scents on him.
"Brother Mu," she finally confronted him, "what keeps you so busy? Can I help?"
Mu Lin dodged the question with vague muttering, making Chu Lingluo’s doubts grow despite herself.
That afternoon, he excused himself again.
Chu Lingluo hesitated, then followed.
In a courtyard, she found Mu Lin meeting Yan Yunyu.
Both froze in surprise.
Mu Lin’s eyes screamed unspoken questions.
Yan Yunyu grimaced inwardly. She’d engineered most rumors and planned today’s "accidental" discovery – having Mu Lin "caught" with a merchant’s daughter.
But Chu Lingluo’s mother had outmaneuvered her schemes.
Pe551
Thanks for the chapter!♪～(´ε｀ )