However, Xiu Jiming’s face did not look very good at the moment; he seemed exhausted.
Lin Ling remained silent for a moment before softly saying in her heart, ‘Xiao Ming, when are we returning to Yueshan County?’
Xiu Jiming smiled at her words and said, “What is it? Do you want to go back? Actually, we can return at any time.”
‘Yes. Although Longchuan County is nice, after staying for a while, I feel like home is still better,’ Lin Ling thought.
‘After all, as the old saying goes, a gold or silver nest is never as good as one’s own doghouse.’
Xiu Jiming thought for a moment and nodded.
“You have a point. Let us wander around a bit more to buy some local specialties before we return to Yueshan County. We should buy some things to bring back for your friends, how does that sound?”
Lin Ling nodded in agreement but did not say anything more.
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent, and the scene became somewhat awkward.
After a long while, Lin Ling said with some embarrassment, ‘Do you have anything else? If not, I would like to go back and rest.’
Feeling Lin Ling’s sense of distance, Xiu Jiming fell silent.
However, he did not dwell on it and simply nodded.
“Fine. If you need anything, just look for me.”
Xiu Lanxin, who had been peeking from the doorway, immediately covered her eyes.
As soon as Xiu Jiming walked out, she hurried over and grabbed him.
“Brother! That is not how you pursue a girl. It would be a miracle if you could actually win her over like that!”
Xiu Jiming was silent for a moment before asking, “Do you have any good suggestions?”
Xiu Lanxin quickly tried to entice him.
“If Little Ling’er is not paying attention, you have to be more proactive! Look, she did not even explicitly reject you, yet you just obediently ran away on your own. That will not do.”
“When pursuing a girl, you have to be a little more patient. When you take her out to play, if she already has some favorable feelings toward you, you should be more intimate. How can you be so dry? Are you waiting for her to suddenly fall in love with you? How is that even possible?”
Xiu Lanxin gestured solemnly with her finger.
Xiu Jiming silently memorized her advice and finally said, “I understand. Lanxin, you should head back first.”
Xiu Lanxin nodded secretly and then added, “Brother, if we were not a martial arts family, given that you are in your thirties and still haven’t started a family, people would probably be whispering behind your back.”
Xiu Jiming said indifferently, “My lifespan is nearly 1,000 years. What does it matter if I am not married in my thirties?”
Xiu Lanxin’s face darkened, and she silently gave him a thumbs-up.
“Brother, you are amazing. Whatever you say is right. But Brother, for the clan competition in a few months, are you going to come back?”
Xiu Jiming fell silent, then glanced at her.
“Setting everything else aside, I am 34, nearly 35 years old. The clan competition is for the younger generation, right? From that perspective, it should have nothing to do with me anymore. Do I still count as the younger generation?”
Xiu Lanxin silently labeled her brother as stubborn.
She said, “So you do know you are not young anymore. Then why haven’t you brought back a sister-in-law yet?”
Xiu Jiming raised an eyebrow and instinctively glanced toward Lin Ling’s room.
He quickly said, “I am asking you a question.”
Xiu Lanxin waved her hand hurriedly.
“I do not know. Perhaps they want you to come back and guide the younger generation of the Xiu Clan. Besides, our generation truly is the junior generation — at least in terms of hierarchy. You are just a bit old. Even if you are an old fogey, if your seniority rank has not moved up, you still count as the younger generation, right?”
Xiu Jiming’s face was full of dark lines.
What kind of nonsense was she saying?
“Anyway, do as you see fit. I only came here to notify you. All right, bye-bye. Remember to bring back a sister-in-law.”
After saying that, Xiu Lanxin vanished in a flash.
Xiu Jiming was left standing there dazed.
Just then, Lin Ling walked out of the library.
She happened to see Xiu Jiming standing at the door in a daze.
Lin Ling blinked, said nothing, and quickly fled while cradling her head.
Xiu Jiming’s expression shifted.
He felt it was necessary to listen to Xiu Lanxin and put in some effort.
If things continued like this, he feared the Little Fox would only drift further and further away from him.
Early the next morning, Lin Ling had already packed her things and was ready to go out with Xiu Jiming to buy some souvenirs for home.
Lin Ling suddenly thought of something.
She had been in Longchuan for so long, yet she seemed to have been spending Xiu Jiming’s money the entire time.
Speaking of which, she had been with the Xun Zhu Si for over two months, right?
It seemed Xiu Jiming had never given her any wages.
Thinking of this, Lin Ling became very serious.
She quickly arrived at the door of Xiu Jiming’s room.
At this time, Xiu Jiming had also finished washing up and was leaning leisurely by the window drinking tea.
Seeing Lin Ling arrive, he smiled and asked, “Are you ready?”
Lin Ling looked at him with a serious expression.
Since she had come in a hurry, she had not brought any pages to write on.
She hesitated for a moment but finally invoked the Jade Void Grotto-Heaven so that Xiu Jiming could hear her thoughts.
Lin Ling said, ‘Xiao Ming, it seems I have never asked you for my salary? Where is my money? It has been two months, and I haven’t received a single cent! Isn’t this a bit wrong?!’
Listening to Lin Ling speak so fluently, Xiu Jiming was not even quite used to it.
He thought for a moment and said, “Now that you mention it… your year’s salary and the rewards bestowed by the Emperor should have arrived. However, they are not in Longchuan County. They should have been transported to Yueshan County. Once we return to Yueshan, you should be able to get your money.”
‘Have you calculated how much it is?’
Lin Ling asked with some excitement.
Xiu Jiming thought it over and shook his head.
“I am not entirely sure of the exact amount, but it shouldn’t be too little. After all, the Fox Clan was wiped out for the sake of Dayu, so the Emperor’s reward should not be small. As for your salary, I have mentioned it before; it is 400 silver taels, along with some Spirit Stones and other items.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Ling’s eyes sparkled.
She immediately thought to herself, ‘With so much money, does that mean I don’t have to work hard anymore? I could just find a place, open a small shop, and be a wealthy person; that might not be bad. The path of cultivation is so dangerous. If I run into some lunatic who wants to turn me into a Human Emperor Banner and captures me, that wouldn’t be good. But it would be a waste to stop studying the Talismans I’ve researched for so long.’
Lin Ling suddenly realized that Xiu Jiming could hear her thoughts at this moment.
The Little Fox instantly became alert and glared at Xiu Jiming.
Xiu Jiming quickly turned his head away, pretending he had heard nothing at all.
Seeing him like this, Lin Ling’s teeth itched with frustration.
An unknown emotion bubbled up, and she could not help but step forward and kick Xiu Jiming’s shin.
She glared at him and thought, ‘What are you looking at? You are paying for everything now. Hurry up and take me out to buy some good things! How long are you going to wait?’
Xiu Jiming smiled and immediately sat up from the bed.
“Then let us head out after breakfast.”
Lin Ling looked at him and, for some reason, still felt a bit indignant.
She stomped her foot and turned to run away.
Xiu Jiming wiped the footprint off his trouser leg and chuckled slightly.
This was a good thing.
If the wild girl could get angry, it meant she was not completely ignoring him.
It was much better than the previous feeling of distance.