Chapter 15: Suspicion

He stumbled to the table in a daze, holding the kettle. After trying to pour for a long time, not a single drop came out. He couldn't help but be startled, rubbed his eyes, and looked around. He found the bedding dry and wrinkled in a heap. He blankly said to Wang Lin, "Wang Lin, when did you come back? Is our home… haunted by a Drought Ghost?"

Wang Lin gave a wry smile, pushed open the door, and said, "I don't know either. It was like this when I came back. Why don't you ask the other Senior Brothers? But if it gets to the Elder, you'll have a lot of trouble explaining, and might even be interrogated."

Zhang Hu shook his head vigorously and said, "Forget it, I'm not saying anything. Otherwise, I'll definitely be questioned endlessly, and if I don't answer well, I'll surely get a scolding."

Wang Lin ignored him and walked out of the room. It was still raining lightly outside. He pondered for a moment, then hurried out, worried that the bead might cause a rain anomaly. He deliberately chose small paths, winding left and right to exit through the East Gate. All the raindrops that fell on him along the way were absorbed by the mysterious bead. He was quite nervous, afraid of being discovered. He had initially planned to hide in his room, but after thinking it over, he gave up, believing it would be safer to hide it outside.

He arrived at the place where he had hidden the dew gourd. Fortunately, it wasn't fully bright yet, and there weren't many early risers. Wang Lin walked very carefully. After confirming there was no one around, he quickly hid the bead there.

After doing all this, he breathed a sigh of relief. He planned to retrieve the treasure after the rain stopped. He looked around cautiously, then Wang Lin left. After arriving at the Miscellaneous Duties Office, he was about to pick up a water bucket when the door to the room of the Disciple surnamed Liu creaked open, revealing his weasel-like face with a pointed mouth and sunken cheeks. He was startled when he saw Wang Lin, and then his face immediately showed enthusiasm. He stepped forward, snatched the water bucket from Wang Lin's hand, and said, "Isn't this Junior Brother Wang? How are your parents? I've been worried about you these past few days, Junior Brother."

Wang Lin was taken aback. He was very familiar with the other party's demeanor, which was exactly like that of his own relatives, but he couldn't understand what this Liu fellow was up to today.

"Senior Brother Liu, my parents are both well, no need for your concern," Wang Lin said cautiously, unable to guess the other party's intentions.

"Junior Brother, you don't have to get up so early every day from now on. Junior Brother, it's not that I'm lecturing you, but before, Senior Brother was just joking when I told you to fetch ten vats of water a day. You were so earnest, you actually believed it. From now on, one vat of water a day is enough, and don't worry about whether it's full or not. When it's time to eat, just go eat. If anyone makes trouble for you, just mention Senior Brother's name, it works!" The Disciple surnamed Liu patted his chest and said with extreme enthusiasm.

Wang Lin's eyes showed a strange look. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Senior Brother, do you have something you want me to do?"

The Disciple surnamed Liu immediately showed displeasure, feigning anger, "Junior Brother, why are you being so distant with Senior Brother? Am I really such a worldly person? You are my Junior Brother, and it's only right for me to be good to you. From now on, your business is my business. For your usual work, just put in a little effort. As for whether it's done well or not, isn't it just a word from me, your Senior Brother? It's raining today, so you don't have to work. Oh, right, Junior Brother, Elder Sun was looking for you a few days ago. Now that you're back, it's best to report to the Elder." After speaking, he squinted at Wang Lin to observe his reaction.

Wang Lin pondered for a moment, a half-smile appearing on his face. He mostly guessed the reason in his heart. From the other party's words, Elder Sun must have come looking for him after he left, and this Liu fellow probably misunderstood, which is why he was flattering him so much today. He didn't expose him, but instead, mimicking the other party's earlier manner, he let out an "En" from his nose.

Seeing Wang Lin's expression, the Disciple surnamed Liu's heart sank. He became even more certain of his guess, thinking to himself that this useless brat must have had a stroke of luck and actually connected with an Elder, otherwise, he wouldn't be so arrogant. This kid clearly looks like the type who holds grudges, and since he had made things difficult for him before, this kid would definitely get back at him in the future.

He had been a Named Disciple for thirteen years and had been in the Miscellaneous Duties Office for six years. He had never seen an Elder personally come to look for a Named Disciple. Normally, even if an Inner Sect Disciple was sent, it would be a huge deal.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered that Wang Lin might have offended an Elder, rather than it being as he guessed, but he wasn't sure. He feared not the ten thousand, but the one in ten thousand chance. Having been in the Heng Yue School for many years, he deeply understood that the waters here were very deep, and he, a mere Named Disciple, was truly insignificant.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth, took out a yellow paper from his怀, and handed it to Wang Lin, saying, "Junior Brother, the moment I saw you last month, I felt like we were old friends. This small gift is just a token of my regard. You must accept it, if you don't…"

Before he could finish, Wang Lin snatched the yellow paper. He had glanced at it earlier and immediately recognized it as an Immortal Talisman used by Named Disciples for visiting family.

"That's fine, Senior Brother's kindness is hard to refuse. However, the Elder is waiting for me. Junior Brother will come again tomorrow to reminisce with Senior Brother," Wang Lin said with a light chuckle.

Senior Brother Liu nodded repeatedly, envying, "The Elder's matter is important, Junior Brother, hurry over."

Wang Lin appeared calm on the surface, but a question arose in his heart: Elder Sun, personally coming to find him, what could it be for? With this question, Wang Lin walked unhurriedly towards the Main Courtyard, analyzing various possibilities in his mind along the way, but ultimately remained confused.

"Did he discover that I have the mysterious bead?" Wang Lin paused, pondered for a moment, and thought to himself that if he didn't go, it would arouse suspicion. He might as well pretend to be ignorant; anyway, the bead wasn't on him. Thinking this, he strode forward.

Not long after, he arrived at the Main Courtyard. After reporting his purpose, the White-clothed Youth appeared again. He looked slightly surprised and sarcastically said, "What, going home to visit family again?"

Wang Lin raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Elder Sun's voice came from afar within the Main Courtyard.

"Bring him to me quickly, no delay!"

The White-clothed Youth curled his lip, gave Wang Lin a meaningful look, and walked into the courtyard without a word. Wang Lin remained silent and followed.

After arriving at Elder Sun's residence, the White-clothed Youth bowed out. Before leaving, he showed a strange expression and scrutinized Wang Lin again.

Wang Lin felt a slight tension in his heart. He pushed open the garden gate, and as soon as he entered, he saw an old man walk out of a room in the garden. The old man had many wrinkles on his face, bright eyes, and a cold expression as he glanced at Wang Lin.