Qiguan Cheng Da led Yu Jin into his room and offered him a seat. "It’s really a pity that there was such a misunderstanding. You had to wait for a long time. I’m so sorry about that. Would you like some tea?"

Yu Jin sat down and shook his head. "No need. What was it you wanted to talk about?"

Qiguan Cheng Da repressed a sigh. This guy really never wasted any time. He sat down opposite him and gave a wry smile. "Today, I found out about the mission you posted. That village of demonic practitioners that is supposed to be investigated … it looked like the place we went to the last time. The one where … the ones responsible for your previous Master’s death live?" Back then, he hadn’t known about it but after faking some concern for Yu Jin because of how he behaved and showing off their good relationship, he had been able to get the whole story from Wu Min Huan. Now, he felt that that would come in handy. He had indicated before that he knew about Yu Jin’s past but they hadn’t talked about it in detail. If that changed … It would indicate that the Sect Master’s disciple really took him as his friend now.

Yu Jin gave him a long look in return. "It is that same village." He just left it at that though and didn’t explain any further.

Qiguan Cheng Da couldn’t help but feel awkward. Shouldn’t he say at least a few more sentences? Well, it seemed he could only prompt him to do so. "I could imagine that this is very difficult for you. You must have had a very close relationship with your previous Master."

Yu Jin continued to look at him and didn’t bother to answer.

Qiguan Cheng Da’s smile turned strained but he continued on. "I know you don’t like to speak about this kind of thing so I won’t force you. I just want you to know that I’ll be there for you. When I heard about it, I immediately went and had them hand me the details of the mission as well. I’ll naturally come with you. I hope that’ll make you feel at least a little better when we’re out there."

"Then the problem was …?"

Qiguan Cheng Da stared at him in a daze. He knew that Yu Jin wasn’t very emotional and went about things very matter-of-factly. He still wouldn’t have thought that he would have no reaction to his words though. Shouldn’t he at least give him his thanks first? After all, that had sounded really heartfelt as if he cared about him a lot!

Unfortunately, Yu Jin had reacted even more impassive than usual. It was as if this had nothing to do with him and his own history at all. It really made it difficult for him to continue.

Qiguan Cheng Da cleared his throat and tried to restore his smile. "Problem? I don’t know what to say. There’s no problem per se. It’s just that I thought you might have a problem with having to take care of this. Was the Sect Master the one that ordered you to do that mission? Are you feeling alright about that?"

Yu Jin slightly lowered his gaze. Was this why he had been called over and needed to wait here for several hours? To be asked about how he felt about what happened back then? If he had known … Well, there wasn’t anything he could have done differently. He had already chosen the best course of action.

Thinking of that, he gave a sigh. "I’m alright. Anyway, it has to be done. That can’t be changed regardless of how I feel so I will just take care of it."

"It’s very admirable of you to see it that way. I’m sure your Master must be very proud of you. Both of them."

Qiguan Cheng Da gave him his most sincere gaze but Yu Jin didn’t reply. He turned to the window instead, looking out at the building on the other side of the road. "I guess that was everything you wanted to say?"

Because if that was the case, then he would like to return back to his own house. Meditating here hadn’t yielded any new results at all. So he would much rather go to a place where he wouldn’t have to deal with people walking past him all the time. Not that he wouldn’t be able to focus in that kind of environment but it was still better to have some silence.

The disciples weren’t inconspicuous enough with the way they treated him. Whenever somebody walked by, they would look at him. If they were leaving the house, then they would coincidentally have forgotten something and have to run back inside, announcing their reason for returning instead of just going to retrieve it real quick. It was as if they were afraid that he wouldn’t notice their presence but were too embarrassed to actually admit that.

The three disciples that he had originally asked for help had tried to shoo them off but they naturally couldn’t forbid anybody to enter the building just because he was there. Thus they had to begrudgingly let them do as they liked and could only ask them to be quiet so as to not disturb his meditation.

Qiguan Cheng Da was still trying to find something to say when Yu Jin already got up.

"Well, I guess I will be going then. Everybody that takes part in the mission will meet three days later in the public space between the inner and outer sect. I guess we’ll see each other then." He nodded, turned around and just left, not even waiting for Qiguan Cheng Da to answer. He returned to his own house, went into the courtyard and sat down below the plum tree to continue to meditate.

Meanwhile, Qiguan Cheng Da continued to sit in his room, feeling dumbfounded. Even though he knew that Yu Jin wasn’t very social, he had expected him to change after some time of getting to know each other. Now though … It didn’t seem as if that was likely.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. And the worst thing was that when they went on that mission together, people might notice. He had to find a way to explain himself by then or that might cause trouble as soon as they got back. He definitely couldn’t let that happen.