The Fool*

"Anyways, we haven't done proper introductions, have we? I will go first, I am Xin Jianyu."

"My name is Mo Suyin."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jianyu paused briefly before delving into the reason for their meeting.

"Now, without further ado, let's talk about the matter at hand. Miss Suyin, you must be concerned about why I invited you here?"

"Yes..." Mo Suyin's face reddened as she recalled her earlier presumptions about Jianyu and his invitation, feeling ashamed of her assumptions.

'There's no way someone as polite as him would ask for something like that.'

Jianyu, without paying too much attention to her tomato-like redness, continued, "To put it in simple words, I want you," pointing directly at Mo Suyin.

"Wh-Wha!" Mo Suyin's face reddened even further, now reminiscent of the red hues of a sunset.

"As you might know, the young scions of the great families often recruit young talents in the sect to establish their influence..."

Without minding Mo Suyin's flustered state, Jianyu elaborated on the customary practices in the sect. Moreover, activities such as creating a faction and factional conflict were deemed as a way of nurturing character and talents within the sect, Young scions would grant their subordinates resources, nurturing the sect's talents and that wasn't the only benefit this brought.

"...Then why did you invite me today?"

Mo Suyin lowered her head, showing a self-deprecating smile as she confessed, "There are many talented people in the sect... I'd recommend young lord to approach someone else rather than... someone like me."

Jianyu, however, had a different perspective. "Miss Suyin... I know about your 'condition,' but I believe the reason for your condition might be a special physique."

Mo Suyin's hazel eyes widened in shock, and she stood up, her voice rising in exclamation, "What?!"

"The tea that you drank is called Nine Nethers Nirvana tea. This tea has a calming effect that helps cultivators relax, making it quite popular. However," Jianyu paused, looking into Suyin's eyes with determination, "this tea can easily knock out a Unity Realm expert with a single cup. The fact that you are still conscious is clear proof that you have a special physique."

"B-but if I had a physique, my family would've found out about it when my spiritual roots were checked!"

"Well," Jianyu explained, "your admission into the sect was unlike usual, and based on the fact that your parents sacrificed themselves for the sect, it shouldn't have been that difficult for your results to be falsified. Or it could be that your physique is simply difficult to discern." Instead of clarifying his thoughts on her situation, Jianyu spoke vaguely, in a way that could implicate her 'family' to be the one responsible for her situation. However, he didn't care much, as it would be beneficial for both of them if she severed her relationship with her 'family'.

"Either way, my proposal is the same, Mo Suyin. If you choose to follow and serve me, then even if you cannot cultivate and grow stronger, I shall promise you an honorable life."

Jianyu extended his hand toward Mo Suyin as he concluded his offer.

Mo Suyin was left dumbfounded, her eyes fixed on Jianyu's outstretched hand.

"Why me...? Someone like the young lord can easily get someone far more talented to serve you... So why me?"

Her voice quivered with hesitation as she looked at Jianyu with quivering eyes.

"Well... there's no particular reason for my actions," Jianyu replied with a pleasant smile. "However, I do have an eye for people, I must say." His words were woven in such a way that made one believe that he had no ill intentions and only thought of this as an adventurous gamble.

Overwhelmed by this offer, Mo Suyin knelt and spoke, "I will- no, please allow me to serve you!!"

Jinayu stood up and approached Mo Suyin with unhurried steps,

"Mhm, let's get along well from now on."

Jianyu offered his hand again to help Mo Suyin up from her kneeling position.

"Y-yes!" Mo Suyin responded enthusiastically as she took Jianyu's hand.

Little did Mo Suyin know that her decision that day would change her life completely.

...

After a few minutes

...

After a few minutes, Jianyu and Suyin talked for a while, but they soon ran out of material to discuss. Both of them had typically spent their time cultivating and hadn't had much of a social life.

"Lei Qiang," Jianyu finally broke the silence, calling out to his subordinate.

"Yes, young master," Lei Qiang replied promptly as she appeared behind him.

"Has Xin Guang not arrived yet?"

"...Not yet, young master..."

A frown appeared on Jianyu's face as he heard this.

'Is that brat looking down on me? Or does he think someone will come to pick him up? Or is he foolish enough to think that he can establish his own faction while 'I' am right here?'

"Lei Qiang, have someone drag that fool here if, for some stupid reason, he decides to resist. Break his limbs."

'Decisiveness is a leader's virtue. If I let this bastard go, there would be no point in establishing my faction. After all, if I let one fool go, another might have similar thoughts soon after...'

While Jianyu didn't think much of his actions, Mo Suyin felt a shiver run down her spine as she witnessed the change in Jianyu's temperament. 'Would this happened had I refused him?!'

"Yes, young master!"

Lei Qiang left immediately, carrying out Jianyu's command.

...

...

...

"Unhand me!! How dare yo-Ugh!"

A few moments later, Lei Qiang returned with Xin Guang, who was thrown to the ground unceremoniously.

'No way is this guy that stupid, right?'

Jianyu scrutinized Xin Guang, another member of the Xin family who shared his surname, and a headache began to creep in.

Jianyu had a warm smile on his face, but his eyes told a completely different story.

"I-I was s-simply busy and had to p-postpone my visit!" Xin Guang stammered hastily, his speech slurred.

'This idiotic bastard...' Jianyu's headache intensified as he had had enough of Xin Guang's foolishness.

"Xin Guang, it seems like you do not understand your situation quite well," Jianyu's expression grew colder with each word he spoke, a deep blue aura beginning to emanate from his body, causing Xin Guang to kneel and lower his head.

"What you had received wasn't an invitation, it was an order!" Jianyu raised his voice,

"You had foolishly lost during the entrance ceremony and, not only that, you caused our family's reputation to take a hit."

'Not that a fool like this guy could cause any harm to the great Xin family's name.' His thoughts were filled with a pride that he himself didn't know about.

"Yet, even after all that, you, a member of the branch family, have the gall to ignore my orders."

Finally, Jianyu let his aura flow completely, causing Xin Guang's head to smash into the ground. Mo Suyin, on the side, 'only' felt a bit of fear towards Jianyu's aura.

"I-I apo-apologiz-Urgh!!"

"He fainted, huh?"

'Well, at least he didn't wet his pants. Then he would have really been beyond saving...'

"Lei Qiang, have someone prepare two rooms for this fool and Miss Suyin. Also, tie up that idiot and throw him in a room as well."

"Yes, young master."

...

...

...

After handling the situation, Jianyu turned to Mo Suyin with a light chuckle, "I showed you something unsightly, didn't I?"

Mo Suyin's hazel eyes twinkled as she responded, "Not at all! I think the young lord looked very cool!"

"Fufu, is that so? Well, you can just call me Brother Jianyu, since we are both disciples of the sect."

'Even though she didn't face the full brunt of my intimidation... but, to think she can smile carelessly even after that. Looks like I've truly struck gold this time!'

"Ah! I will do so from now on, Brother J-Jianyu!"

Mo Suyin's face began to redden, and her heart began to beat faster with every passing moment.

"Mhm, please do so."

Jianyu smiled in pure bliss as he had gained the gold mine named Mo Suyin as his subordinate.

"Will you be able to move into this place right away?"

"Umm... I only have my clothes back at my abode... other than that, I would like to bring my late mother's necklace... It's very important to me."

"Is that so? Well then, how about we go and get your belongings together?"

"Huh?"

Jianyu had a playful smile as he thought of exploring the sect's areas, while Mo Suyin had a dumbfounded look on her face.