Chapter 13

• "Did... Did I embarrass myself?" Tim pondered, his gaze fixed on Bowen's retreating form, a torrent of complex emotions swirling within him.
• Foremost among these emotions was an overwhelming sense of shame that washed over Tim like a relentless tide. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a complete fool of himself. The cause of this shame? It stemmed from the fact that he had been looked down upon, his vulnerabilities exposed for all to see.
• Tim's heart was already fragile and sensitive, thanks in part to the lingering sting of being labeled 'crippled' and having his 'dantian' shattered. However, his recent acquisition of the Burning World Red Lotus had also inflated his ego slightly, making him especially susceptible to this shame.
• But there was more to his emotional turmoil than just shame. Alongside it, a cocktail of disbelief and a subtle flicker of hope stirred within Tim's chest. He couldn't quite admit it to himself, but he carried a secret desire that Bowen's words might hold a shred of truth – that Bowen hadn't come to harm him. Such an outcome would be akin to surviving a cataclysmic event unscathed.
• At the inn's entrance, a few moments later, a group of cultivators escorting an opulent sedan chair came into view, drawing the attention of the gathered crowd. The atmosphere shifted as they addressed Bowen with respect and reverence.
• "Young Master!"
• "We've brought the Ninth Young Lady.
• "Alchemist Piko, who accompanies her, is also present."
• The lead cultivator conveyed this information with a deep sense of deference toward Bowen.
• "Hmm," Bowen acknowledged with a slight nod.
• This encounter was part of the elaborate 'motivation' Bowen had concocted for his visit to the Vast Spirit Residence. Valerie was no naive, impressionable maiden easily swayed by sweet words, let alone conquered. Without a legitimate reason for his presence, Valerie might quickly suspect impure motives, leading her to become cautious and mistrustful. Such an outcome could have far-reaching consequences for Bowen's future plans.
• "The Ninth Young Lady?" Valerie and Piko exchanged meaningful glances, rapidly piecing together that Bowen's visit was connected to this mysterious Ninth Young Lady.
• "'Ninth Young Lady?' Could it be that Bowen truly didn't come here to pursue me?" Tim's narrowed eyes reflected a mixture of vigilance, suspicion, and, surprisingly, a touch of relief.
• "Ninth sister, please join us," Bowen said, dismissive of Valerie and the others, his voice directed toward the ornate palanquin's interior.
• "Yes, big brother," responded a delicate, frail voice from within.
• The curtain of the palanquin was lifted, unveiling an enchanting woman supporting a young girl of approximately 15 or 16 years old. The young girl's appearance, while not breathtaking, bore a faint resemblance to Bowen and was accompanied by a delicate, somewhat sickly pallor.
• "Allow me to introduce her," Bowen said, drawing Piko and Valerie's attention. "This is my cousin, Bowen Rina."
• Bowen cast a nod of acknowledgment toward Piko and Valerie. "I've come today to seek your assistance for her illness."
• Rina offered a modest salute to both Piko and Valerie before taking her seat with Alchemist Piko's gentle assistance.
• "Healing?!"
• "Your Bowen Clan is one of the two great families in Autumn Glory City, with countless alchemists at their disposal. Why would they come to the little-known Vast Spirit Residence for a cure?"
• Tim questioned, frowning.
• His instincts compelled him to constantly scrutinize Bowen's actions.
• Upon hearing his statement,
• Piko and Valerie also grew slightly suspicious.
• "My cousin suffers from a peculiar ailment."
• "Numerous alchemists in Autumn Glory City were unable to provide assistance."
• "As for Alchemist Piko, it's evident to me that you possess skills beyond what's immediately apparent."
• Bowen gazed at Piko with a faint smile, exuding confidence as if he were in control of the entire situation.
• Upon hearing this,
• Piko and Valerie both turned pale!
• Especially Piko.
• She was not originally from Autumn Glory City and had maintained a very low profile since arriving here for some unknown reason.
• However, she had never done anything that might reveal her identity.
• Unexpectedly,
• Bowen had still managed to uncover her background!
• What she didn't know was that Bowen had only recently deduced that her identity was far from ordinary.
• "Alchemist Piko, Miss Valerie, please be rest assured."
• "If I had intended to act against you, I would have done so already, wouldn't I? Why wait until now?"
• "For all these years, I have never disturbed you, nor have I revealed your identities to anyone."
• "Now that my cousin is gravely ill, I truly have no choice but to seek your help."
• "Additionally, I've heard that the Lim Clan has been causing trouble for you, so I'll assist in resolving some minor issues while I'm here."
• Bowen's smile was gentle, exuding warmth and sincerity.
• 'So that's how it is.'
• 'If it weren't for Bowen's benevolent heart in keeping our secret, our enemies would have caught up with us long ago.'
• After careful thought, Valerie accepted Bowen's explanation, and a hint of realization and admiration surfaced in her eyes.
• [Ding! Unpursued heroine Valerie's impression of you has changed once again, and protagonist Tim's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 100 points!]
• [Ding! You have gained 200 points of Villain Value!]
• The system prompt sounded immediately, causing Bowen's heart to swell with delight.
• "Young Master Bowen truly deserves to be praised as a gentleman for his noble character and unwavering integrity!"
• Piko's face also revealed a hint of understanding and gratitude.
• "Master... Valerie..."
• Observing that Valerie and Piko seemed to have developed a favorable impression of Bowen, Tim couldn't help but feel agitated in his heart.
• "Tim."
• "From what I can see... is there some sort of misunderstanding between you and Young Master Bowen?"
• Piko inquired with a touch of curiosity.
• She had covertly observed Tim, and her many years of experience in discerning people's character led her to believe that he was not a bad person.
• Similarly, Bowen appeared to be kind and good-hearted.
• How could there be any grievances between the two of them?
• Could it have been caused by factional disputes within the Starry Abyss Sect?
• She pondered this possibility.
• "This..."
• Tim knew that he couldn't explain himself in just a few words, so he could only utter in a rigid tone, "Bowen, I'll trust you this time."
• Elder Bowen silently smiled and shook his head.
• It was akin to a person of higher standing who didn't consider it worthwhile to argue with someone he perceived as beneath him.
• Witnessing this, Tim felt a surge of shame rising in his heart.
• "I won't say much more."
• "Please, Alchemist Poki, do your best in aiding my ninth sister with her illness."
• "After the matter is resolved, I'll ensure you're satisfied with the reward."
• Bowen stood up and slightly bowed to Poki and Valerie.
• Rina, his ninth sister, also rose with the help of Alchemist Piko and offered a modest bow.
• "Young Master Bowen, please rest assured."
• "I'll handle this matter."
• "Please, Alchemist Piko and Ninth Young Lady, follow me."
• Piko immediately agreed. Even without Bowen's promise of a reward, she would still have consented because he knew her true identity.
• "Good."
• Elder Bowen smiled faintly and nodded to Alchemist Piko and Rina.
• The two of them immediately walked towards Piko.
• "Camilla, you come too."
• Piko nodded towards Valerie, and the latter followed them.
• Soon after,
• The four women entered a room, activated the concealing formation, and began to diagnose the illness.
• In the inn's lobby, only Elder Bowen, Tim, and a team of Bowen Clan cultivators remained.
• Suddenly,
• [Ding! You have altered the plot, gaining 200 points of Villain Value!]
• A system prompt appeared in Bowen's mind once again.
• 'Another 200 points earned, this is fantastic!'
• 'The total amount of Villain Value has now reached 1,300 points!'
• Bowen cheered silently in his heart, but on the surface, he remained composed and instructed the guard to prepare tea.
• Once the tea was brewed, he even had the guard serve a cup to Tim.
• However, Bowen Rina remained silent throughout the entire process, his gaze occasionally shifting towards the room, displaying his deep concern for the illness of his ninth sister, Rina.
• As for Tim, Bowen paid him no attention, treating him as if he were a stranger.
• Tim himself was also baffled by this situation.
• 'Is this Elder Bowen... really here for his sister's illness?'
• 'Did he truly just happen to encounter me here?'
• An inexplicable intuition told Tim that something was off about Bowen, but the reality left him uncertain.
• After glancing at the tea brought by the Bowen Clan cultivator and then at Elder Bowen, Tim decided to wait and see what would unfold.
• Time passed slowly.
• At a certain moment,
• The concealment formation within the room dissipated, and the door opened.
• Alchemist Piko assisted Rina in walking out, accompanied by Valerie and Camilla trailing behind them.
• From their expressions, it was evident that the diagnosis and treatment had not proceeded smoothly.
• "How did it go?"
• Bowen rose to his feet and inquired, his brow furrowing slightly.
• "Young Master Bowen..."
• "Your cousin is afflicted with the Purple Extreme Yin Devouring Syndrome, a congenital condition."
• "This particular ailment is exceedingly rare and can only be remedied using the 'Red Sun Seven Flowers Pill'."
• Piko's face bore a trace of embarrassment as she said, "I only possess a fragmentary formula for the pill, rendering me unable to concoct it for treatment purposes."