Chapter 85
Facing Uncle Zhong’s strange gaze, Lin Tian instantly realized the misunderstanding and hurriedly explained.
“She… she just went in to use the bathroom. Sir, please don’t get the wrong idea!”
Uncle Zhong gave a slight nod and didn’t press the matter further. He had come with official business to find Xuan Yuan Qingya.
The old man waited respectfully at the door. After a short while, the bathroom door opened, and Xuan Yuan Qingya walked out.
Her face was still faintly flushed, though much better than before.
When her eyes first fell on Lin Tian waiting at the door, she froze for a brief moment in surprise. But then, almost immediately, her gaze shifted to Uncle Zhong.
Moments ago, in front of Lin Tian, Xuan Yuan Qingya had shown the shy, delicate side of a little daughter. Yet, in front of anyone else, her instinctive pride and cold grace resurfaced.
In an instant, her expression regained that faint, noble air. She spoke with calm indifference.
“Uncle Zhong, what is it?”
Uncle Zhong acted as though he hadn’t noticed the change in Xuan Yuan Qingya’s expression. Bowing low with utmost respect, he reported solemnly:
“Miss, your Fourth Uncle just fainted…”
“What?”
Xuan Yuan Qingya’s eyes widened in shock, her face instantly paling with panic.
“My Fourth Uncle fainted? How? What happened?”
Uncle Zhong shook his head, a trace of worry showing on his aged features.
“The exact cause is still unclear. The physician is already examining him…”
Xuan Yuan Qingya’s expression grew more and more anxious. The Fourth Uncle Zhong spoke of was someone far too important to her.
Hearing this, Lin Tian’s eyes also grew slightly serious.
Xuan Yuan Qingya’s Fourth Uncle…
Wasn’t he precisely that elder from the original novel? The one Xuan Yuan Qingya respected above all others?
At this point, it’s necessary to mention the background of the Xuan Yuan family.
Xuan Yuan Qingya’s father had passed away from illness when she was still a child. Before that, the vast Xuan Yuan family business had always been under his management and care.
Xuan Yuan Qingya’s Fourth Uncle was actually her grandfather’s youngest son, which made him the biological younger brother of her late father.
In fact, his original surname hadn’t even been Xuan Yuan. It was only after Xuan Yuan Qingya’s father passed away that he was formally included in the Xuan Yuan family records and changed his surname to Xuan Yuan.
Back then, such a vast inheritance inevitably stirred the greed and ambitions of many.
But in the end, it was precisely thanks to the unwavering support of Qingya’s Fourth Uncle, along with her grandfather’s authority, that Xuan Yuan Xing was able to firmly take her place as the matriarch of the Xuan Yuan family.
And the truth proved their decision correct. Xuan Yuan Xing truly was a woman who stood shoulder to shoulder with men. Despite being a widow, she took over the Xuan Yuan family and, in less than twenty years, expanded its influence across the globe.
At the same time, she had also founded the colossal organization known as the Star Group.
In short…
This Fourth Uncle had once extended his hand to help Xuan Yuan Xing and her daughter during their darkest, most vulnerable years. That was why Xuan Yuan Qingya had respected and admired him deeply since childhood.
In the original story, this middle-aged man named Xuan Yuan Chen had suddenly fallen gravely ill a few months later. At that time, although Xuan Yuan Qingya had not yet entered Jiang Yifeng’s harem, she was already on the verge of doing so.
It was Jiang Yifeng who ultimately saved Xuan Yuan Chen, and that event became the pivotal factor that pushed the relationship between him and Xuan Yuan Qingya to the next stage.
In the source material, Jiang Yifeng’s rescue of Xuan Yuan Chen was written as a highly significant turning point. Because of it, Qingya harbored a quiet but enduring gratitude toward him. Later, even after she learned the truth about Jiang Yifeng’s countless women, she could never bring herself to sever ties with him completely…
The novel devoted a large amount of detail and narrative weight to this episode, which was why Lin Tian remembered it so clearly.
But now…
“This timeline doesn’t add up! Xuan Yuan Chen was supposed to fall ill months later, wasn’t he?”
Lin Tian frowned, thoughts racing through his mind, countless possibilities flashing past.
The most reasonable explanation he could come up with was this: Xuan Yuan Chen’s so-called “sudden” illness a few months later hadn’t actually appeared out of nowhere. It must have already begun showing signs right now.
Illnesses don’t exactly follow a timetable—sometimes they flare up early, sometimes late.
A few months later, Xuan Yuan Chen’s collapse had only coincided with Jiang Yifeng’s appearance, giving him the chance to swoop in and “save” the day.
But Lin Tian had another suspicion. Though it didn’t quite fit with logic, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was far more likely.
That was…
Xuan Yuan Chen’s sudden illness this very moment might not be an early warning at all—it could be the same attack that was supposed to happen months later in the original story!
This world was once again shifting events forward in time…
Just like with the auction. That auction had originally been scheduled months down the line.
But because Jiang Yifeng was meant to obtain a fateful opportunity there, the entire event had been pulled forward—months ahead of schedule. Not only that, but even the items for sale had been exactly the same as in the novel!
The distortion of the timeline was likely because Jiang Yifeng now needed that stroke of fortune.
Because he needed it, the timeline had shifted. Events had been forced to occur earlier.
Damn it, this was just…
Lin Tian could only curse inwardly—worthy of the title Child of Destiny!
But there was still a huge problem here. If Xuan Yuan Chen’s sudden illness was meant to serve as Jiang Yifeng’s opportunity—letting him smooth over his feud with the Xuan Yuan family and, at the same time, win over Xuan Yuan Qingya as a heroine—then…
How the hell was he supposed to get in?
The Xuan Yuan family’s castle wasn’t some public park. The moment Jiang Yifeng was spotted, chances were they’d seize him on the spot, drag him off, and throw him into the dungeon for a round of torture.
After all, he’d already used such despicable means against the Xuan Yuan family’s young lady. If Xuan Yuan Xing still allowed him to stroll freely through the castle, completely unscathed, what would happen to the Xuan Yuan family’s dignity? To the prestige of the Star Organization?
Lin Tian’s eyes narrowed, his thoughts spinning rapidly.
【This plotline that was supposed to unfold months later has actually arrived early… most likely to hand Jiang Yifeng a chance. I don’t know how he’s going to sneak his way into the Xuan Yuan castle, but one thing’s certain—I can’t afford to let my guard down for even a moment!
【I can almost guarantee Jiang Yifeng will show up—after all, this is the world handing him his destined opportunity… Hiss, could it be that he appears together with that Dragon Lord? Not impossible at all!】
【In the original, Jiang Yifeng only managed to save Xuan Yuan Chen because, by that point, he had already unlocked the fourth layer of the Heavenly Physician’s Sacred Body. But right now? He hasn’t even opened the first layer—what the hell is he going to save him with?】
【Still… if my guess is right, the spiritual essence hidden within the 《Spirit Monkey Offering Peach》 should be able to save Xuan Yuan Chen. Damn, I really wonder what trick Jiang Yifeng will pull out of nowhere to treat him this time.】
Lin Tian’s mind churned ceaselessly, but he failed to notice the subtle shift in Xuan Yuan Qingya’s expression.
Her gaze grew distant, a trace of shock hidden within her calm surface.
She was listening carefully to Lin Tian’s inner voice—and from those fragmented thoughts, a faint thread of reasoning slowly began to form in her mind…
Lin Tian was stunned for a moment, pointing at himself with a look of disbelief.
Me? Why the hell are you dragging me into this again?
Xuan Yuan Qingya’s gaze was steady, her tone softer than usual, but carrying a rare trace of pleading.
“Mm. I know you must have your reasons for saying those things just now, but… no matter what, my fourth uncle is extremely important to me. If you really know something… if you can really help, I beg you to come with me.”
Her voice dropped lower and lower, yet the sincerity within it was undeniable.
Lin Tian scratched his head, his mind in chaos.
Damn it… this isn’t right! This scene wasn’t in the original at all! Xuan Yuan Qingya actually lowering her head to me, asking me for help?
He wanted to refuse—wanted to stay as far away from this mess as possible. But as he looked at Xuan Yuan Qingya’s slightly red eyes and the faint quiver in her tone, his mouth twitched, and the words of refusal stuck in his throat.
“…Fine.”
Lin Tian let out a long sigh, finally nodding.
Lin Tian thought to himself, What the hell does this have to do with me? I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have the Heavenly Physician Sacred Body!
What’s more, if he got involved in this matter, he might end up running into Jiang Yifeng.
In a place where seven female leads were gathered, the person Lin Tian feared most was Jiang Yifeng…
Who knew whether Jiang Yifeng had already discovered some of the things between him and the other female leads? Even though nothing truly inappropriate had happened, Lin Tian wasn’t about to stake his life on Jiang Yifeng’s generosity…
He immediately voiced his refusal.
“Well, I don’t know anything about this, nor do I understand medicine. Wouldn’t I just be making things worse if I went?”
Xuan Yuan Qingya bit her lip lightly, then suddenly turned and said to Uncle Zhong.
“Uncle Zhong, wait outside for me. I have something I need to discuss with Mister Lin.”
Uncle Zhong nodded without asking anything and quietly closed the door from the outside.
Lin Tian’s heart skipped a beat. The hell, we were just talking—why did she suddenly close the door?
【What is this woman Xuan Yuan Qingya trying to do? Damn it, she’s not planning to use what just happened to threaten me, is she? Hiss… come to think of it, offending the eldest daughter of the Xuan Yuan family really is a pretty damn serious matter. What should I do now?】
Countless thoughts swirled through Lin Tian’s mind.