Chapter 33: A Debt Repaid

The Lin family gathered in the main hall.

Ao Kuiba sat in his chairs at the same time and watched all the gazes directed at him in the room.

Lin Zhengyuan sat in the middle with his wife, Su Wan, and their son, Lin Yuanhong, had crossed arms and locked eyes with Ao.

Lin Yue had remained next to her father and her younger sister Lin Mei sat besides her and kept stealing glances at Ao.

At the head of the hall sat Lin Qingshan, the most senior elder of the family, and had kept silent and watching ever since Ao had arrived.

It was uncomfortable.

"Speak already," Lin Yuanhong finally muttered.

Ao Kuiba remained silent.

His son frowned, "You killed Elder Han, plus the rest of the city’s cultivators, you could have returned after saving my father, but instead, you come here instead. If you had a different reason for doing all of that just say it already."

The silence remained again with another younger family member shifting in his seat before muttering, "Does he plan to sit here the whole night?"

Lin Qingshan raised a hand to signal for silence.

The young man complied without hesitation.

The eyes of Qingshan fell upon Ao.

He had seen the fight against the Ironwood Clan and had seen how effortlessly the young man had handled an opponent of the Core Formation stage.

Though he too was within the Core Formation, he had no intention of deluding himself by thinking that they were at the same level.

There had been something about Ao that had triggered unease within him.

Not fear.

Recognition.

That was Qingshan’s expression as he looked down at Ao.

"If Ao Kuiba wanted something from the Lin family, he would have taken it by now," Qingshan remarked before he shook his head. "There is no need to badger him from all sides. One question only. What doesAo want with us?"

Ao Kuiba finally met his gaze. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Nothing."

A few exchanged glances and nods.

Qingshan merely nodded his head.

"Then why did you help us?"

"Lin Yue helped me," Ao replied.

Eyes were now falling on Lin Yue who looked as if she was just realizing that she was the center of attention.

"Before I met you all I did not know this place very well, I did not know what was happening around me. She did not owe me anything and yet, she helped me. I do not like owing."

Lin Zhengyuan’s expression softened upon hearing this.

"So everything, every favor was done for you my daughter," his voice was gentle as he looked to Lin Yue. "Then tell me Lin Yue, what do you want to ask? What will you do now?" asked Lin Yuanhong.

"Ao Kuiba, regardless of what happened with your clan, you saved Yue’er so if you ever need something from us that we can give, then simply come and take it," Lin Zhengyuan finally spoke.

Ao looked to him.

"You don’t have anything that I will ever need."

There was a heavy silence that followed with several gazes falling on Ao while Lin Mei’s mouth dropped slightly before she clapped it with her hand.

Lin Yuanhong’s expression was dark.

"The audacity."

Ao didn’t even bother to look at the old man.

Lin Qingshan closed his eyes before he spoke, "He means it."

That was all it took for the man’s expression to tighten.

Somehow, it was even more awkward.

Ao shifted to the doorway, "Wait."

Lin Mei suddenly stood and Ao halted with his gaze upon her. The sixteens year old ran towards him and whatever had happened was forgotten by her.

Her wide eyes were full of curiosity as they locked onto his. "Do you know alchemy?"

"Yes."

Her eyes suddenly widened in shock and her expression turned excited. "You really do know alchemy? Are you serious?"

"Yes."

Lin Mei started to take another step towards him.

"Then teach me," she suddenly said.

"No."

The joy immediately drained away.

"Why not?" Her eyes were wide in shock now.

"I have other things to do."

Ao turned and walked towards the door with Lin Mei standing there, staring at his back as if he had just surprised her.

Her expression somehow suddenly changed.

"Wait. Can’t just refuse."

Ao kept walking.

Lin Mei hurried to catch up with him. "Seriously though, I really want to learn alchemy. I will not bother you. I can gather the herbs for you, I can clean the furnace or prepare the materials. Just anything you need."

"I said no."

"But you have not seen all that I can offer!"

"I don’t need to."

Lin Mei halted for half a moment and her cheeks pucked slightly.

"You have not even given me a chance."

Ao kept walking.

"It is my decision."

She watched him before she quickly followed again.

Behind them Su Wan called, "Lin Mei, return."

Lin Mei pretended to not hear and looked back as her mother’s voice cried, "Lin Mei!" before her gaze met the entrance of the hall which Lin Yue glanced as she sighed.

"Mei, leave him be. If he does not want to teach you, then chasing him down won’t change his decision."

Lin Mei merely looked back while continuing walking.

"I will be back."

"Lin Mei!"

She ignored her mother’s yell and hurried after Ao.

Lin Yuanhong watched as his niece disappeared through the doorway. "She actually ran after him."

Lin Yue simply shook her head. "Once she has her mind set on something, it is difficult to change it."

Su Wan sighed at that, "That girl."

Qingshan remained in the chair as he stared at the doorway. "She’ll return when she gets tired."

Lin Yue glanced to Qingshan.

"You’re assuming she’ll get tired."

The old man opened their eyes and said, "That is true."

Outside, Ao Kuiba walked in the courtyard without returning.

Lin Mei followed closely behind.

"I am not giving up."

Ao Kuiba continued walking.

"You can say no as many times as you wish but I am still going to ask."

He gave no response.

Lin Mei smiled to herself and ran faster.

If Ao Kuiba did know alchemy then she would find a way to make him teach her.