C31 The Mysterious Qiu Xiya and Mr Ji

"Mr. Ji!" Qiu Xiya exclaimed with joy as she threw herself into his arms in a display of affection.

Despite Qiu Xiya's enthusiastic embrace, Mr. Ji remained stoic, his gaze fixed intently on Jiaang Lin, as though trying to unravel the man's very essence.

His brow furrowed more deeply the longer he watched Jiaang Lin.

"Mr. Ji! When did you wake up?" Qiu Xiya asked, her voice tinged with emotion. It was clear she hadn't seen him in quite some time, and the tears lingering in the corners of her eyes were enough to tug at anyone's heartstrings.

"I woke up today, only to hear you were planning to head into the mountains with them. That's just reckless!" he scolded, casting a stern look her way.

But Qiu Xiya seemed unfazed, clinging to the middle-aged man's arm with the innocence of a tame kitten.

"She's like a kitten with him, but with me, she's a dangerous seductress," Jiaang Lin mused silently. "Women truly are creatures of many facets!"

"Mr. Ji, I really want to go with him. He's so much fun, and he's strong, too—he can protect me!" Qiu Xiya pleaded, employing every ounce of her charm.

Mr. Ji was clearly fond of Qiu Xiya, and even his stern demeanor softened slightly. "Xiya, you know I'm not as capable as I once was. Protecting you in the face of real danger is no small feat. And if you were to encounter the Beast King in the woods, do you think this young man could handle it?"

"Mr. Ji, isn't the Beast King just a myth? No one has ever actually seen that demonic beast. What are the chances we'd run into it?" Qiu Xiya replied nonchalantly.

He couldn't bring himself to outright dismiss Qiu Xiya's wishes, so he leaned in closer, his voice a grave whisper. "Xiya, be careful—this young man is dangerous."

"Why would you say that, Mr. Ji?" Qiu Xiya responded, her surprise evident.

"Believe me, I have a knack for reading people, and I'm usually spot-on. But this guy," he said, his frown deepening, "I just can't figure him out."

"Mr. Ji can't see through him?" Qiu Xiya was genuinely astonished.

Everyone knew Mr. Ji had an incredibly keen eye. A single look was usually all it took for him to discern someone's character and integrity. He could instantly identify who was worth befriending and who harbored hidden agendas.

Yet now, Mr. Ji couldn't penetrate the facade of a mere teenager?

Did this mean Jiaang Lin was particularly cunning?

That seemed improbable.

Given Mr. Ji's vast experience, he was adept at reading people's faces. It was utterly bewildering that he couldn't decipher a young man's intentions.

"Mr. Ji, do you suspect that Jiaang Lin has come to North Mountain Village with a hidden agenda?" Qiu Xiya subtly glanced at Jiaang Lin.

"He might be one of 'them.' We need to be cautious!" Ji Zhong whispered.

"Understood, Mr. Ji. I'll be vigilant!"

To the old village chief and the other men, it appeared that Ji Zhong and Qiu Xiya were merely engaging in a quiet conversation. They were oblivious to the content of their exchange. Unbeknownst to them, Jiaang Lin had overheard every word.

"The backgrounds of these two are shrouded in mystery," Jiaang Lin realized.

He mused, "It's no surprise that such an ethereal beauty graces this humble village. She clearly has an extraordinary origin."