Chapter 10: Set straight

"Yinling, are you sure you want to pursue this path?" His question hung heavily in the air, turning her world eerily quiet.

These words... the dreaded ones she'd been running from, now confronted her head-on. The path of cultivation – was it truly for her? She couldn't even recall why she started. Was it for power? For pride? The reasons now seemed lost in a haze.

Jun's gaze lingered on Yinling, who was avoiding his eyes, filling him with worry.

"Yinling... when I found you half dead, I didn't realize the most injured part of you wasn't physically, It was something deeper"

Yinling's hand tightened into a fist, her knuckles whitening. She struggled internally, fighting a battle only she could understand.

"If you can't even handle one near-death experience then... maybe being a cultivator isn't for you"

Her heart ached at his words, echoing the doubts that had haunted her since young. She longed to retort, to defend her life's pursuit, but words failed her. The truth, it seemed, was harder to deny when spoken aloud.

Suddenly, Jun's hand swung out, connecting with her cheek in a sharp slap. Yinling's head snapped to the side, the physical pain a stark contrast to the emotional numbness overwhelming her.

Dazed, she looked up to find Jun, his eyes ablaze with a complex mix of frustration and concern.

"Jun…" she whispered, her voice laced with a blend of pain and confusion.

His voice softened but remained unyielding. "'Enough of the self-pity! Pull yourself together, Yinling!"

Silence followed, deepening Jun's frustration.

Looking down at her, he sneered with contempt. 

"So this is it, then? I guess that's all you'll ever be, a second-rate loser who does nothing but complain about her life and whine about her sister".

At his words, her eyes blazed with a mix of pain and fury. Gritting her teeth in anger, every muscle in her body tensed. The hurt from his words cut deep, igniting a fire within her. With a surge of energy, she looked up at him and screamed, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW!! YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT MY LIFE!!" Her voice cracked with emotion as she launched her fist towards him, forgetting to use her energy.

Jun dodged her attacks, challenging her, "Then prove it! Show me you're more than just a pathetic little girl!"

She fought with all her might, she put every single bit of frustration that she had into each punch but he easily evaded every strike. With each missed blow, one of them destroying a wall, her frustration and determination grew.

Unknowingly, just like that moment, she saw a fist inches away from her face, she dodged her head to the right. Knowing what was coming next she rotated her body and swung her foot, putting every single bit of energy she had left into it.

Jun seeing her kick coming, blocked it but was surprised to be pushed back a couple of steps, although he had been holding back, the force behind that kick surprised him.

Looking at her eyes and seeing the fire within them, he knew he set her down the right track.

----

Yinling's eyes fluttered open, her vision gradually focusing on the unfamiliar ceiling. She turned her head, noticing a figure beside her.

Seeing him, a whirlwind of emotions engulfed her – gratitude, anger, shame. Despite the confusion, she found clarity in one thing.

"Thank you," she uttered softly.

"For what?" His tone was curious, yet understanding.

She offered a soft smile, one that needed no words to convey its meaning. He nodded, acknowledging the silent message.

"Well that's good since right now we have a big problem on our hands"

Pointing at the giant hole in the wall Jun spoke "In trying to set you straight, We may have accidentally damaged the property a bit and the owners are demanding I pay"

Yinling's expression tightened, a crease forming on her forehead. "So you want me to pay for it?".

"It's not like I have some money on me" said Jun shamelessly. 

He wasn't lying though since a couple of hours ago, he was quite frankly broke, but after doing a good deed he was blessed with an interspacial ring that could easily pay off the debt they owe if he sold it.

But why would he do that when right next to him is a rich lady with loads of money. 

'So… how much are they demanding" Yinling asked, her voice weary.

"I don't know, something about 1000 low-grade spirit stones which isn't much for you right" 

Seeing her rosy face lose all color made him a bit nervous "You do... have the money to pay for it right?"

"I do but... but that's all the spirit stones I have on me" she admitted hurriedly..

Hearing this, Jun felt his tense shoulders ease up, for a second there, he almost thought they would be forced to work to pay off the debt.

Feeling now relieved, he leaned back on his chair, but Yinling was furious. "You're going to help me pay for this!" Yinling yelled but then noticed an item lining Juns hand.

Getting an idea, she continued.

"We can pay off our debt using that ring of your!"

Their argument was interrupted by a sharp shout. They turned to see the inn's owner, her patience clearly worn thin.

"Enough! Now I'm going to ask one last time, who is going to pay for this wall!"

Looking at the old lady, they knew they had to pay it or the city guards would come and arrest them.

"Fine I'll pay for it" said Yinling, who took out 1 middle-grade spirit stone as she spoke. In this world, 1000 low-grade spirit stones equaled 1 middle-grade one and so on.

After Yinling handed over her spirit stones to the owner of the innkeeper, the old lady eyed them both with a mix of disapproval and concern. 

"You young ones, always so reckless. And you," she turned to Jun, her tone stern, "Be gentler with your partner. Otherwise, you'll end up leaving her paralyzed."

Confused he turned around and looked at Yinling whose entire face was red, seeing this he instantly realized what she meant.

"Uh, it's not what you think," he stammered, but the innkeeper had already dismissed his explanation with a wave of her hand.

"Just be more careful next time," she said, leaving them with a final disapproving look.

Jokingly he added "Looks like she misunderstood what we did, unless you want to... " 

"Shut up Jun, let me sleep" she said while turning around to hide her embarrassment.