Chapter 74 Polite Refusal, Departure

"Oh?" Lin Xing was startled, not expecting Rose to have come over specially tonight just to talk about this. He had thought there might be something else.

"There's no need for special thanks. I quite like Xiao Bao, and his aptitude is good. Teaching him martial arts is also to protect you all. I had intended to teach him anyway," Lin Xing said with a smile.

The careless Lin Xing didn't realize that Rose's state of mind was completely different.

As soon as Lin Xing spoke, Rose was touched. Teaching Xiao Bao martial arts was to protect them—Lin Xing was showing concern for them.

Seeing Rose sitting there with her head down, not saying a word, Lin Xing didn't want an awkward silence to settle, so he said, "He's a quick learner. He can pretty much practice on his own now. That way, I can leave."

"What?" As soon as Lin Xing finished speaking, a flicker of panic appeared on Rose's face. She hadn't expected Lin Xing to be leaving so soon. "You're leaving?" Rose finally looked directly at Lin Xing and asked.

"Yes, I'll be leaving in a few days," Lin Xing replied, a bit worried. He was concerned that people from the Divine Wind Sect might come looking for him, which would spell trouble. Although they had left long ago, with the Divine Wind Sect's network, it wouldn't be hard for them to track Lin Xing down. If that happened, Lin Xing staying here would only drag Ye Bing and the others into it.

Hearing Lin Xing's confirmation, Rose's heart turned cold, and her spirits sank. She lowered her head.

After a long while, a look of determination appeared on Rose's face. She suddenly raised her head and said, "Lin Xing, won't you stay?" Her eyes were filled with hope as she looked at him.

Lin Xing was taken aback, then shook his head. "No, I can't stay here."

"Why?" Rose asked anxiously.

"Because..." Lin Xing didn't want to worry them unnecessarily, so he didn't mention that the Divine Wind Sect might come looking for him. Instead, he said, "I originally ventured out to gain experience. My goal is to travel across the entire continent. I can't stay in one place for too long."

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment appeared on Rose's face. "I see... Then is there any place that would make you want to stay?"

Lin Xing shook his head. "No."

"Is there no one or anything else that would make you stay?" Rose pressed.

Lin Xing immediately thought of his mother, the old man, Lin Tian, and other family and friends. "Yes, they are my family. But I've still come out now," Lin Xing replied with a smile.

As soon as he said this, Rose couldn't hide the disappointment in her heart. "It seems he doesn't care for me at all. In his eyes, I'm probably just a passerby."

"He agreed to stay here for a few days, not because of me, but probably because he didn't want to refuse. Besides, who is he, and who am I? I'm just a withered flower."

As her thoughts raced, Rose felt more and more inferior and sad—disappointed, heartbroken, and filled with self-loathing. Tears of sorrow welled up in her eyes.

Seeing Rose's disappointed and aggrieved expression, Lin Xing was startled and asked, "Sister Rose, what's wrong?"

Rose forced back the tears in her eyes, not letting them fall, and shook her head gently. "It's nothing. I should go," she said, preparing to leave.

Seeing Rose on the verge of tears, Lin Xing thought about her odd demeanor from the time they left the Divine Wind Sect branch until now. Even if he were foolish, he would know what was going on.

Thinking of this, Lin Xing's heart skipped a beat. "Could she really have fallen for me?" Rose's strange actions and the look Ye Bing gave him...

Lin Xing had already guessed that Rose must have fallen for him. But he was only ten years old! Although his body was developing normally and he had been over twenty in his previous life, Lin Xing was still a bit slow in this regard and didn't want to get involved in relationships too early.

"Rose!" Lin Xing called out. Without thinking, he had changed the way he addressed her.

Rose, who had just reached the door, felt a surge of joy. Could it be that Lin Xing understood her feelings? She turned around happily to look at him, only to see a troubled expression.

Lin Xing gathered his thoughts and said, "Rose, you're a good person, very beautiful, kind, and treat others well. I believe you'll find someone who loves you in the future."

"What did you say?" Rose's heart trembled, and tears streamed from her eyes.

Seeing this, Lin Xing became even more certain. "Rose, I'm someone who wanders the world, with no fixed home. I love adventure, traveling, and freedom. I can't stay in one place for the rest of my life. That kind of life isn't for me. And you, I know you're a girl who likes peace and a stable, ordinary life. So, I'm not suitable for you."

Lin Xing's words were clearly a gentle rejection.

Tears streaming down her face, Rose listened. Her tear-filled eyes revealed deep disappointment and despair.

Suddenly, Rose let out a loud sob, covered her face with her hands, and rushed out the door.

Drops of sorrowful tears flowed down her cheeks, splashed on the ground, and shattered with a "crack," breaking into pieces, just like Rose's shattered heart.

Seeing this, Lin Xing's heart ached too. He truly had no thoughts in this regard and felt nothing for Rose. He already saw her as an older sister. It was impossible for him to develop romantic feelings.

"Rose, you'll find someone better than me." Lin Xing's words drifted past her ears, only adding to her pain and helplessness.

Covering her face and crying, Rose walked to her room and immediately threw herself onto the bed, sobbing loudly.

Early the next morning, Lin Xing got up, packed his things, and threw them all into his spatial ring. He was ready to leave.

He had already thought about leaving. After last night's events, he decided to leave sooner to avoid awkwardness.

He went to find Ye Bing but didn't see Rose. "Sister Ye, where's Rose?"

Ye Bing shot Lin Xing an annoyed look. "Don't you know what you did?"

Lin Xing could only awkwardly scratch his head.

"Why are you looking for me so early?" Ye Bing asked suspiciously.

Lin Xing adopted a serious tone. "I came to say goodbye. I'm leaving now."

"What? Leaving now? Why? Is it because of Rose?" Ye Bing asked anxiously.

"No, I actually wanted to leave a while ago. My injuries have been fully healed, and Xiao Bao has basically mastered cultivation. So, there's no need for me to stay."

Ye Bing pondered for a moment. She knew there was no changing his mind. "Do you want to see Rose?"

Lin Xing shook his head. "Better not. Please give these two letters to Xiao Bao and Rose for me. I'm leaving now."

With that, Lin Xing bid farewell to Ye Bing and headed toward the gate.

Hiding to the side, Rose watched Lin Xing's departing figure, and tears uncontrollably streamed from her eyes again.

"Silly sister, don't be sad. This is the letter he left for you."

"Sister." Seeing Ye Bing, Rose threw herself into her arms, crying bitterly.

Ye Bing could only comfort her.