The small courtyard was quiet and serene, with a few vegetables planted and surrounded by a circle of pink flowers.
It was Lin Xianyu’s masterpiece. A few birds chirped lightly on the eaves, lazily sunbathing.
Lin Xianyu lowered her head, feeling uneasy, not out of fear but concern that her older brother might get angry.
After all, although they occasionally playfully fought, she was usually well-behaved. This was the first time she had hidden something significant from her brother.
“What do you want to know?” Lin Yuan lightly tapped his fingers on the wooden table in front of him, smiling gently. “Is it about your secret martial arts practice, or… the white-clad woman who has been hiding in your room for days?”
Lin Xianyu looked up in confusion at Lin Yuan, then quickly lowered her head again, her eyes subconsciously glancing towards her room.
“No need to look, she slipped away silently early in the morning,” Lin Yuan said calmly.
“Brother, I… I really didn’t mean to hide it from you,” Lin Xianyu pointed to her clothes, hesitating, “Could you not be angry? I just thought… I just thought… Huh? Wait a minute! How did you find out?”
She suddenly looked up and stared at Lin Yuan with wide eyes, clearly with disbelief in them. Sister Ji had very definitively said that Brother was just an ordinary person, unable to notice her presence. But from Brother’s words, it seemed like he knew from the very first day!
“It seems like it’s time to come clean with you.”
Lin Yuan’s expression became solemn, and under Lin Xianyu’s puzzled gaze, he slowly said, “I am a rare martial arts genius. Ten years ago, a mysterious master passing through discovered me and was amazed, insisting on taking me as his disciple.”
“Reluctantly, I started training with him and have become a powerful True Gang Realm warrior today!”
“For years, I’ve been biding my time, pretending to be weak… Hey, what are you doing?”
Concerned, Lin Xianyu placed her cold hand on Lin Yuan’s forehead, saying softly, “You don’t have a fever… Brother, did you hit your head that day?”
Clap!
Lin Yuan pushed her hand away, a smile playing on his lips. “Aren’t you already at the Skin Refinement Realm? Come on, give it your all and try to hit me.”
Still full of doubt, Lin Xianyu took a few steps back, assuming a stance and solemnly said, “Brother, be careful.”
Before she finished her sentence, Lin Xianyu’s eyes flashed with a dark red light. With a light step on the ground, her hand lightly swayed in the air and gently pat towards Lin Yuan’s chest. She only used thirty percent of her strength, ready to withdraw at any moment.
“Hmm?” Lin Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly.
To him, Lin Xianyu’s attack was full of flaws, but the technique showed extreme subtlety, reflecting a certain profound meaning that surpassed ordinary martial arts.
Interesting. As his thoughts swirled, he watched as Lin Xianyu’s attack approached.
Tsk.
Lin Yuan chuckled softly, casually extending a finger and with a snap, the palm strike that was slower outpaced her to land on her forehead.
“Swoosh” Lin Xianyu, who had just rushed over, was immediately thrown out even faster, crashing into the courtyard wall.
“Xiao Yu!” Just then, Ji Ling appeared at the entrance.
Seeing the “domestic violence scene”, she was stunned, but quickly rushed over to help Lin Xianyu, who was sprawled on the ground.
“Xiao Yu, are you okay?” Ji Ling’s face was full of tension, and these days of being together had made her quite fond of her little sister.
Lin Yuan really, didn’t he know that a flick of his head could kill a True Gang Tiger Demon?
To actually lay such heavy hands on his own sister! “Ji Sister? I-I’m fine…” Lin Xianyu, supported, stood up groggily.
Just now, she didn’t react at all. She just felt a slight pain on her forehead before flying out, as if soaring through the clouds and mist.
“How about it, do you believe now?” Lin Yuan picked up the tea next to him, took a sip, and asked with a smile.
He definitely couldn’t have really hurt his sister. That flick released a large amount of Gang Qi, completely enveloping Lin Xianyu’s body like layer upon layer of thick sponge. When hitting the wall, all the force was instantly dissipated. At his current level, with True Gang Breaking the Limit and Martial Arts Mastery, his control over Gang Qi was already perfect!
Capable of killing, but also able to protect. Both at the flick of a thought.
It took a while for Lin Xianyu to recover. Angry and with her silver teeth like a startled little lion, she said: “Brother, you’re so powerful, why didn’t you tell me?”
“You practice martial arts in secret, did you tell me?” Lin Yuan asked casually. Lin Xianyu was startled, “But that’s different…”
“How is it different?” Lin Yuan interrupted her, “I didn’t tell you before which was my fault, but now that you’re hiding things from me, it evens out, right?”
“Huh?” Lin Xianyu felt something was off, furrowing her small brow, “So…”
“Let’s continue the discussion of you secretly practicing at home…” Lin Yuan cut her off, expressionless.
“Oh, I suddenly remembered that I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. Are you hungry, Brother? You must be starving! I’ll go buy something now!”
Lin Xianyu dashed out of the house, also cutting him off. Ji Ling, on the side, was listening in confusion, roughly understanding the meaning—although Lin Yuan had a high cultivation level, he had been hiding his practice from his little sister Lin Xianyu, who was now secretly practicing martial arts and hiding it from her brother Lin Yuan.
Wait a minute! If Lin Xianyu is secretly practicing martial arts, where did she get the bathing formula?
That bathing method was considered quite effective by her family, despite not being from an extremely prominent thousand-year-old family.
“Is your family here?” Lin Yuan’s calm voice sounded beside her.
“Yes, they have just arrived in Black Mountain City,” Ji Ling temporarily suppressed her puzzlement and nodded with a complex expression. “They have already checked into the inn and plan to formally express their gratitude to you tomorrow. I will also go later… My second brother comes from the Confucian Sect and always pays attention to formalities, and he is quite rigid in personality.”
She explained. The Confucian Sect, Lin Yuan nodded knowingly.
In this world where many schools coexist, the Confucian Sect is one of them. Lin Yuan used to read and chant scriptures daily, with the original goal of obtaining an official position.
So-called focusing on scholarship and martial arts. For cultivating martial arts, the cost of reading is only a few books, which, compared to the medicinal herbs and martial arts required for cultivation, can be said to be cost-free!
Belief. For ordinary families, it is a channel for advancement.
But this is only for scholars, not for the “Confucian Sect”! Strictly speaking.
The Confucian Sect is an alternative sect! Fundamentally still focused on martial arts, studying and reciting texts only serve to clarify themselves. They call the energy in their bodies “gang qi” the “great moral integrity,” which is actually the same thing, just a special martial art that, to some extent, enhances the characteristics of “gang qi.”
Taoist sects call it True Qi, and Buddhist sects call it Buddhist Dharma. They are all of this kind.
For example, when Lin Yuan cultivates the Great Sun Demon-Slaying Saber Technique and the Tiger Demon Body Tempering Technique, his gang qi is scorching and fierce, carrying a sense of dominance and fierceness!
As for the Indestructible Vajra Form, it is also similar. The so-called Vajra Fury only kills but does not save.
It is also extremely yang, fierce and dominant, and is quite in line with the original nature of “gang qi.”
“Ah, I didn’t expect my second brother to come personally,” Ji Ling brought over a stool, sat opposite Lin Yuan, her face full of concern, her chin resting on one hand: “I thought he would send more guards over, so they could stay outside for a while longer… who knew my second brother would also come… it may be the recent event that has angered the family.”
She sounded a bit downcast. The deceased captain of the guard was a True Gang Realm warrior and considered her elder, who would have thought he would lose his life like this.
“Don’t tell me you sneaked out,” Lin Yuan glanced at her. “Of course not!”
Ji Ling rolled her eyes at him, “I always discuss it with my family every time I go out, it’s just that this time I went a little farther…”
She extended her fair hand and pinched a small piece between her fingers. “A little?”
Lin Yuan chuckled.
As far as he knew, Black Mountain City and the capital were very far apart even though they could take the bustling ‘Flying Dragon Boat’ that had drop-off points in big cities. Add in the time to rush on the road, and it would take at least three months.
And Ji Ling obviously couldn’t have intended to go straight to Black Mountain City from the beginning. So she had been away from home for at least six months, maybe longer.
Generally speaking, a True Gang Realm warrior serving as a guard should be considered of great importance, as long as they don’t get themselves into trouble, they should be safe enough.
After all, even the Branch Hall Master Sun Youwei is only at the Second Level of the True Gang Realm. Unfortunately, Ji Ling’s luck was too bad – after arriving in Black Mountain, she encountered the Mountain Lord first, and then the guard was killed by a master of the Lingsheng Sect.
It can be said that she really had a stroke of bad luck.
“Anyway.”
Ji Ling, feeling too lazy to dwell on these troubling matters, looked at Lin Yuan with a hint of anticipation in her clear eyes, “Where do you plan to go in the future? Can you not stay in this Black Mountain City?”
“To be decided,” Lin Yuan thought to himself, controlling the gang qi to pour himself a cup of tea while a gentle and watery face flashed through his mind.
“I might go to Wangjiang City,” he said. At his words, Ji Ling’s eyes seemed to dim slightly for a moment before brightening again with a smile.
“Wangjiang City? I passed by there before I arrived at Black Mountain City. It’s probably the largest city for miles around and indeed a good place for development.”
“Oh, by the way, do you want to join the Demon Suppression Bureau? How about I have my older brother introduce you, with your strength, you should at least be able to…”
“I have already joined the Whale Gang,” Lin Yuan calmly interrupted her.
“The Whale Gang?” Ji Ling was momentarily surprised. She naturally knew that anyone who joined the Demon Suppression Bureau was not allowed to join any other gangs. The exception was for her brother’s Confucian Sect, as it was broader in scope and closely connected to the authorities, fundamentally different from sectarian gangs.
“The Whale Gang… sounds good!” After a pause, Ji Ling said so. For a martial arts genius like Lin Yuan, he would shine wherever he went.
Whether it was the Demon Suppression Bureau or the Whale Gang, the difference was only in the identity. At that moment, Lin Xianyu rushed in with the ready-packed food, “Big Brother, Sister Ji, it’s time for dinner!”
“You guys eat, I have to go to the inn,” Ji Ling stood up, a hint of helplessness in her expression. “My older brother just told me specially to wait for him to have dinner together… those Confucian fellows are really annoying!”
With that, she walked towards the door. Just before stepping out of the courtyard, she paused and turned back earnestly, “Young Master Lin, what I said before still stands!”
Seeing Lin Yuan nod, Ji Ling finally smiled lightly and left cheerfully. “Hmm? What did she say?”
Lin Xianyu keenly sensed the gossip vibe. “Nothing, she previously mentioned that she wanted me to serve as her guest because I refused when we were in the imperial city,” Lin Yuan casually said.
“I knew Sister Ji was interested in you!” Lin Xianyu exclaimed loudly. But before he could finish his sentence, Ji Ling’s figure reappeared at the gate. At that moment, her face reddened slightly, her eyes showing a hint of fluster and embarrassment, looking somewhat stiff as she said, “I… forgot my sword.”
Lin Yuan: “…”
Lin Xianyu: “…”
After Ji Ling’s words, she hurriedly entered and grabbed her sword before quickly heading out of the courtyard, leaving a silence as if everything had died down.
After a while, Lin Xianyu slapped his forehead in despair and said, “Oh no, how am I going to face Sister Ji now? Big Brother, should I go after her to apologize?”
“It’s okay, you have thick skin,” Lin Yuan said as he took a bite of food and spoke slowly.
The night grew deep.
A white figure, ghostly and ethereal, drifted into Lin Xianyu’s room through the open window.
“Master Sister, you’re back!” Lin Xianyu, who was not asleep yet, immediately opened his eyes.
“Mm.” Ji Dongge nodded slightly.
Her injuries had now somewhat recovered, but it would still take some time for her to fully heal. However, that despicable woman was even more seriously injured than her, so there was no need to worry about her catching up.
“My brother already knows…” Lin Xianyu sighed, a look of frustration on her small face. “And he knew you were in my room on the first day. That night was clearly intentional!”
“I know.” Ji Dongge’s eyes showed a hint of complexity.
Today she had already been informed by her subordinates.
A killer from the Blood Garment Tower, at the mid-stage of Blood Exchange Realm, faced Lin Yuan and was effortlessly killed in an instant.
With such strength, even if Ji Dongge was not in the True Gang Realm, it was impossible for him to not notice her injuries at the late stage of Blood Exchange!
Little did Ji Dongge know that her hidden martial arts could not escape the opponent’s perception from start to finish. She felt like a clown.
However, what puzzled her was why Lin Yuan, with such cultivation, never taught Lin Xianyu?
Could it be that teaching martial arts to others, like the request she made, must not be leaked…even more strict, not even revealing one’s true strength?
In any case.
Ji Dongge admitted that she had underestimated the situation! The qi and blood of ordinary warriors would leak more or less. However, Lin Yuan’s qi and blood were so well-concealed that she could not detect them at all.
“Fortunately, my brother did not ask too many questions.”
Lin Xianyu looked at Ji Dongge standing silently in front of her and suddenly asked, “Master Ji, are you leaving?”
“Yes,” Ji Dongge reached out and touched her soft hair, nodding gently. “I have many enemies. If they come looking for me, they would only cause trouble for you and your family.”
After saying this, she paused. “I can give you an opportunity to join a very powerful faction for cultivation, with all kinds of resources and guidance…The price is that you will be separated from your brother for a while. Are you willing?”
“I’m not willing!” Lin Xianyu answered without hesitation.
Although she was reluctant when her master would leave soon, leaving her brother was out of the question!
“You are truly determined…” Ji Dongge’s eyes showed a hint of admiration as she smiled. “Then practice well. I have already taught you the martial arts. Your progress will depend on your own efforts.”
“Okay!”
Lin Xianyu nodded firmly. “Alright, you go to sleep first. I have some things to take care of.”
Ji Dongge, with a smile on her face, watched as Lin Xianyu fell into a deep sleep. After a while, she floated out of the room and appeared on the rooftop.
A tall figure was standing here, unmoving. Ji Dongge lightly sat on the eaves.
Under the moonlight, two fair and round legs naturally hung down. A cool night breeze swept by, causing the white dress to sway slightly.
She sighed, “Do you still feel wary of me?”
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