"Incompetent. You are truly incompetent."
Song Zhanlong glanced at his other two disciples.
"The strength of this Clear Wind Temple is greater than imagined. Is there anyone who can resolve this?" he asked indifferently.
"It is merely a Clear Wind Temple—and a crippled one at that, with only a few disciples left. If Junior Sister Mu lost, she lost. But to exaggerate the opponent's strength in an attempt to make you feel her defeat was inevitable, just to lighten her punishment..." Eldest Senior Brother Wang Hongshi said in a deep voice.
"I didn't!" Mu Qiaozhi was anxious and tried to speak.
"Shut up!" Wang Hongshi shouted. "Weakness isn't terrifying. What is terrifying is a defeated heart, unable to muster even a shred of competitive spirit! Master, let me handle this matter."
Song Zhanlong nodded with satisfaction.
Wang Hongshi was his favorite disciple precisely because the boy acted exactly according to his wishes.
A crippled Clear Wind Temple—surely they couldn't expect him, the dignified Sect Master of the Black Dragon Gate, to go there personally again?
In reality, Mu Qiaozhi's account had made him somewhat suspicious as well; after all, she wouldn't chop off her own hand just to put on a show for no reason.
Therefore, the most likely possibility was that after Mu Qiaozhi switched martial arts, her movement speed had slowed down, yet her defense hadn't been brought up to par, turning her into something that was neither fish nor fowl. Ultimately, she was defeated by her former junior brother.
Of course, he had considered whether there might be an Internal Force Realm expert hiding in Clear Wind Temple. However, through repeated questioning of Mu Qiaozhi and her lackeys, he judged that she wasn't lying.
Since it really was just the doing of a former disciple, it was even more appropriate for Wang Hongshi to handle it.
Wang Hongshi was a peerless genius. He had saved halfway during his journey from Xingdao. Under his devoted cultivation, Wang Hongshi had just stepped into the limit of Body Tempering. His body's defense was tough enough to withstand blades and swords, making him difficult to match for anyone below the Internal Force Realm. Coupled with his precise hidden weapon techniques, his strength was a large cut above Mu Qiaozhi's.
"However, calculating it, Lin Hui has quite a background at home. His father is someone valued by Lord You Ying of the Rain Palace in the Inner City. Master, should we...?" Wang Hongshi lowered his voice, asking tentatively.
"You Ying is strong, but we aren't moving directly against the kid's father. No need to care. Just don't kill him," Song Zhanlong said with utter indifference.
A high-tier Called One was indeed strong—he couldn't beat one—but he hadn't reached the point of fearing the son of one of their dogs.
He knew very well the mental state of those lunatics in the Inner City. If that kid's father actually went to beg You Ying, just because his son was crippled, the first one to be crippled would likely be the father himself.
"Yes!" Wang Hongshi nodded slightly. Having received a definitive answer, he checked the sky, turned, and quickly descended the platform, rushing toward the side gate.
"Master, this disciple..." Mu Qiaozhi still wanted to speak, her face pale, attempting to defend herself.
But Song Zhanlong was too lazy to pay her any attention.
The Called Ones of the Mu family were just average. Coupled with the fact that Mu Qiaozhi had lost an arm, her potential had plummeted. Even if healed later, she would be useless, at most only slightly stronger than an ordinary person.
He waved his hand directly, signaling for her to scram on her own.
A look of agony flashed through Mu Qiaozhi's eyes.
She knew she had been discarded.
Song Zhanlong was exactly this kind of person. He had used martial force to gather a large group of people in a short time, but in his eyes, manpower gathered through threats was nothing more than clothes that could be replaced at any time. If the clothes were torn, he would just change into a new set.
And now that she had lost her value... not only would she have no status here, but upon returning to her family, she would also no longer receive any importance...
The Mu family, too, was a place of extreme pragmatism...
….
Xinyu Town.
Lin Hui brought Weiwei, Little Hu, and Little Fatty—four people in total—back to the front of his home.
Originally, the three of them had heard that Lin Hui's family had risen again, but they didn't have a specific concept of it in their hearts.
But when they truly stood before the Lin Manor, which occupied grounds comparable to a gubernatorial estate, they finally understood what the so-called rise of Lin Hui's family meant.
"Young Master Hui, you're back?" The ones guarding the side door were two strong men hired by his father.
They were reputedly disciples of the Hundred-Step God Fist, but Lin Hui could faintly see that while their footwork was impressive, their fists were actually somewhat soft.
Both were clearly Body Tempering experts with physical stamina a cut above the average person.
The current Lin Manor was configured to match the top-tier clans of the Outer City. Body Tempering experts and low-rank guards were watching the door—it was a bit luxurious, but not unheard of.
"Mn. Have Ding Ning come see me," Lin Hui nodded. "These are my fellow disciples, here as guests. Register them; they are free to enter and exit for the next few days."
"Yes." The two responded respectfully.
Lin Hui then led the three through the side door.
"Master... this is your home??! This is too big, isn't it??!" Little Hu's mouth hadn't closed since seeing the main gate.
Little Fatty beside him was the same.
Although Little Fatty's family conditions were decent, they certainly didn't have the scale of the Lin Manor.
This specification was considered top-tier in the entire Outer City.
"My goodness... Master's house is bigger than three of my family's homes combined...!" Little Fatty grabbed the clothes on Little Hu's back, constantly looking around, eyes wide and round.
As for Weiwei, walking at the very back, her pretty face was slightly flushed, visibly carrying some unease.
She had seen large houses with her old dad before; although the Lin Manor was a bit exaggerated, it wasn't enough to stun her. Back when the Clear Wind Temple was still doing well, her dad had taken her to visit some noble residences occasionally, so she naturally had experience and insight.
What made her uneasy now was that after her dad left, she had no one to rely on and could truly only follow her junior brother to the Lin Manor for refuge.
Yes, they were here for refuge.
Lin Hui led the three to his own courtyard.
"You guys stay here for the next few days. There are six rooms in my courtyard; pick whichever you like. I usually live in the loft. Daily meals will be delivered. Wait until this trouble with the Black Dragon Gate passes before returning to Clear Wind Sword Sect."
"Will it... be too much trouble for you?" Weiwei whispered.
"It doesn't matter. We are fellow disciples; no need to care about this," Lin Hui paused. "The Black Dragon Gate's objective was thwarted, and Mu Qiaozhi had an arm severed by me. I estimate they will soon send someone stronger. Staying at Clear Wind is the dangerous choice."
"But hiding like this isn't a solution either..." Weiwei frowned.
"I am the Sect Master; I will figure something out," Lin Hui said calmly. "My father has many connections. I plan to find some experts to negotiate properly with the Black Dragon Gate, but this requires time."
"So that's how it is..." Weiwei understood. "Then you be careful alone outside."
"Mn," Lin Hui nodded. "But as you said, hiding forever isn't a solution. Senior Sister, hurry and reach the limit of your Body Tempering. When the time comes, I will pass on my improved Clear Wind Sword Technique to you for the second Body Tempering. Regardless of anything, only improving one's own strength is the Kingly Way!"
"Mn!" Weiwei nodded vigorously.
To be honest, for half-grown kids like Little Hu and Little Fatty, it was fine; they didn't feel much. But she was the Senior Sister, and at the age of marriage suitability. Just moving into the Lin Manor like this... and because of her junior brother's relationship... it was somewhat...
She kept convincing herself internally: This is for safety, for safety. But that inexplicable awkwardness, the feeling that she was relying on her junior brother for everything, still made her very uncomfortable.
If she really had something going on with Lin Hui, that would be one thing, but the partner she hoped for in her heart wasn't someone like Lin Hui.
During the last fair, she already had a preliminary target. She had been exchanging letters with him occasionally during this time.
Moving into the Lin Manor at this juncture... she worried the other party might misunderstand.
Lin Hui didn't care what they were thinking.
Soon Ding Ning arrived. After arranging accommodation and daily routines for the three, he left the Lin Manor again. With the Internal Force expert, the Hundred-Step God Fist, watching over the house, even if he couldn't beat Song Zhanlong, Song wouldn't dare to casually come to the door to cause trouble since this wasn't a martial hall.
Otherwise, it would be disrupting the basic order of the Outer City and going against the government.
The order of the Outer City was a rule formulated jointly by the three major forces of the Inner City. Martial halls kicking each other's establishments was justifiable, but if anyone dared to openly attack a wealthy household in town, Song Zhanlong should prepare to flee again.
So Lin Hui wasn't too worried about this point.
He left alone and wandered casually around the town streets.
Before long, he strolled through a temporary market lined with small stalls.
"How much for this?"
In front of a stall selling handmade toy masks, Lin Hui casually picked up a wooden mask for children and asked.
"Twenty coins apiece. Pick any style you like. How old is your child? For this face shape, it's best to bring them to try it on yourself, lest it doesn't fit," the stall owner, an elderly man, reminded him with a cheerful smile.
Lin Hui looked at the mask in his hand. It was painted white, perfectly round overall—round face, round forehead, round chin.
The white complexion contrasted sharply with the bright red lips and black eyelashes.
It looked like a pale version of a Fortune Doll.
He lifted it to his face to check the fit; it only covered the upper half of his face.
Still a bit too small.
But the eye section was well-made and didn't obstruct his vision.
There was a string with elasticity at the back, making it convenient and secure to wear without falling off.
"This is the one." He paid simply, took the mask, and turned to leave.
The face covering was acquired; next was the address of the Black Dragon Gate.
Since I don't intend to expose my strength, I'll solve the problem with a different identity. However, I really don't know where the Black Dragon Gate is located...
Lin Hui thought for a moment and realized there really wasn't anywhere to ask.
They opened their doors to do business, so there must be recruitment publicity. I might as well wander around town; maybe I can find a guide.
Thinking of this, he slowed down and wandered slowly through the town. Before long, he actually observed a stall set up by the Black Dragon Gate in the town.
Behind the stall were two ordinary disciples dressed in Black Dragon Gate attire. On the side was a wooden sign with information written on it: registration fees, temporary training fees, how much reduction after successful selection, and so on.
Lin Hui memorized the location, checked the time, and then went to a fabric shop to buy black cloth to wrap his head.
He only needed to wrap his head, don the mask, swap for a different sword, change into long sleeves and trousers, and wear gloves, and no one would be able to recognize him.
This time, he planned to clash head-on with the Black Dragon Gate.
Anyway, his speed gave him the advantage. The Black Dragon Gate was an outsider and hadn't established a firm foothold yet, so he wasn't worried about any background they might have. Plus, Song Zhanlong wasn't a speed-type expert; even if Lin Hui couldn't beat him, he could retreat at any time.
Calculating it this way, the Black Dragon Gate was simply the best candidate for testing.
A whetstone to test exactly what level his strength had reached.
Finally, heading to the blacksmith shop, Lin Hui bought a rough, standard iron longsword to serve as his weapon for this operation. He then returned to his observation point, waiting for the Black Dragon Gate people to pack up their stall and return to headquarters.
Time passed, and soon the sky grew dark.
The two Black Dragon Gate members watching the stall finally stood up with yawns, packed their things into large bags, and walked together in a certain direction.
Lin Hui quietly trailed them from a distance.