After everyone arrived, Lin Hui explained the situation and scanned the room.
"Who is willing to go verify this matter?"
"The Myriad Medicine Villa is at least a five-day carriage ride from here. Ten days for a round trip... I'm afraid that might cause delays. If the Hundred Flowers Sect is truly acting this way, adding the time for the news to travel here, going there now might already be too late," Wang Hongshi said in a deep voice.
"That is true." Lin Hui frowned. Currently, within the sect, only he and Xue Meng possessed significant strength. The others were fine for handling ordinary troubles. Still, against a medium-to-large martial organization like the Hundred Flowers Sect, which possessed more than one Internal Force Realm expert, their strength would be insufficient.
"Never mind, you all withdraw for now. I'll make the trip personally." Lin Hui felt that sending anyone else wasn't safe enough; it was better to go himself to test the waters and see the situation.
Of course, he wasn't going to the Myriad Medicine Villa; five days was too long. He planned to go to the Hundred Flowers Sect.
Regardless of what final agreement the Myriad Medicine Villa and the Hundred Flowers Sect might sign, if the Hundred Flowers Sect simply ceased to exist, wouldn't any agreement become void?
After breaking through with Internal Force in his legs, his speed had improved further. Lin Hui had confidence again.
As long as no one could catch him or restrict him, he naturally stood in an invincible position against the Internal Force Realm.
If Daoist Baohe's speed in the past was a ten, then his current speed, when fully erupted, was upwards of thirty.
The gap between these numbers was something non-speed-type experts could not comprehend.
After packing simply, Lin Hui left headquarters that very day, heading directly toward the Hundred Flowers Sect.
The Hundred Flowers Sect headquarters was located in Baishan Town, about a two-day journey on foot from Xinyu Town. But with Lin Hui's speed and movement techniques, once he was familiar with the route, it would take a few hours at most.
….
Lin Manor.
Just as Lin Hui was preparing to personally handle the major threat of the Hundred Flowers Sect, his father, Lin Shunhe, led people out to welcome his newly wedded second wife, Liu Shenglan, into the manor.
Liu Shenglan was over fifty. Coming from the Inner City this time, she brought along a son and a daughter from her previous husband to stay at the Lin Manor for a while.
Between her and Lin Shunhe, it was indeed true love. More precisely, she liked Lin Shunhe, admired him, and was willing to support him.
However, her children did not quite approve. For this reason, she had done a lot of work on their mindsets back in the Inner City. Only with great difficulty did the two agree to come here for a long-term stay to see for themselves, rather than just rushing through a perfunctory visit like before.
The second branch was allocated a two-story building resembling a quadrangle courtyard. To cater to Liu Shenglan's tastes, Lin Shunhe named it the Jade Willow Court.
After the three settled in and washed away the dust of the journey, they gathered to walk by the stream in the courtyard.
"Mother, it is indeed more peaceful here than the Liu family. There is no pressure and no overbearing uncles. But I still don't understand—why did you choose Lin Shunhe?"
The speaker was Liu Shenglan's son, Liu Wujun. He was now over twenty-five, with a refined appearance, seemingly scholarly and modest. At this moment, he was carefully supporting his mother, who was nearing childbirth.
"You don't understand. In the first half of my life, I chose the wrong person. In the second half, from the moment I met him, I knew I wouldn't be wrong." Liu Shenglan smiled faintly, a look of reminiscence appearing on her not-quite-beautiful face.
"Why are you so certain? Aren't family clans like the Lin family found everywhere in the Outer City?" Liu Wujun asked, puzzled.
"Because at that time, of all the people around me, not a single one dared to stand up and help me. I was alone and in disguise, having joined a merchant caravan. We encountered robbers, and just as I was about to die, I never expected that he would be the only one to stand up. The him of that time was truly very similar to your father back then... only Ah-He doesn't have your father's pretense. He wasn't pretending; he was genuinely like that."
Sighing, Liu Shenglan stroked her belly.
"I only hate that I didn't meet him sooner."
"It is your son's fault. I failed to follow and protect you, Mother, causing you to nearly suffer such a calamity..." Liu Wujun showed a look of shame.
"That doesn't distinguish you. Your sister is ill; if you ignored her, it would likely be even more dangerous... In the entire Liu family, only you can help suppress her condition," Liu Shenglan said softly, shaking her head.
"Rest assured, Mother. My sister and I will treat Uncle He the same way we treat you," Liu Wujun said helplessly.
"And his only son. He counts as your brother now. If you have time, look after him a bit," Liu Shenglan reminded him.
"That Lin Hui? He's a martial artist practicing External Style. We wouldn't come into contact in our daily lives..." Liu Wujun was a bit troubled.
He actually just wanted to deal with his mother's request. In reality, were it not for his upbringing, he wouldn't want to spend even a single thought on these Outer City bumpkins of the Lin Manor. As long as these Lin family people didn't run over to scramble for connections without cause, that would be fortunate enough.
Fortunately, he had seen Lin Hui a few times before. His impression was of a sensible person. Among Outer City people, he counted as well-bred and didn't suffer from madness.
"I don't care. As the elder brother and sister, you must show some gesture," Liu Shenglan shook her head.
"You might not know, but that Little Brother Lin Hui, although he only practices External Style, has actually made a name for himself recently. After fighting and fussing with a few small martial halls, he has even become the Sect Master of something called the Clear Wind Temple," Liu Wujun introduced briefly.
"I wasn't aware. I only heard he was always practicing the sword. Could it be he has actually practiced it to some notable level?" Liu Shenglan asked in surprise.
"He has some talent. His External Style training is decent, and his comprehension is okay. He's getting by well enough in the Outer City now. He doesn't need our care," Liu Wujun said softly.
"That is good, that is good..." Liu Shenglan was finally reassured.
"It's Sister I'm worried about. It's fine when I'm around, but if I'm occasionally delayed by something, it might be troublesome if she encounters Lin Hui alone," Liu Wujun said quietly.
"Can't you introduce him into your sect?" Liu Shenglan asked again.
"That won't work. At his current age, it's completely impossible to start over and cultivate."
After much persuasion, Liu Wujun finally managed to coax his mother inside to rest.
Just as he stepped out, he saw his sister, Liu Xiao, standing by the courtyard gate, looking at him.
"How is it? Is your condition a bit better?" Liu Wujun walked over and asked with concern.
"It's fine. As long as there aren't huge emotional fluctuations, there won't be a problem," Liu Xiao said calmly.
She was a typical True Disciple of an Inner City sect, walking the classic path.
First undergoing the Call, then cultivating Internal Style, merging the advantages of both paths. Building the foundation starting at ten years old, and now at exactly twenty, she had cultivated bitterly for ten years.
"How do you plan to help the Lin Manor?" Liu Xiao asked softly.
"For Uncle He's business, I helped secure quite a few loans. For Auntie Yao Shan, I hired an expert to check her health; there are no issues. It's just Lin Hui's side that is difficult to handle... He walks the Heretical Path of the Outer City, and his form is already set. There is no power to reverse the heavens".
"Can't he break it and re-cultivate? I heard his comprehension is good, and he even realized some secret arts on his own. His reputation isn't bad," Liu Xiao asked, puzzled.
"No way. The path of 'External into Internal' in the Outer City is actually a Heretical Path carved out by those without aptitude or bone roots who sought another way. It is different from our Righteous Path of 'Call first, then cultivate Internal Force.' Once trained deeply, it is very hard to turn back. Moreover, I checked; he has no aptitude..." Liu Wujun sighed.
Since coming to the Lin Manor, he didn't know how many times he had sighed.
"If one walks the Righteous Path, like you and me: entering Internal Style in one year, cultivating to Perfection in five, combining copper skin and iron bones with Internal Style —the power is matchless, the defense astonishing, and there is hope for the Circulation Realm within ten years. But with the Heretical Path, the highest one can reach is the Internal Force Realm. The Circulation Realm is hopeless, and potential is exhausted." Liu Wujun sized up his sister. "You probably need another half year to stabilize your realm, right?"
"Yes. The Realm of the Called Divine Officer is indeed difficult. Tests happen at all times; it is much more troublesome than charging at the Circulation Realm," Liu Xiao nodded, rarely revealing a trace of annoyance.
"The key lies in the Divine Sound. Pay attention to distinguishing the Divine Sound; that is the key to breaking through," Liu Wujun reminded her.
"Mn, I understand."
The two stood together, exchanging experiences on breaking through checkpoints for a while longer, before returning to their respective rooms to rest.
….
Baishan Town.
On the outskirts of the town, as soon as Lin Hui entered, his eyes were dazzled by the colorful flower pots found everywhere.
Throughout the entire town, between houses, along the edges of doors and windows, pots of flowers of every color were displayed everywhere.
What was eerie was that in this weather and this season, it clearly shouldn't be the time for blooming.
Following the contact location, he searched along the town's streets for over ten minutes before finally finding the covert sub-station where the Clear Wind Temple had previously stationed people to investigate the Hundred Flowers Sect.
"Rulai Teahouse?"
Standing in front of the sub-station, Lin Hui hadn't expected this place to be a teahouse.
Bursts of storytelling and singing were currently drifting out from inside.
There were also crowds cheering; it seemed quite lively.
He recalled the information he had clarified before leaving. The owner of this teahouse was a local resident of Baishan Town who had belonged to the Black Dragon Gate. His surname was Hu, given name Zhen, and he was someone Song Zhanlong had arranged to be here long ago.
Pushing aside the cloth curtain of the teahouse, Lin Hui walked in slowly.
This door was a side entrance, intended for waiters and tea masters to enter and exit, not an entrance for guests.
After entering, he saw people coming and going inside—all the waiters were busy delivering tea and pastries.
Seeing him enter, a waiter approached quickly.
"Guest, this is the rear kitchen. Do you have business here?"
"I'm looking for Shopkeeper Hu Zhen."
"Do you have a token or a letter?" The waiter paused, asking quickly.
Lin Hui took out the black jade pendant representing his identity and showed it to the other party.
Immediately, he was led to a private room at the very back.
The waiter then served an extra pot of tea and asked him to wait a moment.
Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, Lin Hui checked the progress data on the Blood Seal, silently waiting for the contact person to appear.
To deal with the Hundred Flowers Sect, he first needed to find someone familiar with the location to lead the way. This Hu Zhen was the person in the sect who understood the Hundred Flowers Sect best.
Lifting the tea, Lin Hui brought it gently to his lips and took a sip.
It was steeped with some kind of flower petals; the taste wasn't bad.
"The tea looks good, and the taste isn't bad either. Pity..."
He suddenly spoke softly.
"Pity what?"
The door to the private room slid open silently. Long-haired women dressed in white martial attire filed in, quickly surrounding Lin Hui in the center.
The one who answered was a bewitching woman in a blue dress who entered last.
Her chest was half-exposed, her swaying posture full of charm. Her skirt hem was deliberately cut to the upper-middle thigh; with the slight breeze generated by her walk, it floated up and down, offering vague glimpses of the scenery within.
"Sect Master Lin of the Clear Wind Temple arrives in person. Why not use the main gate, but insist on using these dark channels and sewers that people despise? This is not the behavior of a gentleman." The newcomer's eyes rippled like waves as she looked his way with beautiful, watery eyes.
"I come how I please. Is the Hundred Flowers Sect managing things a bit too broadly?" Lin Hui put down the tea, speaking casually.