Chapter 77

As far as Huangfu Jiquan was concerned, Lin Xiao was his brother. Now that he knew that Lin Xiao’s dantian was destroyed, he couldn’t stand idly by.

But even if Huangfu Jiquan wanted to fight, it also depended on if Ling Luo was willing or not.

Their cultivation was not on the same level.

All Ling Luo had to do was wave a hand, and Huangfu Jiquan’s qi flew into Ling Luo’s grasp.

Lin Xiao, standing to the side, regarded Ling Luo in shock. Just how powerful had Ling Luo become?

Huangfu Jiquan had known he couldn’t beat Ling Luo in a fight, but even he was surprised that Ling Luo could take his qi with a flick of his fingers.

“All you need to do is find the medicine for dantians. You shouldn’t try to do more.” Ling Luo drew Lin Xiao close and they both disappeared in a flash.

The left-behind Huangfu Jiquan clenched his fists.

Ling Luo had too much ability, no one could stop him from doing what he wanted.

……

White light, and Lin Xiao found himself in a palace. Seeing the layout, Lin Xiao knew that Ling Luo had brought him back into the qiling. Only now it wasn’t a stone cave, but something nicer.

Trying to maintain his composure, Lin Xiao told Ling Luo: “Huangfu Jiquan just wanted to help me.”

Ling Luo stared at Lin Xiao wordlessly with dark eyes. After a long time, he abruptly asked: “Do you still like Murong Xue?”

“Huh?” Lin Xiao replied, confused.

“Didn’t you use to like Murong Xue?” Ling Luo phrased his question differently.

Not comprehending why Ling Luo would ask, Lin Xiao thought about Murong Xue, and what had happened to her in the old plot, without answering Ling Luo.

To Ling Luo, Lin Xiao’s silence was a tacit admission.

Ling Luo closed his eyes, dark clouds storming within. He was itching to throw Lin Xiao on a bed now, and do what he pleased, but he still had important things to see to.

Curling fingers tightly, Ling Luo scooped out some medicine and placed them on a table not far away. Pointing at the dan, Ling Luo told Lin Xiao, “These, take one every day. They’re good for your health. Also, if you want to leave here, talk to the qiling, you’ll be let out.” Then another flash, and Ling Luo disappeared yet again.

Lin Xiao wished he could penetrate Ling Luo’s mind.

Ling Luo hating him only made sense, Lin Xiao had killed his parents. If Ling Luo didn’t hate him, why take his dantian and imprison him in a cave?

But what was going on now?

Ling Luo gave him dan to heal his body, and allowed him to move around. Is Ling Luo fattening him up for the kill?

Well, if Ling Luo did want to kill him, it wasn’t like Lin Xiao could escape.

Lin Xiao went over to the table, and put a dan in his mouth. His body really was in a poor state…Since Ling Luo had chosen not to end him yet, he might as well take care of his health.

The warm current of the dan flowed into Lin Xiao’s four meridians and eight veins. Lin Xiao flushed, his body reviving. He felt that he’d be able to walk for a while now, without becoming breathless.

The dan…the quality was not low.

Lin Xiao picked up the rest of the medicine and said to the qiling: “Let me out.”

As soon as his voice dropped, Lin Xiao found himself back in the garden from before.

Huangfu Jiquan was still standing there.

The time Ling Luo and Lin Xiao had spent in the qiling had been very short, so Huangfu Jiquan hadn’t left yet.

Seeing Lin Xiao appear back before him, Huangfu Jiquan froze for a second, than immediately asked: “Lin Xiao, are you alright?”

Lin Xiao smiled at Huangfu Jiquan, then shook his head.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xiao decided to explain a little. “My dantian…I’m the one to blame, you can’t blame Ling Luo.” After all, it was Lin Xiao himself who decided to eat the yellow grass, without knowing the consequences.

Huangfu Jiquan’s brow furrowed. “Lin Xiao, losing your dantian isn’t a trivial matter.”

Lin Xiao laughed bitterly. “I know.”

Sighing, Huangfu Jiquan said: “Since you don’t want to tell me, I won’t press the matter. But if you don’t want to stay here anymore, you can come with me. Even if I can’t beat Ling Luo, the Huangfu family still has the ability to protect you.”

“And…” Huangfu Jiquan paused, then finally continued. “Ling Luo asked me to help find a dantian-curing medicine. Presumably for you. I’ve got some leads about it now. You may have a chance to recover it.”

Huangfu Jiquan’s words stirred up hope in Lin Xiao’s heart, but then he dismissed it. He had experienced many things, and he thought he finally understood one truth.

The more expectation you had, the more disappointment you suffered.

He didn’t want to expect anything anymore…

Still having family matters to deal with, Huangfu Jiquan did the same as Ling Luo. He gave Lin Xiao some more medicine, a few words of farewell, and left.

Lin Xiao watched Huangfu Jiquan’s retreating back, shrugged, and turned away.

……

In the days that followed, Lin Xiao didn’t see Ling Luo, and had no idea what Ling Luo was busy with.

Huangfu Jiquan would visit Lin Xiao from time to time, just to chat. And, from Huangfu Jiquan, Lin Xiao was able to get news of the Lin family.

“Your father has been chasing Ling Luo, trying to kill him,” Huangfu Jiquan told Lin Xiao. “And several times, he’s almost succeeded. It’s a credit to Ling Luo’s character, that he hasn’t already disposed of your family.”

“These recent years,” Huangfu Jiquan went on, “ Your father has been hindering Ling Luo every which way, but Ling Luo has turned a blind eye.”

“……”

Lin Xiao was a bit stunned by what Huangfu Jiquan told him. Lin Xiao wouldn’t have imagined that in the face of Lin Yue’s provocation, Ling Luo wouldn’t retaliate. After all, Ling Luo was really and truly a vindictive man…

Yes, Ling Luo was someone who took revenge. If people left him alone, he left them alone. But if they offended him, he paid them back double.

To ignore Lin Xiao’s father, it couldn’t be easy for Ling Luo.

Lin Xiao knew he needed to see his father. What if his father became too impulsive, found a successor, and then tried to duel Ling Luo himself? Lin Xiao could picture Lin Yue definitely doing such a thing.

But…Lin Xiao had no cultivation, it wasn’t possible to go see his father.

He could only ask…Huangfu Jiquan.

Thinking this way, Lin Xiao bit his lips and said to Huangfu Jiquan: “Please, can I request one thing from you?”

“Whatever it is, say it. If I can help you, I will…”

“I want you to take me to Nebula country’s capital city.”

“You want to go the Lin family house.” Huangfu Jiquan guessed.

Lin Xiao nodded. “Yes.”

Huangfu Jiquan acquiesced readily. “All right, when do you want to leave?”

“Now,” said Lin Xiao.

……

So Huangfu Jiquan immediately took Lin Xiao to the Nebula country. Lin Xiao did wonder if it was the right choice, leaving without speaking to Ling Luo. But Ling Luo had said it himself, that Lin Xiao could go wherever he wanted to go.

It was only normal that Lin Xiao would want to return to his family.

Huangfu Jiquan’s cultivation was still strong, and it didn’t take him much time to get Lin Xiao home. Looking at the familiar street, Lin Xiao’s emotions were bittersweet.

He and Huangfu Jiquan walked over to the gate of the Lin family home.

The original grandeur was gone, no more gatekeepers guarding the entrance. The door hung open, as if anyone could come and go.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xiao strode inside, for the first time in a long time. Only then did Lin Xiao hear a low voice ringing in the air. “Who breaks into the Lin house?”

The voice paused for moment, and then, in shock and surprise, said: “Lin…Lin Xiao?” Listening to the voice, Lin Xiao felt affection blossom inside him, as an older man with white hair at his temples appeared before him.

His father…was so much older.

Lin Xiao’s eyes were wet.

“Lin Xiao…My son…It’s really you.” Lin Yue’s eyes were wet too, hardly able to believe that his son had returned.

“Father…It’s me. I’m back.” Lin Xiao resisted the urge to cry, smiling at Lin Yue.

“Where have you been?! After all these years?” Lin Yue wanted to hug Lin Xiao, but he saw a man standing next to Lin Xiao… Recognizing Huangfu Jiquan, Lin Yue also knew that Huangfu Jiquan and Ling Luo were on good terms.

Noticing that Lin Yue was staring at him, Huangfu Jiquan tactfully said: “Uncle, I will go outside first.” Then, with a quick flash, he was gone.

Lin Yue took Lin Xiao to his study. Along the way, he sensed his son’s powerlessness.

Frowning, Lin Yue asked, “Son, what about your cultivation?” He took Lin Xiao’s hand, touching the veins, and in a panic said: “Son, how was your dantian taken away?! It was Ling Luo, right?! He didn’t kill you, just took your dantian. If I had only found a suitable successor, I would have dragged Ling Luo to hell with me!”

Facing his agitated father, Lin Xiao tried to comfort him. “Father, don’t get so excited. Please, listen to me slowly.”

Lin Yue took a deep breath and sat down in his chair. “You tell me, what the hell is going on? Why have you been missing for so many years? Why is your dantian gone?”

Instead of answering his father’s questions, Lin Xiao asked one of his own. “Father, why did you think Ling Luo killed me?” After all, thought Lin Xiao, only Ling Luo and he had been present that day in the forest.

“Ling Luo told me himself.” Lin Yue informed his son.

What? Ling Luo told Lin Yue what? Lin Xiao stared at his father.