His father took it to examine. He couldn’t make much of it, other than to see that it was clearly an item belonging to a woman.
"Find so ti to bring her back so I can have a look. You’re still young, and there are many things you can’t grasp yet," his father said with heartfelt gravity.
"Alright."
Seeing how easily he’d bluffed his way through, Lin Hui was instantly relieved. ’The exchange with Han Xiaoyue was definitely worth it.’
The father and son chatted for a while longer. When Lin Shunhe got up to leave, Lin Hui rose to see him off.
As they reached the entrance, they both spotted a white-haired old man sitting in a window seat on the first floor of the tavern across the street.
The old man was leaning on a cane, his features gaunt and withered. He was so thin it looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over.
His eyes were fixed on Qingfeng Temple. Seeing Lin Shunhe and his son co out, he hastily stood and cupped his fists toward them from a distance, forcing a wrinkled smile onto his face.
As he cupped his fists, the cane he was holding tilted and slid off the edge of the table. He lunged for it but grabbed only air, nearly toppling over himself.
"What’s he up to?" Lin Hui asked, narrowing his eyes. The old man was Lin Chaoyi, though he looked countless years older than the last ti Lin Hui had seen him.
"The Zong Family ran into so trouble recently," Lin Shunhe said in a low voice. "He used to get by on the inco from those orchards, but because of the incident with Lin Hongyu, their produce won’t sell. A lot of it has rotted, so he’s lost his retirent inco. By the way, have you heard about Lin Hongyu?"
"What happened now? I don’t really pay attention to their affairs," Lin Hui said.
"During their second expedition, she ambushed and killed a disciple from a major family on her team—he was from the Mu Family. Then she vanished," Lin Shunhe sighed. "It was easy enough for her to just run off, but the people she left behind in the Zong Family have to take the fall for her."
"Let them deal with it." Lin Hui withdrew his gaze. He watched Lin Chaoyi stumble shakily out of the tavern and hurry toward them. With a stir of his Inner Strength, a faint breeze gusted out, holding Lin Chaoyi back and stopping him from approaching any further.
"The Zong Family has nothing to do with us anymore," he said flatly.
"Sigh..." Lin Shunhe didn’t answer. He only glanced at Lin Chaoyi before turning to leave and boarding his carriage.
Lin Hui also turned and headed back into Qingfeng Temple. Just as he stepped through the gate, however, he caught a glimpse of an attendant erging from beside his father’s carriage and walking in Lin Chaoyi’s direction.
’Dad is a kind and sentintal man. I’ve known that for a long ti.’
Sighing softly, he returned to his residence and resud his daily Body Tempering cultivation.
「Several days later.」
Lin Hui successfully took delivery of twenty stalks of Yun Lingzhi and one Purple Cloud Ganoderma from the Inner City.
Over two million, gone in an instant.
The old man who sold them to him admitted that he was now out of Yun Lingzhi. If Lin Hui wanted more, he would have to wait at least six months for a new batch to be cultivated.
Lin Hui also made ti for a trip to Ten Thousand dicine Mountain Villa, where he found they only had three stalks—their entire inventory.
In total, twenty-three stalks of Yun Lingzhi and one Purple Cloud Ganoderma were all he could manage to find.
’With these resources, the ti needed to evolve my Typhoon Swordsmanship should be drastically reduced.’
*
*
*
「Inner City, Chi Mi Bang.」
Inside the spacious, rectangular Unity Hall, a group of the gang’s Hall Masters had gathered. Everyone, including Gang Leader Wu Zhao Ming, was listening to Hall Master Yuan Peak’s report.
"I gave them a stern warning and even announced my affiliation with the Chi Mi Bang, but Qingfeng Temple didn’t care. They attacked without hesitation. Their leader’s Body Technique and Sword Speed were incredibly fast, and he used so kind of Secret Technique. I was caught off guard, and he broke through my Inner Strength barrier..." Yuan Peak said, lowering his head in sha.
After returning, he had collapsed from the severity of his injuries. It had taken several days of treatnt for him to recover, and even now, the sword wound on his stomach still throbbed with a dull pain.
"So, let get this straight. They stole our expedition team’s Purple Crystals, killed all of our Chi Mi Bang n, and severely wounded you, one of our Hall Masters? Is that what happened?" Gang Leader Wu Zhao Ming asked in a grave tone.
"Exactly!" Yuan Peak nodded eagerly. "That Observatory Master of Qingfeng Temple is acting all high and mighty, relying on the backing of Liu Wu Jun and his sister from the Liu Family. He even threatened us, saying he’d make us regret it if we dared to say a word about the Purple Crystals! We were so furious that we fought back... but in the end..."
"Liu Wu Jun... So it’s him. That’s troubleso," Gang Leader Wu Zhao Ming sighed. "But after being provoked to this degree, what will outsiders think of the Chi Mi Bang if we don’t respond?"
"Liu Wu Jun is a top-ten High Priest, and he’s highly regarded by a Vice Palace Master. Gang Leader, don’t you think you should ntion this to your father?" Vice Gang Leader Yan Tan suggested softly.
The Three Sects and Six Gangs had managed to grow powerful in the Inner City because each had its own pillar of support. So relied on pure strength, while others depended on formidable backers. The Chi Mi Bang was a case of the latter; its patron was none other than Gang Leader Wu Zhao Ming’s father, Wu Anhai.
This man was also a High Priest, and a veteran one at that. He was at the pinnacle of his realm, having gone as far as he could, and could break through to the level of a Palace Master at any mont.
"No need. This matter shouldn’t be escalated to that level. It’s best to handle it according to the unwritten rules of our circle," Wu Zhao Ming said grimly. "That is the silent agreent among all of us. Since Qingfeng Temple has done this, since he laid hands on my Chi Mi Bang mbers, we shall respond in kind. Yuan Peak, since you are not his match, we will simply send soone else to win back our honor, openly and fairly."
"Gang Leader, you an...?"
"The New Martial Alliance tournant is coming up. I won’t touch Lin Hui himself, but crippling his entire Qingfeng Temple will be a simple matter. Once he realizes that, we can use this conflict to force a peaceful resolution."
"We’re still aiming for peace?" one of the Hall Masters asked, frowning along with the others.
"We have no choice. He’s got Liu Wu Jun watching his back. We’ll just have to eat this loss."
"A re Inner Power Realm cultivator... To think he could..."
Just as the n were simring with frustration, the main doors to the hall were suddenly thrown open. A figure dressed entirely in white—with white hair, white eyebrows, and white robes—stord in, flanked by two squads of Golden Eagle Patterned Black Armored Soldiers.
"Wu Zhao Ming, you recently had a conflict with Lin Hui from the Outer City’s Qingfeng Temple. Recount the specific details for ," the all-white figure commanded, his voice as cold as steel. He completely ignored the dark expression on Gang Leader Wu Zhao Ming’s face.
"Ah, Commander Hong Ling. I thought you were investigating Xue Ying’s whereabouts. What brings you to my humble hall...?"
"Cut the chatter. I am assisting my superiors in investigating anyone and everyone connected to Xue Ying. According to our intelligence, Lin Hui is suspected to have t with Xue Ying recently. We must investigate this thoroughly and not overlook a single potential clue if we are to pick up Xue Ying’s trail. As soon as I’m finished here, I’m heading to the Outer City," the all-white man said coldly.
"This investigation is your affair. On what grounds do you—wait... Lin Hui?" Wu Zhao Ming’s expression had been foul, but when he realized Hong Ling wasn’t targeting the Chi Mi Bang but was here for Lin Hui, his eyes narrowed.
He was well aware that this Commander Hong Ling was the Governnt Office’s chief investigator for major cases in the Inner City. He specialized in tracking critical leads for the most significant cris and wielded imnse authority.
’Moreover, Hong Ling has a powerful background and an uncompromising style. If I let him be the one to deal with that troubleso Lin Hui, then maybe...’
"That Lin Hui, banking on his connection to Liu Wu Jun, holds my Chi Mi Bang in complete contempt. Since you’ve given the word, Commander Hong, the Chi Mi Bang will of course cooperate fully with your investigation!" he declared, his tone shifting in an instant to one of grave sincerity.
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