Chapter 29: Incident V

Silence.

A complete silence!

Plop.

Ouyang Zhong fell onto his back. A tiny bloodstain slowly appeared on the tip of his nose.

He sat on the ground in a daze, not daring to move, not even to breathe. He could only stare blankly at Lin Hui in front of him, watching the opponent slowly retract his sword.

Only when he truly couldn’t hold out anymore did Ouyang Zhong gasp for breath.

“I concede, Senior Brother,” Lin Hui also took a deep breath, his voice sounding weak.

The weakness was feigned, of course. Since he had used his trump card, if he didn’t act normal, it would draw too much attention.

“I concede…” Ouyang Zhong was helped off the stage. Until the very end, he didn’t forget to ask Lin Hui, “What was that move called just now?”

“Hidden Strike (隐袭). That was a lethal move that I can only use once by erupting all my strength,” Lin Hui sighed.

Although he could easily use the Hidden Strike over ten more times even in his current state of fatigue, he certainly had to say that publicly.

“Hidden Strike… What a move… Hidden Strike!” Ouyang Zhong‘s face was pale. He gave him a thumbs-up, then was forcibly helped off the stage.

In the viewing stands, Daoist Baohe squinted at Lin Hui.

“That momentary burst is somewhat like a Blood Breaking Secret Technique… instantaneously accelerating the sword speed. Junior Brother Mingde, did you teach him that?”

Mingde shook his head.

“I haven’t taught him any secret techniques. Body Tempering is too low; using a secret technique prematurely would only consume potential and lead to loss. However, that sword strike was indeed formidable. Even if he can only use it once, it will pose a threat to the rest of the top ten.”

“This Lin Hui just advanced half a year ago, right? At this pace—Fourth-Rank Body Tempering—he is already considered a minor genius, second only to Huang Shan and the others. Coupled with that one move, if his potential foundation hasn’t been damaged, he is indeed worth cultivating,” Baohe nodded.

“Understood,” Mingde quickly replied. He turned to look at Lin Hui, who was proactively conceding and stepping off the stage to rest, a hint of admiration in his smile.

“Judging by his state afterward, that move just now shouldn’t have harmed him much; it was just a consumption of physical energy. I didn’t expect this boy to be hiding this move. Very good, very good…”

At this time, it wasn’t just them. Many people among the top ten front courtyard disciples knew the value of that burst just now. Their expressions turned solemn, and they began to ponder whether they could block that move if they stood across from Lin Hui.

Chen Chong had not participated in the Dabi, claiming physical weakness. The prize didn’t matter to him. However, the momentary burst Lin Hui displayed just now was something he witnessed clearly.

If it were just a simple burst technique, he had heard that some martial artists possessed similar secret techniques, and it wasn’t particularly rare. But the crucial point was that Lin Hui had injured him using this very technique, and had deceived him by saying he was too weak to see the sword speed clearly.

Clang.

Chen Chong clenched his fists, his teeth grinding. After realizing this, he was shaking with fury.

“Lin Hui…! How dare you deceive me like this!!?”

He wanted to flare up, but then he remembered that Lin Hui had even made it into the top ten. With that kind of skill, even if he were fully alert, it would be extremely difficult to avoid a surprise attack.

“Senior Brother Chen, why do you look so ill?” Lin Hui‘s voice suddenly came from behind him.

Chen Chong‘s body trembled. He slowly turned, seeing the previously seemingly weak Lin Hui now looking completely normal, standing behind him.

His gaze seemed to be fixed on the newly started duel on the platform, but his dark, deep pupils also seemed to land on Chen Chong.

“Lin Hui, did you deceive me last time?!” Chen Chong couldn’t hold back and questioned him.

“Senior Brother, why would you say that?” Lin Hui frowned. “What benefit would I gain from deceiving you? We have no deep-seated enmity. Why would I bother fighting you unnecessarily? You were truly weak at the time. Didn’t you go get checked afterward?”

“…” Chen Chong immediately started doubting his own suspicion again.

Because he had visited a pharmacist, and he did receive the conclusion that his body was very weak.

“Senior Brother, didn’t you see that after I used Hidden Strike just now, I was weak and couldn’t sustain my strength? And I was only Second-Rank Body Tempering at that time. How could I have the ability to make a Fourth-Rank martial artist like you unable to see clearly? If I truly had that much strength, why would I only make it to the top ten today?” Lin Hui continued.

This statement immediately eased the suspicion in Chen Chong‘s heart. He felt that he might have indeed misunderstood Lin Hui.

Regardless, the fact that Lin Hui had injured his waist was indisputable.

“But I won’t just let go of the score for injuring me before!” Chen Chong‘s voice turned cold.

“Senior Brother, you probably can’t beat me now, can you?” Lin Hui suddenly smiled.

“…” Chen Chong‘s face stiffened. He was speechless.

Indeed, was he still a match for Lin Hui now? And in such a short time??

Thinking this, a strange chill rose in Chen Chong‘s heart.

He recalled that Lin Hui had been promoted barely half a year ago, yet he was already at Fourth-Rank Body Tempering? And had even entered the top ten??

This speed was comparable to that of Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren.

Could he possibly need to involve his sister?

His sister was a Summoner, burdened with missions and had no time to deal with him. Chen Chong knew that if he approached her just for this trivial matter, he would surely be beaten up first.

“Senior Brother, we are all fellow disciples. We see each other often. Why make things so difficult?”

Lin Hui stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and without saying anything further, brushed past him and walked toward Huang Shan and the others who were beckoning him.

As for Chen Chong, his background as a Summoner was indeed intimidating, but as long as Lin Hui didn’t overreact and draw out his backing, the problem was minor.

“Amazing! You were hiding that move?!” Huang Shan patted Lin Hui‘s arm, surprised.

“Truly formidable. If I wasn’t careful, I wouldn’t have been able to dodge that move either,” Qiu Yiren said seriously from the side.

She was straightforward. If something was good, it was good, and if it wasn’t, it wasn’t.

“It was decent, decent. That was a move I could only use when forced to my limit. It severely drains my vitality and requires a long time to recover,” Lin Hui sighed.

“That’s still incredibly strong,” Senior Brother Chen Sui said gravely from the side. “You advanced to Fourth-Rank after only half a year. Give it another half year, and you’ll likely secure a stable spot in the top ten. Your sword style may be weak, but your Body Tempering progress is genuinely fast.”

“Senior Brother is too kind. It’s just luck,” Lin Hui replied with a subtle smile.

After displaying his strength, the attitude of those around him changed. As he listened to Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren‘s discussion, he saw Second Senior Brother Zhao Jiangan nod at him kindly and give him a thumbs-up.

Lin Hui suddenly and profoundly understood the kind of life Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren had been living all this time.

While dealing with the conversation around him, his mind drifted to the corresponding benefits he would receive after entering the top ten rankings.

In the distance, Senior Sister Mu Qiaozhi and Xie Li silently watched Lin Hui.

Mu Qiaozhi said nothing. For her, Lin Hui‘s progress did indeed make her misjudge him, but she was unwilling to admit she was wrong.

Therefore, she remained silent.

As for Xie Li, watching Lin Hui join Huang Shan‘s circle purely through his own strength, she felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

Hadn’t she gone to great lengths, doing favors and running errands, all to squeeze into the circle of the top ten elites?

However, this forced entry naturally did not earn her equal respect. Neither the Senior Sister nor Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren truly saw her as anything more than a follower, showing little respect.

And now, Lin Hui, without relying on anyone, had successfully squeezed into the top ten of the front courtyard in just over half a year.

This made Xie Li, who had previously abandoned Chen Zhishen and Lin Hui‘s circle, feel quite regretful.

‘It doesn’t matter, though. No matter what, following Senior Sister is definitely better than the small circle of three we had before. If I had stayed as I was, how could I enjoy the superior benefits I receive now at the Mu Family?’ After an internal comparison, Xie Li felt her conflicted emotions ease considerably.

At that moment, another match on the platform concluded. The fight among the top ten was far more intense than before.

It was Huang Shan‘s turn to go up. Lin Hui and Qiu Yiren were still cheering for her when Huishen‘s voice suddenly emerged from behind them.

“Junior Brother Lin, True Man Mingde would like to see you for a moment.”

Huishen‘s tone had returned to its previous enthusiasm, as if his earlier change in attitude had never occurred.

“Mh-hm, understood,” Lin Hui nodded, following Huishen through the crowd toward the Ming Generation viewing stand.

Before he had even reached halfway, Huang Shan struck down her opponent on the platform with one blow, winning easily.

Cheers erupted from her fans. Many wealthy families were already whispering to each other, clearly intending to propose marriage.

Female disciples like Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren, who possessed both talent and looks, were highly sought after in any martial arts hall.

They were also the first choice for wives and concubines in wealthy families.

If male disciples in the top ten needed time to slowly transition and strive to change their lives and climb the ranks, female disciples could leap over the dragon gate and marry directly into a wealthy family, instantly achieving a new social standing.

This was one reason why female disciples were constantly emerging in various martial arts halls.

Lin Hui walked up to Daoist Mingde amid the cheers, first saluted Daoist Baohe, and then saluted the three Ming Generation Masters.

“Lin Hui, you are now in the front courtyard and are still handling part of the accounting work, correct?” Daoist Baohe asked amiably.

“Yes,” Lin Hui nodded.

“Good child. With your current attainment, you are qualified to formally study under my tutelage. Are you willing!?” Mingde‘s face was stern at this time.

According to the Clear Wind Taoist Temple‘s rules, entering the top ten gave one the right to choose a master to consult with and receive daily guidance in cultivation.

This was a major rule set by the temple, intended to accelerate the growth of the most promising disciples.

Based on the previous allocation, Huang Shan, Qiu Yiren, and Lin Hui would each be assigned to one of the Masters.

“I am willing! True Man Mingde guided me to enter the temple and has looked out for me multiple times along the way. I have always kept it in my heart,” Lin Hui said sincerely.

Mingde immediately smiled upon hearing this.

“Good, good. I now have two disciples under me, and with you, that makes three. We will gather later to familiarize ourselves with each other.”

He was in a good mood. After all, his two other disciples were not as promising as Lin Hui.

Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren had been assigned to Minxiu and Minchen earlier. It was finally his turn.

The other two Masters also looked slightly envious. Although Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren were geniuses, they were women. Women, after all, could not be cultivated long-term. They would likely marry into wealthy families or large clans soon, and if lucky, even into Inner City families. They could not support the Master’s lineage long-term like male disciples could.

“Yes!” Lin Hui respectfully saluted.

“You may call me Teacher from now on,” Mingde reminded him with a smile.

“Yes, Teacher!” Lin Hui‘s mind was made up.

This change in address was not just a title; it carried Mingde‘s expectations for him.

The term ‘Teacher’ (老师) was not used lightly. It implied that Mingde was somewhat intending to pass on his resources and connections to Lin Hui.

(End of Chapter)