Chapter 34: Change of Heart II

Lin Hui nodded, glancing at his grandfather, Lin Chaoyi, and the two men behind him.

Lin Chaoyi was putting on his act, while the other two—Lin Shunjiang (Lin Hongzhen’s father) and Lin Shunchong (from the second branch)—watched. One looked helpless, the other somber, both standing with arms crossed as they observed Lin Chaoyi’s performance.

At this moment, Lin Chaoyi was shaking with rage at Lin Shunhe’s words, pointing a finger at him but unable to utter a single syllable.

“Ah!” X2.

Suddenly, both of them rolled their eyes simultaneously and collapsed backward onto the floor.

Father and son moved in perfect unison. As soon as they hit the ground, they began foaming at the mouth and twitching violently.

Yao Shan and Lin Shunchong rushed forward at the same time to catch them, screaming in panic.

“Father! What’s wrong!?”

“My dear! What’s happening to you!?”

“Father, you can’t die!!”

“Darling, why are you starting to spit up blood!?”

Hearing the chaotic ruckus in the main hall, Lin Hui set down his luggage in the bedroom, utterly speechless.

He couldn’t hit the dead old man; no matter how much they had “severed ties,” the man was still Lin Shunhe’s biological father. Nor could he easily kick him out; if he threw him outside, what if the old man just knelt at the front gate? A father kneeling to his son was the kind of scandalous, explosive scene that would attract eyes anywhere.

Lin Hui listened to the commotion outside. It had reached the point where his mother, Yao Shan, was screaming for his father to “stop spitting blood.”

In the hall, Lin Chaoyi and Lin Shunhe were both shaking on the floor—one foaming, one bleeding. The scene was bizarre beyond measure.

Lin Hui didn’t go out. It was obvious that his father and Lin Chaoyi were competing to see who had fewer moral standards. If he were in that position, he certainly wouldn’t be as practiced as his father. He probably would have just thrown the man out, which would feel satisfying but would ruin the family reputation.

Realizing this, he let his father and the three from the main clan exhaust themselves out there. Meanwhile, he comfortably took off his outer robe in the bedroom and lay down to rest.

During his days in the Mist Zone, he hadn’t had a single night of good sleep. Putting aside the constant noise and presence of monsters outside, his teacher Mingde actually snored… and talked in his sleep, muttering his wife’s name dozens of times a night.

As soon as he lay down, sleepiness surged over him. All the accumulated fatigue surfaced at once, and he drifted off before he knew it.

It was a dreamless sleep.

When he woke up and opened his eyes, it was pitch black outside. In the hall outside his bedroom, he could only hear the low voices of his parents talking. Clearly, Lin Chaoyi and the others had left.

Lin Hui stretched, slowly got out of bed, threw on his robe, and pushed the door open.

He saw Lin Shunhe mopping the floor while Yao Shan sat nearby, sewing a large black padded coat. They chatted as they worked.

Seeing Lin Hui emerge, Yao Shan immediately put down her work and stood up.

“Ah Hui, you’re awake? You must be hungry. I’ll heat up some food for you. I just stewed some Jade-Bone Chicken and Black-Fleece soup.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Lin Hui nodded, then looked at his father. “Dad, when did those people leave?”

“They left not long after you went to sleep. The old thing realized he wasn’t going to get any benefits and that our family absolutely wouldn’t return to the clan, so he lingered until nearly dark before leaving.” Lin Shunhe’s face twisted into a sneer. “He didn’t apologize when he was busy snatching our family’s opportunities, but now that he sees you rising, he rushes over to claim benefits? Bah! Not a chance! I’ve finally seen Lin Chaoyi for who he really is! Playing games with me? I can spit more blood than him!”

Lin Shunhe tugged at the grey cloth of his shirt, which was stained red with chicken blood at the chest, his face flushed with lingering anger.

“Dad, you should take it easy… don’t actually hurt yourself,” Lin Hui said, exasperated.

“It’s fine, it’s all chicken blood. Didn’t we just kill a chicken to nourish your body? I figured I might as well use it. I even specifically changed into a set of cheap clothes first,” Lin Shunhe said dismissively.

Lin Hui gave him a thumbs up. “Old man, you’re impressive!”

“Impressive? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means strong, powerful.”

“You’re only realizing that now?” Lin Shunhe laughed.

Lin Hui laughed too. He walked over and pulled up a stool opposite his father.

“Speaking of which, how is the Lin main clan doing now? How is Eldest Sister? I plan to go see her tomorrow, is that okay?”

“Go ahead. I just secretly slipped your eldest uncle some money. They are spending a fortune to treat their daughter’s injuries and are running a deficit. Alas, it’s a tragedy. It’s all because of the trouble that Lin Hongyu caused!” His father began cursing again.

“What’s the situation with Lin Hongyu now? Wasn’t she supposed to be engaged to the Chen main clan descendant? Why did it turn out so poorly after the engagement?” Lin Hui asked.

“The news is out. Lin Hongyu was played. They just paid her lip service; they didn’t even give her a chance to get pregnant,” Lin Shunhe mocked. “To be honest, those main clan sons in the Inner City aren’t so easily caught. They’ve dealt with countless temptations from men and women since they were kids. If it were that easy to secure an engagement, they would have been eaten alive long ago. I thought it sounded fishy when I first heard the news. Now we see… heh.”

“Makes sense,” Lin Hui agreed, nodding.

“That’s why Lin Chaoyi is panicking now. Lin Hongyu’s status in the Chen family is nonexistent since she never even passed the Summoning. Now that she’s been dumped and her reputation is ruined, her ‘value’ has plummeted. Combined with Lin Hongzhen being collateral damage and seriously injured, two of the three lines the Lin family invested in have been broken. Only one is left.”

“There’s one more? Who?”

“Lin Shunde from the fifth branch. He has some money and moved into the Inner City. No one knows what he does for a living—he’s very secretive and doesn’t contact the clan much, only sending things back occasionally for the New Year,” Lin Shunhe replied.

“Forget it, let’s not worry about the Lin family’s mess. We’re doing fine on our own,” Lin Hui said. “It’s just that the house is a bit quiet. This courtyard you moved us into is a bit too big, Dad.”

“If you think it’s quiet, why don’t you hurry up and find a wife and have some kids?” Lin Shunhe teased.

“No rush, no rush…”

That night, the family ate, drank, and chatted until very late before heading to bed.

The incident with Lin Chaoyi was just a minor episode. Over the next two days, the old man brought people to make a scene again, but Lin Shunhe simply kept the doors barred and hid inside, pretending no one was home.

After visiting his parents, Lin Hui went to see his cousin. He brought some money and gifts.

Lin Hongzhen had lost a lot of weight. She lay there looking as if she were merely asleep, but she simply wouldn’t wake up.

Lin Hui didn’t know what kind of person possessed the strength and status to injure an Eldest Sister who had already succeeded in the Summoning, but he knew they must be far more powerful than himself.

Furthermore, he had attempted to contact the two friends his cousin had introduced to him. There was no response from either side; after all this time, it was clear they were being silent on purpose.

After handling his family affairs, he returned to the Clear Wind Taoist Temple. Lin Hui once again threw himself entirely into the rhythm of Body Tempering in the Mist Zone.

However, after a period of peace, a new task arrived—a mission for his post in the Security Office’s Emergency Response Team.

---

Xinyu Town · Security Office

A line of nine people stood scattered across the wide rear courtyard of the office, listening to the Head Constable explain the details of the emergency mission.

The Head Constable’s surname was Xu, given name Ansheng. He was the strongest martial artist in the Xinyu Town Yamen. The daily operations of the entire office revolved around him. Although the Chief and Deputy Chief held higher ranks, he was the one who got things done.

Like the Chief, Xu Ansheng came from an Internal Family sect—the Fushan Sect, one of the “Three Sects and Six Gangs” of the Inner City. Many key positions in Outer City towns were held by Internal experts like him.

The man was massive, over two meters tall, with streamlined, powerful muscles. He wore the light green uniform of a Head Constable, and a decorative black tiger-head belt was prominently displayed at his waist—a vital symbol of his rank and status.

“This mission is primarily to clear out the wandering patients on the outskirts of town. The rules are the same as before: do not make close physical contact. Kill on sight. Do not hesitate,” Xu Ansheng clapped his hands, and someone immediately brought out a wooden tray covered in red cloth.

Large silver ingots, the size of fists, were arranged neatly on the tray, catching everyone’s eye.

“The funding for this is ample. Just get to work. Kill ten, and your reward doubles.”

“Yes!”

The nine people responded in unison.

Lin Hui was among them. He glanced at the others from the corner of his eye. Senior Brother Chen Sui was there, as were the former Second Senior Brother Zhao Jiangan and the former Eldest Senior Sister Mu Qiaozhi. Additionally, Huang Shan, Qiu Yiren, and his fellow disciple Deng Mingchao were present. Most were familiar faces.

Next, Xu Ansheng explained the priority zones for the clearing. He had someone bring out a map of Xinyu Town—a crude aerial view drawn with white lines on a black board.

“I will say this once more for the entire town. It is divided into the Central Street District, the Outskirts/Suburbs, and the Boundary Zone. The incident happened in the Boundary Zone. That’s where the sick live, and some criminals hide there as well. Therefore, remember: do not hesitate. When it’s time to act, act decisively!” Xu Ansheng instructed.

Lin Hui saw the others, like the Senior Brother, looking calm and composed. Clearly, they had participated in this many times and had plenty of experience.

He took a secret glance at his blood-red mark. There were two months and four days left until he would completely master the Perfected version of the Nine-Section Quick Sword.

Coming back to his senses, Xu Ansheng waved a hand, signaling their departure.

Lin Hui looked at the target destination for the Response Team. It was far from the street district and his home in the suburbs, located directly at another border near the Mist Zone. That area was specifically cordoned off with white lines, forming a region comparable in size to the Central Street District.

“Haven’t been to this Boundary Zone before?” Deng Mingchao leaned in from the side and whispered.

“No, I’ve only heard of it. I’ve never been,” Lin Hui replied, digging through his memories for any related info and finding none.

“That place is full of sick people and criminals. Normal people obviously don’t go there. However, the town’s black market is also near there, so quite a few people hide and live in seclusion within. In short, it’s a very troublesome place. Stay close behind me later. I’ll show you the ropes,” Deng Mingchao whispered.

They were fellow disciples under Mingde; it was only natural to look after his younger brother.

“Alright! Thanks, Senior Brother!”

“We’re fellow disciples, no need for pleasantries.”

The nine members of the Response Team followed Xu Ansheng out of the Security Office and moved quickly toward the target area.

Passing through the street districts and the suburbs, the fields on either side of the road began to thin. Normal mud and stone houses became rarer, replaced by ramshackle black wooden huts.

The number of wooden huts increased. Some were clearly newly built. Between them, one could faintly feel hidden gazes peering out from within—wary and terrified.

They walked further. Both sides of the dirt road were now densely packed with black wooden huts.

People in rags would occasionally appear between the huts, staring at the Response Team with numb eyes.

“It’s around here. This area isn’t large. Everyone, move fast and clear it out quickly,” Xu Ansheng waved a hand and drew his waist saber.

The nine people fanned out, approaching the cluster of black wooden huts.

“Follow me,” Deng Mingchao whispered, sword in hand, walking ahead of Lin Hui. “Pay attention to the identifiers: bloodshot eyes, a dazed expression, and strange-looking tumors on the body. Those are the symptomatic targets that need to be cleared.”

“What exactly is this disease? Do you know, Senior Brother?” Lin Hui followed him. They happened to be one of the two slowest pairs. Looking at this area he had never touched before, he couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.

“Do you know about Myriad Fortune Meat?” Deng Mingchao paused before answering. “That stuff… if you eat too much of it, you get sick…”

Lin Hui was stunned, and then he fell silent.

Myriad Fortune Meat could be collected for free. Aside from the poorest and most miserable, who would use it as their primary staple food to survive?

No wonder Myriad Fortune Meat never appeared in the temple’s meals. No wonder his father had never let him eat a single piece of it since he was a child.

That thing was strictly used to barely keep the poorest people alive.

(End of Chapter)