C17 Settle down

Yuan Hee's gaze shifted to Lin Tian in shock, but he quickly turned to address Hall Master Ye with a frosty tone, "Hall Master Ye, what are you implying? Do you intend to imprison me as well?"

His words prompted everyone in the hall to turn their attention to Ye Hong.

With a face like thunder, Ye Hong eventually responded icily, "If Vice Master Yuan Hee insists on this course of action, then so be it, for the time being."

"Hall Master..."

"Silence!"

A collective gasp rippled through the hall as Ye Hong's command cut through the air. He then fixed his eyes back on Lin Tian and continued, "Lin Tian, this issue isn't resolved yet. Just so you know, even if you manage to leave the Outer Sect, if we find anything suspicious, rest assured, we will bring you back in!"

"Suit yourself."

Lin Tian's retort came with a dismissive sneer, "And it's more likely that you'll never get that chance and will live to regret it!"

With that, Lin Tian, accompanied by Lin Ling, strode out of the hall.

Once outside the Law Enforcement Hall, Lin Ling clutched Lin Tian's hand, her voice tinged with guilt, "Brother, this is all my fault. If I hadn't been so weak, you wouldn't have..."

"Ling, don't talk like that."

Gently ruffling Lin Ling's hair, Lin Tian reassured her earnestly, "You've done nothing wrong. If there's any fault, it's mine for not being strong enough. But don't worry, I'll become much stronger."

Lin Ling felt the comforting warmth from Lin Tian's hand and nodded, though soon after, a worried tone crept into her voice, "Brother, where will we go after leaving the Outer Sect? We're penniless."

With an easy smile, Lin Tian assured her, "We'll come into money."

Turning his gaze to Yuan Hee, who had been trailing them, Lin Tian said, "Vice Master Yuan, you've been a great help to us already. Would you mind extending a little more silver our way?"

Caught off guard by the request, Yuan Hee paused, then chuckled, "Money is no issue. But tell me, Lin Tian, how did you catch the eye of Great Master Zhao Danhua?"

"I've been wondering why Vice Master Yuan Hee went out of his way to help me," Lin Tian mused with a smile. "Is it simply because Great Master Zhao Danhua holds me in high regard?"

Yuan Hee paused, giving Lin Tian a thoughtful look. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated such a question from Lin Tian, a sign of his growing maturity.

After a brief silence, Yuan Hee chuckled, "There are many reasons I helped you. Yes, Great Master Zhao Danhua's esteem for you is one, and my disdain for the Ye family is another. But the most significant reason is the debt I owe your parents. Without their guidance back then, I would never have awakened my Spirit Body, reached the Martial Artist Stage, or achieved what I have today."

"Really? It seems our parents have assisted many," Lin Tian remarked, his eyes lighting up with interest.

"Indeed, they've helped countless people. Everyone they've helped feels a deep sense of gratitude toward your parents. They all regard your parents as a celestial match made in heaven," Yuan Hee affirmed.

Lin Ling's eyes crinkled with a smile, obviously delighted by the praise for her parents.

In Lin Tian's mind, the images of a robust middle-aged man and a gentle woman surfaced. In his memories, they looked upon him and his sister with eyes filled with love and warmth, tinged with an unspoken yearning.

"Are our parents truly gone?" Lin Tian suddenly halted, turning to Yuan Hee with the question.

Yuan Hee's expression stiffened, and Lin Ling's previously narrowed eyes shot open in surprise.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Hee spoke with gravity, "I don't know. Nobody does."

Lin Tian remained silent, his gaze fixed on Yuan Hee.

"All I know is that they disappeared while on a mission to hunt a Demonic Beast. And once they vanished, it was for four long years. By the sect's rules, any disciple or elder missing for a year is declared dead. So, the sect has pronounced your parents deceased," Yuan Hee explained further.

"I see," Lin Tian nodded. "What about you, Vice Master Yuan? Do you believe our parents are dead?"

"I stand by what I said earlier—I don't know."

Yuan Hee let out a wry laugh. "But deep down, I can't shake the feeling that they're still alive. How could such a celestial couple just perish like that?"

Tears welled up in Lin Ling's eyes as she fervently nodded, "Exactly! Our parents couldn't have just died! I refuse to believe they would abandon us!"

Lin Tian wrapped his arms around Lin Ling, gently patting her back, and reassured Yuan Hee, "Understood."

Yuan Hee's expression briefly stiffened before he inquired, "What's your next move?"

"We'll borrow some silver to secure a place to live. After that, we'll focus on our cultivation, growing stronger while we await the Inner Sect Test," Lin Tian explained, still holding Lin Ling.

Yuan Hee nodded approvingly, "That's a sound plan. Once you pass the Inner Sect Test, the Ye family won't be able to touch you."

He then produced several banknotes and offered them to Lin Tian, "Here's a thousand taels of silver, enough for you and your sister to find a foothold in the city."

"No need for thanks," Lin Tian accepted the banknotes. "We'll find a way to repay you in the future."

Yuan Hee nodded and accompanied Lin Tian and his sister to the gates of Celestial Dragon City.

At the threshold, Yuan Hee paused and addressed Lin Tian, "Although I'm clueless about how Great Master Zhao Danhua came to favor you, or why you've undergone such a transformation, I'm certain your potential has been fully unleashed. Keep pushing forward. I have no doubt that the son of Lin Kong and Hwa Yue will achieve great things."

Lin Tian stood still for a moment, recognizing the names of his parents.

"We will," he affirmed, gazing up at the sky. "And we'll uncover the whole truth."

Lin Ling gave a determined nod from within his embrace, and together, they stepped into the city.

Yuan Hee watched them go, his gaze shifting thoughtfully before he too looked skyward, murmuring, "Brother Lin, you've raised two remarkable children."

Upon their arrival in the city, Lin Tian set Lin Ling down and handed her the banknotes. He trusted her as an adept manager of household affairs, so it made sense for her to handle the finances.

"First things first, let's buy a house!"

True to form, Lin Ling sprang into action as soon as she had the money in hand. Lin Tian agreed with a smile, and together they headed to the housing association in Celestial Dragon City.

At the association's building, they were greeted by walls plastered with listings. The prices made Lin Ling furrow her brow in concern—they were steep. As the capital of Celestial Dragon Country, it was no surprise that the courtyards in Celestial Dragon City, especially those in the affluent East City, commanded prices in the tens of thousands of silver taels. Lin Ling had no choice but to consider properties in the more modest West City or South City.

Eventually, Lin Ling found several courtyards in South City that were affordable, costing only a few hundred taels. South City was home to the common folk of Celestial Dragon City, yet even the most modest courtyard there was priced at five hundred taels, depleting half of what Yuan Hee had lent them.

There were cheaper options still, but those were in such a state of disrepair or so far outside the city limits that they weren't practical, especially considering Lin Tian's cultivation needs. Ultimately, Lin Ling settled on a small courtyard for five hundred taels. It was modest in size but complete with all the necessary furnishings and maintained with cleanliness and order, much to Lin Ling's satisfaction.

The siblings then set about cleaning their new home until night fell.

"Brother, this is our home now," Lin Ling declared joyfully, savoring the roast chicken they hadn't enjoyed in ages.

"Yes, this is our home, and we must take good care of it," Lin Tian replied, his smile broadening as he handed another chicken leg to Lin Ling.

Lin Ling nodded vigorously, then carefully produced a banknote worth a hundred taels from her pocket and handed it to Lin Tian. "Brother, this is a hundred taels of silver. Please spend it wisely. We have just under five hundred taels left, and we need to make a good life for ourselves here. We must be frugal."

"I understand."

Lin Tian chuckled and tousled Lin Ling's hair affectionately. "And about the money, don't stress over it too much. I'll have it under control soon enough."

"Brother, just be careful not to act rashly."

Lin Ling quickly cautioned, "This isn't like the Celestial Dragon Sect. Back there, we had people to back us up, but out here, we're on our own. If we run afoul of the country's laws, we could be in deep trouble."

"Haha, Ling, you're overthinking it. Do you really think I'm not aware of that? Rest assured, I'll secure the money without any issues."

Lin Tian laughed once more.

"Alright."

Reassured by Lin Tian's words, Lin Ling's face lit up with a smile, and she passed a pig trotter to him.

Lin Tian grinned and began gnawing on it with gusto.

Once they had their fill, Lin Tian helped Lin Ling tidy up before sending her off to bed.

As Lin Ling's breathing deepened into the steady rhythm of sleep, Lin Tian sat cross-legged and pondered his next steps.

"Having left the Outer Sect, I've managed to steer clear of conflict for the time being, buying myself some precious time. Now, I must focus on advancing my skills as quickly as possible."

Lin Tian's gaze grew intense. "Given my current level of strength, acing the Inner Sect Test won't be an issue. But merely passing isn't my aim; it won't suffice to showcase my talent. I need to reach the Martial Apprentice Level Six to truly astonish the sect and earn the Inner Sect's regard. For that, I must find an optimal environment for cultivation."

He mulled over his plans, and after a short while, a determined look flashed in Lin Tian's eyes. "Dragon Martial Mountain is out of reach for now, but fortunately, there are other options. I'll give them a try tomorrow."

With that thought, Lin Tian closed his eyes to rest.

Upon waking the next day, Lin Tian informed his sister and headed straight to the low-end Demonic Beast leather market in Celestial Dragon City. He purchased some low-grade Demonic Beast flesh and bones, and combining them with the Absolute Cold Grass he had previously acquired, he brewed a large pot of meat soup and filled a food container with it.

This meat soup, a renowned alchemist's secret concoction from the Black Tortoise Continent known as Blood Generating and Qi Replenishing Soup, was a rarity known to few. Lin Tian had come into possession of this recipe after making a name for himself on the continent, with an alchemist presenting it to him as a token of respect.