Chapter 8: A little bit of Li Hong's perspective

A pinched expression shows up on Qing Tan's face as she pushed her brother's palm away from her hair while fixing her hairstyle. She hated it when her brother continued to treat her like a child when they were the same age as each other. She also understood much of the situation(s) with regard to the clan and knows that she can't go overboard with Lin Shan.

Lin Dong had an unimpressed smile on his face in response to this and asked softly "What cultivation realm did you display to everyone here?"

Tapping her foot and then crossing her arms, Qing Tan replied "Fourth level at the Tempered Body realm. I only displayed the strength of the same rank as them." As she stated this, she gave an exaggerated sigh as she swept a glance at the boys on the ground disdainfully.

While the two siblings were conversing in low volumes, another figure squeezed through the crowd to get to them and his brother "Brother, are you alright?" The figure gently lifts their brother onto their shoulder. Once done, they look towards the siblings and yell "Lin Dong and Qing Tan, how can you guys tag team my brother and his friends? And even if you do so, why be so heavy-handed? Have you already forgotten that you both are also Lin Clan members?"

Both Lin Dong and Qing Tan stop talking to each other and turn to face the youth who spoke out to them in an indignant manner. They see a young teenage boy who looks to be a year older than them who has blue eyes in between eyelids that were half-open, wrinkles slightly showing in-between his blue eyebrows, and his lips slightly downturned with wrinkles showing to the upper sides of his mouth on the right and left side. He was wearing a blue-black Han Zhifu cotton fabric with embroidered designs featuring plant patterns and long blue ankle-length pants.

The crowd all thought 'Lin Hong has arrived…Lin Shan will probably get his revenge.'

Lin Hong is Lin Shan's older brother, is fifteen years old, and is at the sixth level of the Tempered Body realm.

Lin Dong glanced at Lin Hong and instantly smiled as he knew he would have to deal with him as his sister dealt a heavy hand to Lin Shan 'Unlike in the novel, Lin Hong is not strong enough to warrant me to become nervous, so I won't have to trouble Lin Xia.'

Lin Hong, on seeing that there was no response to his question and statement, shifted his feet slightly to the left 'So, it is true what Lin Shan said a few days ago. Lin Dong is talented as he can defeat someone in the same realm as him in a quick and efficient manner. His comprehension of the martial art Lin Shan practices is high. The aura of confidence he is displaying right now shows that he is not afraid of me, someone at the sixth level of the Tempered Body realm. This can only mean that he has the ability to fight those who are a few realms above himself or that he has trump cards.

It is not just him. Before coming here, I knew that Lin Shan had intercepted Qing Tan. Knowing my brother and his followers, they would have attacked her to test her if she is also talented like Lin Dong. I only showed up when I heard Lin Dong appear so that means Qing Tan defeated all five of them. From what I saw of their battle just now, I could not see how fast she moved, so she must be at a higher realm than me.' "Well, don't you guys have anything to say?"

Qing Tan narrowed her eyes at him and replied "Your brother intercepted me and wanted to beat me up. So, I dared to beat him up. What, do you want revenge?"

Upon hearing that, Lin Hong glanced around at the crowd and tilted his head in a questioning manner as if asking them for confirmation. When receiving nods from quite a few people, he relaxed his face and stated in a harmonious and gentle manner "Of course, not Qing Tan. Since it was my brother and his friends who have wronged you and attacked you, you had every right to fight back. Should you have not been heavy-handed, they might have taken advantage of your gentleness to harm you. I completely understand that. Forgive me, I had not known the situation beforehand and hence questioned you without first figuring out what happened." 'I should let father know about Lin Dong and Qing Tan. The fact that no one knew their capabilities and the fact that they hid their abilities means that Lin Xiao could also be hiding it. After all, they moved to the secluded and remote area of the Lin Clan territory. They may have found some miraculous treasure or medicine that would help a crippled person. Hmmm… should I test Lin Dong's skill in the martial arts of the ones he knows…no…I feel as though Lin Dong is waiting for me to attack him and he may even injure me…I should just notify father.'

The crowd of clan members stand with bated breaths and try to be ever so quiet while they wait for Qing Tan's and/or Lin Dong's response to Lin Hong's honest and straightforward words.

However, the response they are waiting for does not come in the way they expected as they hear a delicate voice yell from a little distance away "Stop!! Lin Hong, you have already stepped into the sixth level of the Tempered Body realm, and you still dare to bully a fourth-level Tempered Body realm cultivator such as Lin Dong!"

Everyone turned towards the voice and saw a seventeen year of age pink-haired young lady wearing a ponytail walking quickly towards Lin Dong, Lin Hong, Qing Tan, and Lin Shan plus his followers. Once she got closer, they can make out just how angry she is by the small wrinkle underneath her red eyes, the scrunched-up eyebrows that caused a slight darkening of the lines between her eyes and nose, and the way she opened her mouth showcased her gritted teeth grinding against each other for some time after yelling.

In her anger she yelled in order to support the weaker party after finding out how the situation began; Lin Xia didn't notice what she came upon. Now that she was right in front of them and overhearing the slight murmurs in the crowd, she realized that Lin Hong was not seeking revenge and had even stated that Qing Tan is right in dealing with his brother as she did. Her angry expression relaxed somewhat which led to lightening the lines between her eyes, eyebrows, and nose slightly and removing the wrinkle which showed under her eyes. She apologized to Lin Hong "I am sorry Lin Hong. I overheard some other clan members speaking about Lin Shan intercepting Qing Tan and getting beaten up. Then I heard how you went to him and how the members I was overhearing thought you were going there to get revenge. When I got here, I saw Lin Dong and you standing opposite each other and thought you were bullying him."

Lin Hong continued to glance at her while changing his smile to a slight smile that seems to be a single-sided smile with his eyes slightly squinting towards her and responds "It's okay, Lin Xia. I understand. You were simply trying to use your strength and status to get justice even if it was at the last moment. I am not mad at you.

As you can see, I had a misunderstanding of what happened here. I heard and saw the condition of my brother and his friends, and I immediately acted on their conditions without figuring out what really happened." 'Lin Xia, the same realm as I am, but has a higher status than me. Good, she is here. I could care less about Qing Tan's and Lin Dong's responses to my statement earlier. I would rather leave here immediately.' "Lin Dong and Qing Tan I will leave and take my brother and his friends to get healed. Qing Tan, sorry for what my brother and his friends committed today." Turning towards the crowd, he asked "Brothers, sisters, can anyone help me bring my brother's friends with me as I won't be able to take all five with me?"

Several youths from the crowd nodded their heads and stepped forward to help Lin Hong as his status within the clan was too great for them to ignore or choose to not help.

The remainder of the crowd seeing that there will be no more dramas left go deeper into the forest area to do what they originally came to this part of the mountain to do, find spiritual medicine of good quality for themselves or their families.

Lin Xia, Lin Dong, Qing Tan, and Lin Changqiang were the only ones remaining in the junction. Lin Xia looked at them, putting her palm slightly on the area between her neckline and chest she sighs "Don't believe whatever Lin Hong says. Lin Dong and Qing Tan don't know his actual nature because you both reside in a segregated portion of the clan territory, and Lin Changqiang doesn't know because you rarely interact with anybody besides these two. Lin Hong has always shown a kind and generous personality to everyone in the clan. However, it is my understanding that there must be other sides to him that he doesn't show. I cannot tell you guys much, but it is a feeling I have, hence why I am telling you. From what I know, he likes Qing Tan, and that is the only explanation I can think of for his warm words to you today even after seeing his brother's condition."

Cultivation Ranks:

Rank 1: Tempered Body – 9 Stages – (1-9)

Rank 2: Earthly Yuan – 3 Stages – (Early, Middle, Late)

Rank 3: Heavenly Yuan – 3 Stages – (Early, Middle, Late)

Rank 4: Yuan Dan – 3 Stages – (Initial, Advanced, Perfect)

Rank 5:

Rank 6:

Rank 7:

Rank 8:

Rank 9:

Rank 10:

Rank 11: Samsara – 3 Stages – (Ordinary Samsara, Ultimate Samsara, Reincarnation Enlightened Samsara)

Mental Energy Ranks:

Rank 0: Beginning Training – NiWan Palace opened

Rank 1: Seal Symbol Master – 4 Stages – (1st-4th Seal Symbol Master)