Chapter 22

"Now it is 'Novice' level... I feel good, my body is not burdened at all."

Le Xaan thought.

Then, he refocused and whispered to himself, "Up by one level again."

"Cough! Cough!"

At that moment, he felt his throat itchy and dried and couldn't help but cough.

He felt that a burning sensation rose from his abdomen to his throat, and he was now very thirsty.

"Well, my body is now a little feeble. The modification on 'Jade Crane Skill' still inflicts some harms on my body, despite much slighter than 'Black Tiger Blade Style' did."

Le Xaan relaxed his mind and saw the window of the 'cheat tool' gradually fade into nothingness.

"So this is how inner body Qi cultivation method works?"

He stretched out his legs and got out of the bed.

He found it curious that a thread of the inner body Qi was circulating between his chest and abdomen.

"I feel like a thread of air is flowing within my body."

Le Xaan strained to control the thread of air, yet it seemed fixed there.

As the thread of air rotated, Le Xaan felt that he became more relaxed and invigorated.

"The 'Novice' level, let me check..." Le Xaan took out the manual and started browsing it.

It was recorded in the booklet:

'This cultivation method enabled its cultivators to extend their longevity, accelerate recovery both from internal and external injuries, nurture their vital organs. As their proficiency in the method increases, so does the potency of these effects.'

"Accelerate recovery?"

Le Xaan was a little amazed.

"Young Master. It's time for your meal. It's already midnight..."

Qiki's voice drifted over from outside the door.

Le Xaan rolled his shoulders before opening the door. He found Qiki seated on a stool outside the door alone. It was unknown how long she had waited.

"It's already this late?" Le Xaan swept his eyes towards other nearby yards, usually abuzz with activity but now deathly quiet.

A gust of night wind picked up, bringing chilly air about Le Xaan.

"What food do you keep for me?"

Le Xaan asked while striding toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was situated between the front part and the rear part of the Mansion. Thus, Le Xaan had to walk out of the backyard on his way there.

"I told the kitchen to keep a portion of every dish. Just warm it up and you can eat, Young Master." Qiki replied in a low voice, catching up with Le Xaan.

The two of them walked down the corridor before turning left into the kitchen's yard.

There were many tables and chairs in the yard. Cookers and servants usually ate here.

Once the two of them entered the yard, they saw a person gobbling up the food reserved for Le Xaan.

"Elder Brother, why do you stay up so late?" The person lifted her head, revealing an innocent, pretty female countenance without makeup.

"Cinci?" Le Xaan was dumbstruck. "When do you return home?"

He took a seat across the table from Le Cinci while studying her as she wolfed down the food.

Le Cinci was Louir Cayv's daughter and, thus, Le Xaan's half-sister. But, since his Second Mother, Louir Cayv, raised them both together, their relationship was akin to that of full siblings.

According to Le Xaan's memory, his bond with Louir Cayv and Le Cinci was remarkably deeper than the rest of his siblings and Mothers.

"I arrived at home just now. And I feel hungry so I come straight here. I originally thought all these dishes were kept for me."

Le Cinci was carrying a sword on her back, attired in blue combat gear. She was wearing a bust-wrapper. A stranger might be unable to tell her gender but for her lovely facial features.

"It's not the right time for you to come back..." Le Xaan sighed.

"Why?"

Le Cinci put down the bowl and asked with a solemn face.

"They haven't made even an inch of progress in investigating Elder Brother Xavir Taron's death. What did the Xavir family experience that night? Don't even talk about the spirits, demons, ghosts and monsters. I do not believe in them one bit."

"What do you mean?"

Le Xaan stared at her.

"I have returned this time specifically to uncover the cause of the Xavir family's deaths and to bring the murderer to justice!"

Le Cinci said with seriousness as her expression gave a hint of her fury.

Le Xaan's eyes were riveted on his second younger sister, but he said nothing.

Le Cinci's face hardly concealed her wrathful and sorrowful emotions.

"Eldest brother, Elder Brother Xavir had been killed. Don't you want to dig out the perpetrator?"

"I had investigated it beforehand, yet, with no clues to track..." Le Xaan shook his heads. "The murderer left no traces. Overnight, dozens of Xavirs family members were slaughtered, yet not a single neighbour heard any disturbance."

"I don't believe!"

Le Cinci rose from the chair.

"I am full. Tomorrow I will start my investigation. Eldest brother, I will go to rest now."

After saying this, she strode out of the yard.

"Qiki, do you want to share a bed with me?" Le Cinci asked Qiki as she walked past Qiki.

Qiki shook her head in a downcast mood. Apparently, the mention of Xavir Taron made her grief-stricken.

Xavir Taron was a warm-hearted and courteous man who treated them very well. Unexpectedly, he was murdered along with his family so abruptly.

Le Cinci left.