Chapter 8: Its Time for Revenge

Xuen approached the ancient medicine hall, its weathered facade standing as a silent testament to the passage of time. Pushing open the creaking door, he stepped inside, greeted by the familiar sight of the old seller. The man, as usual, sat in his corner, indifferent to the comings and goings of customers, his demeanor suggesting a profound disinterest in the trivialities of buying and selling. Xuen, accustomed to the old man's ways, began to browse the hall on his own.

His eyes wandered over the dusty shelves, cluttered with an assortment of ancient tomes and mysterious artifacts. Then, something caught his attention—a book, its cover worn and faded, yet unmistakably familiar. It was the same alchemy text his master had once possessed, the very book he had gifted to his sister. Xuen's heart skipped a beat. How could such a rare and profound text, one of such high decree, find its way into this unassuming hall?

As he stood there, lost in thought, the old seller's voice broke the silence, dry and raspy, yet carrying an undercurrent of authority. "Since you've recognized that book, you must be the disciple of Old Xuen."

Xuen turned sharply, his eyes widening in surprise. "You know my master?"

"Of course," the old man replied, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "I know that old stingy fool. I gave him that very book years ago, but he never paid me for it, nor did he return it." He paused, his gaze piercing as he studied Xuen. "I never imagined his disciple would reach the Innate Realm in his twenties."

Xuen's breath hitched. The old seller's words confirmed his suspicions—this man was no ordinary merchant. In the mortal world, the concept of the Innate Realm was virtually unknown. Even achieving the status of a grandmaster was a rare feat. Xuen's instincts kicked in, and he subtly shifted his stance, raising his guard. He could sense that the old man before him was far stronger than he appeared.

The old seller chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "No need to be on guard, boy. If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already, no matter what you did. Your master may have been a stingy thief, but he was also a good friend of mine."

Xuen hesitated, his mind racing with questions, but before he could speak, the old man continued. "Here," he said, gesturing to a small bundle on the counter. "These are the medicines you need for your cultivation in the Innate Realm. Take them and go. I don't wish to be disturbed. We'll talk another day. For now, just know that being in the Innate Realm is dangerous for a young man like you. It's not wise to linger among us old fellows."

Xuen bowed deeply, his respect for the old seller evident in his gesture. "Thank you, Senior," he said quietly. Gathering the medicines, he turned and left the hall, his mind swirling with thoughts of the encounter. The old seller's words echoed in his mind, a reminder of the hidden depths of the world he was only beginning to understand.

Xuen left the medicine hall and made his way straight home, his mind still lingering on the enigmatic encounter with the old seller. Upon arriving, he found the house empty; Linn'er was away at high school. He stepped into the garden, the tranquility of the space offering a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling within him.

Settling into a meditative posture, Xuen activated a small array he had prepared earlier. He carefully arranged the herbs he had acquired from the old seller on the ground, their faint glow hovering slightly above the surface. The array hummed to life, drawing the medicinal aura into his body. As the energy flowed through him, Xuen felt his consciousness drift inward, entering the depths of his soul.

For an hour, he remained immersed in this state, his body and spirit harmonizing with the potent energy of the herbs. But the process was far from gentle. His meridians burned, and his muscles felt as though they were being torn apart. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth as he pushed through the pain, his determination unwavering. For two years, he had been stuck at the bottleneck of the 1st stage of the Innate Realm, and now, he could feel the barrier beginning to crack.

The pain intensified, as if a thousand knives were piercing his flesh simultaneously. Yet, Xuen endured, drawing upon the secret teachings his master had imparted to him. With a final, resolute push, he felt something within him shatter—a divine sense awakened, and his cultivation surged forward, breaking through to the Middle Stage of the Innate Realm.

As the energy settled, Xuen opened his eyes, a newfound clarity and power coursing through him. "So, this is the power of the Middle Stage Innate Realm," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. His divine sense now extended over a square kilometer, allowing him to perceive the world around him with unprecedented precision.

After consolidating his cultivation, Xuen returned to the house, just as Linn'er arrived home from school. Her cheerful voice calling out, "Big Brother Xuen!" brought a warmth to his heart. Though he had always cherished the bond they shared, he longed for the day he could reveal the truth—that he was her real brother.

"Let's go eat something," Xuen suggested, his tone light and affectionate. They stepped outside, and Xuen drove the car toward the Lin family estate. Along the way, he mentioned, "I got a call from Lin Quirong this morning. Let's pick her up and have a meal together."

Linn'er's face lit up with joy at the prospect. However, as they approached the Lin family residence, an unusual tension hung in the air. The guards were more alert than usual, their movements sharp and deliberate. Xuen's sharp instincts immediately picked up on the shift in atmosphere.

Calmly, he approached the gate and asked, "What's going on here?"

Old Lin Hao and Lin Hei hurried toward him, their expressions strained. "Mr. Xuen, you're here," Lin Hao began, his voice tinged with urgency. Lin Hei quickly added, "The Li family sent some people earlier. They demanded that we hand over all rights to the Shenzhen construction business to them. They didn't outright threaten us, but it was clear—this wasn't a request."

Xuen listened intently, his expression unreadable. The Li family—the very name stirred a storm of emotions within him. They were the ones who had destroyed Linn'er's life, seizing her family's assets and leaving her with nothing. Now, they were making moves against the Lin family, and Xuen knew he could no longer stand idly by.

"Calm down," Xuen said, his voice steady and commanding. "Explain everything properly."

As the Lin family recounted the details, Xuen's resolve hardened. The time for patience had passed. The Li family had overstepped, and it was time to settle the score.

Linn'er, standing beside him, looked uneasy. The mention of the Li family brought back painful memories, and Xuen could see the fear in her eyes. He placed a reassuring hand on her head, his touch gentle. "Don't worry about adult matters," he said softly. "Let's go eat."

They shared a meal at the Lin family estate, the atmosphere lightened by Xuen's calm presence. Later that evening, as Linn'er slept, Xuen sent a text to his trusted assistant, Brother Tiger. "Xiao Tiger, gather the best men—no more than five. We'll head to Guangzhou in a week."

As he set his phone down, Xuen's gaze turned steely. The time for revenge had finally come. The Li family would soon learn the cost of crossing him.