At the riverbank, a somewhat disheveled Ye Lin stood with her head lowered in front of Lin Qian, feeling anxious and uneasy.
In the Ye family, Ye Lin was the sister closest to Ye Xin.
Every year when Ye Xin returned to the Ye family, she would bring Ye Lin interesting gifts.
For example, the Concealing Talisman, which, when used, could effectively hide the aura of a Soul Martial Artist. This allowed Ye Lin to follow Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian without being detected by them.
The brothers Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian, following Lin Qian's instructions, were preparing to intercept Bai Ren in advance to assign him a task.
However, they hadn't expected that their conversation before leaving would be overheard by Ye Lin, who happened to pass by the courtyard gate!
Hearing the two disciples from the Wanxiang Sect plan to intercept Bai Ren in advance, Ye Lin couldn't suppress her curiosity. Thinking that she had the Concealing Talisman and wouldn't be discovered, she secretly followed them to take a look.
Ye Lin had just turned fourteen this year and was a young girl with the courage of a newborn calf. Emboldened by the Concealing Talisman, she dared to track disciples of the Wanxiang Sect.
This was something Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian hadn't anticipated—that someone in Bashan City would be so bold as to dare to follow the Wanxiang Sect disciples!
They were only wary of the Li family's movements and never thought that this little girl from the Ye family would trail behind, possessing a treasure like the Concealing Talisman.
Initially, Ye Lin hid perfectly and overheard many remarkable things.
For instance, that the Li family had colluded with the Great Spear Sect to monopolize the relics within Bashan City and to annihilate the Ye family and the Bai family as a pledge to join the Great Spear Sect!
Such paradoxical matters didn't cause Ye Lin to lose control due to shock and make any unusual sounds.
But at this moment, the fiancé of her admired cousin, the so-called Martial Soul-less and useless Lin Qian, unexpectedly showed up at this location.
What made Ye Lin even more incredulous was that the two brothers from the Wanxiang Sect and Bai, the Young Master of Bashan City, actually saluted this useless person and addressed him as Brother Lin!
This left Ye Lin's heart like a raging sea within, and in her distraction, she took a step back, causing a branch beneath her feet to creak.
Immediately, she saw a palm imprint flash toward her, and she fell in a panic.
"The Concealing Talisman explains why Ye Lin could deceive the two junior brothers," Bai Ren said, walking out from under the tree and handing a yellow talisman paper to Lin Qian.
Lin Qian accepted the talisman, gazing at the runes on it still flickering with Soul Light, and sighed helplessly, "Xinxin, that girl, why did she give you a Concealing Talisman of all things?"
"Brother Lin, what do we do now? She seems to have heard everything..." Zhao Qiang stood beside Lin Qian, at a loss.
"What do we do, how should I know? Should I kill her to silence her? This girl will have to call me brother-in-law in the future!" Lin Qian turned his head, glaring at Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian, and shouted angrily, "You two, Ye Lin is only at the Ninth Level of Entering Yuan Realm. Even with a Concealing Talisman, you should have been able to discover her with some caution!"
"And what happened? I keep saying, be careful in whatever you do. Can't you give me some peace of mind!"
"This matter resolved, the sect's rewards won't be few. I secured a spot for you two. Is this how you report back to me?"
"If it wasn't Ye Lin following, but someone from the Li family, then what, huh? Tell me!"
The riverside echoed with Lin Qian's roars as Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian stood before him with drooping heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Ah, you two!" Bai Ren beside them shook his head and sighed, "Brother Lin reprimands you for your own good. If it was someone from the Li family, you might not be alive."
Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian nodded repeatedly with guilt, holding no resentment despite Lin Qian's harsh scolding.
Because they knew that Lin Qian scolded them purely for their own good.
As for Ye Lin, she was completely taken aback. The two disciples of the Wanxiang Sect were people whom even the Family Head had to treat with respect.
In the Ye Residence, Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian were always arrogantly composed, with their demeanor unchanged.
And yet the Lin Qian, once known to her as useless, was scolding the two once-arrogant figures until they were utterly cowed, not daring to utter a word. Such a stark contrast left Ye Lin standing foolishly in place, unmoving.
After reprimanding Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian, Lin Qian walked up to Ye Lin. After a moment, he sighed helplessly, "Ye Lin, why are you so overly curious?"
"Lin Qian, I promise I'll keep my mouth shut and won't tell anyone." As soon as Lin Qian finished speaking, Ye Lin quickly raised her hand and, with a tearsome face, looked at him, "I beg you, please don't kill me."
"Do I look like a serial killer? Why would I kill you for no reason?" Hearing Ye Lin's words, Lin Qian replied in a huff, knocking down her raised hand.
"I conceal my identity purely for convenience." With that, Lin Qian pointed at Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian, "The Li family's attention is entirely on these two. I'm just a worthless person without a Martial Soul—who would notice what I'm investigating?"
"Tomorrow is the Bashan Wanxiang Trial. The Li family's plan only targets Bai Ren and Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian. But my hidden presence will completely overturn their schemes." Saying this, Lin Qian fixed his gaze on Ye Lin, "Just ensure that before tomorrow's trial, you don't run around."
"Why tomorrow?" Ye Lin asked in confusion.
"The Li family wants to wipe out the Ye family and the Bai family in one swoop as evidence of their allegiance to the Great Spear Sect. The Bashan Wanxiang Trial, where most of Bashan City's forces gather, is the best opportunity." At this, Lin Qian flashed a cold smile.
"The Great Spear Sect will likely have assistance too. After all, relying only on the Li family to take down the Ye family and my Bai family is delusional," Bai Ren remarked, snapping his folding fan open in front of him with a soft laugh, "If they knew that the Inspector coming to Bashan City is actually Brother Lin, they'd probably flee."
"Alright, there's no need for you to investigate the relics. Now your task is to ensure Ye Lin stays grounded at your Bai family for the night—keep an eye on her." Lin Qian instructed Bai Ren while pointing at Ye Lin beside him.
Bai Ren, closing his folding fan, bowed and nodded in agreement, "Understood. My younger sister has missed Ye Lin dearly and has invited her to stay at our Bai family for a night. That excuse should suffice."
"But..." Hearing Lin Qian and Bai Ren's conversation, Ye Lin paused, almost wanting to say something.
However, just as she was about to speak, Ye Lin swallowed her words and remained silent.
She understood that Lin Qian and the others wouldn't entirely trust her and that if she were to leak any information, it would ruin all plans.
Ye Lin also realized that resisting was futile, as she was only at the Ninth Level of Entering Yuan Realm.
But when Lin Qian attacked earlier, his Soul Power transformed into a palm imprint, making her recognize that he was indeed in the Shape Origin Realm, the same major realm as her admired cousin Ye Xin!
Facing Lin Qian, who possessed such a Cultivation Realm, she had no chance to resist.
"I think Xinxin gave you a Pill, which you plan to use tonight to break through to the Gathering Yuan Realm and shine in the trial tomorrow, becoming a disciple of the Wanxiang Sect, right?" Suddenly, Lin Qian's voice rang next to Ye Lin's ear.
Ye Lin sharply looked up at the familiar yet once undesirable face beside her, who was now smiling in her direction.
"If I go to the Bai family tonight, I can't use my cousin's Pill to break through." Ye Lin replied, somewhat annoyed, "The Pill was sealed by Xinxin to prevent it from being stolen and can't leave my house."
Lin Qian understood. Such a seal was like the family seals on envelopes, only openable by one's own bloodline, a special seal indeed.
He hadn't thought Ye Xin was so fond of this little girl.
"Rest assured, there's a special quota for the Bashan Wanxiang Trial this time. It doesn't require assessment and can directly admit you to the Wanxiang Sect." Lin Qian suddenly spoke, seeing Ye Lin's disheartened look, "As long as you stay obediently at the Bai family tonight and let Bai Ren keep an eye on you, this spot will be yours."
Hearing Lin Qian's words, Ye Lin looked up in surprise, "Really?"
"Of course it's true. I'm the Inspector for this Bashan City trial, and the sect has entrusted everything to me. If I say the spot is yours, then it is." Lin Qian's tone was firm and indisputable.
Ye Lin stared blankly at Lin Qian in front of her, her eyes slightly red, as she lowered her head and muttered, "Lin Qian, I'm sorry," recalling what she had said in front of the Council Hall yesterday.
"Hmm?" Surprised by Ye Lin's apology, Lin Qian extended his hand to pat her head, "To me, that's just child's play—it's okay. Just don't look down on others easily next time, and at least give them the basic respect they deserve."
Ye Lin raised her head in surprise, wiping away the tears at her eyes, and solemnly nodded at Lin Qian, "I understand, Brother Lin Qian."
Hearing Ye Lin's address, Lin Qian felt a fleeting sense of nostalgia.
Several years ago, when they were both still children, Ye Lin loved following him around.
And she would call out as Brother Lin Qian.
"You, you're still that little sister who never grew up, always a handful," Lin Qian suddenly chuckled.
Ye Lin, hearing this, seemed to recall her childhood memories and giggled shyly.
Finally, Lin Qian left the riverbank and headed toward the depths of Bashan.
By the river, only Bai Ren, Ye Lin, and the brothers Zhao Qiang and Zhao Jian remained, preparing to return along the path back to Bashan City.
"Brother Bai Ren, is Lin Qian really so powerful in the Wanxiang Sect to be the Inspector?" On the way, Ye Lin was still as if in a dream about the earlier events, asking Bai Ren by her side.
Even now, Ye Lin found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Yes, Brother Lin is indeed formidable. He concealed his identity to prevent the Great Spear Sect from discovering and preparing in advance," Bai Ren replied with a charming smile, nodding while fiddling with his folding fan, "If the Great Spear Sect knew Brother Lin was here in Bashan City, they would likely send at least five Nirvana Realm experts to assassinate him."
Confronted with Bai Ren's smile, Ye Lin blushed.
Bai Ren was the dream of all the young girls in Bashan City, and Ye Lin was no exception.
Naturally, in addition to her youthful emotions regarding Bai Ren, she also felt astonished by his words.
In her impression, a Nirvana Realm martial artist was a master rarely seen. Bashan City had only had one such master in the past century.
In the next hundred years, Bashan City's top prospects for reaching the Nirvana Realm were Ye Xin and, undoubtedly, Bai Ren.
If Lin Qian's identity were exposed, to think the Great Spear Sect would send more than five Nirvana Realm experts to assassinate him?
"Brother Lin Qian, just how powerful are you? Tomorrow, you might shake the entire Bashan City, right?" Following Bai Ren, Ye Lin thought silently in her heart.