A storm was approaching outside.
However, it was quiet within the Lin family's book depository.
Chu He held an anthology of martial arts in his arms as he lounged in the recliner and read with great interest.
Suddenly, he closed the book and turned his eyes toward the door.
Not a moment too soon.
Lin Xueling was wearing a fire-red chain mail and held a longsword. Her long, dark, and shiny hair had been tied up and stuffed into her helmet. Only a few strands of baby hair that she had missed drifted across her face.
She strode into the book depository.
"What's with the get-up, girl?" Chu He asked in surprise.
"Brother Lil Chu, the family elder is dead now. Many bandits are now gathered outside of Lin City because they want to destroy my family, the Lin family. Today, I fight with the Lin family. I will fight for my family."
Lin Xueling had a determined expression on her face as she uttered each word clearly. At that very moment, she seemed to have quite a bit of heroism in her.
"Your family elder is dead? Who told you that?"
Chu He raised an eyebrow in confusion.
He had just used a drop of life elixir to extend Lin Zhennan's life ten days ago.
When he left, he had sensed that the escape of the old man's life had been curbed, and his life had been extended.
Had he gotten into trouble yet again?
He had not sensed any powerful figures coming to cause trouble in Lin Mansion lately though!
Could it be that despite his renewed health, Lin Zhennan had run out and brought death upon himself because he could not sit still?
The expression on Chu He's face faltered as he shut his eyes and focused his senses.
Then, he opened his eyes. A creepy expression appeared on his face.
He had sensed Lin Zhennan's breaths.
He was perfectly fine. Nothing was wrong with him.
"No one told me that, but everyone's talking about it outside. Father and the rest of them deny it and have even forbidden such rumors within the family."
"But… my sister and I have not seen the family elder ever since news of his death got out, and we weren't allowed to go visit him. Keeping both that and the family elder's health in mind, I naturally came to the answer!' Lin Xueling said sadly.
"Is that so!"
Chu He slapped the book against his palm lightly. His brain spun in thought before he realized what Lin Zhennan must have been thinking.
He only had five years of his life left.
If he thought about it differently, from Lin Zhennan's perspective, the thing he would most want to do now would be to get rid of the Lin family's lurking enemies.
He must have pretended to be dead and ambush them all when they came running at him. It was not a bad plan at all.
"Little girl, the Lin family is not going to collapse any time soon. Even if it does, someone older will take charge. It's not your turn to do so yet. Why don't you read at my place for now? Perhaps everything will blow over when you're done with your book!"
Chu He smiled as he spoke.
"How can I do that?"
This time, Lin Xueling, who had always been obedient, shook her head.
"I've already mastered the Precelestial Seventh Erudition and will soon master the Eighth. Didn't you say that I could take on someone who's mastered the Ninth Erudition with my skills, Brother Lil Chu?"
"I'm one of the seniors in the Lin family now."
"If the Lin family is going to collapse, I need to go support it and make sure that such a thing doesn't happen."
Lin Xueling raised her head and spoke with determination.
Her battle skills were almost on the same level as someone who had mastered the Ninth Erudition, and she would be considered one of the best masters in the Lin family.
How could she run off when the Lin family was on the verge of annihilation?
If the Lin family was about to collapse, she would hold it upright with her own two hands.
If bandits looked at the Lin family the wrong way, she would dye her spear red with their blood as a warning.
She...
Was also one of the seniors in the Lin family now!
She could fight for her family.
She could save the day.
Lin Xueling felt her blood pumping as the urge to battle glowed in her eyes. The chain mail she was wearing clinked as she moved.
????
How dumb!
Chu He clapped a hand to his forehead, at a loss for words when he looked at how Lin Xueling was getting ready to change the Lin family's fate.
"Alright, I'm leaving now. Take care, Brother Lil Chu."
Lin Xueling turned around.
She left the book depository with the air of a fighting soldier who knew she might not return.
Chu He shook his head as he watched Lin Xueling's retreating figure.
She could do as she liked!
The Lin family elder was perfectly fine. The family was not going to collapse yet. Nevertheless, with her skills, she would not get into trouble even if she went into battle.
Chu He flipped the book open and continued reading the story he had not yet finished.
...
That afternoon, both the horses and people of the Anti-Lin Alliance used their own methods to approach and surround Lin City.
They were not systematic, and the entire scene was one of chaos as teams clambered over each other.
Different flags waved in the air, accompanied by the shouts of various people. It sounded like a pack of howling wolves.
They looked like a bunch of sheep who were easy targets.
However, that was all an illusion.
In reality, these people were even harder to fight than an elite army.
They were all martial artists who were pretty skilled at their trade.
There were tens of thousands of them, but they emanated the bloodlust of an army of a million. It had nearly become a solid dark cloud that had shrouded Lin City in darkness.
The alliance did not attack the city the minute they arrived.
They were waiting.
Lin City was the Lin family's old lair. There were not many citizens in there, just about two million of them, but the city was built to look like a militarian city. The walls were ten feet tall, and equipped with iron crossbows all across the top. It was not difficult for the powerful masters in the alliance to destroy them, but they would suffer massive losses if they were to force their way through.
Thus, they kept to their plan.
Before they attacked the city, some Xianghuo faction masters who had long since been lying in wait inside Lin City would first create a distraction that would attract the Lin family's masters. Then, the alliance troops outside would swarm the city and, by combining forces with the army both within and outside the city, they would take down Lin City at the lowest price possible.
It was a great, ideal plan.
However.
An accident occurred.
An hour later.
In the battle formation that was moving, a group of powerful leaders was staring at the silver-masked messenger.
They needed an explanation.
Why had there been no movement in the city after so long? Their subordinates were losing their voices from all the yelling.
It had been agreed that the minute the larger forces arrived, chaos would be caused within the city. Then, an arrow fired into the air would serve as the signal for everyone to storm Lin City.
However, they were now almost blinded by the rising sun, but there was still not even the slightest spark in the sky.