"Thank you!" Lin Xuanying expressed her gratitude towards Xiao Chen.
"Thanks?" Xiao Chen said with amusement, "Weren't you just hating on me a moment ago?"
"I don't hate you now, because I know you're a good person."
Xiao Chen interrupted, "I can't bear the title of 'good person'; I did it just to save your face, and let him go this once."
Lin Xuanying was stunned for a moment, "You did it to save my face?"
Xiao Chen nodded, "Yes, are you interested in taking a walk with me alone outside?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xuanying's breath hitched.
Take a walk alone? Why was he suddenly making such a request?
Could it be...
Before she could answer, Xiao Chen turned to Li Bin and said, "Miss Lin will be going out with me for a bit. You can take your leave now!"
Li Bin's heart trembled, and he said in panic, "I... Xuanying, I'll head back to Yanjing first, we'll be in touch."
After speaking, Li Bin hurried outside.
He had just been detoxified and his limbs were still half-paralyzed, barely feeling anything, which is why he nearly fell several times, stumbling out of the place.
Lin Xuanying knew that Li Bin was intimidated by Xiao Chen, and even if Xiao Chen meant her harm now, Li Bin probably wouldn't lift a finger to help her.
But there was nothing to be disappointed about; she had seen through what kind of person Li Bin was from the start.
If there were no expectations, how could there be disappointment?
If it weren't for the Lin and Li families' acquaintanceship, she would never bother associating with someone like him.
"Miss Lin, please," Xiao Chen said.
"Okay!"
Lin Xuanying took the lead and started walking outside, her heart in turmoil.
Xiao Chen patted Zhao Biao's shoulder and said, "Boss Zhao, it seems we are quite fated to meet each other. Let's hope there's another opportunity to see each other again!"
Zhao Biao bent down and said, "Take care!"
If Zhao Biao had any doubts about Xiao Chen before, witnessing Xiao Chen's handling of Li Bin had completely convinced him.
Perhaps Xiao Chen's capabilities weren't much different from Du Gaoyu's.
If he could win over both Xiao Chen and Du Gaoyu, two inner strength masters, he himself might even have a chance at competing for the throne of the underworld king of Lanning.
However, Du Gaoyu's demands were too excessive, taking a third of the profits of the business every month. If Xiao Chen were the same, how could he bear it?
Not until Xiao Chen and Lin Xuanying had completely left Renbao Pavilion did Zhao Biao regain his big boss demeanor, shouting at his underlings, "From now on, all of you be more careful. Do not provoke that expert we just saw, or I guarantee you will die miserably, you understand?"
"Understood!" The underlings responded in unison.
"Good, first take Feng Qian away and tidy up the place."
...
The night wind blew gently, on a secluded street in Lanling City, Xiao Chen and Lin Xuanying walked side by side.
After a moment of silence, Lin Xuanying couldn't help asking, "That... You didn't ask to see me alone just to wander the streets, did you?"
"Of course not, I have something to ask you!"
Xiao Chen naturally wouldn't have the leisure to specially invite Lin Xuanying for a walk without reason.
Lin Xuanying thought it was just as well and looked at Xiao Chen, "What do you want to ask?"
"Have you heard of the Yu Xiao Sect?"
Lin Xuanying's pace halted, she said in surprise, "The Yu Xiao Sect?"
"So you have heard of it?"
"Of course, the Yu Xiao Sect was so mighty back then. Even if I wanted to, it would be hard not to have heard of them!"
"Back then?" Xiao Chen's heart sank, and he asked, "Is the Yu Xiao Sect not doing well now?"
Lin Xuanying found his question strange and said, "The Yu Xiao Sect was wiped out fifty years ago, don't you even know this?"
"Wiped out?"
The sudden catastrophe ignited an inexplicable fury in Xiao Chen.
The resources he had left to the Yu Xiao Sect should have allowed it to flourish on Earth for a thousand years; there was no way any single power on Earth could have wiped out the Yu Xiao Sect on its own.
"How did the Yu Xiao Sect fall?"
His voice was cold, like a gale that cuts to the bone marrow.
Lin Xuanying shivered, not daring to delay her answer, and said:
"By the time I came of age, the Yu Xiao Sect had already been destroyed for quite some time, so I don't know the details very clearly, only random tidbits I've heard here and there."
Xiao Chen listened, his voice softened a bit, and said, "Just tell me what you know!"
The Yu Xiao Sect had already been annihilated for over fifty years now; being anxious or angry at this point wouldn't solve any problems. It was better to investigate slowly.
Moreover, he had long repaid the kindness of the Yu Xiao Sect tenfold; he owed them nothing.
After so many years, he only remembered that there was a place called Yu Xiao Sect and didn't have much of an emotional attachment to it, so there was no reason for him to exhibit deep hatred or resentment for its downfall.
Of course, kindness was still kindness, and if he found out who the culprits behind the destruction of the Yu Xiao Sect were, he would seek revenge for the sect.
"Oh!" Lin Xuanying slowly recounted, "I heard that the Yu Xiao Sect rose to power around one hundred and fifty years ago and was eradicated fifty years ago. During that one hundred years, it was the most powerful organization in Huaxia and even in the entire world."
"During that time, the world's nations were in chaos with frequent wars. Huaxia was targeted by an alliance of several major countries, existing on a knife-edge."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen asked, "So the Yu Xiao Sect intervened?"
"Yes!" Lin Xuanying nodded and said, "Although the Yu Xiao Sect was an ancient martial arts organization, which didn't interact with the state government, it was based in Huaxia. How could they just watch as their homeland was invaded?"
"After making the decision, the Yu Xiao Sect no longer kept their talents hidden. They opened their sect to recruit disciples en masse and widely taught their martial arts secrets and cultivation techniques, thereby strengthening the overall might of Huaxia."
Listening, Xiao Chen sighed inwardly. Was this, perhaps, the catalyst for the Yu Xiao Sect's destruction?
A man of innocence can be guilty of possessing a jade, and the most prominent tree in the forest is the one most likely to be blown down by the wind.
He hadn't expected that providing the Yu Xiao Sect with resources and teaching them cultivation methods would actually bring harm to them.
Lin Xuanying noticed a change in Xiao Chen's expression and tentatively asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Continue!"
Lin Xuanying went on, "After the Yu Xiao Sect opened its doors, everyone was amazed by their profound martial arts, the mysterious metaphysics, and their vast treasures. After that period, Huaxia's martial arts entered its most glorious era, earning the esteemed reputation, 'All martial arts under heaven originate from Yu Xiao.'"
"All martial arts under heaven originate from Yu Xiao?"
"Yes, although there were exaggerations, it speaks volumes about the contribution of the Yu Xiao Sect to Huaxia's martial arts. However..."
Xiao Chen knew a turning point was coming.
Lin Xuanying glanced at Xiao Chen and sighed, "However, fifty years ago, there were traitors within the Yu Xiao Sect!"
"Traitors?"
Xiao Chen's expression darkened once more as he understood the implications.
Indeed, with the strength of the Yu Xiao Sect, it would have been impossible for it to be so easily destroyed if not for betrayal from within.
"This part I also heard from my grandfather. Three traitors emerged within the Yu Xiao Sect. They had infiltrated the Yu Xiao Sect for twenty years, earning deep trust and becoming key figures, only for us to realize..."
"These three, in collusion with several powerful foreign forces, struck a devastating blow to the Yu Xiao Sect, stealing most of its treasures and wealth."
"That's all I know about the Yu Xiao Sect. My grandfather might know the rest, but every time I ask him, he avoids the topic and doesn't want to talk more about it."
Lin Xuanying shared everything she knew, her gaze turning to Xiao Chen.
"Alright, thank you for taking the time to tell me all this. As a reward, this is for you."
Xiao Chen took out the string of prayer beads and handed them to Lin Xuanying.
Lin Xuanying exclaimed with surprise, "For me, really?"
"Yes, these things aren't of much use to me."
Xiao Chen had bought the prayer beads for two reasons: they were cheap, and they were related to the Yu Xiao Sect. Plus, he could give them to Xiao Yufei for self-defense.
But now, reflecting on it, the beads were too ugly and didn't match Xiao Yufei's beauty and demeanor at all. In the future, he would make her a necklace or a jade pendant specifically.
"Well, it's late, I should head back."
Xiao Chen said, then looked at Lin Xuanying:
"You haven't cultivated Inner Strength, but you've practiced martial arts. No ordinary person is your match. I guess there's no need for me to see you home, right?"
Lin Xuanying smiled knowingly at his words.
Xiao Chen was concerned about a girl traveling home alone at night and he even knew about escorting her home, proving that beneath his seemingly indifferent exterior lay a delicate inner world.
Compared to him, Li Bin was utterly insignificant.
"There's no need for you to escort me, but may I ask you one question?"
"Sure!" Xiao Chen nodded, "What do you want to ask?"
Lin Xuanying thought for a moment and said, "Can you perform the ninth needle of Xuanyang?"
Xiao Chen originally thought Lin Xuanying was going to ask him about his relation with the Yu Xiao Sect, but he didn't expect this question.
"Why ask that?"
"Because everyone in the Lin Family is learning the Xuanyang Nine Needles, but only my grandfather can execute the ninth needle. My dad, my eldest uncle, my other uncles, none of them can learn it."
Hearing this, Xiao Chen said with a half-smile, "The Xuanyang Nine Needles are not some abstruse or difficult technique; with your talent, diligent practice will inevitably lead to mastery, even surpassing your grandfather."
After speaking, Xiao Chen left, leaving Lin Xuanying standing there, stunned.
"Grandfather said the ninth needle is a sacred technique in medicine, capable of curing diseases as long as a breath remains. It's extremely difficult to master. But he said that the ninth needle isn't very hard. Could it be that his medical skills surpass those of my grandfather?"