Chapter 631 - 211: Traces of the Demon Sect

Hearing Lin Weiyuan’s voice, Yang Jing stopped and turned to the side to look at him. "Uncle," he asked, "is there something you need?"

Lin Weiyuan let out a soft sigh and said slowly, "That boy, Ziheng... his talent in the Martial Dao is average, and he has a restless personality. He loves being in the thick of things, and I worry that his youthful hot-headedness will get him into trouble at the Xuanzhen Sect, or that he’ll have no one to help him when he’s in a bind.

"That’s why I’d like to ask you, Young Master Yang, to look after him a little in the sect from now on."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jing smiled faintly and waved his hand. "Don’t worry, Uncle. Junior Brother Ziheng is a straightforward person, and we get along quite well. We’re martial brothers, after all. It’s only right that we look out for each other.

"If he ever needs my help in the future, I will naturally lend a hand."

Hearing this, Lin Weiyuan felt a great weight lift from his heart. A gratified smile spread across his face as he cupped his fist to Yang Jing. "Then I must thank you, Young Master Yang. Your words have put my mind at ease. It is Ziheng’s good fortune to have a senior brother like you looking out for him."

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the vermilion main gate of the Lin Mansion. The guards at the entrance still stood at attention, and the warm glow of the lanterns cast a gentle sheen on the bluestone slabs before the gate.

Lin Weiyuan glanced around, then lowered his voice and leaned a little closer to Yang Jing. "By the way, Young Master Yang," he began, "as a token of my gratitude, the Lin Family’s business will send five Bone Marrow Tempering Pills to the Xuanzhen Sect’s Fushan Island every month. They will all be registered under your name. I hope you will accept them without refusal."

Yang Jing was stunned. Bone Marrow Tempering Pills were precious elixirs used to refine the meridians and aid in cultivation. A single one was already worth a fortune on the market, yet the Lin Family was offering five every month. This gift was far too generous.

He quickly cupped his fist and declined, "Uncle, this is absolutely out of the question. Looking after Junior Brother Ziheng is my duty. How could I accept such a valuable gift? I simply cannot."

But Lin Weiyuan shook his head, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "Young Master Yang, there’s no need for that. A few Bone Marrow Tempering Pills are nothing to the Lin Family. Besides, we control certain elixir supply channels, so we acquire them at a price far lower than the market rate. It is but a small token.

"That boy Ziheng has a restless nature, and I’m sure he’ll cause you some trouble in the sect in the future. Just think of this as me, his father, smoothing the way for him in advance. Please, don’t refuse again."

Just then, Madam Lin, Sun Ningxiang, Lin Shuhua, Lin Ziheng, and the others walked over from behind. The group gathered before the mansion gate, the lamplight stretching their shadows long behind them.

Yang Jing opened his mouth to refuse again, but Lin Weiyuan gently patted his arm, interrupting him with a smile. "This is just a small gesture from our Lin Family. Please don’t refuse it, Young Master Yang. To do so would be to look down on us."

Without waiting for Yang Jing to speak again, Lin Weiyuan turned to Sun Ningxiang and said gently, "Miss Sun, I hope you will forgive us if our hospitality was lacking this evening."

Sun Ningxiang gave a slight curtsy, her smile gentle. "You are too kind, Uncle. Tonight’s banquet was magnificent. I was truly flattered. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality."

Lin Weiyuan smiled, then looked back at Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang, cupping his fist. "Young Master Yang, Miss Sun, I have arranged for a carriage to wait for you at the South City Gate. If you two would like to stroll through the city and enjoy the night scenery, please feel free.

"When you are finished, simply head to the South City Gate. The carriage will take you back to the Xuanzhen Sect."

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang quickly bowed to thank Lin Weiyuan and Madam Lin, then bid farewell to the Lin Family Grand Elder, Lin Shuhua, Lin Ziheng, and the others one by one.

Yang Jing nodded at Lin Ziheng, who smiled and waved in return. The two exchanged a look, and everything was understood without a word.

With that done, Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang turned and walked away side-by-side, their figures slowly vanishing into the night.

Lin Weiyuan stood before the main gate with his hands clasped behind his back, watching Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang’s receding figures. Only when they were completely out of sight did he slowly retract his gaze, lost in contemplation.

The most important purpose of inviting Yang Jing to the Lin Mansion this time was to establish a connection with this newly risen prodigy of the Xuanzhen Sect.

From the moment Yang Jing stepped into the Lin Mansion to his own recent offer of five monthly Bone Marrow Tempering Pills, a preliminary connection between the Lin Mansion and Yang Jing had finally been established.

In truth, asking Yang Jing to look after Lin Ziheng in the Xuanzhen Sect was merely a pretext for offering him the Bone Marrow Tempering Pills.

Although Lin Ziheng’s Martial Dao talent was not high, he was backed by the Lin Family, one of the three great families of Jintai Prefecture. Within the Xuanzhen Sect, even if others didn’t give Lin Ziheng face, they still had to show some deference to the Lin Family.

It was a good day if *he* wasn’t the one bullying others; there was no way he would be easily bullied himself.

Moreover, Lin Ziheng was street-smart and socially adept, maintaining excellent relationships with disciples from all factions within the sect. He was even known as Lingxi Peak’s own "Bai Xiaosheng," and he had numerous friends.

Even the elite disciples of the Qi Eating Realm had to give him some face. There was simply no need to worry about him being wronged in the sect.

Lin Weiyuan knew full well. ’Although I’ve established a connection with Yang Jing, a relationship maintained by elixirs is ultimately too shallow and unreliable.’

’If I want to make our relationship solid and secure, I need to add another, closer, inseparable layer to it.’

At this thought, Lin Weiyuan slowly turned his head, his gaze falling upon Lin Shuhua, who stood not far away.

Lin Shuhua was standing beside Madam Lin. Noticing her father suddenly turn to look at her, she was momentarily taken aback, her eyes filled with confusion. She had no idea why her father was suddenly looking at her with such a meaningful expression.

Her heart skipped a beat for some reason, and the thought that had occurred to her earlier in the study resurfaced, completely unbidden.