Uncle Liu Is Old

After Ah Huang left, Lin Chan waited for a while, all the way until dawn, then had Little White sniff out Ah Huang's trail.

Once he confirmed that Ah Huang was not nearby, Lin Chan returned to his own body.

Little Li lay obediently curled up in the cat bed, sleeping soundly.

"Shu Mountain."

Lin Chan murmured over what the Cat Immortal had instructed him.

Lin Chan knew about the Shu Mountains. They were the largest mountain range in Rong Country, and there truly were immortal cultivation sects within them.

"For now, I'll train hard. Once I break through to the Innate Realm, I'll go to Shu Mountain."

Lin Chan had long since made up his mind. He summoned the maidservants, changed into his clothes, then, as usual, sought out the Guard to train in martial arts.

As for the [Golden Flower Cat Moon Drawing Method], it was a cultivation technique for cat demons. As a human, Lin Chan could not cultivate it, which was truly a pity.

Ah Huang had also mentioned Cat Ghosts. Lin Chan was somewhat interested, but Ah Huang had said there were none around here, so there was no need to dwell on it.

Arriving at the training ground in the main courtyard, Lin Chan tempered his body according to his plan.

He had not held his weighted horse stance for long before Uncle Liu came to his side, smiling as he watched him train.

Lin Chan's lower stance was steady, his muscles flawless, his Tendons and Bones sturdy. He did not look like a mere ten-year-old at all.

"Young Master is likely already on the verge of entering the Innate Realm."

After Lin Chan set down the weights in his hands, Uncle Liu said with a smile.

"Uncle Liu, I'm still far from it!"

Lin Chan said modestly.

"Not far at all. Your martial arts are complete, and your blood and qi are abundant. It's only a matter of that final kick at the gate."

"It's precisely that final kick at the gate that's the hardest. I've never been able to sense qi or condense Inner Qi."

Lin Chan spoke as he loosened his wrists and ankles.

"When Master returns in a few days, Young Master can ask him. Old Liu is dull-witted. I never entered the Innate Realm in my life, so I do not know what scenery awaits within it."

Uncle Liu spoke with some emotion. He had once been only one final kick away from entering the Innate Realm. Failing to do so had been his greatest regret.

Later, as he grew old, his blood and qi gradually declined, and the gap only widened.

Uncle Liu often regretted that if he had been a little less playful in his youth, perhaps his life would have opened onto a different world.

However, in recent years, he had gained a grandson and enjoyed the pleasures of family life. His regrets had slowly faded as well.

Lin Chan had no such regret. He was not even ten years old yet, far from the day his blood and qi would decline!

One could even say that Lin Chan had not yet reached the period when his blood and qi would grow most fiercely.

"Let's just hope Father comes back soon. Uncle Liu, how about we exchange a few moves?"

Lin Chan relaxed his limbs, but his hands were itching for a fight again.

Within the Lin Family, no one was stronger than Uncle Liu. Though Uncle Liu was nearing fifty, he had kept himself in good shape, vigorous even in old age.

"It has indeed been a long time since I last crossed hands with Young Master. I'll accompany Young Master for some practice. Please show mercy, Young Master, and do not break these old bones of mine."

Uncle Liu said with a smile.

"Uncle Liu, you jest. I'm still far from it!"

Lin Chan said with a smile.

His physical qualities might now be somewhat stronger than Uncle Liu's, but Uncle Liu had lived nearly fifty years after all. His combat experience was extensive and not to be underestimated.

They cleared an open space, took their stances, and cupped their fists to each other before beginning their spar.

Out of habit, Uncle Liu let Lin Chan make the first move. Lin Chan did not stand on ceremony. He took a long breath, his body moving like a shadow, his fist shooting forth like a dragon.

As the fist neared him, Uncle Liu neither dodged nor evaded. His feet slid back half a foot in an Inverted Step, while his back suddenly sank. His left arm drew back like an ape's limb, and when it thrust forward again, the heel of his palm struck directly against Lin Chan's knuckles.

Feeling Lin Chan's strength now, Uncle Liu understood that Lin Chan had truly grown up. He was no longer the Young Master who needed his protection.

"Young Master, be careful."

Even amid his emotions, Uncle Liu relied on his experience to deflect Lin Chan's attack. Borrowing the momentum, he spun, his right leg sweeping toward Lin Chan like a whip.

Lin Chan's reaction speed was far faster than Uncle Liu had imagined. Without needing Uncle Liu's warning, he twisted his waist and easily avoided the strike, immediately counterattacking.

Lin Chan was young and quick to react. Though lacking in combat experience, he still faintly held the upper hand.

After dozens of exchanges, Uncle Liu could no longer withstand him and could only barely hold on. There was none of his former ease left. In the end, Lin Chan's fist stopped before Uncle Liu's face, the wind from it scattering Uncle Liu's disheveled white hair.

"Young Master, I lost. I truly am old."

Uncle Liu sighed, then burst into hearty laughter.

How could he not be happy to see that the Lin Family had an heir to carry on its legacy?

"Uncle Liu, you let me win."

Lin Chan withdrew his stance and cupped his fists toward Uncle Liu.

After their spar, Lin Chan returned to his room, instructing Xiao Can on the way to fetch something from the kitchen.

Not long after he opened his book, Xiao Can and Xiao Si brought in the meal Lin Chan had requested.

"Young Master, Little Li is becoming more and more outrageous. Last night, she wasted over a hundred jin of dried meat, as well as live poultry."

Liu Can said as he took the dishes from the food box.

"Yes! She even went after the live poultry. Little Li's wild nature is growing worse and worse. Young Master, you must be careful not to let A Li hurt you."

Liu Si said as well.

"It's fine. It is only a hundred or so jin of meat. The Lin Family will not be eaten into ruin."

Lin Chan said somewhat guiltily.

Most of the mischief Little Li had caused had actually been done by Lin Chan himself. Little Li, who was still sleeping soundly in the cat bed, had merely taken the blame for him.

"Yes, Young Master!"

Liu Can and Liu Si knew that Lin Chan loved cats, so they said no more. After arranging the dishes, they withdrew outside.

Lin Chan picked up his bowl and chopsticks, sweeping through a great pile of delicacies like a gale scattering clouds.

But unlike Ah Huang, the Orange Cat, he had no supernatural arts that allowed a tiny stomach to swallow over a hundred jin of meat.

After eating seven or eight jin of food, he was already so full that he could barely walk.

If this year's talent could increase my stomach capacity, that would be perfect.

Lin Chan thought.

Being able to eat was a blessing, and even more so for martial arts training.

Moreover, Lin Chan's [Deep Sleep] talent required a great deal of nutritional consumption.

After eating, Lin Chan chose to sleep for two hours, then rise in the afternoon to practice martial arts until nightfall.

These days, he was making an all-out charge toward the Innate Realm. He slept, then trained; when training tired him out, he ate; after eating, he slept again—repeating the cycle until he successfully broke through to the Innate Realm.

Lin Chan had slept his fill the night before, so he was not particularly sleepy now.

To give his body the best and fastest sleep possible, Lin Chan summoned Little White, reached out to stroke Little White's little head, and sent his soul out of his body and into Little White's. His own body entered a perfect state of [Deep Sleep].

Then Lin Chan controlled Little White's body and left the room.

He first wandered around the Lin Family estate, eavesdropping on the servants' chatter to see if there was anything interesting.

They were all trivial, chicken-feather-and-garlic-skin matters, nothing worth noticing. Lin Fangzheng was not home right now, so no major events would arise.

There was nothing in the Lin Family worth watching, so Lin Chan left the estate to have some fun outside and patrol his territory.

"It's the Lin Family Evil Dog! Run! Don't let it bite you."

"My neighbor Niu Er was bitten by the Lin Family Evil Dog. He couldn't get out of bed for days."

"Tsk, tsk, how miserable."

"..."

On the street, the surrounding pedestrians immediately backed away several paces when they saw Lin Chan swaggering out.