Five Years

Although his memories of early childhood had gradually faded, Lin Chan still remembered some things. Not long after he was born, Lin Fangzheng had carried him across mountains and rivers to the Lin Family.

Madam Zhang, the principal wife, was not his biological mother. He had known that.

But Lin Chan had never expected that Lin Fangzheng was not his biological father either. He himself was an outsider.

Yet Lin Fangzheng still treated him as if he were his own son.

This made Lin Chan ponder a question: without blood ties, could they still be considered family?

He sat on the roof thinking for half the night, with the cold wind blowing over him for half the night, until he reached his own conclusion.

If Lin Fangzheng treated him as a true son, why could he not treat Lin Fangzheng as a father?

Familial affection would not fade simply because there was no blood relation.

Having figured this out, Lin Chan no longer dwelled on it and continued exploring other parts of Yulin City.

Along the way, he encountered a tyrant-like black cat and nearly got scratched.

Fortunately, Lin Chan was clever and fast on his feet. In the blink of an eye, he slipped away.

The next few months passed as usual.

During the day, Lin Chan practiced martial arts and studied. At night, he used Little White and Little Li's bodies to roam through Yulin City's streets and alleys, searching for traces of immortals and eavesdropping on the little secrets of every household.

And indeed, he learned quite a few things that no one else knew.

For instance, Xiao Ming—Grandmaster Xiao particularly favored widows and married women, and he had many mistresses throughout the city.

When Grandmaster Xiao had been young, he had nearly ruined himself over that.

City Lord Luo feared his wife most of all. No one knew why.

One day, when Lin Chan returned home from school, he suddenly found everyone in the household standing ready, as though some major announcement was about to be made.

"Chan'er! You're back. How was your learning at school today?"

Upon seeing Lin Chan, Lin Fangzheng smiled and asked.

"I learned another new text, and practiced a lot of writing too."

Lin Chan answered obediently.

"Good. My Chan'er is accomplished in both letters and martial arts."

Lin Fangzheng affectionately stroked Lin Chan's head with his large hand.

Once Lin Chan was home, the important members of the Lin Family were more or less all present. Lin Fangzheng immediately announced something.

"I announce that Chan'er is the young family head of our Lin Family. When I grow old in a few years, you must all devote yourselves to assisting Chan'er."

Lin Chan was somewhat stunned by this. But he was still too young to say anything about it, and could only stare blankly as he said:

"Father! What do you mean by this?"

"Chan'er, you're still young. You'll understand in a few years. These matters have nothing to do with you, so go play! If you want to read, you can go to the study as well."

Lin Fangzheng had no wish to explain too much to a four-year-old child. He merely patted his head.

Though he acted as if he did not understand, Lin Chan knew what had happened.

Nothing more than Third Mistress using Hu Zi to win over many of the household servants, opposing Madam Zhang at every turn, making trouble for the principal wife, fighting for power and profit, and trying to rise in status through her son.

And though Lin Fangzheng also liked Lin Hu, his feelings for the wife who had shared his hardships ran deep. Seeing Madam Zhang humiliated, and being highly satisfied with Lin Chan, the child he had adopted wholesale, he set the tone for the struggle over the family's inheritance.

Afterward, Lin Chan used Little Li's body to overhear much information in all sorts of places, and to witness many things as well.

Lin Hu had now been placed in Madam Zhang's care, while Lin Hu's birth mother had been driven out of the Lin Family, lest the inner household be thrown into unrest.

Lin Chan had no extra opinion on the matter. It was not something he could interfere with anyway. Lin Fangzheng would handle it all properly.

Lin Chan simply continued doing his own things, waiting until his strength was sufficient before bidding Lin Fangzheng farewell and going out in search of immortals.

Five years of spring and autumn vanished in the blink of an eye.

A Tricolor Cat with an Iron Token hanging from its neck, and a white dog with an Iron Token hanging from its neck as well, had traveled through every corner of Yulin City.

The Tricolor Cat became the king of Yulin City's cats, while the white dog became the leader of Yulin City's vicious dogs.

And the handsome youth, now nine and nearly ten, sat beside the refined scholar Li Xingxiao, discussing the past and present with him.

"Teacher, after tomorrow, I won't be coming anymore."

After their discussion ended, Lin Chan spoke calmly.

"Chan'er, you are the young man with the greatest literary spirit I have ever seen. If you could study under me for another two or three years, you would surely earn a place on the imperial honors list!"

Li Xingxiao could only feel regret.

Lin Chan was the most gifted person he had ever seen. He could read and write, and possessed Eidetic Memory.

Over these years, he had nearly taught Lin Chan everything he had learned in his lifetime.

"Teacher, these next few days, I will be attempting to break through into the Innate Realm. It truly will be difficult to divide my attention."

Lin Chan shook his head regretfully. The Innate Realm was of utmost importance. Once he broke through, he would leave to seek immortals.

A human life was no more than a brief hundred years of spring and autumn. Naturally, he could not waste his time on studying and pursuing fame, rank, wealth, and profit.

Even an emperor seated high above all others would, after a hundred years, still be nothing but a handful of yellow earth. How tragic.

He wanted to become an immortal who fed on qi and lived forever, able to cover the heavens with one hand and witness the seas turn to mulberry fields.

"What a pity, what a pity!"

Li Xingxiao sighed again and again.

But Rong Country now revered martial arts. What could he possibly do?

"Chan'er! Since you came specially to bid me farewell today, as your teacher, I shall give you one final gift!"

Li Xingxiao took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve and placed it in Lin Chan's hand.

"Inside are two characters I wrote casually. Treat them as protective talismans."

As soon as the pouch entered his hand, Lin Chan, possessing the Spirit Gathering Physique, could sense the faint Vast Righteous Qi within. Driving away evil and warding off misfortune should be no difficult task.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Lin Chan hurriedly thanked him.

"Go! Your teacher wishes you flourishing progress on the martial path!"

Li Xingxiao sighed and saw Lin Chan off.

After bidding his final farewell, Lin Chan boarded the carriage home. Uncle Liu, who drove it, had gained much more white hair, yet still wore that fierce face that warned strangers to keep away.

When he returned home, Little White immediately came forward to greet him, brimming with excitement.

Little Li, meanwhile, was snoring soundly in its cat bed. Yesterday, Lin Chan had used Little Li's body, leaving it so exhausted.

Lin Chan had now reached the Peak Houtian Realm. His White Ape Connecting-the-Spine Fist had also reached perfection, with spirit and form united and every principle thoroughly integrated. Even Uncle Liu was no longer his match.

He had grown to over one meter sixty, as tall as Uncle Liu when the latter stooped.

All one could say was that the world changed, time flew like a shuttle, and a white colt passed through a crack.

Besides Tong Bei Quan, Lin Chan had also practiced a movement art and a saber technique, both reaching the level of great accomplishment.

But that was not the most important thing. The most important thing was that Lin Chan had gained another five decent talents over these five years.

[Eidetic Memory: Once a book has been read, it can be remembered.]

[Doubled Strength: Physical strength and endurance increase by onefold.]

[Quick Reflexes: Reaction speed increases by thirty percent.]

[Intimidation: Gives the opponent a sense of oppression, affecting their judgment and inflicting mental suppression.]

[Spiritual Mark: Uses spiritual power to mark people or objects.]

These talents were all extremely useful. Among them, [Doubled Strength] allowed Lin Chan's body to walk continuously for an entire day and night.

In battle, it also allowed him to endure for longer.

Even if he entered the martial world now, he would be able to stand on his own.

Of course, it would still be best to first cultivate Innate Inner Qi and become a grandmaster before leaving.