Lin Xiao's Recovery

"Hehe, old friend, you handle countless affairs every day. What brings you to the Lin Family of Qingyang Town?"

Inside the Lin Family's main hall, Lin Zhentian looked at the gray-robed elder beside him and smiled faintly.

He and this gray-robed elder had been friends for many years. In their youth, they had carried out missions together for the main family on numerous occasions, forging a friendship that had lasted decades.

Unfortunately, times had changed. The other man had now secured a place in the main family, while he himself had established a branch family in the remote Qingyang Town.

"What? Zhentian, old friend, are you saying I'm not welcome?" the gray-robed elder asked with a faint smile.

"How could I dare? Your presence truly brings honor to my humble branch family in Qingyang Town," Lin Zhentian said with a hearty laugh.

As he spoke, he pointed at the two middle-aged men nearby. "These are my two sons, Lin Ken and Lin Mang."

After the introductions, Lin Zhentian hurriedly said to the two men, "This is an old friend of mine. You may address him as Elder Tao."

Lin Ken and Lin Mang exchanged glances. However, upon sensing the gray-robed elder's profound aura, they respectfully said, "Greetings, Elder Tao."

"Hehe, no need for such courtesy. Your father and I have been friends for many years. Though we have not met in a long time, our friendship remains," Elder Tao said with a smile.

At that point, Elder Tao suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled. "Zhentian, I heard you have three sons, and that your youngest is the most talented. Why hasn't he come out to meet me?"

Lin Zhentian's expression stiffened slightly at those words, and he sighed. "Old friend, you know what happened back then. You even saw Lin Xiao when he attended the clan assembly.

"After that incident, Xiao withdrew into the mountains and rarely meets anyone. I hope you can understand."

As he spoke, Lin Zhentian's aged face grew increasingly desolate. Once, he had placed all his hopes of returning to the main family on this youngest son.

Yet when the ten-year clan assembly arrived amid great expectations, the result plunged every member of the Lin Family into despair.

One move!

With only a single move, the youngest son they had regarded as their hope had suffered a miserable defeat!

And it had been the very first match of the clan assembly!

Years of hope and years of nurturing had turned to foam in those brief moments.

The fate of a loser was naturally to endure countless strange looks. When Lin Xiao returned to Qingyang Town like a stray dog, bearing all those mocking sneers, it struck Lin Zhentian like a bolt from the blue.

Though several years had passed, he still had not recovered from it.

Seeing this, Elder Tao understood the pain in his old friend's heart and sighed inwardly. However, recalling Lin Langtian's instructions before his departure, he chuckled.

"Old friend, I came here precisely to resolve Lin Xiao's matter. Call him over. Rest assured, this is a great blessing for your Qingyang Town branch family."

"Oh?" Lin Zhentian and his three sons looked at Elder Tao in surprise.

Could it be that the main family had remembered this crippled disciple of the branch family and had specially come to offer aid?

With some doubt, Lin Zhentian glanced at his old friend. Still, out of trust in their decades-long friendship, he waved to his eldest son and had him bring Lin Xiao over.

Time passed slowly as they waited. By the time Lin Zhentian and the others had finished two cups of tea, several figures gradually entered the hall.

"Father, Elder Tao, Third Brother and... Dong'er have arrived," Lin Ken said.

As his words fell, Lin Ken stepped aside, revealing the two figures behind him.

On the left stood a man around thirty or forty years old. His body was somewhat thin, yet traces of sharpness could still be seen between his brows.

However, he seemed to be carrying injuries. His face was pale and weary, concealing most of that sharpness. He was Lin Zhentian's third son, Lin Xiao.

As for the figure on the right, he was a youth of fifteen or sixteen. His face was still youthful and handsome. What was surprising were his black eyes; unlike the ignorant gaze of an ordinary youth, they revealed a determination and composure far beyond his age.

After entering the hall, the two respectfully bowed to Lin Zhentian, who sat at the head of the room.

"Lin Xiao, Dong'er, you're here. This is a friend of mine from the main family. Speaking of which, you should address him as Elder Tao," Lin Zhentian said, pointing to the gray-robed elder.

Lin Xiao and Lin Dong exchanged glances. When they heard that the gray-robed elder was from the main family, unnatural expressions flashed across both their faces.

Still, following Lin Zhentian's instructions, they respectfully said, "Greetings, Elder Tao."

Looking at the gray-robed elder, Lin Xiao seemed to recall something and gave a bitter smile. "Come to think of it, I met Elder Tao at the clan assembly a few years ago. But Elder Tao probably does not recognize me anymore. After all, I am nothing but a cripple now..."

"Father..." Hearing the word "cripple," Lin Dong's heart immediately ached.

Lin Xiao merely waved his hand as though he did not care, while the weariness on his face deepened.

"Hehe, Nephew Lin Xiao, there is no need to speak like that. I came here precisely to resolve your injuries," Elder Tao said.

Elder Tao glanced at Lin Xiao and his son, lingering on Lin Dong for two extra seconds before taking out a jade-green pill the size of a longan from his robes. It was filled with a fragrant aroma.

"This is a Green Wood Spirit Pill. It can heal Nephew Lin Xiao's injuries," Elder Tao said with a light smile.

"What?!" Lin Zhentian froze at those words, then slammed his palm heavily onto the table, his face filled with shock.

Even Lin Xiao and Lin Dong looked surprised and delighted.

"Elder Tao, can this pill truly restore my father's injuries?"

Upon hearing that Lin Xiao's injuries could be healed, Lin Dong could no longer maintain his usual composure and hurried forward to ask.

Over the years, Lin Xiao's strength had not improved in the slightest because of his internal injuries. Though he forced himself to appear indifferent, Lin Dong could sense that his father, once the most spirited and brilliant member of the Lin Family, had gradually been consumed by despondency.

As his son, Lin Dong was naturally deeply pained by this. In his heart, he had come to hate Lin Langtian, the true culprit behind it all.

Now that he heard his father's injuries could be healed, Lin Dong was incomparably excited.

To him, family was more important than anything!

"Hehe, you must be Lin Dong. Whether it works or not, you will know once you try it. Could it be that you fear this old man intends to harm your father?" Elder Tao said as he handed the pill to Lin Dong.

Lin Dong accepted the Green Wood Spirit Pill, his expression shifting repeatedly before he finally handed it to Lin Xiao.

"Hehe, Elder Tao naturally would not harm me."

Lin Xiao was rather carefree about it. After taking the Azure Wood Yuan Pill, he swallowed it directly.

"Gulp."

After swallowing the Green Wood Spirit Pill in one gulp, Lin Xiao patted Lin Dong's head. As everyone in the hall stared blankly at him, he was just about to say something when his face suddenly flushed red as if it had been set ablaze.

"Father!"

Seeing Lin Xiao suddenly become like this, Lin Dong's expression changed at once.

Even Lin Zhentian and the others looked extremely nervous.

"Pfft!"

As Lin Dong panicked, Lin Xiao's body grew hotter and hotter, while his face became increasingly red. A moment later, he suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood.

"Third Brother, are you all right?" Seeing Lin Xiao cough up blood, Lin Ken hurried over to support him.

Lin Xiao breathed heavily. The flush on his face rapidly faded, replaced by a healthy ruddy color.

"My injuries..."

Lin Xiao stared blankly at his palm. At that moment, he could feel the injuries that had accumulated within his body for years being diluted by the medicinal power of the Green Wood Spirit Pill!

The feeling of his blood and qi flowing freely once more filled his organs with surging strength. He had not experienced this sensation for many years.

As soon as his words fell, Lin Xiao's aura suddenly began to rise steadily. Like an erupting volcano, it surged directly from the middle stage of the Heavenly Yuan Realm to the late stage, before finally reaching the Lesser Origin Core Realm!

"Third Brother, your strength?" Lin Ken asked in delight.

At the sight of Lin Xiao's soaring strength, Lin Mang's face revealed a trace of envy and jealousy.

"Hehe, old friend, thank you!" Joy and relief also appeared on Lin Zhentian's aged face. Lin Xiao had been his most outstanding son, and Lin Xiao's despondency had caused Lin Zhentian deep pain as well.

Now that his most outstanding son could shine once again, the regret in his heart was finally eased.

"Elder Tao, thank you for your help!" Lin Xiao said excitedly to the gray-robed elder.

Not only had the Green Wood Spirit Pill healed his injuries, it had even allowed him to break through directly into the Lesser Origin Core Realm. It was practically a second life!

Beside him, immense joy appeared on Lin Dong's youthful face. He then looked at the gray-robed elder with utmost solemnity.

"Elder Tao, no words can repay such a great kindness. I, Lin Dong, will forever remember the debt you have shown my family!"

As his words fell, Lin Dong gave Elder Tao a deep bow.

Elder Tao smiled faintly. "Hehe, do not thank me. This Green Wood Spirit Pill is extremely valuable. It is not something a mere retainer like me could afford."

"Oh?" A trace of confusion flashed across Lin Zhentian's aged face. "Old friend, do you mean this Green Wood Spirit Pill was bestowed by the main family?"

Lin Xiao, Lin Dong, and the others also looked toward the gray-robed elder, their eyes filled with doubt.

Elder Tao shook his head. Then, amid everyone's puzzled expressions, he slowly spoke a name.

"The owner of this Green Wood Spirit Pill is the Law Enforcement Elder... Lin Langtian."