First Meeting with Lin Dong

Puzzled and confused, Lin Dong rose early the next morning.

The moment he arrived at the main hall, Lin Dong was surprised to find that, aside from Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao, even Lin Ken, Lin Mang, Lin Qingtan, Lin Qingxia, and nearly all the Lin Family's core figures had gathered.

Moreover, judging from the travel-worn faces of Lin Ken and Lin Mang, it was not hard to tell that Lin Zhentian had summoned them overnight.

Such a grand display, just to personally welcome some Young Clan Leader?

Just then, Lin Xiao suddenly patted Lin Dong on the shoulder. When Lin Dong turned around, he heard Lin Xiao say,

"Dong'er, later, stand with me at your grandfather's side. Understand?"

No sooner had Lin Xiao finished speaking than a guard hurried in and reported to Lin Zhentian.

"Family Head, they are almost here!"

"Come, follow me to welcome them at the gate!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhentian's face showed a trace of excitement. Though Lin Dong was somewhat confused, seeing his grandfather like this, he could only follow behind.

As soon as they reached the entrance of the estate, Lin Dong saw a large party of several dozen people approaching.

Within that large group, Lin Dong could sense the auras of quite a few Core Formation Realm experts. Old Man Tao, whom he had met the previous evening, stood near the front, with three others of comparable strength beside him.

Not only was Old Man Tao there, but the four young men they had met yesterday were also standing at the front.

Suddenly, Lin Dong's pupils contracted as he stared at the young man walking at the very front, a trace of gravity flashing through his heart.

That young man wore a coarse white robe and appeared utterly ordinary. At least, whenever Lin Dong first observed him, he would instinctively overlook him.

Yet once Lin Dong fixed his gaze upon the youth, he discovered that he could not sense the other party's aura at all, as though he did not exist within this world.

But upon closer perception, he found that the man's aura seemed to be everywhere between heaven and earth.

The reason he was overlooked was not because he was too ordinary, but because he was too extraordinary. Ordinary people simply could not notice him.

While Lin Dong was lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone tug his arm. Turning his head, he saw that after glancing at him, his father Lin Xiao had already walked forward.

Only then did Lin Dong notice that his grandfather, Lin Zhentian, had already gone out to greet them. He hurriedly followed after Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao.

"Lin Zhentian of the Flame City branch family pays respects to the Young Clan Leader!"

"No need for such formality."

Lin Xuan was not surprised by Lin Zhentian's enthusiasm. To use an inappropriate analogy, he was like an ancient crown prince making an inspection tour.

After casually returning the salute with clasped fists, Lin Xuan turned his gaze toward Lin Xiao beside him. Seeing this, Lin Xiao hurriedly bowed as well.

"Lin Xiao of the Flame City branch family greets the Young Clan Leader. Thank you, Young Clan Leader, for saving my life back then. Had you not personally intervened, I fear Lin Xiao would already have become a cripple!"

"There is no need. Back then, as the chief adjudicator of the Clan Gathering, it was my duty to uphold the clan rules. Whether from the main clan or a branch family, all are members of the Lin Clan. How could members of the same clan be allowed to harm one another at the Clan Gathering?"

Lin Xuan shook his head. He had intervened back then not because the man was named Lin Xiao and had a son named Lin Dong, but simply because Lin Langtian had gone too far.

After hearing the exchange between Lin Xiao and Lin Xuan, Lin Dong's eyes flashed with astonishment.

Lin Dong had not expected this so-called Young Clan Leader to be the person who had saved his father back then. Moreover, from his tone, he did not seem to be on the same side as Lin Langtian.

As Lin Dong pondered this, he suddenly sensed a gaze directed at him. He looked up and met a pair of exceedingly calm eyes studying him.

Yet within that calmness, Lin Dong felt as though everything about him had been seen through by the other party, as if he had no secrets at all.

He could even feel that the other party's gaze lingered for quite some time on the Mysterious Stone Talisman within his body.

The sensation made Lin Dong's heart hang in suspense. His entire body tensed, and even his breathing became somewhat disordered from excessive nervousness.

The next moment, a large hand silently landed on Lin Dong's shoulder. Immediately afterward, Lin Dong felt his turbulent emotions instantly calm.

Seeing the somewhat nervous Lin Dong, Lin Xuan reined in his curiosity. He smiled, patted the other's shoulder, and said,

"Your fortuitous encounter is quite good, but it is not mine."

As a swordsman, once one set foot upon the path of the sword, one would never abandon it. Though the Ancestral Stone was good, to Lin Xuan, even if he obtained it, it would be like tasteless food—useless to consume, yet a pity to discard.

Since that was the case, it would be better to leave it to someone who needed it. As for who that would be, it depended on their fortune.

But upon hearing Lin Xuan's words, Lin Dong was inwardly horrified. Was Lin Xuan not plainly telling him that he had seen the Mysterious Stone Talisman inside his body?

"I hope you will not squander it!"

After patting Lin Dong on the shoulder, Lin Xuan cast a meaningful glance at the spot where the Ancestral Stone lay within Lin Dong's body, then took the initiative to walk inside.

Watching Lin Xuan's retreating figure, the stormy waves in Lin Dong's heart gradually calmed. Although the Mysterious Stone Talisman had been seen through, fortunately, the Young Clan Leader did not seem to have any designs on it.

However, just as Lin Dong caught up and walked beside Lin Xiao into the estate, Little Marten's voice rang out in his mind.

"What the hell? Where did this freak come from? Marten Lord hid so deeply, yet that freak still dug me out? This is unbelievable!"

"What? Little Marten, are you saying the Young Clan Leader discovered you too?"

Upon hearing Little Marten's words, Lin Dong's heart jolted. Though the Mysterious Stone Talisman seemed to have an extraordinarily remarkable origin, compared to it, what Lin Dong valued and worried about more was Little Marten, who answered all his questions, rather than that Mysterious Stone Talisman that could not respond to him.

"That's right. That guy is practically a monster. Marten Lord hid so deeply, and he still pulled me out. No, how could a freak like that appear in some backwater place like your Great Yan Dynasty?"

Recalling that peculiar oppressive force that had pierced straight into the Mysterious Stone Talisman, Little Marten felt chilled to the bone. He had originally thought the Mysterious Stone Talisman was a turtle shell that could save his life in a critical moment, but now it seemed that even this turtle shell had leaks.