Moved Qing Tan, Troubled Lin Dong

The days passed uneventfully.

Lin Yun's courtyard basically had only three visitors.

Lin Dong and Lin Xia occasionally came by to exchange pointers and spar.

Qing Tan came often, and sometimes, when it was close to when her cold qi would erupt, she would temporarily stay at Lin Yun's house.

Because Qing Tan went to and from Lin Yun's house far too frequently, and sometimes even stayed overnight, it drew the attention of her mother, Liu Yan, who worried that the two of them were still young and might do something shameful.

Lin Xiao and Liu Yan questioned Qing Tan about it.

However, to keep the secret of Lin Yun's treasure, Qing Tan refused to say a word, no matter what.

Fortunately, Lin Dong knew the hidden truth. He promptly informed Lin Yun, and after receiving Lin Yun's permission, Lin Dong told his parents that Lin Yun could help Qing Tan deal with the pain of the cold qi, sparing Qing Tan a beating on the backside.

Lin Xiao was extremely curious about this. Even he had been helpless against it, yet Lin Yun could actually do it.

Unfortunately, no matter how he questioned him, Lin Dong did not know either. He only knew that Lin Yun had resolved the cold qi, but as for exactly how he had resolved it, and the details and process involved, only Lin Yun and Qing Tan knew.

Qing Tan said this was Lin Yun's secret, that Lin Yun would not let her tell anyone, and asked the two elders not to force her anymore.

With things said to that point, Lin Xiao was too embarrassed to keep asking.

Because of this relationship of rescue and help, they agreed to let Qing Tan go to Lin Yun's house.

From then on, Lin Yun and Qing Tan could openly be together.

Of course, Lin Yun had not done anything to Qing Tan either. Aside from when the cold qi acted up and they were together, they still kept their distance at other times, and they did not sleep together at night.

However, Qing Tan was a young girl who had only just reached her Hair-Pinning Ceremony, and she was spending the night at Lin Yun's house. It was just one man and one woman, and Lin Yun was at an age when his blood ran hot.

Lin Dong's mother was still somewhat worried, and repeatedly had Lin Dong follow Qing Tan and stay at Lin Yun's house too.

Lin Yun did not object to this. His courtyard was large, and it did not matter if a few more people stayed there.

It was just that with Lin Dong and Qing Tan, the siblings, around, it became very hard for the Fire Python Tiger family to come out and move about.

Tiger Heroine was fine; she was sensible and obedient. But the three little ones would not do. They were at their most lively and restless age. Whether inside the Alchemy Furnace or in a cramped room, locking them up was no solution. It would restrict their growth and development.

Lin Yun did not want to raise three autistic little tigers.

There was no other way. He could only lay his cards on the table with Lin Dong and his sister! Lin Yun had never intended to keep hiding the Fire Python Tiger family forever anyway. It was just that before he had the strength to deal with the Lei and Xie Families, it was best not to expose them.

However, it would not be long before he surpassed the Lei and Xie Families.

Lin Yun would soon be able to break through to the Heavenly Yuan Realm.

And even if the Lei and Xie Families found out now, there was no need to be afraid. The Lin Family, working together with the Fire Python Tiger, could contend against the two families for a period of time.

Most importantly, Lin Dong and Qing Tan were both reliable people, and Lin Yun trusted them.

With their help covering things up, the Fire Python Tiger family would have more room to move about. On top of that, Lin Yun alone could not take care of three tigers, so he happened to need extra hands.

Under Lin Yun's instruction, Tiger Heroine opened the door and let the three little cuties run out from the Back Room.

"Ying, ying... ya, ya!"

"Roar, roar, roar~ awooo!"

Before the tigers arrived, the yipping came first.

The three little cuties howled as they charged out the door. These past few days, they had been locked in the room most of the time. Now that they had finally gotten to come out, they were beside themselves with excitement and scampered straight into the courtyard.

At that moment, Lin Dong and Lin Yun were sparring in the courtyard, while Qing Tan was practicing punches off to the side.

"Wow, little tigers!"

Qing Tan was the first to be drawn over. Seeing the three fluffy, unbelievably adorable cubs, her eyes instantly lit up.

"Awoor! Awoor! Awoor!"

It was the first time the three little tigers had seen Qing Tan, and they were somewhat wary. They cried out with all their might, baring their teeth at Qing Tan. Their teeth had not even grown in fully, and their fierce little milk-tiger act was so cute it could kill.

"Fire Python Tiger... cubs!"

Lin Yun and Lin Dong also stopped. Lin Dong swallowed, then said in surprise.

"Lin Yun, Brother, when did your family start raising three Little Fire Python Tigers?"

"Aiya, how did you all run out?"

Lin Yun pretended to be angry and slapped his thigh, walking over in front of the three little cuties.

"Wu! Wu! Wu!"

The three little cuties immediately put away their fierce looks and wagged their tails like puppies, adorably running toward Lin Yun and crawling around his legs.

"Wu... they're too cute!"

"Lin Yun, Brother, I want to hold them."

Qing Tan's eyes sparkled like stars. She stretched out both hands, wanting to stroke the fluffy little tigers.

"Roar!"

Just then, a low, powerful tiger roar came from inside the room.

The three little tigers immediately quieted down, not daring to make trouble.

Lin Dong and Qing Tan looked toward the sound, only to see half of a huge tiger head poking out from the doorway.

It was Tiger Heroine, tilting her head as she secretly watched them from there.

"Fire Python Tiger!"

Lin Dong was shocked. His nerves instantly pulled taut, and he instinctively entered a combat state.

Qing Tan gripped Lin Yun's hand hard, somewhat frightened.

"Don't be afraid. It's my pet!" Lin Yun said in a calm tone.

"Tiger Heroine, come out."

The Fire Python Tiger, nearly two meters tall, with a tail stretching five or six meters long, walked out of the room.

Its body was too massive; even the courtyard seemed rather cramped. The tiger might of a Heavenly Yuan Realm Demon Beast spread out, the true king among beasts.

"Fire Python Tiger—it's that Fire Python Tiger."

"Lin Yun, Brother~ it's the one, the Fire Python Tiger that killed Lei Li and Xie Yingying."

Neither Qing Tan nor Lin Dong could stay calm.

That day, when Tiger Heroine had charged down into the valley, everyone in the valley had felt the threat of death.

"Don't be afraid. Tiger Heroine won't hurt you."

Lin Yun soothed them.

He stretched out his hand and beckoned Tiger Heroine over.

The enormous Fire Python Tiger slowly approached.

Qing Tan was trembling as she clutched Lin Dong's hand, and Lin Dong's legs were shaking too. He could not help wanting to retreat, but out of trust in Lin Yun, he still overcame his fear and did not move.

Tiger Heroine walked up to Lin Yun and obediently lowered her body, letting Lin Yun stroke her.

The three little tigers also immediately ran to Tiger Heroine's side, searching for milk in her embrace.

"This... Lin Yun, Brother, it really is your pet?" Lin Dong said with difficulty.

It was truly too unbelievable.

This was a Heavenly Yuan Realm Demon Beast, while Lin Yun was only at the Earthly Yuan Realm. How could he subdue such a Demon Beast?

As Lin Yun stroked Tiger Heroine, he slowly said, "Yes. Its name is Tiger Heroine. On the day of the hunt, I encountered it in the forest. At the time, it was badly injured and had just given birth to three Little Fire Python Tigers, so it was very weak. I happened to have a Spirit Herb that could treat injuries, so I saved it in passing."

"To repay the favor, and because it had nowhere to go, Tiger Heroine chose to follow me."

"After that, I was preparing to go back and look for you when I happened to see Xie Yingying bullying Qing Tan."

"I was very angry!"

"I wanted to avenge Qing Tan."

"To teach that woman a harsh lesson!"

"But before I could make a move, all of you and the people from the Lei and Xie Families arrived."

"So I had Tiger Heroine take action and give them a deep lesson."

"You know what happened after that."

Lin Dong and Qing Tan listened, spirits rising. This was way too fantastical. Wasn't this basically a pet delivering itself to his doorstep?

It was like listening to a satisfying webnovel, and both of them felt thoroughly pleased.

Qing Tan, especially, felt even more pleased than Lin Dong, because Tiger Heroine had acted under Lin Yun's orders, to vent anger on her behalf.

Before, she had felt a little disappointed that Lin Yun had not been there at the crucial moment. Now that she learned the truth was actually like this, she was shocked, and at the same time, incomparably moved.

Lin Yun, Brother had actually killed Lei Li and Xie Yingying for her! "So that's how it was. Then afterward, how did the Fire... how did Tiger Heroine and the others escape the pursuit?" Lin Dong immediately asked the key question.

That day, a dozen or so Heavenly Yuan Realm experts had gone to surround and kill them. With Tiger Heroine bringing the three little ones along, wanting to escape could be said to be utterly impossible.

"That's my secret treasure. For now, I can't tell you," Lin Yun said.

"I get it!" Qing Tan had a flash of inspiration and figured it out, giggling.

The two of them tacitly said nothing more.

Only Lin Dong was left utterly confused.

"The existence of Tiger Heroine's family must be kept secret. It absolutely cannot be spread, otherwise our Lin Family and the Lei and Xie Families will completely tear off all pretense, and that would be extremely unfavorable to our Lin Family," Lin Yun said solemnly.

"We understand, Lin Yun, Brother. Don't worry, I won't even tell my father or mother," Lin Dong said with a solemn vow.

When it came to keeping secrets, he was the most experienced. Back when he had obtained the Stone Talisman, he had not told a single person, and to this day, no second person knew he had the Stone Talisman.

"I wouldn't tell even if I were beaten to death!" Qing Tan's tone was also firm.

"Can I hug them now?"

Qing Tan could no longer hold back and squatted down to stroke the little tigers.

Lin Yun nodded. "Mm. From now on, I'll leave them in your care."

Tiger Heroine knew these two were Master's friends, and they bore no malice, so she let Qing Tan and Lin Dong touch her cubs.

"By the way, Lin Yun, Brother, what are their names?" Qing Tan asked, holding one in each arm.

"Little Fire, Little Flame, and Little Yan!"

"I marked their heads. Look here—the one with one tuft of red fur is Little Fire, the one with two tufts is Little Flame, and the one with three tufts is Little Yan!"

Lin Yun pointed at the red fur tied up on their heads as he introduced them.

The three little ones all looked more or less the same. Without a mark, even their mother probably would not be able to tell them apart.

"Huh!"

Lin Dong suddenly let out a startled sound, then immediately returned to normal... As he held Little Flame, the Stone Talisman in his palm had actually reacted just now.

This Fire Python Tiger is probably not simple, Lin Dong thought to himself, paying a little more attention to Little Flame.

Lin Yun noticed Lin Dong's small movement, but he did not point it out. He only smiled with pursed lips... Nice try, kid. You're acting pretty well. Let's see how long you can hide it.

"You all get properly acquainted with one another. From now on, you'll all be living in the same courtyard, so don't act like strangers," Lin Yun said, patting Tiger Heroine on the head.

"Mm!" Qing Tan nodded seriously.

Cute little tigers were her favorite.

After learning about the Fire Python Tigers, Lin Dong and Qing Tan spent even longer at Lin Yun's home, almost treating this place as their own.

Qing Tan loved playing with the little tigers.

As for Lin Dong, he secretly observed Little Flame. Sometimes, he even carried Little Flame to some corner and quietly gave him extra food, feeding Little Flame Stone Talisman Spiritual Liquid.

The courtyard was very harmonious.

During this period, Lin Yun also cooperated with Chi Ling and refined the Shadow Phantom Leopard they had hunted before into Pills.

One Earthly Yuan Realm Shadow Phantom Leopard yielded nearly a hundred Blood Pills.

The effects of the Blood Pills were equivalent to third- to fourth-grade Blood Qi Pills. They were greatly beneficial to Demon Beasts, able to increase Demon Power and strengthen bloodlines.

Humans could take them as well, but the medicinal force was too fierce, and they contained Demon Beast bloodline power. Taking too many would cause one's Physique to mutate.

Naturally, Lin Yun disdained eating Blood Pills himself and saved them all for Tiger Heroine.

When Tiger Heroine received the Blood Pills, her pupils practically quaked. After eating one, she clearly sensed her strength rising.

This made Tiger Heroine even more determined to follow Lin Yun.

Her reverence for her Master kept increasing.

Aside from Tiger Heroine, the nurturing of the three little ones was not neglected either.

Chi Ling was the Divine Alchemy Furnace, after all. She could also refine Spirit Herbs into Spiritual Liquid and Body Tempering Liquid.

Liquid energy was easier for the little tigers to absorb.

The daily lives of the three little ones consisted of drinking milk in the morning, drinking Spiritual Liquid in the afternoon, and soaking in Body Tempering Liquid at night.

They grew extremely quickly. In just one short week, they were already as big as adult dogs and could run swiftly around the courtyard. They could even jump over the courtyard wall.

Little Flame in particular tried several times to jump out of the courtyard and take a look around, only to be whipped back home by a swipe of Mother Tiger's tail.

On this day, the three people and four tigers were in the courtyard when Qing Tan's cold energy suddenly erupted.

"Hiss... Lin Yun, Brother, it's here!" Qing Tan sucked in a cold breath and grabbed Lin Yun's hand.

Lin Dong stood up nervously, somewhat at a loss.

Lin Yun, however, directly scooped Qing Tan up in a princess carry, then rushed into the room and shut the door behind him with a slam.

Tiger Heroine got up and walked to the room door, then slowly lay down, silently guarding her Master.

Lin Dong froze where he was, staring blankly at the room.

Liu Yan had told him to keep an eye on them and not let Lin Yun and Qing Tan do anything bad.

But now, with that Mother Tiger blocking the way, how was he supposed to watch... Lin Dong felt as if he was a little superfluous here.

He should have been outside, not in the courtyard!

Adding an extra update. This chapter's length is all right, isn't it? Hehe! Please recommend, and please leave good reviews!