"Let's become sworn brothers!"
Lin Dong cast aside his usual casualness and looked at Lin Changqiang solemnly. At that moment, Lin Changqiang felt as though a long drought had finally been met with sweet rain.
Why did he prefer Martial Universe over Battle Through the Heavens? Was it because Lin Dong's cheat was stronger than Xiao Yan's? Not at all. Yao Lao and the Flame Mantra were no slouches either. Was it because of Ling Qingzhu and Ying Huanhuan? No, Xiao Yan had even more romantic encounters than Lin Dong.
What he had always loved most was the brotherhood between Lin Dong, Lin Diao, and Lin Yan—their willingness to live and die together, to share both fortune and misfortune.
He had had quite a few friends in his previous life, but there were truly very few who would stand firmly by his side when trouble came. As for those who would charge in without a word when he got into a fight, there were fewer than he could count on both hands.
Thus, Lin Changqiang took a deep breath, clasped his hands solemnly, and bowed. "I couldn't ask for more!"
"Good, good, good!" Lin Dong was overjoyed as well. He immediately pulled Lin Changqiang over and knelt in the direction of the sun.
"Heaven above, earth below!"
"Let mountains and seas bear witness, and let the sun and moon be our pledge!"
"Today."
"I, Lin Dong!"
"I, Lin Changqiang!"
"Become sworn brothers, sharing blessings and bearing hardships together!"
"We do not seek to be born on the same year, month, and day!"
"But we seek to die on the same year, month, and day!"
"Should we betray these words, may heaven and man alike punish us!"
"Rise, Second Brother!"
"Rise, Second Brother!"
"???" Lin Dong looked at Lin Changqiang in disbelief. "Changqiang, I'm older than you, so by all reason and sentiment, I should be the eldest brother, shouldn't I?"
"Not so, not so!" Lin Changqiang shook his head. "Have you not heard that in martial arts, seniority matters not, and the accomplished come first? I'm at the Heavenly Origin Stage while you're at the Earthly Yuan Stage, so no matter how you look at it, I should be the eldest brother!"
Lin Dong frowned. "Cultivation can change. Maybe one day I'll surpass you, but your age can never become greater than mine. So I should still be the eldest brother. Besides..."
"Wait!" Lin Changqiang suddenly interrupted Lin Dong as though waking from a dream. "Aren't we already family? Aren't we already actual brothers? Why are we even becoming sworn brothers???"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lin Dong stared at Lin Changqiang in stunned silence. He looked rather foolish as he blanked out. Only after a long while did he come back to himself and scratch his head awkwardly. "Then... should we just pretend this never happened?"
"How could that work? How can we go back on our word after we've already finished swearing?" Lin Changqiang rubbed his chin and pondered for a long time. Finally, he came up with a genius idea. "How about we settle it with rock-paper-scissors!"
"??? Are you serious?"
"What else? Do you have a fairer method?"
"...Fine."
"Three, two, one!"
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"???" Lin Changqiang stared at his rock and fell into deep thought. I clearly remember that article from my previous life saying that people with strong personalities liked to throw scissors. Why did Lin Dong throw paper? Didn't it say that sunny, optimistic people liked to throw paper?
"Hehe, Changqiang, a bet is a bet~" Lin Dong cheerfully patted Lin Changqiang's shoulder. "I've already decided. From today onward, we'll each address the other differently. At home, you call me Third Brother. Outside, I'll call you Second Brother! How about it?"
"Getting the advantage and still acting smug." Lin Changqiang shot Lin Dong an irritated glare. Inwardly, he had already cursed that Clickbait Account to pieces.
Lin Dong did not care in the slightest. He simply sat down and said politely, "Changqiang, sit. Come absorb the Yang Gang Qi with your big brother."
Why does Lin Dong seem to have much thicker skin than in the original story? Could this be because of the Butterfly Effect? Lin Changqiang muttered to himself. He then stopped talking, shook his head, and began absorbing the Yang Gang Qi alongside Lin Dong.
As the sun set, neither of the two boys cultivating with their eyes closed noticed the faint smiles tugging at the other's lips.
The next day, before dawn had fully broken, carriages loaded with massive black logs lined up neatly outside Ironwood Manor's gates.
On the surface, this operation was meant to sell Ironwood, but its true purpose was to sell Yang Yuan Stones. The old man clearly attached great importance to this trip. Not only did he personally lead it, but he also brought Lin Xiao and Lin Mang, along with a full hundred guards.
Lin Zhentian swept his sharp gaze across the group, nodded, and turned to Lin Xiao at his side. "Is everyone here?"
"Everyone is present. We can depart at any time."
"Good." Lin Zhentian said no more. With a sweep of his arm, he urged his horse into a gallop. "Move out!"
The fairly sizable convoy immediately set off amid a series of shouts. Lin Changqiang lightly tapped his horse's flank and followed with considerable excitement.
Flame City was the nearest city to Qingyang Town, but even so, the group did not reach Flame City's outskirts until noon.
The road leading to Flame City bustled with people, which Lin Dong found quite novel. Lin Changqiang, however, lay limply over his horse's back. Compared to the packed crowds of rush hour in his previous life, this was nothing.
"Dong'er, Changqiang, don't cause trouble once you enter the city. Flame City is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. If you aren't careful, you could offend some important figure." Seeing the two of them, Lin Xiao warned them with some concern.
"Don't worry, Third Uncle. If others don't offend me, I won't offend them. But if they offend me, I'll definitely offend them back~"
Lin Xiao nodded, yet felt that something seemed off. Before he could think it over, Lin Dong interrupted his thoughts.
"Father, Flame City is so large. The struggles between its factions must be far more intense than in Qingyang Town, right?"
"In Flame City, a faction is nearly wiped out every month, while several more rise up. Do you think it's intense?" Lin Xiao shook his head. "However, among all these factions, there are three colossal powers that stand above the rest, with no one able to rival them!"
"Oh? Which three?" Lin Dong widened his eyes like a curious child.
The Jia Ma Imperial Family, Miter Auction House, and Cloud Mist Sect. Lin Changqiang chuckled inwardly.
"The Yan City Lord's Mansion, the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce, and the Blood Wolf Gang!"
"The Blood Wolf Gang?" Lin Changqiang raised a brow. He had never noticed before just how many groups in Potato's worlds sounded doomed the moment one heard their names. "That name is no good. It doesn't sound nearly as imposing as Mad Saber Martial Hall."
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Lin Xiao jumped in fright. "These three major factions have countless experts and each has a Yuan Dan Stage expert in command! Not only that, many smaller factions are affiliated with them. We can't afford to provoke them!"
The convoy advanced at an unhurried pace, and before long, it reached the city gates. Seeing the towering, majestic walls that seemed to reach the clouds, Lin Dong could not help but gape.
After paying the entrance fee, the convoy smoothly entered Flame City.
"Let's go to where we'll be staying first." Lin Zhentian led the way with practiced ease. Clearly, this was not his first visit to Flame City. The group wound through the city streets before finally stopping outside a rather quiet inn.
After a brief rest, the group split into three. The first part, led by Lin Mang, went to sell the Ironwood. The second part, led by Lin Zhentian and Lin Xiao, went to sell the Yang Yuan Stones.
As for the third part... naturally, it consisted of Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong, who were left behind at the inn, along with the guards watching the horses and other goods.
Of course, it was not long before the two could no longer resist slipping out of the inn and wandering around Flame City.
Before you continue