Brothers at Heart

Inside the little dark room.

Lin Dong lay sprawled atop a pile of Yang Yuan Stones, staring lifelessly at the pitch-black ceiling.

His right hand, wearing the Stone Talisman, moved weakly without stopping, shifting through the heap of Yang Yuan Stones.

He was like a machine producing Yang Yuan Pills, mercilessly squirming his body as the powder left behind from refined Yang Yuan Stones piled beneath him.

Lin Dong had maintained this state for three days and three nights.

Now, the sight of Yang Yuan Stones made him want to vomit, so he had blocked out all the light around him to have some peace and quiet.

Lin Dong could not help mocking himself. Three days ago, he had been as excited and happy as he was miserable and tormented now.

He recalled how, three days ago, his big brother had come to find him carrying two Cosmic Bags. "Second Brother, there are 1.01 million Yang Yuan Stones in here. What a huge haul. They're all yours!"

Lin Dong had been wildly excited and asked again and again, "B-Big Brother... I heard right, didn't I? It's 1.01... million, not one hundred and one...?"

"You heard right. It's... one million!"

"Ironwood Manor's mine has produced less than ten thousand stones so far, and the entire vein might not even contain a million. Hiss... this is an enormous fortune, Big Brother!"

"So, if you refine them, that'll be more than three hundred thousand Yang Yuan Pills. The profits will triple, and our two families might become one of Flame City's great wealthy families in one stroke!"

"That's wonderful, Big Brother! I'll refine them day and night without rest!"

"Don't get too excited. Aim higher and think bigger. This million is only the first batch. There may be another batch of Yang Yuan Stones later, no smaller than this one!"

"There are even more? That's fantastic! I'll refine every last one into Yang Yuan Pills... Ah, Big Brother, don't laugh at me. I've never seen so many Yang Yuan Stones in my life!"

This was the price of youth!

Lin Dong finally understood what his big brother had been laughing about. It was not because Lin Dong had never seen such a fortune, but because he had foolishly been grinning without knowing what he would suffer next.

Lin Dong had realized something... even counting money could make someone cry!

With tears in his eyes, he rolled over and thrust his hand into the gaps between the stones!

He continued letting the Stone Talisman sink into more Yang Yuan Stones, glowing and heating up.

I took this job myself. Even with tears in my eyes, I have to finish it... Lin Dong gritted his teeth and persevered. At the same time, he emptied his mind and thought about the follow-up methods for cultivating mental energy. This was the continuation of the Divine Movement Chapter that his big brother had obtained from Master Yan for him, and he used it to pass the time.

Who knew how much time passed.

"Wow! Why is there suddenly so much energy?!"

The Heavenly Demon Mink's voice suddenly rang out in Lin Dong's mind.

The Heavenly Demon Mink had originally been cultivating inside the Stone Talisman, refining the Demon Spirit of the Azure Water Demonic Python. Over the past two days, it had sensed the Stone Talisman continuously absorbing vast amounts of Yanggang Qi, making even it feel warm all over.

It was practically one with the Stone Talisman now. It could absorb whatever energy the Stone Talisman obtained. Whenever the Stone Talisman refined Elixir Pills, it would siphon off a portion of the energy to nourish itself. This sudden influx of energy caught Little Mink's attention.

It could not help separating a wisp of its Demon Spirit to investigate. "Eh, Big Bla—Little Mink, you're awake!"

"Heh, where did you get such an enormous quantity of Yang Yuan Stones, kid?" Little Mink probed with its mental energy and burst into laughter. "It was all thanks to my big brother. He killed Yue Shan, the Blood Wolf Gang's leader, raided a gang, and packed up all their Yang Yuan Stones to bring back!"

"I knew it!"

Little Mink wore an expression of utter certainty.

Only he could have obtained so many Yang Yuan Stones. Little Mink knew Lin Dong's strength best. Unless he stepped in dog shit and got absurdly lucky, there was no way he could have managed it.

"Right, how strong was that gang leader?" Little Mink asked again.

Lin Dong said, "Core Formation Stage peak. It seemed he had even comprehended a trace of Intent of Creation. They said he was very powerful, some Half-step Creation Stage expert."

"Good heavens. As far as I know, your big brother was only a Two-Seal Symbol Master. Back at the Elixir Immortal Pool, even if he broke through successfully, he would only have reached the Minor Core Formation Stage. Yet he actually killed an expert who had comprehended Intent of Creation."

After analyzing it, Little Mink clicked its tongue in astonishment. That was simply incredible. An expert who had comprehended Intent of Creation—if it borrowed Lin Dong's Minor Core Formation Stage power now, it still would not be able to kill one.

As expected of a Reincarnator! Little Mink became even more convinced that Wu Yun had once been a Reincarnation Stage expert. Reincarnation Stage experts were all renowned and ancient figures, and Little Mink wondered which Reincarnation Stage expert Wu Yun had once been.

Lin Dong said, "Of course. My big brother has always been amazing!"

Lin Dong spoke proudly, but Little Mink's tone suddenly became grave.

"What exactly does your big brother value about you?"

"If it's the Stone Talisman, why doesn't he just snatch it and use it himself? Why leave it on you?"

"When he first learned you had the Stone Talisman, did he never consider taking it from you?"

"If he wanted to snatch it, I think you would already be dead. There is no way you could have survived his hands!"

"Tell me, in detail and without leaving out a single thing, exactly how you came to know your big brother!"

Inside the Stone Talisman, Little Mink furrowed its thief-like brows and chattered on relentlessly!

"You—why should I tell you? Are you trying to harm my big brother?"

Lin Dong became vigilant! He felt that every time this rat mentioned his big brother, it acted guarded and fearful. More than once, it had urged him to stay away from his big brother. Now it suddenly wanted to inquire into his big brother's details—its intentions definitely could not be pure! Lin Dong was not the kind of person who would betray his brother. Besides, how long had he known his big brother? He had only known this rat for a few days! Little Mink said, "You foolish boy, you have no idea how important this is. I'm doing this for your own good. The Stone Talisman is far more mysterious and important than you imagine. No matter who saw it, they could not help being tempted, especially someone who knew what it could do. The reason your big brother has not killed you and taken the Stone Talisman is likely because you still have value to him. He still wants to use you, and once he is done using you, he will kill you and take the Stone Talisman!"

"Think about it yourself. Without the Stone Talisman, what else could possibly make your big brother treat you so well?"

Little Mink spoke indignantly. It thought Lin Dong was simply stupid! There was no such thing as absolute affection in this world—everything was about benefits! It had once trusted feelings too much itself, and that was why it had been betrayed!

"Without the Stone Talisman, what else would Big Brother value?" Lin Dong murmured.

I cultivate diligently, and my mental energy talent is decent, but compared to Big Brother, those are nothing. So what does Big Brother value about me? he could not help thinking.

Other than the Stone Talisman, he really seemed to have nothing worth his big brother's attention.

Little Mink's words did make some sense! But he did not believe his big brother was someone who would use him.

Unless Big Brother had wanted to use me from the very beginning! Lin Dong thought.

But he immediately rejected the idea.

They had not even known each other then. Who would deliberately scheme to use a stranger?

Their meeting had been fate. It had all happened because they possessed the same thing.

Right, Little Mink must have sensed something on Big Brother, so it wants to scheme for Big Brother's treasure... Lin Dong cleverly concluded!

"No, I still believe in Big Brother," Lin Dong answered firmly.

Lin Dong trusted his own feelings. They could not be wrong.

I have given my heart and soul to Big Brother, and Big Brother has done the same for me... Since I met him, everything Big Brother has shown me has been utter sincerity. There has not been the slightest falsehood, and he has genuinely considered things for my sake.

Being open and honest with each other was why they had sworn brotherhood in the beginning.

Big Brother had never done anything to harm him! He could not let a rat change his original conviction!

"You foolish kid, why are you so stubborn? Do you think Lord Mink wants to harm you and drive a wedge between you two?"

Little Mink said furiously.

But after saying that, both man and mink froze.

The same thought arose in their hearts.

Lin Dong thought, So you finally said what you really think!

Little Mink thought, It does seem like I'm trying to sow discord.

The two fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

"I've figured it out. Your big brother wants to use you as a tool. Look at yourself now—you've become his pill slave, used to refine Elixir Pills for him. The reason he hasn't taken the Stone Talisman is because using it himself takes too much time. So he is using emotional bonds to keep you by his side as his little pill-refining apprentice. Once he needs the Stone Talisman one day, he'll kill you and take it."

Little Mink spoke excitedly, feeling incredibly clever. "Heh, you are currently the Stone Talisman's master. He has to kill you before it becomes ownerless and usable by him. I can already imagine your future ending, tool-boy Lin Dong. Foolish kid, and you still don't realize it."

Lin Dong grew anxious and fiercely defended himself. "Impossible! Big Brother said I can use as many of these refined pills as I want. They are the shared property of us two brothers.

"And he even said we should take some out to distribute to the Lin Family!"

"Hmph, so what? Even a donkey at a mine has to be given some grass to eat!

"With so many pills, how many can you use? And with his abilities, he can easily get more raw materials for you to refine.

"Giving you some is only to make you willingly refine pills for him!"

Lin Dong said, "Nonsense!"

"You still don't believe me? Fine. Look at how thick the refined powder has piled up. You must have been in this little dark room for at least three days and nights. In all that time, has he come to see you even once?" Little Mink asked a question that struck at Lin Dong's soul!

Lin Dong froze. Thinking carefully about it, "Big Brother really does seem not to have come see me!"

Seeing Lin Dong's blank expression, Little Mink felt it had guessed correctly and added fuel to the fire. "See? I was right, foolish kid. He is using you, treating you like a donkey. One day, when he no longer needs you, he'll kill you like a donkey and eat the meat."

"I told you, there is no true brotherly affection in this world. I once trusted someone like that too, but because I exposed the Stone Talisman, I lost terribly. I nearly could not even preserve my Demon Spirit. I don't want you to follow in my footsteps!

"He may not have harmed you yet, but by the time he wants to harm you, it will already be too late!"

Little Mink spoke with deep emotion, hoping to wake this foolish boy through its own experiences. The secret of the Stone Talisman had actually been discovered by someone else, and he still dared trust that person.

"With your current strength, you have no ability to protect yourself against him at all. Your strengths are not equal. Brothers? Heh. When the time comes, you'll just be a lamb awaiting slaughter."

"Stop talking!" Lin Dong shouted through mental transmission.

Little Mink pressed on step by step. "It hit home, didn't it? You believe it yourself too, don't you? Stop deceiving yourself!"

Lin Dong fell silent and carefully recalled every scene since meeting his big brother nearly a year ago.

Back then, Big Brother had only been at Body Tempering Layer Eight.

The moment they met, they had understood each other perfectly.

They had been honest and revealed their secrets, then spent many nights talking by candlelight in his room. They had tacitly covered for each other while procuring medicinal herbs.

They had worked together to participate in the Hunting Conference. Whenever danger arose, Big Brother always went first.

Whenever there was a powerful opponent, Big Brother would stand in front of him.

Whether it was yielding Xiao Yan, Demonic Cores, or the Yin Yang Pearl,

whenever there were benefits, Big Brother always made sure to include him.

Those were all real, tangible experiences!

Over the past year, all Lin Dong had felt from his big brother was sincerity, and they had always gotten along freely and naturally! The two brothers shared the same goals. They exchanged cultivation experience, pushed each other to improve, discussed problems when they arose, and solved them together.

That feeling could not be wrong.

Brothers were brothers at heart! There was no need to say anything—one look was enough to understand.

Big Brother's eyes would not deceive him! How could I doubt Big Brother's sincerity because of a few words from this big black rat, just because I spent a few sleepless nights and worked hard refining some pills?

Slap!

Lin Dong fiercely slapped himself across the face.

"You foolish boy, why did you hit yourself? Are you grieving over your own stupidity? Have you come to your senses?"

Little Mink said delightedly in its heart! But in the next moment, its voice vanished.

"Someone's coming. I'm leaving first!"

Just as Little Mink's mental transmission ended—

Creak!

The door opened, and a beam of light instantly shone into the dark little room.

It fell upon Lin Dong's pale, colorless face, which had not seen sunlight for a long time.

Only now, there was a very clear palm print on that little face.

"Second Brother, what happened? Who did that to your face?"

Wu Yun stared at Lin Dong in surprise.

At that moment, Lin Dong looked as though he had just been abused.

His body was half sprawled over the pile of broken stones, his gaze somewhat vacant.

When he raised his head, he looked at Wu Yun with joyous surprise, as though Wu Yun were his savior.

"Big Brother, it's nothing. I... I was refining pills just now and nearly fell asleep, so I gave myself a little wake-up call!" Lin Dong explained in a fluster.

Wu Yun said, "I knew it. You're so impatient. How could you possibly refine so many Yang Yuan Stones all at once? Luckily, I know you well. Over these three days, I've also been staying up late studying the Spirit Transformation Talisman Array. I finally succeeded. You no longer need to slowly refine them with the Stone Talisman. I'll set up the array, and we can refine everything at once. Although the purity won't be as high as what the Stone Talisman produces, heh, it can still reach eighty percent purity—higher than even my teacher's, second only to the Stone Talisman."

"Ah, Big Brother, so you've been busy with this for the past three days!"

Lin Dong sniffled. His big brother had not come to see him because he had been solving Lin Dong's problem with refining the Yang Yuan Stones.

"What else did you think? Did you think your big brother went to the pleasure quarters to listen to music? Ha, even if I did, I'd take you along." Wu Yun said irritably.

Of course Lin Dong knew what kind of place the pleasure quarters were. That was somewhere only grown men went, so his face could not help turning red. He was still an innocent kid. "What are you saying, Big Brother? I don't want to go to places like that."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's because you've never been. You don't know the taste of it. Once you've gone, you won't say that anymore!"

"So, Big Brother, you've been there?"

"Of course I have." Wu Yun answered without hesitation, though he silently added three words in his heart: In my previous life!

Lin Dong looked up at his big brother with shining eyes, shouting inwardly that he was amazing. A role model for our generation! In truth, Lin Dong was very curious and had thought about it before, but he had never had the courage to go! That was why he so envied and admired a big brother who dared to go.

"Looks like our brotherhood isn't strong enough. Not iron enough?" Wu Yun suddenly sighed.

"Why do you say that, Big Brother?" Lin Dong's heart tightened.

"Iron brothers are brothers whose bond is as strong as iron!"

"Big Brother thinks our bond isn't iron enough?"

"Indeed, not enough. As the saying goes, there are four great bonds of iron brothers: studying together, carrying guns together, visiting the pleasure quarters together, and dividing loot together!" Wu Yun said. "Though we have known each other for less than a year, we are still missing the part about visiting the pleasure quarters together!"

"What do you mean, Big Brother?" Lin Dong was left somewhat bewildered. He had actually grown used to it. His big brother often said things that he only partly understood, or did not understand at all.

Wu Yun explained, "Studying together means reading and practicing martial arts together—growing up together, in other words. Carrying guns together means fighting together. Dividing loot together is what we are doing now. As for visiting the pleasure quarters together, that needs no explanation. It means you and I become fellow travelers of the same path!"

Lin Dong scratched his ear.

"So that means we've already completed three."

Then he furrowed his brow deeply. "Big Brother, I understand what visiting the pleasure quarters and fellow travelers of the same path mean separately, but when you put them together, I get confused!"

"Hahaha!"

Wu Yun clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

"Forget it, forget it. I was just joking, rambling nonsense because I had nothing better to do. Don't take it seriously. Brothers are brothers at heart—those things are just superficial brotherhood!"

Yet at that moment, Lin Dong was being serious. He had nearly believed Big Black Rat's words and doubted his big brother, so he had to become the best kind of brother—from the outside to the inside, the very best kind.

"Big Brother, that is a biased way of putting it. If we can't even do well as superficial brothers, how can we be good brothers in our hearts? We must complete all four great bonds of iron together."

"Oh!"

Wu Yun was momentarily speechless.

His topic had been improper, but Lin Dong's reaction was far too serious.

Hearing Lin Dong's words, he understood them to mean that Lin Dong wanted to visit the pleasure quarters.

But judging by Lin Dong's earnest expression, he seemed to genuinely want to be good brothers.

It's not that I care about listening to music at the pleasure quarters. I simply don't want to hold Big Brother back. Whatever Big Brother does, I'll do too.

That was how Wu Yun understood it.

"Fine, fine. I'll take you along when there's a chance. There's plenty of time ahead of us. Our current task is still to cultivate properly. We have many things to do. As for visiting the pleasure quarters, let's put that aside for now. There's no rush. Cultivation comes first!"

Wu Yun said, struggling to hold back his laughter.

"I'll listen to Big Brother!"

"Come, take a look at your big brother's research results from the past three days."

As Wu Yun spoke, he took out several talismans from his Cosmic Bag, then brought out Spirit Ink and a Rune Brush, beginning to arrange them on the ground.

Like an obedient little brother, Lin Dong watched curiously from the side as his big brother showed off his work!

Inside the Stone Talisman! The Heavenly Demon Mink watched the two with his spiritual power. Crouched in a corner, he sank into thought, his little eyes somewhat unfocused and his face full of gloom. Yet a different sort of ripple stirred faintly in his heart.

Wu Yun really does seem to treat Lin Dong well. Was I overthinking it? I was hurt by a brother before, but that doesn't mean there are no true brothers in this world.

At that moment, it seemed he believed in brotherhood again!

Sorry for being late! I won't split it into separate posts; it feels better to read this way.

Don't worry, everyone. Lin Dong and Wu Yun won't get gay in this book—they're true brothers! I've never forgotten Martial Universe all these years because I envied its passionate brotherhood! Those with proper values, rest assured! Please vote!!! Although this combines two chapters into one, it's longer than two ordinary chapters—over five thousand words! Such a big, long chapter deserves a vote, right? (doge face for protection!)