I'm Not Reconciled

Forty-two years ago, on a cicada-filled summer night, the matriarch of the Star Engraving Lin Family gave birth to twin sons.

At the time, the Lin family patriarch, Lin Wanrong, was an officer in the Morning Wind District's Riverside Army. Having lost his family fortune and scattered his relatives in his youth, he was fortunate enough to meet his wife during his studies. With the help of his in-laws and his own talent, he rose rapidly through the ranks. In his triumphant moment, he named his two sons 'Jinyao' and 'Xue'en'. These names meant "glory that adds to splendor" and "kindness in times of need," not only expressing his affection for his children and his gratitude to his wife, but also representing his blessings for his sons, hoping they would live happy, prosperous lives and be helpful and grateful individuals.

As the two children grew, they began to show talent in different areas. Lin Jinyao excelled in Sword-Wielding Combat Arts, while Lin Xue'en was skilled in law and administration. However, the Lin family was a martial family with a legacy of combat arts. Lin Wanrong spent several years personally teaching them, but while his eldest son made rapid progress, his younger son seemed utterly inept. He eventually had to abandon the dream of having three martial artists in the family, sending Lin Jinyao to the Military Academy and Lin Xue'en to the Cultural Academy.

From then on, the lives of the two brothers diverged: Lin Jinyao joined the Riverside Army as an outstanding graduate of the Military Academy, returning several years later to teach there. Lin Xue'en, after graduating, used the capital and connections his father provided to start a business. Although his father passed away in his sixties, his elder brother, Lin Jinyao, became the pillar of the Lin family, shielding Lin Xue'en's ventures from harm.

In Huiyao, despite the resounding slogans of 'people-oriented' and 'equality for all,' societal productivity was limited. Intense competition for resources was inevitable, and fairness and justice were merely beautiful aspirations. Just like in ancient times, all interests had to be maintained by power; otherwise, they were merely a fattened pig.

However, in addition to power, military force, especially individual combat prowess, was also a recognized guarantee. Unless one possessed absolute certainty, using underhanded tactics against a business protected by a renowned martial artist would only invite unbridled retaliation.

Everyone tacitly agreed that factions with martial artists could only compete fairly. This wasn't a rule, but a morality born of necessity—everyone was just trying to make money, not to fight to the death.

In the Lin family, Lin Jinyao was the flourishing canopy, and Lin Xue'en was the deeply hidden root. Everyone respectfully referred to Lin Jinyao as 'Mr. Lin' and Lin Xue'en as 'Second Mr.'

Everyone believed that Lin Jinyao was the face of the Lin family, and Lin Xue'en was merely a logistics assistant to his brother, a loyal and honest steward.

Even Lin Xue'en thought so.

From childhood, he had never been able to compare to his elder brother in any aspect. Not in combat arts, not in studies, and even in business, he knew his brother's business acumen far surpassed his own. Whenever he encountered a difficult situation and consulted his brother, he would always find a sudden clarity.

The so-called 'Lin Xue'en is good at business' was merely a comforting illusion.

His brother was the glory that added splendor to the family, while he was just a piece of coal—but the Lin family didn't lack this "coal in times of need." Even if the Lin family truly fell into peril, saving the family would only be Lin Jinyao, not Lin Xue'en.

Lin Xue'en had no complaints about this.

Or rather, all his discontent had been smoothed away by time.

He simply couldn't compare to his brother, Lin Jinyao.

He was merely an expendable steward.

He was just a dim, insignificant piece of coal living in Lin Jinyao's brilliance.

Inferiority born in the bones, vastly inferior to others.

All is fate, not a bit is up to man.

Until one day, Lin Xue'en met someone.

Someone from the Statistics Department.

"Living like this, are you content?"

Lin Xue'en said nothing at the time, simply waving his sleeve and leaving. But in the quiet of every night thereafter, he found that sentence echoing mercilessly in his mind, like a thorn.

Yet, this sentence didn't sting him. Just as a fish isn't pained by a fishbone, Lin Xue'en found that acknowledging his resentment towards his brother didn't make him uncomfortable—because his resentment towards his brother had long ago, during his growth, become a part of him, like a fishbone, forever within him.

Often, emotions can both withstand and succumb to trials. Hatred is merely one of the seven emotions and six desires; no matter how intense, it cannot occupy the entirety of the heart. Hatred is merely a trigger, capable of easily stirring up monstrous waves.

If Lin Xue'en hadn't met that person, he would still be the Lin family's Second Mr. Decades later, he would have a house full of children and grandchildren, enjoying familial bliss. Though his life would be ordinary, it would still be happy, and he and his brother would remain respectful and harmonious, with no estrangement.

But when the hatred in Lin Xue'en's heart was ignited, the deepest, most rotten soil within him began to burn. Just a flicker of flame was enough to ignite the swamp gas, destroying all emotional barriers.

All the past kindness, familial affection, and happiness vanished without a trace. What remained was only Lin Xue'en's unresigned heart!

Lin Xue'en didn't believe that colluding with the Statistics Department was an act of revenge against his brother; he believed he was saving the Lin family.

Lin Jinyao joining the Anti-Light Rebels was disloyalty!

Inciting friends to oppose the imperial court and lead them to ruin was injustice!

Bringing shame to the Lin family's name through rebel disgrace was unfilial!

Becoming an enemy of the imperial court and the Statistics Department was unwise!

Everything I did was solely to set things right, to correct Lin Jinyao's disloyal, unjust, unfilial, and unwise actions, to turn the tide, to prop up the crumbling Great Xia, and to preserve the Lin family's legacy from the disaster of extermination!

This is an act of kindness in times of need!

Killing my own brother was not my wish, but since my brother was killed by a traitor through an unfortunate turn of events, it also preserved his reputation and the Lin family's prestige, which can be considered a blessing in disguise!

And I, Lin Xue'en, will surely revitalize the Lin family in my brother's stead!

First, I will join the White Night branch, and together with the Statistics Department, eliminate these Anti-Light Rebels, clearly siding with the imperial court and leading the Lin family to serve the imperial court with all our might until death, doing everything I can to quell the rebellious era!

I will make the Star Engraving Lin Family famous throughout the land, to comfort the hearts of my father and brother in Nine Springs!

Father, brother, please watch me. Even without you, I can make the Lin family tree flourish!

And next, I will cooperate with the sniper arranged by the Statistics Department to severely wound Qian Yuliu, pass the White Night Walker's qualification assessment for the Anti-Light Rebel organization 'White Night', and gain the right to establish a White Night branch!

The White Night Walker's sudden assessment caught the Lin family off guard. Only those who defeated Qian Yuliu in Revenge Severance could participate in the White Night branch, and Lin Xue'en had to seize this opportunity.

He couldn't let anyone else defeat Qian Yuliu.

But he didn't have the qualification to challenge Qian Yuliu in Revenge Severance—not only because he couldn't beat him, but also because others wouldn't trust the Second Mr. to fight against a vicious person like Qian Yuliu.

Lin Xue'en knew the combatants and the order of battle perfectly. He concluded that Qian Yuliu could at least defeat Gao Jin and Xia Lingo, but after a prolonged fight, the outcome against Lin Xue would be unpredictable.

For the sake of the Lin family, he had to slightly inconvenience Lin Xue. He found a way to touch Lin Xue's Sword Sheath and placed a depleted Luster Stone inside.

This Luster Stone would have no effect normally, unless Lin Xue channeled radiance into the Sword Sheath. When the Sword Sheath was brimming with sword light and ready to strike, the Sword Sheath Light would not obey Lin Xue's will to project outward; instead, it would prioritize charging the Luster Stone.

This meant that the Sword Sheath Light, which was most crucial to the Lin Family Sword Arts, would be directly rendered ineffective.

Lin Xue would have no chance of defeating Qian Yuliu.

Of course, Lin Xue'en wouldn't let his niece die in vain. When Lin Xue's Sword Sheath light failed, Qian Yuliu would surely seize the opportunity to pursue and take her life, and that would be Lin Xue'en's cue to appear.

No one would doubt Lin Xue'en's justifiable anger if he acted to protect his niece.

As for whether Qian Yuliu genuinely intended to pursue or would stop there, no one would care.

They would only see one outcome: Qian Yuliu severely wounded, and Lin Xue'en avenged!

By then, Gao Jin, Xia Lingo, and Lin Xue would all have lost, with only Lin Jinyao's biological younger brother, Lin Xue'en, successfully avenging his brother. Both emotionally and logically, White Night would inevitably pass Lin Jinyao's authority to Lin Xue'en!

So, I need to take the most crucial step.

From now on, I will step from behind the scenes into the spotlight.

My name, Lin Xue'en, will spread throughout Morning Wind. People will no longer remember Lin Jinyao; they will only remember me, Lin Xue'en!

Qian Yuliu, you will be the stepping stone for my Lin Family, atonement for your murder of your benefactor!

And Lin Xue'en's confidence came from the help of the Statistics Department.

The Statistics Department's sniper was already aiming at Qian Yuliu's vital points.

Faced with both a slash and Firearms, Qian Yuliu had no choice. As an Awakened, he would surely prioritize evading the more threatening, fatal Firearms. But this meant he could only dodge to the left, exposing his mortal body to Lin Xue'en's blade.

Even if Lin Xue'en's sword strike didn't kill Qian Yuliu, it could at least severely wound him. And after winning one move, Lin Xue'en would immediately retreat, securing his victory and earning the qualification to participate in White Night!

All the resentment, all the unease, all the suppression—Lin Xue'en poured all his emotions into this one sword strike, as if he could completely sever his past.

He gritted his teeth, looking at Qian Yuliu's face, the resentment and glee in his eyes utterly genuine.

He seemed to truly see himself as a younger brother avenging his elder.

Die, Qian Yuliu—

CRACK!

With a loud bang, Light Burst erupted.

Lin Xue'en's sword light was shattered.

At the same time, Qian Yuliu's blood splattered.

An invisible bullet pierced through, creating four bullet holes in Qian Yuliu's right arm and left chest. Blood sprayed along the trajectory, presenting a cruel beauty in the distorted light.

Lin Xue'en's eyes widened at the sight. He didn't even notice that Qian Yuliu had taken the opportunity to knock away his longsword.

Why didn't he dodge the bullet? Doesn't he know he could die?

He could absolutely dodge the bullet. Why did he have to risk his life to shatter my sword light first?

Couldn't he see that I'm just an ordinary swordsman? My sword could at most severely wound him; it's nowhere near as threatening as a bullet!

Why, after being shot, did he not retreat but instead charge at me?

Why... did he have to ruin my plan?

"I want you dead!" Le Yu coughed up a mouthful of foul blood. His right hand, Torrential Spit, shattered Lin Xue'en's sword light, while his left hand, Wild Bite, clawed at Lin Xue'en's neck!

Lin Xue'en was the mole!

The sniper was Lin Xue'en's trump card!

Lin Xue'en's pupils constricted. He rapidly retreated, his backhand gripping his sword to slash at Le Yu's left hand, which was grabbing his neck!

Le Yu quickly moved to catch up, intending to end the traitor's life with the next move, but he found his right arm completely unresponsive. The gunshot seemed to have injured his arm bone, leaving him unable to exert any force.

Though his left hand was still usable, Le Yu had expended too much energy earlier. With just the strength of five fingers, he couldn't crush Lin Xue'en's throat.

In a flash, Le Yu suddenly kicked Lin Xue'en's calf with his right leg, causing Lin Xue'en to lose his balance.

Then Le Yu spun sharply, using the twisting force of his waist and abdomen to drag Lin Xue'en with his left hand, slamming him to the ground!

As Lin Xue'en's head plummeted towards the ground, he clearly saw Le Yu's expression. There was no anger, no hatred, only the joy of sudden realization, as if he were saying, 'I've got you.'

In that instant, Lin Xue'en understood everything, and why Le Yu was willing to risk his life to kill him.

'I'm not reconciled!'

CRACK! Lin Xue'en's head collided heavily with the bluestone ground, and red and white spilled out.

Gao Jin was stunned.

Xia Lingo narrowed her eyes.

Lin Xue, who had just managed to prop herself up, almost stumbled again at the sight.

The onlookers immediately fell silent. The Patrol Guards quickly came to check on Lin Xue'en, their faces grim.

Le Yu slowly straightened his back, looking down at Lin Xue'en's corpse. On his blood-splattered face, a smirk of satisfaction appeared.

To others, however, this smile seemed extraordinarily cruel and arrogant.

"Qian Yuliu, you, you—"

"What 'you'?" Le Yu looked at Gao Jin, who was pointing at him, and laughed wildly, "If you've got the guts, kill me, hahahaha—"

His laughter abruptly cut off. Le Yu felt a sudden inability to catch his breath, and then his vision went dark, knowing nothing more.

In the last second before losing consciousness, Le Yu's only thought was:

Does this count as Gao Jin infuriating me to death?