Lin Ken's Shock: Is This Cat Liu Yuan's Pet?

"Aah—!!!"

A shrill scream, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves, echoed through the empty forest, startling countless birds into flight.

Lei Ying clutched his severed arm and staggered backward, his face pale as paper as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

The gushing blood instantly dyed most of the ground red, a horrifying sight.

"Lei Ying?!"

Lei Nuo, standing nearby, was also Scared Out of Their Wits by this sudden turn of events.

He whipped his head around, his gaze locking onto the tiny figure that had lightly landed before Lin Dong and was now elegantly licking the blood from its claws.

"It... it was that cat?!"

Lei Nuo's pupils contracted sharply, and his voice became several pitches shriller.

That streak of white light had been too fast!

So fast that even he, a Heavenly Origin Realm expert, had failed to see its path clearly!

A cat?

Just a tiny, harmless-looking kitten no bigger than a palm had instantly severed the arm of Lei Ying, another Heavenly Origin Realm expert?!

How was that possible?!

What kind of Monster Beast was this?!

Meanwhile.

"Gulp..."

Lin Dong, who had been terrified and thought he was doomed, swallowed with difficulty.

Looking at the small white figure before him, its back turned toward him and its body tiny yet emanating overwhelming ferocity, waves of shock surged through his heart.

He had known that the Phantom Spirit Cat Brother Liu Yuan kept was powerful, but he had never imagined it would be this powerful!

That was Lei Ying!

A genuine Heavenly Origin Realm expert!

Yet before this little creature, he had not even lasted a single exchange before one of his arms was crippled?

This was simply... terrifying beyond belief!

"Dong'er!"

"Are you all right?!"

At that moment, two urgent gusts of wind sliced through the air.

Lin Xiao and Lin Ken had finally arrived with the Lin Family's main force.

When they saw the corpses strewn across the ground and Lei Ying howling while clutching his severed arm, both men abruptly halted, disbelief instantly filling their eyes.

Lin Xiao in particular.

From afar, he had seen Lei Ying preparing to kill Lin Dong, and his heart had nearly leaped out of his chest.

Yet before he could arrive, the situation had undergone such a shocking reversal!

"This..."

Lin Ken stared dumbfoundedly at the little white cat standing proudly in the clearing, his throat dry as he said, "Third Brother... was that flash of white light just now really unleashed by this little thing?"

Even from so far away, that razor-sharp aura had made his scalp go numb!

However.

Though they were deeply shocked, this was not the time to investigate such matters.

Lin Xiao swiftly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and strode to Lin Dong's side. Only after confirming that his son was injured but not in mortal danger did he suddenly turn around, his icy gaze fixed on Lei Nuo and Lei Ying.

A fierce killing intent erupted from his body!

"Lei Nuo! Lei Ying!"

"You've got some nerve!"

"How dare you strike so viciously at a junior?!"

Pointing at the Black Corpse Water all over the ground and the ruined ironwood forest, Lin Xiao laughed in fury.

"And you dared to destroy Lin Family property!"

"If you don't give me an explanation today, neither of you will leave Ironwood Manor!"

Following Lin Xiao's furious roar, Lin Ken and the Lin Family experts behind him all drew their weapons and closed in, murderous intent blazing from every one of them.

At this moment.

Lei Nuo's expression had turned utterly grim.

He looked at Lei Ying, who had lost an arm and suffered a major blow to his combat strength, then at the two imposing Lin Family brothers opposite them, as well as the strange White Cat whose teasing gaze suggested it might pounce again at any moment.

Cold sweat slid down his back.

The situation had completely spiraled out of control!

Their original plan had been to destroy the manor and leave. If they happened across Lin Dong, killing the brat along the way would have been even better.

But who could have imagined that such a terrifying Monster Beast was hidden at his side?!

Lei Ying was now badly wounded, while the other side had gained two Heavenly Origin Realm experts and an unfathomable monster.

If they truly fought to the death...

Both he and Lei Ying might end up dying here today!

"Lin Xiao, stop spouting nonsense!"

Lei Nuo's eyes shifted. Though panic churned in his heart, his words remained forceful.

"Destroying the manor was Patriarch Lei Bao's order. We were merely carrying out his commands!"

"As for that brat..."

He pointed at Lin Dong and gritted his teeth.

"He killed so many members of my Lei Family. Lei Ying acted only in a moment of outrage!"

"Hmph, we admit defeat in today's matter!"

"But the Lei Family will settle this score with you sooner or later!"

With that, Lei Nuo did not dare linger for even a moment longer.

He grabbed the still-wailing Lei Ying, stomped hard on the ground, and the two became black shadows that fled at top speed toward the dense forest outside Ironwood Manor.

"Trying to run?!"

A cold gleam flashed in Lin Ken's eyes as he prepared to give chase.

"Big Brother, don't chase desperate enemies."

Lin Xiao stopped him with an outstretched hand and shook his head solemnly.

"If we force them into a corner and they fight us to the death, it won't benefit the Lin Family either."

"Lei Bao is still alive. If an all-out war truly begins, we aren't ready yet."

Though unwilling, Lin Ken could only pull back his weapon resentfully upon hearing this.

Indeed.

What mattered most now was securing Ironwood Manor completely.

After driving away the Lei Family members, Lin Xiao turned back and helped Lin Dong up with concern.

"Dong'er, how do you feel?"

"It's nothing serious."

Lin Dong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Though his blood and qi were still churning, his eyes were unusually bright.

"It was all thanks to the Phantom Spirit Cat Brother Liu Yuan lent me. If it hadn't stepped in and saved me, I'm afraid that palm strike would have left me dead for sure."

"Liu Yuan?"

Hearing this name, Lin Xiao and Lin Ken exchanged another glance, both seeing deep shock in the other's eyes.

Lin Ken pointed at the Phantom Spirit Cat, which had obediently jumped back onto Lin Dong's shoulder as though it had not been the God of Slaughter at Ironwood Manor earlier. Even his voice trembled.

"Th-this is a pet raised by Liu Yuan?"

"Dong'er, are you sure it's only a pet?"

"With that kind of strength, it must be comparable to a Heavenly Origin Realm Martial Artist, right?!"

What was even more terrifying was this.

The cat was small, its fur soft and sleek. It was clearly still in its juvenile stage!

It already possessed such frightening strength as a juvenile. If it reached adulthood...

What kind of terrifying existence would it become?!

"Hiss..."

Lin Ken could not help drawing a sharp breath.

He had only known before that Liu Yuan was mysterious and immensely powerful, but he had never had a direct impression of it.

Yet what he had witnessed today had struck him deeply!

A pet he had raised so casually could instantly cripple a Heavenly Origin Realm expert.

Then just how earth-shattering was Liu Yuan's own strength?

"Nephew Liu Yuan... truly is unfathomable."

Lin Ken shook his head with a bitter smile, his eyes filled with awe.

Lin Xiao also drew a deep breath and sighed.

"Indeed. If not for Xiao Yuan's help this time, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

"It seems the Lin Family owes Xiao Yuan more and more favors."

With that, Lin Xiao patted Lin Dong's shoulder and said seriously, "Dong'er, now that matters at Ironwood Manor have been resolved, you should head back first."

"Leave the remaining mess here to us."

"Take the Phantom Spirit Cat back quickly and return it to Xiao Yuan personally."

"And make sure to thank him properly on my behalf!"

"Tell him that another day, I will prepare a generous gift and personally visit him to express my gratitude!"

"Yes, Father!"

Lin Dong nodded heavily.

He did not dare delay. The Phantom Spirit Cat was a precious treasure, and if anything else happened to it, he could never afford to compensate for it.

Thus.

Lin Dong took Little Yan and the Phantom Spirit Cat, bade farewell to his father and uncle, and hurried toward Qing Yang Town.

Half an Hour later.

Qing Yang Town, Liu Family Villa.

"Brother Liu Yuan!"

Before Lin Dong had even entered, his excited voice carried inside.

In the courtyard.

Liu Yuan was leisurely lying in a recliner beneath the sun. Hearing the voice, he slowly opened his eyes.

The next moment.

A white Shadows darted straight into his arms.

"Meow~"

The Phantom Spirit Cat rubbed against Liu Yuan's chest affectionately. It looked so obedient and clingy that there was not the slightest trace of the ferocity with which it had slaughtered its way through Ironwood Manor.

"Hehe, you're back?"

Liu Yuan smiled and rubbed the Phantom Spirit Cat's little head, then looked at the travel-worn Lin Dong as he entered and knowingly asked, "How was it?"

"Was this little one obedient? It didn't cause you any trouble, did it?"

Lin Dong gave a bitter smile and cupped his fists.

"You jest, Brother Liu Yuan."

"This time, it was all thanks to Xiao Huan."

"If it had not acted in time and severed Lei Ying's arm, I would likely be a corpse by now."

Afterward.

Lin Dong recounted everything that had happened at Ironwood Manor in full detail.

This included the Lei Family's plot, the destruction caused by the Black Corpse Water, and the Phantom Spirit Cat's stunning final strike.

After hearing Lin Dong's account, Liu Yuan nodded slightly, without much surprise.

The Lei Family people had always been like this.

They would not give up until they saw the coffin.

"Now that Ironwood Manor has been reclaimed, the Lei Family has failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice instead this time."

Liu Yuan smiled faintly, a meaningful gleam flashing through his eyes.

Lin Dong nodded and said with some emotion, "Yes."

"Not only did we reclaim Ironwood Manor this time, we also severely wounded Lei Ying. The Lei Family can be said to have suffered a crippling loss."

"Father and Uncle are clearing up the aftermath at Ironwood Manor. Before long, it should become an important stronghold for our Lin Family."

"That's good."

Liu Yuan lifted his teacup and took a light sip, concealing the flash of sharp light in his eyes.

Now that Ironwood Manor was in hand.

According to the timeline of the Original work...

Next...

During the cleanup of Ironwood Manor, the Lin Family would probably discover the secret of the hidden "Yang Yuan Stone Vein," right?

And once the Yang Yuan Stone Vein came to light...

Liu Yuan set down his teacup, a meaningful curve lifting at the corner of his lips.

"Before long..."

"That kid Lin Dong should be getting ready to move on to a new map..."