The Golden Bell Shield!

The morning wind was as cold as a blade, making the back of one's neck tense and every breath seem laced with frost.

Lin Yin silently watched the scene unfold. His mother's impassioned arguments, his grandfather's favoritism, and his uncle and Second Aunt's provocations and insatiable greed seemed to form a mottled painting.

He took a deep breath and rose from his seat, standing behind his mother, who looked rather frail.

Seeing the atmosphere turn so tense, Third Uncle Lin De, who had been standing silently to one side, finally couldn't sit still any longer.

He let out a long sigh.

"Father, Eldest Sister-in-law and her family have grievances they can't voice. Second Brother and the others have already taken so much from Eldest Brother; they even gave Lin Lin the spot at the martial arts school.

"But Lin Yin has had even his chance to attend school taken away... We really have gone too far."

"Third Brother... What are you saying? Why are you siding with them?"

"Don't forget, you supported Lin Lin joining the martial arts school back then, too."

Second Uncle and Second Aunt traded remarks, turning Third Uncle Lin De's face bright red.

"I only supported Lin Lin because he had excellent bone structure. I think highly of him, but that doesn't mean we should give up on Lin Yin."

He tried to explain himself, but Second Aunt cut him off.

"Enough, Third Brother. Once Lin Lin finishes his training and comes home, you'll benefit from it, too. You'll have better days ahead as his uncle, and surely Lin Lin won't forget his little sister Ai Er, either."

"..." By now, Lin De looked awkward. He even glanced at Lin Lin to gauge his reaction.

After all, Lin Lin's talent had been praised by the Martial Arts Instructor himself. He was born to practice martial arts and had excellent bone structure—even better than Lin Shan's. Otherwise, Lin De wouldn't have taken this stance.

"Third Brother does have a point, but..."

The old man's voice rang out across the vast courtyard. Old Master Lin glanced at Madam Wang, whose face was livid and who seemed unwilling to yield, then continued.

"Eldest Daughter-in-law, if Lin Lin enters the sect through next year's Spring Hunt, helping Lin Yin out would be a simple matter. Why are you so fixated on this?"

"Father... I came here only for Yin'er. I'd be happy if Lin Lin succeeded, too, but that can't be a reason to sacrifice Yin'er!"

Madam Wang looked at everyone before her, one by one, and spoke slowly, each word brimming with grievance.

"Before Dashan left, had our family ever taken a single coin from the clan? Even the cost of attending school came from Dashan. And back then, you already favored Second Brother!"

"Now that Dashan is gone, we're a widow and an orphan, and we never expected you to support us. But how have you treated us?

"Not only has the family given us no help at all, you've taken what Dashan left behind to support Lin Lin instead. Are you trying to force the two of us to our deaths? I'm sure that even Dashan's spirit in heaven won't protect you!"

Her voice rose from impassioned to anguished. For a moment, the vast courtyard fell utterly silent.

Old Master Lin, seated at the head of the table, had a face like thunder. Second Uncle looked pale, and even Second Aunt, who had been so sharp-tongued, was flushed and unable to utter a word.

The dead deserved respect. If word got out that they were exploiting their sister-in-law and nephew after Eldest Brother's death, the public outcry would never die down!

"What family interests? What family future? How much did Dashan give to the family, and how much has the family given us?"

Tears brimmed in Madam Wang's eyes, and at last they spilled down her cheeks. Her voice grew choked.

All she asked for was a little.

Yet even that little bit, which should have belonged to them, these people were brazenly stripping away. Could she swallow such an outrage? And what about her son?

For her son, she was willing to do anything!

"That's enough!"

Old Master Lin's chest heaved, his face shifting between red and pale as he slowly rose from the creaking armchair.

He gave Madam Wang a cold look.

"Just tell me what you want. If it's Dashan's position or his work at the martial arts school, don't bother asking. I can give you and your son some other compensation."

"Fine. I want thirty taels of silver, and all the things Dashan left behind for practicing martial arts, including the medicines."

Though the old man's voice was icy, Madam Wang had shed her usual meekness and spoke firmly.

"No! Those medicines have to be kept for Lin Lin. Without them, how is he supposed to temper his bones and muscles? We can't let his progress fall behind! Old Master, that's out of the question!"

Second Aunt shrieked.

"Those medicines..."

Old Master Lin's expression darkened as well.

He had pinned all his hopes on his youngest grandson, Lin Lin, and the importance of those medicines went without saying.

Still, those things had originally belonged to Dashan. If he insisted on keeping them, it would be a little...

"Grandfather, I can't do without those medicines!

"My instructor said this is the most crucial period. Without those Great Medicines, my blood and qi will inevitably take longer to condense, and I'll fall behind."

With the medicines at stake, even Lin Lin, who had been sitting at the left-hand seat and remained calm throughout, could no longer sit still.

They said it was poor scholars and rich martial artists. The "rich" part came from all the necessities required for daily training, with Great Medicine being one of the most crucial things of all.

Without the medicinal herbs Eldest Uncle had stockpiled, even if Lin Lin had the money to buy them, he couldn't gather them all in a short time.

Besides, money was already tight. They might barely be able to afford enough herbs to keep him supplied.

"Those medicines are out of the question!"

The moment Lin Lin spoke up, Old Master Lin's expression changed, and he flatly refused.

"They were ours to begin with!" Madam Wang cried.

"Eldest Aunt, those medicinal herbs are all Great Medicines for tempering bones, muscles, blood, and qi. I don't understand why you want them. What use would Lin Yin have for them?"

Lin Lin furrowed his brows. He hadn't wanted to argue and make himself look petty, but now that his eldest aunt had set her sights on those medicines, his own interests were at stake, and naturally he had to defend them.

"Lin Lin, watch your mouth! Don't think you're better than everyone else just because you've been practicing martial arts for a day or two. He's your older brother, yet you call him by his name. Have you no manners?"

Madam Wang didn't go easy on Lin Lin, the darling of the Lin Family. She shot back angrily.

"Aunt, you..."

Lin Lin's still-youthful face flushed red at once. He was about to say something, but Old Master Lin glared fiercely at him, and he immediately fell silent.

"Lin Lin, no matter what, he's your older brother!"

Old Master Lin frowned at his youngest grandson.

In a feudal society, etiquette and seniority mattered greatly. Even though Madam Wang had come to the Lin Family to make a scene, she still had to address him respectfully as Father.

Calling someone by name like that was considered outrageous in any family.

With his face bright red and no courage to argue back, Lin Lin awkwardly returned to his seat.

Even Second Aunt and Second Uncle, sitting nearby, couldn't speak up for their son just then.

"Alas... Eldest Daughter-in-law, choose something else. As Lin Lin said, those medicines are no use to you. Why not ask for something else instead?"

The old man's brows furrowed into deep creases, but he continued to persuade her gently.

"Who says they're no use? Yin'er is going to practice martial arts, too..."

"Lin Yin is going to practice martial arts?"

Old Master Lin froze. Second Uncle and Second Aunt exchanged astonished glances, while Lin Lin let out an ill-timed snort of laughter.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, you say Lin Yin is going to practice martial arts? You're not joking, are you?"

Third Uncle Lin De stepped forward in disbelief and looked Lin Yin's slender frame up and down.

Practicing martial arts depended most on one's bone structure and talent, and the requirements were far stricter than for studying. Setting aside Lin Yin's bone structure, just looking at his physique, it was impossible to see him as a suitable candidate for martial arts.

"Second Aunt, I have an idea... I wonder if you'd be willing to accept it."

With a smile back on his face and his composure restored, Lin Lin suddenly spoke again.

Madam Wang didn't even look at him. She kept her eyes on the old man, whose expression remained uncertain.

Lin Lin had no choice but to look at Lin Yin and speak directly. "With Eldest Brother's bone structure, he definitely won't get into the martial arts school. I'm sure Eldest Uncle tried to get him in, too. But if Eldest Brother wants to practice martial arts, I do have a sure-fire solution."

With that, he went into the side room. A short while later, he returned with a Thin Booklet in his hand.

"This... Isn't that what the Bone-Touching Master left you...?"

Second Aunt had sharp eyes. She recognized it at a glance and stared anxiously, but Lin Lin gave her a calm look before walking straight over to Lin Yin.

"Besides an instructor, martial arts require techniques and methods. Back then, Eldest Uncle practiced the Vajra Stake Technique, which gave him impressive blood and qi. The corresponding technique would naturally suit Eldest Brother even better."

"..."

Lin Yin's expression didn't change, but his heart gave a faint thump. He reached out and took the Thin Booklet.

"Golden Bell Shield..."

The three bold, sweeping characters met his eyes.

Try searching the author's name if you can't find the book title; perhaps it was simply renamed!