Suspicion

"Junior Brother, wait!"

Lin Yin had wiped the sweat from his body and was about to leave when he stopped and looked back at Xu Chang, who was jogging toward him, confusion on his face.

"You haven't officially joined the school yet. Come with me, quickly."

Xu Chang looked at the handsome young man with a towel draped over his shoulder, seemingly ready to leave with the other disciples, and felt somewhat helpless.

He hadn't expected Lin Yin to simply leave like that.

"Join the school?"

Lin Yin followed Xu Chang toward a side room in the courtyard. When they reached the doorway, he saw Zhang Da Niu again.

Zhang Da Niu first greeted Xu Chang respectfully, then nodded at Lin Yin.

Lin Yin's gaze fell on the young man standing before Zhang Da Niu with his hands behind his back.

"This is Yun Hai, Senior Brother Yun. He's the second senior disciple of our Lingyun Martial Arts School."

Xu Chang hurriedly introduced them from the side.

Second Senior Disciple Brother?

Lin Yin's heart gave a sudden thump, but his expression remained unchanged as he quickly cupped his fists.

"Senior Brother Yun Hai!"

"Don't bother!"

Yun Hai waved his hand with a jovial smile, looking extremely carefree.

But Lin Yin wasn't fooled by his outward friendliness. After spending these past few days with Xu Chang, he'd managed to learn a thing or two about him.

The man was narrow-minded and deep as a well, and seemed to be plotting something all the time. He didn't get along with the eldest senior brother, and Wan Li was his lackey!

His face looked amiable and easygoing, but the way he acted didn't seem carefree. It was more like he couldn't be bothered.

From that brief exchange, Lin Yin even felt the man hadn't looked him in the eye once.

As his thoughts grew heavy, the door swung open. Lin Yin quickly composed himself, focused his mind, and followed Xu Chang into the room.

Unlike Yun Kai's side room, this one was much more spacious. Besides Yun Tian Qing, who stood in the middle with his hands behind his back, Yun Kai—whom Lin Yin had met before—stood off to one side.

"Disciple Zhang Da Niu (Lin Yin) pays his respects to Master and Martial Uncle."

The two cupped their fists and greeted the men before them.

Yun Kai's gaze swept over Lin Yin before settling on Zhang Da Niu. The school master, Yun Qing Tian, on the other hand, gave Lin Yin a nod.

At Xu Chang's direction, Lin Yin and Zhang Da Niu began the formal kneeling ceremony. The apprenticeship rites in this world were extremely solemn: besides kneeling, they also had to present tuition.

Lin Yin took out the tuition Xu Chang had prepared for him in advance and respectfully handed it to Wan Chang Qing.

"Good. From this day on, you two are disciples of Lingyun Martial Arts School. When you conduct yourselves outside, you must first give your names. You must behave with integrity and never tarnish the school's reputation."

Yun Tian Qing spoke gravely.

"From now on, the two of you must pay tuition every month. Besides that, devote yourselves to cultivation and break through as soon as possible. Only when your Stance Skill reaches Minor Accomplishment will you truly step into the Martial Artist realm." Shi Kai, standing nearby, also spoke.

Lin Yin and Zhang Da Niu nodded and agreed.

After a brief word of advice and some pointers on the next steps in their martial arts training, Xu Chang led Lin Yin out of the side room.

Before leaving, Lin Yin glanced at Zhang Da Niu, who was still standing inside.

Xu Chang's expression was complicated. Only after they'd left the room and closed the door did he sigh. "Zhang Da Niu has an extraordinary gift. I've heard his Family Heirloom martial art, Brute Ox Strength, is also a superior technique. Master and Martial Uncle will probably keep him by their side and teach him personally."

"Brute Ox Strength..."

A superior technique...

Lin Yin suddenly grew curious.

"Senior Brother, if he enters the school with Brute Ox Strength and keeps cultivating it, can he still learn the school's Combat Techniques?"

All this time, Lin Yin had received instruction in the corresponding Stance Skill and Combat Technique. The two complemented each other and could produce astonishing results. But it seemed Zhang Da Niu was still cultivating Brute Ox Strength.

That made Lin Yin wonder whether the man would learn Lingyun Martial Arts School's techniques at all.

"Though he doesn't practice Cloud Stance, he can learn Cloud Palm. Stance Skills are simply methods for tempering one's vital energy and blood, and forging one's sinews and bones.

"Combat Techniques can be adapted to gradually... But you've reminded me of something. I imagine Master will teach him some special martial art if he keeps him here."

Xu Chang's words dispelled Lin Yin's confusion, but also made him curious.

"Other martial arts..."

"Of course... Cloud Palm is the main technique of our school, but that doesn't mean it's all we have. Take the eldest senior brother, for instance.

"They say he has a technique of his own. Once mastered, it lets him travel a thousand li in a day, and even fly over the clouds and tread the steps through rugged terrain, undaunted by steep mountains and treacherous ground."

As he spoke, Xu Chang's face filled with admiration, and Lin Yin couldn't help feeling a little longing too.

Ignoring the terrain, flying over the clouds and treading the steps... Wasn't that just lightness skill?

At the thought, Lin Yin's eyes burned with excitement. For someone like him, who put caution above all else, a technique like that was simply a perfect match.

"All right, you're officially a disciple of Lingyun Martial Arts School now. Apart from the monthly tuition, there are plenty of benefits. But you'll have to wait until your Stance Skill reaches Minor Accomplishment."

Xu Chang suddenly waggled his eyebrows, sounding as if he were trying to tempt Lin Yin—or spur him on.

"Benefits?"

Lin Yin pondered as he kept walking.

Inside the side room.

After carefully instructing Zhang Da Niu and personally testing his current progress in martial arts, Yun Qing Tian let him leave.

Yun Kai suddenly spoke.

"Senior Brother, Zhang Da Niu is an Unexpected Joy. He might even help us take first place in next year's Spring Hunt.

"That would be a tremendous blessing for Lingyun Martial Arts School."

"Mm. Brute Ox Strength... I heard of it many years ago. I never expected it to be in the hands of a mere hunter. This Stance Skill needs to be paired with Great Medicine to reach mastery. I only hope the boy won't let the school down."

"If he catches the eye of one of the Great Schools, our school will surely ride the wind to glory once more."

At this, Shi Kai's face also lit up with excitement, but he failed to notice the indescribable hesitation on his senior brother's face.

The Great Schools...

Only after Yun Kai had left did a long sigh drift through the dim side room.

"In times like these, how could those Great Schools, let alone the Upper Sects, spare the time to come here? The problems at Tiger Head Mountain grow worse by the day, yet not one of them has come in person..."

Outside Lingyun Martial Arts School.

Lin Yin walked with Xu Chang. Interestingly, Xu Chang's home was also near Fist Manor. But compared with Lin Yin's home, tucked away in a remote corner near the outskirts, Xu Chang's place was practically right next door to the manor.

As disciples passed by now and then, Lin Yin watched them with envy.

Those disciples were tall and imposing, their presence vigorous and full of strength. Just seeing them pass by made him feel safe.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Yin set off for home.

The sun sank toward the horizon. Its glow seemed to lay a golden veil across the earthen road, and the fiery remnants of daylight seemed capable of driving away the last of winter's chill.

Lin Yin looked relaxed and walked with a light step, apparently in a good mood. When he entered the house, he shut the door firmly.

Seeing her son return, Wang He had just put down the work in her hands and was about to greet him when his smile vanished. He turned and leaned against the window, peering outside.

"Mother, have any strangers been around our home lately?"

The relaxed atmosphere seemed to freeze in an instant.