The Valley of Despair II (Farewell to the Old Alliance Leader)

"Ah Jiang, I know you and Fourth are close, but things are different now. We absolutely cannot be seen as being in cahoots with what Fourth did, or the trouble will be enormous!" Lin Chaoyi advised earnestly.

"Good thing Father gave Fourth's spot to Hongyu back then. Otherwise, the spot would definitely be voided and useless now. That honest kid from Fourth's family has poor talent too—he wouldn't have amounted to anything even if he entered the Chen Family. How could he compare to Hongyu? She's already mingled into the same circle as the Chen Family's main branch disciples." Second Elder Lin Shunchong grinned, exposing his yellow teeth.

"Who knows, Hongyu might marry a direct descendant of the Chen Family someday. That would be a true rise in fortune!"

"That's right. Hongyu was pretty to begin with. If she can bear a few children with the Chen Family's direct bloodline, that would truly bring glory to the family!"

"Sure enough, daughters are better. If only I had a daughter like that..."

For a time, everyone began flattering Hongyu's father's branch. As for Fourth's situation, no one cared enough to ask about it.

Everyone knew that after this trip, it would truly be difficult for Fourth to rise again.

Without the protection of a powerful patron, the circumstances of his branch might become truly difficult from now on.

Perhaps, little by little, they would completely fade from everyone's sight, never to be seen again.

Lin Hui stayed home for three days, helping his parents move and settle all the remaining affairs. Only after leaving behind all the wages he had on him did he return alone to Qingfeng Temple.

He had only just returned when Huishen summoned him to Ming De Zhenren's room.

"Your father and I can be considered friends of many years. I urged him about this matter long ago, but unfortunately... sigh." Ming De's burly body sat cross-legged in the room. His full beard was mottled white, and his expression carried a trace of regret.

"But don't worry. I can't control other places, but here at Qingfeng Temple, as long as you work properly, not a single coin of your wages will be withheld!"

"Thank you, Zhenren!" Lin Hui felt a warmth stir in his heart and hurriedly bowed. From the looks of it, Ming De's friendship with Old Man had been sincere after all. Adding flowers to brocade was easy; offering charcoal in snowy weather was far harder.

"Practice martial arts well. Work well. Go on, go..." Ming De said softly, waving a hand as he turned away.

Lin Hui bowed once more before turning and slowly leaving the room.

Huishen was waiting outside. Seeing him emerge, he stepped forward to offer a few words of comfort, but his tone was no longer as warm as before—merely distant politeness, keeping a proper distance.

Lin Hui did not mind. Such was human nature.

"Oh, right. Although Master didn't mention it, given the current situation, Junior Brother, you should return that private room to the temple as soon as possible. Otherwise, people may start talking..." As he was about to leave, Huishen's sudden remark made Lin Hui pause.

"Mm, I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother." Lin Hui's expression remained calm as he turned back and cupped his hands in salute.

"Mm." Huishen nodded. The gentle smile he once wore was gone, replaced only by an ordinary expression of bland distance.

Back at his residence, Lin Hui swiftly packed his personal belongings and returned to the communal dormitory.

Chen Zhishen also came over to ask what had happened. After hearing Lin Hui recount the details, he offered a few words of comfort, then hesitated as if he wanted to say something.

"What is it?" Lin Hui asked. "Say whatever you want to say."

"It's Xie Li... I was originally going to bring her along, but she..." Chen Zhishen's voice gradually lowered, and he did not finish.

"It's fine. That's only human nature," Lin Hui said lightly.

"Sigh..." Chen Zhishen sighed and said nothing more.

The warmth and coldness of human relations were nothing more than this. Xie Li had once approached Lin Hui for the sake of the Lin Family; now, because circumstances had changed, she could distance herself from him just as easily.

News of Lin Hui's family swiftly spread through the temple.

Many trainees who had once treated him gently reverted to their original indifference.

He had never had many connections to begin with. He spent all day practicing swordsmanship, and now that this had happened, he was pushed even further to the fringes. Apart from Chen Zhishen, no one paid him any attention.

Lin Hui was happy enough with that. He enjoyed the peace and quiet, practicing his swordsmanship alone as he waited to grow stronger.

But while he wanted peace, someone was unwilling to let him have it.

Before long, trouble came knocking.

Bang.

The dormitory door was kicked violently open.

Chen Chong and two lackeys appeared outside with arrogant expressions. As the three swept their gazes around, the dozen or so people in the communal dormitory fell silent for a moment.

"Where's Chen Zhishen?" Chen Chong held a black fan in his hand, waving it with a pretentious air.

"What do you want with me!" Chen Zhishen took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and faced the other party.

"Come out." Chen Chong pointed at him, then turned and left with his men.

Chen Zhishen's face went pale. Knowing this boded ill, he instinctively looked around, but everyone around him avoided his gaze.

Only Lin Hui did not.

He stood up.

"Come on. I'll go with you."

"No need. I can go alone!" Chen Zhishen shook his head, his body trembling slightly.

"Let's go." Lin Hui said no more and walked out first.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw Chen Chong and the other two waiting not far away, their eyes fixed on him as well.

"Lin Hui, I gave you face before because you were somebody. Now you're stepping out again—do you really think I'll still give you face?" Seeing this, Chen Chong immediately sneered in a strange, mocking tone.

"Though my family has fallen on hard times, this is Qingfeng Temple. With Ming De Zhenren here, I'm not worried anything will happen." Lin Hui weighed their combat strength. If it really came to a fight, although he had trained for quite some time, he had yet to master the Seven Section Fast Sword. At most, he was an ordinary person who moved a little more nimbly—probably no different from the three men opposite him.

Two against three—they were certain to lose.

So if they could avoid fighting, they would. Once he mastered all seven sections of the Seven Section Fast Sword and used a perfect-grade sword art to temper his body, that would be the true beginning of a qualitative transformation.

Sure enough, upon hearing Ming De Zhenren's name, the looks in Chen Chong and the others' eyes shifted. "Don't use Ming De Zhenren to pressure me. I'm not touching you today, and it has nothing to do with you. I'm looking for Chen Zhishen!" Chen Chong chuckled twice and raised his voice.

"How did he provoke you?" Lin Hui frowned.

"What the hell is it to you?!" Chen Chong cursed. "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, or else..."

Clearly, Ming De Zhenren's name alone was not enough to frighten him. After all, Lin Hui had already moved out of his private room. Who would still believe Ming De would look after him as he had before?

Even taking a step back, if there was still some care left, it certainly would not be much.

With that thought, Chen Chong steadied himself. Seeing Chen Zhishen come out, he immediately waved his hand.

The two men behind him instantly rushed forward, pouncing toward Chen Zhishen. Their movements were light and swift; they were actually temple disciples who had begun Body Tempering and lightness training!

With skills like theirs, either one alone would have been enough to handle both Chen Zhishen and Lin Hui, let alone the two of them together.

Their skill exceeded Lin Hui's expectations.

Realizing things were bad, he swiftly stepped forward and shouted.

"Do you dare?!"

Then he drew his sword, ready to join Chen Zhishen in resisting them.

"Stop!" A thunderous shout suddenly came rapidly from the distance to the side.

"What are you all doing here?!"

In the yard to the right, Daoist Ming De leaped down from a second-story window, drifting closer as lightly as willow catkins.

With his movement technique unleashed, one step of his equaled ten or so steps of an ordinary person. In just a few flashes, he crossed the rear courtyard practice grounds and reached the edge of the group.

Qingfeng Temple was only so large. He could hear any slightly louder sound, but he had simply been too lazy to interfere in many matters before.

But just now, he had heard Lin Hui shout. His old friend had only just suffered misfortune, and now his son was being bullied in the temple—if word got out, what face would Ming De have left among his many friends?

So the moment he heard the commotion, he immediately came down to stop them.

Before the communal sleeping quarters, Chen Chong's two lackeys felt their hair stand on end. They instantly froze, not daring to make another move. Under Ming De's glare, both of them felt cold from head to toe.

Chen Chong himself had not expected Ming De to step forward so directly and back Lin Hui. His expression immediately turned ugly as he stiffened in place.

"Zhenren, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!" His mind raced as he hurriedly forced out a smile.

"We weren't planning to target Lin Hui. It's just that the brat beside him deliberately picked a fight earlier and provoked my Chen Family. He even said things insulting my family. I couldn't hold back my anger for a moment..."

"You're full of shit!" Chen Zhishen shouted furiously.

"Enough. From now on, I don't want to see any private fighting in the temple. Chen Chong, do you understand?" Ming De stared at him and said heavily.

He had long known who had truly started the trouble. But because of the Chen Family, and because of Chen Chong's younger sister, he had never wanted to interfere. Yet now that Lin Hui had been dragged into it, he had no choice but to step in and issue a warning.

"Fine. I'll listen to Zhenren." Chen Chong's face was ugly. He cupped his fists, turned, and led his men away.

He had caught Ming De's unspoken meaning: no trouble was allowed inside the temple, but outside it, Ming De could not control so much.

Ming De sighed and turned to look at Lin Hui.

"That's enough. Be more careful yourselves from now on." He was not a nanny; he could not keep watch over Chen Chong at all times. Going this far was already the greatest favor he could offer.

He also understood Lin Hui's purpose in shouting just now, which was why he had subsequently warned Chen Chong.

"Many thanks, Zhenren!" Lin Hui and the other quickly bowed. Chen Zhishen's gratitude was especially intense.

If Lin Hui had not called Ming De over today, Chen Zhishen would likely have faced grave danger.

Though his life probably would not have been at risk, being injured, falling behind in his progress, and ultimately leaving in dejection would have been almost inevitable.

Watching Ming De leave, Lin Hui recalled Chen Chong's expression just now. He knew that after Ming De had forced Chen Chong into such an embarrassing position, this grudge had been firmly forged.

The ever-arrogant Chen Chong would definitely find some way to vent this anger.

Lin Hui would be fine; Ming De Zhenren's intention to protect him was clear. But Chen Zhishen...

"Try not to leave the temple in the future," he said in final warning to Chen Zhishen before turning and returning to the communal sleeping quarters.

Chen Zhishen stood where he was, his lips trembling, yet unable to say a word.

The pairs of eyes around them that had been watching the show gradually looked away as well.

Not far off, Mu Qiao Zhi, Qiu Yiren, and Xie Li stood together. They had happened to pass by and witness the scene.

"Even with Lin Hui's family in that state, Ming De Zhenren is truly a man of feeling. He was still willing to step forward and help," Qiu Yiren sighed.

"Being true to one's nature isn't necessarily a good thing." Mu Qiao Zhi's voice was cold. "A person must learn to assess the situation and adapt to the times. Ming De Zhenren values loyalty, and because of that temperament, he has helped his friends shoulder no small amount of trouble. Right now, he is strong and healthy, his footing still secure, so naturally it is fine. But once even a little trouble arises, all the hidden dangers accumulated from those past acts of help will erupt together. That is what you call a real ordeal."

"But won't the people he helped before also extend a helping hand?" Qiu Yiren asked in confusion.

"Who says being helped means you must repay it?" Mu Qiao Zhi countered. "Xie Li has handled this quite well. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. If you want to extend a helping hand, you must bear the risk of being caught beneath the falling tree and crushed."

"Xie Li..." Before Xie Li had joined their circle, Qiu Yiren knew she had been in the same circle as Chen Zhishen and Lin Hui.

And now...

She could not help glancing at her, only to see Xie Li's complicated expression. Though there was a flicker of emotion, she showed no intention whatsoever of stepping out to help.

"Let's go. You must remember that Qingfeng Temple is only a temporary place for us to learn our arts. Don't develop too deep a sense of belonging. We pay to learn martial arts here, not to contribute to the temple, but to make ourselves stronger." Mu Qiao Zhi said coolly, taking the lead toward the main hall where the temple master was.