A Promise

The hunt in Green Sun Town was held once every three years and drew a huge crowd. Even people from outside town came to watch the excitement.

Whenever Lin Ge heard about the hunt, he thought of Green Sun Town's three top powers: the Lei Clan, the Xie Clan, and Mad Blade Martial Hall.

The Lei Clan and the Xie Clan were both local families in Green Sun Town, with dozens of generations behind them and deep foundations. Mad Blade Martial Hall, on the other hand, had been founded only a few decades ago, yet it had grown at a startling pace and caught up with them. Its strength made the Lei and Xie Clans wary; they didn't dare underestimate it in the slightest.

The hunt was jointly organized by these three powers, with the aim of putting the younger generation of each faction to the test.

Of course, it was also another way for the major powers to compete.

Whoever stood out in the hunt would bring tremendous benefits to their family as well.

That was why the major powers in Green Sun Town took the hunt so seriously.

To achieve good results, the competitors each had to be among the best in their family. It was easy to imagine how fierce the competition would be.

The Lin Clan was the strongest family beneath the three major powers, but its results in past hunts had been disappointing, drawing the mockery of many.

Lin Zhentian attached great importance to this hunt. He planned to have Lin Dong, Lin Hong, and the others participate, and he also intended to send Lin Ge.

With Lin Ge joining them, Lin Zhentian was confident the Lin Clan could place in the top three. Even first place wasn't out of reach.

As local powers, the Lei and Xie Clans were hostile to both the Lin Clan and Mad Blade Martial Hall. In recent years, they had used grand events like the hunt to continually suppress the two, hoping to curb their growth and strengthen their own power!

Lin Zhentian knew of the Lei and Xie Clans' schemes, but there was nothing he could do. Compared with their younger generations, the Lin Clan's were simply too weak. So even though he understood their intentions, he could only swallow his anger.

But this time was different. Lin Ge's appearance had given Lin Zhentian great confidence. The Lin Clan could stand out among the competing factions and deal a heavy blow to the Lei and Xie Clans' prestige.

"I understand. I'll participate."

Lin Ge had a vague impression of the matter, but couldn't remember how strong the Lei and Xie Clans' geniuses were. Still, he was confident that no matter who his opponents were, they wouldn't be able to match him.

Lin Zhentian gave a slight nod, a smile returning to his lips.

Lin Ge's agreement meant that his resentment toward the Lin Clan wasn't too deep. There was still hope of making things right.

"There's one more thing I hope you'll agree to, Grandfather."

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Zhentian finally voiced the hope in his heart.

"Here it comes!"

Lin Ge had already guessed what Lin Zhentian wanted: for him to enter the Lin Clan's family gathering, place in the top ten, and help the Lin Clan return to the Lin Clan Inner Branch.

"I'm sure you've heard a little about the Lin Clan's past from others, so I won't go into it again. I only hope you can lead the Lin Clan back into the Lin Clan Inner Branch and fulfill your grandfather's lifelong dream. Will you?"

Lin Zhentian finished and looked at Lin Ge expectantly. The hope in his eyes was so intense that Lin Ge couldn't bring himself to refuse.

This old man had spent decades striving to return to the Lin Clan Inner Branch. He had originally pinned his hopes on Lin Dong's father, only to see him eliminated in the first round. It had broken the old man's heart, and he'd stopped daring to hope for it.

But Lin Ge's arrival had given him hope again. He believed that the grandson would accomplish what Lin Xiao had failed to do!

Lin Ge didn't immediately answer the old man's request. Instead, he looked at him calmly, a complicated emotion flickering in his eyes.

Ever since being expelled from the Lin Clan Inner Branch, Lin Zhentian had worked tirelessly to return. Even now, he hadn't given up. His perseverance moved Lin Ge.

But Lin Dong would help him achieve that in the future, so Lin Ge shouldn't intervene.

Still, he couldn't bring himself to reject the old man so coldly. All he could say was, "At the next family gathering, the Lin Clan will make it into the Inner Clan."

Lin Ge hadn't promised Lin Zhentian that he would personally step in, but neither had he refused. He had simply stated a fact about the future.

Lin Zhentian didn't understand what Lin Ge really meant. He thought Lin Ge had agreed to his request, and a tear slipped from his eyes.

"Thank you, Grandfather."

Lin Zhentian spoke with heartfelt sincerity, but Lin Ge felt a little guilty. It wouldn't be him who led the Lin Clan into the Inner Clan, but Lin Dong.

Feeling guilty, Lin Ge gradually softened his attitude and was no longer as cold as before.

Lin Zhentian noticed the change in Lin Ge and a trace of delight appeared in his eyes. He thought Lin Ge was gradually accepting the Lin Clan, and grew very excited.

After exchanging a few casual words, Lin Zhentian left.

Lin Ge watched him go. The warmth in his eyes vanished in an instant.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhentian ran into Lin Ken, who had been waiting outside the bamboo grove.

"Father, how did it go?"

As Lin Zhentian's right-hand man, Lin Ken enjoyed his deep trust, so he had known about this for some time.

Seeing Lin Zhentian emerge alone, his face unreadable, Lin Ken felt puzzled and hurried over to ask.

Lin Zhentian glanced at his eldest son, then slowly broke into a smile. "He agreed."

"That's good."

Hearing the answer, Lin Ken let out a sigh of relief as well.

Lin Zhentian's dream of returning to the Inner Clan had become an obsession. As his eldest son, Lin Ken had wanted to ease his father's worries, but his strength had been lacking. He could only pin his hopes on his younger brother, Lin Xiao, who had been defeated with a single move and had grown despondent ever since.

After Lin Xiao's failure, Lin Ken had thought there was no hope for the rest of his life. But Lin Ge's arrival had given him hope again. So the fact that Lin Ge had agreed to help made him genuinely happy.

"I just noticed that he seems to hold a deep grudge against the Lin Clan." Remembering the coldness in Lin Ge's eyes during their first conversation, Lin Zhentian couldn't help sighing.

Lin Ken heard this and recalled the past. "We ignored that child for so many years. It's only natural that he resents us. If we treat him well from now on and let him feel the warmth of family, that resentment will surely fade on its own."

Lin Zhentian thought Lin Ken made a lot of sense and nodded. "I hope that day isn't too far away. Let's head back for now."

Lin Ken nodded, and the two disappeared beyond the bamboo grove.