Wandering Cultivation

Seeing this, Lin Yiqing's expression darkened completely.

"The Lin Family really is a den of snakes and rats. It seems the oppression of the other clansmen wasn't necessarily Lin Mang's idea alone!"

He hadn't expected Lin Shan to dare come looking for trouble at his door. The man was truly reckless. What angered him even more was that Sister Lin Xia had both the standing and the ability to step forward and uphold justice, yet she had chosen to let it happen.

"Smack!"

At the crisp sound of a slap, the people present immediately showed looks of shock and astonishment.

Lin Shan had been knocked to the ground by a heavy slap from Lin Yiqing. Half his face was left a bloody mess.

"Ah, it hurts! It hurts so much! Help me, big brother!"

Lin Shan was dazed for a moment, then let out a heart-rending wail. Clutching his ruined face, he let snot and tears stream onto the ground.

"You bastard! You're asking for death!"

"Second-Grade Martial Art, Eight Desolations Palm!"

Lin Hong erupted in fury and charged forward. A faint, lustrous white light shimmered over his palm. Clearly, he had reached the sixth layer of the Body Tempering Realm, and an Origin Power Seed had already formed within him.

With Origin Power driving his martial art, it was obvious he intended to kill Lin Yiqing with a single strike.

"First-Grade Martial Art, Penetrating Fist!"

Since his opponent had shown no mercy, Lin Yiqing stopped holding back. Origin Power surged through his meridians, and wave after wave of formidable strength burst forth in an instant.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by several muffled impacts from Penetrating Fist, a white-clad figure was sent flying through the air and slammed heavily into the ground. He rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.

"Pfft!"

Lin Hong spat out a mouthful of blood and passed out completely. His arm had been shattered in the clash, jagged bone fragments jutting through his skin. He was clearly gravely injured.

"Lin Hong actually lost."

Watching this, Lin Xia stood outside the crowd, looking utterly incredulous as she murmured under her breath.

Lin Hong was a formidable contender for the title of the Lin Family's greatest genius, one who could rival her. She had never imagined he would be defeated by someone else with a single punch.

"What nonsense about the main branch being noble and the collateral branches being lowly? It's utterly vile. We all belong to the same bloodline of the Lin Clan. Besides, for the Lin Clan to establish itself in Qingyang Town, how many lives did our branch give, from my grandfather down to my parents? And this is what we get in return—such humiliation? Aren't you ashamed to face our ancestors?"

Looking at the defeated Lin Hong brothers, Lin Yiqing couldn't contain his resentment and spoke with biting sarcasm.

He truly felt it was a waste. An entire branch had been implicated by Lin Zhentian and sent here to establish a separate family. Yet, after decades, their numbers had dwindled to this.

Worse still, many of the clansmen had fallen so low that they were little better than servants. What kind of sense did that make?

"Cousin Yiqing, you should leave quickly. Second Uncle is fiercely protective of his own. You've injured Lin Hong and Lin Shan, and this could cost you your life. Hurry and run!"

Hearing this, Lin Dong stepped forward, his expression complicated.

He understood Lin Yiqing's grievances. But Lin Mang held a position of great authority in the Lin Family. Not only did he wield considerable power, he was also one of the Lin Family's three Heaven Origin Realm experts. The disparity in their status and strength was simply too great.

Rather than wait for an unjust verdict, it was better to leave now and avoid putting himself in danger.

"Phew, thank you for the warning, Cousin Lin Dong. I know what I'm doing!"

Lin Yiqing let out a breath of pent-up frustration and clasped his hands in gratitude. Then, just as he turned to leave, a sharp cry rang out.

"No! You can't leave!"

With that, Lin Xia hurried forward and spread her arms to block Lin Yiqing's way.

A trace of hesitation crossed her face, but she quickly steeled herself. "You seriously injured Lin Shan and Lin Hong. You have to answer for this!"

"What am I supposed to answer for? Didn't you see the whole thing yourself?"

Lin Yiqing watched her coldly. He hadn't expected that, with the facts laid bare before her, Lin Xia would still demand an explanation from him.

"Changfeng, go notify the Law Enforcement Team! We don't know what caused your dispute. Only the Law Enforcement Team can investigate this properly and satisfy everyone. I'm sure they'll handle it impartially!"

Lin Xia was determined to have the Lin Family's Law Enforcement Team deal with the matter. But Lin Yiqing knew that the team was controlled by Lin Xia's father, Lin Ken, who was Lin Mang's half-brother.

He couldn't be sure the Law Enforcement Team would truly be fair.

"You saw it yourself. Lin Shan and Lin Hong were bullying a clansman for no reason. I only fought back because they forced me to. What did I do wrong? Was I supposed to just stretch out my neck and let them kill me?"

Lin Yiqing asked angrily. In the end, they were all in cahoots.

They were brothers, bound by blood. He was just a lone, distant relative. Was there really any need to wonder which side they'd choose?

"Sister Lin Xia, please move aside. This was an undeserved disaster for Cousin Yiqing. Lin Shan and Lin Hong brought this on themselves! If you need evidence, I'm willing to testify for him!"

At the crucial moment, Lin Dong stepped forward and spoke with righteous conviction.

He couldn't stand by and do nothing. If someone had to step up and uphold justice, he was willing to be that person.

"Lin Dong, you... Forget it."

Lin Xia was anxious and had just begun to say something, but in the end, she could only sigh and step aside.

"Thank you, Cousin Lin Dong!" Lin Yiqing clasped his hands in salute from afar, then turned and strode away. The lackeys nearby were already scared witless; not one of them dared to stop him.

After returning home, Lin Yiqing couldn't help feeling wistful. He had known for years that the day would come when he would leave, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon.

The Lin Shan brothers were only the fuse. They dared to bully even Lin Dong, who was also Lin Zhentian's grandson, let alone an insignificant clansman like him.

The Lin Family's internal conflicts had reached the point where they could no longer be reconciled. In truth, Lin Zhentian's direct descendants had become the main branch in all but name.

They had surpassed the other clansmen in everything, from resources to status. He wasn't willing to bow his head, so leaving had become his only choice.

The Lin Shan brothers' baseless bullying was merely an insignificant reflection of the Lin Family's overall state of affairs.

Didn't the others know how the brothers behaved? They had simply turned a blind eye or been too afraid to speak.

Besides, staying here wouldn't give him access to any more resources. Even the path to advancement had been blocked.

"Creak."

He packed away several boxes of spirit medicine, stowed his valuable belongings in the Universe Bag, and slung the Refined Iron Dagger over his back. He surveyed the dilapidated little courtyard with its blue stone walls, taking in every detail. Then, his face sorrowful, he closed the gate and strode away.

After walking a few yards, he still couldn't help turning back for one last look.

This was where he had lived for thirteen years. After seeing his grandfather and parents off, it had now witnessed his own departure.

From here on, he would wander the world.

"Enough. From now on, the sky is high and the waters vast; I'll fly where I please and follow my own path!"

"Why must my bones be buried in my ancestral homeland? Wherever I go in life, there are green hills!"