The Best of Both Worlds

Inside the room, Lin Chen understood at once when he saw the worry on Lin Dong's face.

"Yes... Brother Lin Chen."

Under Lin Chen's gaze, Lin Dong nodded and responded, confirming Lin Chen's guess.

"Qingtan's constitution is cold and unusual. The pain she is suffering now will greatly benefit her future cultivation of Origin Energy. The frigid energy within her is extremely potent and erupts from time to time. This is a sign of talent, and it is also the foundation for her becoming a powerful cultivator in the future."

"Where there is a cause, there is an effect. As her brother, you need not worry too much about Qingtan."

Seeing Lin Dong's unease, Lin Chen offered a few simple words of comfort. Then, ignoring the dazed Lin Dong, he pushed open the door and headed toward Lin Xiao's courtyard.

"A powerful cultivator..."

After Lin Chen left, Lin Dong murmured softly. A strange glint flashed through his innocent, bright eyes.

In Qingtan's room, Lin Chen's heart tightened as he looked at the petite body trembling on the bed.

"Young Master Lin Chen, will the eruption of cold energy within Qingtan be different from before?"

Seeing the slight change in Lin Chen's expression, Lin Xiao, who was anxiously waiting in the room, could not help asking.

"There's no difference. I just feel that it's too cruel for such a young girl as Qingtan to endure this kind of pain so early."

Though he stood only a few feet away, Lin Chen could feel waves of icy energy seeping from Qingtan's body. He could not help shivering, and his gaze toward Qingtan was full of sympathy.

"I'm fine, Brother Lin Chen."

Qingtan lightly bit her lip. Her petite body trembled without pause, and her little face was filled not only with pain, but also with a stubbornness that did not belong to someone her age.

Though Qingtan was young, she was quite sensible. Because of her special constitution, her tender heart was also more sensitive than a child her age should have been in certain matters.

Qingtan did not want to trouble others, nor did she want to burden Lin Xiao and Liu Yan. Even less did she want to trouble someone like Lin Chen, a distinguished person whom the entire Lin Family had to treat with utmost courtesy.

At first, Qingtan had harbored some resentment toward Lin Chen, the culprit who had made her family move out of the Lin Family estate. However, after learning that Lin Chen had saved her father, Lin Xiao, and helped the Lin Family, that trace of discomfort in her little heart completely vanished.

In the end, Qingtan was still just a child.

"Let's not talk about anything else for now. I'll resolve the cold energy in your body first."

Looking at the stubborn Qingtan before him, Lin Chen directly reached out with his right hand and grasped her small jade-like arm.

However, Lin Chen's sudden movement made Qingtan tremble even more violently.

"So cold..."

Qingtan shook her little head and sucked in a sharp breath. Her face was pale, and her snow-white hair was covered in ice crystals.

Though he was only holding one of Qingtan's arms, Lin Chen felt as if he were touching ten-thousand-year-old black ice. The bone-piercing chill was like countless sharp needles, ruthlessly ravaging his body.

In just a short while, a layer of frost formed over Lin Chen's body. It showed no sign of stopping; with every breath, the frost on him grew thicker. By then, Qingtan had already fainted from the intense pain.

Seeing this, Lin Chen quickly cast a look at Lin Xiao and Liu Yan, signaling them to leave the room. The next moment, once no one remained inside, he activated the power of the Stone Talisman.

"Absorb..."

Lin Chen shouted softly. An unusual suction force suddenly emerged from his palm, causing his body to tremble slightly.

Then he sensed that the icy energy which had entered his body and was raging wildly was being completely drawn away by that suction force, before finally being dissipated.

The bone-piercing cold quickly left his body, but Lin Chen did not relax. Instead, he once again used the Stone Talisman's gentle power to draw out the icy energy within Qingtan's body.

At that moment, Lin Chen's right palm emitted a gentle white glow, and a warmth like sunlight faintly radiated from it.

Although he could not yet completely cure the problem of the cold energy erupting within Qingtan's body, with the Stone Talisman's special power, he could ease and dissipate, to a certain extent, the pain caused by those eruptions.

Helping Qingtan ease her pain was only one purpose of his visit. More importantly, he needed the high-grade Yin Sha Energy within her body to condense a high-quality Origin Core.

After a while.

"So this is the Yin Bead condensed from the Yin Sha Energy in Qingtan's body."

"As expected of high-grade Yin Sha Energy."

Releasing the Stone Talisman from his palm, Lin Chen saw several milky-white crystals the size of beans within the inconspicuous tiny groove at the center of the talisman.

At the sight, Lin Chen muttered to himself. Then he carefully removed the bean-sized milky-white crystals. As soon as they touched his hand, a bone-deep chill spread across his palm.

That chill was exactly the same as the icy energy in Qingtan's body. However, the cold energy within these crystals was extremely gentle, unlike the violent energy in Qingtan's body, and could be directly absorbed and refined.

"This truly is the best of both worlds..."

Looking at Qingtan, whose face was much rosier though she was still asleep, a relieved smile appeared on Lin Chen's handsome jade-like face.

As long as it did not affect Qingtan's future, helping her suffer less pain was something he ought to do. It was also compensation for the benefits he had gained from her.

"How is Qingtan now?"

"When will this girl wake up?"

After Lin Chen put away the Yin Beads and pushed open the door, Lin Xiao and his wife immediately stopped him. Lin Chen could only patiently explain.

"Qingtan is fine now. She is resting, and for a long time to come, the cold energy in her body will not erupt again."

Hearing this, both Lin Xiao and Liu Yan heaved a sigh of relief. Forgetting Lin Chen's status, Liu Yan hurried into Qingtan's room. Lin Xiao, however, remained relatively calm. Rather than leaving at once, he solemnly expressed his thanks.

"Thank you, Young Master Lin Chen, for saving Qingtan."

Lin Chen waved his hand at Lin Xiao. He did not discuss Qingtan's matter any further, but instead asked about Lin Zhentian, who had returned to the Lin Family half a month ago.

"Why didn't your father come to see me after returning this time?"

"Strictly speaking, this matter began because of me. I will make amends for the harm the Lin Clan caused your father. As for his missing arm, I will definitely help him regrow it one day."

Lin Chen was not unaware that Lin Zhentian had returned under Lin Tao's escort. It was simply that he had been immersed in cultivating his Spiritual Power at the time. Since Lin Zhentian had not taken the initiative to disturb him, Lin Chen had not gone to see him either.

"Young Master Lin Chen, the reason my father did not come to see you is because he feels deeply ashamed that he failed to complete the task you entrusted to him."

"As for the humiliation my father suffered within the Inner Clan, I ask that Young Master Lin Chen refrain from intervening for now. We of the Lin Family will avenge ourselves. We only hope that in the future, Young Master Lin Chen can help our Qingyang Town Lin Family withstand the pressure from within the clan."

Lin Xiao cupped his fists toward Lin Chen and spoke with great seriousness.

Hearing this, Lin Chen felt rather speechless. He had originally intended to offer the Lin Family some compensation, but it seemed there was no need for it for the time being.

"If that is the case, then let it be as you say."

"Lin Dong and Qingtan are both exceptionally talented. If your Lin Family nurtures them well, returning to the Inner Clan for revenge may not be impossible..."