A Fluttering Heart, Lin Xia's Embrace

After leaving the Lin Clan and heading to the Medicine Hall in Qingyuan Town, Lin Yan purchased another batch of medicinal herbs.

Yao Lao had originally felt somewhat puzzled by Lin Yan's actions, but upon seeing the herbs he had bought, he became even more confused.

This was because he realized that the herbs Lin Yan was buying were the exact same ones he had previously helped Lin Yan use to concoct medicinal liquid.

Logically speaking, such medicinal liquid no longer had any effect on the current Lin Yan.

After all, the greatest characteristic of this type of liquid was its mild potency, allowing martial artists at lower realms to withstand its effects.

Yet, given Lin Yan's current level of cultivation, he had absolutely no use for something with such mild properties.

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, and Yao Lao could not help but ask Lin Yan, "Little friend, are you buying these herbs to concoct medicinal liquid?"

Lin Yan answered Yao Lao directly, "Yes, Senior Yao Lao."

Yao Lao asked in confusion, "But these medicinal liquids are of no help to your cultivation anymore, are they?"

Hearing this, Lin Yan smiled and said to Yao Lao, "Senior Yao Lao has misunderstood."

"The medicinal liquid this youngster intends to make is not for my own use."

He explained to Yao Lao, "I have been under the care of the Lin Clan for some time now."

"Although I am well aware that the Lin Clan treats me this way partly because I am a member of the clan, and partly because I have displayed exceptional talent, I have never liked to owe anyone favors."

"After much thought, gifting a batch of medicinal liquid to the Lin Clan seems most appropriate. After all, the liquid is highly effective for martial artists below the Body Tempering Realm and can help the Lin Clan produce more Earth Origin Realm martial artists. Furthermore, these things are not difficult to concoct; with my current alchemy skills, I can prepare them after simple refinement, and it won't delay my own cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Yao Lao finally understood.

He gave Lin Yan a meaningful look, then sighed with great admiration, "It seems, little friend, that you are truly a person who values loyalty and affection!"

He had once again gained a profound understanding of Lin Yan's character.

It was the principle of: if someone respects me by a foot, I shall repay them by a yard.

Lin Yan was exactly that kind of person.

Yao Lao had always admired such people the most and was most willing to be friends with them.

After all, when befriending such a person, because they valued loyalty and affection, they would always keep in mind how much one had sacrificed for them. This was far better than those ungrateful wretches who could never be satisfied.

Thinking of this, Yao Lao could not help but feel a sense of melancholy.

If only his own disciple, Han Feng, had half the character of little friend Lin Yan, would he have ended up in such a state?

"Does Senior Yao Lao think this is inappropriate?" Seeing Yao Lao sigh, Lin Yan asked in confusion.

Yao Lao shook his head, "It is not inappropriate at all; on the contrary, I admire your character very much, little friend."

"I was merely recalling an old acquaintance and felt a lot of emotion."

Lin Yan nodded upon hearing this and did not say anything more.

Afterward, he quickly returned home.

He completed the concoction of the medicinal liquid after a simple refinement of the herbs.

Just as Lin Yan had said before, for him now, concocting this type of medicinal liquid was incredibly simple.

Therefore, from start to finish, Lin Yan had actually only spent two hours on the task.

Afterward, Lin Yan packed the medicinal liquid into his Na Ring and made his first stop at Lin Dong's house.

He did not owe Lin Dong any favors, but that girl Qing Tan was still in the Body Tempering Realm, and this medicinal liquid would be of great benefit to her cultivation. Naturally, Lin Yan would not forget her when he had something good.

Thus, Lin Yan quickly arrived at her home to find her.

"Brother Lin Yan, are you looking for me?" Qing Tan had originally been cultivating, and upon hearing that Lin Yan had come to find her, she was both surprised and delighted. She hurried out, her heart filled with anticipation.

"Yes, Qing Tan, take this medicinal liquid."

"Every few days, after you finish your cultivation, pour it into clean water and use it for a bath. It will be of great benefit to your training."

Lin Yan did not engage in much small talk; he stated the effects of the liquid directly and explained how to use it.

Qing Tan was naturally moved to tears.

After looking left and right to ensure no one was around, she gathered her courage and gave Lin Yan a hug. Feeling Lin Yan's firm chest, Qing Tan said with a blushing face, "Brother Lin Yan, you are so kind."

Lin Yan smiled and ruffled Qing Tan's hair, saying, "If I'm not kind to you, who would I be kind to, you silly girl?"

Having said that, he also took the opportunity to feel the softness of Qing Tan's delicate body, "Qing Tan, your body is so soft, it feels so comfortable to hold, and you smell so good, too."

A flush of red immediately spread to the roots of Qing Tan's ears. She shyly took the medicinal liquid and fled as if her life depended on it, "Ugh, that's all then, Brother Lin Yan, I'm going to cultivate!"

With that, she quickly vanished from sight.

Lin Yan felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.

It seemed that with Qing Tan's shy nature, if he really wanted to get closer to her, he would have to spend some time teaching her.

However, he had only come to deliver the medicine, and there were still a few more households to visit, so he did not linger.

He quickly headed toward Lin Ken's house, and upon arriving, he knocked on the door.

"Who is it! Oh, it's you, Lin Yan, why are you here?" Lin Ken quickly came to the door, and upon seeing that it was Lin Yan, his attitude became much gentler, though he still asked with some confusion.

"Uncle Lin Ken, is Sister Lin Xia home?" Lin Yan asked Lin Ken with a smile.

Lin Ken was slightly taken aback by this. If any other young man had dared to come looking for his daughter, he would have certainly taught him a harsh lesson, fearing that his prized cabbage might be trampled by a pig. However, when that person was Lin Yan, Lin Ken's attitude shifted. He gave Lin Yan a somewhat knowing look, then laughed heartily, "Hahaha, looking for Lin Xia? Good, good, good! I'll go call her, you just wait a moment."

With that, he immediately went to call Lin Xia over.

Soon, Lin Xia hurried over. As for Lin Ken, he didn't linger, leaving his daughter to spend time alone with Lin Yan.

"Lin Yan, hiss. What kind of wind blew a busy man like you all the way to my place today?"

Lin Xia had been a bit surprised by her father's mysterious attitude, but upon seeing Lin Yan, she felt a surge of joy and couldn't help but step forward to tease him.

"Don't tell me you have something you need to ask of me again?"

Lin Yan rolled his eyes at Lin Xia. "Seriously? Sister Lin Xia, is that the kind of person I am to you?"

Lin Xia retorted, "Isn't it? Unless you need something, when have you ever come over just to chat and have tea with me? Even when you occasionally have free time to go fishing, I only ever see you going with Qing Tan and Lin Dong. You never remember this sister of yours."

Lin Yan felt a bit awkward at Lin Xia's words, realizing that he indeed seemed to be that way.

He immediately took out some medicinal liquid and handed it to her. "Sister Lin Xia, look, I didn't forget about you when I had something good this time."

"I specially refined these for you; they're all yours."

"I figured the last batch of medicinal liquid should have been enough to get you to the ninth layer of Body Tempering, but to enter the Earth Origin Realm, you'll likely need some additional medicinal support. That's why I went to prepare this for you first thing this morning. I didn't expect you to have such a deep misunderstanding of me; it really breaks my heart."

Lin Xia's eyes lit up the moment she heard this. She eagerly accepted the liquid and, to show her gratitude, gave Lin Yan a generous hug.

"Alright, good little brother, I know you're good to me."

"Here's a hug for you. You're getting a bargain; this is the first time I've ever hugged another man."

Lin Xia had a bold personality, and after hugging Lin Yan, she didn't end up blushing as shyly as Qing Tan would have.

Lin Yan felt the embrace and was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Lin Xia's body to be so soft.

After chatting with her for a while longer, Lin Yan turned and left, heading toward the Lin Clan's main hall.

Lin Xia watched Lin Yan depart. As he gradually moved further away, her eyes shimmered with brilliance. She looked at the medicinal liquid she had received from him and finally offered a gentle, truly captivating smile.

"Tsk tsk tsk, smiling so happily? You look like you're dying to just follow him."

Lin Ken suddenly appeared, smiling broadly at his daughter.

For once, Lin Xia's face flushed red. She said to Lin Ken, "Dad! You really are an old man with no shame, eavesdropping on our conversation."

Lin Ken looked completely innocent. "I was just passing by! I wasn't eavesdropping."

Lin Xia snorted in dissatisfaction and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Lin Ken's voice rang out again, "Girl, if you're truly interested, then go ahead and pursue him boldly. As the saying goes, a man pursuing a woman is separated by a wall, while a woman pursuing a man is separated by a thin veil. I can see that you two have a good relationship; with that foundation, be a bit bolder."

At this point, Lin Ken sighed with emotion, "Sometimes, if you miss it, you miss it. I don't want to see you crying and regretting it later."

"As for worrying about competing with that girl Qing Tan, there's no need to worry about that either. It's perfectly normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. As long as you like him, there's no need for too many concerns."

Lin Xia paused in her tracks upon hearing this, then snorted coldly and quickly walked away. "You're the one guessing! I have no such intentions!"

Seeing his daughter walk away completely, Lin Ken was left speechless and muttered, "Stubborn as a mule. You already hugged him, yet you still won't admit it."

"Sigh, she really doesn't make things easy for me!"