"Brother Lin Yan, you're so strong!"
"We never saw you show your strength before, so we couldn't tell. But now it's clear—not even Lin Hong is your match. Brother Lin Yan, you might be the strongest of the Lin Clan's younger generation!"
Seeing Lin Yan knock Lin Hong back with a single punch, everyone was stunned.
Qing Tan was especially impressed. Her eyes brimmed with admiration whenever she looked at Lin Yan. After all, he'd helped her when she'd needed it most. That had colored her view of him, and she liked him immensely. Now, seeing him fight so valiantly, she was practically becoming his little fangirl.
"That's impossible!"
"Brother Lin Hong is one of the top three among the Lin Clan's younger generation."
"How could that good-for-nothing beat Brother Lin Hong? Damn it! Damn it!"
Compared with Qing Tan, Lin Shan was having a miserable time.
When he'd seen Lin Hong arrive earlier, his face had lit up. He'd thought Lin Hong would help him get his revenge.
He never expected that even Lin Hong, his greatest support, would suffer a setback at Lin Yan's hands—and that Lin Yan had reached the sixth layer of Body Tempering. Lin Shan clearly found it hard to accept.
"Damn it."
"That brat has actually reached the sixth layer of Body Tempering too."
"I underestimated him."
Lin Hong finally managed to get back to his feet.
His face was dark with anger.
Taking such a humiliating blow in front of everyone made him feel utterly disgraced.
But Lin Hong didn't believe he was any weaker than Lin Yan.
His opponent might be strong, but he was strong too.
Besides, there was a good reason he'd lost just now: he hadn't fought with all his strength.
He hadn't known how strong his opponent was beforehand. Otherwise, if he'd gone all out, how could a good-for-nothing like Lin Yan possibly have been his match?
"Come again!"
"This time, I'll make you pay!"
With that thought, Lin Hong snorted and prepared to step forward and reclaim his pride.
"Boring."
Lin Yan wasn't the least bit afraid. But when he continued looking at Lin Hong, there was no interest left in his eyes.
That first exchange had already revealed just about everything Lin Hong had to offer. Lin Yan had a good idea of his strength now, and couldn't muster the slightest interest in him anymore.
"What's with that attitude?"
"You arrogant bastard!"
Lin Hong keenly noticed Lin Yan's mood, and his fury only intensified.
With a snort, he exploded into action at full strength. This time, he was going to make Lin Yan pay.
"Both of you, stop!"
Just then, an angry shout rang out.
At the sound, everyone paused, and a young woman quickly stepped between them.
She wore red and looked about seventeen or eighteen, a little older than Lin Hong and the others. She was quite pretty, and her slightly raised brows gave her a spirited air that rivaled any man's.
"It's Sister Lin Xia!"
Qing Tan, behind them, immediately cried out happily.
Unlike Lin Hong and Lin Shan, Lin Xia never threw her weight around. She was exceptionally fair-minded and loyal.
More importantly, Qing Tan knew Lin Xia, so she believed Lin Xia would help them.
And that was exactly what happened.
As soon as Lin Xia arrived, she turned on Lin Hong and Lin Shan.
The two brothers were notorious. Their father managed the clan's finances, and they used his position to bully people. Whenever something happened involving them, they were almost certainly the ones throwing their weight around.
So Lin Xia frowned at Lin Hong and said, "Lin Hong, you're both members of the Lin Clan. There's no need to use Yuan Power just to spar, is there? And there's a limit to throwing your weight around. There are so many of you, and you've already reached the sixth layer of Body Tempering. Did you really need to gang up on Cousin Lin Yan and Qing Tan?"
Lin Hong and Lin Shan nearly spat blood.
After all, they were the ones who'd taken a beating this time. How had Lin Xia made it sound as if Lin Yan and the others were the victims?
Lin Hong's expression shifted between anger and embarrassment.
Lin Shan, meanwhile, shouted in protest, "Sister Lin Xia, are your eyes all right?"
"Who's bullying whom?"
"Look at my injuries, then look at how battered the rest of the brothers are! Lin Yan did this to us today."
"And my brother wasn't throwing his weight around. The Lin Yan standing beside you—the one you think is a harmless little white rabbit—isn't as simple as he looks. He's been hiding his strength well. He's reached the sixth layer of Body Tempering, and even my brother suffered a serious setback at his hands. And you're still saying we bullied them?"
Lin Xia was taken aback.
She couldn't help looking at Lin Shan and the others, and sure enough, they were covered in injuries.
She looked over at Lin Hong too and saw that he was somewhat disheveled, with none of his usual smug confidence. His clothes were caked with dust.
Lin Yan, on the other hand, looked completely at ease and didn't have a scratch on him.
Lin Xia was left gaping in astonishment.
After all, she knew Lin Yan too. She was something of a social butterfly in the Lin Clan and knew practically everyone.
But she'd never known Lin Yan was so strong. As she continued looking at him, even Lin Xia was deeply shocked.
"Qing Tan, is what he said true?"
She couldn't help asking Qing Tan, who was standing beside her, to confirm.
"Sister Lin Xia, it's true. Brother Lin Yan is amazing!"
Qing Tan nodded like a pecking chick, lavishing praise on Lin Yan.
Lin Xia's gaze grew even more peculiar as she looked at Lin Yan.
"But, Sister Lin Xia, Brother Lin Yan didn't just suddenly attack them like they said."
"Brother Lin Yan happened to be passing by and saw them bullying me, so he stepped in to help. Please don't blame him."
Afraid Lin Xia might misunderstand Lin Yan, Qing Tan quickly explained.
Lin Xia had a general idea of what had happened.
Basically, Lin Shan had been bullying Qing Tan as usual, but this time Lin Yan had caught him in the act, and they'd ended up getting beaten instead.
Lin Xia found that immensely satisfying. After all, they'd bullied plenty of people in the past. At last, they'd gotten what was coming to them.
"Anyway, if you really want to spar, save it for the Clan Gathering."
"Besides, fighting your own clan brothers doesn't prove anything. If you're capable, then when the Hunting War in Green Sun Town begins, prove yourself there. That's where real skill counts."
Lin Xia spoke calmly to Lin Hong and Lin Shan.
The two of them both darkened at her words.
They knew there was no way they'd get their pride back today, so Lin Hong stepped forward and glared coldly at Lin Yan. "Lin Yan, you got lucky today. Sister Lin Xia is protecting you."
"But don't think this is over."
"Sister Lin Xia is right."
"At the Clan Gathering, I'll challenge you."
"Then I'll show you just how huge the gap between us really is!"
Before you continue