What Exists Not, Yet Is Known

Lin Xiaotian rubbed his own skin.

"Mm, it's gotten thicker and harder, like I've added ten layers of stiff paper."

Boom!

He threw a punch into the air.

The fist wind was biting, and even the sound of it tearing through the air had grown louder.

His entire physique had strengthened, and the force he could exert had increased along with it.

"Hehe, though it's called Skin Tempering, it still mainly relies on Blood Tempering. Just now, Blood Qi pressed through my entire body, thus strengthening my skin."

Lin Xiaotian was in high spirits. That sensation just now had made him understand that this Martial Dao world truly revolved around Blood Qi and vitality, just as had been said before.

"My Blood Qi is special, but unfortunately, it can't directly make my Martial Dao stronger."

He shook his head with some regret, then suddenly snickered.

Too greedy. Being able to remove abnormalities and advance medicinal pills was already heaven-defying, yet he still thought it wasn't enough!

Having just broken through, he felt strength surging endlessly through his body. There was not enough room to properly unleash martial arts techniques indoors, so he pushed open the door and went into the courtyard.

He practiced to his heart's content. The more he fought, the smoother it became, and the more he found the feeling.

The awkwardness left behind after his Skin Tempering was gradually sorted out and stabilized.

"This is good. Whether fighting others or concealing my strength in the future, I'll be able to control myself properly and won't have to cover things up so awkwardly."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The sound of applause suddenly rang out.

Lin Xiaotian jerked and withdrew his technique.

On the roof, a strikingly elegant woman stood there at some unknown time.

Her figure was graceful, a sharp sword strapped to her back. Her bearing was beautiful, yet she gave off a faint air of rejection.

She was likely a powerful ice-cold beauty.

With a swish, she leaped down from above. Like a lotus drifting through an age of prosperity, she floated over, a pleasing sight to behold.

"You are Lin Xiaotian, Song Wanyan's younger brother?"

Lin Xiaotian looked at the uninvited woman in confusion, his brows lifting slightly.

"That would be me. May I ask who this young lady is...?"

The woman wore a veil. A light breeze passed by, and she gently brushed aside a lock of hair, her voice crisp.

"My name is Qin Yueyao, Qin Ziyu's elder sister."

Lin Xiaotian's eyes widened sharply.

Damn it. That elder sister who had been away for so long had actually come looking for me. This is bad!

As he was thinking, a flash of flowing light suddenly flickered around Qin Yueyao's body. An immense force, mixed with pure Blood Qi, surged toward him.

This is bad! She's here to avenge him!

He immediately stepped back and raised both fists to block, but before he could fully set his stance—

That immense force struck his body.

He flew backward uncontrollably and slammed heavily into the courtyard wall with a bang.

His entire body went numb, and he could not react for a long while.

He slid down from the wall in dejection.

Waves of pain kept him from daring to move.

This girl really packed a punch! She had struck without mercy.

But... she had not gone for the kill. Otherwise, it would not have been mere pain.

Qin Yueyao gave him a surprised look, her gaze flickering.

The moment Lin Xiaotian saw her expression, he understood.

"Ahh! It hurts so much!"

Then he began rolling around on the ground, looking as though he were in as much pain as possible.

His Blood Qi immediately began restoring his injuries.

Perhaps because he had reached the Skin Tempering realm, his senses toward his own body had become sharper.

Injuries that affected his bones or were more serious would be restored first. After that, superficial wounds would heal much more slowly, appearing only slightly faster than those of an ordinary person.

That instead made him let out a breath of relief.

If superficial injuries healed too quickly, it would be difficult to explain.

Now he needed to pretend that he was severely injured, so she could vent her anger. Otherwise, if she discovered the abnormality in the way he healed, that would be troublesome.

Qin Yueyao's eyes flickered again. She stared at him for quite a while before finally withdrawing that strange look, her voice cool and cold.

"Enough. The matter between you and my brother ends here. If you dare set your sights on my brother again or try to bully the Qin Household, my sword will not mind cutting you down."

As she spoke, her sword came free with a clang, drawing an arc through the air. A streak of white light flashed, and the air split with a puff, as though it had been sliced in two.

Such exquisite swordsmanship. Lin Xiaotian was startled.

No wonder the other Lineage forces in town feared her so much.

"Alright, alright, don't worry. You should know what kind of person your brother is. I'm simply eager to learn martial arts as well."

Qin Yueyao did not refute him, merely saying calmly,

"Mm. I, his elder sister, will naturally discipline my brother for what he is like. But others may not."

Clatter!

A pile of silver crashed onto the ground.

Lin Xiaotian's eyes gleamed. There had to be several hundred taels of silver there.

He raised his head in confusion and looked at her.

A slap followed by a sweet date—but there was no need for this!

Qin Yueyao gave a cold snort through her nose, her voice as fresh as green onions.

"Learning martial arts is not easy. In my early years, I was the same... If my brother had not been so disappointing, I likely would not have cultivated martial arts either."

"Consider this silver my support for you."

Lin Xiaotian accepted the silver in bafflement, unable to make sense of this woman.

Could she be the cold outside, warm inside sort? But that did not quite add up either.

"Don't overthink it. Like you, I missed the best years to cultivate. From that strike just now, you are already at Skin Tempering, and much stronger than ordinary Skin Tempering martial artists."

"Perhaps, like me, you are also a martial arts genius."

Oh, he understood. She had seen his potential and wanted to form a good relationship in advance.

"Thank you, Miss Qin. But my master said that before reaching External Force, there is no such thing as potential. Aren't you afraid your investment will come to nothing?"

Qin Yueyao looked at him with contempt.

"You really are long-winded. If you do not want it in your heart, then return the silver to me."

Lin Xiaotian pulled it close. How could meat that had reached his mouth possibly be spat back out?

"Hehe, I was only joking. Miss Qin, please do not take offense."

"Enough, no more nonsense. Aside from my brother's matter, there is something else."

Lin Xiaotian was startled again.

"Brew a pot of tea. I've come back from far away and cannot stay in town long. I must leave once I'm done speaking."

Lin Xiaotian swiftly brewed the tea, and the two sat across from each other at the stone table in the courtyard.

Qin Yueyao watched his nimble movements with confusion and asked curiously,

"I did not injure you just now."

"Ah!" Lin Xiaotian immediately made his movements unnatural, even affecting a limp.

"Please forgive the laugh, Miss Qin. Well, one has to put on a show in front of a beauty, doesn't one? Since you saw through it, I won't pretend anymore. I was enduring it—it really hurt."

"Enough! You men are all the same, just like my brother."

Qin Yueyao took a sip of tea and got to the point.

"Earlier, there was an old thing who often wandered around your Household. Now he has vanished. During that time, you should have been away from home for a while. What were you doing during that period?"

Lin Xiaotian's heart jolted, and he immediately thought of the expert who had abducted him. Could the old thing she spoke of be him?

"Miss Qin, how did you know I left for a period of time?"

Qin Yueyao was decisive in her actions. She set her cup down on the table with a thud, making one's heart tremble slightly.

"Enough. Do not ask any more of this nonsense. My leaving Long River Town does not mean I know nothing about the town. Otherwise, how could I protect the Qin Household?"

Lin Xiaotian decisively shut his mouth and asked no more. This woman was truly cautious, revealing no flaws.

"I don't know either. I was abducted somehow. That old fellow said he would take me somewhere, but then he died halfway there... After that, I returned by myself."

"Just like that?" Qin Yueyao stared directly into his eyes.

"Yes, just like that!" Lin Xiaotian answered, meeting her gaze.

Qin Yueyao lightly turned the rim of her cup and said in a low voice,

"That old fellow was called Ouyang Dongli, an Internal Force expert. There is no way to verify exactly how strong he was. It is said that he was exploring a new path..."

"He likely took you away because of this matter."

Her voice remained cold, yet carried a softness unique to a woman. Her eyes, however, never left his face.

It was as though she had long known he was merely brushing her off.

Lin Xiaotian felt uncomfortable beneath her gaze, but his expression remained composed.

"Alright, I must go. Otherwise, those great Lineages may come surround me."

As she spoke, she rose to her feet and leaped toward the roof.

As she reached midair, she suddenly tossed out another sentence.

"I investigated outside. It seems Song Wanyan's parents never existed, yet everyone in the small town knows there were such people."