The Path of Martial Dao at Stake

As they headed deeper into the cave, Lin Xiaotian became more cautious and held back some of his strength.

Sure enough, the Ouyang Household members did not kill the beasts at once. Instead, they each held one off just enough, as though they really were thinking of him.

Lin Xiaotian was happy to oblige.

Fighting these beasts made up for his lack of combat experience. Killing them one at a time was certainly better training than facing them all at once.

Besides, he needed to absorb the insights his master had just shared. With deliberate practice, he went from getting it right only now and then to handling it with ease. He really had these people to thank.

A blade was indeed far more destructive than bare fists or palms.

For him, though, that made it a challenge.

Blood-Qi Resonance was not performed with fists or palms when a cold steel weapon stood between him and his target. That added another obstacle.

Yet it also gave him a chance to practice channeling Blood-Qi Resonance through a weapon.

By the end, he could unleash it through the blade.

What a bunch of good people!

Thinking that, he kept killing the beasts they let through one after another.

Because he was concealing his strength while testing Blood-Qi Resonance, sweat really did bead on his face.

That brought smiles to the faces of the Ouyang Household members.

Lin Xiaotian saw right through them. Heh, this is nothing yet. He looked exhausted, but that was only a result of circulating his power. The drain on his energy and stamina had not come close to his limits.

Still, if he was going to put on an act, he had to see it through.

"Huff."

"Huff."

"Everyone, I'm out of strength now. You don't need to hold back anymore."

He spoke with his mouth open, deliberately panting.

"Heh, since Junior Brother Lin has said so, we naturally won't let any more beasts through. We need some practice ourselves."

"Still, Junior Brother Lin's attacks are much stronger than before. Looks like you've learned quite a bit."

Lin Xiaotian smiled. He needed to play dumb, but not too dumb. If he showed no improvement at all, it would be harder for them not to grow suspicious.

"Thank you for letting me practice my moves on those beasts. How else would I have improved?"

The group continued onward, reaching an extremely deep part of the cave.

The Ouyang Household members suddenly moved. With several swishes, they surrounded him, whether by design or coincidence.

At this point, he could no longer pretend not to notice.

Lin Xiaotian's voice sank as he asked:

"What is the meaning of this?"

Ouyang Nianci spoke first:

"To be honest, we've watched you all this way. You have a real gift for martial arts."

"I'll say it again. Once you reach External Force, you can marry me."

Lin Xiaotian scratched his head, feigning confusion.

"Eldest Miss, didn't you already say that? Why say it again?"

Nianci smiled faintly.

"The Ouyang Household is making its offer first. You have the potential to become one of us."

She sounded as though she were bestowing charity. If his recent improvement had not caught the eldest miss's eye, perhaps he would not even have qualified to join the Ouyang Household!

"Eldest Miss, the way you're all surrounding me makes me feel like you're trying to force me. You're all quite strong. I'm scared."

"Heh." One of them laughed. "Eldest Miss, why waste words on him? Just ask him outright."

Nianci did not take offense at the interruption. She nodded.

"Yes. The important matter comes first. You're right."

Then she stared straight at Lin Xiaotian, her tone turning grave.

"Tell me exactly where Ancestor Dongli took you."

Lin Xiaotian raised an eyebrow.

"You already asked me that, and I answered. What, if you don't get the answer you want, are you going to kill me?"

"I'm warning you: if you kill me, aren't you afraid of offending the Huang Family Martial Hall?"

Nianci's face darkened.

"Ordinarily, we'd certainly show the martial hall some respect. But this matter concerning Ancestor Dongli affects the entire Ouyang Household... If you don't tell us, you really will die."

Lin Xiaotian pretended to be frightened and stuck out his tongue.

"Eldest Miss, don't scare me. I've told you everything I know. What else can I say?"

"Stop pretending, Lin Xiaotian. We might have believed you knew little before, but when Qin Yueyao left your courtyard that day, we knew you weren't so simple."

"Eldest Miss, how strong is Qin Yueyao, and how strong am I? She threatened me outright. What could I do? Besides, she's beautiful and was willing to share a room with me for a few days. Any normal man would agree!"

"You shameless wretch!"

"I'll tell you one more time, Lin Xiaotian. Tell us about Ancestor Dongli, or today you'll learn what's worse than death."

"Our second uncle was killed by that woman because of you, too."

Lin Xiaotian's brow twitched.

"Your second uncle was killed? How strong was he?"

"Hmph!" Ouyang Nianci gave a cold snort. "Junior Brother Lin, I've said this much only because I think well of you."

"And I believe you're a man who knows when to advance and when to retreat. The Huang Family Martial Hall may be strong, but that strength lies only in individual fighters."

"I know what kind of person you are. If you keep playing dumb here, then even though I think highly of you, I'll have no choice but to torture you until you wish you were dead."

"I can tell you a little, and I hope you'll answer me properly. This is the last mercy I'll show you."

Ouyang Nianci's voice gradually turned cold.

Looking at her, Lin Xiaotian knew his words had failed to sway these Ouyang Household disciples.

They had investigated him, especially since, to them, this concerned the fate of their entire Lineage.

"Fine. I'll tell you everything I know." Lin Xiaotian dropped his flippant manner, his voice growing much more serious.

"Tell me exactly where Ouyang Dongli took you."

Lin Xiaotian fell silent for a moment. Seeing them all staring fixedly at him, he said helplessly:

"If I said I truly didn't know where it was, would you really kill me?"

Ouyang Nianci answered:

"No. But we would torture you."

After a pause, she added:

"Whether you know or not, we need to hear the exact location from you."

Lin Xiaotian said nothing. He felt stifled.

Why was the Ouyang Household pressing him so hard now, as though reason no longer mattered?

Something was clearly wrong.

Could the Ouyang Household be in such desperate straits that they were grasping at any remedy, like a patient too sick to choose a doctor?

"Splash... splash..."

As the group fell silent, water flowed slowly somewhere deep in the mine.

"Junior Brother Lin, I hope you'll tell the truth. Otherwise, even if I do nothing and the Ouyang Household does nothing, other Lineages probably will."

"Even your master may well act against you."

Lin Xiaotian was startled. It did not sound as though she was merely trying to drive a wedge between them.

"Listen, Junior Brother Lin. Even though the herbs in this mine grow on high, dry ground, water still seeps silently from the depths to their roots."

"The Lineages and martial halls in town aren't as simple as you think."

"In the past, it was as though an unseen hand manipulated us. But now, many people are gradually emerging from that haze."

"If you truly don't know, then... Junior Brother Lin, I advise you to tell us."

"The clothes you wore when you returned to town that day, and how exhausted you looked, show that you couldn't have spent a mere two or three days there."

"So there's no use lying to us."

Lin Xiaotian opened his mouth. He had underestimated the people of this world.

"If you're so certain, why didn't you come looking for me that day?"

Confusion appeared in Ouyang Nianci's eyes. "I don't know. In any case, after your sister inexplicably left, the Lineages seemed to become aware of many important things."

Lin Xiaotian sighed inwardly again. His sister truly had an enormous influence.

"Then tell me what this is really about first. Otherwise, even if I give you the location, with the way you're acting, how could I not suspect you'll kill me afterward?"

"Fine. I'll tell you now... This concerns the Path of Hidden Force."