Xun'er: You're my big brother too!

[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining an "until death" friendship!]

[This is an unbreakable friendship that will never fade with time. Even if the seas dry up and the rocks crumble, this friendship will endure!]

[Your friendship cannot be destroyed!]

Lin Dong looked at the system notifications before him. Although they did not explicitly say so, he could feel the future shortfall in their friendship gradually disappearing, making it flawless!

He lacked nothing now!

"Enough!"

Lin Dong was delighted inside, but he wore an impatient look as he waved his hand. "I'm not dying yet. No need to start mourning!"

"Big brother, let me help you!"

Seeing Lin Dong try to stand, Xiao Yan hurried forward to support him.

Cough, cough, cough!

Lin Dong coughed lightly, then looked at Xiao Xun'er in her green robes and managed a smile. "You're here too, little sister Xun'er. Sorry you had to see this."

"Brother Lin."

Xiao Xun'er nodded obediently, then asked with concern, "Big brother, are you all right?"

"It's nothing!"

Lin Dong smiled and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "This brat loves exaggerating. Even when nothing's wrong, he'll make it sound like something is."

Xiao Yan looked at the blackened, purple left hand Lin Dong had hidden behind his back. His heart tightened, but seeing Lin Dong's smile, he dared not say more.

"Brother Lin, please tell us if something's wrong!"

Xiao Xun'er's voice was clear and sweet. "You're not just Brother Xiao Yan's big brother. You're mine too."

"I will!"

Lin Dong nodded with a smile.

"In that case, I'll leave you two to talk."

Xun'er smiled understandingly and took her leave, giving the two men some space.

"What a wonderful girl!"

Watching Xun'er walk away, Lin Dong turned and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "You'd better not let her down!"

"Or I'll beat you up!"

"Big brother, what are you talking about!"

Though Xiao Yan had seen plenty of warmth and cruelty in the world, he still could not help showing the embarrassment of a young boy.

Lin Dong burst into laughter at the sight.

But he laughed too hard and aggravated his wounds, making him suck in two sharp breaths.

"Big brother!"

Xiao Yan caught him anxiously. "Are you all right?!"

"I'm fine."

Lin Dong spat out a mouthful of stagnant blood, his expression easing considerably.

Looking at Xiao Yan, he took the marriage agreement and Qi Gathering Powder from inside his robes. "Give this marriage agreement to Uncle Xiao, and keep the Qi Gathering Powder for yourself."

"No!"

Xiao Yan shook his head repeatedly. "You should have the Qi Gathering Powder, big brother!"

"Without you, I can't imagine the humiliation I, my father, and the Xiao Clan would have suffered!"

"You put yourself in danger for me, stood up to the Misty Cloud Sect, and offended the Nalan Family. No matter how you look at it, this Qi Gathering Powder should be yours."

"Get out of here!"

Lin Dong refused to waste time arguing with Xiao Yan. "I don't even have any Dou Qi. What the hell would I do with Qi Gathering Powder?"

"You, on the other hand, should take this Qi Gathering Pill and slap every last person who looks down on you right in the face!"

"I..."

Hesitation flickered across Xiao Yan's face, and he tried to decline again.

Seeing this, Lin Dong sighed. "I promised Nalan Yanran a fight to the death atop Misty Cloud Mountain in three years."

"You know better than I do just how powerful the Misty Cloud Sect is."

"If I die then, I'll be counting on you to avenge me!"

"Are you refusing now because you want to shirk that responsibility? Will you just close your eyes, pretend you're useless, and refuse to avenge your big brother?"

"No!"

Xiao Yan shook his head solemnly. "Absolutely not!"

"Then take it!"

Lin Dong stuffed the medicine into Xiao Yan's arms. "Quit dithering!"

"Little brother, we're men. We have to be decisive in everything we do. You won't accomplish anything by agonizing over every little thing!"

"I understand, big brother!"

Xiao Yan looked at Lin Dong with admiration in his eyes and said with utmost seriousness, "I'll find a way to resume cultivating as soon as possible. When the Three-Year Agreement comes due, I'll be there personally to back you up!"

"That's more like it!"

Lin Dong glanced seemingly casually at the grayish-white Bone Ring on Xiao Yan's hand and smiled. "I believe in you!"

"All right, hurry and take this marriage agreement to Uncle Xiao."

"Nalan Yanran won't go back on her word, but he still needs to learn about this as soon as possible."

Hearing that, Xiao Yan asked worriedly, "But big brother, your injuries?"

"They won't kill me!"

Lin Dong waved his hand to indicate it was nothing serious.

"All right, then."

Clutching the marriage agreement, Xiao Yan said earnestly, "I'll deliver this first, then come back to see you."

"Go on!"

Lin Dong nodded.

"Xun'er! Look after big brother for me. I'm heading back to the market!"

Xiao Yan called out to Xun'er before quickly jogging away.

Lin Dong looked at Xun'er before him and smiled faintly. "You brought him here?"

Xun'er gave an almost imperceptible nod of her delicate chin. "I thought Brother Xiao Yan should see what you did for him."

"Thank you."

Lin Dong really did owe Xun'er his thanks.

He had planned to stop Nalan Yanran, retrieve the marriage agreement, and then give it to Xiao Yan.

He had not expected Xun'er to bring Xiao Yan straight over to witness everything live.

That was far more effective than simply returning the marriage agreement.

"Thank you for everything, big brother."

Looking at Lin Dong's bleeding arm, Xun'er asked, "Are you sure you don't need my help?"

"No need."

Lin Dong shook his head with a smile.

Xun'er looked at him and, after a moment's thought, asked again, "Brother Lin, did you unleash the Tiger Demon Strength Pill's full medicinal effects?"

Lin Dong nodded with a smile. "I managed it by luck. A wisp of the Bloodland Red-Strength Tiger's remnant soul stayed inside me."

As though her suspicions had been confirmed, Xun'er parted her cherry lips and said:

"Your roar sounded like both a tiger's roar and a dragon's cry. May I ask if you also have dragon power within you?"

Lin Dong thought for a moment, then nodded without hiding anything. "You heard correctly, little sister Xun'er."

"I do have a wisp of dragon power inside me, but it's still incomplete."

"I really did underestimate you, big brother."

Xun'er gave Lin Dong a surprised look and laughed sweetly. "It seems you've had your own fortuitous encounters."

Lin Dong smiled without elaborating.

Xun'er did not press him either. Everyone had their own secrets. Even she had secrets she could not tell Xiao Yan, so some questions were best left at that.

"Brother Lin!"

Xun'er spoke again, her voice clear and lovely. "I have something here. Would you be interested in it?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Dong instinctively raised his eyebrows.

After all, Xun'er was the Gu Clan's holy maiden, possessed a divine-grade bloodline, and was a truly blessed daughter of heaven!

Anything she offered would be exceptional!

The Breath Concealment Art he had received from Xun'er last time was still helping keep Lin Dong alive.

Without the Breath Concealment Art, Lin Dong could have forgotten about threatening Ge Ye.

Even whether he could have made it out of Train to Busan alive would have been uncertain!

At that thought, Lin Dong instinctively looked at Xiao Xun'er and asked curiously, "What is it?"