"So it's Senior Sister Chen. Please come in!"
Senior Sister Chen walked in with curiosity written all over her face. Lin He's quarters were very clean, but the furnishings were equally simple: just a bed, a table, and two stools.
Lin He brought over a stool for her. Senior Sister Chen sat down without standing on ceremony, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, they turned to the matter at hand.
"Senior Sister Chen, what brings you here?"
"Can't I come to see you without having a reason?" Chen Qiaoqian shot him an irritated look, leaving Lin He rather embarrassed. Fortunately, she soon changed the subject.
"I came to tell you that I've already told my eldest brother and my father about what happened yesterday."
Lin He nodded, then asked, "And how did that turn out?"
"My eldest brother has always doted on me. The moment he heard, he wanted to take his Golden Book and Silver Pen and demand justice from the Lu Family, but my father stopped him."
Lin He said nothing. He knew Senior Sister Chen had more to say, and sure enough, she continued, "My father told me he would speak to the head of the Lu Family himself. He also warned me not to disclose this matter casually to outsiders."
At this, Lin He understood. The head of the Chen Family was probably afraid that the incident would damage his family's reputation, so rather than publicizing it, he intended to negotiate with the Lu Family in secret and settle the matter behind closed doors.
Having guessed the Chen Family head's intentions, Lin He could not help offering a word of praise. As a father, openly demanding justice for his daughter would certainly have been a satisfying way to repay kindness and settle grudges. But as the head of the Chen Family, he had to consider the family's reputation, and handling the matter in secret was the best approach.
Of course, all of this rested on the fact that Chen Qiaoqian was still safe and sound. If Senior Brother Lu had really killed her, it would have been another matter entirely.
"Handling it this way will indeed keep the damage to a minimum. At the very least, your reputation will remain intact, Senior Sister Chen." At this point, something suddenly occurred to Lin He, and he teased her.
"But since your father warned you not to disclose it casually to outsiders, and you've told me about it, wouldn't that count as going against his wishes?"
Senior Sister Chen muttered softly, "After you did that sort of thing, how could you still count as an outsider?"
"Senior Sister Chen, what did you say?"
"Ah... nothing." Looking flustered, Senior Sister Chen hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, something big has been happening in the sect lately. Have you heard?"
"Something big? You must mean the Forbidden Land Trial, Senior Sister Chen."
With only a little over a month left before the Forbidden Land Trial, it was the most talked-about subject in all of Yellow Maple Valley. How could Lin He fail to guess?
Something seemed to occur to Chen Qiaoqian, and she said worriedly, "That's right. My eldest brother has decided to take part in the Forbidden Land Trial. I'm a little worried about his safety."
In the original novel, Chen Qiaoqian had possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill, presumably obtained at the previous Sect Conference. But Han Li had later taken it, leaving her no choice but to enter the Forbidden Land Trial and gather spiritual herbs to exchange for another Foundation Establishment Pill.
Now, however, the plot had changed. Chen Qiaoqian's Foundation Establishment Pill had not been taken, so naturally, she had no need to risk her life in the Forbidden Land Trial.
Her eldest brother, on the other hand, might have had slightly poorer aptitude and felt that one Foundation Establishment Pill was not enough to be safe, so he needed to obtain another. But his outcome in the original novel had been far from good. Even after taking two Foundation Establishment Pills in succession, he had failed to reach Foundation Establishment. Disheartened, he had gone off to manage the family's affairs.
Lin He recalled the original plot and soon pieced together the whole story. He reassured her, "Your eldest brother, Senior Brother Chen Qiaoshan, is very strong. You don't need to worry too much."
With his cultivation at the thirteenth level of Qi Condensation, Chen Qiaoshan belonged to the top ranks of the low-level disciples and was one of Yellow Maple Valley's most promising candidates. His set of Golden Book and Silver Pen magic tools was extremely powerful. There was no need to worry about him at all; Chen Qiaoqian's concern had simply clouded her judgment.
Hearing his reassurance, Senior Sister Chen understood as well. She nodded, then looked at Lin He and asked uneasily, "You already have a Foundation Establishment Pill too, Junior Brother Lin. Surely you won't need to risk your life in the Forbidden Land Trial?"
Lin He shook his head. "You're mistaken, Senior Sister Chen. Even though I have dual spiritual roots, a single Foundation Establishment Pill can't guarantee that I'll succeed. More importantly... I missed the Sect Conference when I joined and never had a chance to obtain that Foundation Establishment Pill. As far as anyone else knows, I don't have a single one. If I successfully reach Foundation Establishment, wouldn't that be the biggest hole in my story?"
Cultivators had to rely on Foundation Establishment Pills to reach Foundation Establishment. That was a rule of the cultivation world. Apart from the dubious methods used by the Black Fiend Cult, no cultivator could break it.
As far as outsiders knew, Lin He had no Foundation Establishment Pill. If he succeeded, where would his pill have come from? A quick look at the timing would probably make it easy to connect him to the vanished Senior Brother Lu.
Murdering someone for their treasures-and a fellow disciple at that-then using the stolen Foundation Establishment Pill to advance his cultivation. How grave a crime was that?
The Chen Family now believed that Lin He had killed Senior Brother Lu, but both sides had a tacit agreement to keep the secret. The Chen Family did not want its reputation damaged, and Lin He did not want the incident exposed, lest he suffer retaliation from the Lu Family. Each side got what it needed, and an unspoken understanding had formed between them.
Although Chen Qiaoqian was a little lovestruck, she was no fool and quickly understood. Looking at Lin He's handsome face, she said with deep concern,
"I understand your worries, but... the Forbidden Land Trial is fraught with danger. Your cultivation is only at the eleventh level of Qi Refining. For you, that place would be a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. You must think this through carefully."
"Senior Sister Chen, I've already made up my mind, so please don't try to dissuade me. I don't want to face retaliation from the Lu Family and judgment from the sect the moment I reach Foundation Establishment. I'd be facing certain death then, too. I might as well take a chance now."
Lin He's voice was not loud, but the determination in his words made Senior Sister Chen shudder. She drew a deep breath, guilt covering her face. "Junior Brother Lin, this is all my fault. If you hadn't saved me, you would never have been caught in such a predicament."
"Senior Sister Chen, how can you say it's your fault? You're a victim too. Senior Brother Lu was the one who caused all this harm."
Senior Sister Chen nodded. After thinking for a moment, she seemed to reach some sort of decision, then took a Brocade Handkerchief brimming with spiritual energy from her Storage Bag.
"This is a top-grade defensive magic tool. It can save your life in a crisis. Junior Brother, please take it."
Although Chen Qiaoqian was a daughter of the Chen Family, she would not have many top-grade magic tools. After all, she was the seventh child, with six older brothers ahead of her. Once each of them received a share, what remained for her
was probably not much. This Brocade Handkerchief was very likely one of her lifesaving treasures.
Lin He had a whole pile of top-grade magic tools, including plenty of defensive ones. He had no need for another. Just as he was considering how to decline, Chen Qiaoqian suddenly said coldly,
"Junior Brother Lin, if you don't accept it, I'll never come here again."
The beauty's feelings ran so deep that she had given him her own lifesaving magic tool. What more could Lin He say?
Lin He accepted the Brocade Handkerchief, then drew her over to the bedside and said gently, "You're so good to me. I really don't know how to repay you."
Chen Qiaoqian's face flushed crimson, and she said softly, "I don't want you to repay me. As long as you treat me a little better from now on, I'll be perfectly happy."
Lin He looked at the young woman before him, beautiful as a flower. She was just about to say something when he sealed her lips with his, and the room filled with the delights of spring.
A little over a month later, the Forbidden Land Trial finally began.