Chapter 12: Taking Your Dog Life
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Zhao Lingyin glared at Lin Xiu. “Half a day gone, and you’re already flirting again.”
This sister-in-law wouldn’t do. Flirting was forbidden, let alone anything more. This engagement needed to be resolved quickly.
Despite his inner thoughts, Lin Xiu explained, “You misunderstand. Last night I was attacked. If not for Dali, I wouldn’t be here today. He was poisoned protecting me. That was the Imperial Physician. She saved him. I had to thank her…”
“Attacked!”
Zhao Lingyin’s expression changed. “Are you alright?”
Lin Xiu said, “I’m fine, but Dali was injured protecting me. He’s still unconscious.”
Why would Lin Xiu be attacked? Zhao Lingyin pondered, then gritted her teeth. “Qin Cong!”
Qin Cong had suffered humiliation at their hands yesterday. Given his vengeful nature, he had motive.
Zhao Lingyin turned and left without a word. Lin Xiu doubted Qin Cong was behind the attack, but the man deserved punishment. Let Lingyin teach him a lesson.
She knew her limits. She wouldn’t kill him, but she wouldn’t go easy either.
Back in his room, Lin Xiu found Sun Dali awake. After several betrayals, he’d expected him to run last night, not throw himself in front of a poisoned dart.
Lin Xiu approached the bed and patted Sun Dali’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
Sun Dali shrugged. “I’m your guard, Young Master. Protecting you is my duty.”
Lin Xiu raised an eyebrow. “Where were you when Lingyin was beating me?”
Sun Dali grinned sheepishly. “That’s different…”
Sun Dali got up to eat. Baron Ping’an’s wife had ordered a feast for him. With his strength came a large appetite, and he rarely had the chance to eat his fill.
Lin Xiu hadn’t eaten much since yesterday. He joined Sun Dali, picking at the food. Baron Ping’an appeared at the door. “Xiu’er, come here. Your mother and I have something to tell you.”
Lin Xiu followed him to the study, where his mother was waiting.
He still felt awkward around them. “What is it?”
He couldn’t bring himself to call them “father” and “mother.”
Baron Ping’an paused, then asked, “Do you remember your engagement to the Zhao family?”
Lin Xiu nodded. “I do.”
He had been looking for a way to broach this topic. Seizing the opportunity, he said, “I believe this engagement isn’t beneficial for either family. Could we discuss canceling it with the Zhao family?”
Baron Ping’an and his wife were surprised. “You think so too, Xiu’er?”
Lin Xiu nodded. “The Zhao family is far above us now. And she’s such a prodigy. We’re not worthy. It’s best to cancel it, for both our sakes.”
Baron Ping’an beamed. “I’m glad you think so. Your mother and I feel the same. Rather than being burdened by this engagement, it’s better to cancel it and find you a suitable wife. Get married soon, and we can have grandchildren…”
Lin Xiu’s heart sank. Canceling the engagement to marry someone else? Out of the frying pan and into the fire! “There’s no rush,” he said quickly. “I’m only eighteen…”
His mother said, “Eighteen is not young. I was carrying you when I was eighteen…”
Lin Xiu, feeling a headache coming on, excused himself and fled.
…
On the streets of the capital.
Qin Cong, accompanied by two servants, emerged from a restaurant.
Despite his broken ribs, his ability allowed him to move relatively freely. He would fully recover in half a month.
But his grudge against Lin Xiu was cemented. If he couldn’t touch Zhao Lingyin, he could still target Lin Xiu.
As he plotted his revenge, he felt a sudden chill. A beautiful face appeared before him.
It was a beautiful face, but to Qin Cong, it was like a venomous sting. He recoiled. “Zhao Lingyin! What do you want now!”
Zhao Lingyin asked coldly, “Did you send someone to assassinate Lin Xiu?”
Qin Cong was momentarily stunned, then his face lit up with glee. “What? Lin Xiu was assassinated? Is he dead?”
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The temperature plummeted. Qin Cong shivered, then, realizing something, quickly explained, “Don’t misunderstand! I didn’t do it! I’m not crazy! Why would I do such a thing?”
He realized she was here to settle the score. “We have a quarrel, but it’s a minor one. I was wrongly accused, spent two hours in jail. It’s not a big deal, truly not…”
He didn’t seem to be lying. Zhao Lingyin glared at him and turned to leave. Qin Cong asked urgently, “What happened? When was he attacked? Is he dead? Can I pay my respects at the Lin residence…?”
Zhao Lingyin, about to leave, turned back.
Soon, ear-piercing screams echoed through the streets. Patrolling guards, hearing the commotion, took one look and discreetly retreated…
At the Lin residence.
Lin Xiu looked at Zhao Lingyin tentatively. “What did you do to Qin Cong?”
Zhao Lingyin said, “Nothing much. Just broke a few more of his ribs.”
Lin Xiu paused. “Actually, I don’t think he was behind the attack last night.”
Zhao Lingyin wasn’t surprised. “I know.”
Lin Xiu was taken aback. “You knew? And you still broke his ribs?”
Zhao Lingyin looked at him. “I know what happened at the Ministry of Records. That man deserves it. Breaking a few ribs is letting him off easy.”
It seemed Lingyin shared his sense of justice. Lin Xiu changed the subject. “That assassin was strange. His punch created a sonic boom, but his ability didn’t seem to be strength-based. What was it?”
Zhao Lingyin threw a punch. “Like this?”
*Boom!*
A dull thud echoed through the air.
Lin Xiu was astonished. “What was that?”
Zhao Lingyin explained, “Zhenqi. It’s the power cultivated through martial arts, different from mystical arts.”
Immersed in mystical arts these past few days, Lin Xiu hadn’t heard of martial arts. He only knew the Martial Arts Academy was next to the Mystical Arts Academy. Were they related?
Zhao Lingyin was always patient with his questions about cultivation.
She explained, “Martial arts is a different path from mystical arts. That assassin cultivated martial arts, but his strength wasn’t high, or your guard wouldn’t have killed him.”
Lin Xiu now knew there was another path of cultivation besides mystical arts.
Mystical arts were like a gift from heaven, granting some people incredible powers upon awakening.
But heaven didn’t favor everyone. Over millennia, ordinary people without mystical arts had developed their own path: martial arts.
Powerful mystical arts practitioners could move mountains and fill seas. Peak martial arts experts could cleave mountains with a single sword stroke.
Compared to mystical arts, the path of martial arts was more arduous. Though anyone could cultivate it, few reached its highest levels. Therefore, in this world, martial arts held less prominence than mystical arts.
But this didn’t mean martial arts were weaker. True martial arts masters were equal to the most powerful mystical arts practitioners. Such masters were extremely rare, and the difficulty of martial arts cultivation made them even scarcer than high-level mystical arts users.
Currently, Lin Xiu couldn’t use his mystical art for combat. He could try cultivating martial arts. With his above-average strength, he should progress faster than most.
Lingyin also told him that the Mystical Arts Academy had martial arts instructors. When the Academy opened next month, perhaps he should focus on that.
As Lin Xiu planned his future, Qin Cong stormed into the Qin residence, cursing.
After yesterday’s beating from Zhao Lingyin, he had simply gone out for a meal today, only to be beaten again. Although a physician had set his bones, his chest still ached. He added this to his grudge against Lin Xiu.
He’d been having a streak of bad luck lately.
First the ungrateful Wang Shi, then provoking Zhao Lingyin. Nothing seemed to go right.
His father had taken care of Wang Shi’s case, but he still needed someone to watch the old man, in case he caused further trouble.
While not afraid of trouble, Qin Cong preferred to avoid it.
But he truly hadn’t sent assassins after Lin Xiu. He wasn’t insane. Who would do such a thing? Could it be…?
A figure appeared in his mind, and a flicker of fear crossed his eyes. He dared not think further.
After two beatings in two days, Qin Cong felt like he’d been through a meat grinder. Returning home, he entered his room to rest.
As he closed the door and walked towards his bed, he noticed someone else in the room.
It was a woman in black, with almond-shaped eyes and a delicate nose. She was strikingly beautiful, her hair tied high in a bun. Despite being a woman, she exuded an aura of strength and determination.
The spot had been empty when he entered. He initially thought it was a surprise arranged by his servants, but quickly realized something was wrong.
The woman’s face was calm, cold as ice.
Qin Cong grew wary. “Who are you? Why are you in my room?”
The woman in black didn’t look at him. “I’m here to take something.”
Qin Cong frowned. “Take what?”
The woman’s gaze fixed on him. “Your dog life.”
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