Chapter 444: Cultivation

“Student Caixing, are you helping your Brother Lin, or is Xiai Xiao carrying you instead?” Huang Xinyu walked out from the kitchen and, seeing Huang Caixing’s posture, said with dissatisfaction, “Xiao Xiao just had his wound bandaged. Do you want your Big Brother’s injury to worsen?”

“I… I… I was just worried about Brother Lin…”

It was rare for Huang Caixing not to talk back. At that moment, she realized her actions were indeed a bit careless, and her voice grew smaller and smaller.

“Worried about what? That your Big Brother Lin isn’t injured enough already? Hurry and get off him.”

“Got it…”

Huang Caixing quickly straightened up, speaking with some guilt.

As they spoke, the three of them entered the dining room. On the large round table, dishes were piled high. Lin Xiao counted at least a dozen plates, all featuring meats and delicacies, a truly extravagant spread.

“Big Brother Lin, hurry and sit to eat. Auntie Xinyu made these dishes especially for you,” Yuan Yu said with a smile. She wore an apron at her waist, her hair tied up in a bun atop her head.

“Don’t say it like that. Little Yu helped a lot too,” Huang Xinyu quickly waved her hand. Then she glanced at Huang Caixing, who was already helping herself to the food, and said somewhat displeased, “Unlike this lazy girl, all she knows is eating.”

“Comrade Xinyu, what nonsense are you saying? I’m helping Big Brother Lin pick food, okay?”

Huang Caixing shot her a glare, then cheerfully transferred the food from her chopsticks to Lin Xiao’s bowl.

Huang Xinyu ignored her and turned to Lin Xiao, “Try it. Since we didn’t have much time, we only made a few dishes. The rest were delivered from a hotel.”

“Thanks, Auntie Xinyu. I won’t stand on ceremony then.” Lin Xiao had long been starving, his chest practically glued to his back. He sat at the table, picked up a piece of food placed by Huang Caixing, and gobbled it down in two quick bites.

“How does it taste?”

Lin Xiao didn’t answer, only raised a thumb in approval.

Huang Caixing, Huang Xinyu, and Yuan Yu sat beside Lin Xiao, continuously placing food in his bowl, barely eating themselves.

Lin Xiao always ate like a whirlwind, and this time was no different. Even chewing bones to bits and swallowing them whole, utterly ferocious.

The entire feast was mostly devoured by Lin Xiao alone. Yuan Yu, Huang Xinyu, and Huang Caixing only tasted a few light dishes before setting down their chopsticks, watching Lin Xiao eat with enjoyment.

Lin Xiao’s stomach was like a bottomless pit. Despite all the food he consumed, his belly didn’t bulge in the slightest, leaving the three beauties astonished and envious.

“If only I had Big Brother Lin’s physique,” Huang Caixing said, glancing down at her chest with a sigh. “No matter how much he eats, he never gains weight. It’s so unfair.”

The other two nodded in agreement.

After dinner, the four of them chatted in the living room. Time passed unknowingly, and night slowly fell.

Lin Xiao glanced at the wall clock. It was already 8 PM, so he stood up and said goodbye: “Auntie Xinyu, Caixing, we’ll head back now. You should get some rest early.”

“Xiao Xiao, Little Yu, why don’t you two stay the night?” Huang Xinyu said softly. “There are enough empty rooms, and it’s livelier with more people. Lin Xiao, since you’re injured, it’s more convenient for us to take care of you if you stay.”

Lin Xiao hesitated. “Auntie Xinyu, people gossip. I don’t want to affect your reputation.”

“If I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of?” Huang Xinyu scolded gently. “It’s settled. You’re staying the night. Xiao Xiao sleeps in the guest room. Little Yu and Caixing sleep together.”

“Big Brother Lin, just agree to it. It’s just the two of us at home, and this place is so big. I’m scared to even go to the bathroom at night.” Huang Caixing clung to Lin Xiao’s arm and pleaded, “It’s just one night. Let’s go back tomorrow.”

Lin Xiao was swayed and looked at Yuan Yu. “Little Yu, what do you think?”

Yuan Yu said softly, “I think Auntie’s right. Brother Lin, you’re injured and need rest tonight.”

Lin Xiao nodded and said to Huang Xinyu, “Auntie Xinyu, then I’ll trouble you tonight.”

Huang Xinyu gave him a side glance, her beautiful face blooming into a radiant smile. “Aren’t we family? No need to be so polite. Sit tight, I’ll go prepare the room.”

With that, she stood and gracefully walked out of the living room.

Seeing that Lin Xiao agreed to stay, Huang Caixing was overjoyed, leaning on Lin Xiao’s side and chattering nonstop. Yuan Yu occasionally chimed in, and the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.

***

Three days passed in a flash.

During these three days, Lin Xiao focused on healing. He went to work daily at Brilliant Aya Limited. During that time, Miss Li Yunxi came to see him once and had a meal with him.

He also visited the injured Master Chen of the Chen Martial Arts Hall and Yuan Yu’s mother in the hospital.

Life passed peacefully.

The incident with the Purifiers caused no ripples. The retaliation Lin Xiao had expected never came. It was as if those killed members had been forgotten.

The villa that served as the base was destroyed in a fire not long after Lin Xiao left, reduced to rubble, wiping away all traces of combat.

Lin Xiao knew it had to be Purple Fox who set the fire.

But he didn’t let his guard down. Even though Purple Fox promised to take care of the Purifiers sect, Lin Xiao’s personality wouldn’t allow him to entrust his fate to others.

With his strong physical constitution, Lin Xiao’s minor injuries healed quickly.

In a small park.

Lin Xiao wore a black training suit, eyes half-closed, holding the Thunderbolt Fist stance. His legs coiled like dragons, his body crouched like a tiger. His entire musculoskeletal system vibrated constantly, emitting a low rumble like thunder.

Buzz… buzz…

Within the thunderous sound, white mist rose from the top of Lin Xiao’s head. His qi and blood surged rapidly. Internal energy flowed from every corner of his body, gathering in his meridians and flowing toward his dantian.

What is internal energy?

When it is retained within the body, it is called qi; when it is released externally, it is called force.

After reaching Flowing Force, ordinary physical training was no longer effective. To continue progressing, one must tap into the hidden potential of the body.

The human body is a vast universe, full of infinite potential. But human strength has limits. Basic training can no longer extract much. Only through specialized techniques could one transcend the ordinary.

This was the biggest difference between martial artists and ordinary people. Techniques were everything. A good cultivation technique greatly accelerated training.

The Thunderbolt Decree Lin Xiao cultivated was only a fragment, but without a doubt, it was a high-grade method. Otherwise, even with his talent, he wouldn’t have reached Flowing Force at such a young age.

Lin Xiao was currently moving his qi and blood to refine his internal energy.

To refine internal energy, as the name suggests, was to refine and transform qi and blood into internal force.

Where did qi and blood come from?

From nutrients absorbed by the body.

To circulate qi and blood was to extract these nutrients. Refinement was the transformation of that essence into inner energy.

Bright Force and Dark Force both utilize internal energy and qi and blood circulation, but the energy was sparse, scattered, and uncontrollable.

Like the difference between an egg and a rock.

Once one broke through to Flowing Force, the whole body was transformed. One could even be considered inhuman. In extreme cases, a Flowing Force master could survive a month without food or water by dissipating internal energy.

Of course, that was only under extreme conditions. No Flowing Force master would really do that. Refining internal energy was not easy—losing even a trace weakened one’s strength.

And in the process of refining internal energy, food consumption was enormous. For example, Lin Xiao’s one meal could feed more than ten people.

Without enough food, or if one’s qi and blood were insufficient, refinement would fail. That’s why the older one got, the harder it was to enter the Flowing Force stage.

There was only one reason: insufficient qi and blood.

Time flew by.

No one knew how long it had passed. Lin Xiao remained focused and calm, controlling the flow of qi and blood through his meridians. Starting from the dantian, through the huiyin, along the Ren and Du meridians, and returning to the dantian—forming a small heavenly cycle.

Endlessly circulating, endlessly renewing.

With each wave of refined internal energy, Lin Xiao’s strength grew, bit by bit.