Chapter 445: The Kiss

After finishing his cultivation, Lin Xiao returned to Yuan Yu’s home. Yuan Yu had already left for school. Lin Xiao took off his jacket and stepped into the bathroom for a cold shower. Midway through the shower, the phone suddenly rang from the living room.

Wearing only shorts, Lin Xiao stepped out of the bathroom and picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

Chen Lingxin’s crisp voice came through the receiver, “Master, it’s me.”

“I know.” Lin Xiao replied calmly while drying off with a towel. “What is it?”

“Can’t I call you if nothing is going on?” Chen Lingxin sounded displeased. “Master, you haven’t come to the martial arts hall in days. Have you forgotten your disciple?”

“Isn’t the hall temporarily closed? What would I go there for?” Listening to her energetic, spirited voice, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but smile. “I went to the hospital yesterday to see Uncle Chen, but I didn’t see you.”

“The hall’s closed, true, but I was there. I was training in seclusion yesterday. Oh, and I’ve got good news. I’ve broken through to Dark Force!”

Chen Lingxin’s tone was full of joy.

“Master, how about I come see you tomorrow? Let’s spar a bit.”

“No need. We’ll be meeting tomorrow anyway. I’ll see how much you’ve improved then.” Lin Xiao reminded her, “Don’t forget the Southern Martial Exchange Conference is about to begin. You’d better conserve your strength.”

“Don’t worry, Master. I know what I’m doing.” Chen Lingxin calmed down instantly. “But, Master… you’re really willing to go with me?”

“I promised. And I have no reason to refuse.” Lin Xiao walked to the window and looked at the high-rise buildings in the distance. “Tomorrow morning we’ll meet at the martial arts hall, then take the train to Dongzhou City.”

Dongzhou City was the host of this year’s Southern Martial Exchange Conference and the most prosperous area in the southern region.

The country of Xia was vast and populous, with rich resources. It was divided regionally into the Southern, Western, Northern, and Eastern Capital Regions, each with a population in the hundreds of millions.

These districts were merely regional designations and not administrative divisions. The highest administrative unit in Xia was the province.

The southern region consisted of five provinces: Jiangnan, Jiangdong, Minzhou, Haimen, and Yuezhou.

In Jiangnan Province, martial arts had declined, and even Dark Force experts were rare. But the other provinces were different. The Golden Claw Sect Lin Xiao had encountered was only a mid-level force in Jiangdong, and the other four provinces were no less powerful.

Lin Xiao could easily imagine that this upcoming Southern Martial Arts Exchange would be packed with elite experts.

With his personality, had he not known about it, it would be one thing. But now that he did, there was no way he would miss it.

Such a grand gathering would be an excellent opportunity to broaden his horizons and elevate his strength.

Chen Lingxin was unaware of Lin Xiao’s inner thoughts. She thought he was going for her sake and was deeply moved.

“Master, you’re the best. I love you to death!”

Hearing her say such cheesy words—especially from someone usually like a tomboy—left Lin Xiao a bit unprepared.

“If there’s nothing else, rest well. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay, Master! I’m counting on you and the martial arts hall. You’ve got to back me up at the conference.”

“Mm.” Lin Xiao grunted and hung up.

He put the phone down, changed into casual clothes, picked up a black bank card from the table, looked at it briefly, and tucked it into his pocket.

The card held fifty million yuan—his reward from the Chen family for assisting them, as well as gratitude for the previous Golden Claw incident.

Originally, it had been sixty million, but after paying for Aunt Yuan’s medical bills and buying the Cayenne, only fifty remained.

Lin Xiao never cared much for money. Though he wouldn’t go as far as to treat it like dirt, it made little difference to him whether he had a lot or a little, so long as it was enough.

So aside from the car and medical, he’d spent very little of it.

***

The next morning.

Lin Xiao awoke from meditation, dressed silently, washed his face with cold water, and gently pushed open the door to Yuan Yu’s bedroom.

Last night, he had already told Yuan Yu about going to Dongzhou for the martial arts exchange. Though worried, she didn’t try to stop him. Instead, she quietly packed his clothes and travel essentials.

Inside the room, Yuan Yu lay curled up on the soft bed, facing inward, a thin blanket draped over her.

Her eyes were closed as if asleep, but Lin Xiao knew she was only pretending. She’d been awake for a while.

“Little Yu, I’m leaving. While I’m gone, can you stay at Caixing’s place?”

Standing by the bed, Lin Xiao looked at Yuan Yu’s beautiful face and spoke gently.

“I promise I’ll be back soon.”

Yuan Yu trembled slightly and rolled over, revealing eyes clear as glass and bright as stars. Without a word, she got up and threw herself into Lin Xiao’s arms.

“Big Brother Lin… promise me you’ll come back safe. Please, don’t get hurt.” Her soft arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her body pressed against his. Her pink lips brushed his ear as she whispered, “I don’t want to see you hurt ever again.”

Lin Xiao’s heart warmed. From her words, he could feel her deep care.

One arm wrapped around her slender waist, the other gently stroked her silky hair.

“I promise.”

Yuan Yu rested her head on his chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. Suddenly, she bit her lip and said, “Big Brother Lin, can you close your eyes?”

“Why?”

“Just do it,” she said coyly, squirming a bit in his arms.

Lin Xiao, confused, didn’t ask further and obeyed.

Yuan Yu waved a hand before his face to check he really had closed his eyes. Then, gathering some unknown courage, she quickly leaned up and kissed the corner of his lips.

Afterward, as if shocked by her own boldness, her heart raced, and she didn’t dare meet his gaze. She jumped back and hid under the blanket.

Lin Xiao instinctively raised a hand to touch the spot where she’d kissed him. It still seemed to retain that warm, soft sensation.

He was a little stunned.

Yuan Yu’s personality was gentle and reserved. She always spoke softly, afraid of disturbing others. And now, she had done something even Huang Caixing wouldn’t dare. How could he not be surprised?

But after the shock passed, seeing Yuan Yu’s utterly embarrassed expression, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Little Yu, I’m going now.” He patted her on the back through the blanket. “Get up early, don’t be late for school. If anything happens, call me, or go to Auntie Xinyu, okay?”

A muffled “Mm” came from under the blanket—whether she heard him or not, he couldn’t tell.

Lin Xiao gently stroked her head, then turned and left.

The moment he turned around, Yuan Yu peeked out from the blanket, her face flushed deep red. Her eyes followed his departing figure, dazed.

“Why didn’t big brother Lin react? I clearly kissed him…”

After the shyness came self-doubt.

“Why did I get so bold all of a sudden? How can I face him again after this… So embarrassing…”

***

Completely unaware of her turmoil, Lin Xiao drove the Cayenne to the Chen’s Martial Arts Hall.

At the entrance stood Chen Tianxing, Chen Tianli, and Elder Chen side by side. There were also a few students from the hall, but Chen Lingxin was nowhere to be seen.

“Old Master, Uncle Chen, I’m here.” Lin Xiao got out of the car and greeted them.

Elder Chen looked even older. His white hair was now pure snow, and his back was hunched. Chen Tianxing had grown thinner but still looked spirited, his eyes bright and focused.

“Lin Xiao, troubling you again… I truly feel ashamed.” Elder Chen gave a self-deprecating smile, his expression tinged with melancholy. “I’ve thought it over. Maybe we should forget about all this. You’ve already done more than enough for the Chen family.”