Chapter 489: A Question

After Chen Lingxin left, Huang Caixing immediately pulled at Yuan Yu’s little hand, grabbed Lin Xiao’s arm, and shook it hard. “Big Brother Lin, who is she?”

“Didn’t you already know?”

“Know what? I don’t know anything.” Huang Caixing pouted, stamping her foot in frustration. “She’s clearly about the same age as you, yet she calls you ‘Master.’ She’s obviously up to no good. Brother Lin, you have to be careful. Don’t get fooled by some scheming woman.”

“…”

Faced with Huang Caixing’s vivid imagination, Lin Xiao didn’t know what to say.

Fortunately, Huang Xinyu stepped in at this moment. “Huang Caixing, what have I always told you? You need to think before you speak. Besides, Chen Lingxin is Lin Xiao’s disciple, so she’s not really an outsider. Was that tone you used with her appropriate?”

“I know it wasn’t appropriate, but I just couldn’t help it. Who told her to be so close with Big Brother Lin?”

Huang Caixing rolled her eyes at Huang Xinyu, then lifted her little face and asked Lin Xiao, “Big Brother Lin, if she’s your disciple, then what am I to you?”

Without hesitation, Lin Xiao answered, “You, Little Yu, and Auntie Xin, of course, you’re all my family.”

“Family is closer than a disciple, right?” Huang Caixing asked nervously.

Only then did Lin Xiao realize what Huang Caixing was worried about, and he couldn’t help but laugh. He countered, “What do you think?”

“Of course, we’re closer to Big Brother Lin.” Huang Caixing replied without even thinking.

“Alright, alright, you two. Can you save the talk for later?” Huang Xinyu interrupted their conversation. “It’s getting late. Let’s go eat. I’ve already booked a private room at Hall of a Hundred Flavors.”

Huang Xinyu’s Ferrari was parked nearby. Lin Xiao drove, taking the three of them to the Hall of a Hundred Flavors in the city center.

11 p.m.

After a satisfying meal, Lin Xiao first took Huang Caixing and her mother home, then walked along Maple Leaf Street with Yuan Yu.

Streetlights glowed dimly, and the night wind gently blew.

The trees lining the sidewalk cast dappled shadows. When the wind passed, the rustling of leaves blended with occasional chirps from the grass. Everything felt serene and beautiful.

Yuan Yu held Lin Xiao’s large hand, their fingers interlocked, walking slowly along the quiet, empty street.

Neither of them spoke. They simply enjoyed this rare moment of peace.

A warm, natural atmosphere flowed between them.

In the end, it was Lin Xiao who broke the silence, “Little Yu, how’s your mom doing?”

Yuan Yu tilted her head to look at Lin Xiao. Under the street lamp, her bright eyes shimmered like water. “Mom’s treatment was very successful. There haven’t been any negative reactions. The doctor said she’ll be discharged soon.”

“Then I’m relieved.” Joy rose in Lin Xiao’s heart. Thinking of the late Yuan Yong, a wave of indescribable emotion washed over him. “I finally didn’t let down the promise I made to your brother.”

Yuan Yu suddenly stopped walking. She turned to face Lin Xiao directly.

“Big Brother Lin, I want to ask you a question. You must answer me honestly.”

“Hmm?”

Yuan Yu bit her pink lip gently with her neat white teeth, stared into Lin Xiao’s eyes, and summoned her courage to ask, “If it weren’t for my brother, would you still treat me so well?”

Lin Xiao opened his mouth, but didn’t know how to answer.

If it had been someone else facing this question, they would’ve immediately said yes without hesitation. But Lin Xiao didn’t want to lie to Yuan Yu.

The main reason he retired from the military and came to Jinghai was Yuan Yong’s death.

It was because of Yuan Yong’s sacrifice that he decided to leave the army and take on the responsibility of caring for Yuan Yong’s family—and guarding against retaliation from that mysterious organization.

If Yuan Yong were still alive, whether Lin Xiao would have retired—or even come to Jinghai—was all uncertain.

“I don’t know,” Lin Xiao answered sincerely after a long pause. “Without your brother Yuan Yong, I wouldn’t have met you, and I wouldn’t have come to Jinghai.”

“Then let me ask another question,” Yuan Yu’s eyes sparkled. “If you met me somewhere else, would you still like me?”

“Of course. You’re so cute, so sensible, who wouldn’t like you?” Lin Xiao reached out and ruffled Yuan Yu’s hair, messing up her silky locks. “Why the sudden questions?”

“Because I feel a sense of crisis.” Yuan Yu smiled with pursed lips, then suddenly let go of Lin Xiao’s hand and said coquettishly, “Big Brother Lin, my legs are a little sore. Will you carry me?”

Only when she was alone with Lin Xiao would Yuan Yu occasionally act spoiled, making it impossible to refuse.

Lin Xiao turned his back to her and squatted down. “Come on up.”

Yuan Yu gently lay on Lin Xiao’s back, arms wrapped around his neck. Lin Xiao supported her legs and effortlessly carried her, striding toward the residential complex.

One hour later. At Yuan Yu’s home.

Lin Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed. From the adjacent room came Yuan Yu’s soft and steady breathing—clearly already deep in sleep.

He closed his eyes. The events of the past few days flashed through his mind like a movie.

The trip to Dongzhou had been short but eventful.

The Southern Martial Alliance, the seven great powers—Tian Junliang, who was clearly at the Flowing Force level but hiding his strength—the conflict with Blazing Sun Martial Hall, the duel with the absolute genius Zhang Li of Scarlet City Sect, the confrontation with the arrogant Scarlet City Sect master Chunyu Yan, and the exchange with Lu Chengfeng of the Four Poles Sect.

All of it had broadened Lin Xiao’s horizons. He felt it had been well worth the trip.

The exchange with Lu Chengfeng had especially benefited Lin Xiao immensely. The Thunderbolt Decree’s lost section he’d long been searching for finally revealed a clue, and he had even obtained a technique from it: the Heavenly Eye.

Lin Xiao thought again about Zhang Li, whom he had crippled, and Chunyu Yan from Scarlet City Sect.

He originally believed that the Scarlet City Sect would make a move against him while he was still in Dongzhou, but strangely, they hadn’t acted up even until his departure.

This made Lin Xiao somewhat disappointed. He had hoped to eliminate the threat in one clean stroke. Yet, the Scarlet City Sect didn’t move.

Of course, Lin Xiao wouldn’t naively believe that Chunyu Yan had given up on revenge. With his narrow and ruthless personality, that was impossible.

If Scarlet City Sect hadn’t moved, it was likely because they were either preoccupied or apprehensive. In any case, revenge would come sooner or later—Lin Xiao had long been prepared.

When soldiers come, we counter with generals; when floods arrive, we use earth to block. Simple as that.

Countless thoughts surfaced in Lin Xiao’s mind, then gradually settled.

His body relaxed. His thoughts drifted into a meditative state—his whole being entering a state of emptiness.

After a while, when he finally felt he had reached his optimal state, Lin Xiao pulled from his pocket the box Lu Chengfeng had given him—inside was the Heavenly Eye from the lost section of the Thunderbolt Decree.