Decaying World

Chapter 62 062 Test Two

“Incompetent, you are indeed incompetent.” Song Zhanlong glanced at the other two disciples.

"The strength of Qingfeng Temple is greater than I imagined. Is there anyone who can deal with them?" he asked calmly.

"It's just Qingfeng Temple, and it's already abandoned, with only a few disciples left. Junior Sister Mu lost, but she actually exaggerated her opponent's strength excessively. Is she trying to make you think that her loss is to be expected and to reduce the punishment?" Senior Brother Wang Hongshi said in a deep voice.

"I didn't!" Mu Qiaozhi cried out, trying to speak.

"Shut up!" Wang Hongshi snapped. "Weakness isn't scary; what's scary is when you've lost in your own heart and can't muster even the slightest desire to win! Master, I'll go and handle this matter."

Song Zhanlong nodded in satisfaction.

The reason why Wang Hongshi was his favorite disciple was because this kid suited his taste.

Surely we can't expect the dignified Black Dragon Sect Master to personally visit a crippled Qingfeng Temple?

In fact, he was somewhat skeptical of Mu Qiaozhi's statement, but it was impossible for this guy to cut off his own hand to act out a scene.

Therefore, the most likely explanation is that after Mu Qiaozhi switched to martial arts, her movements slowed down, and her defense didn't improve, turning her into a hybrid of two equally powerful and weak individuals. This ultimately led to her being defeated by her former junior brother.

Of course, he also wondered if there were other people with internal energy realm hidden in Qingfeng Temple, but through repeated questioning of Mu Qiaozhi and her followers, he was able to tell that they were not lying.

Since it really was just the work of a former disciple, it would be more appropriate for Wang Hongshi to step in.

Wang Hongshi was a top genius he rescued on his way from Xingdao. Under his dedicated guidance, Wang Hongshi has just reached the limit of body tempering. His defenses are impervious to swords and blades, making him unmatched by anyone outside the internal energy realm. Coupled with his precise hidden weapon techniques, his strength is far superior to that of Mu Qiaozhi.

“However, when you think about it, Lin Hui’s family has quite a background. His father is someone that Lady You Ying of the Inner City Rain Palace values. Master, are we…?” Wang Hongshi asked tentatively, lowering his voice.

"You Ying is strong, but she didn't directly attack that kid's father, so don't worry about her. Just don't kill him," Song Zhanlong said nonchalantly.

The superior is very strong; he can't beat him, but he's not so much afraid of the opponent's dog's son.

He knew very well what kind of mental state those lunatics in the inner city were in. If that kid's father really went to beg You Ying because his son was crippled, he would probably be the first one to be crippled.

"Yes!" Wang Hongshi nodded slightly, having received confirmation. He glanced at the sky, turned around, and quickly stepped off the stage, heading towards the side door.

"Master, disciple," Mu Qiaozhi still wanted to speak, her face pale, trying to explain.

But Song Zhanlong was too lazy to pay attention to her.

The Mu family's summoners are just so-so. Plus, Mu Qiaozhi herself broke her hand, which greatly reduced her potential. Even if she is cured in the future, she will still be useless, at most only slightly better than an ordinary person.

He simply waved his hand, indicating that the other person should get lost.

A fleeting look of pain crossed Mu Qiaozhi's eyes.

She knew she had been abandoned.

Song Zhanlong was that kind of person. He quickly gathered a large group of people by force, but in his eyes, the people who could be brought in by force were nothing more than clothes that could be replaced at any time. If the clothes were torn, he could just change them.

And now I have lost my value. Not only will I have no status here, but I will also be disregarded by my family.
The Mu family home is also a place of extreme pragmatism.
*
*
*
Xinyu Town.

Lin Hui led Weiwei, Xiaohu, and Xiaopang, a total of four people, back to his front door.

The three of them had heard about the resurgence of Lin Hui's family, but they didn't have much of a concrete understanding of it.

But when they actually stood in front of the Lin family mansion, which covered an area comparable to a palace, they truly understood what the so-called rise of the Lin Hui family meant.

"Young Master Hui, you're back?" The two burly men guarding the side gate were hired by the father.

They were said to be disciples of the Hundred Steps Divine Fist, but Lin Hui could vaguely tell that their footwork was quite remarkable, while their fists were somewhat weak.

Both of them were skilled body tempering experts whose physical abilities were significantly superior to those of ordinary people.

The current Lin family mansion is comparable to the top families in the outer city, with skilled body tempering experts and low-grade gatekeepers. It's a bit extravagant, but not nonexistent.

"Okay. Have Ding Ning come to see me." Lin Hui nodded and said, "These are my fellow disciples, here to visit. Please register, and they can come and go freely for the next few days."

"Yes," the two replied respectfully.

Lin Hui then led the three of them through the side door.

"Master, is this your house?! It's huge!" Xiao Hu's mouth hadn't closed since he saw the gate.

The chubby boy next to him was just like him.

Although Xiao Pang's family was well-off, it certainly wasn't on the scale of the Lin family mansion.

This standard is top-notch even in the entire outer city.

"My goodness! Master, this house is bigger than three of my houses combined!" Little Fatty grabbed Little Tiger's shirt from behind, looking around with wide eyes.

As for Weiwei, she walked at the very back, her pretty face slightly flushed, clearly showing that she was a little uneasy.

She had seen large houses with her father before. Although the Lin family mansion was a bit extravagant, it wasn't enough to shock her. Back when Qingfeng Temple was still decent, her father would occasionally take her to visit the mansions of some nobles, so she naturally gained some experience and knowledge.

What made her feel somewhat uneasy at this moment was that after her father passed away, she was now completely alone and had no choice but to go to the Lin family mansion for refuge with her junior brother.

Yes, they came to seek refuge.

Lin Hui led the three people to his courtyard.

"You can stay here for the next few days. I have six rooms in this courtyard, you can choose any one. I usually live in the attic, and my daily meals will be delivered to me. After the trouble with Black Dragon Gate is over, we can go back to Qingfeng Temple." "Won't that be too much trouble for you?" Weiwei said softly.

"It's alright, we're all from the same sect, no need to worry about these things." Lin Hui paused. "The Black Dragon Sect's goal has been thwarted, and I've cut off Mu Qiaozhi's arm. I estimate they'll send out even stronger people soon, so staying at Qingfeng Temple is the real danger."

“But hiding like this isn’t a solution,” Weiwei said, frowning.

"I am the sect leader, I will find a way. You can rest assured and stay here for now," Lin Hui said calmly. "My father has many connections. I plan to find some experts to negotiate with the Black Dragon Sect, but this will take time."

"I see." Weiwei understood. "Then be careful while you're out there alone."

"Hmm." Lin Hui nodded. "But as you said, this can't go on forever. Senior Sister, you should hurry up and temper your body to its limit. Then I'll teach you my improved Qingfeng Sword Technique for a second tempering. In any case, improving your own strength is the only way!"

"Yes!" Weiwei nodded vigorously.

To be honest, I didn't feel anything for the two teenagers, Xiao Hu and Xiao Pang. But I was the senior sister, still of marriageable age, and I was living in the Lin residence because of my junior brother. It was somewhat...
She kept telling herself it was for safety, for safety. But the inexplicable awkwardness, the feeling that she was relying on her junior brother for everything, still made her very uncomfortable.

If she really had something going on with Lin Hui, that would be one thing, but the kind of partner she truly desired wasn't someone like Lin Hui.

She had already set some initial goals during the last gathering. She has also been corresponding with the other party from time to time.

She was worried that moving into the Lin residence at this time would cause misunderstandings.

Lin Hui didn't care what the others were thinking.

Ding Ning arrived quickly and, after arranging accommodations and daily routines for the three, left the Lin residence again. With Hundred Steps Divine Fist, an expert in the Inner Strength Realm, watching over the house, even if he was no match for Song Zhanlong, Song Zhanlong wouldn't dare to cause trouble since it wasn't a martial arts school.

Otherwise, it would be disrupting the basic order of the outer city and going against the government.

The outer city order is a set of rules jointly established by the three major inner city forces. It's understandable for martial arts schools to challenge each other, but if anyone dares to openly attack a wealthy family in town, then Song Zhanlong should prepare to flee again.

Therefore, Lin Hui was not worried about this.

He left alone and wandered around the town streets at his leisure.

We quickly strolled around a makeshift market filled with stalls.

"How much is it?"

At a stall selling handmade toy masks, Lin Hui picked up a wooden mask meant for children and inquired about it.

"Twenty yuan a piece, any style you like. How old is your child? It's best to bring your child to try it on, so they don't have to wear it." The stall owner, an elderly man, reminded him with a smile.

Lin Hui glanced at the mask in his hand. It was a white-painted mask, round in shape, with a round face, a round forehead, and a round chin.

Her fair skin, bright red lips, and black eyelashes created a striking contrast.

It looks like a pale version of the Fuwa mascot.

He picked it up and held it to his face, but it only covered the upper half of his face.

It's still a bit too small.

However, the eyes are done well and do not affect vision.

There's an elastic cord at the back, making it easy and secure to wear, and preventing it from falling off.

"This is it." He paid quickly, picked up the mask, and turned to leave.

The face shield is in hand; next up is the address of the Black Dragon Gate.

'Since you don't intend to reveal your strength, then let's solve the problem under a different identity. However, I really don't know where the Black Dragon Gate is.'

Lin Hui thought for a moment and realized that he really couldn't find anyone to ask.

'They're running a business, so they'll eventually spread the word. Why not wander around town? Maybe we can find someone to guide us.'

Thinking of this, he slowed down and wandered around the town. Before long, he actually spotted a stall set up by the Black Dragon Sect in the town.

Behind the stall were two ordinary disciples dressed in Black Dragon Gate attire. On one side, there was a wooden sign displaying information such as registration fees, temporary training fees, and how much would be reduced if the selection was successful.

Lin Hui memorized the location, checked the time, and then went to the cloth shop to buy black cloth to wrap his head.

All he had to do was wrap his head up, put on a mask, change his sword, wear long sleeves and trousers, and put on gloves, and no one would recognize him.

This time, he intends to confront the Black Dragon Gate head-on.

Anyway, he has the advantage in speed, and the Black Dragon Sect is an outsider who hasn't established himself yet, so he's not worried about their background. Besides, Song Zhanlong isn't a speed-type expert, so even if he can't beat him, he can always retreat.

By that logic, Black Dragon Gate is practically the best candidate for the test.

The testing stone used to determine the level of his strength.

Finally, Lin Hui went to the blacksmith shop and bought a crude, standard-issue longsword as his weapon for the operation. He then returned to the observation post to wait for the Black Dragon Clan members to pack up and return to headquarters.

Time passed quickly, and soon it got dark.

The two Black Dragon Gate men who were tending the stall finally yawned, got up, packed their things into large bags, and walked together in a certain direction.

Lin Hui followed quietly from a distance.

(End of this chapter)