Goddess Painting

Tian Shu Peak, the night was as black as ink.

Qin Feng pushed open the door, and before he could even turn on the light, he saw a dark figure huddled in the corner.

Dressed entirely in black, with a black cloth covering his face, only his shifty eyes were visible, he looked just like a thief.

"Who?!" Qin Feng instinctively adopted a defensive stance.

The dark figure ripped off his mask, revealing a kind-looking face tinged with smugness:

"Brother-in-law! It's me!"

"Lin Yi?!"

Qin Feng looked at his attire and couldn't help but laugh and cry: "Why are you dressed like this?"

Lin Yi scratched his head, looking for praise.

"Hehe, brother-in-law, how about it? Aren't I smart?"

"This outfit is a carefully selected night suit! I've sneaked up here undetected! Absolutely no one will notice! It'll be completely undetectable!"

"No one will know about our relationship!"

Qin Feng's lips twitched, then he gave a thumbs up: "Smart! Resourceful!"

Seeing this, Lin Wan'er, who was tidying up the house nearby, covered her mouth and chuckled, then tactfully withdrew to give the two of them space to talk.

As soon as the door closed, Lin Yi immediately came over mysteriously, took out a heavy package from his pocket, and put it on the table.

"Brother-in-law! This is for you!"

"What is this?" Qin Feng was taken aback.

Lin Yi's face flushed with excitement as he unpacked the package:

"Brother-in-law, you have no idea how grand the ceremony was when my senior sister took me to become an apprentice today! The sect leader and master were incredibly generous!"

"Cultivation techniques, elixirs, spirit stones... they showered us with a huge amount of gifts!"

"But holding these things makes me feel so choked up! These should all have been yours! I'm just a fake, receiving this 'holy treatment'—it's too hot to handle!"

"I thought about giving you all the rewards directly, but my senior sister is watching over us. The cultivation techniques and jade slips are all protected by restrictions, and the spirit stones and pills are all counted. If a large portion is missing, I'll be exposed when they investigate, and that will be even more troublesome."

At this point, Lin Yi chuckled and pointed to the pile of things on the table:

"So, I brought all my own savings!"

"Look! Here are two thousand low-grade spirit stones, eight hundred mid-grade spirit stones! And five bottles of first-tier Body Forging Pills!"

"Oh, right! I smuggled these healing medicines from home, and most of those spirit stones—I begged my dad and mom for them last night!"

Lin Yi patted his chest, looking smug:

"I know Tian Shu Peak is dirt poor right now, and everything needs to be rebuilt. You'll definitely find these resources useful!"

Qin Feng looked at the pile of spirit stones and pills radiating spiritual light, his expression becoming somewhat strange, and also somewhat...moved.

The money he squeezed from that old scoundrel Lin Zhengnan was then given to himself, the son-in-law whom they considered a thorn in their side.

If Lin Zhengnan found out, he would probably be so angry that he would go mad and kick the bucket and ascend to heaven.

Is this the legendary "filial piety and parental love"?

"These... are all cultivation resources you've accumulated yourself," Qin Feng said with some emotion.

Lin Yi waved his hand sheepishly:

"Oh, brother-in-law! Why are you being so formal with me!"

"Recruiting disciples, training, and maintaining appearances—all of these things cost money. If I can help, even just a little, I'll feel a bit more at ease!"

Please accept it! Otherwise, I'll really feel bad!

Seeing the sincere look in the silly boy's eyes, Qin Feng stopped being coy.

He used his spiritual power to probe and count the number.

Two thousand low-grade pills, eight hundred mid-grade pills, five bottles of Body Forging Pills...

This is quite a windfall!

Especially those five bottles of Body Forging Pills, which are exactly the cultivation resources he urgently needs right now!

"Brother-in-law will remember this kindness."

Qin Feng carefully put away the package, then said solemnly:

"Xiao Yi, I've accepted the gifts. But right now, your brother-in-law has a real problem and needs your help."

"I have some spirit stones, but for some reason, I can't buy the pills myself. Yes, neither can your sister Wan'er. Could you go to the Pill Pavilion for me? Buy as many as you need; spirit stones are no problem!"

"Huh? I can't buy the pills myself? Why is that?" Lin Yi was a little confused.

"Don't ask anymore, just go buy it for me."

Qin Feng was helpless.

I didn't tell Lin Yi the truth because I was afraid of hurting him.

I can't just tell him directly that my dad has blacklisted me, can I?

I thought Lin Yi would agree immediately, but to my surprise, the kid's face fell, revealing an expression even more unpleasant than crying:

"Brother-in-law...it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that I really can't!"

"What's wrong?" Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat.

"My master specifically instructed me that my foundation is not stable enough yet, and that I should go into seclusion to cultivate and solidify my foundation."

Lin Yi said with a bitter face, "And it's Senior Sister Su Qinghan personally supervising us! She's incredibly strict!"

"I sneaked out this time while my senior sister was handling some personal matters. I have at most half an hour before I have to go back to seclusion, otherwise I'll be finished if my senior sister finds out!"

"If we go to the Pill Pavilion to buy so many pills, it'll cause too much of a commotion, and we definitely won't be able to keep it a secret!"

Half an hour?!

So urgent?!

Qin Feng's brows furrowed instantly.

There simply isn't enough time.

Wouldn't my plan to "cross the Chencang pass in secret" be doomed before it even began?

No matter how much we planned, we never expected this unexpected turn of events.

"Brother-in-law, I'm so sorry..." Lin Yi said with a guilty look on his face.

Qin Feng sighed and waved his hand, "It's alright, it's good that you have the intention. These pills should last me for a while, so take care of yourself first and don't give yourself away."

"Okay! Don't worry, brother-in-law, I'll try my best not to give myself away."

Lin Yi nodded emphatically, then his face turned grim: "Brother-in-law, how much longer do I have to carry this title of Saint-grade aptitude? Every time I see my senior sister and master, I feel guilty. This feeling of lying is unbearable."

Qin Feng asked, "But have you considered the consequences if it's discovered that you don't actually have Saint-grade aptitude?"

Lin Yi smiled calmly: "At first, I was also afraid of being discovered, but later I realized that rather than being anxious and uneasy while impersonating my brother-in-law and taking advantage of your treatment, it is better to face the inevitable outcome with equanimity."

These words made Qin Feng look at Lin Yi with new respect.

This brother-in-law's character is truly exceptional.

Lin Yi smiled wryly, "If it weren't for you saying, brother-in-law, that my taking your place would help you, I probably would have already confessed to my master and senior sister."

Qin Feng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, it will only be another month at most. By then, you can be yourself again."

The two chatted for a little while longer before Lin Yi had to leave.

As he was leaving, he seemed to suddenly remember some gossip and leaned closer mysteriously:

"By the way, brother-in-law, I have something strange to tell you!"

"What is it?"

"My senior sister, Su Qinghan! She actually messed up her cultivation and developed inner demons!"

Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat: "Even the Holy Maiden can make a mistake? No way?"

"Absolutely!"

Lin Yi, beaming with excitement, described it vividly:

"I heard it with my own ears in the sect leader's hall today! My senior sister said she's been feeling restless lately, and it's been happening very frequently, just in the last three or four days!"

"The most outrageous thing is that she said her inner demon... is actually you!"