Chapter 195

Liu Shenglan sighed softly, her hand gently stroking her daughter’s back as she looked toward the courtyard entrance. Lin Hui’s tall figure was slowly walking in.

He had grown again, now standing at 1.9 meters. Though this height was only average among martial artists, he was considered tall in the surrounding towns. His black hair hung loose, and prolonged cultivation had softened his features, rendering them more harmonious. Judging by his appearance alone, he no longer resembled the nondescript passerby he once was.

"It’s good that you’re back," Lin Shunhe grumbled. "Your mother was just nagging about you a few days ago. All you know is cultivation—what’s the point of training at this stage?"

Lin Hui only smiled, offering no rebuttal.

In his family's eyes, his Internal Force was now Perfected, which was the hard ceiling for an Outer City martial artist. Rising higher without the backing of a great clan or exceptional innate aptitude was deemed impossible. Thus, everyone believed he should focus on marriage, heirs, and managing his influence for a secure retirement.

Only he knew his limit was far from reached.

Lin Hui swept his gaze across the room, greeting his Second Mother first, then glancing at his younger sister, Lin Xiaoliu, who was shrinking away like a frightened quail.

"It’s about time for Xiaoliu to start cultivation, isn't it?"

"We’re currently deciding on an Inner City institution," Liu Shenglan said, nodding with a worried expression. "The Three Greats are the obvious choice; the question is which one."

"Our first thought was the Rain Palace," Lin Shunhe explained. "With your eldest brother and second sister there, she’d be looked after, and her future prospects might be better. However, recent tests showed Xiaoliu’s mind-spirit is naturally much stronger than the average person, so the Government Office might actually be the better choice."

"Why? Why would the Government Office be more suitable than the Chen clan or the Rain Palace?" Lin Hui asked in confusion.

"Mainly because of the comprehensiveness of development," Liu Shenglan explained in detail. "The Government Office is the faction where the Moon Tower has aggregated the most diverse martial arts and Call-cultivation systems. Behind it stand the Trueblood Nobles of the Moon Tower. The Chen clan is backed by the largest private clan relative to the other great families, but it still falls short compared to the Government Office, which embodies the collective will of all Trueblood Nobles."

She paused before continuing, "Finally, the Rain Palace is a separate system. The Palace Master and Vice Palace Masters appear to be the supreme leaders, but in reality, the Palace is a standalone branch agency belonging solely to the Federation. Theoretically, they function as supervisors for the detailed situations of various cities and regions—like a massive inspectorate organization. As long as the Federation remains stable, the Rain Palace won't have any issues."

"So, for personal development and tapping into maximum potential, the Government Office has the most abundant and comprehensive resources," Lin Shunhe added.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this. I encountered people from the Inner City investigating something while I was out. What’s going on recently? Dad, do you have any news?" Lin Hui pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Doesn't your temple have people from the Inspectorate Division? Information like that should be more accessible to you than to me," Lin Shunhe said helplessly.

"I just happened to think of it and asked. I can verify it when I go back," Lin Hui smiled.

"Actually, it's nothing major. Just that there have been many disappearance cases recently. The Inner City announced that it’s a group action by some wanted criminals, so they asked us to cooperate in the manhunt for a batch of major felons," Lin Shunhe said simply.

"Anything else?"

"What else could there be? Inner City people rarely concern themselves with outside matters; they mostly leave it to the government to convey orders.” Lin Shunhe gave his son a strange look.

"Alright, that's good then," Lin Hui nodded.

"Your eldest brother knows these things best. He happens to be here, so just go to his courtyard and chat. He’s the hope of our future, after all," Lin Shunhe laughed.

Big Brother is here? Then I'll go find him. Lin Hui remembered he had just received a Moth Carriage from Hou Xihan; he definitely needed to let his big brother know.

Without further ado, he stood up and rubbed Lin Xiaoliu's head. "I'm heading over then."

"Go on. By the way, when are you and Miss Han having children? Why hasn't there been any movement after so long?" Lin Shunhe suddenly asked again.

"No rush. We are martial artists, after all, and we're still young." Lin Hui shook his head.

"I don't understand what you young people think..."

Before Lin Shunhe could finish his complaints, he saw Lin Hui’s figure flash and vanish.

…

On the other side, inside Liu Wujun's small courtyard, the elder brother was reprimanding his sister, Liu Xiao, who had just returned. It seemed Liu Xiao had taken it upon herself to attend some special Moon Tower event, and upon finding out, Liu Wujun was quite worried.

When Lin Hui arrived outside the gate, he heard Big Sister Liu Xiao clearly unconvinced, constantly retorting. Seemingly realizing he had arrived, the siblings' voices gradually ceased. Only then did Lin Hui actively knock on the courtyard gate and cough twice.

"Is that Ah Hui? Come in," Liu Wujun said gently.

"Big Brother, Second Sister. Long time no see." Lin Hui walked in and saw Liu Xiao dressed as if she had come from a long journey, still covered in white gauze that masked her face, revealing only a pair of bright, crescent-moon eyes.

It had been a year or two since she broke through to Divine Officer. Now that her realm had stabilized, her temperament was much less impetuous than before.

"You call me Big Sister one moment and Second Sister the next. Can you unify the address?" Liu Xiao said grumpily.

"Then Big Sister? Provided Big Brother has no objections," Lin Hui smiled. "What were you talking about?"

"I heard you went to the Moon Tower a few days ago? I was just telling your big sister off for not listening to me and going to participate in a special event inside. Is that place somewhere she should be going?" Liu Wujun's temper flared up again; his handsome face flushed slightly red, and his voice rose a few octaves.

Lin Hui looked at Big Sister Liu Xiao in astonishment. "What kind of event was it? Can you tell me, Big Sister?"

"It was a birthday celebration held by an Elder of the Extreme Desire Heaven. They invited all the high-level executives of our Palace to meet face-to-face. If I didn't go, wouldn't that be too disrespectful?" Liu Xiao argued with a bad attitude.

Extreme Desire Heaven.

Lin Hui immediately understood what his big brother was worried about. What kind of place was the Extreme Desire Heaven? Having visited the Moon Tower once, he knew exactly what style of activities those Elders engaged in.

"So, Big Sister, you went?"

"I went, but your big brother blocked me at the entrance and dragged me back," Liu Xiao said huffily.

"Big Sister, you haven't been with a man yet, right?" Lin Hui asked further.

"Correct. Why? What’s wrong with not having been with one?" Liu Xiao’s tone instantly turned fierce as she glared at Lin Hui, looking quite cute.

Of course, in the eyes of outsiders, this look wouldn't be cute because Liu Xiao might actually kill someone at any moment. But to her own family, this appearance was indeed endearing.

"Then I stand with Big Brother on this. Extreme Desire Heaven... I visited a friend's home this time. His mother is an Elder there. The style of the Elders' activities... is generally many men and many women, mutually... Big Sister, you understand."

Lin Hui stopped there.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiao’s face darkened. "But that was a birthday!"

"Were the people invited to attend all young men and women with good looks and figures? Were there any elderly people? Any ugly ones?" Lin Hui asked again.

Liu Xiao fell silent. Clearly, Lin Hui had guessed correctly.

"Look at that place inside the Moon Tower. To the Truebloods, it is heaven, but to outsiders, it is the most dangerous of places. If someone like you goes in, within a few days, you'd vanish without a trace, completely fallen into 'extreme bliss'! Several of my former colleagues were ruined by this kind of invitation trap."

Liu Wujun’s tone softened as he looked at his sister. "You received a direct invitation, delivered straight into your hand. That means a Trueblood Noble in the Moon Tower has taken a fancy to you. It’s like choosing dishes—they picked you out and sent the invitation. If you don’t accept, it’s fine; the Rain Palace’s name can still ward off many monsters and demons. But if you actively agree… once you go in, whether the person who comes out is still really you, I honestly don’t know."

His voice grew quieter toward the end.

Liu Xiao wasn't a fool; she now realized the severity of the consequences. Being a Divine Officer herself, she knew how terrifying cognitive modification was at the High Divine Officer level and above. One could say that cognitive modification could make a person appear outwardly normal, but internally, their thinking would have been altered into whatever shape the manipulator desired.

"So many people change completely after entering the Moon Tower just once. It’s not that their will wasn't firm enough, but that their insides had already been modified into another person..." Liu Wujun said softly.

"Alright, alright, Big Sister understands the consequences now. That’s enough. I have my pride too; you don’t need to keep harping on it," Lin Hui said from the side.

"Ah Hui is the sensible one. If you ask me, instead of being with that Miss Han, you’d be better off with Xiao-Xiao. It’d make our ties even closer…"

Before Liu Wujun could finish, Liu Xiao smashed a fist at him.

Bang!

A heavy wave of air exploded into transparent ripples. Their Void Force clashed, making the ground of the surrounding courtyard seem to tremble violently.

It was evident Liu Xiao was hitting him for real.

"That's enough from you!" Liu Xiao’s pretty face turned red, the flush visible even through her mask.

"Fine, fine, I won't say it." Liu Wujun looked at Lin Hui. "Ah Hui, you came here to ask something, right?"

"Mhm, I can't hide anything from Big Brother." Lin Hui immediately recounted his invitation to the Moon Tower and his receipt of a Moth Carriage.

"A Moth Carriage!?" Liu Xiao’s eyes widened on the side. That was something she had wanted for a very, very long time. Yet she hadn't received one, while her little brother Ah Hui got one first.

What kind of damned luck was this!?

"Lend it to me to play with! Ah Hui, with how close we are, and you being such a generous person, surely you wouldn't mind lending it to your sister for a few days, right!?" she immediately shouted self-righteously.

"...Sure. If Big Sister or Big Brother needs to use it, just go to the flight point near the South Ninth Gate and give your names. I'll give them a heads-up in advance," Lin Hui said, laughing and crying at the same time.

"You're a true friend!" Liu Xiao patted Lin Hui's arm, satisfied. Her bad mood from earlier seemed to vanish instantly. "I have things to do, so I'm off. You guys chat!"

She glared at Liu Wujun, then turned and flashed away, disappearing, leaving the two men looking helpless.

"Big Brother really has it hard," Lin Hui sighed.

"Sigh..." Liu Wujun sighed as well. Growing up, he didn't know how many times he had cleaned up his sister's messes behind the scenes. Although Liu Xiao had outstanding abilities and handled matters well, she was also top-tier at causing trouble.

"I know about the Moth Carriage; I'll explain it to Master. Recently, have you established a relationship with the Nine Dreams Sect?" he asked via sound transmission.

"Somewhat. The martial arts I created were appreciated by their people, so they sent someone to exchange martial arts experiences, sort of absorbing inspiration," Lin Hui replied.

"If you can, try to maintain this relationship. The Nine Dreams Sect is one of the Three Sects and Six Associations and is extremely powerful. Its Grand Elder, Yun Xiazi, stepped into the Palace Master realm many years ago, and his combat strength is among the very strongest of his peers. Moreover, he dual-cultivates both Call and Martial Arts, and, later, during the Evil Weapon War, he seized one of the three Imitation Evil Weapons known to be closest to the original prototype. With this triple-stacked power, he’s truly terrifying. Because of this, the Nine Dreams Sect ranks first among the Three Sects and Six Associations."