Chapter 2: Lin Lei, My Brother!
This is a world where battle qi has been honed to its peak.
Where mighty and bizarre magical beasts roam the lands.
Where invincible powerhouses can shatter mountains with a single strike and step through the void like gods.
Yes—this is the Yulan Continent.
Nestled within the western region of the Finlay Kingdom, on the border of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, lies a small and unremarkable town: Wu Shan Town.
But as the saying goes—a mountain is not revered for its height, but for the immortals that dwell upon it; a river is not sacred for its depth, but for the dragons it harbors.
In this quiet corner of the world, lived Lin Lei—destined to one day become the Hongmeng Controller.
—
On the eastern outskirts of Wu Shan Town, a group of children were hard at work, training diligently beneath the rising sun.
Born into humble commoner families, these boys had no access to secret battle qi manuals, no guidance from powerful clans, and no hope of cultivating profound techniques. They couldn't even dream of condensing true battle qi.
So instead, they did what they could—they trained their bodies through the most basic of physical exercises.
Even without access to advanced cultivation paths, hard work could still bring results. Perhaps not enough to become a sixth-rank or fifth-rank warrior, but with effort, reaching the fourth rank wasn't impossible.
And with that strength, they might join the army, carve out a future, and change their fates—for themselves, for their families, and for their descendants.
But even setting ambition aside, one fact remained clear: without strength, you could not protect the ones you loved.
On the Yulan Continent, nearly every man was forced to train from a young age. Weakness was scorned. Strength was everything.
"Morning sun, endless vitality.
The best time to absorb the essence of heaven and earth and awaken your body's potential.
Spread your legs shoulder-width apart. Knees slightly bent. Hands at the waist. Assume the 'Qi Nurturing Stance'.
Focus your mind, keep calm, and breathe naturally."
Instructor Hilman walked among the youths, correcting stances, checking strength, and giving the occasional nod of approval.
Toward the northern side of the group, two figures stood out—a pair of boys, one older and composed, the other younger and struggling.
The elder was just past nine years old. The younger one, almost six.
Compared to his big brother's stillness and focus, Li Xinghui was clearly at his limit. But still—he clenched his teeth and stubbornly endured.
Seeing this, a soft smile flickered across Hilman's face.
"Truly cut from the same cloth… just as stubborn as Lin Lei was back then."
But the human body had its limits.
After holding the pose for another fifteen minutes, Li Xinghui finally collapsed to the ground, panting.
"Brother… you're leaving tomorrow, right?"
Lin Lei, hearing the question, finally broke from his stance. Instead of continuing his training, he turned and sat beside his little brother.
Looking into the eyes of this clever, mature boy, Lin Lei gently ruffled his messy hair.
"Yeah. I'll be heading out with Uncle Hilman. We're leaving for Ernst Magic Academy.
Once I'm there, I'll write to you and Wharton often.
If there's anything you want to say, you can send letters to me too, Xiao Hui."
Xinghui batted away his hand with mock annoyance. After all, someone pushing forty in spirit couldn't just let themselves be treated like a child, even if they currently looked like one.
He turned to face Lin Lei, eyes solemn.
"Brother… be careful with women. Especially pretty ones you don't know well or have little connection with."
Lin Lei blinked in surprise.
Xinghui's expression was serious. Across Lin Lei's entire past life, there weren't many moments of true misfortune—but the few that existed, were all tied to women.
One time, during training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, an unknown beauty nearly got him impaled.
Another time, he saved Alice, only to suffer a mind injury that left him coughing blood for days.
A gentle embrace, a hero's grave. The old saying wasn't wrong.
"You brat! What kind of person do you take your brother for?!"
Lin Lei chuckled, flicking Xinghui on the forehead. Then, with a grin, he crouched down and hoisted his little brother onto his back.
He'd be leaving home tomorrow, and it was only right to spend this last day with his family.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
From the grass, Bebe—who'd just finished gnawing on a giant chicken leg—perked up. With a few quick bounds, the magical beast leapt into Lin Lei's arms, snuggling in for the walk home.
The three small figures walked off together, leaving behind the training field filled with youths still engrossed in their daily grind.
Lying on his brother's back, Xinghui hesitated. The words nearly left his lips—but in the end, he swallowed them back.
Yes, Lin Lei had been harmed by women. But that wasn't what he truly wanted to say.
What he wanted to say was the truth behind their mother's death in this life. He wanted to tell Lin Lei to tread carefully when seeking vengeance. To plan thoroughly, not rush in blindly like he did in the original timeline.
But… Lin Lei was only nine. He didn't yet have the strength, wisdom, or means to carry such a burden. Telling him now would just weigh him down.
Besides—what youth wasn't drawn to the allure of romance? That flame of desire always burned brightest in ignorance.
In this life, Xinghui—now going by the name Xinghui · Baruch—was Lin Lei's biological younger brother and the twin elder brother of Wharton.
But more than that, he was someone who carried the memories and foresight of a soul from another world.
He knew the past. He'd seen the future.
In the original timeline, Lin Lei's revenge had seemed justified. He struck against Clyde, the King of the Finlay Kingdom—unaware that the true hand behind it all was the Radiant Church, seeking pure souls for their twisted doctrine.
Originally, even if Lin Lei failed to assassinate Clyde, the Radiant Church would have protected him and perhaps even eliminated Clyde themselves to gain Lin Lei's loyalty.
But when Clyde exposed Lin Lei's origins, the Church turned on him instead—burning every bridge and driving him into a corner.
This time… things would be different.
With Xinghui's knowledge and strategic mind, their enemies wouldn't even know what hit them.
They'd be crushed from the shadows—quietly, cleanly, and with no repercussions for the Baruch family.