The next day, Lin Dong stretched his limbs as usual before heading toward the back mountain of the Lin family estate, which was connected to a sprawling forest.
"Lin Shan, it's time to give you a proper childhood," Lin Dong muttered to himself. He didn't want any regrets about this tender memory—and besides, it would give Lin Shan something to brag about in the future.
As he was thinking, a round figure came rushing toward him.
It was Lin Changqiang, the son of Lin Dong's fifth uncle.
"Lin Dong, something's wrong! Qing tan is in trouble!" Lin Changqiang panted heavily.
"Is it Lin Shan?" Lin Dong asked, his voice calm.
"Yes! That bastard Lin Shan! Qing tan found a Red Yang Grass in the back mountain forest, but Lin Shan and his gang saw her. They're blocking her and won't let her leave!" Lin Changqiang said angrily.
Even though Lin Dong had long moved past the event, hearing it again still stirred his temper. 'Even in the Great Thousand World, Qing tan was treated like a little princess in the Martial Realm. Yet here, this punk dares?'
"Let's go. It's time Lin Shan got some childhood memories of his own," Lin Dong said, smiling faintly.
"Huh? You're going alone? Why not bring Third Uncle?" Lin Changqiang tried to stop him. After all, last time Lin Dong had been beaten unconscious by Lin Shan. Even if they went together, he didn't think they could win.
"Stop whining. If I don't beat Lin Shan into a pig's head today, I'll change my surname from Lin," Lin Dong snapped.
"But... alright, alright. I'll come too. If he attacks, I'll help block him. I've reached the third level of Body Tempering, so I can take a few hits," Lin Changqiang muttered helplessly.
At the entrance to the forest, a crowd of young Lin family members had already gathered. Lin Shan was looming over Qing tan, barking threats and boasting that he'd beat Lin Dong again.
Just as Qing tan looked about to give in, Lin Shan reached for the Red Yang Grass.
Smack!
Without warning, his face twisted as a palm struck him clean across the jaw. His body flew more than two meters back and landed with a heavy thud.
The crowd froze.
When they saw who had delivered the blow, their jaws nearly dropped.
Lin Dong.
One slap had flattened Lin Shan, who now lay groaning, his face visibly swelling by the second.
"Ba... bastard..." Lin Shan sputtered, blood filling his mouth. Two of his teeth were already missing.
"Lin Dong..." Qing tan's big, bright eyes were locked onto her brother. She sensed that something was different about him today. He was exuding a sharp, oppressive aura.
"Rockfall Fist!" Lin Shan, now furious, sprang up. Veins bulged along his arms as he launched his most powerful martial technique. Several heavy fist shadows, like crashing stones, descended on Lin Dong.
"A martial technique? Falling Rock Fist? When did Lin Shan learn that?" someone murmured. "Lin Dong's in trouble now."
But the next moment, another loud crack echoed.
Lin Shan flew backward again, landing in a crumpled heap, coughing up two more mouthfuls of blood and losing even more teeth.
"How... how is this possible?" Lin Shan curled into a ball. He was in agony, but more than that, he was bewildered. Just a few days ago, Lin Dong had been the one groaning on the ground. Now they weren't even close in strength.
"Is Lin Dong... defying the heavens?" someone muttered.
"Only someone at the fifth level of Body Tempering could pull that off!"
The shock in the crowd matched Lin Shan's—though not as painful.
"Lin Changqiang, go over there and slap him a couple more times. Your cousin deserves a proper childhood," Lin Dong said, glancing at the stunned boy beside him.
"Me?" Lin Changqiang squeaked. He had just witnessed Lin Dong slap Lin Shan across the face like it was nothing.
"Don't hesitate. Do it while you still can."
"Alright!" Lin Changqiang beamed. Everyone knew he liked Qing tan, but Lin Shan had bullied her constantly. He had wanted to slap that jerk for a long time.
"Lin Changqiang, you dare—!" Lin Shan roared, but his voice choked mid-sentence. His face was already swollen, and the pain made it hard to even breathe.
But Lin Changqiang didn't care. He straddled Lin Shan and landed two more slaps, each loud and satisfying.
The others watched, wincing.
Just as he was about to go in for another hit, Lin Changqiang noticed the surrounding whispers had gone quiet. The crowd was frozen, their expressions tense. Some even looked afraid.
He turned—and nearly jumped out of his skin.
A white-robed youth stood behind him, expression calm but cold.
The boy looked fifteen or sixteen, handsome, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips—but to everyone watching, that smile was icy.
Lin Hong.
Lin Shan's older brother. One of the top three young talents in the Lin family.
"With skills like that, you should focus on cultivation instead of making a fool of yourself," Lin Hong said coolly, eyes sweeping over Lin Shan's sorry state.
"Cousin Lin Shan tripped while walking. Come, let me help you up," Lin Changqiang stammered, his voice shaking.
"Ah!!" Lin Shan screamed, spitting another mouthful of blood before fainting.
The crowd struggled to hold back their laughter.
"Lin Dong, let's go..." Qing tan tugged gently at her brother's sleeve. She was amazed by what he'd done, but Lin Hong was different. He was strong—very strong. No one in the younger generation dared to provoke him. She didn't want Lin Dong to get hurt.
"Lin Dong, weren't you being a bit too cruel just now?" Lin Hong asked, voice still calm. He also had feelings for Qing tan, but now wasn't the time to show it.
"What do you mean 'too cruel'? Lin Changqiang already said Lin Shan tripped and fell. Didn't he?" Lin Dong replied flatly. He was already wondering if he should beat up Lin Hong too.
"Looks like you've been hiding your strength all this time. Why don't we spar? Elder cousin to younger cousin," Lin Hong said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Lin Hong, what's the rush? We'll have plenty of chances during the clan competition," Lin Dong said lightly, calculating the timing in his head.
"Why wait?" Lin Hong's voice chilled. Without warning, he launched an attack at Lin Dong.
"Stop it—!"