Lin Kai didn't even blink. 'Seriously? A haymaker? What are you, a bar brawler?'
Lin Kai stepped to the left, pivoting on his heel. He didn't use strength; he used geometry. As Lin Bo lunged past him, Lin Kai stuck out his foot and tapped Lin Bo's ankle.
Thud!
Lin Bo face-planted into the bluestone.
"Argh!" Lin Bo cried, scrambling up, red-faced. "You cheated! You didn't use Qi!"
"I used my brain," Lin Kai yawned. "You should try it sometime. It's a useful muscle."
The other kids laughed. Lin Kai shook his head. He usually held back, but sometimes, putting a brat in his place was satisfying.
"Kai-Kai! You won!" Yan'er appeared out of nowhere, her eyes sparkling. "Now fight me! Fight me!"
Lin Kai's face went pale. "No, Sister Yan'er, I—"
Too late. She pounced.
Lin Yan'er was at the 7th Stage of Mortal Foundation. The difference between Stage 4 and Stage 7 was like the difference between a bicycle and a tank.
For the next ten minutes, the other children watched in awe as the "Little Genius" was tossed around like a ragdoll by the giggling girl in pink.
'I hate this world,' Lin Kai thought as he landed on his butt for the tenth time. 'When I grow up, I'm going to enact revenge. I swear.'
But even as he groaned, he got back up. He dusted off his robes and settled into a stance. He wouldn't give up. That wasn't in his nature.
Despite their playful bickering and fighting, a heavier bond tied them together. They were already betrothed. In the ruthless world of cultivation, preserving the purity of a Prime Bloodline was paramount, making the engagement between cousins not only common but celebrated.
To the clan, they weren't just playmates; they were the future mother and father of a monster who would one day rule the Azure Heaven.
While the children played at war, the adults were planning a real one.
High above the training grounds, in the suspended Hall of Heavenly Decisions, the atmosphere was heavy enough to crush bone.
The hall was dark, lit only by floating blue flames that cast long, eerie shadows against the obsidian walls. At the far end sat a throne carved from the skull of a Dragon-Elephant.
On the throne sat Lin Yang, the Clan Leader. His presence was vast, expanding to fill every corner of the room.
Lined up on either side were the Elders and Grand Elders, ancient figures whose auras rippled the air. Lin Feng, Kai's father, sat on the right, his face grim.
"The report from the Southern Trade Route is in," an Elder with a hawk-nose spoke. "The supply of Spirit Herbs from the lower realms is dwindling. The bottleneck... is tightening."
Silence followed. Everyone knew what "the bottleneck" meant. The Lin Clan was powerful, but they were stuck. The upper echelons couldn't break through. They lacked the resources, specifically, an ancient part of a treasure that was lost thousands of years ago.
"So," Lin Yang spoke, his voice resonating like a deep bell. "What do you think of the plan?"
A heavy silence.
"It is... risky," one Elder muttered. "The Human Greatland is far away. And sending a child? Why her? Why the Young Miss?"
"Because she is my daughter," Lin Yang said, his eyes cold and unyielding. "She is seven years old, but her mind is sharp. She is a genius of the 7th Stage. More importantly... she is unassuming."
He leaned forward. "If we send an Elder, the Guardians of the Human Greatland will detect our cultivation suppression. They will attack. It would start a war we do not need. But a child? A lost child seeking her 'distant relatives'? Who would suspect a spy?"
"But the morality..." another Elder hesitated. "That distant branch... that renamed as the Xin Clan... they are our blood. They broke away three thousand years ago, yes, but to steal from them..."
"We are not stealing," Lin Feng spoke up.
All eyes turned to Lin Kai's father.
Lin Feng looked calm, but his knuckles were white as he gripped his armrest. "We are... reclaiming. We all know that this treasure part belongs to the Main Line. It is wasted in the Human Greatland, rotting in a low-Qi environment. We cannot use force on our own kin—that is the bottom line. We will not slaughter them. Yan'er will go, she will integrate, and she will find the it. If they give it willingly, we reward them. If not... she takes it quietly."
The Elders nodded slowly. It was a convenient lie to soothe their conscience. 'We aren't bandits. We are reclaimers.'
"Then it is decided," Lin Yang announced. "When she turns eight, next year, Yan'er will depart for the Human Greatland. Prepare the Void Ships. Prepare the shadow guards."
"Dismissed."
The Elders bowed and faded away, disappearing in flashes of light. Soon, only the two brothers remained.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
"Brother," Lin Feng broke the silence. "Is this really necessary? Sending your only daughter?"
"We are stuck, Feng," Lin Yang sighed, rubbing his temples. The mask of the imperious leader slipped, revealing a tired man. "Without that part, this treasure is completely useless and I cannot breakthrough. If I don't breakthrough, the the other sects will overtake us within a millennium. I am doing this for the Clan."
"I know," Lin Feng murmured. "I know."
"Speaking of power..." Lin Yang stood up and walked down the steps of the throne. He stopped right in front of Lin Feng. "How is your wife? How is Yu Yue?"
Lin Feng froze. "She is... fine. Teaching Kai'er. Why?"
Lin Yang stared into his brother's eyes. "Do not play the fool with me, Feng. I sensed the fluctuation five years ago during the birth. And I sensed it again yesterday. The density of Aether around your pavilion... it's unnatural."
Lin Feng swallowed. "She is talented. That is why I married her."
"Be careful, brother," Lin Yang whispered, his voice dropping to a hiss. "I think she is not just 'talented'. I think she is very near to That Realm. Maybe even closer than I am."
Lin Feng's eyes widened. A flash of emotion crossed his face—not fear, but greed. Pure, unadulterated ambition.
"No," Lin Feng lied smoothly, his face composing itself into a mask of loyal ignorance. "I think she is just a little stronger than me. She is a good wife. She wouldn't hide things."
Lin Yang studied him for a long, agonizing second. Then, he chuckled.
"Good. Keep it that way. But watch her, Feng. If a tiger sleeps in your bed, make sure you are the one holding the leash."
"Always," Lin Feng replied.
He bowed and turned to leave. But as he walked out of the dark hall, the smile on Lin Feng's face vanished, replaced by a look of twisted calculation.
'Close to That Realm?' Lin Feng thought, his heart pounding against his ribs. 'If she is that strong... then her blood... her essence...'
He licked his lips, casting a glance back at the throne room, and then towards the direction of the Crimson Cloud Pavilion.
'The Clan wants the treasure. I want the power. Everyone is playing a game. Let's see who wins.'
Back in the training square, Lin Kai sneezed.
"Are you okay?" Yan'er asked, pausing her assault.
"Yeah," Lin Kai rubbed his nose, looking up at the sky where dark clouds were gathering. "Just got a sudden chill. Like someone walked over my grave."
"Weirdo," Yan'er giggled. "Come on! One more round!"
"Please, no..."