The old man was none other than the Tang family's First Elder, Tang Yun.
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "You seem unfamiliar to me. What do you want?"
Tang Yun's smile never left his face, but there was ice beneath it. "I am of the Tang family in Qingfeng City. I've come to take your life."
The name landed with a soft click of understanding. So he was from the Tang family. Lin Zhou, the family's Third Master, paled. He hadn't expected Qingfeng's reprisal to arrive so quickly — and from a figure of such gravitas. Judging by the old man's bearing, his position in the Tang clan was high, and his cultivation would surely place him far above Tang Qiu.
Lin Yi smiled lightly. "You might be disappointed. You're no match for me."
The smile on Tang Yun's face froze for a beat. Then a vast, immovable pressure rolled from him like an incoming tide.
Breath Condensation Realm.
The oppressive presence was palpable, almost physical, dropping over the Lin estate gate like a shroud. Lin Zhou felt his chest tighten; his breath became labored. Breath Condensation Realm — a cultivator of that power was rare, and facing one, he felt no inclination to resist.
He glanced at Lin Yi with a hollow hope. His lord was strong, yes, but Lin Yi had never radiated this crushing pressure. Clearly, there remained a gulf between them. Panic thrummed through him. "This is over," he thought.
Tang Yun looked at Lin Yi with a mocking vetching his features. "If I hold Breath Condensation Realm cultivation, do you still think I cannot kill you?"
Lin Yi raised a hand casually. A faint current of spiritual energy gathered across his fingers; he drew the five digits together and made a light cut through the air, as if simply marking the space between them.
The sound of the night split — a thin, tearing whisper.
Tang Yun felt a chill at his throat and reached up instinctively. His hand met slickness. A slender red line had appeared, wrapping his throat like a delicate thread.
The arrogance drained from Tang Yun's face. His pupils tightened, terror replacing confidence.
"You—" he began.
A head-tilting, incredulous gasp — then the word collapsed into nothing as his skull tumbled free and sank into the dirt. Blood gushed out in a widening pool.
[You have slain an Breath Condensation Realm expert. Violence Points +600][Violence Points: 8,600]
Lin Zhou stood rooted, his mind unable to muster a response. Condensation Realm — Lin Yi's cultivation had reached a height he had never dreamed of. If such mastery existed in a child of a few teens, it was a power that could stride through even Qingfeng City.
Lin Yi's voice was quiet when he spoke. "Uncle Lin Zhou, have someone collect this head for me."
Only then did Lin Zhou come back from his stupor. He swallowed, voice shaking, "Young Master… what are you going to do with it?"
Lin Yi's mouth curved. "Give the Tang family a surprise."
Without another word, he turned and strode back toward the Lin family compound. The night deepened around him, and his silhouette merged with the dark, as composed and dangerous as ever.
Gu Xi arrived at the Lin family estate and found Lin Yi.
She looked at the young man standing in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back and asked softly, "Lin Yi, what are your plans next?"
Lin Yi's gaze drifted toward the distance—the direction of Qingfeng City.
"I will set out for Qingfeng City tomorrow."
At his words, Gu Xi's eyes shimmered with a hint of hope. She looked at Lin Yi, her eyes full of longing.
"C-Can I go with you?"
Quickly, she added, as if fearing Lin Yi might misunderstand, "I… I also want to venture into Qingfeng City, to see the world beyond."
Lin Yi was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
He understood Gu Xi's feelings perfectly but did not wish to be tethered by attachments of the heart. His path was still long.
The light in Gu Xi's eyes dimmed instantly, tinged with disappointment.
"Then… will you… Come back?"
Lin Yi nodded.
"I will."
The two of them sat quietly in the courtyard for a while.
Then Gu Xi rose to leave, her figure carrying a subtle sense of desolation.
The next morning, Lin Yi bid farewell to everyone at the Lin family estate and began walking toward Qingfeng City.
In his hands, he carried a wooden box, inside of which lay the head of Tang Yun, First Elder of the Tang family.
Qingshan County was only a little over a hundred miles from Qingfeng City—hardly a distance for someone like Lin Yi.
An hour later, Lin Yi appeared outside the Southern Wilderness, at the outskirts of Qingfeng City.
He looked up at the rolling mountains before him.
"Once I cross this ridge, I should be in Qingfeng City," he murmured to himself.
The Southern Wilderness was said to be home to wandering beasts.
Ordinary travelers often chose to go around it rather than pass through, to avoid danger.
Lin Yi had no such concerns.
Carrying the wooden box, he proceeded forward.
At that moment, a slightly stout but sturdy-looking boy approached from not far away, accompanied by a girl.
The girl wore fitted black attire, her figure outlined clearly, her hair tied in a high ponytail, not a strand falling across her sharp, determined face.
The two were heirs of a second-tier family in Qingfeng City—the Fang family. The stout boy was named Fang Yu, and the spirited girl was Fang Qiong.
Seeing Lin Yi alone, Fang Yu stepped forward, speaking cautiously, "Young brother, this mountain is called the Southern Wilderness. Beasts roam here frequently, including powerful third-tier monsters. It's dangerous."
"I advise you to go around it instead."
His tone was full of concern.
Lin Yi smiled faintly. "Thank you for the warning, but passing through the Southern Wilderness is the shorter route to Qingfeng City. I'll go this way."
Fang Yu's face turned anxious. He continued, "Many have thought like you—believing the shorter path would be safe—but most of them died in the Southern Wilderness. Only a few were fortunate enough to survive. You should really reconsider."
He had seen many such cases. The boy before him appeared no older than fourteen or fifteen. No matter how strong, Fang Yu thought, there was no way he could surpass the ridge's dangers. Taking this path was almost like walking to his death.
Lin Yi shook his head lightly. "Brother, I understand your concern. I'm just a lazy person—I'll take the direct route."
Fang Yu, seeing Lin Yi's resolve, could only sigh helplessly.
Beside him, Fang Qiong crossed her arms, holding a long sword, and muttered in exasperation, "I told you not to meddle. It's a waste of breath—you never listen. See? He doesn't even care about your advice. Next time, don't play the role of an old meddler."
Fang Yu scratched his head awkwardly, smiling sheepishly. Then he leaned toward Fang Qiong and whispered, "Since we're heading to Qingfeng City too, why don't we travel with this young brother? We can watch out for each other on the road."
"You—"
Fang Qiong furrowed her brows, clearly irritated. "He doesn't need your help, and you still insist on it? You really are hopeless!"
She felt her brother's eagerness was far too excessive.