Back in his room, Lin Yun took out the Meridian Condensing Pill and swallowed it whole.
The pill dissolved into pure energy, flooding his meridians, starting to mend their shattered state.
His meridians, wrecked by lightning, healed slowly.
But under the pill’s nourishment, they steadily repaired.
The process lasted nearly a full day.
The next morning, Lin Yun opened his eyes.
*Whoosh.*
He channeled inner energy, a flicker surging to his fingertips.
“My meridians got a solid repair, I can use inner energy again,” Lin Yun smiled.
“But they’re not fully mended, I’m at three or four tenths of my peak strength, still need rest,” he murmured.
He stood.
With inner energy back, healing would ease up, slowly purging the lingering lightning while his natural recovery kicked in—full restoration was in sight.
A knock sounded.
“Big brother Lin Yun, it’s me,” Bailu’s voice came from outside.
“Bailu, come in,” Lin Yun called.
The door opened, Bailu stepped inside.
“Big brother Lin Yun, you look better, did the pill work?” she asked.
“Yes, my meridians are partly healed, thanks to your pill,” Lin Yun grinned.
“That’s brilliant! Uncle said your meridians were ruined by some strange force, beyond repair, impossible to fix, didn’t expect this,” Bailu beamed innocently.
“By the way, big brother, I’m off for training tomorrow, I’m worried Cousin Bailian might arrange trouble for you while I’m gone, why not come with me?” she suggested.
“Training? Sure,” Lin Yun nodded.
He’d trained plenty, even crossed the Demonic Beast Mountain Range solo.
His experience was vast, he could handle trouble or danger, maybe even help Bailu.
Plus, his restless nature craved movement, and he might aid the lass.
“Settled then, we leave at eight tomorrow,” Bailu smiled brightly.
The next morning.
Lin Yun followed Bailu out of Baijia Fort to the main gate.
He’d thought it’d be just Bailu, maybe with a few others.
At the gate, he learned it was a Bai family training trip, meant to toughen the younger generation.
Thirteen young Bai members joined, boys and girls, mostly under a hundred years old, greenhorns.
Bailian was among them.
Cultivators who only practiced without fighting never grew, true strength came from bloodshed, honed in fire and peril, even brushing death—like Lin Yun.
The Bai family periodically sent its youths out to train.
At the fort’s gate.
When Bailu and Lin Yun appeared.
“Bailu, you’re not bringing this guy, are you?” Bailian sneered.
“Everyone, this is the cripple I told you about, the one Bailu picked up off the road!” she raised her voice.
Instantly, the dozen-plus Bai youths turned to Lin Yun.
A young man in white mink, hair flowing, stepped forward—Bai Tong.
“Cousin Bailu, this training allows one guard each, why waste your slot on a cripple? Who’ll protect you?” Bai Tong said.
“Brother Bai Tong, we’ve got Uncle Bai Yongzhi leading, haven’t we?” Bailu smiled.
“If danger strikes, it’ll be chaos, every man for himself, Uncle Yongzhi can’t cover everyone, your guard’s your shield, swap him out before we go,” Bai Tong urged.
“It’s fine,” Bailu kept smiling.
“She’s daft, this is training, not a game, bringing a cripple!”
“Let her be foolish, if danger hits, she’ll regret it.”
…
Sharp murmurs and snickers rose around them.
“Brother Bai Tong, why bother? Bailu’s clearly charmed by this guy, two days ago she gave him a pill worth over ten thousand spirit crystals for nothing,” Bailian mocked.
The crowd buzzed louder, some words turning harsh.
Bailu clenched her fists, cheeks flushing.
With Bailian’s grandfather as Elder Zhang and her parents gone, no family backing, she could only endure.
Bai Tong stepped up to Lin Yun.
“Oi, get lost, you’re not going with Bailu, you’ve no right to protect her!” His tone dripped with malice, commanding.
As a lofty Bai direct descendant, he saw Lin Yun as a mere cripple, unworthy of basic respect.
“I think I can protect her,” Lin Yun said calmly.
Even at three or four tenths strength, he outclassed their guards, plus his vast training experience!
“Pfft, a meridian-shattered wreck dares claim he can protect Bailu? With what? How do you even say that with a straight face?” Bailian scoffed.
Laughter erupted around her.
Lin Yun’s crippled state was common knowledge here.
Bailu’s face reddened, but she rallied, “Who I bring is my choice, I’m taking him!”
Bai Tong shook his head and walked off.
Bailian smirked, thinking, *Danger’ll teach you a lesson!*
Then Bai Yongzhi, Bailu’s uncle, emerged from the gate.
“All set? Let’s move!” he said as he approached.
“Uncle Yongzhi, we’re ready,” the youths chorused.
“Hmm?”
Spotting Lin Yun beside Bailu, his brow furrowed.
“Bailu, what’s this?” he asked, face stern.
“Uncle, I… I’m bringing him,” Bailu said meekly.
“Nonsense!” Bai Yongzhi’s expression darkened.
“Uncle Yongzhi, we just tried talking her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen, insists on dragging this cripple along!” Bailian said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Bailu stood firm, “Uncle, I’m taking him.”
Bai Yongzhi nearly scolded her, but with so many youths around, he held back.
“Fine, bring him if you must,” he shook his head, disappointed.
He turned to Lin Yun, cold, “Boy, don’t hold us back, if danger comes, I won’t babysit you, die and it’s your own fault!”
With that, he summoned a small airship, ushered everyone aboard, and they set off!
