“Whether I get it or not, you’ve got to have a goal, right?” Lin Yun said with a smile.
His real aim was national first, but fearing he’d shock Zhu Xu, he’d said prefecture first instead.
Even that made Zhu Xu think he was boasting…
“Ha, true, goals are a must,” Zhu Xu laughed.
As they spoke, the carriage stopped.
“Hero Lin Yun, we’re at the Zhu estate, let’s have a drink,” Zhu Xu stood, lifting the curtain for Lin Yun.
Stepping off.
“Brother Zhu Xu, just call me Lin Yun, no need for ‘hero’ every time,” Lin Yun smiled.
“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony then!” Zhu Xu grinned back.
The Zhu estate was grand—such a sprawling mansion in the pricey capital spoke volumes of their clout.
“Young Master!”
Guards at the gate saluted.
Zhu Xu led Lin Yun inside.
In the front courtyard.
Clan Leader Zhu was practicing swordplay.
“Father, look who I’ve brought!” Zhu Xu beamed.
“It’s Hero Lin Yun!”
Seeing Lin Yun, Clan Leader Zhu sheathed his sword, approaching warmly.
“Hero Lin Yun, didn’t expect you here, welcome! Welcome!”
“Father, I ran into Lin Yun on the street and invited him over,” Zhu Xu explained.
“I see, come, Hero Lin Yun, take a seat,” Clan Leader Zhu ushered him to a pavilion.
Once seated, he called for fine wine.
After a shared cup.
“Hero Lin Yun, this past month, Mo Clan hasn’t troubled you, have they?” Clan Leader Zhu asked.
“I’ve been in retreat in the city, they’ve had no chance even if they wanted to,” Lin Yun said.
“Good, but stay wary,” Clan Leader Zhu cautioned.
“Father, Hero Lin Yun’s joining the Martial Exam,” Zhu Xu chimed in.
“Oh? That’s a coincidence, my eldest son’s also prepping for it,” Clan Leader Zhu said.
Just then, a panicked steward rushed in.
“Clan Leader, bad news! The eldest young master’s gravely hurt!” the steward blurted.
“My brother’s hurt? Who did it?” Zhu Xu jolted.
“It’s the Mo Clan, they set a trap, the eldest fought his way out of the ancient tower,” the steward said.
“Where’s my son now?” Clan Leader Zhu shot up.
Guards carried in a bloodied man to the pavilion.
Lin Yun figured this was Zhu’s eldest.
“My boy!” Clan Leader Zhu grabbed his hand.
In pain, the man groaned, “Father, Mo… Mo did it on purpose, I knew I shouldn’t tangle with them, but Mo Yangrong kept provoking me, I couldn’t swallow it, so I challenged him to a duel in the tower.”
“It was a setup, he had men waiting, they mauled me, this injury… it might ruin my Martial Exam chances in three months.”
The steward added, “Clan Leader, the eldest’s wounds are severe, even with pills, it’ll affect the prefecture exam, Mo did this to sabotage his shot at a good rank!”
Fury blazed in Clan Leader Zhu’s dark eyes, “Damn Mo Clan, pulling this stunt!”
“Son, rest up, I’ll settle this score!”
He fed him a pill, then had guards carry him off.
Once gone.
“Gather men now, we’re hitting the tower for revenge! They dare cripple my son, they’ll pay!” Clan Leader Zhu roared.
“Right away, sir,” the steward hurried off.
“Brother Zhu Xu, what’s this ancient tower?” Lin Yun asked, curious.
“It’s in the city, a training space built by the empire at great cost, meant to boost citizens’ cultivation, every prefecture capital has one, combat’s allowed inside,” Zhu Xu explained.
“I see,” Lin Yun nodded.
Clan Leader Zhu turned to him, “Brother Lin Yun, I can’t host you now, my son’s been mauled, I’ve got to hit the tower.”
“I’ve got nothing on, I’ll tag along,” Lin Yun offered.
He was intrigued—empire-built, what was training there like?
“Alright,” Clan Leader Zhu didn’t overthink it.
Soon, he rallied 25 men—all Mahayana realm!
Nearly all the Zhu Clan’s current Mahayana修士 in the capital.
Their core strength.
Team assembled, Clan Leader Zhu led them to the tower on a western city hill.
No homes stood within eight kilometers of it.
From afar, it loomed over the west district.
Beyond training, it was a dueling hotspot.
City arenas banned killing, but tower fights were raw—no holds barred.
Lin Yun joined the Zhu crew, reaching the tower.
No buildings nearby, yet it buzzed with people coming and going.
“Xu’er, take everyone in, if you spot Mo’s lot, thrash them dead! I’ll guard outside, block any Mo reinforcements,” Clan Leader Zhu ordered.
“Clan Leader Zhu, you’re not going in?” Lin Yun asked, puzzled.
“Brother Lin Yun, the tower’s for below Tribulation only, Tribulation’s too strong, it’d wreck the place, plus they need pills, not this tower, so it’s built that way,” Clan Leader Zhu explained.
Lin Yun got it—no wonder it was all Mahayana.
“Fair enough, I’ll pop in too,” Lin Yun said.
He was keen to see inside—what did it offer?
Zhu Xu warned, “Brother Lin Yun, we’re going in to fight Mo, you might get dragged in.”
“No worries, if Tribulation’s out, it’s fine,” Lin Yun smiled.
“Right then, let’s go!”
Zhu Xu led the Zhu Mahayana crew in.
The tower was open—free entry anytime.
Inside.
Lin Yun peered around—huge interior, far bigger than its modest exterior suggested.
