The system interface remained calm, with no abnormal alerts.
"Brother…" Lin Ying opened her eyes weakly. "I feel bad…"
"It's okay, the fever's gone." Lin Che pushed down his doubts, picking her up. "We can't stay here. Brother will take you somewhere else."
Lin Ying nodded dazedly, wrapping her little arms around his neck. "Will there be sugar hawthorns?"
"Yes, as many as you want."
[Detected second wave of Zhao family pursuers approaching. Estimated number: 30 men, cultivation ranging from Late Body Tempering Realm to Early Qi Gathering Realm. Leader: Zhao Tianba, Zhao Kun's cousin, at Fifth Layer Qi Gathering Realm—much stronger than the fraud Zhao Kun.]
[Friendly Reminder: In your current state, you can't even kill a chicken. Recommend strategic retreat and lying low somewhere.]
Lin Che's eyes sharpened. The Zhao family acted fast—no sooner had the first wave been eliminated than the second arrived. And this time, they sent elites, not cannon fodder.
"System, is there a place to hide nearby?" Lin Che whispered.
[Detected abandoned mine 300 li outside Qingfeng Town. Once a small spirit stone mine, now occupied by monsters. Recommend going there—it's both a hiding spot and a place to hunt monsters for spiritual energy recovery. Two birds with one stone.]
"Good." Lin Che held Lin Ying tightly. "We're going to the mine."
"Brother…" Lin Ying whispered. "Are we… running away?"
"No." A cold smile tugged at Lin Che's lips. "We're regaining our strength."
[New Mission Generated: Recover strength in the abandoned mine and kill at least 10 Body Tempering Realm monsters. Mission Reward: Unlock Xiang Yu's Inheritance [Overlord's Formation Break] (Layer 1).]
[Friendly Reminder: Host, in your current state, start with a docile monster. Don't pick a tough one—otherwise, you'll become monster food.]
After walking for about half an hour, Lin Che stopped by a mountain stream. He cleaned his wounds with the stream water, while Lin Ying helped obediently, cupping water in her little hands and carefully pouring it over his arm wounds.
[System Alert: Detected host treating wounds. Recommend disinfecting with spiritual energy first—otherwise, infection and suppuration will be more troublesome. There are no antibiotics in this wilderness.]
"Brother, why do we have to leave the temple?" Lin Ying tilted her head. "Isn't that our home?"
"Because…" Lin Che fell silent for a moment. "It's not safe there anymore."
"Why not safe? Is it because of those bad guys?" Fear flashed in Lin Ying's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "Brother, when I grow up, I'll cultivate too, and help you beat the bad guys!"
[System Taunt: Host, your sister is much more sensible than you. At least she knows she's a burden now and wants to get stronger. Unlike you, who only thinks about killing and saving people.]
Lin Che didn't respond, only patting her head. "Good. When you grow up, brother will teach you to cultivate."
But he knew time was running out. The Zhao family had ruled Qingfeng Town for decades, with countless spies—finding them was only a matter of time.
Instead of hiding…
[System Alert: Detected host plotting a dangerous plan. Warning: Extremely high risk of genocide. Recommend thinking twice.]
Lin Che sneered: "Think twice? I've been thinking for three years. That's enough."
He stood up, staring in the direction of Qingfeng Town—where lights blazed, marking the Zhao family's ancestral mansion. For three years, the Zhao family had bullied the townsfolk, seized land, and driven commoners to death without mercy. When the original owner was alive, he had to pay a "toll" to the Zhao family every time he cut firewood; a single delay earned him a beating. Lin Ying, once starving, had stolen a rotten fruit discarded by the Zhao family, only to be beaten so badly by their servants that she couldn't get out of bed for three days.
It was time to settle these debts.
[System fell silent for three seconds: …Host, although I must remind you this is a suicidal act, strategically speaking, a surprise attack is a good plan. Moreover, the resources in the Zhao family's treasure vault are enough for you to break through to Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[New Mission Generated: Zhao Family Genocide Plan. Mission Objective: Kill core Zhao family combatants (Zhao Tianxiong, Zhao Tianba, etc.) and seize treasure vault resources. Mission Reward: Fully unlock Xiang Yu's Inheritance [Overlord's Formation Break].]
[System Note: This mission is nine deaths and one life. Recommend host return to the temple, make a coffin overnight inscribed with "Lin Che's Tomb"—saves the Zhao family the trouble of erecting a monument for you.]
Ignoring the system's sarcasm, Lin Che turned around—not toward the mine, but toward Qingfeng Town.
Under the moon, his figure darted through the dense forest like a ghost. With each step, blood oozed from his wounds, but the Killing Intent in his eyes grew stronger.
Lin Ying mumbled dazedly in his arms: "Brother… aren't we going to the mine?"
"No." Lin Che's voice was terrifyingly calm. "Brother will take you to the Zhao family to collect a debt."
"Collect a debt?" Lin Ying didn't understand. "Does the Zhao family owe us money?"
"They owe lives." Lin Che whispered. "Sixteen lives."
[System Alert: Detected host's Killing Intent exceeding 1500. Warning: Excessive Killing Intent may affect host's sanity. Recommend appropriate release—like… committing genocide.]
[Countdown: 2 hours and 47 minutes until the Zhao Family Genocide Plan begins. Recommend host recover spiritual energy first—otherwise, you can't even kick open the Zhao family's gate.]
[Friendly Reminder: The Zhao family's gate is made of thousand-year ironwood, worth fifty taels of silver. Recommend kicking gently—if you break it, you can sell it to buy sugar hawthorns for your sister.]
Lin Che stopped in a mountain hollow ten li from Qingfeng Town. He carefully placed Lin Ying on the soft grass, whispering: "Yingying, wait for brother here. I have something to take care of—I'll be right back."
"Brother…" Lin Ying clung to his sleeve. "Are you going to… kill the bad guys?"
"Yes." Lin Che nodded. "Those bad guys bullied us for three years. It's time they paid."
"Then…" Lin Ying pulled the cherished osmanthus candy from her bosom, handing it to Lin Che. "Brother, eat this—it will give you strength. I'll wait for you."
Holding the slightly melted candy, Lin Che felt a soft spot in his heart twinge sharply.
[System fell silent: …Host, suddenly I think you should come back alive—if only for this candy.]
[Killing Intent stabilized: Current 1500 points. Host's sanity: 89.7%. Genocide Plan executable.]
Lin Che carefully put the candy away, turning toward Qingfeng Town in the night.
Moonlight illuminated his blood-stained back, and the woodcutter's knife in his hand.
Tonight, this knife would drink blood.