"Th-Thank you, Senior Brother. I'm fine."
Qin Xiyan was blushing, one hand clutching the robe to her chest while the other tried to cover her body, terrified of any accidental exposure. Lin Yun's burning gaze, however, made her feel flustered and unsure where to look.
What Qin Xiyan didn't know was that Lin Yun's attention was entirely focused on her life script!
Incredible!
A reincarnated expert!
And I just happened to run into her?
When luck is on your side, not even a city wall can stop it!
Just then, Zhao Yuhu slowly got to his feet, rubbing his lower back. "Which bastard without eyes dares to meddle in my, Zhao Yuhu's, business?"
"Do you have any idea who my brother is?"
A weasel-faced lackey next to him pointed at Lin Yun. "Brother Hu, it's him! This kid right here."
Zhao Yuhu took a closer look.
He laughed, but it was a laugh of anger.
"Lin Yun, has it been so long since your last beating that you've got an itch today? You even dare to interfere in your Grandpa Hu's affairs!"
"But since your Grandpa Hu is in a good mood, get on your knees and kowtow three times, and I might spare you a beating."
"Otherwise, I'll bury you alive right here."
Seeing Zhao Yuhu's contemptuous expression, Qin Xiyan grew worried for Lin Yun's safety and whispered, "Senior Brother, do you have any other help?"
Lin Yun shook his head slightly.
Qin Xiyan's gaze fell on the handyman disciple's inner shirt Lin Yun was wearing, and she was instantly lost in thought. Zhao Yuhu and his men were all in the Nascent Yuan Realm. Although they were only at the first level, how could a mere handyman disciple like Lin Yun possibly fight them?
"Well, well, kid. You've got a big mouth, looking down on our Brother Hu?" a tall, skinny lackey began to fan the flames.
The weasel-faced lackey from before quickly chimed in, "Brother Hu, this kid dares to disrespect you."
"Just give the word, and we'll cripple him for you today."
As they spoke, the lackeys surrounded Lin Yun.
Zhao Yuhu chuckled. "Lin Yun, who would've thought? You've even learned how to brag now? I was thinking of letting you off the hook today."
"But now, you can't blame your Grandpa for being ruthless!"
"You lot, cripple this kid for me!"
The weasel-faced lackey sneered. "Brother Hu, just watch. A piece of trash handyman disciple? I could kill him with a fart."
Lin Yun glanced at them. They were clearly experienced at this. The five of them had positioned themselves to block all of his escape routes.
As a fellow Nascent Yuan Realm cultivator, Lin Yun was confident he could use the Cold Flame Sword to instantly crush his opponents. Fighting one against six was difficult, but not impossible!
Lin Yun pointed at the tall, skinny one. "You can come at me too!"
The weasel-faced lackey rolled up his sleeves. "Kid, watch me beat you to death today!"
He charged forward, swinging his arm in a wide arc as he threw a punch at Lin Yun. Just as expected, the others didn't move.
Lin Yun took it all in, ducking low and deftly dodging the attack. He clenched his right hand into a fist, power erupting from his core.
He slammed a heavy blow into the lackey's stomach.
Pow!
The punch was immensely powerful.
"Aiyo!"
The weasel-faced lackey cried out. Before he could even turn, his body was sent flying, and he vomited a stomachful of bile.
The expressions of the others changed instantly.
But how could Lin Yun give them a chance?
He had already pinpointed his targets. Before they could even process what had happened, he drew his sword with the speed of lightning!
His first target was the tall, skinny lackey standing next to the first one.
Swoosh!
The Cold Flame Sword left its sheath. Its edge was sharp, its presence overwhelming.
The tall lackey scrambled to defend himself but was a step too slow. A wave of cold flame energy washed over him. He crossed his arms to block, only to watch in horror as his forearms were instantly covered in frost. Yet, from within, it felt like a scorching furnace. The pain sent him to his knees, howling.
Lin Yun gave them no quarter. Wielding the Cold Flame Sword, he moved like a phantom among them.
A thrust, a flick, a slap!
In the span of a few breaths, the remaining lackeys were all on the ground, groaning and unable to get up.
Zhao Yuhu was dumbfounded.
Did this kid drink some kind of divine oil today? How is he so fierce!
Seeing his followers defeated in an instant, how could Zhao Yuhu dare to stay? He turned on his heel and tried to flee!
He only took two steps before Lin Yun blocked his path. "Zhao Yuhu," Lin Yun said coldly, "you've committed countless evil deeds. Today, I'll act on behalf of the sect elders and get rid of a degenerate disciple like you."
Seeing Lin Yun's sword thrusting toward him, Zhao Yuhu dodged pathetically. He was indeed a bit stronger than his lackeys, but not by much. Under the assault of a low-grade magical artifact, it didn't take long for him to be wounded and fall to the ground.
He was on the verge of death.
Zhao Yuhu and Qin Xiyan cried out at the same time.
"Senior Brother, wait!"
"If you kill him, you might be punished by the sect!"
Zhao Yuhu knelt on the ground, bobbing his head frantically like a chicken pecking at rice. "She's right! Lin Yun, no… that's not right, Brother Yun!"
"Spare my pathetic life, and from now on, I, Zhao Yuhu, will follow your every command!"
Lin Yun looked at Zhao Yuhu with disgust, then pointed his sword at him and snarled, "Killing you would dirty my hands!"
"Get lost. Don't let me see you again, or I'll beat you every single time I do."
Zhao Yuhu felt as if he'd been granted a great pardon. "Thank you, Brother Yun."
The other lackeys helped each other up and scrambled away after Zhao Yuhu.
After dealing with them, Lin Yun sheathed his Cold Flame Sword and walked to Qin Xiyan's side. "Junior Sister, can you walk?"
Qin Xiyan stared at Lin Yun, completely captivated. A crimson blush crept up her delicate face. When she saw his gentle, concerned gaze upon her, she shyly lowered her head, her fair hands fidgeting, unsure of where to put them.
"I'm alright."
"Thanks to Senior Brother, Xiyan was spared a terrible fate."
She carefully stood up, pulling the robe tighter around herself, completely covering the alluring expanse of snowy skin.
Lin Yun, you must remain calm!
She is an Empress!
Your future backer!
You absolutely cannot let your lower half do the thinking!
Lin Yun constantly reminded himself of this, then took three medicinal pills from his storage ring and handed them over.
"We're fellow disciples, no need to be so formal."
"You seem shaken. You must have been terrified just now, right?"
"Take one of these first and regulate your vital energy."
Qin Xiyan nodded, but when she looked at the pills in the box, she was stunned.
Origin Stabilizing Pills?
These were the pills Lin Yun had spent three years preparing for his own breakthrough to the Nascent Yuan Realm. They were of little use to him now, but the reincarnated Empress before him was only at the third level of Body Tempering. With these Origin Stabilizing Pills, she should be able to break through soon, perhaps even awaken her bloodline ahead of schedule!
The thought of it made Lin Yun secretly delighted. Wouldn't that mean he'd gain a powerful ally sooner?
"Senior Brother… this… this is too valuable!"
Qin Xiyan shook her head. "I really can't accept this."
"Senior Brother disregarded his own safety to stand up for me today. Xiyan is already endlessly grateful. I absolutely cannot take these Origin Stabilizing Pills!"
For cultivators in the Body Tempering Realm like them, who didn't dream of obtaining a single Origin Stabilizing Pill?
And Lin Yun was offering three at once!
Qin Xiyan's admiration for Lin Yun skyrocketed, and her heart pounded in her chest. The blush that had just started to fade returned, even deeper than before!