A flicker of displeasure showed in Lin Xiao’s eyes. ’The Bai Family came to me last. Do they think I’m inferior to Lin Yu and Lin Yan?’
However, upon seeing the captivating charm in Bai Ruo’s every frown and smile, Lin Xiao suppressed his dissatisfaction. He said meaningfully, "A good relationship isn’t so easily formed. It all depends on whether Miss Bai and I have a connection."
After speaking, Lin Xiao leaned forward. His hand reached for the brocade box on the table, but instead of taking it, he went past it, reaching for Bai Ruo’s hand that was resting on the table’s edge.
Bai Ruo’s eyes narrowed slightly. She calmly withdrew her hand, using the motion of picking up her teacup to avoid Lin Xiao’s touch.
Lin Xiao’s hand met empty air, but he wasn’t embarrassed. He pulled his hand back, leaned against the back of his chair, and kept his gaze fixed on Bai Ruo. His tone turned cold. "It seems my connection with the Bai Family isn’t quite there yet."
Unlike the members of other branches, Lin Xiao was well-informed about the main family’s situation and knew the origins of vassal families like the Bai Family.
’In his eyes, Bai Ruo had dressed so seductively for this visit precisely to entice him. Yet she was deliberately acting prim and proper in front of him. Was she trying to string him along?’
’Though he was a lecher, he wouldn’t let himself be swayed by a woman’s beauty.’
"I believe Young Master Lin Xiao will see the Bai Family’s sincerity in the future. It’s getting late, so I shall take my leave now."
A faint smile remained on Bai Ruo’s face. As she took a sip of tea, she lowered her gaze, hiding the flash of disgust in her eyes.
She might not care about the gossip and rumors outside, but that didn’t mean she was a loose woman.
"Fine. I have to continue my Cultivation, so I won’t see Miss Bai out."
"I wouldn’t dare trouble Young Master Lin Xiao."
Lin Xiao didn’t even move. Bai Ruo walked out of the courtyard gate with a composed expression.
Seeing her miss emerge, the maid, Xiaolian, immediately went to her. When she saw the cold expression on her miss’s face, she was filled with confusion.
"Xiaolian, make another trip to Young Master Yan of the Third Branch. Give this to him and say I left in a hurry and forgot it."
Bai Ruo took out another money pouch from her robes. It contained ten thousand silver taels. This was originally meant for Lin Xiao, but she had now changed her mind.
’Lin Xiao isn’t worth the family investing so many silver coins to build a relationship with.’
’Breaking through to the Blood Exchange Realm is certainly powerful, but that’s by outside standards. Within the Lin Family, the Blood Exchange Realm is merely the minimum to catch the eye of the upper echelons. And this Lin Xiao, renovating his courtyard, indulging in pleasure, and acting wantonly... his future achievements in Martial Arts are likely limited.’
’As for befriending Lin Yan, would that provoke the Fourth Branch?’
’As long as the Bai Family keeps quiet, and given Lin Yan’s personality, he probably wouldn’t mention it to anyone. The Fourth Branch might never find out.’
Bai Ruo would never admit that her sudden change of plans was also partly driven by spite.
「 ... 」
"Thank your miss for me."
Lin Yan had a servant see Xiaolian out, his expression a little strange.
This Miss Bai had just given him silver banknotes worth two thousand silver taels, and now she had her maid deliver another ten thousand.
’What kind of move is this...’
After a moment’s thought, Lin Yan roughly guessed what had happened.
’It seemed he had previously underestimated the Bai Family’s boldness. The two thousand silver taels were just a token of their goodwill, and they had clearly prepared a more substantial gift as well.’
’He just didn’t know if this generous gift was intended for Lin Yu or Lin Xiao. But whatever had happened, the Bai Family ultimately chose to give it to him.’
"A good thing!"
Lin Yan didn’t dwell on what misunderstanding might have occurred between Miss Bai and Lin Yu or Lin Xiao. In any case, someone giving him money was a good thing.
After stashing away the silver, Lin Yan didn’t return to his courtyard to cultivate. Instead, he turned and headed for the Martial Arts Vault.
Once he arrived at the Martial Arts Vault and verified his identity, Lin Yan first went to collect his three Bodhi Pills. It was almost the end of the month, and they would be forfeited if he didn’t claim them.
After collecting the Elixirs and returning to his courtyard, Lin Yan didn’t hesitate, directly popping a Bodhi Pill into his mouth.
The Elixir dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, releasing a cool sensation.
Lin Yan dared not be careless and immediately began circulating his Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Force.
The Qi Blood in his body surged like a tide. The cool energy released by the Bodhi Pill acted like a brush, smoothing out his already pure Qi Blood wherever it passed. It also guided the Qi Blood to be compressed in his Dantian, a process that was now several times faster than before.
The most noticeable change for Lin Yan was the speed. Previously, circulating his Qi Blood to his Dantian for one full compression cycle took five hundred breaths. Now, it only took one hundred breaths—a five-fold increase in speed.
’Didn’t Brother Hai say the Bodhi Pill’s effect was equivalent to doubling one’s speed? Mine has increased five-fold.’
’Did Brother Hai get it wrong?’
Lin Yan dismissed this guess. Brother Hai wouldn’t lie about something like this. Therefore, the most likely explanation was that there was something special about his own body.
’Is my Stone Waist Thunder Spine Root Bone taking effect?’
Only the effect of the Stone Waist Thunder Spine could explain this.
’A good thing!’
A stir in his heart, Lin Yan stopped letting his mind wander and continued to guide his Qi Blood through the Eight Meridians to be compressed in his Dantian.
Four hours later, Lin Yan stopped and performed the Martial Arts Tree Introspection.
When he broke through to the Blood Exchange Realm a few days ago, his Martial Arts Tree was nearly seven chi tall. After a few days of Cultivation, it had reached seven-point-one chi, growing a little each day.
However, after taking the Bodhi Pill today, the Martial Arts Tree’s growth was five times that of the previous day.
Looking at the two remaining Bodhi Pills on the stone table, a hint of regret appeared in Lin Yan’s eyes. If he had enough Bodhi Pills, his Cultivation speed would be permanently increased five-fold.
A single Bodhi Pill cost three hundred Contribution Points, which was equivalent to three thousand silver taels.
On top of that, there were Spiritual Weapons...
’Right, I’m cultivating the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword. Later, I’ll need to fuse it with Sword Intent, which will require spending more Contribution Points to buy Top-grade Swordsmanship manuals.’

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