Facing the reprimand from Lin Wanrou, Yu Tao'er kept her head bowed, but a small, knowing smile touched her lips. She had served the Lin family for years; she could tell the difference between genuine anger and worried bluster. "This humble servant deserves punishment, Second Young Miss. I failed in my duty."
"Nonsense," Lin Wanrou huffed, her attention already returning to Lin Yun, her spiritual energy never ceasing its work. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again. Now, go prepare some spirit-nourishing food. My little brother looks like a starved ghost."
"Yes, Second Young Miss!" Tao'er said, bowing again before quickly scurrying out of the room, the smile still on her face.
With Tao'er gone, the room fell silent save for the faint hum of Lin Wanrou's spiritual energy. Lin Yun finally found his voice, the numbness from her sudden arrival receding.
"Second Sister..." he began, his voice stronger now thanks to her intervention. "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in seclusion with your master at the Soaring Clouds Pavilion?"
Lin Wanrou finally released his wrist, seemingly satisfied with his recovery. She sat on the edge of his bed, her stern expression softening into one of affectionate exasperation. She reached out and flicked his forehead gently.
"Stupid little brother," she said, her voice much warmer now. "A little bird told me my only little brother almost got himself blown to pieces in a pill room. Did you really think I would stay meditating on some mountain peak after hearing that? My master understands the importance of family. She granted me leave the moment my communication jade lit up."
She looked him over, her sharp eyes missing nothing. "Besides, from what I just felt, that 'little explosion' was the least of your problems. Your spiritual energy was drained drier than a desert riverbed. What in the world were you doing last night? It feels like you tried to single-handedly refine a cauldron of Heaven-Shaking Pills."
Lin Yun offered a weak, embarrassed smile. He couldn't tell her about the system or the daily quest. "I... I was just practicing some purification techniques. I guess I lost track of time and overdid it a little."
"A little?" Lin Wanrou raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her expression utterly disbelieving. "Yun'er, you have the spiritual reserves of a Qi Gathering Level 2 cultivator. It doesn't take much to 'overdo it'. You need to be more careful!"
She sighed, a fond yet worried sound. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder about you. One day you have no motivation at all, and the next you're trying to cultivate yourself to death. You're going to give me white hairs before I even reach the Core Formation realm."
Despite her words, her actions were full of care. She straightened his blanket and plumped his pillow without him even asking.
Lin Yun felt a strange warmth in his chest that wasn't from her spiritual energy. This was family. This was the overprotective, meddling, but deeply caring older sister the memories promised. It was… nice.
"I'll be more careful, Second Sister," he promised, meaning it. He needed to manage his grinding sessions better. Dying of exhaustion was not an efficient way to power-level.
"See that you are," she said, finally seeming to relax. She looked around his simple room, her gaze thoughtful. "Now, tell me everything. And I mean everything. Don't leave a single detail out about this 'accident'."
Her eyes glinted with a sudden, protective sharpness. "The message was vague. I want to know exactly what happened in that alchemy room."
Lin Wanrou's gaze was sharp, like a hawk that had spotted its prey. The protective glint in her eyes promised a storm if she sensed even a hint of injustice. Lin Yun's mind raced. He couldn't tell her the truth. Not yet.
To involve her would be to drag the entire Lin Clan into his personal vendetta prematurely. It would alert Ji Xuan and Nangong Qing'er, giving them time to cover their tracks or, worse, escalate their methods.
Moreover, this was his fight. The humiliation of the original Lin Yun's death, the attempt on his new life—it was a debt he needed to repay personally. Relying on his powerful sister felt like cheating, a shortcut that would leave a bitter taste.
He needed a lie. A plausible, boring lie that would satisfy her concern without sparking her investigative instincts.
He let his shoulders slump, adopting a look of embarrassed chagrin.
"It was… it was my own stupidity, Second Sister," he said, his voice dripping with self-reproach. "I was nervous about the upcoming assessment. I wanted to refine a perfect Qi Gathering Pill, so I… I might have pushed the fire a little too hot."
He avoided her eyes, focusing on a loose thread on his blanket. "The cauldron… it must have had a flaw I didn't notice. A hairline crack or something. The pressure built up too fast, and… well, you know the result."
He gestured vaguely at himself, implying his minor injuries were the full extent of the damage. "I was lucky. It was just a loud bang and a few scratches. More frightening than actually dangerous. I'm more embarrassed than hurt, really."
He chanced a look at her face. Lin Wanrou was studying him intently, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed. He could almost see the gears turning in her head—protective suspicion warring with the knowledge of her younger brother's known clumsiness and lack of alchemy talent.
The silence stretched for a long, tense moment.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh, the sharpness in her eyes softening into resigned exasperation.
"Yun'er… you have to be more careful. Equipment inspection is the first rule of alchemy. You must treat every tool, every ingredient, with respect. A flawed cauldron is a death trap." She reached out and poked his forehead again, this time more gently. "Your life is worth more than any pill grade. Remember that."
Lin Yun nodded vigorously, a wave of relief washing through him. "I will, Second Sister. I've learned my lesson."
"See that you do," she said, seemingly accepting his explanation. She then leaned closer, her voice dropping to a more serious, confidential tone. "And Yun'er… don't mention this incident to Big Brother."
Lin Yun looked at her, curious.
"He is currently in seclusion," she explained. "He's at a critical juncture, preparing to enter the 'Floating Cloud Secret Realm' in a month. His focus must be absolute. If he hears his little brother was nearly hurt in an alchemy accident…"
She shook her head, a flicker of genuine fear in her eyes. "You know how he is. He'd abandon his preparation instantly, tear the academy apart looking for answers, and probably challenge the alchemy master responsible for equipment maintenance to a duel. It would be a mess."
Lin Yun nodded in understanding. The memories of his eldest brother, Lin Feng, were a mix of awe and trepidation. He was a protective force of nature, a genius whose methods were often as explosive as they were effective.
"I understand. My lips are sealed."
Satisfied, Lin Wanrou's expression brightened. "Good."