On a cold night, the cold rain wove a dense web.
Lin Feng trudged unevenly along the muddy mountain path. Icy rain slid off the edge of his bamboo hat, soaking through his thin green robe. Qingxuan Mountain appeared exceptionally silent amidst the night and the curtain of rain; only the empty Storage Pouch at his waist felt as heavy as his current mood.
He had just returned from the Qinghe Bazaar, a hundred miles away, carrying the Family's last fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. He had intended to purchase a bottle of "Heqi Pills" to aid his cultivation in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, but the price of Medicinal Pills had risen again. Not only did he fail to buy the Medicinal Pills, but he had also endured a bellyful of frustration.
"Kid from the Lin Family, with that meager pittance of yours, you still want to emulate others by using Medicinal Pills for cultivation? You'd be better off saving those Spirit Stones to buy a few more catties of Spirit Rice; that way, you might linger on for a few more days." The sneering face of the shop assistant at the bazaar's "Danding Pavilion" still lingered in his mind.
He took a deep breath of the cold air, letting the scent of mud and fresh greenery flood his lungs, yet it could not suppress the humiliation and powerlessness in his heart.
The Qingxuan Lin Clan had once produced a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and was considered quite prominent in this border region of Yun Province. Now, however, the Old Ancestor's old injuries had flared up, and he had been in closed-door cultivation in the Immortal Cave atop the mountain for five years, his life or death unknown. With the Family's only Foundation Establishment Cultivator down, the remaining highest combat power was his father, the Clan Chief Lin Chengyun at the 9th Layer of Qi Refining, along with several uncles in the Middle and Late Stages of Qi Refining.
With over thirty clansmen, a dwindling Grade 1 Low Grade Spiritual Vein, and hostile forces eyeing them greedily from the outside... the Lin Family was on the brink of collapse.
Memories flooded back like a tide. Three years ago, he was a PhD student on Earth dedicated to the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine. An accident brought him to this bizarre world of immortal cultivation, where he became a mediocre disciple with Four Spiritual Roots in this decaying Family. What he had learned in his past life seemed useless in this cultivation world, but his composure and insight—far exceeding those of his peers—allowed him to accept reality more quickly.
At the end of the mountain path, a cluster of buildings built against the mountain appeared in the rain. A few dim, yellow lights flickered stubbornly in the rainy night; that was where the Foundation of the Lin Family lay.
"Is that Young Master Feng who has returned?" A slightly aged voice came from the sentry post. On duty was his clan uncle Lin Yong, who had a cultivation of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining and was shivering slightly in the rain.
"Uncle Yong, it's me," Lin Feng replied. He walked forward and pulled a warm oil-paper bundle from his robe. "I brought some Braised Beef from Li's in the bazaar for you to have with your wine."
Lin Yong froze for a moment. Under the dim light, he looked at the youth's handsome face, wet with rain. A flash of warmth crossed his eyes as he took the bundle and sighed, "You've spent money on me again... Did you manage to get the Medicinal Pills?"
Lin Feng shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "The price went up; our Spirit Stones weren't enough."
Lin Yong opened his mouth to speak but ultimately just patted his shoulder. His voice was somewhat raspy. "The world is difficult; it's enough just to be alive, just to be alive... Go on back; the Clan Chief was asking about you just now."
Bidding farewell to Lin Yong, Lin Feng walked along the familiar bluestone path toward his small courtyard. Most of the courtyards he passed were dark and silent; the clansmen were either meditating hard, hoping for a negligible increase in Spiritual Qi, or had already retired to save their strength. The entire Family was permeated with a sense of oppressive Death Qi.
Just as he reached the entrance of his courtyard, a slender figure rushed out with an umbrella, her tone urgent: "Brother, why are you only just getting back? Are you alright?"
It was his younger sister, Lin Wanqing. She had just turned fourteen this year and possessed Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, making her the most talented prospect of this generation in the Family. At this moment, her small face was filled with worry.
"I'm fine, the rain was just heavy and the road was bad," Lin Feng said, his heart warming as he ruffled her hair. "Is Father in?"
"He's in the study. He and the Third Elder seem to be... arguing about something," Lin Wanqing said in a low voice, a trace of unease in her tone.
Lin Feng frowned slightly. He comforted his sister with a few words, told her to go back to her room and rest, and then headed straight for his father's study.
Before he even got close, the sounds of an internal, suppressed argument reached him.
"Chengyun! We can't hesitate any longer! The Zhao Family has already sent word: either we hand over half the deed to that shop in the Qinghe Bazaar, or they will settle things with us in 'Luofeng Valley' next month! What do we have to fight them with? Without the Old Ancestor, the Zhao Family has two cultivators at the 9th Layer of Qi Refining!" This was the voice of the Third Elder, Lin Chengye, filled with anxiety.
"That shop is one of the Lin Family's last sources of income. Without it, where will the clansmen's stipends come from? How will we purchase Medicinal Pills and Talismans?" Clan Chief Lin Chengyun's voice remained steady, but Lin Feng could hear the deep-seated exhaustion within. "Besides, if we take a step back today, they will demand even more tomorrow! The Zhao Family has wolfish ambitions; their goal is to annex our entire Qingxuan Mountain!"
"Then what do you suggest we do? We can't win a fight, and you won't let us retreat. Is the whole clan supposed to just wait here for death?" the Third Elder almost growled.
Silence fell within the study.
Lin Feng stood quietly outside the door for a moment, straightened his rain-soaked collar, and then raised his hand to knock.
"Come in."
Pushing the door open, he found only his father, Lin Chengyun, and his third uncle, Lin Chengye, inside. His father sat in the main seat, his face haggard but his gaze still sharp. His third uncle was pacing anxiously to the side and only let out a grunt when he saw Lin Feng enter.
"Father, Third Uncle," Lin Feng bowed in greeting.
"Fenger is back. How was the situation at the bazaar?" Lin Chengyun looked at his son, his gaze softening slightly.
Lin Feng recounted what he had seen at the bazaar, especially the rising pill prices and the possibility of the Zhao Family manipulating things behind the scenes, while omitting the details of his humiliation. Finally, he said softly, "Father, I believe Third Uncle's concerns are not without merit. Fighting head-on is definitely not the best course of action."
Hearing this, Third Elder Lin Chengye's expression cleared slightly, and his gaze toward Lin Feng became less dissatisfied.
Lin Chengyun, however, asked, "Oh? Then what do you think we should do?"
Lin Feng pondered for a moment before saying, "The Zhao Family is powerful because they have two 9th Layer Qi Refining cultivators and far more resources than we do. Our only advantage is that the Lin Family has managed Qingxuan Mountain for generations; the Foundation of the Formations is still here. If we hold our ground using the terrain, they would have to pay a price to take it by force. Our current priority is to delay for time."
"How do we delay?"
"What the Zhao Family seeks is nothing more than profit. We can take the initiative to offer them thirty percent of the shop's revenue as a 'temporary loan' for the next year to help them through their so-called 'current difficulties,' while stating clearly that it will be returned after a year. This move will firstly show weakness to make them let down their guard, and secondly, it will buy us a year. Within that year, if Father or any of my uncles can break through to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, or even... if there is a turn for the better with the Old Ancestor's injuries, the situation could be reversed."
This was a classic delaying tactic, and under the current circumstances, it was the only way to possibly gain a chance to catch their breath. The price would be an even more strained Family budget for the coming year.
A flash of approval appeared in Lin Chengyun's eyes, but it quickly turned into deeper worry. A year—that was easier said than done.
The Third Elder, however, seemed to have caught a lifeline. "I think it'll work! At least it can avoid immediate bloodshed! Chengyun, let's settle on this!"
Lin Chengyun remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly. "It seems this is our only option. Tomorrow, I will personally go to the Zhao Family to discuss this matter."
Only then did the Third Elder breathe a sigh of relief. After saying a few more words, he hurried off to arrange the matters for the next day.
Only the father and son remained in the study.
"Fenger, you've suffered," Lin Chengyun said, looking at his son with a sigh. "You should be at an age where you can focus solely on Cultivate, yet you have to run about for these mundane affairs."
"Father, you're being too kind. The rise and fall of the Family is the responsibility of every clansman," Lin Feng said calmly.
Lin Chengyun looked at him and suddenly asked, "How is your cultivation progress?"
"Reporting to Father, I am still at the Peak of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. I am always just one step away from the fifth layer," Lin Feng answered truthfully. With the Aptitude of Four Spiritual Roots, his cultivation speed was indeed despairingly slow.
Lin Chengyun took a jade bottle from his robe and handed it to Lin Feng. "Inside are three 'Juqi Pills.' Their quality is average, but they may be of some help to you at your current stage. Take them, and do not refuse. The future of the Family ultimately depends on you young people."
Lin Feng's heart trembled. With the Family resources so scarce, he didn't know how his father had managed to save these three Medicinal Pills. He took the jade bottle; it felt slightly warm to the touch and as heavy as a thousand catties.
"Thank you, Father."
Returning to his simple room, Lin Feng did not take the pills immediately. He sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, looking at the continuous night rain outside the window, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.
Having been transmigrated for three years, he had long since come to see himself as a member of the Lin Family. Here, he had a father and sister who truly cared for him, and clansmen who, though they argued at times, would still unite at critical moments. He could not stand by and watch this home go to ruin.
Could the pharmaceutical knowledge from his previous life play a role in this world? The theories of "Monarch, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy" for medicinal ingredients seemed to share a commonality with the Five Elements' mutual generation and inhibition in Alchemy. Perhaps... He subconsciously looked inward, and deep within his Sea of Consciousness, a phantom-like, hazy bead was rotating slowly and silently. Ever since he transmigrated, this bead had existed in the depths of his Soul; he did not know its name or its use, only that he could occasionally feel a trace of imperceptible fluctuation when in deep meditation.
Tonight, perhaps due to his turbulent emotions or perhaps because it felt his strong will, the bead seemed... a fraction clearer than usual.
Lin Feng composed himself and stopped overthinking. He poured out a Juqi Pill; its appearance was ordinary, even containing some Impurities. He swallowed it without hesitation and began to circulate the Family's Legacy basic Cultivation Technique, the Azure Wood Secret Technique.
The medicinal power dissolved, flowing into his Meridians like a warm current. However, as the medicinal power circulated, something in his mind seemed to move slightly, and that phantom bead emitted a faint, indiscernible glow. In the next moment, he felt his perception of the medicinal power within his body become exceptionally clear, to the point where he could even "see" those minute Impurities obstructing the absorption of Spiritual Qi.
With a sudden flash of insight, he tried to guide the Spiritual Qi in a more delicate way, bypassing those Impurities to refine the medicinal power more effectively.
Two hours later, Lin Feng opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them. The effect of a single Low Grade Juqi Pill was actually nearly thirty percent stronger than before! Moreover, the magic power in his body was surging; the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Bottleneck that had trapped him for months actually showed signs of loosening!
He tightly gripped the jade bottle and looked at the rain curtain still drizzling outside. His gaze was no longer lost, but filled with determination and sharpness.
The winds and rains are gloomy, but the rooster crows without ceasing.
Since I am here, I will make myself at home.
Since this is my, Lin Feng's, home, then no one shall even think of taking it away!