C21 Second Pure Land

The Wen brothers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Exactly, I'll address you as Mr. Ling, and you can call me Hanwu. Calling you 'uncle' would be too much for my pride to handle."

Upon hearing Ling Tianxie suggest they use each other's names, Wen Hanwu immediately agreed.

"There's no harm in giving you a pill. However, Hanwu, your situation differs from Mr. Wen's. He needed the pill mainly to heal his meridians.

You've reached the Acquired Peak. To ascend to the Innate Stage, it's best to rely on your own insights. You're only one step away; using a pill now would be wasteful."

Ling Tianxie took the time to explain the advantages and drawbacks of using the pill to Wen Hanwu.

Pills are merely a supplement. Without a solid foundation, a person's cultivation might improve significantly, but their journey in martial arts would be short-lived.

That's why he needed to secure Celestial Materials and Earthly Treasures to establish a solid foundation for Ling Yufei and the others. It was a necessity for Ling Tianxie.

In the realm of cultivation, time is irrelevant. When beauty fades, friends depart, and one is left alone, what good is eternal life?

"Mr. Ling, I must admit, today has been an eye-opener for me. I've practiced martial arts for over forty years without breaking into the Innate Stage, and I'm aware that my talent is limited. I'm seeking this favor for my niece."

Seeing no sign of displeasure on Ling Tianxie's face, Wen Hanwu continued.

"My niece may not have your exceptional talent, Mr. Ling, but she has reached the Acquired Middle Period in just two years of cultivation. She has a bright future ahead of her!"

Wen Hanwu passionately shared his reasons with Ling Tianxie.

"Hmph, Laoer, aren't you overstepping? I'm the one who decides for my daughter, you..."

Wen Hanwen became irritated when he heard Wen Hanwu asking for a pill for his daughter.

"Hmph, it's because you, as her father, have been too selfish. Had you not held Rou Rou back all these years and let her train from a young age, by now..."

Wen Hanwu stood his ground without flinching.

Ling Tianxie watched the two men argue, their faces flushed and veins bulging, quickly grasping the gist of the dispute.

Wen Hanwu, a lifelong bachelor, had always treated his niece as if she were his own daughter. Wen Hanwen, when his daughter was young, had planned for her to inherit his business. However, as she grew older, she fell under the influence of Wen Hanwu and developed a passion for martial arts.

Despite Wen Hanwen's wishes, she never formally trained in martial arts, but she secretly enrolled in the police academy. For the past two years, she had been clandestinely practicing martial arts with Wen Hanwu.

"Are you trying to drive me to an early grave? Silence, all of you!" Old Master Wen bellowed, bringing the Wen brothers' argument to an abrupt halt.

"Mr. Ling, I apologize for the spectacle. My sons always put on this show whenever my granddaughter is mentioned," Elder Wen said, his face ashen with frustration, indicating that such disputes were not uncommon between the Wen siblings.

"It's no trouble at all. Your granddaughter's ability to advance to the Acquired Middle Period within two years is quite impressive; she's certainly a prodigy," Ling Tianxie remarked, genuinely surprised by the young woman's talent.

He remained indifferent to the Wen brothers' squabble, recognizing it as the natural concern of elders for their progeny, a matter where he had no place to interject.

"Haha, did you hear that? Mr. Ling agrees," Wen Hanwu exclaimed with glee upon hearing Ling Tianxie's praise of his niece's martial arts potential, convinced that Ling Tianxie was siding with him.

"Mr. Ling, well..." Wen Hanwen began, only to sigh and fall silent.

Ling Tianxie understood his hesitation and spoke up, "Hanwen, children and grandchildren carve their own paths, and we cannot force our will upon them. The goal of a martial artist's cultivation is to transcend the mortal realm and rise above the masses.

The cultivator's world is unforgiving; the weak are but ants, while only the strong wield the power to shape their destiny."

Wen Hanwen sighed once more, "Mr. Ling, you may not be aware, but three years ago, this child's mother was left comatose due to an assassination attempt by a martial artist. My daughter has been searching for the assailant ever since. I can hardly stand the thought of Rou Rou facing such dangers; she is my one and only hope for the future."

"I can grant you the power to seek vengeance right now. How does that sound?"

Ling Tianxie gave Wen Hanwen a devilish smile, sensing the paternal love as steadfast as a mountain, as well as Wen Hanwen's frustration at his own helplessness. He decided to lend a hand.

Elder Wen and Wen Hanwu were both startled by his words. If Ling Tianxie truly possessed such a skill, it would be utterly terrifying!

"Heh," Wen Hanwen chuckled ruefully. "Mr. Ling, my talents are too meager for martial arts training."

"There's nothing beyond my reach," Ling Tianxie replied with serene confidence.

He then instructed Wen Hanwen to sit, and with a wave of his hand, he channeled the Hongmeng Profound Qi into Wen Hanwen's crown.

The Hongmeng Profound Qi was known to expel diseases and avert calamities. Wen Hanwen's dantian was inherently inconspicuous, but this issue was easily resolved.

After three minutes, Ling Tianxie slowly withdrew his hand, his complexion showing a hint of pallor.

He produced one of the remaining Body Stabilizing Pills and had Wen Hanwen take it.

It was only then that the Wen family members came to their senses. Previously overwhelmed by Ling Tianxie's imposing aura, they had been lost in a daze.

Upon ingesting the pill, Wen Hanwen felt its effects. Although the pill was only tenfold potent, it was enough to nourish his newly developed dantian and meridians. The remaining power transformed him from an ordinary man with no cultivation base into an Acquired Middle Period martial artist.

"This is an infusion of enlightenment. While you now possess strength, the power you can wield will be significantly less than that of a martial artist at the same level, since this strength wasn't cultivated by you," Ling Tianxie explained, having forcibly elevated Wen Hanwen to the status of a martial artist.

The three men, now fully aware of what had transpired, rushed to express their gratitude to Ling Tianxie, their eyes brimming with incredulity. This technique was akin to seizing the very essence of creation.

Normally, a person's aptitude is a matter of fate, but Ling Tianxie had shattered that convention.

"Don't be overly astonished," Ling Tianxie advised. "Hanwen has simply had cultivation thrust upon him, and he must now adjust to this newfound power."

Ling Tianxie casually waved his hand, noticing the astonished expressions on their faces.

"Mr. Ling, would you allow my granddaughter to train with you?" Old Master Wen asked, his face glowing red with gratitude. Despite the overwhelming favors he had received, he was determined to secure a promising future for his granddaughter, no matter the cost.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible; I simply don't have the time," Ling Tianxie replied, finding the idea rather inconvenient. Having someone constantly by his side would not only complicate matters but also risk exposing his numerous secrets.

Upon hearing the refusal, a look of disappointment washed over Old Master Wen's face. Ling Tianxie, noticing Wen Weiguo's crestfallen expression, offered a faint smile.

"Your granddaughter is my junior, after all. I will certainly look after her to some extent. This pill will help her achieve the Innate Stage, and I might offer her some guidance when the opportunity arises."

The Wen family members were elated by his words.

"Mr. Ling, our family owes you a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay," Old Master Wen said, his voice laden with remorse.

"Haha, think nothing of it, Mr. Wen. Our paths were meant to cross; there's no need for concern," Ling Tianxie chuckled, considering the gesture trivial.

"Mr. Ling, although I've retired from the army due to health issues, I still hold some influence in Mingjing City. Your two nephews are quite capable as well. Should you encounter any difficulties, they'll be ready to assist you," Old Master Wen offered, feeling that there wasn't much he could provide to a Martial Dao Expert like Ling Tianxie, but he was willing to help with smaller matters.

"Mr. Ling, I have a fair amount of wealth at my disposal. Should you need anything, just one phone call, and Hanwen will be at your service," Wen Hanwen eagerly interjected, presenting Ling Tianxie with a diamond card.

"Mr. Ling, I currently serve in the Mingjing City Military Region. If you need me to mobilize the troops for you, just say the word," Wen Hanwu added with a chuckle.

The four men enjoyed a lively conversation before departing in a red flag car. By the time they returned home, it was already 6:30 in the morning.

Ling Yufei had finished preparing breakfast by the time Ling Tianxie came back. She invited him to join them for the meal.

As the three of them gathered around the table, Ling Tianxie was struck by a sense of warmth.

He thought it would be best for his sister to take the day off work so they could focus on finding a new home.

"Sis, why don't you skip work today? After I drop off our sister, we can go house hunting together," he suggested.

Ling Yufei agreed it was time for a change; the chaos of the Village in City made it hard for her to sleep at night.

"Sure, let's just rent a place in a small complex," she replied.

Hearing this, Ling Tianxie understood she was trying to be frugal, so he encouraged her,

"Sis, I really think owning our own place is better. It's what makes a house a true home, right?"

Ling Yufei's eyes clouded over with thoughts of their parents, but she quickly masked her sadness with a smile.

"Okay, but let's not go for anything too pricey," she conceded.

Ling Tianxie caught the fleeting sorrow in her eyes but chose not to offer consolation. He was determined to avenge their parents, a dark burden he had kept to himself since his return.

After hailing a cab, Ling Tianxie dropped Ling Yueer off at school. He found it odd that she remained silent the whole trip—had the Little Witch turned into a well-behaved girl?

"Hey, Ling Tianxie," Ling Yueer piped up as they reached the school gates.

"Young lady, have you forgotten how to call me 'brother'?" he teased, reaching to pinch her cheek.

But Ling Yueer swatted his hand away and questioned,

"Do you prefer girls who are more reserved?"

"What makes you ask that?" Ling Tianxie was genuinely curious.

"Hmph, I saw you touching Yahan's hand yesterday and even smelled it. I acted all demure in the car, and sure enough, you kept sneaking glances at me," Ling Yueer stated earnestly.

It took Ling Tianxie a good ten seconds to catch on.

"Hahaha, Yueer, you're such an adorable little thing."

Ling Tianxie burst into laughter.

"What's so funny? Just tell me already," Ling Yueer urged impatiently.

"Oh, I just remembered how she ran off out of the blue yesterday. Touching my nose was just a reflex. I was wondering why you were so quiet today."

It was then that Ling Tianxie realized why his sister had been behaving so oddly.

"Hmph!" Ling Yueer huffed, yet a smile graced her face as she turned and entered the school.

Watching his sister's retreating figure, Ling Tianxie shifted his attention away.

From a distance, he noticed Lo Yun approaching and prepared to greet her. Unexpectedly, Lo Yun turned and ran upon seeing him, as though she had encountered a terrifying beast.

Determined to address the underlying issue of her condition, Ling Tianxie gave chase.

"What... what do you want now?" Lo Yun demanded, facing Ling Tianxie who had intercepted her.

"I'm here to treat your illness," he replied.

Ling Tianxie had been intent on helping her ever since he noticed a significant improvement in Lo Yun's cultivation.

"This is the last time, Ling Tianxie. I expect you not to overstep your bounds!" Lo Yun stated icily.

She was convinced that Ling Tianxie had already healed her during their last encounter. Seeing him at the school gates, she suspected he was looking to take liberties with her, using treatment as a mere pretext.

Lo Yun hadn't considered the possibility that if Ling Tianxie were truly lecherous, she wouldn't be accommodating him.

Coming from a traditional scholarly family, Lo Yun was exceedingly modest, regarding her feet as a symbol of her virtue, which Ling Tianxie had previously seen and touched.

Following her to her office, Ling Tianxie watched as Lo Yun locked the door. The next moment left him dumbfounded. Lo Yun sat on her desk, lifted her shirt to expose her abdomen, and then, removing her high heels, she stretched out her stocking-clad feet towards him.