C18 Revealing Her True Colors!

Chapter Eighteen: True Colors Revealed

Without thinking, Lin Xuan, Lin Yumo, and the others turned to see Lin Tianyi, smirking with smug satisfaction as he sauntered into the courtyard. He addressed Lin Xuan with a taunt, "Lin Xuan... I warned you before, once Senior Brother Lin Lang steps in, you're a dead man walking!"

"This time, I'd love to see you try to run!"

"Hahaha, run? Who said anything about running?"

Lin Xuan burst into laughter, his gaze sweeping over the crowd at the courtyard entrance, his mirth fearless and unabated.

"Hmph, still so defiant on death's doorstep!"

Lin Tianyi snorted dismissively and turned to the green-clad man behind him, "Senior Brother Lin Lang, this is Lin Xuan!"

Lin Lang's expression darkened as he fixed his icy stare on Lin Xuan, "So, you're the one who left my brother critically injured?"

"Indeed, it was me," Lin Xuan replied, unfazed by Lin Lang's intimidating look.

"Hmph, kid, you've got some nerve owning up to it. But did you know you left my brother bedridden, nearly dead?"

"And how, exactly, do you plan to settle this debt?"

Lin Lang's glare was venomous, seeing Lin Xuan, a mere Spiritual Cultivator of the Seventh Level, as nothing more than an insect he could easily squash.

Right now, Lin Lang was simply searching for a pretext to act, well aware of his family's rules.

"Haha, Senior Brother Lin Lang, you seem to be mistaken. What debt? What exactly am I supposed to repay?"

"Your brother was the one who harbored ill intentions toward my maid. Had I not returned in time, he might have succeeded in his vile plans..."

"Such a degenerate deserved his fate. By sparing his life, I was already showing mercy beyond the law!"

Lin Xuan retorted with a cold sneer.

"Hmph, you're truly heartless. Even if my brother was at fault first, you had no right to strike with such cruelty..."

Despite being aware of his brother's misdeeds, Lin Lang found himself compelled to step in and clean up the mess.

"Haha, Senior Brother Lin Lang, it seems you're still in the dark. It was your brother who couldn't handle the disruption I caused him, harboring resentment. On the day of the test, he pleaded with Patriarch Lin Yue for a chance to face me on the martial arts stage, with no regard for life or death..."

"I granted his wish and battled him. And now, because I emerged victorious, I'm faced with such reproach? How does that make any sense?"

Lin Xuan was shaking with fury. Lin Lang's knack for playing the victim, a trait undoubtedly inherited from Lin Tong!

"Hmph, a duel is no excuse for excessive force. Today, you have two options: face me in combat on the family's martial arts stage, or kneel and bow your head in apology!"

Lin Lang's snort was filled with an unmistakable air of tyranny, drawing a chorus of jeers.

"Such outrageous bullying... Are you just looking to avenge your brother? Well, I'm curious to see what you're truly capable of!"

Lin Xuan's face was a mask of detachment, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

"Lin Xuan... What are you saying? Don't be rash. You're no match for Lin Lang. If you step onto the martial arts stage with him, the Lin family's rules won't protect you. Even if he cripples you, the family won't intervene on your behalf!" Lin Yumo, standing behind him, was clearly alarmed by Lin Xuan's words and urgently cautioned him.

Ascending the martial arts stage meant signing a life-and-death agreement, with no involvement from the Lin family.

"This Lin Xuan truly has a death wish. He could have used the family's rules to keep Lin Lang at bay, but instead, he's actually agreed to confront him on the martial arts stage... That takes some serious guts!"

"What guts? It's sheer ignorance of mortality!"

"Ha! Lin Lang simply baited him, and Lin Xuan took the hook, agreeing to the challenge on the martial arts stage..."

Outside the small courtyard, Lin Feng and his entourage from the Replacement Hall burst into laughter.

Lin Xuan, however, ignored their mockery. Turning to Lin Yumo, he confidently stated, "Don't worry. I've been diligently honing my spiritual skills these past days. I'm not intimidated by him—I have a plan!"

"Lin Xuan... why are you so stubborn? No matter how hard you train, you're still no match for Lin Lang..."

Lin Yumo clearly didn't buy it, and Lin Xuan, tired of justifying himself, declared, "If you trust me, then watch from the sidelines at the martial arts platform. You'll see how I defeat him!"

With that, Lin Xuan strode off to the martial arts platform with Lin Lang and the others, a curious crowd trailing behind, eager for entertainment.

"Extra! Extra! There's going to be an exciting match at the martial arts platform. Everyone, come and see!"

"Is that so? What kind of excitement?"

"Ha! It's Senior Brother Lin Lang facing off against a branch family disciple on the martial arts platform!"

"A branch family disciple? What's his cultivation level?"

"He's a Seventh Level Spiritual Cultivator!"

"Psh, is that even worth watching? Everyone knows Senior Brother Lin Lang is on the verge of becoming a Spirit Warrior. He'll just steamroll a Seventh Level branch family disciple. Sounds dull to me!"

"Wait, you're out of the loop. This Seventh Level branch family disciple is a prodigy. Just yesterday, I heard he gave a Ninth Level Spirit Cultivator a run for his money. Trust me, this is going to be good!"

"What? Now that you mention it, that does sound intriguing. Hey, wait up, I'm coming with you!"

"Move it, or we'll miss out on the good spots!"

Word spread like wildfire, and soon the entire Lin family was abuzz. It had been ages since there was such a spectacle, and upon hearing about the upcoming duel at the martial arts platform, most of the family's disciples abandoned their training to witness the event.

"Conceited fool... How can you be so naive? You never learn to hold back. The only reason you beat Lin Tong last time was his lack of combat experience, which you exploited. But Lin Lang is no sheltered flower like Lin Tong—he's battle-hardened, with a wealth of fighting knowledge, and he's nearly a Spirit Warrior master..."

Beneath the martial arts platform, Lin Yumo watched Lin Xuan's solitary figure with a sense of déjà vu, feeling a mix of helplessness and deep concern for him.

"Heh, youth... You're just too young. I hardly had to exert myself to lure you into my web, and you walked right into it..."

"Now that we're both on this stage, it's a fight to the finish. But don't worry—I won't kill you. I'm going to destroy your cultivation and reduce you to a mere mortal for life!"

"My goal is to have you live in fear and darkness forever!"

"Don't fret. When the time comes, I won't abandon you as your senior brother. I'll make sure you're assigned the most grueling and menial tasks..."

On the platform, Lin Lang's laughter boomed as he dropped all pretenses, baring his true nature for all to see.

"This is the end..."

Lin Yumo's complexion turned ghostly white as she heard Lin Lang's declaration, her voice trembling with panic.

Meanwhile, Lin Tianyi, who bore a grudge against Lin Xuan, cackled from the sidelines, taunting, "Oh, Lin Xuan, I did try to warn you, but you failed to seize the chance. How utterly foolish!"