C6 He Was Discovered

Over the next two weeks, Zhao Lin spent his days felling trees and his nights in cultivation. Moreover, he never stayed in the same place for more than one night. Guided by the painting, Zhao Lin gradually learned how to independently absorb the refreshing essence of the air. Through discreet inquiries, he eventually discovered that this essence was the vital spiritual energy that all cultivators require. The warmth flowing within him was wakan, transformed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

One night, Zhao Lin took refuge in a cave. As he was about to settle down to cultivate, a sudden beam of light emanated from the depths of the cave. Zhao Lin's face tensed as he cautiously approached the source, using the box as a makeshift weapon. The cave was filled with chilling gusts that made one's hair stand on end.

At the cave's end, a skeleton came into view. The chest's ribcage was nearly pulverized, clearly indicating death by a heavy blow to the torso. The straight positioning of the leg bones and feet suggested that the injury did not occur in the cave. Realizing this, Zhao Lin breathed a sigh of relief, understanding that there was no lurking danger within the cave.

The source of the light was a dagger, seemingly of great importance to the deceased, who still clutched it tightly in hand. Respecting the dead, Zhao Lin bowed in homage before carefully removing the dagger. As soon as he grasped it, his body unexpectedly lurched forward. The small dagger was incredibly heavy, a weight Zhao Lin could hardly fathom.

Before long, Zhao Lin's grip faltered, and the dagger slipped from his hand. It plunged into his foot with a "puchi," eliciting a scream akin to a pig being slaughtered. Bizarrely, the blood from his foot did not spill out but was wholly absorbed by the dagger.

"Have the audacity to drink my blood!" Zhao Lin bellowed, furiously yanking the dagger out. The force sent him tumbling backward. The dagger, now in his hand, felt nimble and light, devoid of its previous heft. "Hmm, why has it become so light?" Zhao Lin swung the dagger, finding its weight indistinguishable from that of an ordinary dagger. His expression clouded with confusion—was the initial heaviness merely an illusion?

With a light scratch on the stone beside him, the incredibly hard rock was surprisingly split in half. The cut surface was smooth and even. Zhao Lin stared at the dagger in disbelief; not a single mark marred its blade. "This is a fine piece! I can use this dagger for self-defense from now on!" Zhao Lin was thrilled. The dagger was sharp yet inconspicuous, perfect for carrying around.

After securing the dagger, he began his meditation and cultivation practice. Once finished, Zhao Lin hurried back to his thatched cottage to make his morning appearance. "Zhao Lin, how many trees have you chopped down these past few days?" Early in the morning, as soon as Zhao Lin stepped out, he was confronted by Chen Quan. Despite his displeasure, Zhao Lin responded truthfully.

Chen Quan's face darkened upon hearing the number Zhao Lin reported, but he quickly composed himself. He barked angrily, "You're useless, chopping so few trees in half a month. What are you even doing? Let me make this clear: forget about any welfare this month!" With that, he strode away, looking quite pleased with himself. Zhao Lin watched Chen Quan's retreating figure with a cold gaze, his hands clenched so tightly they creaked.

In the back mountain, Zhao Lin continued his usual routine, chopping down a tree with exactly eighty swings—no more, no less. Suddenly, he sensed a pair of eyes watching him. As he turned around, the gaze vanished. Zhao Lin took a few steps in pursuit and saw the figure's back, his expression turning dark—it was none other than Chen Quan.

"I can't just sit around and wait for doom!" Zhao Lin hoisted an iron tree and vanished into the forest. Deep in the back mountain, he drew his dagger and swiftly shaved the tree trunk. The resulting shaft was as thick as a finger, with one end sharpened to a point, resembling an arrowhead. After whittling more than a dozen, Zhao Lin gathered some vines and quickly made his way to a stone cave.

"Chen Quan, you've brought this on yourself!" Zhao Lin fashioned a simple bow using a bent piece of wood and vines. He then secured the bow's ends with two more vines and anchored it tightly to either side of the cave. Once the bow was fixed in place, he tied a knot in the bowstring and pulled it back with all his might. With the bow fully drawn, Zhao Lin fastened the vine to a stone pillar, then set the sharpened wooden arrows onto the bow. After making some final adjustments, he stepped back. "Chen Quan, tonight you meet your end!"

Returning to the thatched cottage, Chen Quan gave Zhao Lin a menacing glare and drew his finger across his throat—a gesture whose meaning was unmistakable to anyone. Zhao Lin chose to share his meal with Wang Yu. After finishing their dinner, he lay in bed, his mind anything but at peace. Yet, what must be endured, must be endured. If he didn't take out Chen Quan, Chen Quan would surely come after him.

Night descended swiftly. Once Wang Yu was sound asleep, Zhao Lin slipped out of the cottage, intentionally slowing his pace this time. As expected, shortly after he left, Chen Quan emerged from the cottage and tailed him. Zhao Lin wound his way through the back mountain, but couldn't shake Chen Quan off his trail.

"Chen Quan, since you're seeking your own demise, you can't blame me!" Without further hesitation, Zhao Lin bolted for the cave. Chen Quan, trailing behind, smirked malevolently. Zhao Lin had realized something was amiss when he learned that Chen Quan had managed to chop down an iron tree. No disciple of the sect, even with a formidable axe, could accomplish such a feat, especially not with an axe meant for cutting grass. There was only one explanation: Zhao Lin had stumbled upon a stroke of luck.

As they continued, Zhao Lin caught Chen Quan's eye just as Chen Quan caught his. "Chief Chen, you've been following me for quite some time. You must be exhausted," Zhao Lin sneered, his gaze icy with lethal intent. "Zhao Lin, the sect has explicit rules against leaving at times other than for daytime duties. You dare to defy these regulations!" Now that he was caught, Chen Quan laid his cards on the table.

"Really? Aren't you doing the same? What, you want to see if I've had some kind of lucky break?" Zhao Lin's laugh was chilling. He slowly backed up, positioning himself to block the cave entrance with his bow and arrows. "So, you think I've had a lucky break. Zhao Lin, hand over what you've found, and I assure you I won't report this incident. What's more, you won't have to chop trees in the future!"

"Is that so? I should thank you, Chief Chen. You want it? Then follow me!" Zhao Lin feigned weakness and turned to enter the cave. Chen Quan hesitated, not following right away. Instead, he called out, "Bring it here. Just bring it here, and I'll forget all your secrets!" Zhao Lin inwardly cursed the coward, knowing that from where Chen Quan stood, the arrows couldn't reach.

"Alright, just you wait!" Zhao Lin hesitated briefly, knowing that he couldn't catch the wolf without risking the child. Resolved, he stepped into the cave and retrieved the box.