C20 Go to Your House

Lin Hao was taken aback and hastily stepped back.

But then it dawned on him that anyone who had previously used One with the Sword would be either dead or gravely injured. With this in mind, Lin Hao confidently approached Zhou Min again.

Gathering his courage, Lin Hao inquired, "Are you okay? It looks like you've sustained some serious injuries."

Zhou Min suspected, "Is this kid trying to take advantage of my weakness? No way I'm falling for that. He's just probing."

With that, Zhou Min snapped, "I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much!"

"Good to hear you're fine," Lin Hao replied, turning to leave. But after a few steps, Zhou Min called out from behind, "You're just going to walk away?"

Lin Hao turned back and asked, "Is there something else? Since you're fine, I'll be on my way."

Lin Hao was eager to distance himself from this woman; who could predict whether she might turn on him once she recovered?

He had already discerned that Zhou Min was seriously wounded; he simply wanted to avoid the hassle. After all, if she decided to silence him once she was healed, that would spell disaster for him.

So, Lin Hao feigned ignorance and made to leave.

Zhou Min demanded, "Come here and help me up, or it'll be the end of you!"

She then forcefully summoned her Soulsword, directing it at Lin Hao!

Lin Hao broke out in a cold sweat, having underestimated her condition. He hadn't expected her to still be capable of wielding her flying sword.

Putting aside his previous disdain, Lin Hao quickly went to Zhou Min's side and helped her to her feet.

"I've deceived him for now. I'll let him look after me until I recover. Then I'll head home. I'm worried about how my father is," Zhou Min thought to herself.

Unaware of her thoughts, Lin Hao assisted Zhou Min to rest against a nearby tree.

"I need to tend to my wounds. Keep watch for me and wake me if there's any danger," Zhou Min instructed Lin Hao. "Did you get that?"

Lin Hao nodded earnestly, "Understood. Heal up; I've got you covered."

Zhou Min then produced a red pill, popped it into her mouth, and took out a supreme grade soulstone to begin her healing process.

Lin Hao stood idly by a large tree, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he kept watch.

Noticing Zhou Min with her eyes shut tight, completely still, Lin Hao's thoughts began to race. "Maybe I should just make a run for it now?" he pondered.

Without hesitation, Lin Hao was not one to dawdle.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He had only taken a few steps when a stern voice called out from behind him!

Lin Hao froze, then awkwardly explained, "I was just going to look for something to eat."

"Humph! Don't think for a second that I'm unaware of your plans to escape. Stay put, and don't you dare move without my permission!"

With no other choice, Lin Hao reluctantly returned to his spot, abandoning any further thoughts of escape as he realized it would be pointless.

Before he knew it, night had fallen.

Zhou Min awoke with a serene expression and addressed Lin Hao, "I'm hungry. Go find me something to eat."

"Right away," Lin Hao responded eagerly.

"Hold on." Zhou Min seemed to reconsider and called out once more.

She produced a white pill and handed it to Lin Hao, instructing, "Swallow this."

Taking the pill, Lin Hao inquired, "What's this?"

"What is it? Hmph, this is Heartbane. Once you've taken it, you'll need the antidote daily. Otherwise, in three days, you'll endure the agony of feeling as though thousands of insects are devouring your heart!"

Lin Hao shuddered at the thought of such cruelty.

Left with no alternative, Lin Hao steeled himself and swallowed the white pill, cursing his own meddling nature.

He then set off in search of food.

An hour later, Lin Hao returned, carrying a wild chicken and some low-level dire beasts he had captured.

Yet, Lin Hao found himself in an awkward predicament, "Um, I don't have any water. How am I supposed to clean these?"

With a flick of her hands, Zhou Min conjured spheres of water around Lin Hao.

After washing the game he had caught, Lin Hao gathered some wood and began to prepare a meal.

He took out his seasonings and got busy cooking.

An hour later, the delicious aroma filled the air.

Zhou Min commented, "I must say, I didn't expect you to be such a skilled cook. Bring the meal here and let me have a taste."

Lin Hao lifted a bowl of chicken soup and offered it to Zhou Min.

Zhou Min inhaled deeply before starting to eat.

Lin Hao also took a bowl of soup and sat a bit away from Zhou Min as he began his meal.

After they had finished eating, Zhou Min inquired, "What brings you to this forest alone? It's quite perilous here."

"I came for training," Lin Hao explained, sharing his reasons with Zhou Min.

"Oh, you belong to a small Cultivation Family," Zhou Min remarked.

She added, "Well, since you're here for a breakthrough, I'll help you achieve it once I'm healed."

"What?!" Lin Hao exclaimed. "You're going to help me? How?"

"Humph, you don't need to worry about that. Just do as I say, and you'll reap the benefits," Zhou Min retorted.

"Okay," Lin Hao replied, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

"My father must be alright," Zhou Min mused as she lay on the ground.

Lin Hao glanced at Zhou Min, wanting to speak but holding back.

"If you have something to say, say it now. I need to rest," Zhou Min prompted, noticing Lin Hao's hesitation.

Gathering his courage, Lin Hao ventured, "I was wondering... what is your name?"

"That's none of your concern," Zhou Min responded, closing her eyes.

Finding no other option, Lin Hao found a spot to sleep.

"Zhou Min!"

Shortly after lying down, Lin Hao heard someone call out.

"So her name is Zhou Min. It's quite a pleasant name, not as harsh as I thought," Lin Hao pondered.

But then he quickly reconsidered, "No, wait. The Heartbane Pill is still a cruel concoction!"

...

The following day, as the sun climbed high, Zhou Min awoke.

Upon noticing Lin Hao's absence, she fumed, "He's run off? I don't believe he won't return. If I catch him again, he's going to regret it!"

Roughly fifteen minutes later, Lin Hao came back bearing fruit.

"You're up? I found us some food. Since you're injured, let's have these fruits for breakfast," Lin Hao suggested upon seeing Zhou Min awake.

Seeing Lin Hao return, Zhou Min's anger subsided significantly.

"You've done well. Now bring them here," she instructed Lin Hao.

After Zhou Min finished her fruit, she stood up and declared, "Let's go. Forget about your training; take me to your place."

"What? To my house? That's not possible," Lin Hao exclaimed in disbelief.

Zhou Min's expression turned icy as she retorted, "Why not? Move it, stop wasting time, or you can forget about the antidote for the Heartbane."

"Fine," Lin Hao conceded reluctantly.

"But you're going to follow my rules at my house—no trouble," Lin Hao insisted, concerned.

"Follow your rules? Have you lost your mind? Expecting me to listen to you?" Zhou Min looked at Lin Hao as if he were a complete fool.

Lin Hao replied with resignation, "You don't have to listen, but just so you know, the head of our household is a late-period Foundation Building mage."

Zhou Min thought to herself, "Late-period Foundation Building? I'm not equipped to handle someone at that level right now. I'd have a fighting chance against an early-period Foundation Building cultivator, though."

Out loud, Zhou Min scoffed, "So what if he's late-period Foundation Building? Zhao Qiang was a Core Formation cultivator, and I still took him down."

"Alright, you're tough. But getting into trouble won't do you any favors, will it?" Lin Hao reasoned with her.

"Fine, you've got a point. Let's go. I'll keep out of trouble," Zhou Min conceded.

With that, Lin Hao and Zhou Min made haste toward the Lin family home.

Lin Hao's training expedition to the Misty Forest had proven utterly fruitless. Not only had he failed to make any breakthroughs, but he was also bringing a woman back home.

"What will the family think of this?" Lin Hao pondered as they traveled.

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