C21 Deduction

Strolling through the streets of Thunderfall, Zhou Min gazed around with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Have you never seen people before?" Lin Hao asked, noticing Zhou Min's inquisitive glances.

"Humph! I've never seen anyone quite like you," Zhou Min retorted. "How much longer until we arrive? How far is it still?"

Lin Hao chuckled. "Not much farther, it's just up ahead."

Despite having spent only a day together, Lin Hao sensed that Zhou Min wasn't malicious at heart; rather, she seemed to possess a touch of childlike impatience.

Shortly thereafter, Zhou Min and Lin Hao reached the Lin family's entrance and confidently strode in.

"Hey, did you see the woman Lin Hao brought back? I wonder who she is?"

"It's none of our concern. We'd better stick to guarding the gate," the other replied.

Once Lin Hao and Zhou Min had entered, the two footboys at the door exchanged whispers.

"Let me take you to where I'm staying first," Lin Hao suggested to Zhou Min.

"Sure, whatever," Zhou Min responded nonchalantly.

Lin Hao led Zhou Min towards his residence. They hadn't gone far when Lin Hao spotted Lin Xiong heading their way.

Quickly grabbing Zhou Min's arm, Lin Hao directed, "Let's go this way."

Lin Hao was keen on avoiding Lin Xiong to prevent any issues involving Zhou Min.

"What's the matter?" Zhou Min asked, taken aback by Lin Hao's sudden grip. "Is there a problem? You seem quite afraid of him. Has he been bullying you in this family?"

Zhou Min had noticed Lin Hao's reaction to Lin Xiong and suspected that Lin Hao might have been previously bullied by him. She reassuringly patted Lin Hao on the shoulder and declared, "Don't worry. He won't dare to bully you with me here. If he tries, I'll make sure he regrets it!"

Zhou Min expressed indignantly, "It seems he's supposed to be your elder, yet he bullies you? How shameful!"

Lin Hao quickly clarified, "No, you've got it wrong. He is the Chief Elder of our family."

"Chief Elder?" Zhou Min exclaimed incredulously. "But he appears to be only in the early period of foundation building."

"Let's talk about it later. We really should get moving," Lin Hao urged, growing anxious.

"It's too late; he's already on his way here," Zhou Min observed, nodding towards Lin Xiong.

Upon seeing Lin Hao, Lin Xiong felt an immediate urge to reprimand him. His anger had been simmering for days due to his son's death, and he hadn't laid eyes on Lin Hao during that time.

Lin Xiong had intended to capture Lin Hao and force him to reveal his cultivation secrets, curious about Lin Hao's rapid progress. However, he learned that Lin Hao was in seclusion with the white-browed elder, leaving Lin Xiong without recourse.

But now, with Lin Hao emerging, Lin Xiong thought, "I was just fretting over how to find you, and here you are, delivered to my doorstep."

Seeing Lin Hao with a woman only fueled Lin Xiong's rage. He confronted Lin Hao, his expression chilling. "With all the recent turmoil in the Lin family and the Wang family's brazenness, why bring an outsider home? She must be a spy. You dare to conspire with the Wang family against us? You must have a death wish."

Before Lin Hao could respond, Zhou Min interjected, "And who do you think you are to speak to me like that? You better stand by your words!"

"Oh, still so defiant. You're looking for trouble. Fine, I'll deal with you first, then take my time with this footboy," Lin Xiong spat venomously.

Lin Hao quickly tried to defuse the situation, "It's all a misunderstanding."

He then addressed Lin Xiong, "The Lin family has no rule against bringing someone home, does it? Since when do we have such a policy?"

"Humph! I make the rules, and it starts now," Lin Xiong declared. "Thunderfall City is on edge. We can't just allow strangers into the family home at a time like this."

Lin Hao realized that the situation wouldn't be resolved amicably. Yet, he wasn't overly concerned. Zhou Min had the strength to defeat a Core Formation mage. Even though she was currently injured, she was more than capable of handling Lin Xiong, who was merely in the early stages of foundation building.

Lin Hao decided to bide his time, knowing that if Lin Xiong and Zhou Min came to blows, the family patriarch, Lin Xiao, would surely intervene.

Lin Xiao wouldn't stand by and allow an outsider to challenge his family without stepping in to help.

"Hahaha..." Zhou Min chuckled. "Well then, today I'm going to show you what a true mage is. Hmph! To think someone at the early stage of Foundation Building could be so presumptuous!"

Zhou Min seemed to have forgotten that she, too, was a Foundation Building mage. Her victory over Zhao Qiang was due to her unleashing the One with the Sword technique, a feat not easily replicated.

Yet, Zhou Min was no ordinary individual. With a mysterious past and a wealth of hidden strengths, she was not to be underestimated.

Lin Xiong, attempting to assert his Foundation Building aura, sought to overpower Zhou Min. In his view, Zhou Min was merely a novice Qi Refining mage, not even warranting his personal intervention; he believed his aura alone would be enough to defeat her.

To his dismay, Zhou Min did not crumble as he had anticipated; she remained unaffected.

"Trying to crush me with your aura? Not even a Core Formation mage could manage that, let alone you," Zhou Min scoffed.

"Watch this," she uttered, then commanded, "Go!"

Zhou Min unleashed her Soulsword once more, sending it hurtling towards Lin Xiong at breakneck speed!

Lin Xiong hastily drew his top-grade magic weapon flying sword to shield himself.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound echoed as Lin Xiong was sent reeling back several meters, his flying sword shattering in the process.

As the flying sword spun around, Zhou Min prepared to launch another attack on Lin Xiong. She had no intention of killing him, but she was determined to teach him a lesson.

"Spare him!" Lin Xiao's voice rang out just as Zhou Min's flying sword nearly struck Lin Xiong.

Sensing the newcomer's formidable strength, Zhou Min ceased her assault.

"If I were to face him, I might be slightly outmatched, but he wouldn't be able to capture me," Zhou Min mused internally. "Once I've recovered a bit more, he'd be no match for me."

An irate Lin Xiao approached Lin Xiong and demanded, "Look at the mess you've made. Apologize at once!"

"Apologize?" Lin Xiong declared, "Impossible! Do what you will with me!"

"You!" Lin Xiao exclaimed in frustration.

"It's fine. I should have visited upon arriving at your home; it was my mistake. Let's skip the apologies," Zhou Min interjected.

Lin Xiao's expression softened. "May I ask what brings you to our home?"

"I'm a friend of Lin Hao's. He invited me over," Zhou Min responded nonchalantly.

Lin Hao looked at her with grateful eyes. With Zhou Min's intimidating presence, Lin Xiong wouldn't dare threaten him anymore.

Zhou Min seemed oblivious to this and asked Lin Xiao, "Shall we head back now?"

"Of course, of course," Lin Xiao replied, turning to Lin Hao. "Make sure you take good care of your friend."

"Will do," Lin Hao answered.

They then hurried back to their residence.

Watching Lin Hao and Zhou Min leave, Lin Xiao murmured, "They can't be in the Foundation Building stage, can they? I sense danger from her. I hope she can lend us a hand if our family faces peril."

Lin Xiao felt cornered. Not only was he unsure he could defeat Zhou Min, but his family was also in crisis. Learning that Zhou Min was Lin Hao's friend, he immediately credited Lin Hao's improved abilities to her.

This made it all the more important not to offend Zhou Min.

Back at the residence, Lin Hao did some quick cleaning while Zhou Min took a seat on his bed. "It seems your status in the family isn't very high," she observed.

"Things have gone downhill since my parents disappeared," Lin Hao paused his cleaning to reply.

"I'm sorry for bringing up such a painful subject," Zhou Min apologized.

"Don't worry about it. I need to focus on my cultivation and break through to the next level as soon as possible, so I can find my parents," Lin Hao said, fists clenched with determination.

"Actually," Lin Hao seemed to remember something, "you should stay at my cousin's place tonight."

Zhou Min immediately frowned and protested, "No, I'll sleep with you tonight!"

Lin Hao nearly stumbled, his eyes wide in shock. "What? You want to sleep with me?"

"Yes, I want to sleep with you..."