18. Speculation

Lin Jiugo’s answer was different.

The two of them thought that perhaps the bond formed by relying on each other was deeper and more profound.

Lin Jiuci was still too young to understand much. The two of them merely instructed Lin Jiugo to continue taking care of Lin Jiuci as before, but Lin Jiuci would have to start learning at the age of five. Lin Jiugo agreed.

Zhou Yan arrived quickly, carrying a pile of things. Seeing Lin Jiugo, who was in seclusion healing and had grown stronger, Zhou Yan’s earlier worries completely faded.

“Junior sister, this is too much,” Zhou Yan said, his heart burning with concern suddenly turning icy cold.

“Senior brother, what did I do?” Lin Jiugo asked, puzzled.

Zhou Yan felt aggrieved. Could he admit that he envied the righteous and imposing look on his junior sister’s face when she cultivated?

“Jiugo, can your senior brother practice that ‘Thunder Movement’ technique of yours?” Li Yun’s lips twitched. He quite understood his disciple’s thoughts.

“Senior brother, aren’t you a spellcaster? Why are you so keen on physical training?” Lin Jiugo was confused. From his appearance, her senior brother looked like someone who needed protection. If she remembered correctly, the sect leader uncle was also a spellcaster. Could it be that the sect leader uncle hadn’t taught well?

“Ahem.” Li Yun couldn’t help but laugh at his disciple’s blunt question.

“Spellcasters also need a robust physique; otherwise, how can they support their spells?” Master Wudao explained. He was a spellcaster, but also quite capable in combat.

“Alright, then your senior brother’s constitution is too weak,” Lin Jiugo nodded. Then her eyes were covered with a purple glow as she reached a conclusion: the little lucky one had only a few blocked points, but her senior brother had none that were clear and unobstructed!

“Ahem, Jiugo,” Li Yun said, feeling his disciple had racked up quite a bit of resentment today.

“Master, senior uncle, if senior brother practices ‘Thunder Movement’ with this constitution, he’ll be crippled,” Lin Jiugo said sincerely.

“Junior sister, I can do it,” Zhou Yan gritted his teeth, feeling as if he were being treated as if he didn’t exist.

“Senior uncle, first, senior brother needs to soak in a medicinal bath,” Lin Jiugo thought for a moment. She would first strengthen his root bones in the bath, adding lightning power for stimulation. After three months, senior brother should be able to manage.

Zhou Yan watched his junior sister earnestly placing various required herbs into the bath. Could senior uncle really trust her like this? No matter how he looked at it, it felt like she was just messing around.

“Senior brother, take off your clothes and get in. Soak for half an hour—I’ll come in. It’ll hurt a bit; bite down on this,” Lin Jiugo handed him a white towel, fearing he might bite his tongue if he couldn’t endure the pain.

Zhou Yan gripped the towel, wondering how much she underestimated him. After she left, he didn’t listen to her warnings; he didn’t believe such a reckless medicinal bath could hurt much.

But as soon as his foot touched the bath, Zhou Yan hesitated. He realized he couldn’t deny the pain and tried to maintain a calm face as he immersed himself up to his ankles.

Half an hour later, Lin Jiugo entered to see Zhou Yan pale and biting the towel tightly.

“Senior uncle, I told you his constitution was too poor,” Lin Jiugo sighed.

“Enough, no more teasing. What do you need me to do?” Master Wudao sighed. So this was Lin Jiugo. Fortunately, Zhou Yan’s constitution was sealed; otherwise, this scene—ugh—who could bear it?

“Senior uncle, you need to add spirit plants in this order, every three minutes. I’ve marked the spots,” Lin Jiugo instructed.

“Alright.” Master Wudao felt odd—he was a revered elder, yet here he was being taught how to use spirit plants by a spellcasting novice like Lin Jiugo. Somehow, it felt novel.

After finishing her instructions, Lin Jiugo adjusted her state and placed her right hand on Zhou Yan’s shoulder.

Zhou Yan, feeling pain worse than death, suddenly felt a sharp sting like a bone spur in his shoulder. He bit the towel harder, fingers trembling. No wonder junior sister despised him—it really hurt too much.

Lin Jiugo’s right hand, charged with lightning power, moved her index and middle fingers continuously. Her eyes glowed purple as she saw Zhou Yan as a network of points and lines, clearing the blockages one by one.

While adding spirit plants, Master Wudao was distracted. Jiugo’s eyes were different—could it be she could see weaknesses? That would explain her confidence. With this thought, Master Wudao watched Lin Jiugo’s eyes more closely; they shimmered faintly with purple light.

Lin Jiugo stopped after clearing two or three points.

“Jiugo, why not continue?” Master Wudao halted adding spirit plants.

“Senior brother’s constitution is too poor. That’s enough for today. Senior uncle, keep adding the spirit plants; after fifteen minutes, senior brother can come out.” Lin Jiugo had never seen such a constitution. She was puzzled, too. Judging by bone age, Zhou Yan’s body seemed not fully developed—like a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old. But by appearance, such a big senior brother was unimaginable.

Lin Jiugo didn’t dwell on it and turned to leave. It was time to prepare a medicinal bath for the little lucky one.

Lin Jiuci now loved medicinal baths—they were so comfortable. If her sister didn’t limit the soaking time, she wouldn’t get out at all.

After tidying up, Lin Jiugo resumed her cultivation as usual.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan, feeling as if half his life had been drained, endured the pain and sat in meditation to cultivate. He was certain that his junior sister wasn’t taking revenge on him personally; this meant his body was truly weak! This realization was hard to accept.

Yet, as he cultivated, Zhou Yan noticeably absorbed spiritual energy a bit faster. With this contrast, despite the excruciating pain the next day, he endured because he realized junior sister was opening his acupoints! It was said that youth was the best time to cultivate. With her help, perhaps age wouldn’t be a barrier anymore.

Zhou Yan observed Lin Jiugo’s daily routine. The first thing every morning was steaming rice, then practicing basic sword moves with her sword—now she struck sixteen hundred times with each hand.

Afterward, she put away the sword and soaked in a medicinal bath next door. After cleaning up, the meal was ready. Then she played with Lin Jiuci for a while, ate lunch, and took a midday rest; after the rest, she practiced a set of punches near the waterfall.

It was the style Master Wudao wanted him to learn—straightforward and powerful. The sound of her punches came in three distinct strikes, each one stronger than the last. And Zhou Yan wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but the fingertips seemed faintly charged with lightning power.

“Ah Yan, how do you feel?” Li Yun appeared by Zhou Yan’s side at some point.

“Pretty good,” Zhou Yan replied.

“I’m asking about your junior sister’s physical training method. What do you think?” Li Yun sighed. He knew well that although his disciple nearly suffered death from the medicinal bath, his physique was visibly improving.

“Excellent. It perfectly matches the image of a tough guy I have in mind.”

Li Yun looked at his disciple’s glowing eyes and, based on recent observations and guesses with the old bookworm, concluded that Lin Jiugo’s background was not that of an ordinary mortal.

What mortal family could produce such skills and tricks, surpassing even their elders? Especially this physical training method—they both believed Lin Jiugo might be a disciple from some hidden ancient clan living in exile.