Chapter 16

"Yang'er, this Peach Blossom Island is truly beautiful. How did you find it?" Mrs. Lin and Lin Zhenan walked along the stone path into a pavilion.

Su Chong shifted his attention from the sword manual in his hand. "Mother, as long as you like it."

"When did you start building this island? It must have taken a lot of time to build all these pavilions and buildings." Mrs. Lin sat down next to Su Chong and asked.

Lin Zhenan perked up his ears, also very curious about this question.

"Mother, as long as you like it." Su Chong said, then looked back at the sword manual in his hand.

Mrs. Lin snatched the sword manual: "The 'Mountain Opening Sword Technique'? What's so good about this low-level sword technique from the martial world? Answer me honestly!"

Su Chong sighed, "About five years ago, when I first entered the martial world. I heard about this island and spent some effort to find it, and I did."

"Where did you get so much money? There are many places that need construction here. Even our Fowei Escort Agency's income over the years wouldn't be enough to support it." Mrs. Lin continued to press.

Su Chong smiled and patiently explained, "As the saying goes, 'Murder and arson lead to a golden belt.' Since I started, I've destroyed countless bandit strongholds. Besides the reputation, I've gained a lot of wealth, which I've invested in this island."

Lin Zhenan looked enlightened. The fastest way to make money was through no-cost deals. What Su Chong was doing, in a sense, was robbing bandits.

"These matters are not for you to worry about, Mother. Just live here comfortably." Su Chong said with a smile.

Mrs. Lin didn't give up, "What about the winery? Why does the north side of the island look like a large winery?"

"I occasionally got a secret recipe and brew pure bamboo leaf green wine. It's highly profitable. We brew it on the island and sell it to the Changsha Gang's Pan Hou on the mainland. We don't care about how he operates it. Although we earn less, it's trouble-free. This will be the pillar of our Peach Blossom Island in the future." Su Chong answered one by one.

"My son is truly capable, thinking so far ahead." Mrs. Lin was satisfied and pinched Su Chong's cheek.

"Since you've arranged everything, how about your lifelong matters?" Mrs. Lin suddenly asked.

Su Chong's lips twitched. After some thought, he said seriously, "Please forgive me for being unfilial, but I have no definite plans for this. I intend to devote all my time to the Way of the Sword. Fortunately, there's Pingzhi. The continuation of the Lin family can be left to him."

Seeing Mrs. Lin's anxious face, Su Chong reached out to comfort her, "The Lin family is a new martial arts family. To sustain it, martial arts are the foundation. My lifelong wish is to reach the pinnacle of martial arts. If I can leave a suitable sword technique for the Lin family, that would be best. I can't afford to be distracted."

Mrs. Lin wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Su Chong's determined expression, she knew it was useless. She looked worried and felt bitter.

Lin Zhenan was silent, thinking about how much his eldest son had sacrificed. He started learning martial arts at six, lived in seclusion in the mountains for ten years, and at just sixteen, decided to live as a hermit. He knew he couldn't do it.

"Mother, don't worry. Look, I wear the best clothes, eat the best food, drink the best wine, live in a large house, and use the best things. I never neglect myself. As for not being close to women, it's just to avoid wasting time. Besides, I'm only sixteen, and my life is just beginning. Maybe one day, when the right person comes, I'll bring a daughter-in-law back for you." Su Chong comforted Mrs. Lin.

Mrs. Lin scolded a few times but gave up.

"Mother, stay on the island. This small island is very secluded, and there are guards trained by Xiao Sheng. No one will dare to invade. I'll stay for a few more days, then I need to go to the mainland. One, to check on Pingzhi and make sure he's not bullied on Mount Hua. Two, to find Mu Gaofeng. This man must die!" Su Chong said coldly.

"Maybe let it go. Mu Gaofeng is very powerful..." Mrs. Lin worried.

"Didn't Yu Canghai die too?" Su Chong countered.

Mrs. Lin knew her persuasion was futile and angrily pinched Su Chong's face, "I don't care. I can't control you anyway. Do as you please!"

Lin Zhenan remained silent throughout, knowing Su Chong's cold nature and not wanting to invite trouble.

Su Chong ignored him, caring only for Mrs. Lin.

...

Hua Mountain Sect

Linghuchong was still punished on the Cliff of Reflection. At first, Yuelingshan came up personally, but as time passed, she came less and less.

One day, after waiting for a long time, Linghuchong saw Lu Hou come up.

"Lu Hou, where is my little junior sister? Why didn't she come?" Linghuchong asked anxiously.

Lu Hou avoided the question. Linghuchong kept pressing, and he finally spoke.

"Senior Brother, these days, my little junior sister has been teaching that pretty boy, Lin Pingzhi, martial arts. That boy is so inept; he can't even learn a basic sword technique. That's why she hasn't come."

Linghuchong's face turned pale, sensing that his little junior sister might have fallen for someone else, making him feel bitter.

"It's all that pretty boy's fault. I think he's doing it on purpose. His brother is so powerful; how could he be so useless? I'll teach him a lesson!" Lu Hou said indignantly when he saw Linghuchong's pain.

Linghuchong took a big gulp of wine and immediately stopped him, "Since you know his brother is powerful, don't cause trouble for yourself. Have you forgotten how ruthless that person is? Yu Canghai could kill anyone at will. If you provoke him, do you think Master can protect you?"

He didn't want to bring disaster to Lu Hou and the Hua Mountain Sect because of himself. Besides, this might be Master's intention. Linghuchong was never foolish; he just maintained a sense of hope for the martial world.

"But, Senior Brother..." Lu Hou wanted to say more but was stopped by Linghuchong, who waved him off and drank alone in the cold wind.

...

"Xiao Linzi, why are you so stupid? This move, 'Phoenix Comes to the Mansion,' is so simple. How can you not learn it? Your brother is so powerful, how can you be so useless?" Yuelingshan, innocent and straightforward, said whatever came to mind.

Lin Pingzhi's face turned red, not knowing what to say. He had thought he would quickly become a master with the skills of both the Hua Mountain Sect and his brother. But now he realized it wasn't that simple.

"'Phoenix Comes to the Mansion' is too complicated." Lin Pingzhi finally managed to say after a long pause.

"This is the simplest move. What's complicated about it? Xiao Linzi, don't make excuses. Tell me, how does your brother practice? How can he be so powerful at such a young age?" Yuelingshan was curious, like a cat scratching at a door. She had agreed to teach Lin Pingzhi to learn more about Su Chong.

"I don't know." Lin Pingzhi was a bit embarrassed.

"You don't know? Isn't he your own brother?" Yuelingshan was surprised.

"He is my brother, but... he's different from the start." Lin Pingzhi thought for a long time and could only think of this word.

"How is he different?" Yuelingshan was immediately interested.

Lin Pingzhi told her how Su Chong didn't speak until he was three, went into seclusion in the mountains at six, and spent ten years honing his skills.

Yuelingshan was shocked, "You mean he didn't leave the mountains for ten years and practiced all day, doing nothing else?"

"Not exactly. According to Father, Brother started infiltrating the martial world five years ago, targeting bandit strongholds. He would destroy any bandit stronghold he found." Lin Pingzhi felt proud as he said this.

Yuelingshan was also impressed and patted Lin Pingzhi's head, "That's your brother. Why are you so proud? Practice your sword skills!"

Lin Pingzhi practiced reluctantly, while Yuelingshan giggled, enjoying her role as a teacher.

...

Su Chong opened his eyes and touched the sword on his lap. He felt invigorated, "Indeed, only through constant battles and exposure to various sword techniques can I improve my martial arts!"

After killing Yu Canghai and settling on Peach Blossom Island, Su Chong abandoned all trivial matters and focused on seclusion.

After mastering the Qingcheng Sect's sword techniques, the "Deadly Twelve Swords" became even more refined. Su Chong's internal energy was also on the verge of a breakthrough, "Just a few more battles, and breaking through to the middle stage of the innate realm will be no problem."

"The Hua Mountain Sect's Cliff of Reflection is said to have many sword technique carvings. It's time to plan a trip to Hua Mountain." Su Chong decided to leave the island soon.

"But before that, I need to eliminate Mu Gaofeng." Su Chong's eyes flashed with cold light.

...

Outside Fuzhou City, in a bamboo forest

"Are you Mu Gaofeng? I didn't expect you to still have the nerve to return to Fuzhou City to secretly search for the 'Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual'!" Su Chong glared at Mu Gaofeng as if he were already dead.

"Who are you? The hunchback can come and go as he pleases. You're just a brat!" Mu Gaofeng shouted, his eyes flickering, thinking, "This person followed me from inside Fuzhou City to outside. I didn't even notice! He must be a master. Better to leave quickly."

"Who am I?" Su Chong drew his sword, "I'm Lin Yang. The courtyard you just searched was my home. Who do you think I am?"

"You're the Deadly Sword Lin Yang?!" Mu Gaofeng gripped his cane, trembling, "Did you kill Yu Canghai?"

"Want to see him? As you wish." Su Chong didn't want to waste time. A flash of green light, and his sword stabbed out like lightning.

"Such a fast sword!" Mu Gaofeng swung his cane to block Su Chong's sword.

Clang, clang, clang... clang, clang, clang...

A series of dull sounds as Mu Gaofeng barely blocked Su Chong's rapid and deadly sword strikes.

Su Chong held back some of his strength, engaging Mu Gaofeng in a prolonged battle. He found Mu Gaofeng's cane techniques to be very clever, unconventional, and innovative.

Though they seemed to be at the same level, Su Chong's demonic power from the "Bodhi Sutra" was too overwhelming. He had never met an equal at his level, which allowed him to overpower Yu Canghai and Mu Gaofeng.

Su Chong was at ease, quickly striking while carefully observing Mu Gaofeng's cane techniques. He played with Mu Gaofeng like a cat with a mouse, not killing him yet.

"Too much!" Mu Gaofeng, who had always dominated the desert, was never played with by others. Suddenly, he turned, facing Su Chong with his hunchback. His bent back straightened, and the hump burst open, releasing a cloud of black liquid and various hidden weapons, fast and fierce, with a strong, nauseating smell.

"I was prepared for this!" Su Chong moved his feet in a simple "Swallow's Three Skimming Waters" technique, appearing in front of Mu Gaofeng and stabbing his sword into Mu Gaofeng's forehead.

"Tricks are always tricks. A few hidden weapons and poisons, do you think you're carrying the Peacock Plume?"

He swirled his sword, flicking off the blood that had frozen into a red crystal, and left the bamboo forest without looking back.