Lin Qinghen’s final answer left Yin Jiuxiao a bit surprised.

“Because…of that day at the Trial Ground.”

That day at the Trial Ground was truly a curious point, leaving Lin Qinghen both disappointed in the scheming young members of the Yin family and the indecisive Yin Hengxie, while also letting him see something different.

Actually, he had genuinely paid close attention to that match.

In the first match that day, it was all young kids, around ten years old, with their spirit levels hovering around the high Yellow Tier.

These were mostly children born after the Yin family had fallen from glory, so they hadn’t enjoyed the top-tier cultivation resources of the continent. Comparing their spiritual power to the same-aged kids in the Lin family, they naturally came up short.

But that match was impressive.

Everyone put in their best effort, and no one was slacking. Most importantly, no one played any dirty tricks. A match was just a match; even though they were young, it was still a fair and respectable competition.

Even though the Yin family was down on their luck, they still had strong innate talent. Among the kids on the field, a few had inherited the spiritual essence of the Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword. Their current spirit power level and combat awareness weren’t inferior to the Lin family’s specially trained children—a testament to their hard work.

Even at the end, when the barrier unexpectedly broke, the kids inside were only startled for a moment but didn’t scatter and flee.

The kid who got the first flag quickly gathered everyone together, with the few stronger ones standing in front and forming a protective circle around the others.

Although there was no real danger inside the protective barrier, Lin Qinghen noticed this instinctive reaction. They were smart kids with promising futures.

Though the Yin family was in disarray now, with these kids, there was hope for a comeback. But the smallest fissure could collapse a thousand-mile dam, and the internal conflict drained far more than anyone could imagine.

“So, I thought at that time that Yin Hengxie—your uncle—wasn’t completely useless,” Lin Qinghen said. “He still carries some of the Yin family’s legacy and genuinely tries to nurture these kids properly. At least they haven’t been led astray. If the children’s nature is molded by their surroundings, that means it’s not just the Patriarch; there’s a group in the Yin family with good values.”

Lin Qinghen was willing to work with people like that.

The Yin family was suffering, and if there was a sliver of hope, most didn’t want internal strife, especially those kids.

So Lin Qinghen wanted to give it a shot. Everything depended on the Yin family’s choice, and if it worked out, it’d be a good outcome.

He also understood Yin Hengxie well. This man couldn’t be given too much time to think. He was too indecisive; if given time, he’d overthink things, and today’s effect wouldn’t be guaranteed. Catching him off guard was better, pushing him into a corner might just draw out his bravery.

Yin Jiuxiao was silent for a moment, then sighed, “Qinghen sees things more clearly than anyone in the Yin family.”

Even he couldn’t find much good to say about the Yin family, yet Lin Qinghen could lay it all out so thoroughly.

Lin Qinghen lowered his head, smiling softly, murmuring to himself, “But today’s Yin family is just the beginning.”

He had many plans he wanted to implement, not just for the Yin family.

Yin Jiuxiao heard this. Many times, he and Lin Qinghen understood each other without words, knowing what the other was thinking.

“The Alchemist Association?”

“Yes,” Lin Qinghen nodded, “they’ll willingly listen to me too.”

The Alchemist Association in Lei City ran as deep as the Yin family.

There were many things about them that Lin Qinghen hadn’t laid out yet, and currently, they weren’t completely cooperative.

Yin Jiuxiao, however, knew that in Lin Qinghen’s view, the Alchemist Association in Lei City was a force that was “usable” and “worth saving.”

While researching the Demonic Qi in the soil, Lin Qinghen had carefully looked into the Lei City Alchemist Association.

When he first entered Lei City, he had already taken a particular interest in this group.

He was puzzled about why, among the Alchemist and Tool Masters, both types of Spirit Masters, the Tool Masters in Lei City hadn’t developed a strong association, while the Alchemist Association had thrived. What was the root of that?

He also wanted to know who was really making the decisions in that association.

When communicating with Die Meng, including interactions with Xu Yaoyang, it was mostly the honored members who appeared publicly. The president of the association, Mu Jiu, was almost nonexistent, like an empty figurehead—even Die Meng’s old shopkeeper said as much.

To catch the leader first. When Lin Qinghen dealt with the Yin family, he first looked into Yin Hengxie and Yin Miao. With the Alchemist Association, his attention naturally turned to this reclusive president.

Although Yin Jiuxiao was blind, Lin Qinghen had discovered during their time together that he had a unique way of looking at things, and he was often right.

As expected, Yin Jiuxiao offered him another perspective.

“The Alchemist Association has always been under the control of Old Man Mu, from the beginning till now,” Yin Jiuxiao stated confidently and explained, “The association’s origins go back to the great catastrophe in Bei Zhou, during which Lei City suffered heavily. The alchemists in the city were frail and all relocated.”

When the disaster passed, Lei City was left in ruins. Most of those who relocated either got scattered or had no intention of returning. Only President Mu gathered a group back, which established the current Alchemist Association.”

Because of this, the Tool Masters’ Association in Lei City struggled to gain traction, while the Alchemist Association became an exception.

Lin Qinghen asked, “Why did he come back?”

“Because the Yin family had been good to him, he’s a native of Lei City, and back then, he was still passionate about loyalty. For various reasons, he turned down many offers and came back, facing it head-on,” said Yin Jiuxiao. “In the beginning, Yin Hengxie and Mu Jiu got along well, but the Yin family isn’t what it used to be, and Lei City isn’t the same. With all the chaos, over time, any feelings of friendship wore thin.”

Lin Qinghen learned more from Yin Jiuxiao’s recounting.

Only then did he understand that those two Heavenly Tier honored members who could fight hadn’t stayed with the Alchemist Association solely for the perks of having pills supplied; they owed Mu Jiu their lives.

Most of the Alchemist Association’s core members had strong ties to their president, who did indeed have the final say.

“So, about that rat plague incident, the association withholding medicine at the last minute—was it really just because Mu Jiu fell out with Yin Hengxie and held a longstanding grudge, having no attachment to Lei City?”

“Who can say for sure?” Yin Jiuxiao sighed. “The Alchemist Association’s refusal to supply medicine during the disaster was indeed infuriating, but it had its reasons. A few years ago, some of the association’s pharmacy shops were raided due to disputes over pill supply. The Yin family didn’t handle it well, and they’ve held a grudge ever since. Harboring resentment can happen in an instant.”

Lin Qinghen pondered on this for a while.

Reflecting on all these events, the Alchemist Association wasn’t purely bad, nor could all of Lei City’s chaos be pinned on any one group.

Most choices each faction made were driven by external pressures. In such an environment, they were all forced to point blades inward, and none could find peace, including the Alchemist Association’s defection and the Yin family’s disarray.

From a long-term perspective, without that group of alchemists who decided to return back then, Lei City’s rebuilding would have been a pipe dream.

Lin Qinghen had always believed that purely bad people didn’t exist in this world.

Everyone was complex, which meant, in reality, everyone could be influenced or changed.

The Yin family could change, the Alchemist Association could too, and so could all of Lei City.

All he was doing was giving them a chance. His methods might be fierce, but ultimately, it was a glimmer of hope; whether they would seize it remained to be seen.

But reaching this President Mu Jiu was never going to be easy.

Lin Qinghen had tried baiting him, but even the matter of selling red round wheat seeds hadn’t drawn him out.

When Yu Yinyin sent word inviting President Mu over, he didn’t come.

When Lin Qinghen saw only the honored members from Die Meng show up, he wasn’t too disappointed.

After all, he knew that once he finished his dealings with the Yin family, everything would be monumental, and President Mu Jiu would undoubtedly come.

Sure enough, tomorrow, the president of the Alchemist Association, the man who called the shots, would be meeting him.

With half the plan done, Lin Qinghen even found himself in the mood to tease Yin Jiuxiao.

“Before coming today, I thought about what to do if it didn’t work out. Or what if something went wrong. Anyway, the Alchemist Association won’t touch me today, and if Yin Hengxie remains weak, he won’t kill either of us.”

He laughed again, “Even if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ve been avenged for all those years of suffering. Besides, I still have the chance to have Master take us both and run.

“Jiuxiao, we’re in the same boat now, and you’ve been cornered into a dead end with no choice but to follow me. If I fail, you’ll have to run with me.”

Yin Jiuxiao then ran his hand through Lin Qinghen’s hair, his tone and touch equally gentle.

“Then I’m willing to run with you,” he said. “Wherever Qinghen goes, I’ll follow.”

He would do his utmost to help this person achieve his goals.

Compared to the Yin family and the Alchemist Association, Lin Qinghen had yet to realize that the first truly willing and significant person he had managed to convince was the man right in front of him.

He just thought Yin Jiuxiao was well-behaved and was about to continue teasing him when he suddenly turned his head.

But Yin Jiuxiao’s hand moved from his hair, following his turning motion, all the way to his cheek. Before Lin Qinghen could speak, he saw the man lower his head and kiss him on the cheek near his lips.

At the same time, his other hand wasn’t idle either; it wrapped around Lin Qinghen’s waist.

Lin Qinghen: …

He had always been in control, but he sharply sensed something off.

In the misty steam of the bathroom, Yin Jiuxiao didn’t seem like his usual self. He appeared more aggressive, almost delusional, and even his blind eyes seemed sharper.

The man was already taller than Lin Qinghen, and now this height difference made Lin Qinghen feel a bit controlled, although he had kissed the other before and was quite proactive. But now, the situation was very different.

Now, they were unclothed.

…Something was definitely off.

Lin Qinghen began to struggle.

Initially, Yin Jiuxiao had his arms around his waist and didn’t plan on letting go. His other hand moved from caressing his cheek to pinching his chin, deepening the kiss.

Yin Jiuxiao might look frail and have low spiritual power, but he was surprisingly strong.

Author’s Note:

Lin Qinghen: First help the spirit, then help the person; this one I know well.