This beautiful woman was naturally Tian Linger. She saw that Zhang Xiaofan was injured and worried in her heart, so she quietly ran over to visit him. Unexpectedly, her mother was also there, so she hid outside the door until Su Rou left before revealing herself.

  At this time she stared at Zhang Xiaofan as if stunned, and couldnt help but scold: "What are you standing there for?"

  Zhang Xiaofan woke up with a start, his face flushing red. He was about to make an excuse when he saw Tian Linger lower her head, and it turned out that Da Huang had run over and was affectionately rubbing its head against her leg.

  Tian Linger bent down and stroked Da Huangs head. Da Huang stuck out his tongue and licked her hand, which was as smooth as jade.

  "Squeak, squeak, squeak", Xiao Huis voice rang out. The two humans and the dog looked over at the same time, only to see Xiao Hui running behind Da Huang, grabbing its large tail and pulling it backwards, as if trying to pull Da Huang away from Tian Linger. Feeling Tian Lingers surprised gaze, Xiao Hui lifted its head, suddenly baring its teeth and making a fierce face at her.

  Tian Linger didnt get angry, and even made a face at the monkey. Since Xiao Hui followed Zhang Xiaofan back, she got along with everyone else, but Wei Du still held a grudge against her. However, when she saw Da Huang, who had always been at odds with Xiao Hui, turn around without getting angry, and instead playfully roughhousing with Xiao Hui, she was taken aback.

  "Whats going on?" Tian Linger pointed at the monkey and dog fighting together and asked Zhang Xiaofan.

  Zhang Xiaofan told Tian Linger about the time he tricked Xiao Hui with a meat bone, and Tian Linger burst out laughing, scolding with a smile: "I didnt expect this dead monkey to have such a skill!" As she spoke, her bright eyes turned around, and her gaze fell on Zhang Xiaofan, sizing him up from head to toe, saying: "Right, my dad hit you today, is there anything uncomfortable?"

  "Its nothing, Master," Zhang Xiaofan shook his head and said.

  Tian Linger said somewhat indignantly: "Dad is really something, if youre uncomfortable in your heart, why take it out on me!"

  Zhang Xiaofan hastily said: "Its not like that, its me being clumsy and angering Master..."

  Tian Linger glared at him, and Zhang Xiao Fan suddenly couldnt continue speaking, with his mouth half open. Tian Linger snorted and said: "Actually, it has nothing to do with you, its just that my dad saw the potential of those two people and felt uneasy in his heart, so..." She spoke halfway through, then glanced at Zhang Xiao Fan and thought to herself, isnt this saying that her junior brother is stupid? So she changed her words and didnt continue speaking, instead changing the subject: "What did my mother come over for just now?"

  Zhang Xiaofan honestly said: "The masters wife also came to see me, and gave me two Dahuang Dan pills. They were very effective, I took one pill and was completely cured."

  "Da Huang Dan?" Tian Linger seemed to be shocked.

  "Yes," Zhang Xiaofan raised his head and looked at her, saying: "Whats wrong?"

  Tian Linger took a couple more glances at the young junior brother, saying: "This is indeed my fathers treasure. I heard Mother say that it was refined from twenty-three types of spiritual medicine, its effects are wondrous, and none of us siblings, including myself, have ever had the fortune to take it."

  Zhang Xiaofan opened his mouth wide, Tian Lingers eyes rolled around and muttered to herself: "It cant be that Father actually has a different opinion of you, but no matter how I look at it, it doesnt seem like it."

  "It must be Masters benevolence, seeing that I was injured, he bestowed upon me the spiritual medicine. He truly has a broad and generous heart!"

  Tian Linger lost her smile: "My dad has a broad mind... Heh heh, never mind, I wont tell you. Hmm, why is there the sound of rain?"

  Zhang Xiaofan listened carefully and indeed heard the faint sound of "patter, patter" rain outside. Tian Linger walked to the window, pushed it open, and a gust of cold mountain wind blew in, carrying icy rain powder that brushed against her face, cool and refreshing.

  Zhang Xiaofan walked over and stood beside her, looking outwards.

  In the quiet and dark night, the sky was raining. The whole world was gloomy, and as far as the eye could see, there were only vague shadows of bamboo in the small courtyard outside the house. The rain fell from the night sky, and in the darkness, it seemed to bring a hint of tenderness to Zhang Xiaofans eyes. Suddenly, he felt that this night was beautiful, the rain was lingering, and even the sound of raindrops hitting the bamboo leaves was pleasant, resonating deep within his soul.

  It was just because there was such a beautiful woman beside him, with her head raised, carrying seven parts of youth and two parts of joy and one part of sorrow, staring blankly:

  What a rain!

  After a while, Dahuang and Xiaohui unknowingly calmed down. Dahuang lazily lay on the bed with his dog eyes half open and half closed. Xiaohui also rarely calmed down and sat beside Dahuang, her hands rummaging through Dahuangs thick, soft fur.

  The candle flame flickered, suddenly brightening and dimming in the mountain wind, occasionally making a "crackling" sound.

  "Its raining." Tian Linger suddenly said in a low and mournful tone.

  "Right," Zhang Xiaofan replied.

  Tian Linger gazed at the night sky for a while, then slowly turned around and returned to the table, saying in a low voice: "Xiao Fan, close the window, its getting cold."

  Zhang Xiaofan nodded, closed the window, and turned around to see Tian Linger sitting at the table with a distracted look on her face. She took out a small box from her pocket and opened it under the lamp light, examining it carefully.

  The candlelight was reflected in her charming and bright eyes, like two clusters of gentle yet scorching flames.

  "You think this clear bead is pretty?" Tian Lingers gaze lingered on the small bead that was emitting a soft glow, as if even her voice sounded ethereal and unsteady, just like Zhang Xiaofans heart, empty and hollow, slowly sinking down.

  He walked over, mustering all his courage and using up all his energy to make himself look so calm. Tian Linger raised her head to look at him, suddenly feeling that this ordinary junior brothers eyes were bright at this moment, even with a hint of madness and pain.

  "Clang", she gently closed the small box and softly asked: "Xiao Fan, whats wrong?"

  Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Im fine, Shijie."

  Tian Linger felt a little strange in her heart, but she didnt think much of it. She stood up and said, "Alright, its late at night, I should also head back."

  Zhang Xiaofan stood up, Tian Linger walked a few steps, suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around with a smile, and in an instant, that beauty rushed to his face, hitting Zhang Xiaofans heart: "Look at my memory, I even forgot what I wanted to do tonight." As she spoke, she took out a thin paper from her bosom, on which were densely packed small characters, and handed it to Zhang Xiaofan.

  Zhang Xiaofan took a look and changed his face color, losing his voice: "Taiji Xuanqing Dao Fa Jue! Shifu, this..."

  Tian Linger gave him a white eye and scolded: "Why are you shouting so loudly?"

  Zhang Xiaofan hastily lowered his voice and said: "Sister, this is the third layer of the mantra, you..."

  "Me?" Tian Linger hummed and said: "Of course Im going to pass it on to you."

  "What?" Zhang Xiaofan exclaimed in surprise.

  Tian Linger said: "I know that Father has always looked down on you, and todays anger towards you is even more inexplicable. Hmph, he himself cant teach his disciples properly yet he comes back to scold you, I couldnt bear to watch it. You take this manual, secretly practice by yourself, when the time comes that youve made a name for yourself, show Father, and dont be like today, losing face again."

  Zhang Xiaofan furrowed his brow and said, "But sister, what if Master and Mistress find out? Wont they scold you?"

  Tian Linger said impatiently, "You also say its scolding, they can only scold me a few sentences, lock me up for a few days, whats the big deal? Anyway, I wont let you be bullied by others!"

  Zhang Xiaofans whole body shook, his heart suddenly felt a surge of heat, looking at Tian Lingers slender figure, he couldnt say a word. At this moment, his heart was boiling with passion, even if it meant dying for the woman in front of him, he would not hesitate.

  Tian Linger said, "You yourself remember to work harder and strive to tie with that stinky Lin Jingyu as soon as possible. However, even if you practice more, you still cant compare to Qi Huan Shixiong, so dont think about it anymore." As she spoke, she waved her hand and reminded him, "Keep it a secret, okay?" After finishing speaking, she walked out of the room door and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

  "You can practice again, but you still wont be as good as Brother Qi Huan!"

  This sentence of thirteen words heavily hit Zhang Xiaofans heart, his face suddenly lost its blood color, and subconsciously, he tightly grasped the white paper in his hand.

  The mountain rain is pouring down, the world is solemn and majestic. Who can see that young man in the darkness of night, walking into the rain, looking up at the vast sky?

  ※※※

  Early in the morning, after the rain, the moist mountain wind carried a coolness, blowing over the top of Dazhu Peak. Zhang Xiaofan arrived at the familiar kitchen, lit a fire and boiled water.

  The crackling of the firewood was heard in the kitchen, the bright yellow flame danced on the wood like a wild spirit, casting a red glow on his face. Zhang Xiaofan held a thin stick to stir the fire, staring blankly into space.

  "You can practice again, but you still wont be as good as Brother Qi Huan!"

  He had silently recited this sentence to himself thousands and tens of thousands of times, hurting his heart every time he read it. He knew it was stupid, Shifu actually didnt have any malice, but just said what everyone recognized as fact.

  But he couldnt help but think, desperately thinking, as if there was a wild flame burning in his heart, endlessly scorching his soul, until the flames burned his hands.

  "Ah!" Zhang Xiaofan cried out in surprise, jumping back, and found that the stove fire had burned the fine twigs in his hand while he was distracted, scorching his hand along the way.

  He clutched his hand and blew air towards the painful area, then ran to the water tank and soaked his hand in cold water. A wave of icy chill rushed up, and Zhang Xiaofan let out a low, bitter laugh. What he needed most now was not anything else, but a fire poker.

  "Woof, woof, woof", several cries rang out at the door, Zhang Xiaofan recognized that it was Da Huangs barking, but couldnt understand why the usual "Woof woof woof" had turned into "Wu wu wu". He walked out of the door and looked over, unable to help but laugh. It turned out that Da Huang and Xiao Hui were playing a game of tug-of-war, with Da Huangs mouth biting onto a black short stick, while Xiao Hui was grasping the other end with his hand, pulling hard, neither side giving in. Da Huang was barking with his mouth full, but it came out muffled and unclear, turning into a strange "Wu wu wu".

  Zhang Xiaofan walked forward, stretched out his hand to grab the short stick, and waved it to drive away Xiao Hui and Da Huang. Unexpectedly, they were not very willing, "Woof woof woof" "Squeak squeak squeak" barking non-stop. Zhang Xiaofan waved his hand threateningly: "Go go go, dont make trouble here, otherwise you wont get lunch."

  Dahuang and Xiaohui exchanged a glance, one let out a loud roar, the other made a big scary face, then Xiaohui jumped onto Dahuangs back, and Dahuang carried it away from Zhang Xiaofan with a swagger, full of disdain, leaving Zhang Xiaofan fuming.

  He cursed those two beasts and turned into the kitchen, only to realize that the short rod in his hand was actually the strange black short rod from the trip to Yougu Valley half a year ago. It seemed that Xiaohui had mischievously taken it out of the corner again and brought it to play with Dahuang.

  Zhang Xiaofan let out a sigh, and suddenly his heart moved. He quickly walked to the stove, using the black short rod as a fire poker to stir the fire a few times. It was surprisingly handy, and the rod seemed to be made of some unknown material that couldnt catch fire or conduct heat. Even after being roasted for half a day, it still felt cool to the touch. Zhang Xiaofan nodded repeatedly, thinking that this was just right for his use.

  Poor old Blackheart, the deceased Dark Cult elder. If he knew that his lifes work, the "Blood-Drinking Bead", the treasure of the Dark Cult that shook the world, had ended up being used as a cooking stick, he would probably be so angry that hed come back to life and die again in his grave.

  At noon that day, everyone in Dazhu Peak was seated in the dining hall. Tian Bu Yi walked in last and sat down in his seat. He looked up at the disciples, and when his eyes fell on Zhang Xiao Fan, he paused for a moment. Zhang Xiao Fan lowered his head, and Tian Bu Yi immediately shifted his gaze away.

  "Did you all see what happened yesterday?" Tian Bu Yi said calmly.

  Everyone was silent, only Song Daren smiled and said: "Yes, Master showed his mighty power, punishing those two..."

  "Fart!" Tian Bu Yi suddenly let out a loud shout, his voice shaking the entire hall. The crowd was stunned, only to hear Tian Bu Yis angry words: "Yesterdays matter, you should have seen that it was the profound cultivation of the Bie Zhen brothers! Not to mention Qi Huan, even the little guy who just entered the sect three years ago has surpassed most of you! You ran to Da Zhu Peak to cause trouble, do you know what youre doing?"

  Everyone was silent, and Zhang Xiaofan suddenly raised his head.

  Tian coldly said, "The Seventh Vein Assemblys martial arts competition is about to begin. You bunch of useless people, from today on, all of you will be in closed-door training. If you dont make some progress and come out with a decent appearance, Ill skin you alive!"

  Everyones face was bitter, but no one dared to say a word. Tian Linger asked cautiously: "Dad, then I..."

  "Youre no different!" Tian Bu Yi said resolutely.

  Tian Lingers mouth twitched, just about to speak, but was pulled back by her mother. She turned her head and looked at Su Rous expression, the words that had reached the tip of her tongue were swallowed back again.

  Tian Bu Yis voice echoed in the quiet hall: "From now on, except for Old Seventh who is responsible for food, all of you are not allowed to go out for a year and a half, close your doors and cultivate, do you understand?"

  ……

  In this way, time flew by, and under the peaceful atmosphere of Dazhu Peak, a layer of unprecedented tension enveloped it. All the disciples were concentrating on their cultivation, except for a lazy yellow dog, a mischievous gray monkey, and a bored chef.