As they ate, Shen Xingchen, Luo Man, Mo Chenxue, Lu Han, Zhang Jun, and others all leveled up. Gaining 50% of their experience within five minutes felt incredibly good. For high-level players like Shen Xingchen, 50% of their current level's experience was a massive amount, making this method of leveling up feel like cheating.
"Alright."
When everyone indicated they had reached 50% experience, Lin Zhao put away the remaining fish. "The daily experience roasted fish has been served. You're all free to go about your business now."
"Mm!"
The others departed one by one, leaving only Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue.
"Axue."
Lin Zhao pulled out catfish meat from his inventory, keeping only 10% for himself and giving the rest to Chen Xue. "I can't be running back and forth every day; it's too tiring. Take this meat with you and roast it for everyone the same way. Strive to create a level gap between the top players of our Scarlet Moon Knights and those of other guilds. Any advantage, however small, is good."
"Mm."
Chen Xue smiled and nodded, accepting the fish. "Leave it to me."
"Good, go on then."
"Okay~~"
Chen Xue turned and left.
...
"Hmph..."
Shen Xingchen turned, her staff in hand, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. They were both vice-leaders, yet there was still a distinction between close and distant relations. In Lin Zhao's eyes, the only one he truly cherished was Chen Xue. Despite being a vice-leader herself, when it came to important matters, Lin Zhao's ultimate trust was always placed in Chen Xue, never in her.
Thus, at that moment, Shen Xingchen lost her usual composure, her heart filled with a complex mix of disappointment and anger.
"Xingchen!"
Lin Zhao frowned. He might be oblivious when it came to romantic matters, but he was keenly aware of people's feelings. He quickly stepped forward to block Shen Xingchen's path. "Let me explain!"
"Scumbag! I don't want to hear it!"
Shen Xingchen looked at him, puffing up like an angry kitten.
A few seconds later, both of them burst into laughter.
"Alright, don't be so petty."
Lin Zhao looked at Shen Xingchen's stunning face and smiled. "I have two vice-leaders. My palm is flesh, and the back of my hand is also flesh. The matter of experience roasted fish has to be handled by someone. So, I could only choose one. Xingchen, think about it. When you first joined the Scarlet Moon Knights, we already divided our responsibilities. Chen Xue handles all the internal affairs of the guild, while you manage diplomacy, warfare, and strategy. We should be logical. Tell me, does the matter of experience roasted fish fall under internal affairs or diplomacy?"
"Internal affairs."
Shen Xingchen answered without hesitation. "But I'm still angry. What should I do?"
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow. "You can't expect me to kneel and kowtow to you, can you?"
"That's not necessary."
Shen Xingchen chuckled, her eyes crinkling. "How about this? You can treat me and Ayán to a roasted fish at a restaurant on the top floor of the Gate of Suzhou sometime. Ayán takes such good care of you; you have to show your appreciation, right?"
"Certainly."
Lin Zhao nodded, then his heart skipped a beat. "Is it expensive? How much will one meal cost?"
The Gate of Suzhou... he had never been there before, nor had he ever imagined he would.
"It's not expensive."
Shen Xingchen smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks. "For three people, no matter how much we eat, it won't exceed 2000 Universal Coins. For you now, that's not much."
"Okay, then it's settled!"
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled. "I'm free anytime. You just need to find a time to arrange it with Ayán, and we'll go together."
"Mm-hmm, you go ahead and be busy."
"Okay."
...
Night.
Lin Zhao bought ten pots of wine at the best restaurant in Tianji City. Each pot cost a hefty 2000g. He then purchased some dried beef, salted peanuts, and spicy kelp to accompany the drinks, all wrapped in oiled paper. After that, he departed from Tianji City, teleported to Shanhaiguan, and then exited Shanhaiguan, heading straight for the direction of Fusu Great Wall. He didn't expect to be hunting monsters or leveling up tonight. Arriving at Fusu Great Wall before a late-night snack would be good enough. However, he expected things to fall into place the next day. With hope in his heart, he traveled north.
Around ten o'clock, he arrived at Fusu Great Wall.
Lin Zhao gently pulled down his hat, obscuring his face. Riding his Snow Rock War Horse, he slowly walked along the main road within the city. Fusu Great Wall was still the same Fusu Great Wall, a desolate and harsh land. The only decent restaurant, Moonlit Pavilion, couldn't even compare to the lowest-tier restaurants in Tianji City. The city was filled with sword cultivators and martial artists, and even those who had reached the Upper Five Realms were seen sitting by the roadside eating noodles. Not long after Lin Zhao had entered, a voice called out from behind him, "You, stop!"
"..."
Lin Zhao halted his horse, not turning around. "Are you calling me?"
"That's right."
He slowly turned his horse around and saw a burly figure standing in front of him. Clad in a greyish-white tunic, his body was a mass of bulging muscles, exuding a formidable martial aura. His face, however, was rather unattractive, not even reaching average looks; it was slightly ugly. This middle-aged man was none other than Liu Xilong, the innate general of Fusu Great Wall, currently an eleventh-realm Heavenly Origin realm martial artist, and one of the key figures in charge of Fusu Great Wall.
"Is there something?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
Liu Xilong frowned. "Nothing specific. I just felt your back had a certain dashing quality, very much like an old friend from years ago!"
"Old friend?"
Lin Zhao chuckled inwardly. Was he referring to the Lin Zhao who had passed through Fusu Great Wall years ago as his old friend? If he remembered correctly, they'd had a bit of a feud back then. What a strange thing to say.
He smiled slightly and said, "I know you. You are Liu Xilong, the innate general of Fusu Great Wall. The 'old friend' you speak of, could it be Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi? I recall some secrets from the martial world; you and Lin Zhao were enemies back then. He defeated you with just a few punches, so how could you be old friends?"
Liu Xilong didn't seem angry. He let out a candid laugh. "It's true that I was defeated in a few punches, and it's also true that we were friends. Who can say I, Liu Xilong, wasn't a touchstone on Lin Baiyi's great path? Besides, what grudges... that guy, in the great battle at Xueyu Tianchi, he slew Bai Lan of the thirteenth realm and detonated his God of War's core... a person like that, he was the true general. Compared to him, I, Liu Xilong, am nothing."
As he spoke, the middle-aged martial artist's eyes reddened. "I wish he would hit me a couple more times, but sadly, there's no longer that opportunity..."
Lin Zhao looked at him, never having found Liu Xilong so agreeable before. He even seemed somewhat refined. He smiled and said, "Then if you ever meet him again, be sure to treat him to the best wine of Fusu Great Wall."
"Naturally. What does it matter if I empty my coffers to treat him?"
Liu Xilong clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly. "It's just that there's no longer such an opportunity..."
"What you yearn for may truly come to pass."
Lin Zhao cupped his hands towards him. "Lord Liu Xilong, I still have to travel. I bid you farewell."
"Very well. My apologies for disturbing you, young hero."
"No problem."
Lin Zhao shook his head with a smile, his smile bright.
...
Not far away, in a large, prestigious courtyard on the main street, a rather young family head emerged. Dressed in a long robe, he resembled a scholar. This was the current head of the Ye family, Ye Lin, an eleventh-realm spiritual cultivator. Ye Lin appeared to be only in his early twenties, yet he had shed the immaturity of his youth, possessing the stability and composure of a family head.
"Daddy!"
In the courtyard, in front of a large green rock screen wall, a young child called out to him while playing with a windmill. There were also two other little girls, all Ye Lin's children.
"Don't run around without a reason."
Ye Lin frowned. "Chen'er, go back and practice your sword. Xian'er and Yun'er, finish your homework from yesterday. Daddy will check it when he gets home."
"Yes, Daddy!"
The group of children reluctantly returned.
Ye Lin walked out and looked onto the street. His gaze immediately fell upon the figure of the young sword cultivator. He rode a warhorse, dressed in white, with a sword wrapped in cloth on his back. His short hair was neat and tidy, and he sat casually on his horse. This back view was almost identical to that of a certain person from years ago.
But it was only a resemblance. That person from years ago had died heroically along with Qin Suihan, Chen Wanli, Lu Xinghe, and others, sacrificing themselves in battle.
He frowned, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions. He, a man destined for romance, had attracted so much romantic entanglements over the years. The women he had married alone numbered twelve, with over 300 others still lingering. Compared to Lin Baiyi, he, Ye Lin, felt utterly inadequate. This kind of life had become somewhat meaningless. Was a man's glory in life truly only about gaining the admiration of more women?
It wasn't like that. Sometimes, he wished he could die in battle like Lin Zhao, ending everything. Yet, he couldn't forget those women who were so delicate and needed his care.
He sighed and looked north. Was it true that with greater ability comes greater responsibility? But his path... seemed to be the complete opposite of Lin Zhao's.
...
Lin Zhao rode his horse out of the city, galloping across the wilderness without looking back.
On a desolate section of the city wall, wild flowers bloomed everywhere. A woman in white, radiating sword intent, held her sword. She stood there, gazing blankly at his retreating back. At this moment, Lin Wanhua's heart was a mess of emotions. She was almost certain that the person who had been frequently passing through Fusu Great Wall recently was the same person from before.
Firstly, the sword he carried on his back was so profound that even she, a peak twelfth-realm Sword Immortal, could not discern its origin. A sword that a twelfth-realm Sword Immortal could not summon was something she had never encountered in her life.
Secondly, his back was too much like his. Although his face was nothing alike, his demeanor was exactly the same.
Finally, and most importantly, the northern region had begun to erupt in chaos.
Not long ago, Lin Wanhua had received a message via flying fish letter from a cultivator at Fusu Great Wall in the northern territories. It stated that a great battle had occurred at Xueyu Tianchi, where the eleventh-realm great demon under Bai Ye, the Catfish Fiend, known as the "Spear God of the Water," had been killed. Furthermore, the killer was the one-armed female Sword Immortal who had refined ten demon soul swords in the northern region.
An eleventh-realm female Sword Immortal killing an eleventh-realm great demon was an absolute display of power.
Lin Wanhua had heard of this woman before, even secretly investigated her cultivation base, gathering intelligence from various sources and trying to ascertain her origins. In the end, she confirmed that it was Xu Zhi, the top young sword cultivator of the Great Chen Dynasty who had died fighting alongside Lin Zhao at Xueyu Tianchi. This Xu Zhi, who practiced left-handed swordplay and forged demon soul swords in the northern region, was one of the most mysterious figures in the north in recent years. Yet, now, Xu Zhi was loyally following a sword cultivator of the Lower Five Realms at Xueyu Tianchi, who was none other than the person galloping away in the distance.
Someone who could inspire such unwavering loyalty from Xu Zhi... who else could it be but her former master?
Disintegration and reincarnation.
This was the only possibility.
...
Lin Wanhua pursed her red lips, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of pitiable sorrow. If he had truly reincarnated with the memories of his past life, why hadn't he spoken to her? Why was he avoiding her like this? Was it because Lin Wanhua wasn't pretty enough, or was her swordsmanship not skilled enough to warrant a glance from Lin Zhao? However, she couldn't go to Xueyu Tianchi to find him herself. A girl needed to maintain her dignity; rushing to his doorstep didn't seem appropriate.