The car drove all the way to Brightsea Garden Court.
When the car stopped outside the villa, Charles Chen took out the keys and tossed them to Evan Lin, signaling for him to get out and open the gate.
Lucy Lu frowned at this, but she understood Charles Chen was in a bad mood. She gave Evan Lin an apologetic glance and said nothing more.
Back home, Lynn Chen was sprawled on the sofa in hot pants and a short-sleeved shirt, watching TV.
Seeing Evan Lin return, Lynn Chen glanced at him, then turned back to her show, not bothering to say a single word to him.
Clearly, last night's incident still weighed on Lynn Chen's mind.
Evan Lin went upstairs to his room.
Looks like it's about time I thought about moving out. Charles Chen and Lynn Chen don't really want me here. I originally wanted to see Aunt Lucy more often, but now it seems I'm just disturbing my cultivation.
I just need to figure out how to make some money first.
Evan Lin shook his head, set the thought aside for now, and sat cross-legged on his bed.
Right now, the qi hasn't fully passed through the Bubbling Spring Point. The time I spend at Qi-Refining Layer One is a bit longer than I expected.
I can only take it slow.
Evan Lin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began circulating his qi.
The qi of Qi-Refining Layer One is called 'inhaled qi'—it comes from outside the body and is refined within.
He guided the strand of qi along the Grand Dao Qi-Refining Art's route, letting it circle through his body in a small cycle.
The qi flowed through his meridians, traveling all around Evan Lin's body before finally gathering at the Bubbling Spring Point.
When Evan Lin opened his eyes, fifteen minutes had already passed.
Fifteen minutes for a small cycle—this strand of qi probably can't even last a full major cycle before dispersing.
I'm still too weak. The qi at Qi-Refining Layer One is always drawn from outside. When I reach Layer Two, the qi will be called 'exhaled qi'—it forms within the body. Maybe then I can try a major cycle.
Evan Lin got up from the bed, stretched, sat down at his desk, and buried himself in homework.
Early the next morning, Evan Lin woke up at 4:30 and headed out for a run.
During the Qi-Refining stage, physical fitness really helps with cultivation. Back on the Immortal Martial Continent, Evan Lin could've used all kinds of rare herbs to refine pills, cleanse his marrow, and transform his body—speeding up his progress like crazy.
But right now, Evan Lin doesn't have those resources.
He ran three laps around Brightsea Garden Court. As he passed the villa closest to the foot of Thousand-Saints Mountain, Evan Lin instinctively glanced up.
He remembered the girl he'd met there yesterday morning, but the place was completely quiet now—no one around.
A faint, inexplicable sense of disappointment flickered in Evan Lin's heart.
Just as Evan Lin was about to turn and leave, the villa's front door suddenly opened. Out stepped an elderly man in a Tang suit and a young girl.
The old man was Victor Su; the girl was Molly Su, the same one Evan Lin had seen that day.
Today, Molly Su wore a fitted white dress, looking ethereal and almost otherworldly. Her slender calves peeked out from beneath the gauzy fabric, and the hint of worry between her brows made her seem even more delicate.
She made you want to protect her.
Beside them was a middle-aged man in a black suit and sunglasses.
The man's sharp gaze and fierce face said it all. He had scars on his sleeves and callused knuckles—definitely a seasoned fighter.
As they stepped outside, the three spotted Evan Lin standing at the nearby intersection.
Molly Su's gaze swept over Evan Lin without stopping. She supported her grandfather and walked down another path.
That path led straight to Thousand-Saints Mountain.
Are they going to Thousand-Saints Mountain to pray or something? Evan Lin watched their backs from afar but didn't follow.
"Grandpa, are we climbing the mountain again today?" Molly Su asked softly, her voice calm.
Victor Su nodded slightly. "Thousand-Saints Mountain was once where the Living Buddha passed away. I met a master here years ago. Now I climb it every day, hoping to meet another expert who can help the Su family."
"Grandpa, it's all my fault," Molly Su said, her eyes dimming.
Victor Su shook his head and looked at the pebble-paved path ahead. "Molly, this isn't just your problem."
With that, Victor Su fell silent.
At the end of the pebble path was a stairway leading up Thousand-Saints Mountain, shrouded in mist.
Victor Su led Molly Su up the steps.
......
After his run, Evan Lin got home just as Lucy Lu finished making breakfast.
At the table, Lynn Chen was eating and didn't even glance at Evan Lin. She pulled out a small bag and handed it to him: "These are Fang You's clothes from the other day. Take them to school for her."
"Remember, no peeking."
As she said that, Lynn Chen shot Evan Lin a glare.
She looked at Evan Lin like he was some kind of pervert.
"Got it."
Evan Lin nodded coolly and took the bag.
After wolfing down everything on the table, Evan Lin greeted Lucy Lu and headed off to school.
Watching Evan Lin's indifferent attitude, Lynn Chen glared hard at his back as he left.
That guy got her friends beat up at Imperial Grand Karaoke, and he didn't even look guilty.
So what if he can fight? Big deal.
Lynn Chen pouted, full of frustration, but the image of Evan Lin standing firm in front of her flashed through her mind.
He was skinny, but unshakably determined.
"Lynn, what's wrong?" Lucy Lu noticed something was off and asked curiously.
"N-nothing, I'm heading to school now." Lynn Chen snapped back to reality, hurriedly answered, and downed her milk in one gulp.
Just then, Charles Chen came rushing down from the second floor in a suit.
Seeing Lucy Lu and Lynn Chen at the table, Charles Chen said, "Lynn, take a cab to school later. I've got something to handle and need to head out now."
"What is it now? Did something happen?" Lucy Lu's heart skipped when she saw how rushed Charles Chen looked.
"Manager Sheng is cured." Charles Chen took a deep breath, walked over, grabbed a glass of water, and gulped it down.
After a sleepless night, Charles Chen had just dozed off when the call came in this morning.
The call said that Haiyang Sheng, general manager of Wansheng Real Estate's Brightsea branch, was cured!
If this news had come earlier, it would've been great for Charles Chen. But after last night, he couldn't tell if it was a blessing or a curse.
Lucy Lu was stunned for a moment.
"No time to explain. I'm heading out." Charles Chen hurried off, leaving Lucy Lu looking worried.