Lin Yi immediately reacted with a look of well-feigned surprise. He carefully modulated the subtle flicker of his 'Heavenly Yuan' Yuan Power, making it seem as if his secret had been involuntarily exposed.
"Ah… Lin Dong, you startled me," Lin Yi said, rising slowly from the stool. He adopted a slightly embarrassed, yet proud, expression. "How did you know my current realm? I have been using a special technique to hide my Yuan Power fluctuations. I wanted to surprise Father and Mother!"
Lin Dong chuckled, momentarily caught up in the thrill of his own advancement. "I didn't just break through the Heavenly Yuan realm, Yi. I am now a Second Seal Symbol Master! My mental energy is far beyond the typical range of a cultivator. I noticed a slight, almost imperceptible fluctuation of your Yuan Power. Your concealment technique is good, but it is no match for a Symbol Master's focus!"
Lin Yi's eyes widened in a feigned expression of impressed realization, and he nodded slowly. "A Symbol Master! You truly have soared, Lin Dong. I should have known." He gave a sincere smile, quickly changing the subject. "But I, too, have heard the news of your success. Congratulations on your great victory over Wei Tong! You have truly cemented your name in Yan City."
Lin Dong's smile softened slightly, tinged with a brief memory of the life-and-death struggle. "It was mostly luck and timely insights. That Wei Tong was strong." He then leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, curious whisper. "But Yi, can you tell me? You are working for the Yi Pavilion, aren't you? I have heard so much talk about its mysterious owner, the Pavilion Master Yi. The entire city is terrified of him after the Blood Wolf Gang incident. Do you know who he is? Is he really a terrifying, grizzled old master?"
He paused, a flicker of genuine puzzlement crossing his face. "Elder Mu is so tight-lipped. And even Qing Tan, who visited the Pavilion multiple times to sell herbs, said he's never there. Who is this figure who seems to be changing the entire power landscape of Yan City?"
Lin Yi shook his head with a look of genuine, albeit carefully constructed, helplessness. He leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping slightly to match Lin Dong's hushed tone.
"Ah, Lin Dong, that is a question I dare not answer, even for you," Lin Yi replied, lowering his gaze slightly. "The Pavilion Master Yi… he is a man of intense discretion. When he hired me in Yan City, his very first instruction was that his identity must remain absolutely confidential. He likes to stay hidden and maintain that air of mystery. I truly cannot reveal his identity, even to our family."
Lin Dong nodded understandingly, a shadow of respect crossing his features. "No wonder. After the Blood Wolf Gang incident, the fear in Yan City was palpable. No one dares to even speculate openly about Master Yi's identity. I heard he warned everyone present that day with terrifying precision… anyone who challenged his Pavilion would face a fate worse than death."
'It may be because he has strong enemies. Only an expert with something to hide, or someone on the run, would bury themselves in a small place like Yan City and open a relatively small pavilion. That power displayed hints at conflicts far beyond this province,' Little Marten's cold, aged voice echoed in Lin Dong's mind, cutting through his focus on Lin Yi.
Lin Dong fell into a brief silence, his eyes unfocused as he processed Little Marten's analysis. He nodded subtly to himself. It might indeed be the case. Experts of that level must have enemies equally terrifying.
Lin Yi, meanwhile, watched his brother silently, his gray eyes calm and focused. He could see the internal debate playing out on Lin Dong's face—the slight furrow of his brow, the shift in his gaze—a familiar manifestation of his brother consulting with the Ancestral Talisman spirit.
Lin Dong finally returned his attention to Lin Yi, shaking off the internal consultation. He reached into his martial robe and retrieved a small, intricately embroidered sack, tied with a loose cord. He passed it across the space between them.
"Here, take these Yi," Lin Dong said, his tone earnest. "I acquired these Yuan Pills during my time in Yan City. They are of high quality, sourced from a major sect's remnants. You should use them and strive toward the Yuan Dan Realm. It's the next critical step for any cultivator, and the risks in Yan City are immense."
Lin Yi raised his hand, feigning hesitation. "Lin Dong, I appreciate the thought, but you need these more than I do for your own cultivation…"
"No," Lin Dong insisted, gently pushing the sack into Lin Yi's hand. His voice took on a firmer, more brotherly edge. "Keep them. Everything I want to give you, you keep. My path is secure, and I have my own resources now. Yours is just beginning in a very dangerous place. Think of it as a small contribution to your safety."
Lin Dong gave a confident, decisive smile. "I need to go speak with Mother for a while, and then I must leave. Master Yan has invited me to discuss something important."
Lin Yi nodded, accepting the sincerity of the gift. He tucked the pill sack away, offering a grateful, warm smile. "Thank you, Lin Dong. Be careful in Yan City, and good luck with Master Yan."
Lin Dong simply waved his hand, his aura already moving with impatience. "I will. I'll see you soon, Yi!"
Lin Dong turned and strode away, his calm figure moving toward the main residence.
Lin Yi watched his brother's confidence, retreating back, his own expression shifting from feigned humility to one of thoughtful calculation.
'Master Yan and the Tower Battle,' Lin Yi mused internally, the pieces of the immediate future snapping into perfect focus. 'Zi Yue will also meet him there and formally invite him to participate in the Tower Battle, representing a cooperation between the Mayor's House and the Yi Pavilion.'
Lin Yi allowed a faint, knowing smile to curve his lips. 'He won't refuse. He knows the prestige and the resources that come with victory. The Mayor's House will offer him political support, and the presence of the Yi Pavilion's name… even if he doesn't know I am the one controlling it… will ensure absolute deference from all other factions. It's the perfect, accelerated springboard for his Symbol Master path. Lin Dong has always been one who doesn't leave any opportunity to rise.'
Lin Yi's gaze drifted to Qing Tan, who was still absorbed in the silent, deadly dance of the Dark Descent Palm. The stage was set. The two protagonists were advancing precisely on schedule.
…