The next morning, at the crack of dawn.
Luo Jiayin showed up at the inn entrance with two dark circles under her eyes. She'd spent the whole night tossing and turning, her mind filled with Lin Che's words "Deputy Pavilion Master of Blood God Pavilion" and that wandering hand of his.
[System Notification (Visible to Readers Only): Target Luo Jiayin's insomnia index detected at 99%, spring dream index at 87%. Suggest host take it easier next time.]
"Knock knock knock."
She rapped on Lin Che's door, her voice still a bit hoarse: "You lecher! Get up! Time to discuss business at Emei Palace!"
The door creaked open.
Lin Che leaned against the doorframe, half-asleep, bare-chested, only wearing pants. His abs stood out clearly in the morning light. He yawned lazily: "This early? Didn't sleep well?"
Luo Jiayin's face heated up as she averted her gaze: "Who… who didn't sleep well!"
"Oh?" Lin Che leaned in with a wicked grin, "Then why do you have panda eyes? Missed me that much?"
"Stop flattering yourself!" Luo Jiayin exploded with embarrassment and shoved him away. "Get dressed! The Palace Master and elders are waiting!"
[System: Host's teasing succeeded. Target's shyness +50, annoyance +30. Comprehensive heartbeat index rising steadily.]
---
Emei Palace · Grand Council Hall.
Guo Xiang sat high on the main seat, with eighteen elders lined up on both sides. Everyone looked at Lin Che with complicated eyes—filled with wariness, curiosity, and perhaps a trace of… expectation?
"Young Friend Lin, regarding the Blood God Pavilion matter…" Guo Xiang spoke slowly, "This old lady has a few questions."
"Palace Master, please ask." Lin Che held Lin Ying's hand, while his other hand secretly tugged at Luo Jiayin's sleeve, occasionally pinching her small hand under the wide sleeve's cover.
Luo Jiayin went stiff, wanting to pull away but not daring to, so she could only glare at him viciously.
"First, what is the purpose of Blood God Pavilion?" Guo Xiang asked.
Lin Che grinned, showing his white teeth: "Simple, eight words—'Kill all injustice, butcher all evil dogs'. Xuan Sword Sect is the number one evil dog, must die."
The Great Elder frowned: "Quite the big talk. Second, with your Nascent Soul early-stage cultivation, how do you plan to contend against Xuan Sword Sect's five Void Refinement ancestors?"
"With this." Lin Che patted his dantian, "With my willingness to risk it all, with my sister's innate beast tamer body, with the Slaughter God inheritance behind me, with my brothers who'd die for me. Most importantly…" He looked around at everyone, "You have no choice."
[System: Host's domineering declaration completed. Intimidation effect +100, hatred -50. Acting cool successful!]
The hall fell into dead silence.
Guo Xiang remained silent for a long time before finally sighing: "Forget it, this old lady is making this bet. From today onward, Emei Palace… joins Blood God Pavilion!"
"Palace Master is wise!" Lin Che cupped his hands, "Then the first matter—the location for Blood God Pavilion will be at the former site of Sky Profound Sect."
"What?!" All the elders were in an uproar.
"Although Sky Profound Sect has been destroyed, the foundation of their mountain-protecting formation remains, and the spiritual energy is abundant." Lin Che explained, "More importantly, that place is Xuan Sword Sect's face in Canglan Realm. We'll build our flag on their grave and tell them—Canglan Realm is not their playground!"
A sharp light flashed in Guo Xiang's eyes: "Good! Arrogant enough! This old lady likes it!"
[System: Host successfully convinced Emei Palace to join. Gained faction ×1, acting-cool value +999, hatred transfer successful!]
---
After leaving Emei Palace.
Lin Che returned to the inn. Lin Ying obediently went to the backyard to "play" with her beast army—basically commanding Silver Moon Wolf King and the Scarlet Flame Demon Wolf cub to steal roast chickens from the town.
[System: Detecting little sister at crime scene. Suggest host pretend not to see.]
Lin Che had no time for his sister. He urgently needed to return to Tianmen Fort and bring Shi Jin and those brothers over. How could he build a faction without his own people?
"Old Ma! Old Ma!" He shouted throughout the inn.