Lin Xinghe's figure clung tightly to the cold stone wall, much like a leopard crouching in the shadows.
The power she had drawn from the Sword Soul was flowing through her body like a gentle stream, nourishing every inch of her flesh and blood while heightening her perception of the outside world to an extraordinary degree.
"Little girl, you hide deeply... It took this old woman quite some effort to find you!"
The voice was as harsh as sandpaper, carrying the hoarseness of weathered years, yet it also revealed a bone-chilling coldness.
Lin Xinghe's heart jolted, and a strong sense of crisis surged over her instantly.
An old woman?
Who could it be?
Holding her breath, she slowly poked her head out and peered outside through the narrow crack in the stone door, which was wide enough for only one person to pass.
A hunched figure was slowly walking into the entrance of the Sword Tomb.
It was an elderly woman. Her head of silver hair was as disheveled and fluffy as tangled weeds, and her face was covered in a crisscross network of wrinkles, deeply etched by the passage of time like knife-carved grooves.
Her figure was lean and withered, resembling a dead branch on the verge of turning to dust, yet within her cloudy eyes flickered a heart-palpitating, sharp glint that seemed capable of piercing through any disguise.
She leaned on a black cane, atop of which was embedded a massive skull that emitted an eerie glow in the dim light.
As she walked, she let out a cackling laugh. Sharp as the cry of a night owl, the sound echoed through the empty entrance of the Sword Tomb, making one's hair stand on end.
Lin Xinghe's heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
She did not know who this old woman was, nor why she had appeared here, but she could clearly sense that this woman was by no means harmless.
The cold and dangerous aura emanating from her made Lin Xinghe instinctively feel a profound sense of threat.
"Hmph, the Lin Family is truly growing more and more pathetic, actually letting a little brat like you obtain the inheritance of the Sword Saint." The old woman stopped in her tracks, raised her head, and cast her cloudy gaze straight toward Lin Xinghe's hiding spot as if she could see right through the stone wall. "Still, it's just as well—it saves this old woman the trouble of hunting you down."
With that, the old woman slammed her cane heavily against the ground.
With a crisp snap—a faint crack appeared on the floor.
Immediately following, a stream of black vapor gushed out from the fissure, spreading in all directions like countless venomous snakes.
Lin Xinghe's pupils abruptly contracted. She recognized this aura—it was deadly poison!
Furthermore, this was no ordinary poison; it was a malicious toxin capable of corroding spiritual energy!
"Not good!" Lin Xinghe cried out mentally. Disregarding the need to keep her presence hidden, she scrambled backward in haste.
She knew that once tainted by this evil toxin, even if she survived, her cultivation would be entirely ruined!
The very moment Lin Xinghe retreated, the black vapor had already spread to the spot where she had stood just moments before.
Upon contact with the black vapor, the stone wall emitted a sizzling sound, and pits were corroded into it at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Lin Xinghe drew a sharp breath, her heart filled with shock and lingering fear.
This old woman was simply too terrifying!
Daring not to linger for even a second, she hastily urged the Power of the Sword Soul within her body, transforming into a streak of sword light that sped away toward the depths of the Sword Tomb.
The night passed without sleep.
Early the next morning, when the first ray of sunlight filtered through the lattice window and spilled into Lin Xinghe's room, she slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were filled with exhaustion, yet they also burned with a trace of resolute light.
What happened last night made her realize even more profoundly that her current strength was still far from enough.
She had to improve her strength as quickly as possible to protect herself, protect her younger sister, and confront the enemies hiding in the shadows.
Lin Xinghe took a deep breath, forced herself to perk up, and began to wash up.
After a simple wash, she headed to the kitchen to help with the cooking, just like any other day.
Inside, the kitchen was already bustling with activity.
The servants of the Lin Family were busy preparing breakfast.
Lin Xinghe walked silently to the stove and started the fire.
While tending the fire, she observed her surroundings.
She knew that Lin Xiao would certainly not let the matter rest and might well strike at the two sisters again at any moment.
Therefore, she had to remain constantly vigilant to deal with any crisis that could arise at any second.
Suddenly, Lin Xinghe felt a gaze fall upon her.
Raising her head slightly, she saw Lin Yuehe standing not far away, looking at her.
Lin Yuehe's gaze flickered uncertainly, as if she had something she wanted to say.
Her heart stirring, Lin Xinghe knew Lin Yuehe must have something important to tell her.
She nodded slightly at Lin Yuehe, signaling her to remain calm.
Understanding, Lin Yuehe nodded back and resumed her busy tasks.
Once the chores in the kitchen had slowed down a little, Lin Xinghe found an excuse to leave.
Sure enough, it was not long before Lin Yuehe sought her out.
"Sister, I have something to tell you." Lin Yuehe's voice was low, carrying a hint of unease.
Nodding, Lin Xinghe led her to a relatively secluded spot.
"Yuehe, what on earth has happened?" Lin Xinghe asked softly, looking at her sister.
Lin Yuehe took a deep breath, as if steadying her emotions.
"Sister, last night, I accidentally overheard something," Lin Yuehe said. "I heard First Elder plotting a conspiracy against us."
"What?!" Lin Xinghe's expression instantly grew grave.
She had long known that Lin Xiao would not easily let them go, but she had not expected him to move so quickly.
"What is this all about? Tell me every detail," Lin Xinghe said in a deep voice.
Nodding, Lin Yuehe recounted everything she had overheard the previous night.
As it turned out, Lin Xiao was not content with merely driving Lin Xinghe out of the family; he intended to completely eliminate the two sisters to secure his absolute dominance within the household.
He had already secretly arranged a manpower to find an opportunity to make a move against them.
"This Lin Xiao is truly vicious!" A flash of anger crossed Lin Xinghe's eyes.
She had never imagined that Lin Xiao could be so ruthless, willing to drive them to their deaths purely for his own selfish desires.
"Sister, what should we do now?" Lin Yuehe asked, looking at her with concern.
Silence hung in the air for a moment before Lin Xinghe said slowly, "Yuehe, don't worry. I won't let Lin Xiao succeed. Starting today, we must act with even greater caution and never give him any openings."
"At the same time, I must accelerate my cultivation and strive to reach a level of strength capable of rivaling Lin Xiao as soon as possible. Only then can we protect ourselves and avenge our Mother!"
Lin Yuehe nodded.
"Sister, I'll listen to you. No matter what decision you make, I will support you," she said.
Looking at Lin Yuehe with gratitude, Lin Xinghe felt her heart swell with warmth.
"Yuehe, you must be careful too. Since Lin Xiao has already begun his move, he will surely find ways to deal with us. So you must protect yourself well and never let him catch any leverage against you," Lin Xinghe admonished.
Nodding, Lin Yuehe indicated that she would be careful.
"Alright, let's head back first. If we stay away too long, it will inevitably arouse suspicion," Lin Xinghe said.
Nodding once more, Lin Yuehe followed her back in the direction of the kitchen.
Just as the two of them were discussing countermeasures, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps echoed from afar...
The hurried footsteps struck Lin Xinghe's eardrums like beating drums, hammering against her tense nerves.
The sound grew closer and clearer, acting like a death warrant before the arrival of the Grim Reaper, pressing down until breathing became difficult.
Even the wind seemed to grow tense, whimpering through the treetops with an unsettling moan.
Lin Xinghe's heart pounded wildly, adrenaline surging as her blood seemed to boil in her veins.
She acutely captured a faint trace of blood in the air, along with several mixed scents belonging to different people—heavy breathing, suppressed anger, and a wisp of an elusive, chilling murderous intent.
"Not good, trouble is coming!" Lin Xinghe cursed under her breath, her delicate brow furrowing tightly like an unsheathed sword.
She grabbed Lin Yuehe's hand, feeling the slight chill in her younger sister's palm, which reminded her that what she carried on her shoulders now was not only her own life, but also her sister's safety.
Lin Yuehe's face turned pale, her petite body trembling slightly, evidently terrified by the sudden turn of events.
Biting her lip hard, she tried her best to control her emotions so as not to become a burden to her sister.
Yet her watery eyes were filled with fear and helplessness.
"Sis... Sister..." Lin Yuehe's voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, carrying a trace of a sob.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xinghe forced herself to calm down.
She knew that the more critical the moment, the more she had to keep her composure.
Only then could she find a glimmer of survival.
"Don't be afraid, Yuehe, I'm here." Lin Xinghe softly comforted her sister. Her tone, though calm, was full of strength.
Grasping Lin Yuehe's hand tightly, her gaze swept across the surroundings as sharp as a falcon's, trying to find the best route for escape.
"Shh—" She pressed a finger to her lips to signal Lin Yuehe to keep quiet, then pulled her along, darting behind a thick tree trunk.
"Xinghe, let's see where you can run this time!" An eerie voice, like a venomous snake, drifted from afar, laden with sickening malice...