The night breeze brushed gently, carrying a hint of chill. The courtyard of the Lin Family was silent, occasionally broken only by the calls of distant night birds in the distance.
Candlelight flickered, casting its glow upon two astonished faces. Lin Xinghe and Lin Yuehe held their breath almost simultaneously.
"Lin... Feng... Cousin?" Lin Yuehe's voice trembled, as though time itself had frozen at that very moment.
A flurry of countless questions surged through Lin Xinghe's mind. Those familiar eyes, that defiant brow—everything seemed to point toward this impossible truth.
Lin Feng stood behind the doorway. His gaze swept over the two sisters for a moment before finally settling on the Youyue Soul Heart Grass in Lin Xinghe's hand, a meaningful curve touching the corner of his lips.
"Did you really think this herb was gathered simply to accelerate the absorption of the Sword Soul?"
Lin Xinghe gripped her short sword tightly, her fingers cold, yet she forced herself to remain calm and meet Lin Feng's gaze.
"Cousin, you've returned?" There was a hint of doubt in her voice, but far more of a long-lost warmth.
Lin Feng nodded slowly, his voice carrying the slight hoarseness of someone who had not spoken for a long time. "Yes, I have returned. But this is no coincidence. I have been secretly investigating a series of conspiracies within the family."
Lin Xinghe's heart skipped a beat as she rapidly digested the information.
"Where have you been all these years? Why has there been no news of you at all?"
Lin Feng took a deep breath. "During the beast tide ten years ago, I did not die. I hid deep in the mountains and gradually discovered that the family harbored many unknown secrets. To uncover the truth, I had no choice but to conceal my identity and search for clues."
Lin Xinghe said, "Cousin, did you know that I discovered the mastermind behind Baili in the Sword Tomb Secret Realm? It is a hidden dark hand deep within the family."
Lin Feng replied, "I know that Baili is not our true enemy; she was merely being used. As for the mastermind behind the scenes, I already have some understanding, but I still need more time to verify it."
Lin Xinghe nodded. Though doubts still lingered in her heart, she decided to trust Lin Feng for the time being. After all, if he were an enemy, he would hardly have needed to go to such lengths.
"Cousin, I understand. Let us not raise any alarm for now, and I will continue to gather intelligence in secret."
Lin Feng nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Caution is required in all things. The elders of the Lin Family are no ordinary figures, and the power behind them is formidable."
Mulling over Lin Feng's words, Lin Xinghe quietly formed a plan in her heart. She returned to her usual quarters, changed into a maidservant's attire, and silently reminded herself to be even more cautious for the sake of the family's truth.
Utilizing her identity as a maidservant, she began moving about various parts of the Lin Family estate, slowly making her way toward Lin Xiao's study.
The night grew even quieter, with only the occasional sound of patrolling footsteps interweaving with the distant night wind.
Carefully pressing close to the window, Lin Xinghe peered through a crack and saw Lin Xiao conversing with several mysterious figures.
Lin Xiao spoke in a low tone, his eyes glinting with a bizarre excitement. "This operation must be foolproof. As long as we control Lin Yuehe, we can completely cut off Lin Xinghe's retreat."
Her heart pounding violently, Lin Xinghe quickly memorized the appearances and features of these individuals, resolving to uncover their identities as soon as possible.
Returning to her room, she quickly gathered her thoughts. Recalling the family conspiracy mentioned by Lin Feng and the words she had just overheard from Lin Xiao, she resolved to enter the Sword Tomb Secret Realm and attempt to absorb the Third Layer of Sword Soul to make herself stronger.
The mists hung heavy over the Lin Family's secret realm at night.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xinghe stepped into the entrance of the Sword Tomb, her heart filled with resolve. This time, she would attempt to absorb the Third Layer of Sword Soul—an unprecedented challenge awaiting her.
Inside the secret realm, the low chants of ancient sword spirits echoed all around, as if welcoming her arrival.
Suppressing the turbulence in her heart, she slowly approached the location of the Sword Soul.
It was a vortex emitting a faint blue glow, faintly radiating a formidable power.
Circulating her Sword Intent, Lin Xinghe slowly guided the Sword Qi from her Dantian toward that luminous cluster.
In the process, she felt a powerful resistance, as though an invisible force was obstructing her advance.
Sweat trickled down her temples. She clenched her teeth, silently reciting Lin Feng's words of encouragement in her mind.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang in her ear: "Xinghe, do not give up. This is the moment for your growth. Hold on." Raising her head, Lin Xinghe saw the figure of Yun Wufeng standing before her.
A surge of warmth flooded her heart. She reconsolidated her willpower and once again channeled her Sword Qi into the cluster of light.
Suddenly, a massive surge of power rushed into her Dantian, and she felt as though her body were enveloped by an invisible vortex.
The Sword Qi within her Dantian began to undergo violent changes, gradually merging as one with that cluster of light.
Her body felt much lighter, and she sensed an unprecedented power flowing through her veins.
Closing her eyes, she felt the power of the Sword Soul gradually melting into every single cell of her body.
When she opened her eyes once more, a resolute and confident gleam had settled into her gaze.
Just as Lin Xinghe prepared to return to the Lin Family, she vaguely sensed someone quietly approaching the entrance of the Sword Tomb.
A flicker of vigilance arose in her heart. She swiftly concealed herself in the shadows to wait and see what would happen.
The power of the Sword Soul flowed through her limbs and bones, feeling warm and as comfortable as soaking in a hot spring. Every pore expanded, greedily breathing in the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the secret realm.
Lin Xinghe felt as though she had been reborn. The lightness that emanated from deep within her bones made her yearn to immediately find some blind fool to test her skills upon and see just how formidable this Third Layer of Sword Soul truly was.
Just as her heart surged and she prepared to make a decisive push to leave the Sword Tomb Secret Realm and give those old fellows in the Lin Family a "surprise," an extremely faint rustling sound—virtually blending with the wind—pierced her ear canal.
"Hmm?" Lin Xinghe's brow, which had just relaxed from the breakthrough of her Sword Soul, instantly knitted back together like two small swords poised for release.
Now that she had attained the Third Layer of Sword Soul, her five senses and six perceptions were many times sharper than before.
This was definitely not a commotion that could be made by the clumsy guards of the Lin Family elders. Their footsteps, which she could usually distinguish from afar, were heavy and chaotic, carrying an unmistakable and superficial clumsiness.
Yet at this moment, the sound was light, drifting, elusive, and yet carried a distinct sense of purpose as it approached the entrance of the Sword Tomb.
The light and shadows at the entrance of the Sword Tomb flickered slightly, and a vague silhouette of a figure she had never seen before flashed at the edge of the mist, vanishing as fast as an illusion.
"Not people from the Lin Family!" Lin Xinghe's heart tightened, her gaze instantly turning as sharp as a sword. Almost instinctively, every muscle in her body tensed up.