Need to Dual Cultivate

Seeing the sudden wariness and fear in Xia Yueshan's eyes, Lin Yu took a step forward and patted his shoulder lightly, saying in a low voice:

"Let me be honest with you, Xia Yueshan."

"If I really had any intentions toward your sister,"

"she would have already become mine."

"There’s no need for me to go through all this trouble to help you or win her over."

"The methods I have to make her obey are beyond what you could even imagine. Do you believe me?"

Lin Yu looked at Xia Yueshan with a calmness that left no room for doubt, as if what he was saying was as simple and ordinary as eating or drinking.

"Then why are you being so nice to my sister?"

Xia Yueshan believed Lin Yu could do what he claimed, but he was still full of confusion, unable to understand the reason behind his actions.

"Ah!"

Lin Yu let out a heavy sigh. Looking at Xia Yueshan’s bewildered expression, a trace of helplessness flickered in his eyes.

"What I’m about to say next might be hard for you to accept."

"But I have to say it."

"Your sister... she..."

"is about to face a great calamity!"

"Huh?"

"Calamity?"

Xia Yueshan frowned, repeating the words with an expression of disbelief.

"Yes."

Lin Yu nodded solemnly and said:

"Actually, I’ve studied some physiognomy. When I saw your sister earlier, I noticed her forehead was darkened—a sign of impending disaster!"

Hearing this explanation, which sounded even more absurd than nonsense, Xia Yueshan’s shock and surprise instantly vanished. He stared at Lin Yu with a deadpan expression that clearly said, Do I really look that stupid to you?

"I know, this reason sounds ridiculous—so ridiculous that even a fool wouldn’t believe it."

Lin Yu shrugged, as if he had expected this reaction.

"But!"

His tone suddenly shifted, turning serious.

"Xia Yueshan, you should be able to think this through."

"It’s precisely because this reason is so outrageous—so outrageous that no one would ever believe it—that it’s actually credible!"

"I doubt I come across as a fool in your eyes. If I wanted to deceive you, I could’ve come up with countless other excuses that would’ve been far easier for you to believe."

"Yet I chose to tell you the truth."

"Because I need your help."

Lin Yu looked at him with a focused and earnest expression, like a super spy in a movie who needed the high school protagonist to help save the world.

"What... do you need me to do?"

Xia Yueshan remained skeptical, asking cautiously:

"I need you to become stronger—strong enough to protect your sister."

Lin Yu spoke each word with gravity.

"That’s it?"

Xia Yueshan asked curiously:

"You don’t need me to lure my sister out on some dark and stormy night for you?"

"Or convince her to... cultivate with you to dispel some so-called blood calamity?"

Hearing Xia Yueshan’s absurd remarks—clearly influenced by too much romantic literature—Lin Yu’s forehead twitched with exasperation.

This brat!

So young, yet knows way too much!

"Of course not."

Considering that Xia Yueshan might serve as a good safeguard for Xia Muzhu, Lin Yu suppressed the urge to retort and patiently explained:

"Not only do I not need you to lure your sister out on a dark and stormy night,"

"On the contrary,"

"I need you to make sure she avoids going out at night as much as possible."

"Even during the day, it’d be best if you could accompany her—to protect and keep watch."

Xia Yueshan fell silent, thinking it over. He didn’t nod in agreement but instead continued scrutinizing Lin Yu with suspicion.

"Anything else?"

"Is there anything more you need me to do?"

"Let me make this clear—whatever you want me to do, you’d better tell me everything now. If you spring something on me later that you didn’t mention beforehand, I won’t do it."

Xia Yueshan spoke with full vigilance.

Seeing how cautious he was, Lin Yu nodded inwardly in approval.

Good.

Sharp-minded.

It’d be hard for any shady character to trick him.

After stroking his chin in thought, Lin Yu spoke again:

"What I need from you isn’t much. At its core, it’s just one thing: protect your sister, Xia Muzhu, and keep her from harm."

"Everything else builds on that foundation."

"For example, you should carry pepper spray and a stun baton to better protect her in case of emergencies."

"Additionally,"

"I need you to learn some things from me."

Lin Yu looked at Xia Yueshan seriously and said:

"I’ll teach you some moves—techniques targeting vulnerable points on the human body."

"Just in case."

At the mention of moves, Xia Yueshan’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

"Is it martial arts?"

Lin Yu nodded.

"Something like that."

"Then it’s a deal!"

Xia Yueshan agreed so readily that Lin Yu almost wondered if he could’ve just offered to teach him martial arts from the start—and Xia Yueshan would’ve happily delivered Xia Muzhu straight to his bed!

Shaking his head to dismiss the ridiculous thought, Lin Yu checked his phone. It was just past eight—still early. Putting his phone away, he looked at Xia Yueshan, whose eyes were practically sparkling with excitement, and decided to teach him a move right then.

After sizing him up, Lin Yu settled on the simplest yet most effective technique against would-be assailants.

"You know what monkey steals the peach means, right?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Xia Yueshan’s face fell.

"Are you messing with me?"

"How is monkey steals the peach any kind of martial art?"

Seeing Xia Yueshan’s furious, I’ve-been-tricked expression—as if he might storm off any second—Lin Yu smirked coldly.

He glanced around before his gaze landed on the wooden bench they had been sitting on earlier.

Lin Yu strode over, raised his hand without a word, and brought it down like lightning.

THUD!

A deafening crack echoed through the quiet night.

Xia Yueshan gaped, his jaw nearly hitting the ground, as he watched the nearly three-finger-thick solid wood slat split cleanly under Lin Yu’s palm.

"See that?"

Lin Yu clasped his hands behind his back, tilting his chin up with the air of a lofty master.

"I see it!"

Xia Yueshan nodded fervently, his eyes filled with admiration.

"That strike didn’t use any special technique—just a simple raise and chop."

"Anyone can do it."

"But do you think just anyone could split this wood like I did?"

Xia Yueshan shook his head wildly.

"Hmph."

"At least you’ve got some sense."

Lin Yu sneered before continuing:

"Because I’ve trained in martial arts for over a decade, my body is strong and powerful. That’s why even an ordinary strike from me can break this wood."

"Likewise,"

"if you don’t train your basics, if you don’t strengthen your body..."

"Even if I were to teach you the most supreme martial arts in the world, you wouldn’t be able to wield their power—instead, you’d only make things worse."

"Your sister’s calamity may strike soon."

"I don’t have time to drill you in the basics anymore, so I’ll have to teach you a few shortcuts."

"That way, you’ll learn faster and be of some use when the time comes."