Day 99-106 Lake trouble

Liang Yu had completely healed Liang Jian Linlin from the effects of the corrosion finally. Both spent the time honing their strength once more and cultivating diligently around the lake. Lin Yin was given the same methods as the others to improve her body. Circulating the "flame crystal" from Liang Yu which was full of Flame Vortex Qi she made a splendid breakthrough after falling to the 4th Heavenly back into the 5th Heavenly Realm.

If not for the techniques that could support her future growth, Lin Yin would have been in the 6th Heavenly layer already. But she needed to get up to snuff. Having lost to Linlin who was both younger than her and a lower cultivation had her feeling embarrassed.

Ye Xinghe was actually at the lake with Xia Yuning not to far away. Each group aware of the other, but not going over to each other.

"Didn't you say Ye Xinghe was to be on house arrest?" Liang Jian couldn't take anymore and had to ask. "I don't remember you saying it was lifted for any reason, so this is just disrespectful!"

"True.." Liang Yu's eyes opened having felt the time was almost right for a breakthrough. ".... leave them be. Everything that could be gain from the Ye clan at this time has been obtained. Giving the food I did before helped from the unfair taxes by Steward Chen Deng. The Zhao matter was just a bonus and everything else was more than we need to get involved in."

"I guess.." Liang Jian felt some type of way but shrugged it off. He had more important things to deal with. "Need to get the hang of this weapon!" Assembling a spear, he started practicing with it once more. He swiped it from the Dark Moon family when fleeing.

"That bird is gonna get it! As well as the cat if comes with the trouble this time!" Liang Yu cursed under his breath. His chest felt painful from the talons that scratched him the last time he went against the bird. "Just wait and see!"

Popeye the fire bird was to the side enjoying the atmosphere. Its cultivation speeding up faster than before. It was excitied at the idea of giving the beast in the area some trouble.

Linlin and Lin Yin trained off to the sighed discussing things. Both detecting it at the same time since they were so hyped up currently. A few people were coming their way quickly with killing intent.

"Liang Yu!" Lin Yin called out. Having spent energy training, there would be no sense in them risking a confrontation. "Company!" Her call made Ye Xinghe and Xia Yining take notice. The two nodded at each other and moved closer. Safety in numbers and all that.

"Oh what the hell!" Liang Yu stood up furious. He was just about to push his cultivation when it happened. "Can't a guy cultivate in peace? Go somewhere else you brats!"

"Don't be that way!" Xia Yuning retorted. "With numbers like this, we need to help each other!"

"Even you can't defeat so many alone!" Ye Xinghe argued.

"Is that a challenge brat?" Liang Yu's qi was already in the works since he was about to breakthrough. Ye Xinghe was taken back by the outright challenge. "I will take care of them all, in exchange, you have to "kneel" and apologize to Xia Yuning, your family, and last of all, every man that walks the earth for your behavior. What say you?"

"You are going to far!" Ye Xinghe yelled back. Xia Yuning frown but didn't say anything. Aware this was in regards to what he said before, coming back around at the worse time. "Are you willing to risk everyone's life for this?"

"I risk nothing in this matter." Liang Yu shrugged. "Ah, they are here already. Damn."

10 6th Heavenly Realm martial artists appeared. Way more than originally as well as stronger than originally. They made their demands quick not wanting any mishaps.

"Get them all!" The leader yelled. "Be careful of the North Lord's daughter!"

"Bye bye." Liang Yu said mockingly. His arms spread as he did a simple spin doing Flame Blade. All of his qi going out in one motion. A Flame Tornado composed of lighting and booming like thunder echoed through the area instantly. "Whew!" He dropped exhausted. "First time I used this much qi at once."

*Woosh!* The flame didn't grow more than 200 feet. Contained by the lighting around it that moved. Inside the force of thunder carried on to a deafening crescendo. Caught completely off guard, they were swept inside it.

"Ahhhh!" One of the killers screamed. Dying almost instantly as the pressure from the thunder blew his lungs out. The other not being so lucky.

Two were where blown away and sent throughout the forest. Burn marks all over and missing arms. Liang Jian shot off with the spear in pursuit to finish them both off. Linin and Lin Yin watching over Liang Yu. Lin Yin slightly shocked by the brutal move.

"Insane." Ye Xinghe muttered. But seeing the toll it took on Liang Yu, he could tell it was something no available for rapid use. 'The drawback is way to much to use against a cultivator one on one.'

In a matter of moments, the attack was finished. Linlin moved over to collect the remains. Liang Jian coming back with the other two hanging from his spear.

Liang Yu pretended to check them over before he set them all on fire. Stashing the bodies in his Flame Vortex Core as quickly as he could. His core still spinning from the taxation on his body earlier.

"We can't get anything from ashes." Xia Yuning mumbled.

"They had nothing important on them. Besides, you all were in such a rush to take them on anyway, not like you would have been able to get anything during the battle." Liang Yu was already focusing on other matters. Like using Astral Sense to speed up the refinement process.

"Next time you can him them all to yourself." Lin Yin said cheekily. "Friends shouldn't bring assassins to friends. Oh, wait..."

"Who do you think you are!" Xia Yuning stepped forward wanting to fight. Ye Xinghe stopped her. "Xinghe.."

"Shouldn't you be on house arrest?" Liang Jian's face scrunched up. He was actually just trying to get them both to leave. Ready to get back to his training but not with them near Liang Yu. 'Honestly do not trust them.'

"Let's go." Ye Xinghe walked off. Xia Yuning looking pensive staring between the group and him. "We should be careful around certain people anyway." The comment not going well with Linlin at all. But she didn't say a word.

"Coo! Cooo!" Popeye started jumping around. Its size increasing as qi erupted from its body. After cultivating constantly for the last few weeks and eating a chunk of the resources in the internal space, it made a breakthrough. "Caaawww!"

With a shout, it calmed down. Stepping into the 5th Heavenly Layer. Liang Yu wanted to cook the big bird up and eat it. Maybe that way he would find out what the hell it ate from the nest before.

"Well, congratulations to you." LInlin and Liang Jian said togethor. Very proud of the beast's achievements.

"Yeah... ate a lot of my resources." Liang Yu ruffled the feathers a little. Annoyed but grateful for another stronger combatant on his side. "Need to push my understanding of that Beast Manual more. Speech has to be in there somewhere."

"Coo." Popeye nudged his head a little. Urging him to go and rest. "Co coo!"

"Aww he's worried about you." Linlin smiled at them. "You should take some time to rest a day or two.. Going non-stop is dangerous. Besides, Liang Jian can keep watch while Lin Yin and I search the area. I am sure we can find some things to make up for the loss of resources."

"That does sound like a plan." Lian Jian stopped practicing as he thought about something else that needed to be done. "We need to go into town and pick some stuff and do some hiring for what you plan next."

"That is true." Liang Yu turned away with popeye shrinking to the size of a regular fire bird. It perched on his shoulder. "Hmm need to go and check those mines. So let's do it in one quick swoop."

"Be careful you two." Liang Jian gave Lin Yin a kiss before separating. Aware she needed tp gain her confidence back after what to the two of them. Lin Yin seemed to be capable of helping with that department. "I will pick up some more clothes for us as well."

Liang Yu and Liang Jian left the area.

"I know a good place that has a few protection arrays. Enough that we won't have to worry about being suprised. A few cultivation materials I have left should go well for us." Lin Yin leads the way around a few of the islands. "How long have you two been married by the way?"

"Only a little while." Linlin answered. "Besides Liang Yu, the only family I have left. I was just an attendant of a member of the Zhao family back at the academy. Almost died when the rebels attacked my group."

"Oh.." Lin Yin frowned at that. ".. more reason for us to get stronger then. For the inevitable rebellion that will happen." The two talked as they moved. Unable to detect they were watched by a powerful cultivator.

The woman was Shang'Guan Xuan. A oddball 2000+ old woman if you believe the rumors, that headed over after feeling the powerful qi fluctuations earlier from Liang Yu and Liang Jian.

Covered in mist mostly, her veil did not obscure the frown on her face. With Linlin and Lin Yu the only hints of the weird qi due to the traces from Liang Yu on them, she kept her distance for now.