Lin Xueling

It was just after dawn the next day when a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old dressed in a long red dress strutted into the book depository. Her hair was tied into braids and she had red lips, white teeth, and bright eyes. 

"Brother Lil Chu, I'm here." 

The girl had known Chu He for two years. 

In the beginning, she had run to the book depository in search of books to read because she was bored. The atmosphere in the Lin family had been growing heavier by the day, and no one spared the time to care for or accompany her. 

However, she was not a patient person. Books and stories needed to be savored slowly but she was impatient and had tossed the books aside after flicking through several pages. It was then that she had taken an interest in Chu He, who had been standing by the side as still as a tree. She just so happened to have a lot to say that day and chattered endlessly as she walked up to him. 

At that time, the Lin family elder had not visited the book depository for a long time. 

Chu He's lonely heart began beating again when the long-silent book depository was filled with an echoing voice that sounded as crisp and clear as birdsong. 

It just so happened that he had been accumulating his energies for his third breakthrough and did not need to spend all his spare time and attention on cultivating. He felt that he would be in a better state if he relaxed every once in a while. 

The two bored people bonded and found topics of conversation they could engage in. 

Chu He would tell Lin Xueling stories, and Lin Xueling would tell Chu He about current affairs that were not covered in the books. 

Today, Chu He was telling her the story of Prince Charming and Cinderella. 

The story was not long, and he soon finished.

"Girl, you seem to be different today. Are you also burdened with troubles at such a young age?" 

Chu He asked as he looked at the distracted young girl, who was propping her chin up.

The girl usually pestered him with lots of questions when she listened to his stories. However, she was unusually quiet today and her brows were furrowed together. 

"I've always had a lot on my mind, that didn't start today!" 

Lin Xueling scrunched her nose in a dainty manner as she spoke. 

"Tell me about it," Chu He said shortly. 

Lin Xueling sighed as she said, "It's just that I learned that the Lin family is finding it difficult to make any progress after listening to Father and Mother talking. They never told me that ever since my uncle was killed in an ambush by the Dog Fang clan and the family elder was severely injured, bandits have been plotting against my family." 

Chu He did not speak. 

"Those guys are bad. A number of my uncles have already been assassinated by them, and Father said that the Lin family is surrounded by wolves now. One wrong move and we'll be destroyed. Father has not smiled in such a long time, and the atmosphere at home is so scary." 

Lin Xueling's eyes were turning red. 

The naive girl had grown up too. 

Chu He sighed to himself. 

He could tell that the young girl today was different from her past self. This change had not been brought on with just that one piece of news. 

It was a change that had been long coming ever since the young girl had begun growing up and maturing. 

"Brother Lil Chu, how do you think I can help Father? I don't want to see Father and Mother frowning all day." 

Lin Xueling gazed at Chu He intently as she asked him the question. 

She did not ask Chu He the question out of the expectation that he would actually have the answer.. Rather, she simply could not keep it to herself anymore and wanted to vent to someone.

"Become stronger!" 

However, Chu He immediately gave her an answer. 

"What?" 

Lin Xueling was startled. 

"If you gain sufficient power, for example, by becoming a demi-king, do you think the troubles your parents face now would still be problems?" Chu He asked calmly. 

Taken aback, Lin Xueling gazed at Chu He and then nodded in agreement. "Yeah! If I were a demi-king now, I could defeat all those bandits and make Father's worries disappear." 

She seemed to have found a direction to pursue. As she bounded to her feet, the expression on her face turned into one of excitement. 

A moment later, she came to another realization and plopped down in dismay as she said, "Brother Lil Chu, your idea is a great one but it's not that easy to become a demi-king. I've only mastered the Postcelestial Fifth Erudition now. Who knows how long it'll be before I master the Precelestial Eruditions, let alone become a demi-king. 

"Is it that difficult to become a demi-king?" 

Chu He shook his head as he said, "It's not that difficult if you find the right teacher." 

"Really? But I heard from Father and the elders that only one in a billion successfully becomes a demi-king. To be a demi-king, you must have the talent, luck, and chance." 

Although Lin Xueling trusted Chu He, she did not trust him blindly. One had to trust with reason! 

"Don't listen to their nonsense.

"That's because they don't know how to teach.

"If you find the right path, you can become a demi-king just by having a brain." 

Chu He told her casually. 

"You're lying, Brother Lil Chu. If it's that easy, can you teach me then?"

Lin Xueling puffed her cheeks unhappily. 

Her exceptional Brother Lil Chu was just as capable of bragging as her stinky older brothers.

"I've read a lot of books and know a lot about both the past and the present. Naturally, I can teach. Would you like to learn?" 

Chu He naturally detected Lin Xueling's doubt and mistrust. However, he merely smiled and offered no further explanations as he took the bait. 

After all, he had just broken through to the Third Turn and needed some time to strengthen his skills. It was just as well if he could be a teacher and use that to pass the time and alleviate his boredom. 

It could be considered as adding a little spice into his life of cultivation. 

"Alright, I'd like to see how you teach. Brother Lil Chu, you should know that merely reading is not enough for you to learn how to properly cultivate!" 

Lin Xueling was already on the verge of a tantrum as she agreed to learn from Chu He. She would make him admit his mistake and promise to never boast again after he failed to teach her. 

A boasting Brother Lil Chu was not a good brother.