"Master." Li Xiaobai's voice came in urgently, as if there was something pressing.

"What's the matter?" As Li Lin's voice fell, Li Xiaobai had already hurried into the room from outside, panting.

Li Lin looked at Li Xiaobai's appearance and was somewhat surprised. At this moment, Li Xiaobai's worn-out robe was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a new blue robe with a symbol on the shoulder, signifying his status as a minor steward in the Li family.

"Master, I've been discovered, what should I do?" Li Xiaobai said in a rush as soon as he entered the room.

"What's been discovered?" Li Lin asked.

Li Xiaobai replied, "Last night, when I was practicing the Fire Wolf Technique, I broke through to the Martial Disciple level, but it also caught the attention of the elder. He interrogated me all night."

Li Lin knew that the elder Li Xiaobai referred to was his own uncle in this world, as well as Li Wushuang's foster father, a decent man who often took care of him when he was young.

"What did he interrogate you about…" Li Lin asked anxiously, hoping not to expose himself too soon, as that could be troublesome.

Li Xiaobai said, "The elder asked me how I became a Martial Disciple and who taught me. But I didn't tell. I wouldn't betray Master. I just said I accidentally encountered a noble person who taught me but insisted that I must not tell anyone."

After speaking, Li Xiaobai smiled slightly, seemingly quite pleased with his own reaction.

Li Lin also let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't time for him to be exposed yet. If he were, it could lead to trouble.

"What happened then?" Li Lin asked. A lowly servant suddenly becoming a Martial Disciple would surely raise questions in the Li family.

"Later, the family head, the second uncle, and the fourth uncle all came. They all asked about my benefactor. Eventually, I had no choice but to say that he comes and goes without a trace, always seeking me out, so the elder and family head didn't ask further. In the end, they even promoted me to a minor steward and asked me to move to the front courtyard, but I refused and said I'd rather stay in the back courtyard," Li Xiaobai explained.

"Why not live in the front courtyard? Besides, isn't your Little Cui also there?" Li Lin said with a slight smile. Now that Li Xiaobai had become a Martial Disciple, the Li family would naturally value him and promote him to a minor steward. Li Lin thought to himself that he would need to be more careful with his cultivation from now on. It wasn't time for the Li family to know about him.

"Master, you live in the back courtyard. How could I live in the front courtyard unless we move together? I just met Little Cui, and she even greeted me," Li Xiaobai said.

Hearing this, Li Lin didn't say much and then said, "Be careful in the future. Here are two Infusion Pills. Taking and refining them will benefit your cultivation. If anyone discovers these pills, don't say I gave them to you, just say your benefactor did."

Li Lin smiled inwardly. Giving Li Xiaobai two Infusion Pills was not only to genuinely help him progress but also because the Li family would surely pay more attention to him now. If they found out about the pills, they would be even more interested in Li Xiaobai, and less attention would be on Li Lin, making him safer.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Master, these pills must be expensive," Li Xiaobai said, taking the pills.

"Fifty gold coins, priceless. Is that expensive?" Li Lin glanced at Li Xiaobai. He knew the current market price for the Infusion Pills he made, which had reached sixty to seventy gold coins each. Li Lin was considering asking Tianbao Sect to raise the price.

"So expensive?" Fifty gold coins were astronomical for Li Xiaobai.

"You better cultivate well and don't be lazy," Li Lin said.

"By the way, Master, the family head also told me to choose a martial technique from the Zangwu Pavilion, so I'll go now," Li Xiaobai said. Although he had become a Martial Disciple, he still needed a martial technique.

"Go ahead," Li Lin motioned. The family head of the Li family was his own father, but he had little memory of him. Li Lin was curious if someone could really be so indifferent to their own flesh and blood.

After Li Xiaobai left, Li Lin spaced out for a while before getting ready. As he was about to visit the Tianbao Sect, he saw Li Wushuang coming to the courtyard.

"Sister Wushuang, why are you here?" Li Lin was slightly startled. The embarrassment from their last encounter had been resolved, and he thought, as a man, what did it matter if a woman saw him? It wasn't a loss.

But Li Wushuang was different. Seeing Li Lin seemed to remind her of that day, her eyes reddening and her head lowering.

"Lin'er, the New Year is in seven days. Do you have time to accompany me shopping?" Li Wushuang asked softly.

"I'm free, let's go." Li Lin remembered it was almost New Year and he should also buy some clothes and household items for his mother. As for gold coins, he wasn't lacking, having earned a fair amount in the past month besides the materials from Tianbao Sect.

"Okay," Li Wushuang replied softly, and they headed out of the Li residence, this time through the main gate. With Li Wushuang leading, the servants at the door dared not say anything.

Li Lin didn't care about the difference between the front and back gates of the Li family, nor the servants' looks. Once they knew he was a Martial Disciple, they would surely fawn over him. He had seen such behavior in his previous life and wasn't surprised.

After leaving the Li residence, they reached the bustling streets of the town. The lively scene seemed to lighten Li Wushuang's mood. Her elegant figure and exquisite features stood out in the crowd, attracting the attention of many men.

Li Lin watched Li Wushuang, also taken aback. Each time he saw her, she seemed different. If she were in his previous world, she would outshine any beauty contest winner.

"Lin'er, what do you think of these boots?" Inside a shop, Li Wushuang picked up a pair of black boots and asked Li Lin.

Li Lin nodded, though the boots seemed to be for men.

"Do you like them? They should fit you." Li Wushuang examined the boots and then said, "Shopkeeper, please pack these up and deliver them to the Li residence."

"Yes, Miss Li," the shopkeeper replied, a slightly chubby middle-aged man who had been watching Li Lin with envy.

Li Lin wanted to say something but remained silent. He realized he did indeed need a new pair of shoes.

"Let's go," Li Wushuang said to Li Lin, and after leaving the shop, they visited several more, buying clothes and items for Lady Luo Lan. Each time Li Lin tried to pay, Li W

ushuang beat him to it, leaving him helpless.

"Tianbao Sect, Lin'er, I was thinking of buying a weapon. Would you accompany me?" They found themselves at Tianbao Sect without realizing.

"Sister Wushuang, doesn't the Li family sell weapons?" Li Lin asked.

"The Li family's weapons can't compare to Tianbao Sect's. Let's have a look," Li Wushuang said, and they entered Tianbao Sect.

"What do you need?" The attendants at Tianbao Sect greeted Li Lin and Li Wushuang. When Li Lin had visited alone previously, they respectfully addressed him as Young Master Li, but today they pretended not to recognize him.

Li Lin guessed that Tianbao Sect's people had been instructed not to reveal his frequent visits. After a month, he knew Tianbao Sect wanted to win him over, subtly probing if he was a Spirit Practitioner and if there was one behind him.

Familiar with Tianbao Sect, they went to the weapon section, and Li Wushuang picked up a pale blue longsword.

"Clang..." Drawing the sword, a melodious sound echoed, and the three-foot-long sword shone brightly, reflecting a dazzling light towards the tip. "Not bad," Li Lin thought, having discussed weapons with Uncle Jiang. Although he hadn't made any himself, he could tell this was a fine weapon.

"I'll take this sword," a sweet voice said, and a figure appeared in front of Li Lin and Li Wushuang. Seeing her, Li Wushuang's expression changed slightly.