"Speak, there shouldn't be any problem that the Li family can't solve," Li Wushuang said.
Li Lin, looking at Li Wushuang, said, "If you want me to acknowledge my ancestors, first, my mother must have an official status. She can't be a concubine; otherwise, it doesn't matter who comes to talk to me."
"This..." Li Wushuang hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll have to discuss this matter with my father. Lin'er, you should move to the front courtyard for now. It's safer there, and you'll also have access to the Li family's martial arts library. In a month, there will be a competition among the major families in Qingyun Town. It might be helpful for you to take a look."
Li Lin was pondering. He had encountered an assassination in the back mountain, and if not for sheer luck, he would have been dead. It indeed wasn't safe in the back courtyard. Moving to the front courtyard would be safer since any disturbance would immediately be known by the strong members of the Li family.
After much hesitation, Li Lin also considered, besides his own safety, his mother's safety. In the back courtyard, his mother's safety wasn't guaranteed. Zhao Hui might target his mother if she wanted to deal with him.
And for Zhao Hui, Li Lin was filled with rage but powerless, as Zhao Hui was strong, and he was no match for her yet. Otherwise, he would have eliminated her immediately to prevent future troubles.
"Alright, I can move to the front courtyard first, but that condition I mentioned is non-negotiable," Li Lin said. His mother's status was something he must fight for, as it was her rightful due.
"Okay, I will talk to my father," Li Wushuang said, smiling upon seeing Li Lin agreeing to move to the front courtyard.
"This courtyard is so big and beautiful," Li Xiaobai exclaimed excitedly in a spacious courtyard, which had a rockery fish pond with many goldfish swimming joyfully.
Li Lin looked around the courtyard, which was somewhat like a villa surrounded by green plants and fresh air, a world apart from the back courtyard. It seemed the Li family was indeed wealthy.
"Lin'er, how do you like it here? I picked it out for you. I live next door," Li Wushuang said.
"Yes, it's nice here. Thanks, Wushuang sister," Li Lin said.
"By the way, Lin'er, you should pick a few servants to clean the courtyard and take care of you and your aunt," Li Wushuang said, as per the Li family's direct lineage young masters' servant allocation, which included a steward and five servants.
"Xiaobai, you handle this. From now on, you'll stay here," Li Lin said.
"Yes, young master," Li Xiaobai responded, knowing it was much better to stay by the young master's side.
"Mother, I'll be in seclusion for about ten days, and I need to go out. You stay here," Li Lin said, arranging for his mother's care with Li Xiaobai around and being in the front courtyard, Li Lin had no other worries.
"Be careful if you're going into seclusion," Luo Lan didn't object, understanding that her son, now a martial artist, needed to train, especially with the upcoming competition in Qingyun Town.
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"Lin'er, where will you be in seclusion? The Li family has places for that," Li Wushuang said.
"Wushuang sister, I have my own place for seclusion. Please take care of things here," Li Lin said, planning to concoct pills in Uncle Jiang's secret chamber.
"Alright, be careful," Li Wushuang said, acknowledging the need for preparation with the competition in Qingyun Town a month away.
After nightfall, Li Lin headed to the secret chamber in the back courtyard's woodshed, hoping to settle his debts within ten days.
After making sure no one was around, Li Lin entered the secret chamber, only to be stunned to find Uncle Jiang there, as if expecting him.
"How are you not dead yet? You're lucky, kid," the old servant Uncle Jiang said lightly.
"Uncle Jiang, you could scare someone to death like that," Li Lin said lightly, then curiously asked, "How did you know I was attacked?"
"How could I not know? Be more careful next time. You were lucky this time," Uncle Jiang said.
"Uncle Jiang, knowing I was in danger and not helping, that's a bit cold," Li Lin said.
"Your father intervened, why should I? Besides, I have no relation to you. What are you doing here?" Uncle Jiang glared at Li Lin.
"I need a place to concoct pills, and your place is the only option. Don't be stingy," Li Lin said with a smirk, knowing Uncle Jiang wouldn't really kick him out.
"Revealing yourself as a tri-elemental martial artist has its pros and cons. Be careful, and watch out when you go out," Uncle Jiang said, then headed out, pausing to add, "Find some martial arts to practice in the Li family. Only knowing the Mountain Splitting Palm is a bit disparaging."
"You're telling me," Li Lin muttered, making a face, though not daring to speak loudly. Being a tri-elemental martial artist but only knowing the Mountain Splitting Palm indeed seemed insufficient.
After Uncle Jiang left and the secret chamber was closed, Li Lin took out the Fire Dragon Cauldron, and the two large bags of herbs from his storage ring were also placed in the chamber. He was ready to devote himself to concocting pills.
"Let's start with the Crown Topping Pill." Although the Crown Topping Pill was cheaper, he could produce it quickly and with minimal errors. Li Lin decided to start with it to pay off his debts.
Sitting cross-legged, he formed hand seals, channeling spiritual power into the cauldron, igniting the flame within. Li Lin began the familiar process of concocting the Crown Topping Pill.
Concocting the Crown Topping Pill was now easy for Li Lin, but producing a hundred pills was no small task. He estimated that with these hundred pills, he could clear his debts.
In a courtyard, Zhao Hui's face was furious, her eyes sharp, angrily saying, "I can't believe that bastard didn't die. Damn it, we can't let him go to the Yunyang Sect, or he'll be even harder to deal with."
"Miss, there's nothing we can do now. It seems the Li family is prepared to break with us to acknowledge that kid's ancestors," Zhao Er said by her side.
"Of course, that kid is lucky to be a tri-elemental martial artist. The Li family won't let go of him. It's a pity we lost this opportunity," Zhao Hui said coldly.
"Miss, we had an agreement with the Zhao family not to let that kid acknowledge his ancestors," Zhao Er said.
"But, we did something to him, and the Li family elder saw through it. He's using it to shut me up, and I can't do anything about it. It's infuriating that that bastard must have had some fortune to undo what we did and become a martial artist," Zhao Hui said coldly.
"What do we do now? The kid has moved to the front courtyard, making him even harder to deal with," Zhao Er said.
"Wait for an opportunity. We can't let that kid live. Otherwise, it'll affect our entire plan," Zhao Hui said with a cold expression.
"Lady, the master is asking for you in the hall," a maid with a swollen face slowly came in, it was Xiao Lan, who had been beaten by Li Lin. Her face was still bruised, her lips swollen, and one eye black and blue, startling Zhao Er.
"Do you know what it's about?" Zhao Hui asked, her expression changing.
"The master is holding an emergency family elder meeting tonight. It seems to be a major issue," Xiao Lan said, her voice changed, likely affected by the beating from Li Lin.
"A major issue..." Zhao Hui's expression shifted slightly, then she left the room.
In the Li family hall, around twenty people were seated, including Li Dong, Li Xi, Li Nan, Zhou Lixing, and many elders, some of whom had been seen at the ancestral ceremony, all being elders of the Li family.