After leaving Yinying, Ling Yun headed straight towards the Grey Mountain. It was nighttime adding further danger in his search for ingredients. Fortunately for him, tonight was a full moon providing enough light for him to navigate the terrain.

  While looking around, Ling Yun remembered the last time when he was here. That time he was desperately trying to save his sister and the only thing he could do was to beg. He was powerless, helpless and entirely dependent on the mercy of others. He was nearly burned alive but somehow due to luck, both he and his sister managed to survive.

  But now, things have changed. No longer was he the weak boy pleading for help. Now he can save his father by himself.

  No, not entirely by myself.

  Remembering how Yinying offered her help and her friendship unconsciously brought a smile on his face.

  "Ling Yun you fool, are you that happy relying on others?"

  Brahma's voice suddenly rang inside his mind causing him to stand on attention. Like a splash of cold water, his good mood instantly disappeared. He could feel another headache incoming. Talking with her was never a pleasant experience.

  "What do you want me say? That was the only choice available at that time."

  Getting the ingredients and guarding his father, he couldn't do both at the same time.

  "It was the only choice available to you because you were lacking. If you were stronger, you would have had more options. And stop with your pathetic attempts to mislead me. You are far too young for that. You don't even know if she is strong enough to guard your father. So why did you let her? Speak the truth."

  Ling Yun knew what she was hinting at. Saying it was the only choice was an excuse. Nothing could escape her, she knew him far too well for his own good.

  "I don't know myself. Somehow she convinced me to believe in her."

  His voice was low as Ling Yun braced himself to be ridiculed for this answer. He didn't have to wait for too long as Bramha loudly scoffed.

  "Believe? Oh Ling Yun, you didn't learn anything. You believed in that blood path trash, your alchemy master and myself, how did that work out for you?"

  Mention of the betrayals by Chensha and the others reopened the wounds on his heart. He tried to maintain his calm and pushed down those horrible memories that were threatening to resurface but the scars started to ache again.

  Brahma smirked at him wickedly. She had deliberately poked him right where it would hurt the most. But what other alternative does she have; when it comes to idiots, pain is the best teacher.

  "How did it feel when she reached out a helping hand? Did you feel relieved? Glad that you can rely on someone? Happy to find a friend?"

  "... Yes"

  "Hmmph! That is a huge sign of weakness. You can ally with others, make use of them or even manipulate them but the thing you must never do is believe in others. The only one you should believe in is yourself, the only strength you can rely on is yours. Because having to believe in others means you are not strong enough to believe in yourself."

  Her words were cold truths dragging him back to reality. After spending much time surrounded by deceivers like Mu Feixue and Brahma, he had grown wise enough to recognise that the offer of friendship was truly genuine. But Brahma was right.

  At that moment why did I trust her? Even after everything, are simple words like friendship enough to move my heart? Am I going to suffer again because of my naivety?

  A sudden dread infiltrated his chest. The more he thought about it, the uneasy feeling kept on increasing. He felt a sudden premonition that upon returning, he would be greeted by his father's corpse. Ling Yun immediately stopped in his tracks and looked back on the direction of the Ling clan's mansion.

  Should I go back? It isn't too late. If I turn back now, I can still return quickly.

  Deep down he knew that relying on Yinying was a very risky gamble, a sign of weakness but-

  "My name is Chen Yinying and I am the current head of the Joyous Harmony sect. I own the Thousand Fragrance Palace."

  "Ling Yun, I want to become your friend. So please believe me, I really want to help you."

  "No matter how cold we pretend to be, we are always drawn to the warmth and Ling Yun, I'm drawn to you."

  The lingering warmth left by her words refused to fade from his heart. With a deep breath, he pushed down the unease and stepped forward without looking back.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  ***

  "Where do you think she is going, big brother?"

  A girl in a fox mask was silently sneaking around in the corridors of the mansion. Three men were tailing her stealthily. These three were brothers with the eldest named Ling Tong.

  Ling Tong and his younger siblings were close to Ling Jihua. On his orders, they had gone to Granny Sha's quarters to nab her when they found her outside the servant quarters sneaking. Ling Tong decided to see what she was planning first before attacking her.

  After following her for sometime, they finally found her destination. It was the room of the patriarch. Before she could enter the room, Ling Tong stepped out and called her out.

  "You wench! What evil deeds are you and that cripple planning to commit?"

  Yinying turned around at looked at him. She was a little surprised that he managed to follow without alerting her.

  "Ah I see. Most of my concentration was on trying to avoid the guards. How careless of me."

  "It would be in your best interests to surrender immediately. I don't like hurting woman."

  Seeing her not responding, Ling Tong signalled his brothers to come out and stand beside him to intimidate her.

  "Or do you think you can take on all of us three alone?"

  He got ready in a stance and smirked at her in provocation. He knew that she would submit after seeing all three of them. His smirk widened as the girl raised her hands in surrender.

  Keeping her hands raised above, she walked slowly towards them. "You made the right choice." His youngest sibling said, happy that this all ended without a hassle.

  "Of course. How can a poor girl like me fight all three of you all alone? I am a delicate maiden so-" With a few steps remaining between them, she removed her mask and looked straight into Ling Tong's eyes. Dark pink petals of plum blossoms reflected in his eyes.

  "Big brother, please save me from these thugs."

  Feeling something wrong, the middle brother got in stance but he was quickly knocked away by a hard punch from the side. The youngest brother looked in shock at what just happened. Eldest brother Tong just punched the middle brother!

  "Eldest brother Tong, have you lost your mind? Why did you hit big brother?"

  Ling Tong stood infront of them with the girl behind his back. He looked at them with an angry expression. "Trying to gang up on a girl? As your eldest brother, I will beat some manners into both of you."

  What?! But you were the one who planned this!

  Lost in confusion, he only managed to see the incoming punch as it hit him straight in his gut. The youngest brother crumbled and fell on his knees, his mind still trying to make sense of what was happening.

  "You, it must be your doing." The middle brother still reeling from the previous hit pointed at her. Yinying just innocently shrugged as if she didn't understand what he meant but the mocking look in her eyes confirmed hs suspicions.

  He rushed at her but Ling Tong stepped in the way and threw a kick at him. This time the middle brother wasn't caught off guard and managed to step back and dodge.

  "Oi youngest, get up fast. That girl must have used some charm technique on eldest brother Tong. We have to beat her."

  "You two fools! Still daring to hurt her in my presence." Ling Tong scowled at his siblings. He lightly turned around towards Yinying and spoke in a sweet voice that made his siblings gag.

  "Beautiful miss, don't worry. After I'm done with them, they will kiss the boot of their future sister-in-law in apology."

  Yinying just giggled in response which further ignited his passion. He jumped towards them and the three sibling started a fist fight. Ling Tong being the eldest, was the strongest among them but with the two working in tandem, he was having a hard time in keeping them away. The two siblings were also at a disadvantage as unlike the charmed Ling Tong, they didn't want to use lethal attacks on their own brother.

  Chen Yinying took out her zither and watched on as they continued to fight. The soothing voice of the zither played in the background of the violent battle between the siblings. Finally after receiving many punches on the face, Ling Tong came to his senses.

  "Eldest brother Tong, did you finally wake up?"

  Ling Tong saw his younger brothers badly beaten up. Both were covered with bruises with the youngest slightly limping. He could also feel pain in different parts of the body. Rage exploded inside him at this sight.

  "You wench! How dare you make me hurt my own brothers? You're courting death!"

  Chen Yinying laughed at him as her fingers continued to play. "Blame yourself for falling for my technique. I was slightly worried that it wouldn't work on you but I was wrong. Ling Yun is far better than you people. Not just in strength, but in many more ways. You ridicule him as a cripple but let me tell you that he could easily resist my charm. So what does that make you?"

  The rage inside him surged violently at being compared with Ling Yun. She was implying that he was lower than the trash of the clan. It was the greatest insult he had ever received in his entire life.

  She must be lying, I'm much better than that cripple. Big brother Jihua ordered not to kill her, but nothing about hurting her.

  "You made the biggest mist- mistake ...of y- yo.. your..."

  He could feel his vision starting to get hazy as an intense wave of drowsiness assaulted his mind. THUD- He turned back to see both of his siblings fall on the ground unconscious.

  "You three must be injured and tired after the intense fighting. Why don't you sleep now? You body must be craving for it."

  Ling Tong could barely register her words as the sweet music from the zither urged him to take a nap. His eyes started getting cloudy and it getting harder to keep them open.

  Ugh..I can't sleep now.. I have to.... what was I doing now?.. forget it.. I'm tired and my body is pain.. I will worry about it after I wake up.

  With that Ling Tong closed his eyes and drifted off to dreamland joining his brothers. Chen Yinying looked at the three brothers lying on the ground and let out a huge sigh in relief.

  Finally it was over. Although she maintained a calm facade on the outside, her mind was filled with anxiety. She wasn't a fighter and battling unknown cultivators always comes with risks. It also went against her ideals of avoiding unknown dangerous situations for strangers but

  Ling Yun isn't a stranger, not anymore. Besides, I made a promise.

  After catching her breath, she left those three sleeping on the ground and went inside the room of the patriarch. She took a quick look at the sleeping man making sure he was breathing before taking a seat near him.

  Her eyes were wide open and her ears concentrated on sensing any other intruders. One thing was for sure, no one could touch his father till Ling Yun returns.

  I hope you are safe Ling Yun.