Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 367 Cause and Effect

Upon returning to Hong Kong, Lin Yan appeared at the Wanyanzong Hall.

Xie Qingci was working with several elders to deduce the array diagram, while Cui Yang was inspecting a newly refined batch of pills on the other side. The two sensed something almost simultaneously and instantly appeared in the sect's main hall, bowing respectfully: "Young Master."

Lin Yan waved his hand, not telling them to get up and chat as usual. He walked to the center of the main hall, where the sun, moon, and star patterns engraved on the floor glowed faintly.

He stared at it in silence for a moment before speaking.

"Elder Xie, Elder Cui, and everyone else." He paused, his gaze sweeping across their faces, "I may be undergoing a tribulation in the next two years."

Inside the hall, you could hear a pin drop.

Tribulation is a life-or-death hurdle for cultivators to cross major realms, which is not unusual.

But the fact that the young master spoke of it so solemnly, and that there was little of the sharpness of someone about to break through his barrier in his brows, but rather a deep sense of gravity, meant that things were definitely not simple.

"Young Master, this is a joyous occasion! Although the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation is perilous, we have already prepared the 'Nine Revolutions Rock-Solid Formation' array plate, the 'Purple Mansion Rejuvenation Pill,' and various high-grade..." Cui Yang's words were filled with joy, but as he spoke, his voice lowered...

He saw the look in Lin Yan's eyes.

Lin Yan gave a self-deprecating smile. "If it were just a normal Nascent Soul Tribulation, I wouldn't bother everyone. But this time..."

"I have changed the fate of too many people, interfering with the life and death of hundreds of thousands, even millions of people. The karmic consequences are enormous."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Xie Qingci and Cui Yang. "I reckon that the 'Heavenly Dao Lord' above won't let me get through this tribulation easily. What's coming is probably more than just the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulation."

Xie Qingci's pupils contracted slightly. Cui Yang's face also paled. Alchemy, too, emphasizes following the natural order and harmonizing yin and yang, making it even more sensitive to the concepts of cause and effect and karma.

"Young Master!" Xie Qingci stepped forward, his beard and hair trembling slightly, not out of fear, but out of determination. "Rest assured! The entire Wanyan Sect will spare no effort to provide you with the strongest protection! I, Xie Qingci, swear by the Dao of Arrays that I will find a way to resist the backlash of karma for you!"

"Yes! Young Master!" Cui Yang exclaimed excitedly, "If we don't have enough pills, we'll refine them for a hundred years! If we don't have enough materials, we'll steal them..."

The other elders and core disciples also reacted quickly, bowing in unison, their voices resounding throughout the hall: "We are willing to go through fire and water for our young master, and give our all!"

Looking at the passionate crowd, Lin Yan felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but his eyes remained clear. He raised his hand and gestured to silence the crowd.

"I know your loyalty," he said slowly, his tone softening, but the wry smile remained. "But there's no need for any oaths or promises of 'certain success.'"

He turned around and looked again at the twinkling star map on the ground, his back view carrying a calm and unyielding air of someone who had lived through two lifetimes and seen through life and death.

"Just do your best. Use everything you can think of and do. Set up the formations as rigidly as possible; refine the pills to the best of your ability; draw the talismans to the strongest possible level. But don't strive for perfection—there is no such thing as perfection in this world."

With his back to the crowd, his spine was ramrod straight, and an invisible sharpness and pride emanated from him.

"after all……"

"I'm not made of clay either."

November, Beijing, courtyard house on Dongxinglong Street.

Autumn was deep, and most of the leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard had fallen, leaving only a few withered yellow leaves stubbornly hanging on the branches. Old Dan, dressed in a slightly worn, grayish-blue cotton shirt, sat on a small stool in the third courtyard, tending to the bubbling clay pot on the stove, holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand, fanning it slowly and steadily to control the heat.

Lin Yan's sword light landed on the open ground in the courtyard.

Master Dan hurriedly put down his palm-leaf fan and stood up, his face showing genuine joy and respect. He bowed deeply, about to perform a grand salute: "Young Master! You're back!"

Lin Yan raised his hand in a gesture of support, "Elder Dan, don't be so polite." He glanced at him, a hint of understanding and amusement flashing in his eyes, "Your cultivation has reached the Nascent Soul stage, hasn't it? Your aura is steady, not bad."

Despite his insistence, Elder Dan bowed deeply before straightening up. His wrinkles smoothed out as he exclaimed, "It's all thanks to Young Master! If it weren't for the opportunities and resources you bestowed upon me, how could I, at my age, dare to dream of breaking through to the Golden Core stage and condensing the Nascent Soul? Young Master, for your life-saving grace, please accept my bow once more!" As he spoke, his expression turned solemn, and he was about to bow again.

This time, Lin Yan didn't raise his hand; he simply stood quietly. However, Elder Dan, having bent halfway down, couldn't bend any further. It was as if a gentle force was blocking his way; no matter how much he channeled his Nascent Soul stage spiritual power, he couldn't budge an inch, not even the hem of his robe could flutter forward.

Dan Lao felt a chill run down his spine. He raised his head and looked into Lin Yan's calm and unwavering eyes, feeling that they were as deep as the sea. Even if he advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, he would probably still be like a firefly compared to the bright moon in front of the young master, insignificant.

Seeing his expression, Lin Yan smiled slightly, and the invisible barrier vanished. "Alright, the thought is there." He walked to the stove where Elder Dan was decocting medicine, casually glancing at the bubbling brown medicinal liquid in the clay pot. "Who is this for? The medicine is mild and moderate, a way to strengthen the body's foundation and nourish its vital energy."

Master Dan composed himself and replied respectfully, "It's for the gentleman's conditioning. In the past two months... there were many things going on in China, and his mental energy was quite depleted. Recently, he's been saying he feels a bit tired. This prescription is one I've carefully considered; the medicine is mild and suitable for his current physical condition." His tone inevitably became somewhat somber as he mentioned the past.

Lin Yan nodded, turned his gaze to the north, and remained silent for a moment.

"It's all in the past." After a long pause, Lin Yan withdrew his gaze, his voice calm. "An era has ended. A new path will begin."

In the evening, Lin Yan was playing ball with Xiao Qi in the courtyard when Lin San stepped through the hanging flower gate and saw him. "Young Master, you're finally back!"

He nodded, signaling Lin San to follow.

The two went to the study and sat down. Lin Yan handed him a note that read: Yu Qiangsheng

"Lin San, find this Yu Qiangsheng and make sure he's thoroughly dealt with!" Lin Yan gave the order.

"Understood, young master!"