The love of parents for their children is a far-reaching plan.
Since Li Chenxu had spoken to Father Lin last time, he had been very worried about his daughter's future.
After surveying his own disciples, he then looked at his fellow disciples' apprentices. None of them, in his opinion, were a good match for his daughter.
He couldn't trust those he had watched grow up, let alone unfamiliar people from outside. He had been so troubled these past few days that he hadn't slept well.
He tossed and turned in bed, sighing, which also disturbed Mother Lin's sleep. Mother Lin was so annoyed that she almost kicked him out of bed.
"Hmph! Not good at martial arts? It seems you haven't paid attention to Yan'er practicing her sword in a long time!" Mother Lin said with great displeasure.
Father Lin was taken aback by Mother Lin's sudden complaint.
"Yan'er practicing her sword?" he asked, puzzled. He knew his daughter's constitution best; could there be any changes?
"If the tonic medicine for your body was so effective, you should know that Yan'er wouldn't not take it herself!"
"You mean Yan'er's congenital deficiency?" Father Lin was a bit surprised.
Their daughter's congenital deficiency due to a difficult birth was the deepest pain for the couple. For so many years, they watched their daughter take medicine every season.
They were heartbroken, but the little child would always come to comfort them after taking the bitter medicine.
They were from a martial arts sect, but their daughter found it difficult to practice martial arts. It wasn't because she didn't try hard, nor was her comprehension poor, but because her body was too weak.
People say that four taels can move a thousand jin, but if one doesn't even have the strength of four taels, how can they move a thousand jin? This was why Lin Yan, despite having calluses on her hands from practicing swordplay, did not have impressive sword skills.
One early morning, Father Lin went to Lin Yan's small courtyard. He made no sound, just watched the young girl practicing her sword in the courtyard.
Lin Yan practiced basic stances repeatedly, which was extremely tedious, yet she was also extremely focused.
Each of her sword strikes seemed the same, yet there were subtle differences.
Others might not understand, but to someone like Father Lin, who had been immersed in swordsmanship for decades, it was clear that she was searching for her most suitable way of striking.
After she swung her sword thousands of times, she stopped. She stood still for a moment, then Lin Yan took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Then, she raised her sword again. This time, she began to practice the Lishan Swordplay she had learned. However, this swordplay incorporated the basic stances she had just practiced.
Father Lin silently watched his daughter practice her sword. He had to admit that his wife was right; he had indeed overlooked his daughter. He had always known his daughter had excellent comprehension, but due to her physical condition, she had only managed to memorize the sword moves. Now, however, he realized that his daughter might be more suited for swordsmanship than he had imagined!
After all, he himself, at his daughter's age, had not yet reached the stage of integrating sword techniques and making them his own.
When Lin Yan finished practicing, Father Lin quietly left, not letting Lin Yan discover his presence.
However, Lin Yan had known he was outside the courtyard since Father Lin's arrival, thanks to a system notification.
But her internal energy was still too low to detect his presence. Therefore, she pretended not to know he had come.
"Host, why didn't he come in to watch you practice?"
The system was very curious, as Father Lin had arrived so early and stayed until the host finished practicing her sword before leaving.
"He always has his reasons for not appearing. Isn't the result what matters?"
Lin Yan had a general idea why Father Lin hadn't shown himself. However, her objective had been achieved. She would gradually change how others perceived her.
After more than two months, Luo Yuxuan finally rode back to the sect. However, what he saw upon his return surprised him.
He felt as if he hadn't been away for a few months, but for several years!
The sect was largely unchanged, and everyone treated him with respect, yet he still felt uncomfortable.
Luo Yuxuan looked at his junior brothers and noticed something different about them, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
It wasn't until Luo Yuxuan accidentally touched a junior brother's skin that he felt a smooth texture, completely unlike the rough skin of his junior brothers.
Upon closer inspection, all his junior brothers seemed to have become more attractive. Of course, this didn't mean they were more handsome than him.
As the male protagonist of this story, Luo Yuxuan possessed considerable good looks. However, he noticed that his junior brothers seemed to have undergone some changes.
Their skin, which had become rough from practicing swordplay under the sun and rain, had become delicate. The calluses on their hands and the cracks on their fingertips were gone.
Their bodies, which should have carried the scent of sweat, now emitted a faint medicinal aroma mixed with the fragrance of green bamboo. Each of them wore a finely crafted sachet at their waist.
It seemed as if, during his absence, all his junior brothers had become more refined.
Not only that, but he felt he couldn't connect with them anymore! They seemed very busy. In the past, if there were no missions, his junior brothers would be practicing martial arts in the mountains.
But now, only a few younger disciples who had not yet graduated remained in the sect.
Not only them, but even the residents in the town seemed very busy. Everyone was in a hurry, but their faces were filled with joy.
Filled with questions, Luo Yuxuan walked into the sect and went to Father Lin's courtyard to announce his return. Upon seeing his master and mistress, he sensed even more differences.
His master and mistress seemed younger than when he had left. They too carried a faint medicinal aroma.
"Master, Mistress. Your disciple has returned!"
Luo Yuxuan knelt down to pay his respects to Father Lin and Mother Lin.
Father Lin quickly helped him up, preventing him from kneeling.
"You child, you've returned, so why the grand gesture!" Mother Lin said with displeasure, but a smile of relief played on her lips.
Although she no longer considered Luo Yuxuan a future son-in-law, he was still a child she had raised from infancy into a handsome young man. How could she not have feelings for him?
"Your disciple is ashamed. You must have been worried, Master and Mistress!" Luo Yuxuan said sheepishly.
"Young people are bound to make mistakes. Knowing and correcting one's mistakes is the greatest virtue." Mother Lin said gently. "How is your health? Are your injuries fully healed?"
"Thank you for your concern, Mistress. They are all healed!"
"Your Mistress is right. One learns from their mistakes. Your first venture into the martial world was bound to have its hardships. With this experience, you won't make the same mistakes next time," Father Lin's tone was also gentle.
"However, you must still be careful next time. While upholding justice, you must also protect yourself."
He was quite satisfied with this disciple, especially if he was only considered a disciple.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master and Mistress!" Luo Yuxuan felt his anxious heart settle down considerably.
"Alright, you've just returned. Go back, wash up, and rest. Come back for dinner tonight!"
Mother Lin tidied the hem of Luo Yuxuan's clothes and then let him leave.