Chapter 2020: Chapter 2017: Suling Su’s Helplessness
The six of them struck at once and, in a flash, killed the Stone Demon.
As agreed earlier, Suling Su first put away the Spiritual Energy Crystals and would distribute them every day at dusk.
After slaying the Stone Demon, the six continued forward.
“There are monsters!”
“I have some over here too!”
“Kill them!”
As they proceeded, the team repeatedly discovered monsters, most of which were at the First Level of the Life-and-Death Realm and the Second Level of the Life-and-Death Realm. With Suling Su and Jiang Heng, the two warriors at the First Level of the Life-and-Death Realm, handling them wasn’t too troublesome.
In the blink of an eye, dusk arrived.
Suling Su said, “It’s getting late, let’s find a safe place in the Sky Valley Mountain to rest.”
Suling Shan happily laughed and said, “Finally, we can rest. Today we’ve slain forty-two Stone Demons, I’m exhausted.”
Jiang Heng righteously said, “Lingshan, as warriors, how can we speak of exhaustion while on our path?”
Suling Shan hurriedly and aggrievedly said, “Jiang Heng, Senior Brother, you’re right to scold me.”
Jiang Heng looked at the sky and lightly sighed, “I may not need to rest, but since Ling Su says she’s tired, let’s find a place to rest.”
Suling Shan laughed, “Jiang Heng, Senior Brother, you’re truly amazing, handling so many Stone Demons, exerting the most effort, yet not feeling tired.”
Upon hearing Suling Shan’s words, the other two warriors and Lin Bai slightly shook their heads.
Lin Bai and the other two warriors could see clearly that although Jiang Heng did exert effort in slaying monsters during the day, it was mainly Suling Su who did the most work.
During the day, they altogether slew forty-two Stone Demons, with nearly all of them taken down by Suling Su.
Yet, Suling Su didn’t fuss over such trivial matters, merely smiled and led everyone to a secluded lakeside in the Sky Valley Mountain to cultivate.
After a rest, Suling Su called everyone over and said, “As we agreed before, we distribute the Spiritual Energy Crystals at dusk for all of you.”
“Today we’ve slain exactly forty-two Stone Demons, and obtained forty-two Spiritual Energy Crystals. Each of us can get six pieces!”
After saying this, Suling Su took the Spiritual Energy Crystals out of the storage bag and handed them to everyone.
And Suling Su handed her six pieces, originally her own, directly to Suling Shan.
Seeing this, Lin Bai frowned slightly.
Lin Bai also received six pieces.
“Thank you, Suling Su, Senior Sister.”
Lin Bai and the other two expressed their gratitude.
Suling Su gave a gentle smile, “It’s nothing, these are what you deserve.”
Suling Shan, holding the Spiritual Energy Crystals, grumbled a bit discontentedly upon hearing the others’ thanks, “Jiang Heng, Senior Brother, exerted so much effort, yet I didn’t hear anyone thank Jiang Heng, Senior Brother!”
At Suling Shan’s words, Lin Bai frowned slightly.
Suling Shan, after all, is Suling Su’s brother, or is he Jiang Heng’s brother? Why does he keep favoring others?
Suling Su took a deep breath and smiled helplessly.
Suling Su said, “Alright, everyone go and rest. In two hours, we’ll set off again.”
Lin Bai nodded slightly and sat cross-legged to rest.
The other two did the same.
Only Suling Shan and Jiang Heng continued chatting incessantly.
But Suling Su didn’t rest; instead, she stood up and was on alert outside to prevent any monsters from approaching.
Half an hour later, Lin Bai opened his eyes and saw Jiang Heng and Suling Shan still chatting, so he ignored them, instead looking towards a distance where, under the moonlight, a beautiful woman gazed into the distance.
Lin Bai stood up and walked towards this woman.
“Go and rest for a while. You’ve exerted the most effort today and your spiritual power must be severely consumed. I’ve rested enough, so let me take over the guardianship,” Lin Bai said softly behind the woman.
This woman was none other than Suling Su.
Suling Su hadn’t rested; Lin Bai naturally understood she was worried about monster invasions.
Suling Su turned to look at Lin Bai, smiling slightly, “It’s nothing serious, I’ve almost recovered.”
Lin Bai looked at Suling Su. Wrapped in her white robe, under the moonlight, the bright and pure moonlight outlined her flawless curves through the thin fabric, her slender jade-like legs faintly visible beneath her skirt…
She lacked the innocence of a young girl but had a maturity and composure enriched by experiences.
“About your brother…” Lin Bai started to say but stopped himself.
Suling Su looked back and saw Suling Shan talking incessantly to Jiang Heng; she said helplessly, “Lingshan is my father’s only son.”
“My father married over a hundred wives just to have Lingshan, one son.”
“So, Lingshan was spoiled since childhood.”
“This surely amuses you,” Suling Su said with a helpless smile.
“I see,” Lin Bai said in realization.
Touched by Lin Bai’s words, Suling Su spoke softly, “Lingshan lacks talent. He wasn’t even supposed to enter the Dongzhou Academy, but my father found me and insisted I find a way to get Lingshan into the Dongzhou Academy.”
“I had to ask many friends to bring Lingshan to the Dongzhou Academy for cultivation.”
“He has no talent; he’s entirely dependent on the cultivation resources I give him to reach his current state.”
“He admires strong ones, like Jiang Heng, who is currently one of the most promising Outer Sect martial artists hoping to become an Inner Disciple…”
As Suling Su mentioned entering the Inner Gate, a clear pang of reluctance and helplessness flickered in her eyes.
Seeing the helplessness in Suling Su’s eyes, Lin Bai pondered slightly and smiled gently, “If, in these past few years, you hadn’t provided cultivation resources for Suling Shan, with your talent, you might have entered the Inner Gate by now.”
Suling Su sighed more helplessly and said, “Junior Brother Lin Bai, your insight is truly sharp!”
“The Inner Gate is the cultivation ground every Outer Sect martial artist dreams of. Only by entering the Inner Gate can one access those Mid-level Secret Realms, High-level Secret Realms, and obtain more cultivation resources!”
“But now, it’s too late to discuss all this. As long as Lingshan is in the Outer Sect, I can’t enter the Inner Gate.”
Lin Bai nodded slightly.
At this moment, Lin Bai also realized that Suling Su’s father, who married over a hundred wives just to have a son like Suling Shan, naturally cherished him dearly.
And since Suling Su promised her father to bring Suling Shan to the Dongzhou Academy for cultivation, she had shouldered the major responsibility of protecting Suling Shan.
Lin Bai gave a meaningful smile, “Suling Su, Senior Sister, you’re not young anymore.”
Suling Su subconsciously touched her cheek and smiled, “Do I look old?”
Lin Bai said, “No, Senior Sister Suling Su, do you know why Dongzhou Academy only accepts martial artists under thirty?”
Suling Su looked at Lin Bai curiously.
Lin Bai smiled and said, “Because martial artists over thirty, regardless of potential, motivation, talent, or temperament, will decline or be influenced to the detriment of their martial arts path.”
Hearing this, Suling Su paled slightly, her eyes narrowed sharply, and even her fists quietly clenched, murmuring, “So that means… I have only one year left!”
Suling Su was already twenty-nine!