Over the next few days, Lin Dong's life returned to its previous routine. During the day, he trained like a madman. Whenever he felt too exhausted to continue, he would quickly run into the cave. Less than half an hour later, he would emerge in high spirits, his energy fully restored. As he executed the powerful and majestic Tongbei Fist, crisp, echoing cracks constantly reverberated through the forest.
Probably no one among his peers in the Lin Family could match such high-intensity training. After all, the effects of that Stone Talisman were far superior to even ordinary Grade 3 elixirs. Furthermore, because it was diluted, the liquid was extremely mild and would not cause the slightest harm to his body. In fact, it was perfectly suited for a beginner like Lin Dong.
At night, Lin Dong would enter that dark, starry space once again. There, he practiced the Tongbei Fist over and over, growing increasingly proficient. Under this relentless, sleepless training, his progress with the Tongbei Fist was immense. By now, he could masterfully produce nine echoes. He had even gained a deeper understanding of the tenth echo. Although he had not yet successfully executed it, Lin Dong knew it was only a matter of time.
Perhaps because of the terrifying strength Lin Dong had displayed last time, Lin Shan, who had been causing him trouble for years, no longer dared to show his face in front of Lin Dong. Lin Shan knew that looking for trouble now would only be asking for a beating.
Lin Shan's restraint gave Lin Dong a lot of peace and quiet during this period, allowing him to focus all his energy on his training.
In the blink of an eye, a week passed. It was a quiet and fulfilling time, slipping away silently.
During these days, Lin Dong had also been looking for an opportunity to give the Stone Talisman's liquid to Lin Xiao. However, because Lin Xiao was constantly out and about during this time, Lin Dong didn't have many chances, so he temporarily suppressed the idea.
However, this situation lasted until the eighth day, when Lin Dong could no longer hold back—because Lin Xiao was injured once again.
While he was practicing, Lin Dong heard Qingtan's anxious voice. His mind buzzed instantly, and he rushed home as fast as he could. Bursting into the room, he saw Lin Xiao lying on the bed, his face as pale as paper, with blood seeping through his clothes in several places.
"Father went into the mountains to gather herbs today, but he ran into a powerful demonic beast..." Behind Lin Dong, Qingtan said in a low voice, her eyes red.
Hearing this, a wave of guilt welled up in Lin Dong's heart, and his eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red.
"What's the use of a man crying? It's just a minor injury," Lin Xiao said as he saw Lin Dong standing at the door. He tried to sit up, wanting to put on a stern face, but a sharp pain immediately shot from his wounds, causing his expression to contort.
"Still trying to act tough even now? Let me brew this elixir for you first," Liu Yan glared angrily at Lin Xiao from the side, then without another word, grabbed a green herb next to him.
"Ah, that belongs to Dong'er!" Seeing this, Lin Xiao panicked and said anxiously.
"Mother, let me brew the medicine. You and Qing'er watch over Father." Just as Lin Xiao finished speaking, Lin Dong rushed in, snatched the herb from Liu Yan's hand, and then, leaving those words behind, quickly darted back out without looking back.
"This brat..." Seeing Lin Dong run faster than a rabbit, Lin Xiao was caught between tears and laughter. He shook his head helplessly, a trace of worry in his heart.
Not long after running off, Lin Dong returned. This time, he was carrying a bowl of medicinal liquid. The bowl contained a green liquid, and its fragrance could be smelled from far away.
"Father, drink all of this medicine," Lin Dong said with a smile as he walked over.
"Sigh, you brat..." Lin Xiao shook his head helplessly. However, even if he felt bad about wasting it now, it was useless. He could only accept the bowl of medicine, and without saying much more, gulped it down in one go.
Watching Lin Xiao finish the bowl of medicine, a look of anticipation flashed in Lin Dong's eyes. In that bowl of medicine, he had naturally mixed in the liquid from the Stone Talisman. He just didn't know if the Stone Talisman's spiritual liquid would be of any help to Lin Xiao's injuries.
*Clack.* Gulping down the medicine in one breath, Lin Xiao set the bowl down. He looked directly at Lin Dong, who was staring at him. Just as his expression was about to turn stern, his face suddenly flushed red, as if it were on fire.
"Father!" Seeing Lin Xiao suddenly look like this, Qing Tan, who was standing to the side, paled with fright.
*Pfft!* Under the horrified gazes of Liu Yan and Qing Tan, the temperature of Lin Xiao's body rose higher and higher, and his face grew redder and redder. After a moment, his mouth suddenly opened, and he spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood.
"Brother Xiao, are you alright?" Seeing Lin Xiao spit blood, Liu Yan rushed forward, tears pouring from her eyes like a spring. Lin Xiao was the pillar of the family; if anything happened to him, how would she and her children survive?
Lin Xiao's breathing was rapid and hurried. The redness on his face quickly receded, replaced by a healthy, rosy glow.
"My injuries..." Lin Xiao stared blankly at his own hands. In this brief moment, he could feel that the deep-seated injuries that had accumulated inside his body for several years had actually faded significantly!
That feeling of smooth blood circulation made his internal organs brim with a vast power once again. He had not experienced such a feeling in many years.
"Liu Yan, I... my injuries, my injuries..." Lin Xiao trembled all over from sheer excitement. He grabbed Liu Yan's hands. He was usually a man of few words who rarely smiled, but at this moment, his face was filled with wild joy.
Liu Yan was also dazed by Lin Xiao's ecstatic state for a moment before she regained her senses. A look of disbelief surfaced on her face: "Has your injury gotten better?"
"Yes, yes, it's... it's healing fast..."
Lin Xiao's voice was somewhat disjointed due to his excitement. In the end, he... finally could not help but open his arms and pull Liu Yan into his embrace, laughing heartily towards the sky. His laughter carried an immeasurable sense of relief and bitterness. Over the past few years, because of his internal injuries, his strength had not increased even a single bit. Although he put on a strong front on the outside, pretending not to care, anyone could feel that the man who was once the most spirited and elegant in the Lin Family was gradually being replaced by despondency.
However, heaven never seals off all exits. Who would have thought that the injury, which had shown no signs of recovery for several years, would actually undergo such a change today!
Watching his parents weeping with joy in each other's arms, Lin Dong also wiped away his tears and grinned. The elixir from the Stone Talisman was indeed effective, far exceeding his previous expectations. In the future, as long as his father took the medicine a few more times, completely curing Lin Xiao's injuries would certainly not be a difficult task.
And when that time came, once his injuries were fully healed, Lin Xiao's strength, which had stagnated for so long, would surely surge once again.
Lin Dong let out a soft sigh of relief in his heart. Then, holding the hand of Qing Tan, whose small face was filled with joy, he slowly left the room.
*Creak...*
Gently closing the door, a faint smile appeared on Lin Dong's face. In a voice only audible to himself, he murmured, "Father, rest assured, you will definitely become the pillar of the Lin Family once again!"