6th Rank of Body Tempering.

Lin Hui’s heart settled into a state of profound stillness. His spirit was highly focused as he continuously evaded the pouncing and clawing attacks of the Faceless One.

At this moment, the speed advantage of the Clear Wind Temple’s movement techniques revealed itself. Having tempered his body with the Seven-Section Swift Sword, his movement speed was significantly superior to the Faceless One's. He easily dodged the opponent's repeated attempts to kill him.

"The Harmless level is just right for you to practice actual combat movement. But remember, about one li to the east of here is an ancient ruin area called Yanshan Ruins. Do not approach it. The entities wandering there are all Intrusive-level Mist Beasts. Only martial artists of the Internal Force Realm or Called Ones can deal with that level," Mingde continued to instruct.

"Master, aren't Mist Beasts hunted frequently? Why are there still so many of them? What do they rely on to reproduce?" Lin Hui asked aloud while dodging continuously.

He could feel that this kind of evasion practice on the edge of danger was indeed of great help to his reaction speed and the footwork of the Nine-Section Swift Sword.

"I don't know. There are many types of Mist Beasts. After every night passes, a massive number of new Mist Beasts will surge forth on the second day. If they aren't hunted frequently, the surrounding Mist Beasts will increase to an unbearable number. When that happens, it’s extremely likely to trigger a Mist Beast Siege," Mingde replied. "Any other questions?"

"None."

"Then practice. Don't forget the qualifying target: bring back a part of it within fifteen minutes, and it counts as completing this training."

With the addition of Mist Beast training, Lin Hui’s life became much more thrilling than before.

But because of this, his comprehension of the Nine-Section Swift Sword became deeper and more thorough.

Time passed day by day. Soon, the Xinyu Town Security Station posted the public notice for the new batch of the Emergency Suppression Squad roster.

The Security Station didn't break its contract with Clear Wind Temple because of the establishment of the Black Dragon Gate. However, the defection of Mu Qiaozhi, Zhao Jiang'an, and others meant that more than half of the Emergency Suppression Squad members had suddenly become Black Dragon Gate people.

Fortunately, the Black Dragon Gate seemed to stop being aggressive, focusing only on maintaining its own base without further expansion.

The situation stabilized. Clear Wind Temple now retained only one-fifth of its original disciples; it could be said that the majority had run away. But those who remained were basically those with firm wills—a purification of sorts.

Although other industries and cooperations were affected, due to previously signed contracts, the impact was not significant for the time being.

It was just that if there was no improvement after the contracts ended, and they couldn't reverse the decline, it would only be a matter of time before Clear Wind Temple's remaining space was seized by the Black Dragon Gate.

In Xinyu Town.

Passersby saw the Security Station constables posting the public list one after another.

As soon as the list was posted, people immediately crowded over to check.

"The members of the Emergency Suppression Squad this time are: Black Dragon Gate's Li Yue, Mu Qiaozhi, and Zhao Jiang'an. Clear Wind Temple's Chen Sui, Huang Shan, Qiu Yiren, Deng Mingchao, Lin Hui..."

A scholar, having received a reading fee pooled by several people, began to recite the roster in a loud voice.

Knowing this roster was crucial in Xinyu Town. The people on this list were not only skilled experts but also possessed the Provisional Execution Authority that ordinary constables lacked. If this power over life and death were operated properly, it could easily determine the fate of commoners.

Therefore, everyone below the level of major households in town—especially the middle-class families—would regularly send people to record the new lists.

The roster changed once a year, released in the early spring. This was also when the most people gathered at the notice board.

At this time, the town’s medium-sized clans—the Zhang family, the Lin family, the Song family—and a dozen or so small clans gathered on the periphery. Hearing the names read out, they took up pens to record the names and backgrounds.

Sent by the Lin family was a hired worker of the second branch's Lin Shunchong, a short and sturdy man named Ah Niu.

As he recorded the names, he suddenly felt something was amiss.

'Lin Hui?? Clear Wind Temple? Why does this name feel a bit familiar?'

Ah Niu tugged at his gray sweatshirt and poked his chin with the charcoal pencil, gazing at the handwriting on the list from afar with a thoughtful look.

"Heh, isn't this the only son of the Lin family's fourth branch?" Someone beside him recognized the person before he did.

"Clear Wind Temple... that matches. The name matches, too. It really is him! Incredible, he actually mixed into the Life and Death Squad! Impressive!"

"Is the Lin family about to turn things around?"

"Turn around, my ass. I heard the fourth branch cut ties with the main branch long ago."

"Really?"

In the crowd, well-informed individuals began to educate those around them on the Lin family’s internal gossip.

Ah Niu, listening to this, broke into a cold sweat. Knowing this news was extraordinary, he quickly finished recording, turned, and ran toward the Lin clan grounds.

Not long after, at the Lin clan grounds.

Lin Shunchong of the second branch was woken up, bleary-eyed. He had been taking an afternoon nap. Hearing Ah Niu rush in shouting, he climbed out of bed, instantly irritable.

"Ah Niu, you'd better give me a reason not to beat you! Otherwise, your wages for this month are cut in half!"

Ah Niu, covered in sweat, carefully presented the recorded yellow paper.

"Master, look at this. The new Life and Death Squad list... inside, there’s actually... actually..."

"Actually, what?" Lin Shunchong didn't wait for him to finish. He snatched the list and looked down.

"Mn?? Lin Hui?! Is this a person with the same name and surname?" His eyes widened.

"It shouldn't be. He's also from Clear Wind Temple. Clear Wind Temple couldn't possibly produce two people with the same name at once, right?" Ah Niu whispered.

Lin Shunchong’s drowsiness vanished instantly.

"Good, very good."

Recently, because Hongzhen of the first branch was heavily injured and comatose, the Lin family’s situation had become much worse than before. If this Lin Hui of the fourth branch was truly that person in the Life and Death Squad, perhaps he could help alleviate the Lin family's predicament.

As for whether the fourth branch would acknowledge the family, he wasn't worried. They were all one family. If the old man went to admit his mistake and bow his head, the matter would be considered passed. After all, how could decades of kinship be severed just like that?

Immediately, he took the list, walked quickly out of his hall, and arrived at the main courtyard.

In the courtyard, Lin Chaoyi stood with his hands behind his back in a corner, admiring the newly acquired koi in the pond.

Red, yellow, and white koi swam to and fro. Through the clear water, they stirred up ripples of light, relaxing his recently troubled mood slightly.

"Father, come look at this list." Lin Shunchong approached and handed over the roster.

Lin Chaoyi knew his second son wasn't one to stir up trouble for no reason. Seeing his solemn face, he narrowed his eyes and reached out to take it.

He saw the five large characters "Clear Wind Temple Lin Hui" at the back of the list at a glance.

"This is... Old Fourth's son??"

"Eight or nine times out of ten." Lin Shunchong nodded. "I checked long ago; Clear Wind Temple doesn't have a second person named Lin Hui."

Lin Chaoyi’s expression instantly relaxed. He held the list and pondered for a while.

"If it really is Old Fourth's family, he truly brings glory to my Lin family! Good! Very good!"

"Dad, I think you should go admit your mistake to Old Fourth and let them come back. We are all one family. Decades of kinship—blood is thicker than water—how can it be broken just like that?" Lin Shunchong whispered.

“Sigh... it’s true. I’ve always doted on Old Fourth since he was a child, but as he grew older, I ended up focusing more on Hongyu’s family. Well, fine. I’ll go visit their home in a few days.”

Lin Chaoyi stroked his beard, looking at the name on the list. He suddenly felt that the gloom caused by the first branch's Hongzhen being seriously injured and comatose had been swept away by a large chunk.

Now that the Lin family had a member of the Emergency Suppression Squad—nicknamed the Life and Death Squad—looking after them, who in town would dare not look up to them?

This way, although it wouldn't help much in the Inner City, the decline in the Outer City town could be stabilized instantly.

"Sigh, truly, extreme misfortune turns to joy." His old face sighed deeply. "I knew long ago that Old Fourth had ability; sooner or later, he would make something of himself out there. Looking at it this way, my driving him out back then was also for his own good. If not for my decision back then, they wouldn't have been able to rise so quickly, don't you agree?"

"Dad, your vision is truly like a torch," Lin Shunchong laughed.

"Say no more. I'll go to Old Fourth's house first thing tomorrow morning. By the way, where does his family live now?"

"I'm not clear either, but I'll find someone to ask in a bit."

At this time, Lin Shunhe and his wife Yao Shan were still tending the shop. Just as the two finished wrapping goods for a customer, they saw the owner of the bamboo weaving shop nearby walking over with his hands behind his back, his face full of smiles.

"Brother Lin, not bad! You pulled off something big without making a sound! From now on, I’m afraid this whole street will have to rely on your family for protection."

Owner Chen of this bamboo weaving shop had always been a stingy man, yet now he actually pulled two fat fish from behind his back and hung them by Lin Shunhe's counter.

"These are two crucian carp my son just caught yesterday. Sending them over for you to taste the freshness."

"This..." Lin Shunhe looked bewildered, not knowing which nerve the other party had struck.

Before he could recover, the owner of the porcelain shop across the street also walked out with a beaming smile, sending them a stack of clean, neat porcelain dishes and tableware. He kept saying "please take care of us" repeatedly.

Neighbors who had chatted and drunk tea together nearby also gathered around at this time, congratulating them. Fine words were given away freely, one set after another, as if they cost nothing.

Huang of the Muhua Gang and his sister also came over carrying gifts at this time. Smiling, they bowed and congratulated the couple. Regardless of how Lin Shunhe and his wife refused, they dropped the gifts and ran.

Just as the couple became increasingly confused, someone finally noticed their doubt during the conversation and explained the matter of the Emergency Suppression Squad list.

"Life and Death Squad? Execution authority?" Yao Shan was stunned by hearing it.

Lin Shunhe, who had known about these things before, felt his heart instantly clear up. After all, he had been a supervisor managing an oil workshop; how could he not be clear about the Life and Death Squad?

What he couldn't believe was that his own son had actually entered such a critical department without a sound!

This was simply...

Didn't something happen to Clear Wind Temple just a while ago? How...

Watching the smiling faces of the people around him, he forcibly suppressed the doubts in his heart, smiling apologetically as he dealt with everyone's compliments one by one.

After sending everyone away, the small shop's business in the afternoon exploded. People came to buy things in an endless stream—at least ten times more than usual!

This gave the couple a direct understanding of the Life and Death Squad's influence. The pressure of life from before disappeared completely at this moment, replaced by doubts and worries about their son, Lin Hui.

Ah Hui had suddenly rushed into such an important position without a word. This sudden, massive change gave the two an unsettled feeling in their hearts.

Meanwhile, Lin Hui was continuously tempering the Nine-Section Swift Sword footwork in the mist.

Under the full-force sparring of the Faceless One, his Body Tempering speed was much faster than inside the Daoist temple. In just a short month, his Body Tempering broke through rapidly from the 4th Rank to the 6th Rank.

It must be known that the further back this rank went, the harder it was to break through.

Geniuses like Huang Shan and Qiu Yiren had only just broken through to the 5th Rank, easily surpassed by Lin Hui.

This also made Mingde, after understanding the situation, place even greater expectations on Lin Hui.