CHAPTER 1639: CHAPTER 1639: LIN ROU

The handsome man named "Ghost Hand" had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with a sturdy build and an extraordinary demeanor. His cultivation level was at the high rank of the Golden Core, ranking third among the six martial artists in the courtyard.

Upon hearing the inquiry from the dark-faced man, Ghost Hand nodded and said, "I consulted several alchemists in the city. They all say that Lin Rou’s injuries can only be healed with the inner core of the Fire Cloud Leopard. The Fire Cloud Leopard is a fire-based spiritual beast. Its inner core’s fire attribute can counter the Dark Ice Serpent’s ice attribute. This way, Lin Rou might have a chance to survive, but..."

As he spoke, his expression dimmed, showing a look of sorrow, unsure of how to continue.

"But what? Come on, tell us!"

The dark-faced man asked anxiously.

Ghost Hand took a deep breath and sighed, "Those alchemists said, while Lin Rou’s life can be saved, her Qi Sea is severely damaged. Whether she can ever embark on the cultivation path again is highly uncertain."

Everyone in the courtyard knew Ghost Hand was euphemizing; in reality, Lin Rou’s martial dao journey was surely over, and she would become a normal person from now on.

A martial artist at the Golden Core suddenly becoming a powerless ordinary person is hard to accept even for a man with great mental resilience, let alone Lin Rou, a timid and introverted girl of eighteen or nineteen?

The six people in the courtyard fell silent, a wave of sadness permeating everyone’s hearts.

In the Falcon Group, Lin Rou was the youngest and weakest, her gentle and shy demeanor naturally evoking a desire to protect her.

The speaker, a straightforward, loyal martial artist named Dazhuang, had the same high rank Golden Core cultivation level as Ghost Hand.

However, Ghost Hand’s battle prowess slightly surpassed Dazhuang, thus ranking higher in the Falcon Group.

The six people in the courtyard were ranked by cultivation strength: Zhan Fei, Lieying, Ghost Hand, Dazhuang, Yingniang, Lin Jian.

Among them, Zhan Fei is the leader of the Falcon Group, and Lieying is the deputy leader. The name "Falcon Group" was derived from both of their names.

Zhan Fei is the only Nascent Soul expert in the Falcon Group, but merely an initial rank, completely unrecognized within Wushuang City.

Lieying’s cultivation level is Golden Core perfection; like Zhan Fei, both are Wind System martial artists known for their movement technique speed.

Yingniang, this year thirty-something, is a mature yet heroic woman. Her martial dao partner was killed by enemies years ago, and she’s never sought a new partner since.

Although her enemies are overwhelmingly strong, Yingniang’s desire for revenge remains unyielding. Falcon Group members know of Yingniang’s situation and want to help, but their strength is too weak, so they can only slowly accumulate power.

As for Lin Jian, he’s Lin Rou’s brother, currently at mid rank Golden Core cultivation level; within the Falcon Group, his strength is just slightly above his sister Lin Rou.

His sister Lin Rou suffered severe injuries; potentially severed from martial dao, Lin Jian, upon hearing the news, naturally became grief-stricken.

"I’ll avenge Lin Rou!"

Lin Jian’s eyes were blood-red as he suddenly turned and strode swiftly towards the courtyard’s exit.

The one who harmed Lin Rou was a Dark Ice Serpent, and its master was a disciple of Wuya Sect, so Lin Jian naturally was off to seek revenge on that Wuya Sect disciple.

Wuya Sect has two Thunder Tribulation experts overseeing it, with dozens of Soul Severing experts and countless Nascent Soul experts. In Lin Jian’s eyes, it’s an insurmountable mountain, an existence he can only look up to.

The one who harmed Lin Rou is one of Wuya Sect’s core disciples with initial level Soul Severing cultivation. Although Lin Jian knows that revenge is hopeless with just his current strength, he cannot swallow this grievance.

"Lin Jian, come back here!"

Zhan Fei shouted loudly. Seeing Lin Jian stop, he stepped forward a few steps, heavily slapping his shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "You know how powerful Wuya Sect is. Going there now is no different from throwing your life away. Revenge can wait ten years; once your strength is sufficiently strong, it’s not too late for vengeance."

Lin Jian clenched his fists tightly, making a "popping" sound, his eyes full of blood threads, and he spoke with grief and anger, "But...but Lin Rou is so weak now, her life precarious, making me feel unbearable inside! The two of us siblings grew up depending on each other, and as her brother, I cannot even protect my sister. What meaning is there in living?"

Lieying also stepped forward, exclaiming loudly, "Ghost Hand mentioned earlier, as long as we hunt a Fire Cloud Leopard and obtain its inner core, Lin Rou won’t die!"

Lin Jian replied, "But what we’re going to hunt is a high rank Nascent Soul Fire Cloud Leopard! With the strength of the six of us, the chances of success are terribly slim. I really don’t want everyone to risk themselves for this!"

"Lin Rou is your sister, but she’s also a sister to all of us. It’s worth taking the risk for her!"

Ghost Hand stood in front of Lin Jian, his eyes filled with determination, "Do you forget what we said when the seven of us became sworn brothers?"

Lin Jian murmured, "I don’t ask to be born the same year, month, and day, but for the same year, month, and day to die..."

"As long as you remember!"

Ghost Hand’s gaze swept over the other five before he spoke loudly, "Today Lin Rou is in trouble; if we don’t step up for her now, when any of us encounters problems, who would still be willing to step up? For our Falcon Group to grow stronger, unanimity and cooperation are essential!"

"Ghost Hand is right! To save Lin Rou, I’m willing to risk my life!"

Dazhuang pounded his chest as he spoke.

Yingniang said, "I share sisterly affection with Lin Rou, offering all I have for even the slenderest chance to save her!"

Seeing such unity among the team, leader Zhan Fei nodded in satisfaction and spoke with pride, "Since that’s the case, then let’s set off! If we don’t hunt a Fire Cloud Leopard this time, we won’t return! Go!"

He finished speaking and took the lead.

"Go!"

Lieying and the others responded one after another, closely following Zhan Fei out of the courtyard, leaving Wushuang City, heading toward the primeval forest thousands of miles away.

On the third day after the six left, voices were heard from one of the rooms on the northern side of the courtyard of that household.

"Ms. Li, where did brother and the others go?"

A faint voice of a girl came from inside the room.

"They went to hunt the Fire Cloud Leopard and left three days ago... Xiao Rou, you just woke up after days of coma, your body is too weak, lie down and rest!"

The voice belonged to a middle-aged woman.

The girl asked again, "Why did they go to hunt the Fire Cloud Leopard? Ms. Li, tell me everything..."

The girl was none other than Lin Rou, a member of the Falcon Group, and Ms. Li was a Golden Core initial rank martial artist hired by the Falcon Group, specifically to take care of the injured Lin Rou.

Three days after the other six members of the Falcon Group left, Lin Rou awoke from her coma but was too gravely injured to do anything other than speak while lying in bed.

"Ms. Li, do you think... my brother and the others might be in trouble?"

After hearing from Ms. Li about the Fire Cloud Leopard’s ability to heal her injuries, Lin Rou’s tone was immediately filled with concern.