23: Chapter 23 New Year's Snow Arrives and Shadows Lurk in the Dark

Time was like the murmuring stream in the Lin Family grounds, seemingly calm, yet quietly slipping away inadvertently.

When Lin Cangchen felt that his comprehension of the Divine Movement Technique had deepened a little more, and he had managed to organize the vast knowledge system of Alchemy in his mind into a rough framework, and successfully used a question about "the influence of the extraction heat of dew grass in the qi gathering pill on the pill success rate" during an "accidental" Alchemy leisure time of the Grand Elder Lin Yao Shan, causing the latter to stroke his beard and be stunned for a long while, he suddenly realized—

New Year was coming.

For those who Cultivate, the concept of time is thin; one period of seclusion might see dynasties change in the Mortal world. But for a small Qi Refining Family like the Lin Family, rooted in Qingshi Town and still having thousands of threads of connection with the secular world, New Year was still an important festival. This was not just about bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, but also a good opportunity to maintain the bonds of the Clan Members and relax their tense nerves.

And just as the atmosphere of the New Year was gradually permeating the Clan grounds, news that was neither good nor bad arrived along with a heavy, swirling snow.

Lin Lingyan and Lin Lingyun, who had been out participating in joint patrols for nearly two months, were back.

The two were travel-worn, their brows carrying the fatigue brought by long-term vigilance, but their spirits were good, and there were no obvious injuries on their bodies. Their return made the Clan Members, who had been holding their breath, heave a sigh of relief.

In the council hall, the Clan Chief and two Elders listened carefully to their report.

"... That is the situation." Lin Lingyan's voice was steady and clear. "For the past month or so, the wilderness has obviously become much 'cleaner.' Our joint patrol team has traveled through almost all suspicious areas on the outskirts of Luoxia County. Let alone organized Devilish Cultivators, we didn't even run into a single straggler. The previous incidents of Loose Cultivators being attacked have not happened again."

Lin Lingyun added from the side, his tone a bit resentful: "Indeed! It was a waste for us to patrol with such tense nerves for so long. The Late Stage was basically like touring the mountains and playing in the water, except the weather was getting colder and colder, and we were mostly drinking the wind." He rubbed his hands, seemingly still savoring the bone-chilling cold wind.

Clan Leader pondered: "In that case, have the Devilish Cultivators hidden themselves?"

"The Cultivators led by the Li clan have the same judgment." Lin Lingyan nodded. "They believe that perhaps the initial clearing and our continuous patrols put too much pressure on them, and with the year-end approaching, this bunch of guys has shrunk back to their lair to hibernate. Therefore, the Li clan decided that the joint patrol should temporarily come to an end, and the personnel sent by each Family can return for rest. However, they also reminded us that vigilance cannot be completely relaxed; the disaster of the Devilish Cultivators is probably not yet eradicated."

"This is natural." Clan Leader nodded. "It is always a good thing to be able to exchange for a period of peace. You two have worked hard, go back and have a good rest first, the Family will have rewards."

"Thank you, Clan Chief!" Lin Lingyan and Lin Lingyun bowed and withdrew.

As the two walked out of the council hall, Lin Cangchen and the others who had been waiting outside immediately surrounded them.

"Uncle Yan, Uncle Yun! Are you okay?" Lin Cangchen looked at the two. Although they looked intact, he still asked.

"Nothing, nothing, we are fine!" Lin Lingyun laughed loudly and patted Lin Cangchen's shoulder hard. "It's just that my mouth has become bland! The spiritual rice at home is still the most fragrant!"

Lin Lingyu was more careful and asked: "Brother Yan, Lingyun, has the situation outside really subsided?"

Facing his younger brother and sister, Lin Lingyan's expression softened a lot, and he nodded: "On the surface, it has subsided. But during the latter part of our patrols, we occasionally found some residual, very faint traces of Devilish Qi in some remote corners, indicating that they have not completely disappeared, but are just hidden deeper. The Li clan's judgment should be correct; this is just the calm before the storm."

Hearing this, the crowd's just-relaxed mood was covered with a thin veil again.

Lin Lingyun didn't care: "Who cares! If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Isn't the Li clan awesome? Let them worry about it! Let's have a good New Year first! Kid Cangchen, I heard you've been running to the Grand Elder a lot lately? What's up, did you have a breakthrough in Alchemy?"

Lin Cangchen's heart jumped, but he pretended to be distressed: "Sigh, I just feel that Alchemy is quite interesting. I read some miscellaneous books and ran to ask a few questions, but I was tested by the Grand Elder and almost couldn't answer. I don't dare to ask blindly anymore."

His half-true, half-false complaint made everyone laugh, and the atmosphere became relaxed again.

In any case, the joint patrol ended, and the two Clan Uncles returned safely, which was something worth being happy about. Coupled with the approaching New Year, the festive atmosphere in the Lin Family grounds finally dispelled the depression of the past few days.

---

On New Year's Day, the heavy snow still hadn't stopped, decorating the entire Lin Family grounds in silver, adding a bit of tranquility and peace.

In the open space in the center of the Clan grounds, the snow was swept clean, and several large pots were set up, stewing beast meat and spiritual vegetables containing weak Spiritual Qi, with an overflowing fragrance. All the Clan Members, regardless of their cultivation level, regardless of whether they possessed a Spiritual Root (a few Mortal relatives responsible for chores were also allowed to enter the core area today), all gathered together.

Children chased and played in the snow, building strange-looking snowmen. The adults sat together, chatting, exchanging cultivation insights, or simply enjoying this rare leisure and reunion.

Clan Chief Lin Yaozong gave a short and warm speech, encouraging the Clan Members to unite and face future challenges together. Then came a sumptuous banquet. Although it could not compare to the delicacies of a large Sect, there was plenty of home-grown spiritual rice, fragrant beast meat, and grain dispelling pills personally refined by the Grand Elder with a faint medicinal fragrance, which children snatched to eat like candy (although there was no taste, it was for good luck), and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Lin Cangchen sat in the crowd, listening to his Clan Uncles and brothers bragging, watching the younger generation playing, with his mouth stuffed with spiritual rice covered in meat juice, feeling warm inside.

This kind of fireworks, this kind of sense of belonging, was something he rarely felt when he was struggling in the big city in his previous life. After Transmigration here, although there were dangers and pressures, having such a warm "home" seemed to make everything worth it.

Halfway through the banquet, Lin Lingfeng came over with a wine glass (using spiritual fruit juice instead of wine) and sat down beside Lin Cangchen.

"Cangchen."

"Uncle Lingfeng." Lin Cangchen hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth.

"I've heard Elder Yao Shan mention in the few days since I returned that you have been quite interested in Alchemy lately? And asked some... rather tricky questions?" Lin Lingfeng's eyes carried a trace of inquiry and a smile.

Lin Cangchen's heart skipped a beat, but he smiled wryly: "I was just thinking blindly, making the Grand Elder laugh."

Lin Lingfeng looked at him, his eyes gentle: "It's a good thing to be interested. The inheritance of Family skills is difficult. If you really have talent in this area, it is the Family's good fortune. Don't have pressure, just proceed step by step. If you need anything, you can also ask me. Although I don't understand the Dao of Alchemy, some of my insights on cultivation might be helpful for your fire control and perception of Spiritual Qi."

"Thank you, Uncle Lingfeng!" Lin Cangchen thanked him sincerely. As a Genius of the Family, Lin Lingfeng had no airs at all, and his care for the younger generation was genuine.

"Work hard." Lin Lingfeng patted his shoulder, finished the fruit juice in his cup, and got up to talk to other Clan Members.

Lin Cangchen looked at his back and thought to himself: Even Uncle Lingfeng has heard of it. It seems that his strategy of occasionally "asking for advice" from the Grand Elder is still effective. At least, in the eyes of the Family's top brass, his impression of "being interested in Alchemy and seemingly having some Comprehension Ability" has been initially established.

This is a good start.

New Year's Eve passed slowly in this noise and warmth.

However, not all places were filled with the warmth of the festival like the Lin Family.

Qingshi Town, Wei Family grounds.

In a heavily guarded secret room.

In front of the Family Head Wei Wuya stood a figure shrouded in a black robe with a cold aura.

"Hmph, does the Li clan think we are afraid? It's just avoiding the edge temporarily." A hoarse voice came from under the black robe. "New Year? It is exactly when they are most relaxed."

Wei Wuya curled his lips into a cold smile: "Don't worry, the 'goods' you want have already been arranged by me, they are in the old place. As for the next action... my Wei Family will naturally 'cooperate'."

"Very good. The Master will not treat your Wei Family badly." The black-robed person gave a low laugh, and his figure merged into the shadows like a ghost, disappearing without a trace.

Wei Wuya sat alone in the secret room, his fingertips tapping on the table, his eyes flashing with ambition and calculation.

"The Lin Family... the Zhao Family... this Qingshi Town is about to change soon."

Outside the window, the heavy snow continued, covering the mountains and rivers, and also concealing the conspiracies breeding in the darkness.

The laughter of the Lin Family grounds seemed to be separated from this quiet snowy night by an invisible barrier.

New Year has arrived, and beneath the ice and snow, the undercurrents are still surging silently.