65: Chapter 65 Brother Tian!

"Click."

A very faint sound of a wooden door hinge turning broke the silence of the second-floor corridor. The door to Lin Yin's room was slowly pushed open, leaving a crack. She had already changed out of the holy robes she wore for battle during the day and was dressed in plain, moon-white casual clothes (also obtained through Lin Tian's previous trades). Her long hair draped softly over her shoulders, the dust of battle washed away, leaving only the faint, clean fragrance after a bath.

Stepping onto the cool, smooth wooden floor, she walked soundlessly to the junction of the living room and the balcony. The moonlight was like water, pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and clearly outlining the tall, straight figure standing by the balcony railing.

Lin Tian's back was turned to her as he looked up slightly at the starry sky, seemingly immersed in thought. His silhouette under the moonlight appeared somewhat... lonely, yet filled with a power that was ready to be unleashed.

Lin Yin watched quietly for a few seconds, a complex mix of emotions flashing in her eyes—concern, reverence, and a touch of indescribable softness. Taking a light breath, she stepped forward to a position half a step behind Lin Tian and stopped.

"Lord," her voice was even softer than the moonlight, breaking the silence. "It's late, and you... are still worrying about the territory's affairs. You've worked hard." Her words were filled with pure concern, the sharpness of the battlefield stripped away, leaving only the gentleness belonging to 'Lin Yin'.

Lin Tian seemed to have sensed her arrival long ago and was not surprised.

He turned his head, his face showing a hint of fatigue from staying up late, but his eyes remained bright. Looking at the woman beside him, who appeared even more clear and beautiful after her bath with the stars and moon reflected in her eyes, he smiled and spoke in a casual yet sincere tone:

"The ones who work the hardest are always you all, standing at the very front and risking your lives against those hideous monsters. As for me, I'm just in the back talking, doing the accounts, and arranging logistics. How hard can that be?"

He paused, his gaze falling on her face with a bit of teasing. "On the other hand, you've stayed up this late with me today. Tomorrow... oh, it's already today. There will likely be a tough battle during the day, so you're the one who will be working harder."

Lin Yin shook her head quickly, her expression serious. "Being able to share the Lord's burdens is Lin Yin's duty and responsibility, and even more... my own will. How can it be called hard work?" She spoke firmly, but her fair cheeks flushed slightly under the moonlight.

Seeing her serious and slightly stubborn look, Lin Tian suddenly had an idea.

The titles 'Lord' and 'Subordinate' felt particularly formal and even... somewhat distant in this quiet moonlit night and the atmosphere of standing side by side.

He remembered her shyness when she served him food at the table, her dependence when she leaned against him during the massage, and how she always silently stood half a step behind him...

"Lin Yin," he suddenly spoke, his voice a few degrees warmer than usual. "Always calling me 'Lord' sounds quite distant. From now on... when there are no outsiders, don't call me that anymore."

Lin Yin was stunned upon hearing this, her clear eyes showing obvious confusion and a hint of unease. "This... how can that be? In Lin Yin's heart, the Lord is the most worthy of respect and loyalty. Etiquette cannot be discarded; this is absolutely not allowed."

She subconsciously used formal language again and even took a small half-step back, as if the suggestion made her feel at a loss.

Seeing her instantly tense posture and the panic in her eyes, Lin Tian laughed instead. That smile appeared exceptionally relaxed under the moonlight, even carrying a bit of the cunning of a successful prankster.

"Don't be so nervous," Lin Tian waved his hand. "I just feel that there's no need for such restraint in private. Um... in the future, when it's just the two of us, just call me 'Brother Tian'. It sounds more intimate." He found a seemingly reasonable excuse for himself, but his tone was casually indisputable.

"B-Brother Tian?" This form of address left Lin Yin completely dazed, and two clouds of red instantly bloomed on her face, deeper than the sunset glow. This title was far too intimate, completely exceeding her understanding of the boundaries of a 'superior-subordinate' relationship.

She stammered, her gaze drifting and her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. "This... this is too overstepping. Lord, I..."

"This is an order!" Lin Tian threw out his 'trump card' at the right time with a smile, deliberately pulling a long face, though the mirth in his eyes couldn't be hidden. "You can't disobey a Lord's command, can you? It's settled then. Call me 'Brother Tian' in private from now on."

"An order..." These words seemed to have magic, causing Lin Yin's chaotic thoughts to freeze for a moment.

Looking at the gaze in Lin Tian's eyes that brooked no refusal yet was filled with a gentle smile, the struggle in her heart receded like a tide. Disobeying the Lord's order was absolutely out of the question, but accepting this title... seemed... not at all unpleasant. In fact, in the secret depths of her heart, a trace of inexplicable sweetness and thumping excitement emerged.

She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength to finally overcome that immense shyness and the guilt of 'disrespect'. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet she clearly uttered those two words: "Al-alright... Brother... Brother Tian." After saying it, she immediately lowered her head, not daring to look at Lin Tian's expression. Her ears were so red they looked as if they might bleed, and her heart beat like a drum.

"Haha, that's more like it!" Lin Tian smiled with satisfaction and reached out, naturally ruffling her long hair. The action was as intimate as if he were treating his own younger sister. "We are partners fighting side by side, and we still have a long road to walk together in the future. Don't bother with those empty formalities; it's better to be relaxed."

The warm touch on her head and the word 'partner' caused the bashfulness in Lin Yin's heart to be gradually replaced by a more solid and warmer current.

She quietly raised her eyes and stole a quick glance at Lin Tian. Seeing the sincere and joyful smile on his face, the last bit of trepidation in her heart dissipated. She gave a soft "mm" and this time, her voice was a bit firmer: "Alright, Brother Tian."

This brand-new, private title seemed to draw an invisible, closer boundary between them. The moonlight was gentle, and the atmosphere on the balcony was quiet and subtle.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

"Roar—!!!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The familiar, teeth-gritting roars and heavy, drum-like footsteps approached from afar. Like a death knell, they once again sounded the midnight prelude! The ground began to tremble slightly.

The expressions of Lin Tian and Lin Yin both turned serious at the same time as they turned to look at the darkness outside the protective shield.

Amidst the flickering shadows, three Rotting Skeleton Giant Bears, with bodies like moving small mountains, fur rotting and falling off to reveal white bones and dark red muscle, were the first to step out from the jungle shadows.

Their dull, yellowish eyes stared fixedly at the 'blood food' inside the light screen, radiating the violent aura of 9-star silver. They continuously pounded the ground with their massive paws, letting out provocative roars.

Then, during a suffocating ten minutes, even more heavy footsteps converged.

In the end, a total of fifteen Rotting Skeleton Giant Bears, like fifteen mountains of flesh emitting a stench of rot and death, completely surrounded this section of the territory! There seemed to be little sense of cooperation between them, but the terrifying pressure gathered together was enough to make any black iron or Bronze-grade creature's liver and gall split with fear.