538: Chapter 538

Another year passed.

Qin Yun's cultivation fell from the Fifth Level of the Spirit Nurturing Realm to the First Level.

This drop could no longer be explained by "accidents" or "hidden injuries."

The higher-ups of the Qin Family finally stopped holding onto any illusions.

The special Physique that was once seen as a gift now seemed more like a curse in their eyes.

The Medicinal Pills and other resources that were once continuously sent to his courtyard began to be cut back on a large scale.

Finally, they stopped completely.

Except for his parents who would occasionally sneak him some, no other Elders took the initiative to ask about his Cultivation.

The once lively small courtyard was now very desolate.

Qin Yun had also gotten used to it.

He no longer Cultivated desperately as he did before; he simply practiced his punches and did his breathing exercises as usual every day.

He stopped going to the martial arts arena because there were always unavoidable strange gazes there.

On this day, he rarely left the estate.

No guards followed him.

He walked alone on the stone path leading to the forest outside the city, feeling oppressed in his heart.

The forest was very quiet.

Bird chirps came from afar, and the wind blew through the treetops, rustling.

Just as he was about to find a place to sit down, a faint groan came from the grass.

Qin Yun paused his steps and pushed aside the waist-high weeds.

A little girl of about six years old was curled up in the grass, on the verge of death.

She wore a tattered cloth dress, her face and body covered in mud and scratches. Her little face was flushed red from a fever, and her lips were cracked; she was clearly starving and suffering from a high fever.

Qin Yun squatted down and reached out to touch her forehead.

It was shockingly hot.

Without thinking, he picked the little girl up from the grass.

He took off his outer robe, wrapped her in it, then turned and walked towards Jianghan City.

The girl was very light; held in his arms, she had almost no weight.

Seemingly sensing warmth in her unconscious state, she subconsciously snuggled into Qin Yun's arms.

Qin Yun brought her back to the Qin Family.

When his mother saw him carrying back a little beggar covered in wounds, she was stunned at first, then immediately called for a physician.

After a flurry of frantic treatment, the little girl's high fever finally broke.

After waking up, she looked timidly at everything around her, her big eyes filled with confusion.

She did not remember who she was or where she came from; she only remembered her name was "Ling'er."

Qin Yun's parents looked at this pitiful child, and then at their own son's increasingly silent face; finally, they softened their hearts.

They took her in.

Ling'er was very obedient and sensible.

She knew she had been taken in, so she never made a fuss and never caused trouble for anyone.

She always liked to follow behind Qin Yun.

When Qin Yun practiced his punches in the courtyard, she would move a small stool and sit nearby, watching quietly.

When Qin Yun read, she would lie on the other end of the table, resting her chin in her small hands without saying a word.

It was late at night.

Qin Yun sat cross-legged in the courtyard, gazing at the moon in the sky, feeling the little remaining spiritual energy in his body, his heart heavy.

He didn't know how much longer he could hold on.

Footsteps came from behind him.

Very light.

Ling'er was carrying a small bowl; she walked behind him and timidly handed it over.

Inside the bowl was a candy.

It was given to her secretly by Auntie Zhang from the kitchen because she saw how well-behaved she was.

She hadn't been able to bring herself to eat it, keeping it hidden in her pocket.

Qin Yun turned back and looked at her.

Ling'er's eyes were bright in the moonlight, like two stars.

"Brother Yun."

She said in a childish voice.

"Don't be sad."

"I'm still here with you."

At that moment, Qin Yun's heart stirred slightly.

Four years.

Another four years passed.

Qin Yun's Cultivation finally fell back to the starting point of Cultivation.

Body Tempering Realm.

A Realm that even a child who had just stepped onto the path of Cultivation could reach.

The news that the "Qin Family Genius has completely become a useless person" was no longer a secret; it had become the talk of tea houses and restaurants throughout Jianghan City.

Inside the Qin Family, the higher-ups had completely given up all hope for him.

The only value of his existence seemed to be that marriage contract with the Zhu Family.

As long as the marriage contract remained, the Alliance between the Qin and Zhu Families would also remain.

He was like a rope maintaining the Family's interests, and nothing more.

In these four years, Qin Yun had changed a lot.

He became reticent, and his eyes were very cold.

The clansmen who once surrounded him had long since changed the objects of their sycophancy.

Meeting on the road, most would just nod hurriedly and then walk away quickly, afraid of getting any bad luck.

From being the center of attention to being avoided at all costs.

The huge disparity allowed him to see through too many things.

But the bit of pride deep in his heart had not been extinguished.

He only hid it deeper.

In these four darkest years, only three people had never changed their attitude toward him.

His parents.

And Ling'er.

Ling'er was already ten years old and had grown increasingly intelligent and lovely.

She still accompanied Qin Yun every day.

"Brother Yun, they all say you have a useless Physique, but I don't believe it."

She sat on the stone steps, swinging her legs, her tone firm.

"Your Physique is definitely not a useless one; it's just like a dust-covered pearl, and they don't know its value. One day, it will shine again."

Qin Yun leaned against the tree, listening to her words, and just smiled bitterly.

He had once thought so too.

But reality told him time and again that it might really just be a joke.

He took Ling'er's comfort as the naive kindness of a little girl.

"Go practice your Cultivation; don't waste your time here with me."

Qin Yun closed his eyes and said indifferently.

Ling'er pouted, but didn't leave. She just took another candy out of her pocket, unwrapped the paper, and stuffed it into Qin Yun's mouth.

It was very sweet.

Qin Yun didn't chase her away again.

This day.

A shocking piece of news came from outside the city and instantly spread throughout Jianghan City.

The proud daughter of heaven from the Zhu Family, who had been accepted as a Personal Disciple by an Elder of the Xuanling Sect, had returned.

The return of the Zhu Family Young Miss was a grand affair.

A massive flying boat made entirely of green jade hovered over Jianghan City.

On the hull, the emblem of the Xuanling Sect was clearly visible in the sunlight, exuding an extraordinary Aura.

The Zhu Family Young Miss, Zhu Yan, walked slowly down from the flying boat, surrounded by Sect guards.

She wore luxurious Dharma robes, her Aura powerful, far beyond what the people of Jianghan City could imagine.

Seventh Level of Spirit Transformation Realm.

In just a few years, she had broken through all the way from the Spirit Nurturing Realm to the Seventh Level of Spirit Transformation Realm.

This news caused a sensation throughout Jianghan City.

In front of the Zhu Family residence, it was bustling with traffic and crowds of visitors.

Every prominent figure in Jianghan City rushed to offer their congratulations.

Even the Clan Chief of the Wang Family, who had always been at odds with the Qin and Zhu Families, personally prepared generous gifts and came to offer congratulations.

The prestige of the Zhu Family reached its peak at this moment.

Compared to the liveliness of the Zhu Family, the Qin Family residence appeared exceptionally desolate.

Everyone knew it clearly.

This marriage contract, which the Qin Family had once placed high hopes on, was likely coming to an end.

After returning, Zhu Yan did not visit the Qin Family immediately.

She didn't even mention Qin Yun's name in any public setting.

As if this person had never existed.

On the contrary, at several banquets held by the Zhu Family, Zhu Yan mentioned it "unintentionally" more than once while talking to others.

She already had a sweetheart within the Sect.

He was a person of extremely high talent, the closed-door Disciple of the Xuanling Sect Master, and very likely to control the Sect in the future.

These words made the Qin Family lose all face.

First, make the Qin Family lose face, then come to cancel the engagement.

This was the Zhu Family's current attitude.

Public opinion throughout the city was fermenting.

There were those who sympathized with the Qin Family, but more were gloating and kicking them while they were down.

"I said it long ago; how could a useless person be worthy of the proud daughter of heaven?"

"The Qin Family has swallowed bitter herbs this time; they have suffering they can't speak of."

"Just wait; the Zhu Family will definitely come to cancel the engagement."

Just as this public opinion reached its peak.

The Zhu Family's flying boat took to the sky again.

This time, it didn't fly away; instead, it slowly descended in front of the main gate of the Qin Family residence.

The Zhu Family Clan Chief, bringing his arrogant and luxuriously dressed daughter, along with a group of powerful Family Elders, officially came to visit.

The engagement cancellation seemed to have begun.