My Brother Is Not Good-for-Nothing!

"Phew, thankfully Elder Liu bears no malice toward me. Even after investigating everything, he didn't punish me."

Lin Chen mused to himself.

One had to admit that while Elder Liu was a bit stubborn, his character was genuinely good.

Upon returning to his courtyard, Lin Chen noticed his elder sister's room door wide open, and she was nowhere to be seen.

He didn't pay it too much mind.

Within this sect, he no longer had any enemies. Coupled with the people Lian Qing had arranged to protect them in secret, there shouldn't be any problems.

His sister had been cooped up in the courtyard all this time, so she must have felt suffocated.

Going out for a walk to clear her mind was a good thing.

Returning to his cultivation chamber, Lin Chen took out the Earth Spirit Pill.

Things had been too pressing earlier, leaving him no time to consume this Earth Spirit Pill.

The pill contained potent medicinal efficacy, and Lin Chen planned to use it to charge into the seventh level of the Earth Spirit Realm!

He retrieved the Earth Spirit Pill and tossed it straight into his mouth.

Closing his eyes, he carefully savored the surging wave of energy.

A continuous roaring echoed throughout his body as spiritual energy condensed frantically, piercing through all his limbs and bones!

...

...

Inner Sect, Pill Hall.

A crowd of people was bustling about.

Every inner sect disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect was entitled to ten second-grade pills every month for cultivation.

Every breakthrough in cultivation realm also came with corresponding rewards.

Lin Ning'er was standing in line as well.

She had been resting in her room when she heard someone shouting outside the courtyard, so she went out to find out what was happening.

As it turned out, other disciples were calling for Lin Chen to go to the Pill Hall to collect his pills.

She thought to herself that since Xiaochen wasn't home right now, what if he missed the time upon his return and failed to collect his pills? That would be disastrous.

Therefore, she came to the Pill Hall in Lin Chen's place.

"Hello, I'm here to collect this month's pills for my younger brother."

When it was her turn, Lin Ning'er stepped forward quickly and said softly.

The disciple responsible for distributing the pills was also an inner sect disciple.

He had relatively senior qualifications, having entered the sect three years ago.

Hearing her voice, that disciple raised his head, glanced at Lin Ning'er, and said in a sarcastic tone, "You must be Lin Chen's sickly older sister?"

Lin Ning'er felt a jolt in her heart.

Judging by the other person's tone, he was clearly hostile.

Yet, to avoid stirring up trouble, she could only nod and reply, "It's me."

"What? Is Lin Chen dead, that you have to come collect his things for him!"

That inner sect disciple was named Cheng Nianguang, and he was a close friend of Zhao Peng.

Zhao Peng had died an unexplained death, and Cheng Nianguang had been harboring a grievance in his heart ever since.

Only, he simply could not find an opportunity for revenge!

Now, seeing Lin Ning'er, the anger in Cheng Nianguang's heart flared up instantly, and naturally, his words held no politeness whatsoever.

Lin Ning'er's expression froze as she weakly said, "He... he isn't home, and I was afraid of missing the time, so I came to help him collect them!"

By this time, quite a few inner sect disciples had gathered around.

Exchanging glances, they more or less figured out the sequence of events.

No one stepped forward to say a word for Lin Ning'er; everyone simply watched the spectacle with amused and mocking expressions.

Cheng Nianguang sneered, "Heh, are you brainless? Don't you know these pills cannot be collected by proxy? Besides, just how arduous is Lin Chen's cultivation that he doesn't even have time to pick up his own pills!"

Of course, he didn't dare do anything to Lin Chen himself, but within the bounds of his own authority, putting the squeeze on her was entirely possible!

Pills indeed could not be collected by others, and everything was within the rules; even if an elder came, nothing could be said against it.

Lin Ning'er bit her lip and finally lowered her head. "I... I don't understand the rules. I'll go back right now and tell Xiaochen to come collect them himself."

In her view, her brother was a newcomer with no foundation. Although Su Yuwei was kind-natured, treating her injuries already meant owing a favor, and Lin Ning'er did not want to continue causing trouble for Lin Chen.

Thus, facing Cheng Nianguang's humiliation, Lin Ning'er chose to swallow her anger and endure.

It didn't matter if she suffered a little grievance; the main thing was that her brother had a pure mind, was kind to others, and lacked worldly cunning. She had already caused him enough trouble—how could she possibly continue making enemies for him?

Endure what could be endured!

"Scram!"

Cheng Nianguang waved his hand with an expression of utter impatience.

Lin Ning'er turned around and walked slowly toward the exit.

"Hh, I really don't understand. Lin Chen is nothing more than a good-for-nothing. Back at the Wind Sword Sect, because of cheating, even his phantom beast was killed. And now, coming to our Blazing Fire Sect, he actually managed to trigger five chimes of the bell—what an absolute joke!"

Feeling that he hadn't vented enough, Cheng Nianguang spoke up again with mockery.

Lin Ning'er's footsteps paused.

She slowly turned around, her expression stubborn and her voice resolute, "My brother was framed! He did not cheat! Furthermore, he is no good-for-nothing! He is a proud talent, the number one proud talent of our Great Cang Nation!"

Around them, quite a few inner sect disciples revealed expressions of ridicule.

Whose ancient history was she bringing up now?

Who didn't know that the current number one proud talent of the Great Cang Nation was Su Huanxue!

That very same princess of the Great Cang Nation who had once fiercely humiliated Lin Chen!

What a cruel trick of fate!

Cheng Nianguang had not expected that this submissive, sickly girl would actually dare to talk back.

Moreover, Lin Ning'er's unyielding gaze thoroughly infuriated him.

You dare argue with me?

Who do you think you are!

Darkness welled up in Cheng Nianguang's heart. With a sudden stride forward, he delivered a fierce slap across Lin Ning'er's face.

"Crack!"

Lin Ning'er was knocked back a few steps, a crimson handprint instantly blooming on her fair cheek!

She reached up to cover her face, tears swirling in her eyes.

"My brother didn't cheat, and he is not a good-for-nothing!"

Enduring her grievance, Lin Ning'er repeated it once more.

No matter how the other person humiliated her, she could brush it off.

However, she would never allow anyone to utter a single word against her brother!

My brother is the best brother in the entire world.

He is the number one proud talent of the Great Cang Nation!

He is my pride!

"You still dare talk back!"

Murderous intent flashed in Cheng Nianguang's eyes.

Yet, he quickly realized that with so many fellow disciples watching, he couldn't go too far.

Slowly restraining his murderous intent, he sneered, "Scram, don't be an eyesore here!"

Lin Ning'er covered her face and walked away.

Upon returning to the courtyard and hearing the sounds of cultivation emanating from Lin Chen's room, her originally aggrieved expression gradually relaxed.

"Since my brother is working so hard, I must prepare more delicious food for him. Only when he is well-fed will he have the strength to continue cultivating."

All the gloom vanished from Lin Ning'er's mind. She walked into the kitchen and happily set about preparing the meal.

When Lin Chen stepped out of his cultivation chamber, dusk had fallen.

The setting sun painted the evening glow in breathtaking hues.

"Ah, refreshing."

Lin Chen stretched his limbs lazily.

Relying on the Earth Spirit Pill, he had successfully broken through to the seventh level of the Earth Spirit Realm.

This rate of progress was fast enough to rival those inner sect disciples who had entered the sect a year earlier!

As expected of a third-grade pill, its medicinal potency was truly terrifying.

Exquisite dishes covered the stone table in the courtyard.

Lin Ning'er sat there with her head lowered, speaking softly, "Xiaochen, come and eat!"

"Sis, what's wrong?"

Lin Chen keenly sensed that Lin Ning'er was acting a bit strange today.

Why was she keeping her head down the whole time, not daring to look at him?