Chapter Twenty-Four: Improved Spells

“Bastard! Stop right there! I want to challenge you one-on-one!” Lin Fan shouted furiously, his teeth clenched and his eyes red as he strode toward Yan Shaotian.

Yan Shaotian halted, shook his head disdainfully, and turned his face with a cold voice, “Hasn’t this heavy gloom frozen you buzzing, filthy flies yet? Your vitality is surprisingly tenacious! Are you talking to me, insect?”

Before his words had faded, Lin Hai sprang forward, wrapped his arms tightly around Lin Fan, covered his mouth, and forced a smile, “Please forgive us, sir! The child is young and ignorant, always joking around, please don’t take offense. If you have business to attend to, we’ll respectfully see you off as you return in glory!”

With that, he pressed Lin Fan’s head down, and both of them bowed together.

“Hmph!” Yan Shaotian dismissed Lin Fan with contempt, proudly plunged into the portal. The portal trembled violently, then gradually contracted, finally vanishing into a speck of light that disappeared in the air. No trace remained, as if nothing had happened at all.

“Traitor! Coward! Old wretch! You let people die and did nothing! You’re afraid to die, but I’m not. Why did you stop me?” As soon as Lin Hai released him, Lin Fan turned his anger on Lin Hai, shouting.

Lin Fan, young and hot-blooded, had watched Yan Shaotian swagger past him and escape. Now, he was panting, feeling utterly humiliated, his face flushed, clutching his chest as if his heart might leap out at any moment.

“Damn it! If I hadn’t stopped you, you’d have been chopped into mincemeat already. You think I’m afraid of that pretty boy? Do you know what he was holding? Do you really think your lousy magic could beat him? You always act on impulse, arguing for the sake of argument. If you have guts, go home and practice your spells until you’re actually good at them. Stupid brat, hurry up and get to work.” Lin Hai, stifled and frustrated, finally let out all his pent-up irritation, then raised his foot and kicked Lin Fan, giving him no chance to retort.

Lin Fan hadn’t expected Lin Hai not to comfort him, let alone kick him when he was down. He spun around in a hurry, his backside perfectly positioned for the kick.

Lin Hai’s kick was forceful, showing both disappointment and tough love. Lin Fan rolled twice before landing face-first on the ground, though it seemed he was also using the opportunity to vent his own frustrations from the night.

He scrambled up, his righteous zeal mostly dissipated. Thinking over Lin Hai’s words, he realized they made sense. He was weak, after all—justice is defended by power. He resolved to learn from this painful lesson: only by cultivating himself could he hope to act heroically and save others.

“Uncle, these children are so pitiful. Shouldn’t we do something about their remains—”

Before Lin Fan could finish, Lin Hai interrupted gruffly, “Are you planning to travel to the West for enlightenment? Cut the nonsense! Your compassion is overflowing, huh? Can’t you see the mountain of adult bones? Why do you think the kids would willingly leave?”

“So these bones on the ground must be—” Lin Fan finally realized.

Lin Hai glanced at Lin Fan’s dawning comprehension and explained, “The Demon Children are among the most terrifying monsters in the world. Highly intelligent, emotionally stunted, lacking patience, restraint, and self-regulation, yet full of malice, vengeance, destructive power, and protected by the Juvenile Protection Law. If left unchecked, who knows how far they’d develop? This is the best outcome. If that idiot from hell hadn’t appeared in time, I wouldn’t have spared them! Good and evil are repaid; Heaven’s justice always prevails. Look up—has Heaven ever shown mercy to anyone? Damn, you’ve got me waxing poetic! I can’t believe you! Why are you just standing there? Do you plan to stay and become the next lord? Hurry up and pack, let’s go!”

Lin Fan muttered an “Oh,” fell silent, and followed Lin Hai, pondering as he gathered the scattered magical tools.

After a thorough search, the two retrieved all their lost items. Lin Hai then told Lin Fan to carry Xin’er, and together they retraced their steps out.

When they emerged above ground, dawn had broken. After a night of turmoil, both were exhausted in body and spirit.

Lin Hai glanced up at the sun and sighed, “Such strong sunlight can’t penetrate that dark shadow. Ah, people really must live in the light. I never imagined this affair would cause so much trouble.”

“Rumble, rumble!” In the clear morning with the sun rising, thunder echoed from somewhere.

They listened carefully—not quite thunder; there were shouts mixed in, and the sound was more like machinery.

Lin Hai sat on the hospital steps, listened, and said, “I thought something else was about to happen, but it’s just the construction crew working. This area’s probably about to be demolished. Good, let the filth and corruption stay buried underground forever.”

Holding Xin’er, Lin Fan gazed at the sky and murmured, “The brighter the sunlight, the deeper the shadow. Only by facing the sun can we escape the darkness. Evil lives by concealment and spreads by deceit; only by bursting this filthy bubble can the living find enlightenment through evil, right? May those little ghosts find happiness in heaven, and in their next life, may they be reborn into good families!”

“Damn, are you crazy? You okay? Stop trying to talk like some expert or professor!” Lin Hai spat thickly, lay back on the steps, and rested. The battle last night had dealt his soul a direct attack and backlash, leaving him visibly damaged and drained; he needed to recover.

“You have no artistic sense! You reek of money, like a demolition tycoon!” Lin Fan retorted, pouting.

Lin Hai immediately mocked him, “Can your artistic germs feed you? Stop talking nonsense! If you’re so bored, figure out when you’ll pay me back what you owe!”

The mention of money made Lin Fan’s head ache, so he changed the subject, “Money is like dirt to me! Uncle, talking about money hurts feelings, especially between family. I’d like to ask you a crucial technical question about the Seal Formation Art. If you could answer honestly, I’d pledge my utmost loyalty and devotion!”

Lin Hai, who hadn’t blinked during the fight underground, actually shuddered at Lin Fan’s words and cried, “Nephew! Can’t you speak normally? You’re making me want to take a dump. Just say what you have to say, don’t mentally assault me!”

“Hehe, I just wanted to ask: when you fought the Demon Children, you chanted a spell for the Burning All Hope technique, but wasn’t it the same spell you used to summon the Wind Dragon in the willow grove? I’ve been puzzled about this for a long time.”

“Is that so? Let me think…” Lin Hai scratched his head, unconcerned. “Maybe it was a crisis, so I got confused! So what? Why do you care? I do as I please!”

“Eh—?” Lin Fan jumped like a startled cat, exclaiming, “You didn’t invent your spells yourself, did you? And how come I can’t find any of your chants in the Creation Chronicle? If you don’t explain, I’ll give up magic, leave home, and become a monk!”

“Oh my god! Look at you, acting up again! Are you a web expert? A martial arts master? Can you shave your head? Give birth? Attract nuns? Are you a commentator? A scam lecturer? A psychologist? Maybe you’re one of those singers or streamers… which are you? At best, you’re a punching bag! Even as a cook, you’d disgust people! You’re so poor, you’d break off a turd halfway to save the rest for later! You can’t even afford bus fare to go become a monk! If I didn’t feed you, you’d have died on the street ages ago! And you dare threaten me? Pah!” Lin Hai vented, his words flowing like a dam burst.

Lin Fan immediately stomped and beat his chest, depressed enough to swallow a mouthful of blood, then collapsed, eyes brimming with tears, “Uncle, I was wrong! Isn’t that enough? I won’t become a monk! I was just asking! Must you react like this? If you don’t want to answer, forget it!”

“Can’t do anything right, can’t eat enough! You want something, you have to ask! If you’d said that earlier, we’d be done! I’m actually pretty easy-going. Since you’re so humble, I’ll give you a straight answer!”

Lin Hai cleared his throat and continued, “Whether it’s the Seal Formation or Array Formation, finally you ignite the elemental energy trigger—all rely on the airwaves produced by vibrating the body. What spell you chant doesn’t matter; what matters is the resonance that activates your potential and unleashes accumulated power. So don’t focus on appearances, but strike at the essence. Those spells—I downloaded them off the internet, so of course you won’t find them in the Creation Chronicle. I spent a few nights memorizing them. I know a lot of spells—some mistakes are pure coincidence. How about it? Wasn’t I impressive reciting those chants? Cool, right? Awesome? Inspiring?”

“…Is that even possible? There’s such a trick?” Lin Fan was dumbfounded, utterly amazed.

Lin Hai declared proudly, “Why not? Practice is the only test of truth! As long as you can cast the spell, who cares if you chant poetry or nursery rhymes? It all depends on your style!”

“My god! Uncle, you’ve completely defeated me! In this life, I truly respect you! Your moves are too flashy!” Lin Fan was deeply inspired, thinking, “This old guy’s pretty fashionable—keeps up with the times! When I get back, I need to study online. If my magic can’t beat him, I’ll make sure my chants surpass his!”

…

The two chatted idly for quite a while.

Once rested, Lin Hai looked at the sun overhead, stood up, and urged, “Nephew, have you rested enough? It’s late. Let’s hurry back and prepare—I plan to really make them pay this time!” With that, Lin Hai dragged Lin Fan and strode away.

At the edge of the woods, Lin Fan looked back, silently noting the location of the valley, determined to return soon to bury the children’s bones and fulfill the Demon Child leader’s last wish.

Lin Hai and Lin Fan said nothing more as they left the park, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for their villa.