Chapter 37: The Weight of Spirit Stones

“Yaoyao, Third Brother, I’m different from Eldest Brother. I don’t have many years left. I could die at any moment. These spirit stones are of no use to me!”

Lin Xiaotian spoke with a smile and a calm tone. When he talked about death, he showed no emotion at all.

Lin Xiaotian’s lifespan was a taboo subject in the Lin family.

Not long after Lin Xiaotian was born, a divine physician predicted he wouldn’t live past twenty. Two months ago, he’d just turned eighteen. At most, he had two years left.

For every child born into the Lin household, Lin Xuanzhong lit a soul lamp.

Lin Xiaotian’s soul lamp had grown dimmer and dimmer these past two years. It could go out at any moment.

Lin Yaoyao had seen Lin Xuanzhong come out of the soul lamp hall many times, his face clouded with worry, looking lost and dejected.

Burying a child before one’s own death is the most bitter thing in the world.

Everyone in the Lin family knew about Lin Xiaotian’s condition, even the straightforward, easygoing Lin Feiyuan.

“Xiaotian, don’t talk nonsense. You’ll live to be a hundred.”

Lin Feiyuan turned his face away and secretly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

‘He really is a crybaby. I never knew Lin Feiyuan cried this easily.’

Lin Yaoyao glanced at him.

That guy seemed to have no cares at all, but he was actually deeply loyal and affectionate.

“Take my spirit stones too. There’s something I never told you all. Actually, I…”

Lin Qingshan clenched his fists, hesitated, then sighed. He lowered his head, and his voice came out hoarse.

“Actually, my dantian is shattered. I can never cultivate again.”

Lin Qingshan looked relieved. After keeping this secret for so long, he’d finally said it out loud.

That day on the arena, his opponent had not only broken Lin Qingshan’s leg but also struck his dantian with a hidden force.

With his dantian destroyed, Lin Qingshan had asked the house physician to keep it from everyone, even his father, Lin Xuanzhong.

Shattered dantian!

Lin Yaoyao suddenly understood. ‘No wonder the system said only a Restoration Pill could cure Eldest Brother.’

Lin Qingshan was the hope of the eldest branch of the Lin family. If people with ulterior motives learned that his dantian was ruined, the position of young master would surely fall to a side branch.

“Yaoyao, Third Brother, I’m a cripple now. The spirit stones are useless to me. You two are the future hopes of the Lin family. If you get thrown out, this branch of ours will be cut off for good.”

Lin Qingshan spoke with deep feeling and laid out the interests at stake.

Lin Yaoyao could see how resolute Eldest Brother Lin Qingshan and Brother Xi Lin Xiaotian were. If she kept declining, she would be letting down their goodwill.

‘So this is what it feels like to have family holding you up!’

Lin Yaoyao felt a sting in her nose. She’d never felt this in her past life. In her past life, her family only cared about whether she could create value for them and bring them honor.

Lin Yaoyao accepted the two storage rings and held them in her hands. They felt heavy.

“Alright! Eldest Brother, Brother Xi, I’ll take these spirit stones. Consider them your investment capital, and I’ll give you dividends later.”

‘Investment? What investment?’

Lin Qingshan was curious about what Lin Yaoyao had in mind.

When Lin Yaoyao had talked about ways to make money before, Lin Qingshan had been impressed by her unique insights. His fifth sister was young, but she could see things clearly.

“Yaoyao, are you planning to use these spirit stones to do business?”

Lin Yaoyao nodded. Eldest Brother was really sharp. He could see her thoughts right away.

Relying on making talismans and selling spirit herbs and medicines to cover the missing stock within three months wouldn’t be nearly enough. She needed more ways to make money and a unique business model.

“Eldest Brother, I’m going to open a shop. Immortal King Milk Tea!”

Milk tea was an essential drink that modern people couldn’t live without. Lin Yaoyao was going to create a cultivation milk tea specially designed for the people of this world.

“Immortal King Milk Tea? The name is strange. What do you sell?”

Lin Feiyuan immediately fired off questions. Lin Yaoyao smiled at him. “Secret!”

Lin Qingshan didn’t press further. He would just have to wait until Lin Yaoyao’s shop opened and go see what medicine his sister had in her gourd.

The night was already deep. Since they’d achieved their purpose in coming, Lin Qingshan and Lin Xiaotian prepared to leave.

Lin Yaoyao walked them out of the courtyard, then cupped her fists and bowed to Lin Qingshan and Lin Xiaotian.

“Eldest Brother, Brother Xi, could I have a word? I have a favor to ask of you!”

Lin Qingshan and Lin Xiaotian were startled at first, then they tacitly sent the attendants at their side away.

Lin Feiyuan stayed where he was. He had no intention of leaving.

‘Good grief, we’re all family. Why does Yaoyao only tell Eldest Brother and Brother Xi when she has something? Am I just a decoration as Third Brother?’

‘Does Yaoyao even have me in her eyes?’

Lin Feiyuan puffed out his cheeks in frustration and stood rooted to the spot. Lin Yaoyao saw it, of course, but she didn’t chase him off.

“Yaoyao, what trouble have you run into? We brothers will definitely find a way to help you!”

Lin Yaoyao had been waiting for exactly these words from Lin Qingshan. Lin Xiaotian nodded gently in agreement at her side.

“Eldest Brother, Brother Xi, that reclusive senior I know wants to place some spiritual soil in the courtyards of the Lin residence. But my courtyard can’t fit any more, so I’d like to ask you two for help. Please put the remaining spiritual soil in your courtyards.”

If spiritual soil were placed in a courtyard, the whole yard would be filled with dense spiritual energy.

‘What a fantastic thing!’

Lin Feiyuan got so excited he shouted that he wanted to lend a hand too.

“Yaoyao, my courtyard is big. It can hold spiritual soil just fine.”

Lin Yaoyao refused him outright. Lin Feiyuan’s courtyard was big, but it also had a lot of visitors, all kinds of people mixed together. If news of the spiritual soil got out, it could bring trouble.

The consequence of a child carrying gold through a busy marketplace was easy to imagine.

Lin Qingshan and Lin Xiaotian’s situations were different from Lin Feiyuan’s.

Lin Xiaotian’s courtyard was at the eastern edge of the Lin family estate, near Zixiao Mountain. The surroundings were quiet and secluded.

To let Lin Xiaotian recuperate in peace, Lin Xuanzhong had strictly ordered that no one was allowed to disturb the young master’s rest.

Besides, Lin Xiaotian kept his door closed all year round and rarely socialized. On ordinary days, no one came to his courtyard at all.

“Brother Xi, could the spiritual soil be placed in your courtyard?”

Lin Yaoyao probed carefully. According to rumor, Lin Xiaotian was gloomy and unpredictable in temper. She couldn’t read his mind.

For the three years since she crossed over, Lin Yaoyao had spent her days listening to music in pleasure houses or going cockfighting and dog walking with her maids. She’d had very little contact with her brothers.

Especially Brother Xi, who was bedridden all year round. In those three years, Lin Yaoyao had seen him only six or seven times in total.

“Of course it’s fine!”

Lin Xiaotian’s voice was a bit hoarse, but it held great warmth.

Lin Yaoyao hadn’t expected Lin Xiaotian to agree so readily. She’d thought she would have to talk him into it.

‘Brother Xi isn’t gloomy at all. He’s clearly as gentle as jade.’

“Brother Xi, you’re so good to me!”

Lin Xiaotian reached out and ruffled Lin Yaoyao’s hair.

He wasn’t the good one here. His sister was. His sister wanted the spiritual energy from the soil to help his body recover.

What had started with his sister helping him had somehow become him helping his sister.

“Yaoyao, thank you!”

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