Chapter Sixty: The Competition

Having wiped out the majority of the Allied Forces, it could be said that they had thoroughly frightened the Eight-Nation Alliance. The only remaining small contingent of foreign troops was likely now surrounded by Qing soldiers and the Boxers near Langfang. There is a saying: "A man without debt is light as a feather." After Lin Lei repaid his loan, he truly had little to occupy himself. With such an astonishing victory, both the Qing court and the foreign powers would need time to digest the development.

Lin Lei could only wait patiently for the final decision from the Qing government.

Waiting was tedious, but fortunately, Lin Lei had planned ahead. From his storage space, he retrieved a tablet, turned it on, and began to enjoy the dramas he had downloaded in advance.

Dozens of TV dramas, nearly a hundred popular films, and over a thousand completed novels—all excellent ways to pass the time. He had learned this lesson from his last world: as a seasoned homebody, he found it impossible to sleep before one or two in the morning. But without a phone, computer, or Wi-Fi, how could anyone endure those long nights?

So upon returning to the real world, when Lin Lei was stocking up on supplies, the first thing he did was ensure he had plenty of entertainment.

Just as he was engrossed in his show, a voice called out from beyond the door: "Miss Lin, the Master is meditating. No one is allowed to disturb him." It was Feng Desheng.

"Your Master is quite the big shot! My token with the red lantern is useless here? Or do you members of the Qian Sect look down on the other sects and plan to form your own faction? Don't forget, the true Master of the Qian Sect is Liu Chengxiang. My visit today is to expose you imposters for what you are!" Lin Yue'er threatened.

"What nonsense! How dare you slander us as imposters! First of all, I am the officially appointed and registered leader of the Qian Sect under the Boxer Rebellion, recognized by the authorities. As for Liu Chengxiang, he is merely an upstart with a self-appointed shrine and a borrowed title—what right does he have to call himself our leader? And more importantly, Master Lin is an immortal descended from the heavens, possessing powers that shake the earth. Liu Chengxiang is just an ordinary man—how could he possibly compete for the leadership with a true immortal?" As a diehard fan of Lin Lei, Feng Desheng wasn't about to yield even to a beautiful woman; he argued his case without mercy.

Why did everyone say this? Her grandfather said so, Uncle Han (Deputy Commander Han Zhaoqi of the Hai Battery) said so, and now even the followers of the Qian Sect said the same...

"Hmph! 'Immortal descended from the heavens'? He’s just a charlatan who wormed his way onto my family’s genealogy through trickery!" Lin Yue'er retorted stubbornly.

"Insolence! Guards! Seize this witch who dares slander our Master!" Feng Desheng ordered.

"Enough. Since she’s a younger member of the Lin family, just expel her from the camp." Lin Lei's voice came from within the room.

He still needed the Lin family’s help, so it wouldn’t do to push things too far.

"Hypocrite! Just wait, I’ll expose you for the fraud you are!" Lin Yue’er burned with inexplicable fury at hearing Lin Lei’s voice.

Not hesitating a moment, she pushed open the door, determined to give Lin Lei a thorough beating to prove that he was no immortal.

Seeing Lin Yue’er barge in, Feng Desheng and two accompanying followers moved to stop her. Unfortunately, they were no match for her and, mindful of Lin Lei’s earlier instructions, dared not use excessive force. Hesitation left them at a disadvantage.

Lin Lei happened to be watching a martial arts drama at the time. On screen, the protagonist and villain soared through the air in a dramatic battle, but even that paled in comparison to the real-life, fist-to-fist combat now unfolding before him.

“Well, well! She’s a first-rate martial artist!” Lin Lei grew increasingly intrigued.

Among the more than three thousand soldiers in camp, only two were first-rate fighters: Commander Luo Rongguang and Deputy Commander Han Zhaoqi. There were about a dozen second-rate fighters—generally captains and other brave officers. Although their strength was comparable to the evolved beings of the Resident Evil world, most had achieved this only by burning through their own life force. Their value for recycling was, in fact, less than that of ordinary people their age—unless they broke through to the innate level, reaching a true leap in their existence.

Otherwise, for someone like the aging Luo Rongguang, a single high-intensity battle could cost him his life.

But for Lin Yue’er to have attained first-rate status at her age—could it be that she had consumed some rare and precious treasure?

If he could discover the secret behind her rapid advancement, he might earn a great number of contribution points.

With that in mind, Lin Lei called a halt to the fight: “Chief Feng, you’re no match for her. Stand down.”

Feng Desheng and his men, barely holding on, gratefully obeyed and stepped aside to continue guarding from a distance.

“You’re a member of the Lin family? What brings you here?” Lin Lei asked Lin Yue’er.

“I heard someone was pretending to be the leader of the Qian Sect and swindling my family, so I came to expose the fraud,” Lin Yue’er replied frankly.

“And do you have any evidence that I am a fraud?” Lin Lei asked.

If not for his desire to extract the secret behind her swift advancement, Lin Lei would not have bothered with further conversation.

Lin Yue’er found herself at a loss. The best course would have been to reveal her identity and expose Lin Lei as an impostor, but her investigation had revealed that he had not impersonated Liu Chengxiang, only established his own sect.

If Liu Chengxiang could found a Qian Sect, why couldn’t someone else do the same?

“I won’t argue with you. Since you claim to be an immortal, do you dare to duel me?” If words failed, she would expose him with strength.

“What a joke! What right do you have to challenge me? Do you really think I wouldn’t kill you?” Lin Lei retorted angrily.

If he had to duel every doubter, he’d never get anything else done.

“If you don’t dare, just say so. As long as you declare you’re leaving the Lin family, I won’t pursue the matter further!” Lin Yue’er assumed Lin Lei was backing down.

With Boxers springing up everywhere, and many abusing the name for their own ends, truth and falsehood were hard to distinguish. Lin Yue’er could not manage or control them all. In truth, her real motive was that Lin Lei had meddled with her “private stash.” As long as he left the Lin family, she could let the rest go.

“If I win, what then?” Lin Lei laid his trap.

“If you win, I’ll acknowledge your identity!” Lin Yue’er declared, full of confidence.

She had encountered a master in her youth and gained her current strength through his guidance. This so-called “immortal” before her looked to be in his twenties at most—he couldn’t possibly be her match.

“I don’t need your acknowledgment. If you lose, I won’t kill you—just answer one question honestly.” Lin Lei stated his true purpose.

“Agreed! Prepare yourself!” Lin Yue’er accepted without a second thought and struck at Lin Lei, moving quickly as if afraid he might cheat or back out.