"Senior Brother Fang!" Yu Wanli exclaimed upon seeing the newcomer, finally letting out a breath of relief.
The strength of the person before him, Lin Qian, was overwhelming. He had effortlessly slaughtered the soldiers pursuing them. But precisely because of this, Lin Qian seemed highly suspicious. If his plan failed, there was a chance he would resort to violence.
Zhao Zhili and Yu Wanyu were both excited yet worried upon seeing Fang Ziqian arrive. They quickly signaled to Lin Qian with their eyes, urging him to flee.
They knew their elder brother was stubborn and would likely report his suspicions about Lin Qian to Fang Ziqian, who would undoubtedly believe him.
Although Lin Qian was strong, they feared that he wouldn't be able to hold his own against Fang Ziqian. If he stayed, it might be a death sentence.
"Senior Brother Fang, this man who calls himself Qian Ling claims to be from the Huaxia Empire, but his actions are highly suspicious..." Yu Wanli put away his Yuan Qi weapon and quickly relayed his suspicions to Fang Ziqian. "I suspect this has all been his plan, and that he's actually a spy for the Qin Dynasty."
As Yu Wanli spoke, he glared at Lin Qian, expecting him to flee now that his identity had been exposed. But to his surprise, Lin Qian simply smiled and began walking towards him.
Yu Wanli was taken aback. Shouldn't he be running away now that he had been found out? Why was he approaching instead?
However, upon seeing Fang Ziqian's cold expression, Yu Wanli felt reassured. He thought to himself, "Prepare to face Senior Brother Fang's wrath, you spy for the Qin Dynasty!"
"I understand your caution," Lin Qian said as he approached Yu Wanli. "It's always good to be careful. But I've saved your sister and brother-in-law twice, and I even saved you once. Wouldn't it be wise to think this through a bit more?"
As Lin Qian spoke, he suddenly kicked Yu Wanli.
Though Lin Qian didn't use his full strength, the force was still enough to send Yu Wanli flying into a nearby spiritual tree. He coughed up dark clots of blood as he clutched his chest in pain.
"I'm not someone who kills the innocent, but slandering me deserves some form of punishment," Lin Qian said, amused as he looked at the fallen Yu Wanli. "This kick was also to help you. If those internal injuries had gone untreated, you'd have been ruined. Consider the pain you'll feel for the next half-month your penance."
Zhao Zhili and Yu Wanyu rushed forward to help, but Fang Ziqian barked, "Don't touch him! Let him lie there and suffer a bit longer!"
The two froze in their tracks, looking at Fang Ziqian in shock.
"His commanding officer's brother-in-law was killed in a rage. Soldiers under his command were beaten to death for it. Do you think that officer has a screw loose? Would he really use his own family as part of a ploy?" Fang Ziqian scowled at Yu Wanli. "This man is my friend! Are you saying I'm a spy too?"
Fang Ziqian's words hit Yu Wanli, Zhao Zhili, and Yu Wanyu like a thunderclap. Their minds buzzed with shock.
Especially Yu Wanli, who suddenly realized Fang Ziqian's anger was directed at him.
Though his body felt like it was falling apart from the pain, he understood how Lin Qian's kick had actually benefited him. The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he became, not daring to meet Lin Qian or Fang Ziqian's eyes.
"Alright, you three go and rest now," Fang Ziqian said irritably, waving them off. Zhao Zhili and Yu Wanyu hurriedly helped Yu Wanli to his feet, both looking embarrassed as they passed by Lin Qian.
Lin Qian responded with a smile. After they left, he turned to Fang Ziqian with a puzzled look. "Why did you come back?"
Fang Ziqian seemed to remember something and quickly asked, "Are you searching for a manual called 'Refining the Body'?"
Hearing Fang Ziqian mention the "Refining the Body" manual, Lin Qian immediately perked up. He rushed over and grabbed Fang Ziqian by the shoulders. "What? Do you have the manual?"
Fang Ziqian shook his head. "I don't have it, but my old man managed to find some information about it."
Hearing this, Lin Qian's face lit up. Even just hearing about the manual was a huge breakthrough for him.
The "Refining the Body" manual was incredibly important to Lin Qian. If the Puppet Body Project could succeed, it would allow generals and beast commanders to appear earlier.
Once the Imperial Army and Beast Army were led by generals and commanders, their combat power would reach a completely new level.
"The 'Refining the Body' manual belongs to the Yun family in the Central Region," Fang Ziqian explained. "This family originally rose to power through refining and formations and is now a major force in the Central Region. The 'Refining the Body' manual was created by one of their geniuses."
"This genius was truly remarkable—not only did he excel in refining and formations, but he also awakened the Yun family's ancestral martial spirit, the Cloud Sword."
Lin Qian's breath quickened at these words. He rushed to Fang Ziqian's side and grabbed his shoulders again. "What did you say? The Yun family's Cloud Sword?"
"Yeah, why are you so excited?" Fang Ziqian asked, puzzled by Lin Qian's reaction.
When Fang Ziqian had first heard this information from his grandfather, Fang Shuiwen, he hadn't thought much of it. But now, seeing Lin Qian's intense reaction, he realized that there was more to it.
"It all makes sense now. My mother is from the Yun family in the Central Region," Lin Qian thought as he clenched his fists. "Father, Mother, I've finally found a lead on you."
After taking a moment to calm himself, Lin Qian smiled to himself, realizing how lucky he was. Not only had he found information on the "Refining the Body" manual, but he had also uncovered a clue about his parents.
"Thank you for sharing this with me, Brother Fang," Lin Qian said, bowing in gratitude.
Fang Ziqian waved it off. "I'm glad I could help. I need to return and discuss matters with Li Yunfeng and Yang Tianhao, so I'll take my leave now."
After saying their goodbyes, Lin Qian continued towards the Qin Dynasty's territory, his eyes filled with determination.
"Father, Mother, once I grow even stronger, I'll come to the Central Region and find you both."