The Decaying World-Chapter 42 - 37: Measuring, Part 1

On the training grounds in the Daoist Temple’s rear courtyard.

Holding the Qinghe Sword, Lin Hui calmly practiced the Nine-Section Swift Sword.

To use it in actual combat, he had to perfectly adapt it to his own body. It wasn’t enough for the techniques themselves to be flawless; he also had to master the timing and rhythm of each sword technique.

He had already finished his daily Seven-Section Quick Sword Body Tempering. The rest of his time was spent preparing for the perfected version of the Nine-Section Swift Sword, which was about to complete its evolution.

He was determined to integrate it into his combat rhythm the moment the evolution was complete.

It was noon. Besides him practicing alone, about a dozen new students were training nearby. Led by Weiwei, they awkwardly gripped wooden sticks as they learned the Seven-Section Quick Sword.

This was the foundation of Qingfeng Temple’s Martial Arts. Unfortunately... although Weiwei was genuinely trying her best to teach, her students were another story. Some were distracted, others let their eyes wander over her waist and hips, and still others just giggled and chatted quietly.

Weiwei wore a form-fitting black leather suit, her long hair draped over her shoulders, her figure on full display. Biting her lip, she remained silent, planning to sheathe her sword and leave the moment the lesson ended.

’My only thought right now is to help Dad hold up this last bit of face. If they want to stare, let them. A few more glances won’t hurt. Maybe their gawking will even attract more students.’

Soon, she finished teaching the sequence. She sheathed her sword, reminded them of a few key points, and her gaze swept over Lin Hui, who was in a corner, focused on his own practice. She sighed inwardly, left the training grounds, and headed for her home outside the Daoist Temple.

She knew perfectly well anyway; as soon as the demonstration was over, these new students would just go through the motions for a bit before heading home.

A far cry from the past, when scores of disciples trained diligently, news of the Black Dragon Sect’s easy victory over Qingfeng Temple’s Martial Arts had long been spread throughout the surrounding towns by certain individuals.

The wealthy families and major businesses that once cooperated with Qingfeng Temple had also silently terminated their contracts, turning to cooperate with stronger Martial Artists and martial arts schools from the Outer City.

Sighing softly, Weiwei herself had long since lost confidence in Qingfeng Temple’s Martial Arts. A few days ago, she had encountered an elite disciple from an Outer City martial arts school. He was a former suitor she had once defeated, but now, he had easily beaten her in just over ten moves.

This left her humiliated and indignant, causing her to seriously doubt the swordsmanship she had painstakingly practiced for more than ten years.

’Should I really be betting everything on the Qingfeng Sword?’

With this question weighing on her mind, Weiwei’s figure vanished through the back gate of the Daoist Temple.

The students who remained laughed and joked as they packed their things and began to leave.

In the days since they had joined, they had already grown accustomed to this routine.

Soon, in less than ten minutes, only four people were left in the entire rear training ground.

Wang Yun stood to the side, watching Lin Hui, who was still training hard, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She slowly approached, standing to the side to watch him in silence.

She waited for Lin Hui to take a break before speaking softly.

"Junior Brother Lin, why are you still so dedicated?"

"You should be serious about anything you do. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time, isn’t it?" Lin Hui said, turning to look at his senior sister.

"But is it worth it to keep investing time and energy into... this?" Wang Yun asked softly.

"What about you, Senior Sister? They all left, why didn’t you? Do you think it’s worth it to stay and continue training?" Lin Hui asked in return.

"Me?" Wang Yun smiled. "I only practice martial arts to stay fit. Not to make money, not to fight, just for the speed of my Body Technique. Besides, I’ve been here for many years. It’s too much of a hassle to start over somewhere else, so I don’t want to move. But..."

She paused.

"Many of my family’s guards have left for the Black Dragon Sect. People have different needs, so their goals are different, too."

"That’s exactly my point, Senior Sister," Lin Hui said calmly. "From the very beginning, my goal in practicing martial arts has been speed."

"Is that so? No wonder..." Wang Yun murmured in understanding.

Sighing once more, she asked no further questions. After a brief farewell, she turned, gathered her things, and left.

Now, only two other people were left on the grounds.

One of them was none other than Chen Jiahu.

The farm boy Chen Zhishen had brought, just like Lin Hui, was still diligently practicing the quick sword.

Lin Hui had been watching him for several days and noticed that the boy was completely unaffected by the rumors and news from outside, continuing to train hard every day.

Moreover, he seemed to have motivated a friend to train with him.

Lin Hui finished maintaining his sword and was about to leave. He then saw Chen Jiahu and his friend finish their own practice. They came over to say goodbye, also intending to depart.

He was silent for a moment, a question rising in his mind.

"Xiaohu."

"Uncle Lin? Yes? Is there something I can do for you?" Xiaohu asked, confused.

"Why are you still willing to stay?" Lin Hui asked directly. "Haven’t you heard the rumors circulating outside?"

"I’ve heard," Xiaohu nodded. "But since you haven’t left, Uncle Lin, I won’t leave either. My uncle told me to follow you."

"Follow me?" Lin Hui was stunned. He looked at the boy’s simple and honest face and fell silent for a moment.

"You trust me that much?"

"You’re so strong, Uncle Lin, and you haven’t left, so there must be a reason," Xiaohu answered honestly. "I’m not very smart and I always make the wrong choices on my own. So I thought, since my uncle told me to follow you, I just won’t think about it and do what you do. The path chosen by someone as strong as you has to be better than one I could pick for myself."

"..." Lin Hui was speechless.

Xiaohu wasn’t actually an Official Disciple yet; he was still a student and had only joined the temple a short while ago.

When the Daoist Temple split into three factions a while back, he had come over on his own to join Mingde’s side.

He never expected that he was the reason.

Lin Hui sighed and turned to look at the other person.

This boy had a face full of freckles and a slightly chubby build. He was plain-looking, with a somewhat dark complexion. Judging by his clothes, though, he came from a well-off family.

"And you? What’s your name? Why did you stay?"

"Senior Brother Lin, my name is Huang Shenggen," the chubby boy said, his answer even more straightforward. "Xiaohu helped me once. We’re brothers. If he’s not leaving, I’m not leaving. Good brothers stick together, through thick and thin!"

"Good... That’s the spirit," Lin Hui said, nodding in spite of himself.

The rise and fall of Qingfeng Temple had shown him too many times how fragile so-called loyalty was. But now, the chubby boy’s words and choice showed him that perhaps it wasn’t that loyalty was fragile, but that it simply didn’t exist between certain people.

"Then, Senior Brother Lin, can we practice swordsmanship with you? Senior Sister Weiwei and the Daoist Master just teach it once and leave. There’s a lot we don’t understand at all..." Xiaohu couldn’t help but ask.

"If I’m around, you’re welcome to watch," Lin Hui agreed.

Anyway, his Body Tempering was fast, and he spent most of his spare time integrating the Nine-Section Swift Sword into his instincts.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

The two were overjoyed and quickly bowed in respect.

After their chat, the three of them went to the dining hall to eat. The cook serving the side dishes was the same one as before, but the proportion of meat in the food he ladled out for them was much less than before.

Lin Hui glanced at the plate in front of him and sighed inwardly. ’Weiwei is in charge of logistics. With the sharp drop in income, it’s only normal to cut back on food.’

Fortunately, there was still an unlimited supply of coarse grain rice. The three of them stuffed themselves with rice, then returned to their quarters to rest.

Xiaohu and the other boy returned to the large common room. With so few people now, their shared dormitory felt more like a large, private room—spacious and comfortable. In a way, their living conditions had actually improved.

Lin Hui still lived in his own private room and had even been newly assigned a small courtyard. This was another benefit of having fewer people.

On the way back, however, he happened to spot Daoist Mingde sitting on a temple roof, drinking with his head tilted back.

Mingde’s face was flushed, his gaze hazy. Who knew how long he’d been sitting up there.

Lin Hui didn’t disturb him, but just silently returned to his room to rest and wait for the afternoon’s sword practice.

「Day after day passed.」

The situation in Xinyu Town was now set in stone following the complete defeat of Qingfeng Temple.

Qingfeng Temple’s many business partnerships transferred over to the Black Dragon Sect. This was evident from the defection of the elite disciples. The partnerships of major clans like the Mu Family and the Zhao Family tended to follow their representative disciples, like Mu Qiaozhi and Zhao Jiang’an.

On the surface, it was merely the defection of a few disciples. In reality, they represented a vast network of associated partnerships, contracts, and employment opportunities.

The only silver lining was that the Zhao and Mu Families hadn’t simply expelled all their former fellow disciples. Instead, they had brought them along to join a temporary training program at the Black Dragon Sect to be retrained.

Lin Hui learned this news from a letter from Chen Zhishen.

’The Black Dragon Sect no longer considers Qingfeng Temple an opponent,’ Chen Zhishen’s letter explained. ’Their focus has shifted to the Baihua Sect, a greater threat that is also expanding.’

’The Baihua Sect is also a new martial arts school founded by Martial Artists from the Outer City. After defeating the Flying Cloud Fist, they absorbed its resources and connections and are now encroaching on the Black Dragon Sect’s territory, so it’s no surprise the two sides are fighting. But, Ah Hui, are you sure you want to go down with the ship at Qingfeng Temple? There’s really no need. The town’s Government Office just released the new roster for the Emergency Response Team. Have you seen it? This time, it’s all people from the Black Dragon Sect.’

Lin Hui folded the letter, his expression calm.

He was, of course, aware of the change to the Emergency Response Team, as the notice from the Government Office had arrived the day before yesterday, announcing the termination of their contract.

The contract was originally for one year, but the current Qingfeng Temple was in no position to argue based on the contract. Getting a bit of compensation for the early termination was already a good outcome.

This was clearly the Black Dragon Sect’s doing.

The earlier demonstration by Mu Qiaozhi and the others was just a warning. Those like Lin Hui who failed to take the hint and switch sides would naturally face contract termination.

"Junior Brother, about the contract termination... I’ll find a way to get you a new one. Don’t worry. It might be a bit worse than before, but I won’t let you..." Weiwei said softly from the side, a pained look on her face.

Qingfeng Temple’s income had plummeted, and it was naturally not enough to maintain the original standard of meals and medicinal food.

Many of the expensive-looking accessories she used to wear had quietly disappeared, and her entire outfit was much plainer than before. She was just wearing a simple, gray, form-fitting long robe.

She had also been the one to deliver Chen Zhishen’s letter this time. The previous messenger had also been let go to cut costs.

"There’s no need, Senior Sister," Lin Hui replied. "I’m not concerned about the expense. My family’s business is on the right track now, and I don’t spend much myself. It’s no problem."

"Junior Brother..." Weiwei opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but not knowing how to begin.

After a long silence, she could only cup her fists in a salute, turn, and quietly depart.

If she had doubted her father’s decision before, now, the loyalty shown by Lin Hui and Wang Yun in such difficult circumstances made her admire them all the more and understand the meaning of what her father once said: there are some things in this world that can’t be measured by money.