Chapter Thirty: An Unexpected Encounter at the Swimming Pool

After Lin Doudou had snuggled with Lin Yi for a while, she returned to her room to do her homework.

Angel glanced at Lin Yi, hesitated for a moment, and softly asked, “Mr. Lin, the Tong family…”

“Gone,” Lin Yi replied with utter calm.

Even though Angel had been mentally prepared, she was still taken aback. The Tong family was, after all, a major power in Jiang Province, yet he spoke of their destruction as if it were nothing.

“A martial arts grandmaster is truly like a dragon,” she murmured, her gaze shimmering, filled with admiration as she looked at Lin Yi.

Her voice was soft, but Lin Yi was no ordinary man. Even footsteps several kilometers away, if he cared to listen, would be as clear as a bell.

“Martial arts grandmaster?” Lin Yi shook his head slightly.

He cultivated the Immortal Way. Though the difference between martial arts and the Immortal Way was but a single word, the gap between them was vast. Martial arts evolved from the Immortal Way; even at their peak, they remained mortal, destined to return to dust within a few centuries.

The Immortal Way was different. Even those who had only established their foundation would live five hundred years. Unless met with a great upheaval of heaven and earth, martial arts would scarcely matter.

“Collect some high-grade jade for me, as much as possible,” Lin Yi said to Angel.

“Mr. Lin, may I ask what you need jade for?” Angel asked curiously.

She had a sense of Lin Yi’s temperament—so long as she didn’t cross his boundaries, many things could be negotiated.

“To refine some magical artifacts.”

Lin Yi didn’t hide it; Angel was capable, and he would certainly need her help in the future.

He spoke lightly, but Angel exclaimed in surprise, “Magical artifacts? Mr. Lin, you know the art of refining?”

“I know a little. If you do this well, I can make one for you,” Lin Yi replied.

“Thank you, Mr. Lin.” Angel blinked, delighted.

If any other young man had claimed to know artifact refining, she wouldn’t have believed it. But this was Mr. Lin, a martial arts grandmaster, a terrifying figure who could easily wipe out a provincial power.

She could guess Lin Yi’s purpose for refining artifacts—it must be to protect Doudou.

Then, Angel asked cautiously, “Mr. Lin, may I come with you tomorrow?”

“If you want, just follow along,” Lin Yi replied. He wasn’t a tyrant, restricting others’ freedom.

Angel was secretly overjoyed. “Mr. Lin, I’ll go pack my things, and tomorrow I’ll drive to pick you up.”

Lin Yi nodded.

After Angel left, Lin Yi used all the century-old medicinal herbs he had seized from the Tong family to refine Blood Vitality Pills.

Lin Doudou was at the stage of cultivation now—nutrition and vitality must be maintained.

...

The next day, in the provincial capital.

A white Maserati drove slowly, attracting no attention.

“Mr. Lin, where shall we go?” Angel asked.

She wore a red bodycon dress today, highlighting her devilish figure.

Lin Yi didn’t answer; he looked at Doudou.

Lin Doudou blinked and said, “Lin Yi, let’s go to the swimming pool. It’s so hot, swimming is good for the body.”

“We’ll do as you say.” Lin Yi gently ruffled Doudou’s soft hair.

Angel chimed in, “Perfect, there’s a large swimming pool just ahead. Mr. Lin, would you like me to buy you swim trunks?”

“No need,” Lin Yi shook his head.

“Oh,” Angel was a little disappointed; she had hoped to sneak a peek at Lin Yi’s physique, to see how he compared to other men.

Soon, they arrived at the swimming pool.

Angel and Lin Doudou went to buy swimsuits, while Lin Yi wandered idly inside.

Just then, two girls approached—Cai Qing and Lu Lu.

Lu Lu greeted him cheerfully, “Hi, Lin Yi! Who’d have thought we’d meet here? It must be fate.”

She wore a pale pink bikini, her curvaceous figure on full display, especially her long legs, rivaling those of a model.

“Lin Yi,” Cai Qing smiled gently.

She was more conservative, dressed in a blue one-piece swimsuit. For the gentle and shy Cai Qing, this was likely the best choice.

“Yes,” Lin Yi nodded, then asked, “Don’t you have work today?”

“You know about Sun Lei’s situation, so I asked Cai Qing for a few days off, just to relax,” Lu Lu said, nudging Cai Qing with her shoulder.

Cai Qing nodded, “That’s right.”

Lu Lu continued, “Too bad, Cai Qing’s so clumsy—after all my teaching, she still couldn’t swim.”

“You’re the clumsy one, and you dare say that about me! You aren’t any better,” Cai Qing retorted.

“I’m mainly here to show off my figure and maybe catch a rich husband,” Lu Lu said bluntly.

Cai Qing rolled her eyes at her.

Lu Lu giggled, then said, “Lin Yi, I’ll leave Cai Qing to you—teach her to swim. I tried her out for you, and her figure is really nice, nothing fake, hehe.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Cai Qing tickled Lu Lu.

Lin Yi smiled lightly. He had no dislike for Lu Lu; in fact, he found her refreshingly candid.

After some banter, Cai Qing asked, “By the way, Lin Yi, did you come alone?”

“No, I have my sister and a friend with me,” Lin Yi replied.

Lu Lu asked, “Is your friend male or female?”

“Female,” Lin Yi said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Lu quickly pulled Cai Qing aside and whispered, “How far have you and Lin Yi gotten? Have you slept together yet?”

“We’re not like that at all,” Cai Qing protested, embarrassed and angry.

“Really?” Lu Lu eyed her suspiciously.

She had long noticed Cai Qing’s feelings for Lin Yi, and after the incident with Sun Lei, she thought the two would finally get together. But in the end… Lin Yi hadn’t made a move.

“Of course,” Cai Qing pinched Lu Lu’s cheek.

“Fine, then,” Lu Lu shrugged.

Cai Qing rolled her eyes again, “You’re not really here to catch a rich husband, are you?”

“Absolutely! I’ve got the looks and the figure, so why shouldn’t I land a rich husband? Who’d want to work then?” Lu Lu laughed merrily.

Cai Qing understood—Lu Lu simply didn’t want to work.

Suddenly, she noticed two beautiful girls approaching.

One was sweet and innocent; the other, a stunning beauty of mixed heritage, with enchanting eyes full of exotic charm.

“Lin Yi, is my swimsuit pretty? Sister Angel helped me pick it out.”

Lin Doudou immediately hugged Lin Yi’s arm, wearing a conservative child’s swimsuit, her fair little feet in pink flip-flops.

“Very pretty,” Lin Yi smiled, ruffling her hair.

He thought Doudou’s outfit suited her well—innocent and slightly girlish.

“Hmph, but I wish I could wear something more mature,” Doudou pouted, casting a plaintive glance at Angel.

Angel wore a black-and-white two-piece swimsuit. Standing next to Doudou, the contrast was stark.

“Come on, let’s go swimming,” Angel took Doudou’s arm and led her to the poolside.

After testing the water temperature, Angel carried Doudou into the water.

Lu Lu quickly grabbed Cai Qing’s arm, saying, “Look at that mixed-race beauty—my god, Cai Qing, your rival has appeared.”

“I…” Cai Qing’s eyes were a little downcast.

Lu Lu protested, “I get it now—Lin Yi ignored you because he has a gorgeous beauty like that. Hmph, men.”

“Let’s go practice swimming over there,” Cai Qing said, her tone low.

“Hey,” Lu Lu sighed. Cai Qing just never fought for herself.

Lin Yi heard their conversation, but his eyes remained calm and undisturbed.

Soon, the group spent more than two hours at the swimming pool.

Suddenly, a scream rang out nearby.

Lin Yi recognized Lu Lu’s voice and hurried over.

At the entrance to the changing room, a burly man blocked Lu Lu’s way, cursing, “Slut, what’s wrong with bumping into you? You won’t lose anything.”

“You, you…” Lu Lu was furious.

“What? Didn’t feel anything? Let me try again,”

As he spoke, the man reached his hands out toward Lu Lu, behaving indecently.