Dao Of Nihility: Possessor Of The Nameless Scripture

CHAPTER 5: Getting Played

"A hidden constitution?"

Lin Wuchen nodded. "I believe it's some kind of Devouring Constitution. Though I'm not completely sure."

"Although it absorbed my cultivation and caused my realm to fall back to the First Stage of Qi Gathering, I feel much stronger than I did when I was at this realm before. My spiritual qi also seems to have gained the ability to devour and erase things."

This explanation had been carefully prepared beforehand. If he wanted to recover his cultivation as quickly as possible, talent alone wouldn't be enough.

Cultivation resources were equally important.

Fortunately, he had been reborn into a powerful clan. If a fabricated constitution could earn him access to greater resources…

He had no intention of refusing.

Lin Beichen's brows rose in surprise. "A Devouring Constitution..."

That was the last explanation he had expected.

If it were true, then his son's talent had undergone a complete transformation. With the proper guidance and sufficient resources, his future achievements would be extraordinary.

A smile had just begun to form before it quickly faded.

He suddenly remembered… the person sitting before him had always been a hopeless wastrel with little interest in cultivation.

"I'd like to head to the clan's cultivation grounds and see how my new dantian works." Lin Wuchen's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Lin Beichen blinked. "...What did you say?"

"I'd like to go to the cultivation grounds."

"You... want to cultivate?" There was undisguised disbelief in his voice.

Lin Wuchen simply nodded. "I need to recover my lost cultivation." He paused briefly before continuing. "And I also need to prepare for the upcoming sect entrance examinations coming up next month."

"You want to join a sect?"

This time, Lin Beichen was genuinely stunned.

In the past, Lin Wuchen's mediocre talent meant that no reputable sect would have accepted him.

Yet despite that, he had never shown the slightest interest in joining one, preferring to enjoy the comforts and privileges of being the young master of the Lin Clan.

Lin Beichen walked over and placed a hand against his son's forehead. "Are you sure you're alright? Should I call Old Lu back—"

"I'm fine," Lin Wuchen interrupted with a helpless smile.

Lin Beichen looked at him suspiciously.

"You seriously want to cultivate... all of a sudden?"

Lin Wuchen tilted his head in confusion. "Why? Is there something strange about that?" He asked, pretending not to know the kind of person the previous owner of this body was.

It seems our ancestors have finally remembered me. Perhaps his memory loss is a blessing in disguise after all, Lin Beichen thought to himself.

He studied his son in silence for a long moment before giving a slight nod, his expression softening ever so slightly.

"Very well… you may go to the cultivation grounds."

His tone immediately became stern again. "But if you cause any trouble there… you can forget about ever setting foot in that place again."

"Also, don't forget about the banquet we're hosting tonight."

"Banquet...? What banquet?" Lin Wuchen couldn't help but ask.

"It's the Lin Clan's annual Founding Banquet. We hold it every year to commemorate the establishment of our clan, honor our ancestors, and discuss important clan affairs."

"I see." Lin Wuchen nodded in understanding.

"Oh, and your fiancee will be attending as well. It'll be a good opportunity for the two of you to get to know each other."

"...Fiancee?" Lin Wuchen blinked in surprise. "I have a fiancee?"

Lin Beichen rubbed the bridge of his nose, a headache coming on.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about her too."

Lin Wuchen simply looked at him in silence, neither confirming nor denying it.

Deep down, he had no intention of becoming entangled in love or romance again.

Having once been betrayed by the woman he had loved more than anyone else in the world, the wounds in his heart had yet to heal.

Seeing his reaction, Lin Beichen let out a helpless sigh. "Just don't make a fool of yourself tonight. Your reputation is already bad enough. At the very least, try to leave a decent impression."

With that, Lin Beichen turned and left the room, leaving Lin wuchen alone with his thoughts. He intended to search through the Lin Clan's records for any information regarding Devouring Constitutions that might be related to Lin Wuchen's own.

Watching him leave, Lin Wuchen couldn't help but smile. Cultivating at the clan's cultivation grounds would greatly speed up his progress.

He now needed to absorb far more spiritual qi than normal in order to advance in his cultivation as he had to refine it into Nihility Qi first.

Without another moment's delay, he rose from the bed and headed straight for the cultivation grounds.

Before he could get very far, however, three young men stepped into his path. Searching through Lin Wuchen's memories, he quickly recognized them.

They were the very people the original Lin Wuchen had instructed to stand guard while he attempted to force himself on the Mo family's daughter. In return, he had promised to pay each of them twenty silver coins.

"...Who are you?" Lin Wuchen tilted his head slightly and asked, feigning complete ignorance.

"W-What...? You don't recognize us?" one of the three asked, utterly bewildered.

They had been doing Lin Wuchen's bidding for quite some time. How could he suddenly fail to recognize them?

"If I recognized you, would I be asking?" Lin Wuchen replied. His tone carrying a hint of irritation.

The three exchanged puzzled glances. one of the trio stepped forward.

"How can you not recognize us? You were the one who told us to keep watch while you—" Before he could finish, the third youth hastily clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes darting nervously around at the passersby.

"Have you lost your mind?" he hissed in a low voice. "Do you want the entire clan to hear?"

The first youth quickly composed himself before forcing out an awkward smile.

"Young Master Wuchen... surely you're joking with us."

"Like I said," Lin Wuchen replied calmly, "I have no recollection of any of you whatsoever. If I remember anything, I'll let you know."

With that, he moved to walk past them.

Just then, one of the youths stepped sideways, blocking his path.

"You don't have to remember us," he said with a forced smile. "But we remember you." He leaned in slightly. “The thing is, you promised each of us ten silver coins."

"...Oh" A look of realization appeared on Lin Wuchen's face.

The trio's eyes immediately lit up.

"So that's what this is about."

Before they could celebrate, he continued,

"...Unfortunately, I don't remember making such a promise." Without waiting for their response, he simply walked around them and continued toward the cultivation grounds, leaving the three standing there with stiff expressions.

For a long while, none of them spoke.

"...Did we just get played?" one of them muttered.