Lin Kai sat cross-legged inside the small courtyard he had rented.
The place was simple — just one room, a small training ground, and a well for water.
It cost him twenty silver coins for one month.
For someone who had nothing a few days ago, this already felt like luxury.
He closed his eyes and focused on the Void Core inside his chest.
The black crystal-like core was spinning slowly, releasing a cold but powerful energy throughout his body.
[Current Stage: Early Stage 3] [Devoured Cores: 7] [Available Energy: 340 units]
The mechanical voice in his mind had become familiar now.
It felt like a helpful guide rather than something scary.
Lin Kai tried to practice the basic cultivation manual that Old Ghost Mo had given him.
Even though his Void Core was special, he still needed proper techniques to control his power better.
After one hour, sweat covered his forehead.
He opened his eyes and punched forward.
Whoosh!
A black flame shot out and burned a small hole in the training ground wall.
“Not bad,” he muttered.
“But still too weak.”
He remembered Li Tian’s face when he ran away.
That guy would definitely report to his clan.
Soon, trouble would come looking for him.
A soft knock came from the courtyard door.
Lin Kai stood up carefully and opened it.
It was Su Mei.
She had changed into clean white disciple robes.
Her long hair was tied neatly, making her look even prettier.
“You really came,” Lin Kai said.
Su Mei smiled shyly.
“I promised, didn’t I? I brought some food and information.”
She carried a basket with steamed buns, roasted meat, and fruits.
Lin Kai’s stomach growled immediately.
He hadn’t eaten properly for days.
They sat on the stone bench in the courtyard.
While eating, Su Mei spoke seriously.
“Bad news. Li Tian has already told his father about you. The Li Clan is angry. They are offering a reward of 500 gold coins for information about the ‘black flame boy’.”
Lin Kai’s eyes turned cold.
“Let them come.”
Su Mei continued, “Also, the Cloud Mountain Sect is holding an entrance test in ten days. Anyone under 20 years old can participate. If you pass, you can become an outer disciple and get protection inside the sect.”
Lin Kai thought about it.
Joining a sect could be useful for now, but he didn’t want to be controlled by anyone.
“I will think about it,” he said.
Suddenly, they heard crying outside the courtyard.
Lin Kai recognized the voice.
He quickly walked out.
Little Xiao Ling was standing there, her face full of tears.
Her clothes were dirtier than before.
“Big brother… my mother… she is getting worse. The pill you gave helped for one day only. Please… help us.”
Lin Kai felt something strange in his chest.
He had never cared about strangers before, but this little girl’s honest eyes touched him.
He looked at Su Mei.
“Do you know any good doctors in the city?”
Su Mei shook her head.
“Normal doctors can’t cure serious illnesses. Only alchemists can. But they are very expensive.”
Lin Kai made a decision.
“Take me to your home, Xiao Ling.”
The three of them walked through narrow dirty streets into the slums area.
The houses here were broken and smelled bad.
Many poor people stared at the well-dressed Su Mei with surprise.
Xiao Ling’s home was a tiny shack.
Inside, a thin woman was lying on a dirty mat, breathing weakly.
Lin Kai placed his hand above the woman’s chest.
He didn’t know healing, but he could feel her life force was very weak.
The Void Core inside him suddenly reacted.
[Low-level life force detected] [Would you like to analyze?]
Lin Kai accepted.
Black energy gently entered the woman’s body.
After a few seconds, the voice spoke again.
[Poison detected. Low-grade Scarlet Snake Poison. Needs antidote or high-grade healing pill.]
Lin Kai’s face turned serious.
“She was poisoned.”
Xiao Ling cried harder.
“It must be because of that evil landlord. He wanted our small house and said he would make us leave one way or another.”
Su Mei was angry.
“These people are too cruel!”
Lin Kai stood up.
“Xiao Ling, stay here with Su Mei. I will get the medicine.”
He left the shack and went straight to the market.
After asking around, he found an alchemy shop called “Golden Pill Pavilion.”
A proud young assistant looked at his simple clothes and sneered.
“What does a poor boy want? We don’t sell cheap stuff here.”
Lin Kai didn’t waste words.
He took out a small bag and poured out ten beast cores he had taken from the forest and from Li Tian’s men.
The assistant’s eyes widened.
“These… these are good quality!”
An old man with a white beard came out from the back.
He was the shop owner, Alchemist Zhou.
After checking the cores, he nodded.
“I can make a good healing pill with these. It will take one hour. Also, I can remove the poison completely if you pay extra.”
Lin Kai agreed.
While waiting, he met another interesting person inside the shop.
A tall, muscular young man around 20 years old with a big sword on his back was also buying pills.
He had a honest face and rough hands.
The man noticed Lin Kai and smiled.
“Brother, you look new here. My name is Wang Bo. I am a lone cultivator. I hunt demonic beasts for a living.”
Lin Kai nodded.
“Lin Kai.”
Wang Bo laughed.
“You are quite strong for your age. I can feel it. If you ever need a hunting partner, look for me at the Hunter Guild.”
Lin Kai remembered this name.
Another useful side character.
After one hour, Alchemist Zhou gave him a small jade bottle.
“This pill can cure the poison and strengthen her body for a few months. Take care, young man. Not many people help strangers these days.”
Lin Kai returned to the slums and gave the pill to Xiao Ling’s mother.
After she ate it, her face slowly gained some color.
Xiao Ling hugged Lin Kai’s leg and cried.
“Thank you, Big Brother Kai! I will never forget this kindness.”
Su Mei watched everything quietly.
Her opinion of Lin Kai was changing.
He was cold and ruthless to enemies, but he had a soft side too.
That night, back in his courtyard, Lin Kai was cultivating again when he heard loud footsteps outside.
A group of ten men in blue clothes arrived.
They were from the Li Clan.
The leader was a middle-aged man at Stage 6 — Li Tian’s uncle, Li Feng.
“Trash boy! Come out and accept your death!” Li Feng shouted.
“You dared to injure my nephew. Today I will crush you!”
Lin Kai opened the door slowly.
His eyes were glowing with dark purple light.
“Finally,” he whispered.
“More food for my Void Core.”
End of Chapter 5