The morning breeze atop Iron Cloud Mountain was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the subtle, ozone tang of the protective formations.
Lin Meng stood with her hand on the door handle of the black sedan. Fatty Zhang was already in the driver's seat, checking his messages, giving the siblings a moment of privacy.
Lin Hao had just handed her the "supplements" and the "yoga" guide. He had made a joke about her being "Agent Lin."
But Lin Meng didn't smile back this time.
She turned to look at the manor, the brutalist concrete fortress, the swirling fog barrier, the silent, terrifying spirit wolf watching from the shadows of the porch. Then she looked at her brother.
For the first time, she didn't see him as "Big Brother Hao," the college student who ate instant noodles. She saw the architect of all this.
She saw the loneliness of it.
"You're fighting a war, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
Lin Hao paused. The "cool older brother" mask slipped just a fraction. He looked at her, his [Level 8] eyes somber.
"The world is changing, Meng," he said. "The BSA, the Guardian Families, the beasts... they are wolves eating sheep. I'm just building a fence."
"But fences get knocked down," she said, her voice steady. She gripped the jar of pills tighter. "And you're the only one holding the gate."
She took a step closer to him. The [Level 1] aura she now possessed flared slightly, not with aggression, but with resolve. The [Common Root] upgrade hadn't just changed her body; it had sharpened her mind. The mental fog of mediocrity was gone.
"I can't fight the wolves yet," she said. "I know that. I'm just a Level 1 novice. If I try to help you out here, I'll just be a hostage."
"Meng..."
"But I can hold the rear," she interrupted, her eyes fierce. "Mom and Dad. The house. The neighbors. I can watch them. I can make sure no one gets close to them without us knowing. I can make sure they take these pills and get strong enough to survive."
She looked him dead in the eye.
"You go fight the monsters, Brother. You gather the resources. You build the Legacy."
She tapped her chest.
"I will protect the heart. I will be your eyes and ears in the mortal world. No one will touch our family. Not while I'm breathing."
It wasn't a promise from a little sister. It was an oath from a subordinate. A lieutenant.
Lin Hao looked at her. He felt a swell of pride that had nothing to do with System points.
He reached out and squeezed her shoulder.
"I know you will," he said. "That's why I chose you."
She nodded once, sharp and professional. The playfulness was gone. She opened the car door and slid into the leather seat.
She rolled down the window.
"I'll message you on the secure app Fatty installed," she said. "Don't die, Brother."
"I'm too expensive to die," Lin Hao replied.
The window rolled up. The black sedan purred to life and rolled down the driveway, disappearing into the dense, artificial fog bank that hid the mountain from the world.
Lin Hao watched until the taillights vanished.
He wasn't alone anymore. He had a fortress. He had a guard dog. He had a manager.
And now, he had his first true disciple. His first Elder.
The "Hidden Sect" of Iron Cloud Mountain finally had its second member.
He turned around, his black coat snapping in the wind. The sentimental moment was over. His family was safe, his rear guard was established.
He checked his balance.
[Upgrade Points (UP): 309,730]
"Now," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "It's time to become a god."