This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Chapter 100: Chapter 4: Breaking the Siege

Lin Yan’s expression was grave as he left the Tang Family’s residence.

The Li Family powerhouse, Li Mushen, was confirmed dead. This meant that in Guangping County Town, the three families backing the Four Seas Gang would no longer hold back.

A storm was brewing.

Watching the pedestrians on the street, Lin Yan gave a wry smile. ’To ordinary people, Martial Artists are lofty, important figures. But in the face of turmoil like this, it’s the common folk who are more likely to escape unscathed.’

But he quickly shook his head.

’The powers from the Prefecture City won’t move against the common people, but that doesn’t mean the town’s residents won’t be affected.’

’The common folk would be the first to suffer.’

From the initial rise of the Four Seas Gang to the current battles with the Inspection Bureau, the common people had been affected all the same.

For instance, right now, pedestrians were hurrying along, afraid that lingering for even a moment longer might lead to some unforeseen disaster. The shop assistants who usually hawked their wares at the entrances were gone. Many shops had even put up half their door boards, leaving only a narrow slit to welcome customers.

A heavy, oppressive weight seemed to hang over the entire street.

When upheaval came to Guangping County Town, people would only remember the decline of this or that Martial Arts Clan or the fall of some powerhouse. No one would care, nor would anyone record, how the lives of the common people were affected.

Lin Yan didn’t loiter on the streets and headed straight home.

To his surprise, there was already a guest at home.

Qin Yin, accompanied by her maidservant, was inside chatting with his aunt, Madam Liu. When Lin Yan walked in, Madam Liu breathed a sigh of relief.

This Madam Qin was of noble status. Although she spoke in a soft, gentle voice, making small talk about daily life and carefully picking topics his aunt could respond to, Madam Liu only felt more awkward and uncomfortable.

"Yan’er, you’re back. Madam Qin has been waiting for you. I’ll let you two talk."

Madam Liu stood up, greeted her nephew, picked up a large coat that still needed mending, and walked out of the room with a smile.

She no longer took on mending jobs for others, but she didn’t let herself stay idle. She personally sewed all the clothes for the brothers, Lin Yan and Lin Mo.

Lin Yan watched his aunt leave before turning to face Qin Yin.

Today, Qin Yin was not wearing white, but a deep, black robe.

It was a pure, deep black, like a tranquil pool of water, making her exposed skin seem even fairer by contrast.

The collar was a modified mandarin style, covering her neck just enough to accentuate the delicate line of her jaw.

She had taken off her outer cloak and was wearing only the robe. The glow from the nearby stove fire flickered across her face, adding a touch of warmth.

Noticing the fine beads of sweat on Qin Yin’s forehead and neck, Lin Yan glanced at the fiercely blazing stove nearby, an amused smile touching his lips.

’My aunt must feel that a noble guest like Madam Qin can’t be slighted in any way. The fire has to burn brightly to make sure she doesn’t feel the slightest chill.’

’This arrangement would be fine for an ordinary guest, but for someone of Madam Qin’s standing, whose clothes are made of the finest, warmest materials, it would be a surprise if she wasn’t overheating in this room.’

"Word of you defeating Chen Zheng of Sanshan County has spread all over town, Young Master Lin. I am here to congratulate you on reaching a new level in your Martial Arts."

Qin Yin had indeed come to offer her congratulations, and to deliver money.

In truth, the news of Lin Yan’s victory over Chen Zheng hadn’t spread widely in Guangping County Town. She only knew because she had been keeping a close watch on him.

When she first decided to sponsor Lin Yan, there had been some gossip within her clan. But when she told them the news of his victory over Chen Zheng, those same clan elders and uncles stopped their chatter, every one of them praising her foresight.

Lin Yan had defeated Chen Zheng—a man who had been at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing for years—less than a year after reaching that level himself. This proved his exceptional talent in the Martial Arts. He had a very high chance of reaching the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, and when that happened, her investment would have paid off handsomely.

Even if he couldn’t reach the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, his current strength was already on par with her late husband’s. He was more than strong enough to protect her family’s businesses.

...

A short while later.

Qin Yin left with her maidservant. After seeing them to the door, Lin Yan returned inside. He stared at the gift box on the table, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He wasn’t thinking about the contents of the gift box, but rather a piece of information Madam Qin had revealed during their conversation.

In Guangping County Town, weapons forged by the Lin Family were the top choice for Martial Artists. With the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau now at all-out war, both factions had indeed purchased a significant number of weapons from his family. But according to Madam Qin, they weren’t the biggest buyers. The biggest buyer was, in fact, the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

The last time he spoke with Zhang Wei, Lin Yan had learned that many of the Weiyuan Escort Agency’s caravans had been intercepted, bringing their business to a near standstill. ’Under those circumstances, why would they be buying so many weapons?’

"Little brother, come here!"

After pondering for a moment, Lin Yan called out for his little brother.

"Go find Brother Tao. If he’s too busy at the pharmacy, tell him to take some time off. I need him to go to the Escort Agency, find Zhang Wei, and bring him here."

"You got it!"

Lin Mo happily agreed. Even though it meant running across half the county town, it was much better than being stuck inside studying.

...

「An hour later.」

After seeing off Zhang Wei and Wang Tao, Lin Yan sat in the courtyard, lost in thought.

From Wei Zi, he had learned more about the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

The Weiyuan Escort Agency had indeed stopped all its escort jobs. In their place, many unfamiliar Martial Artists had moved in. They stayed in the rear courtyards of the agency and never ventured outside.

However, just before coming to see Lin Yan, Wei Zi had noticed something odd: the agency’s kitchen hadn’t prepared nearly as much food for lunch as it usually did.

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