This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Chapter 107: Chapter 5: Shocking Turn of Events

"The Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau were fighting over territory in the city, causing widespread public outrage. At the request of the Weiyuan Escort Agency, the Zheng Family of Deng State Prefecture, who couldn’t bear to see the people of Guangping County suffer, sent a Martial Arts Powerhouse to slay the main culprit, Shi Guanyun. As for the Four Seas Gang Leader, he fled the city upon hearing the news, but the Zheng Family has already sent people to hunt him down."

GASP!

The numerous disciples in the courtyard gasped, their faces filled with utter shock.

In just one night, everything in Guangping County Town had been turned on its head.

Shi Guanyun, the Director of the Inspection Bureau and one of the three most powerful figures in the county town, had been killed just like that.

And the Four Seas Gang Leader, who had been so ambitiously plotting to usurp power, was now reduced to fleeing for his life.

Unlike his fellow disciples, Lin Yan remained largely unfazed as he listened to his master’s words.

He had already pieced most of this together last night. The only uncertainty was the identity of the people from the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

It seemed now that the people from last night were Martial Artists from the Zheng Family.

"Master, since the people from the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau have been captured by the Zheng Family, what will happen to all the families who sided with them?"

One of the disciples couldn’t help but ask the question on everyone’s mind.

In an instant, everyone looked toward Yang Qingfeng, a glimmer of hope in their eyes. The survival of their respective families was at stake.

Unfortunately, they were destined for disappointment.

Yang Qingfeng’s heart ached for them.

He had urged his disciples not to take sides, but they were too young and held no sway in their clans; they couldn’t stop their elders from making their own choices.

"The Zheng Family has decreed that anyone who participated in the struggle between the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau and caused public outrage shall be punished."

As soon as he said this, the disciples’ faces fell, the hope in their eyes turning to despair.

The Zheng Family wasn’t planning to let them off.

"However..." Yang Qingfeng’s tone shifted. "As long as they weren’t the ringleaders, once the Zheng Family has investigated thoroughly, they will be punished lightly as a lesson."

Hope sparked once again on the disciples’ faces.

’The situation wasn’t the worst-case scenario. Their families still had a chance to save themselves.’

Having gotten the news, those present could no longer sit still. They bid farewell one after another, rushing off to inform their family elders.

In the end, only Lin Yan was left in the courtyard.

Looking at Lin Yan, Yang Qingfeng’s lips curved into a self-deprecating smile. "It seems both of us, master and disciple, were wrong. The one who profited in the end was the Zheng Family."

"The Zheng Family never showed their hand before, so it’s only natural that your judgment was off, Master."

Lin Yan scratched his head. On the way back from Sanshan County, the two of them had analyzed which side had the better chance of winning. They never expected a third party to swoop in and claim the prize.

One could only say that the Zheng Family had hidden their intentions too well.

’If it weren’t for the information I got from Madam Lin and Wei Zi, I wouldn’t have sensed anything in advance either.’

"Master, is the Zheng Family that powerful? Powerful enough to make the Song Family and the others give up so willingly?"

The Song, Zhou, and Zhuang families had been laying their plans for so long. Just when they were about to reap the rewards, they just handed it all over?

"The Zheng Family’s strength is comparable to those three families," Yang Qingfeng said slowly. "But their eldest young master has a special status—he’s not only a Blood Exchange Realm Powerhouse, but also the Direct Disciple of a Profound Celestial Sect Elder."

The Profound Celestial Sect was the dominant power in Deng State Prefecture.

Being the Direct Disciple of an Elder was no small matter.

"For the Song Family and the others, withdrawing from Guangping County Town isn’t unacceptable, as long as the Zheng Family offers some compensation. From start to finish, those three families suffered no major losses. In the conflict between the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau, all the dead were local Martial Artists. The only one who could be considered connected to the three families was the Four Seas Gang Leader, and while the Zheng Family claims he fled upon hearing the news, the truth is they negotiated terms and intentionally let him go."

Lin Yan fell silent upon hearing this.

He had already learned from the Tang Family’s eldest young miss yesterday: the fate of Guangping County Town was never decided by the bloody battles of its own Martial Artists, but at the negotiating tables of the powers in the Prefecture City.

But understanding it was one thing; seeing the cruel reality laid so bare before him, he still found it deeply unsettling.

"Don’t dwell on it," Yang Qingfeng said sternly, sensing his disciple’s mood. "The Martial Arts Realm has always been this cruel. Compared to ordinary people, Martial Artists enjoy a higher status, so naturally, they must bear greater risks. All we can do is act with caution. Your actions in Sanshan County, for example, were rather reckless."

"My hands were tied at the time," Lin Yan said with a sheepish smile. Looking back now, he had to admit it had indeed been a bit reckless.

’If Senior Zhang hadn’t taken the blame for me, and if Master hadn’t come to pick me up personally, things probably wouldn’t have been resolved so easily.’

"Mm. Don’t take such risks in the future."

Yang Qingfeng didn’t press the matter. He now understood that Lin Yan wasn’t as naive as he had assumed, which, to his surprise, actually put him at ease. ’A naive person without a powerful backer can’t get far on the path of Martial Arts; they might not even survive for long.’

"There is one other thing."

Yang Qingfeng changed the subject. "The Tang Family has vanished. The entire Tang Mansion is deserted. If I’m not mistaken, they must have gotten word and fled the city as a clan ahead of time."

He narrowed his eyes at Lin Yan. "The Tang Family’s departure is bad news—for you, and for the other Martial Artists in town."

"How does it affect me?" Lin Yan asked, frowning.

’Just as I thought.’

A flicker of understanding passed through Yang Qingfeng’s eyes. He had said that as a test, wanting to see if Lin Yan already knew.

Lin Yan hadn’t asked, ’Why did the Tang Family leave?’ but rather, ’How does it affect me?’ This proved he already knew they were planning to go.

But he wouldn’t call him out on it. That was a matter between Lin Yan and the Tang Family. His job was to warn his disciple of the risks he would soon be facing.

"As the foremost family in Guangping County Town, the Tang Family’s accumulated wealth was incomparable. For the Zheng Family, they were a prize already within their grasp. Now that this prize is gone, the enraged Zheng Family will certainly look to make up their losses elsewhere. Those families who sided with the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau are probably going to be bled dry. And since you once held a position with the Tang Family, you might be targeted by the Zheng Family as well."

Lin Yan’s expression was a bit odd. ’So I saved the Tang Family, only to end up implicating myself?’

Still, he wasn’t overly concerned. ’Plenty of Martial Artists have held positions with the Tang Family. The Zheng Family can’t possibly single me out.’

"In a bit, come with me to the Weiyuan Escort Agency. We’re going to pay a visit to their old Head of Escort Leader."

"Alright."

Lin Yan agreed.

...

...

「Weiyuan Escort Agency」

An endless stream of visitors was arriving, but a Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist couldn’t even get past the Escort Agency’s front door.

The Zheng Family’s official story was that they had only intervened in Guangping County Town’s affairs at the request of the Weiyuan Escort Agency. The excuse was plausible enough, but everyone understood: the Weiyuan Escort Agency was the power the Zheng Family was propping up in Guangping County Town.

...

In the Escort Agency’s rear courtyard, Yang Qingfeng emerged with Lin Yan.

"Old Escort Leader, please, there’s no need to see us out."

Yang Qingfeng turned to bid farewell. The old man smiled and waved. Once the master and disciple were out of sight, the smile vanished from his old face. He instructed the person beside him, "Have the Head of Escort Leader come home for a moment."

...

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, in the rear courtyard of the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

"Father, you called for me. What are your instructions?"

Wang Shaojun strode in, his face a mask of smug arrogance. With the Zheng Family’s takeover of Guangping County Town, the Weiyuan Escort Agency’s status had risen as well—a rising tide lifts all boats, after all.

Early this morning, the city’s Martial Arts Clans had sent a flurry of calling cards, proactively offering to entrust all their future caravans to the Escort Agency’s protection.

He, however, was no longer impressed.

He would deign to meet with a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist, but anyone below that level, he couldn’t even be bothered to see.

The Weiyuan Escort Agency was not what it once was; the families of Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists were now beneath his notice.

"Just a moment ago, the Hall Master of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall visited with his disciple, Lin Yan."

"Yang Qingfeng brought Lin Yan here?" Wang Shaojun said dismissively. "I know. He must have come to plead for Lin Yan. That Lin Yan..."

"Shaojun!"

Wang Tiefeng’s old face darkened as he snapped, "In the past, even in private, you would respectfully call him Hall Master Yang. You’ve barely tasted power and you’re already getting carried away! This is how a petty man acts when he achieves a bit of success!"

"Father, I..."

Wang Shaojun’s face flushed red from the reprimand. He wanted to explain, but for a moment, he didn’t know where to begin.

"You must remember, the more power you gain, the more level-headed you must be." Wang Tiefeng’s voice softened. "Hall Master Yang came because Lin Yan was once a Martial Artist affiliated with the Tang Family, and he’s afraid Lin Yan will be implicated. If we can help with this, we should. It’s an opportunity to build goodwill with both Hall Master Yang and Lin Yan."

"Father, we can’t get involved with the Tang Family’s affairs right now." Wang Shaojun shook his head repeatedly. "The Zheng Family failed to intercept the Tang Family last night, and they’re furious. They’ve already ordered me to submit a list of all Martial Artists who ever held a position with the Tang Family. I don’t dare to cover for Lin Yan."

"I’m not telling you to delete Lin Yan’s name. We cannot deceive the Zheng Family," Wang Tiefeng said, his withered fingers tapping on the tabletop. "But if the Zheng Family asks about him, you can put in a good word for him. Do you remember Escort Master Chen Lang from our agency?"

"Yes," Wang Shaojun nodded.

"When Lin Yan first embarked on the path of Martial Arts, he was unsure which Martial Arts Hall to choose. It was Chen Lang who offered him a few words of advice, a kindness Lin Yan never forgot. A while ago, when Chen Lang was injured, Lin Yan personally visited him with a generous gift. When you find someone who repays kindness like that, you should help them if it’s within your power to do so."

"I understand," Wang Shaojun said, bowing his head. "Do you have any other instructions, Father? If not, I must hurry back to the Inspection Bureau. There’s too much to do today."

"Go on." Wang Tiefeng waved him off, his gaze profound. "Remember my words. Don’t get carried away."

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