This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Chapter 120: Chapter 9: Fifth Branch

Lin Yan answered with a wry smile. According to his sister-in-law, this was the first time in a hundred years that the Qing State Lin Family had sent word.

"My apologies, Brother Lin. I wasn’t aware of your family’s situation."

"There’s no need, Brother Lin Rong. That was a long time ago, and I’ve already come to terms with it." Lin Yan waved his hand dismissively. "The reason I was so forward as to ask to accompany you was that I hoped to learn a bit more about the Lin Family from you."

Hearing Lin Yan’s frankness, Lin Rong said seriously, "Don’t worry, Brother Lin. I’ll tell you everything I know. However, my knowledge of the main family is limited, and most of it is just what I’ve heard, so I can’t guarantee it’s all true."

Lin Wang, standing to the side, heard his older brother’s words and swallowed. He looked like he wanted to say something but held back, ultimately staying silent.

"The main family is one of the Four Great Clans of the Qing State Prefecture, and their territory is in the North City area. You’ll learn all this once you get there, Brother Lin, so I won’t say more on that. I’ll tell you about the main family’s internal situation instead. They aren’t a single, direct line of succession. Instead, they’re split into five lines, or Five Branches. When members of branch families like us arrive, we are assigned to one of the branches based on our ancestry."

’The Lin Family is split into five lines?’

Lin Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’There’s bound to be competition within a major clan—I was already mentally prepared for that before I came. But to think it’s also split into Five Branches... The internal competition is probably far more intense than I ever imagined.’

"Do you know which branch you belong to, Brother Lin?"

"I don’t know."

His sister-in-law hadn’t told him which branch of the Qing State Lin Family he belonged to. In fact, he suspected she likely had no idea that the family was even split into Five Branches.

Lin Rong said, "...It’s alright if you don’t know. Once you get to the main family and they check your Lin Clan Genealogy, you’ll find out which branch you belong to. Maybe you’re part of the Fourth Branch, just like us."

"Haha... I also hope to be in the same branch as you, Brother Lin Rong."

"Here in the main family, minor matters are handled by each branch independently. For major issues, the clan elders from all Five Branches discuss them together..."

...

An hour and a half later, thanks to Lin Rong’s explanations, Lin Yan had a general understanding of the Lin Family.

The only thing was, Lin Rong also had no idea why the Lin Family had decided to summon the younger generation from all its branches.

The three eventually came to a long street. It grew wider the farther they walked, but the pedestrians on either side became scarcer. Towering locust trees blotted out the sun, their canopy enveloping the street in a deep, green corridor.

"We’re almost there, Brother Lin," Lin Rong said with a smile, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, as if he was looking forward to seeing a good show.

After they rounded a bend, Lin Yan stopped in his tracks, his pupils constricting. At his side, Lin Wang’s eyes grew even wider, utterly stunned by the scene before them.

There was no magnificent gate before them, no towering courtyard walls. There was only a single stone archway that spanned the entire street. It stood about ten zhang tall, with six pillars and five bays, and was carved entirely from white marble. Coiling dragons adorned the pillars, and beneath the eaves hung two words: "Lin Mansion." The calligraphy was powerful, as if brushed in a single, unbroken stroke.

Beyond the archway, a straight, stone-paved avenue stretched onward, wide enough for ten carriages to travel side-by-side. Both sides of the avenue were lined with densely planted green pines. Deep within the shadows of the pines, the faint outlines of sprawling rooftops and upturned eaves could be seen. Farther still, the surface of a lake glittered between the treetops.

"Quite the grand archway the main family has, isn’t it, Brother Lin?" Lin Rong roared with laughter. "When I first came to the Qing State Prefecture, I also snuck over to have a look. The first time I saw this archway, I just stood here, stunned, for a good long while."

As a member of the Lin Family, even if only from a branch, it was only natural that he would come to see the main family’s estate since he was in the Qing State Prefecture.

He had imagined how magnificent the main family’s gates would be, but he never, ever would have expected that they didn’t have a gate at all.

A single stone archway. To have no gate was more imposing than to have one, enough to intimidate any petty villains.

"Brother... so this is the main family’s grandeur."

Lin Wang was incredibly excited, clenching his fists tightly as his eyes burned with passion. He was already fantasizing about the pride and glory he would feel after making a name for himself in the main family.

’I was right to come to Qing State. Jimo is just too small.’

"Let’s go."

Lin Rong patted his younger brother on the shoulder. He felt a stir of excitement in his own heart, but he saw things more clearly than his brother. ’The main family’s glory is its own. It doesn’t have much to do with us from the branches.’

’It’s fine to feel honored by association, but you must not forget your own place.’

After the archway, the stone-paved avenue extended straight into the distance.

The trio walked side by side for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, and then the area ahead suddenly opened up.

A vast bluestone plaza spread out before them, spanning several hundred zhang. A large crowd had already gathered on the plaza, clustered in small groups, some standing, some sitting. Their clothing and accents were diverse; there were youths in fine brocade and weary, dust-covered men. These were the disciples from the various branches of the Lin Family.

At the northern end of the plaza were several long desks, each set a few zhang apart. Behind the desks sat several young men in uniform azure robes, each with the character "Lin" embroidered on the chest. Their bearing was calm and steady, their gazes sharp.

A thick register lay on each desk, and many people were currently lined up in front of them.

"Brother Lin, those must be the people handling registration. Let’s go get in line."

"Alright."

The three split up to queue in different lines. When it was Lin Yan’s turn, he presented the letter Madam Lin had given him, along with his copy of the Lin Clan Genealogy.

"From the Lin Family of Guangping County Town?"

The young man glanced at the letter and set it aside, then looked at the name of the ancestor at the top of Lin Yan’s genealogy. He opened the thick register and began cross-referencing as he asked, "Name, age, Realm."

"Lin Yan, just turned twenty, currently at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing."

The young man’s expression didn’t change upon hearing Lin Yan’s answer. In the Lin Family, achieving that Realm at that age was nothing special. Even among the disciples arriving from the various branch families, it was merely average—not the least bit remarkable.

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