This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Chapter 124: Chapter 10: Thunder Sound Technique

At the mention of Reversed Lake, Lin Minghai and Lin Mingtang fell silent. Finally, after glaring at each other, they both stepped back.

"Mingliang, what’s the situation with your Fifth Branch?"

Ignoring the two of them, Lin Mingshen looked directly at the members of the Fifth Branch.

"Our Fifth Branch has eight who have reached the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, but we have fewer Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists—only forty."

Hearing Lin Mingliang’s words, Lin Minghai spat, and the others looked just as disdainful.

’What good is a bunch of Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists?!’

Lin Mingshen gave Lin Mingliang a resigned look. ’Every last one of these guys is more infuriating than the one before.’

’Whatever. I’ll just hand the list over to the Elder, and my part will be done.’

"Since the registration is finished, I’ll submit it. By the way... do you want to go see your respective clansmen?"

"See them? Like hell. Not until they can stand on their own two feet in the Lin Family."

Lin Minghai cursed, then turned and strode out of the main hall.

’See them for what?’

’He could already picture it: the moment he set foot in the Disciple’s Quarters, that bastard Lin Mingtang would follow right on his heels.’

’Then, after he gathered all the branch members from the Third Branch, Lin Mingtang would just have to call the Fourth Branch members over to one side.’

’He was hot-tempered, not an idiot. Why would he serve himself up on a platter for Lin Mingtang to humiliate?’

...

...

「Early the next morning」

Lin Yan was practicing his boxing in the courtyard when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"Everyone, out here immediately!"

The next moment, a loud voice rang out. Lin Yan put on the tunic that was hanging on a tree, walking toward the gate while tying the front clasps.

The open ground in front of the Disciple’s Quarters was already packed with people, and more were still emerging from their courtyards.

Lin Yan saw Lin Rong and Lin Wang in the crowd but didn’t go over to them, instead finding an empty spot to stand.

"After a selection by the clan, the list of those permitted to remain at the mansion has been finalized. Those whose names are called may stay. Those whose names are not called must pack their bags and leave before dark today."

Once it seemed everyone had gathered, the young man spoke in a loud, clear voice. His announcement immediately caused a variety of expressions to appear on the faces of the crowd.

Those standing at the very front looked confident, certain they would be allowed to stay. Most of the crowd, however, looked on with a mixture of hope and anxiety. A smaller group, meanwhile, simply looked resigned.

These people had arrived nursing a sliver of hope, but it had died completely upon seeing the other branch clan members. They already knew it was impossible for them to be kept by the main family; they were now just treating this trip as a chance to see the splendor of the main family and the Qing State Prefecture.

"Lin Ming!"

"I get to stay!"

A man in the crowd cried out, his face overcome with excitement.

It was no wonder he was so excited. Although he was a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist and considered a genius in his county, he’d originally assumed he would be specially cultivated upon arriving at the main family. But after spending a few days in the Disciple’s Quarters and discovering that the other branch members around him were *also* Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, his confidence had been utterly shattered.

"Lin Zihan of the Second Branch!"

"Lin Jiaqi of the Fifth Branch!"

The young man reading the names paid no mind to the cheers and excitement from the branch members, continuing to call out the names in a numb, mechanical tone.

...

"Lin Yu of the Second Branch!"

Not until he called this name did the young man pause for a moment, his gaze falling upon a youth to the front-left who stood half a step ahead of the others.

Lin Yu was the most talented of all the branch clan members this time.

Eighteen years old and already at the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. He was worth a second look.

"Lin Guiya."

"Lin Cheng of the Second Branch."

"Lin Jianchen."

"Lin Wang of the Fourth Branch."

Upon hearing Lin Wang’s name, Lin Yan glanced over at the two brothers. Lin Wang pursed his lips, trying to look composed, but the constantly rising corners of his mouth betrayed him. Lin Rong, meanwhile, was excitedly patting his younger brother’s shoulder.

"Lin Qi of the Third Branch!"

Hearing the words "Third Branch," Lin Yan’s gaze swept through the crowd once more. Over a hundred names had been read by now, and the number prefixed with "Third Branch" was clearly smaller than the other branches.

’Could it be that the Third Branch members just don’t have the same names as anyone else, and all those whose branch wasn’t specified are the ones being kept from the Third Branch?’

"Lin Yan of the Third Branch!"

After more than one hundred and fifty names, Lin Yan finally heard his own. While he breathed a sigh of relief, the corner of his mouth twitched.

’So there’s someone else with the same name as me?’

...

...

"All of you whose names were called, do not leave the premises this afternoon. An artist will be coming to paint your portraits."

After reading the last name on the list, the man from the main family left them with this parting instruction and departed without another word. Those who had been named were all smiles, while those who had not were, of course, crestfallen.

Watching the chosen go over to console those who hadn’t been able to stay, Lin Yan suddenly realized he had nothing to do.

He hadn’t socialized at all these past few days; there was no one he needed to console.

Just as Lin Yan was preparing to return to his courtyard, Lin Rong came over from the crowd. "Brother Lin, congratulations!"

"Brother Lin Rong, even though you weren’t..."

"Brother Lin, there’s no need to comfort me. I anticipated this before I came. This time, I was mainly here to accompany my younger brother."

Lin Rong smiled and waved his hand dismissively. He was indeed a bit disappointed about not being chosen to stay, but it wasn’t so bad that he couldn’t accept it.

In comparison, he was now more worried about his younger brother.

Back home, his younger brother would still listen to him, but his attitude had changed ever since their arrival at the Lin Mansion.

He couldn’t speak a sentence without mentioning the Fourth Branch, and was already acting as if he were completely one of them.

If that were all, it would be one thing, but the few times they had happened to encounter members from the Third Branch, his younger brother had shown undisguised hostility.

Without him there to keep an eye on him, he was afraid his younger brother would stir up trouble he couldn’t get out of.

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