This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Chapter 155: Chapter 17: Pursuing the Killer

"Let’s go. First, we’ll send a message to the Head of Escort Leader, then we’ll see if there’s another way to resolve this."

...

...

「The Lin Family.」

Lin Yan was still some distance from the Lin Family archway when he ran into an acquaintance.

Lin Rong was pacing back and forth outside the archway, glancing inside from time to time. He was clearly waiting for someone.

"Brother Lin Rong."

Lin Yan greeted him first. He hadn’t expected Lin Rong to still be in Qing State. ’Is he waiting for Lin Wang?’

Hearing someone call his name, Lin Rong turned. A smile spread across his face when he saw Lin Yan. Noticing the horse Lin Yan was leading, he chuckled, "Ah, it’s Brother Lin. Just returning from a trip?"

"Mhm, I was on a trip. What brings you here, Brother Lin Rong?"

Lin Yan didn’t mention he was out on a family mission, afraid it would upset Lin Rong.

"I’m waiting for my younger brother."

Lin Rong said with a smile, showing no bitterness at all about being cast out by the Lin Family while Lin Yan had been allowed to stay.

Confirming that Lin Rong was indeed waiting for Lin Wang, Lin Yan prepared to take his leave. He wanted to avoid an awkward situation should Lin Wang appear and see him there.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of Lin Wang. This was a reunion between two brothers; if he were present, he worried Lin Wang might even grow resentful toward Lin Rong, his own older brother.

Lin Rong was a good man. There was no need for him to stay here and ruin the brothers’ reunion.

However, before Lin Yan could say anything, a figure appeared around the corner. Lin Yan recognized him as a member of the Fourth Branch, though he didn’t know his name.

The man clearly saw Lin Yan as well. He stopped short, and the faint smile on his face vanished completely. His gaze passed right over Lin Yan to land on Lin Rong. "Lin Wang is in closed-door cultivation. He can’t come out to see you."

"My younger brother’s in seclusion?"

Hearing this, a smile actually appeared on Lin Rong’s face. ’Seclusion... That means my younger brother is about to make progress in his Martial Arts. This is a good thing!’

"Did he say for how long?"

"Who knows? Could be a few days, could be ten days, half a month. Look, you shouldn’t wait here. You’re a reject, loitering around the estate gate every day. If the main family finds out, it’ll reflect poorly on Lin Wang. You’d be better off just going home. If you really need to tell him something, send a letter."

Having said his piece, the man turned and left, unwilling to stay a moment longer.

Lin Yan looked at Lin Rong’s stiff expression and said nothing.

"If you have matters to attend to, Brother Lin, you should head back into the estate. Since my brother is in seclusion, I won’t wait any longer."

After a long moment, Lin Rong’s expression eased slightly. He forced a smile and looked at Lin Yan. Lin Yan nodded. "Then I’ll take my leave."

He entered the estate.

Lin Yan first went to the Martial Arts Vault to buy a Bone Tempering Pill, then headed toward the Disciple’s Quarters. As he neared the area, he saw a group of people chatting leisurely in a nearby pavilion. Among them, plain as day, was Lin Wang.

In the pavilion, Lin Wang and his companions saw Lin Yan, too. The smiles vanished from their faces instantly, replaced by hostile stares.

Lin Yan, however, merely glanced over before looking away.

’Lin Wang,’ he thought, ’so disrespectful... practically inhuman.’

"I thought Lin Yan was hiding out, too scared to come back."

"Go inform Brother Yuming. He’s been keeping a close watch, just waiting for Lin Yan to return."

"It’s no use. Lin Yan hasn’t reached the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, so Brother Yuming can’t make a move. Besides, Brother Yuming is at the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. If he gets into a verbal spat with Lin Yan, who’s only at the Third-Time, it would hurt his own reputation if word got out."

"So we’re just going to let Lin Yan keep acting so arrogant? The main branch already said that whoever among us can defeat him will receive a handsome reward."

As Lin Wang listened to his companion, an eager glint appeared in his eyes. Lin Kang’s previous defeat at Lin Yan’s hands had enraged the main branch. They had sent a special message: whoever could defeat Lin Yan would receive a handsome reward. There wasn’t a single person in the Fourth Branch who wasn’t tempted by the offer.

The problem was, given the strength Lin Yan had displayed, none of the branch members at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing felt confident they could actually defeat him.

"Just wait a little longer," Lin Wang said. "I’m on the verge of reaching the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. I’ll focus on my breakthrough. As long as Lin Yan doesn’t know I’ve advanced, he’ll have no reason to refuse when I challenge him."

A Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing practitioner fighting someone at the Third-Time was, admittedly, a bit dishonorable. But he didn’t care, and he was sure the main branch wouldn’t care either.

As long as he could put the Third Branch in their place, he would bring honor to the Fourth Branch.

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