Chapter 63 - 45: Jinghong Sword Technique
An hour later, Lin Yan was waiting at home when someone from the Tang Mansion arrived.
The Tang Mansion’s Steward, as agreed upon by Lin Yan and Tang Tang, personally came to the door carrying a gift box.
After seeing the Tang Mansion’s Steward off, Lin Yan opened the gift box.
In the top layer of the gift box were two Jade Bottles. A small label was stuck to the body of each bottle, reading: Leopard Bone Tempering Pill.
Two bottles. Twenty-four pills.
’These two bottles are my entire year’s stipend.’
Lin Yan couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. This was what he had arranged with the young lady of the Tang Family; his entire stipend as a Tributor would be exchanged for Leopard Bone Tempering Pills.
The Tang Family had built its fortune on medicinal herbs, and their understanding of the effects of Bone Tempering Pills far surpassed that of other Martial Artists. Purely in terms of Medicinal Power, the effect of two Leopard Bone Tempering Pills was greater than one Tiger Bone Tempering Pill.
Not considering the success rate of breaking through to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, the Leopard Bone Tempering Pills were more cost-effective.
For Lin Yan, who had the Martial Arts Tree, there was no need to worry about failing to break through. Naturally, he would choose the most cost-effective option.
Two bottles of Leopard Bone Tempering Pills had a market price of 1,200 taels. Even with the thirty percent discount for being a Tang Family Tributor, it was still over 800 taels, which was far higher than the compensation for a nominal position held by a typical Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist.
In fact, in Guangping County Town, very few Martial Artists at the level of a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist held nominal positions.
Firstly, not many families could afford to hire a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist for a nominal position. It was more common for them to just use a name, like the Lin Mansion did, and pay a naming fee of one or two hundred taels a year.
Secondly, those who could cultivate to the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level usually had their own families backing them and wouldn’t take a nominal position with another power.
Someone like Lin Yan, who had reached the strength of the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level but came from an ordinary family background, was a unique case in Guangping County Town.
He removed the top layer of the gift box, revealing a book in the lower compartment. Before Lin Yan even opened it, he could smell the fragrance of fresh ink.
’It seems the Tang Family transcribed this just for me.’
Lin Yan understood. The Tang Family certainly wouldn’t let the original copy leak out, so their only option was to transcribe a new one. In any case, as long as the content was correct, it didn’t matter to him.
He opened the book, and the three words on the title page caught his eye: Jinghong Sword Technique.
A flash of surprise appeared in Lin Yan’s eyes, quickly followed by a complicated expression.
’To be honest, I’m not that interested in learning Swordsmanship.’
In his mind, Sword Cultivators could be summed up in one word: poor.
Fragile, short-lived, poor, and proud.
’But then again...’
He looked down at the Sword Manual in his hand, then at himself.
’The sword is the gentleman of a hundred weapons. In that respect, it’s a good match for me.’
’Something to learn is better than nothing. I’m in no position to be picky.’
Lin Yan opened the Sword Manual, browsing through it page by page and memorizing its contents.
Closing the Sword Manual, he rose and walked into the courtyard, pulling a Longsword from the weapon rack in the corner.
The weapon rack had been a recent gift from his uncle from the Cai Mansion. In his uncle’s words, as a Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist, how could he not have a weapon rack in his home?
He took his stance. First Technique.
The Longsword thrust out, wobbly and without any form.
The corner of Lin Yan’s mouth twitched. His strength and accuracy were poorly controlled.
Again.
The second time was still clumsy.
The third time was slightly smoother, but it was still a far cry from being called "Swordsmanship."
He practiced like this for an hour.
After a hundred repetitions, a cool stream flowed into his mind, guiding him on how to channel his energy into the sword, just as before.
He had mastered the basics of the Jinghong Sword Technique!
Lin Yan looked at the Martial Arts Tree in his mind. Another tender sprout had appeared on it.
Looking at the Martial Arts Fruits on the Martial Arts Tree, they added up to a total of thirty-eight years.
’Thirty-eight years... if I pour it all into the Jinghong Sword Technique...’
A look of determination flashed in Lin Yan’s eyes.
’Strike while the iron is hot!’
The Martial Arts Fruits dissolved.
Thirty-eight years of arduous cultivation flooded into his mind like a bursting dam.
Lin Yan saw himself, holding a sword day after day.
At first, the sword was heavy and difficult to control.
Later, the sword gradually grew lighter—not because it had actually lost weight, but because his arm had learned how to become one with it.
He saw the subtle changes in the airflow as his blade sliced through it and the air closed behind.
He saw the perfect moment to strike, the instant the sunlight hit the blade and created a blinding glare.
He saw the opponent’s pupils suddenly contract, but the sword was already on its way.
One year, two years, five years, ten years...
The sword was no longer an external object.
It became an extension of his arm, a part of his breathing.
When he struck, he didn’t need to think. His wrist naturally knew where to go, and the tip of the sword naturally knew where to land.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Lin Yan opened his eyes.
He looked down at the Longsword in his hand and tightened his grip slightly.
He raised his hand and swung it casually.
There was no technique, not even a purpose. It was just a simple swing.
But in that one swing, an incomparably sharp aura burst forth from the blade’s edge.
Sword Momentum.
That was the result of thirty-eight years of day-and-night practice, of training with the sword until it was etched into his very bones.
There was no need to consciously use it. With the sword in hand, the momentum was born naturally.
Lin Yan performed an Introspection. The newly grown sprout in his mind had now turned into a golden leaf, and its golden hue was even more brilliant than the leaf for the Mountain-Splitting Fist.
’Is the Sword Momentum’s color brighter because it’s more powerful than Fist Momentum, or is it because I’m practicing a Top-grade Cultivation Method?’
A thoughtful look appeared on Lin Yan’s face, but then he couldn’t help but click his tongue as he looked at the now-empty Martial Arts Tree.
’Thirty-eight years of sword practice, and I’ve only just developed Sword Momentum. If this had been for a fist technique, it would have been enough for me to develop Fist Momentum twice over.’
’Is Sword Momentum harder to achieve, or is it because the Jinghong Sword Technique is a Top-grade Cultivation Method?’
’At this rate, it will take at least another ten years to develop Sword Intent.’
He estimated ten years because the golden hue of the Jinghong Sword Technique’s leaf was deeper than that of the Mountain-Splitting Fist. This could mean he was still far from achieving Sword Intent, or it could mean he was just a step away. So he simply took an average.
’Ten years... killing a few people should be enough.’
Unfortunately, the Lin Mansion hadn’t run into any trouble, and he couldn’t just attack other Martial Artists at will for the sake of Martial Arts Fruits.
If he really did that, what would be the difference between him and those he had "revoked of their humanity"?
Those evil gang members would be fair game, but from what he understood, West City and North City had already been taken over by the Four Seas Gang. Those gang members had either joined the Four Seas Gang or left Guangping County.
Against a behemoth like the Four Seas Gang, his Third-Time Skin Smoothing strength was still not enough.
...
Pulling his thoughts back, Lin Yan was about to continue practicing his sword when he heard footsteps at the courtyard gate and looked over.
The gate was pushed open, and Aunt Liu and Li Min walked in.
"Yan’er, you’re back."
Seeing Lin Yan standing in the courtyard, Li Min was the first to greet him with a broad smile.
Ever since Lin Yan had solved the problem for the Cai Mansion last time, Li Min had grown very close to Aunt Liu, often inviting her to the Cai Mansion as a guest. Lin Yan understood his fourth aunt’s intentions perfectly well, but he didn’t object to her getting close to his aunt.
The Cai Family had done him the favor of gifting him a martial technique. Furthermore, his aunt had little contact with her own family because of him, so having his fourth aunt around could help compensate for that lack of familial affection.
"Fourth Aunt, you’re here."
After greeting them, Lin Yan didn’t see his younger brother and asked curiously, "Aunt, where’s my little brother?"
"Jun’er has reached the age to learn his letters, so the Master hired a tutor. Since Mo’Er is also learning to read, I had him study together with Jun’er at the mansion. When classes are over, the mansion’s servants will bring Mo’Er back."
Li Min explained with a smile. Lin Yan nodded. "My little brother is mischievous. I’ll have to trouble you, Fourth Aunt."
"It’s no trouble at all. We’re all family. Saying it’s a bother would be too formal. Besides, Jun’er and Mo’Er really hit it off. They’re as close as brothers."
Lin Yan smiled. He was certain that his ’dear’ uncle and fourth aunt must have instructed their son. If one side was intentionally trying to flatter the other, how could the relationship not be good?
"May I ask if this is the residence of Young Master Lin Yan?"
Suddenly, a voice came from the gate. A middle-aged man dressed in brocade stood at the entrance, with two brokers behind him.
Before Lin Yan could speak, the middle-aged man’s eyes lit up upon seeing him. He took a few steps forward and said, "Young Master Lin, this lowly one is the Steward of the brokerage. Our Boss learned that Young Master Lin has broken through to the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level and sent me especially to offer his congratulations. Here is the deed for the house that Young Master Lin left with us."
’The brokerage’s Steward?’
Lin Yan was surprised. He said in a deep voice, "I don’t believe I know your Boss. I’m afraid this is inappropriate."
When he first bought the house, he had taken out a loan and still owed one hundred taels. He had planned to pay it back just before the year was up, but he never expected the brokerage to simply waive the debt.
"Young Master Lin, your breakthrough to the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level is a joyous occasion for our entire county town. All the major families will express their goodwill. This is a tradition that has been passed down in Guangping County Town for many years. Please accept it, Young Master Lin, so that I may report back to my Boss."
"If that’s the case, then please thank your Boss for me."
Hearing this, Lin Yan no longer refused and accepted the documents and contract the man handed him.
"I won’t disturb you any longer, Young Master Lin."
The middle-aged man left with the brokers. In the courtyard, Li Min’s eyes were shining, and her delicate body was even trembling uncontrollably.
If she hadn’t misheard, Lin Yan had broken through to the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level.
Third-Time Skin Smoothing... that made him a truly important figure in the town.
The Lin Family was going to prosper, and her own family would benefit from it.
"Yan’er, you’ve broken through to the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level?"
Although Aunt Liu had learned a little about Martial Arts because her nephew practiced it, and knew that Second-Time and Third-Time Skin Smoothing were very impressive, she didn’t fully understand what it truly meant.
"Yes, I just broke through yesterday. I didn’t expect the families in the county town to get news so quickly."
"How could they not be quick? This is the Third-Time Skin Smoothing level! There are only a few dozen in our entire county town, and Yan’er is so young. Your future is limitless."
Li Min controlled her excitement and immediately stepped forward to grab Aunt Liu’s hand. "Sister-in-law, from now on, you can just wait to enjoy a life of luxury."
The gift from the brokerage’s Boss was like the sounding of a horn before a charge. For the next hour, people from the various major families of the county town arrived one after another. Some sent their household Stewards, while others came in person.
Aunt Liu was overwhelmed with hosting, but fortunately, Li Min came from the Cai Mansion and was experienced in these social dealings. She took charge of receiving the guests and recording the gifts each one brought.
It wasn’t until night fell that the Lin residence finally quieted down.
Li Min looked at the records on the gift list, utterly shocked. Although the gifts from each family weren’t large—most gave twenty or thirty taels, with one or two occasionally giving fifty—the sheer number of visitors meant the total added up to over a thousand taels.
But what excited Li Min even more was that many of the visitors were Stewards from major families. In the past, to sell cloth to the nobility, the Master had held many banquets at home to entertain these Stewards. However, those Stewards had always been arrogant, looking down their noses at them. But today, after learning she was Lin Yan’s aunt, while they weren’t exactly bowing and scraping, they were extremely warm. Several even hinted that they wanted to pay a visit to her home.
Li Min’s gaze fell on Lin Yan, who stood to the side with a calm expression. She knew very well that all of this was because of her nephew.
’When one person achieves the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.’
’No, I have to go back and have a good talk with the Master. Our family must send a significant gift this time.’
At the side, Aunt Liu was in a state of utter shock, still not having recovered her senses.
"Aunt, are you alright?"
Seeing his aunt sitting silently on the stone stool for a long time, Lin Yan asked with some concern.
"I... I’m fine."
Aunt Liu picked up the teapot from the table, poured herself a cup to soothe her dry throat, and said, "Yan’er, go... go pay respects to your parents and ancestors. Thank them for their protection."
The simple Aunt Liu had no other thoughts in her mind at this moment, only the desire to thank the Lin family ancestors for their blessings.