This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

The night was as black as ink.

After leaving the Chen Family's estate, Lin Yan didn't return to his residence. Instead, he sped directly toward the Qian Mansion.

From what Chen Hai had said, he deduced that the thousand taels Qian Zhengchu gave him were merely to lull him into a false sense of security.

Qian Zhengchu was just waiting for him to lower his guard and leave Sanshan County before making a move.

Rather than wait to be targeted, it was better to strike first.

Besides, he had already tested Qian Zhengchu during the day. The man's Qi Blood had dropped to about eighty percent of a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist's strength. With his Silk Binding Sword Intent and Stone Waist Barbarian Ridge, he stood a fighting chance.

...

The Qian Mansion was situated in the most prosperous area of Sanshan County's East City. It spanned over a dozen acres, a compound of green bricks, black tiles, high walls, and deep courtyards.

Lin Yan circled around to the rear wall. With a light push of his feet, he floated up to the top of the wall like a falling leaf, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard within.

The rear courtyard was a garden, complete with rockeries, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces. It was currently empty.

Lin Yan vaulted over and into the garden, his steps as silent as a cat's.

He passed through the garden and around a winding corridor. Ahead, brightly lit, was the Qian Mansion's main hall.

Just as Lin Yan was about to move forward, he suddenly froze.

"Who has graced my Qian Mansion with their presence so late at night?!"

Behind him, Qian Zhengchu's figure emerged from the main hall, his eyes fixed in Lin Yan's direction.

'Such sharp Perception.'

Lin Yan paused, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He was a full twenty zhang away from the main hall, moving with absolute stealth, yet he had still been discovered.

"I am intimately familiar with every blade of grass and every tree in this courtyard. The slightest disturbance will not escape my ears."

Seeing Lin Yan come to a halt, Qian Zhengchu seemed to guess his thoughts, and his next words directly answered the young man's unspoken question.

Since he'd been discovered, Lin Yan saw no reason to hide. He stepped out from the shadows of the corridor, his right hand resting on his scabbard.

Watching Lin Yan emerge from the shadows, Qian Zhengchu's old eyes narrowed instantly. "It's you, Lin Yan!"

Even though Lin Yan's face was masked and he wore all black, Qian Zhengchu recognized him at once.

A Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist was extremely sensitive to a person's aura, and besides, he had just seen Lin Yan that very day. He couldn't possibly be mistaken.

His identity exposed, Lin Yan no longer bothered with concealment and removed the mask from his face. "Senior has sharp eyes."

Seeing Lin Yan's face clearly, Qian Zhengchu suddenly issued an order to the butler at his side. "It seems Young Master Lin has something to discuss with me in private. Go and guard the entrance. Don't let anyone in."

"Yes, sir."

The butler turned and walked toward the courtyard gate. Lin Yan could sense that the man had indeed taken up a post there and wasn't going to summon the Qian Family's Martial Artists for backup.

"It seems Senior doesn't want others to know of my visit to the Qian Mansion tonight." Lin Yan smiled faintly. "Would Senior be so kind as to enlighten this junior as to why the Qian Family is targeting me?"

"Targeting you? What nonsense is this?" Qian Zhengchu feigned anger. "I gave you compensation during the day. The grudge between you and my son has been settled. Now it is you who breaks the rules by trespassing in my Qian Family's home."

"Before coming here, this junior paid a visit to the Chen Family. Chen Hai told me everything he was supposed to. Surely Senior doesn't think I'd be foolish enough to believe your words from earlier today, do you?"

Hearing Lin Yan's words, Qian Zhengchu's old eyes narrowed. The anger vanished from his face. After a few moments of silence, he spoke. "You snuck in late at night to find out the truth?"

"That is only one of my objectives."

Lin Yan shook his head. "My main purpose is to take the lives of you and your son."

At this, Qian Zhengchu's pupils constricted, and he burst out laughing.

After a few moments, a sneer spread across his old face. "It seems Chen Hai fell to your wicked hands, which must have given you some confidence. To know how to hide your strength at such a young age... truly impressive."

"But if you think I am someone on the same level as Chen Hai, you are sorely mistaken."

Qian Zhengchu slowly brought his hands out from behind his back. They were covered in Iron Gloves, and the iron spikes protruding from the knuckles glinted ominously in the moonlight.

"If I were you," Qian Zhengchu said, shaking his head, "and had figured out what was going on, I would have fled Sanshan County under the cover of night."

His tone was like that of a senior lecturing a junior. "Since you hid your strength, you should have hidden it completely. You're still too young, too impatient."

But the moment the words left his mouth, Qian Zhengchu moved.

There was no flashy opening stance, no furious shout—just the downward chop of his Iron Palm, the resulting Palm Wind as loud as thunder!

'The older they get, the more treacherous they become!'

One moment he was lecturing, the next he was attacking.

Lin Yan wasn't the least bit surprised. He had been on full alert from the moment he revealed himself. This wasn't his first fight, and he had met several old, treacherous bastards like this before.

CLANG!

The longsword left its scabbard.

The strike was as fast as lightning.

The blade didn't aim for Qian Zhengchu's palm but went straight for his throat.

Qian Zhengchu's pupils shrank. He sharply redirected his striking palm, and his Iron Palm collided with the sword's edge.

A sharp ring echoed.

Lin Yan was forced back three steps, the webbing between the thumb and forefinger of his sword hand numb from the impact.

Qian Zhengchu also took a step back. He looked down at his Iron Gloves and saw a hairline crack, thin as a strand of hair, now clearly visible on the palm.

He looked up, a flicker of astonishment in his old eyes.

"Sword Intent?"

Lin Yan didn't answer. With a flick of his wrist, the longsword drew an arc through the air.

The sword light was like silk. Nine strands of Sword Qi, as fine as gossamer, burst from the blade. They coiled toward Qian Zhengchu from different angles like nine living snakes, sealing off all his escape routes.

"No wonder you dared to speak so arrogantly. So you're relying on having cultivated Sword Intent. But let me tell you, even with Sword Intent, it's useless in the face of an absolute difference in Realm."

Qian Zhengchu roared, striking out with both palms, his Iron Palm weaving an impenetrable curtain of afterimages before him.

His words were an exaggeration.

But in a battle between Martial Artists, words could sometimes be weapons. If he could make Lin Yan hesitate, his sword would slow, and he would reveal an opening.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Sword Silks clashed against the Iron Palm, producing a dense flurry of metallic ringing.

In this exchange, Qian Zhengchu's Iron Gloves became covered in a web of cracks, looking as if they were about to shatter.

But he had blocked them. All nine strands of Sword Silk were parried.

"I told you," Qian Zhengchu sneered, "your Sword Intent isn't enough."

Instead of retreating, Qian Zhengchu advanced, striking with both palms—one aimed at Lin Yan's face, the other at his chest.

The two palms, one high and one low, were perfectly coordinated.

He was wary of Lin Yan's Sword Intent and didn't want to give him another chance to use it.

Lin Yan didn't choose to retreat or evade. That last attack was merely a probe.

He could block nine strands of Sword Silk, but what about twelve?

'Who do you think you're scaring with your words, old man?'

Stone Waist Barbarian Ridge, full power!

A series of sharp cracks echoed from his spine as his frame abruptly grew by half a chi. The veins on Lin Yan's right arm bulged as he swung his sword again.

This time, twelve strands of Sword Silk shot out simultaneously, coiling in from all directions like a dozen silver snakes.

Qian Zhengchu's pupils constricted. He never imagined that Lin Yan had been holding back.

The kid even held back at the beginning of their fight.

He thought nine strands of Sword Silk was the limit, but twelve... This boy's attainments in the Sword Dao far exceeded his estimations.

Though shocked, Qian Zhengchu gritted his teeth and thrust out both palms. His Iron Palm created a flurry of afterimages in the air as he tried to block the Sword Silks once more.

But this time, he failed.

He blocked nine strands of Sword Silk.

The tenth grazed his left wrist.

The eleventh silently coiled around his right leg.

The twelfth pierced through the curtain of palms, heading straight for his throat.

The Sword Silk sliced across his neck. Qian Zhengchu instinctively jerked his head to the side as a spray of blood erupted from his throat. The light in his old eyes rapidly faded.

Sword in hand, Lin Yan didn't spare Qian Zhengchu a second glance. In a flash, he was speeding toward the gate, where the butler stood guard. The man happened to witness the very moment the bloody mist burst from his master's throat. He was trembling in horror, having forgotten to either flee or cry for help.

The longsword fell, piercing the man's heart. Lin Yan withdrew his blade and headed for the left courtyard of the Qian Mansion.

Someone else was waiting for him there.

In the rear courtyard, Qian Shuhang finished his business and rose from the jade-like arms of two women. Clad only in his inner robes, he stepped out of the room, preparing to sit quietly in the yard for a while.

However, just as his foot touched the front step, something hard pressed against his back.

"If you don't want my sword to run you through, answer my questions honestly."

Lin Yan appeared from the darkness, his longsword pressed against Qian Shuhang's back.

An old fox like Qian Zhengchu couldn't be trusted, but an arrogant young master like Qian Shuhang was the perfect subject for interrogation.

"Lin... Lin Yan?"

Hearing the voice behind him, Qian Shuhang sounded hesitant. He recognized Lin Yan's voice but found it hard to believe.

There were a dozen or so Martial Artists patrolling the mansion, not to mention his father, a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. On what grounds did Lin Yan dare to sneak in at night?

"Relax, I'm not going to kill you. If I did, I'd have to face your father's pursuit even after leaving Sanshan County. I just want to know what you were planning for me."

Lin Yan spoke calmly, then added, "But if you dare to deceive me, don't blame me for being merciless. At worst, I'll just hide in the Martial Arts Hall for a few years and wait for your father's Qi Blood to completely decay."

'That's right... if Lin Yan dared to kill me, Father would never let him go. He's not a complete idiot, then.'

"Lin Yan, I never actually wanted to target you. My original plan was for you to cooperate with me, stage an injury, and frame the Inspection Bureau. That way, your master would surely side with the Four Seas Gang. And you would have lost nothing in the process."

"After you refused, I was admittedly annoyed, but I only wanted the Chen Brothers to teach you a lesson. You met my father today, and he gave you compensation. The matter is settled."

'Another dishonest one.'

Lin Yan mused silently. He could understand, though. To avoid provoking him, Qian Shuhang would naturally downplay the serious parts.

Fortunately, that wasn't what he wanted to ask about anyway.

"Who is backing the Four Seas Gang?"

More than anything, he wanted to know why Qian Shuhang was acting as a lobbyist for the Four Seas Gang.

"The Four Seas Gang is backed by three families from the Prefecture City: the Song Family, the Zhuang Family, and the Zhou Family. The Inspection Bureau only has the Li Family's support. It's bound to lose sooner or later. Brother Lin, it's not too late to choose to cooperate with me."

Qian Shuhang answered quickly, still harboring the fantasy of persuading Lin Yan.

Lin Yan remained unmoved and continued his questioning. "Was this plan your idea, or did it come from those three families?"

PFFT!

This time, Qian Shuhang couldn't help but let out a sneer.

"My apologies, I'm not laughing at you, Brother Lin. I just want you to understand something. Those three families all have Blood Exchange Realm powerhouses presiding over them. Although you are quite strong, Brother Lin, you're still not worthy of their notice. This plan was my own invention. I was originally thinking that after you agreed, I would present it to the three families to claim credit..."

"So, you're saying that up to this point, this was all your own doing? The three families know nothing about your plan?"

"Of course. I..."

SHINK!

He was halfway through his sentence when he felt a numbing sensation in his neck. He frantically clapped his hands to his throat, but he couldn't stop the blood gushing out.

Having confirmed that Qian Shuhang had acted on his own, Lin Yan was completely at ease.

He didn't have time to dally with Qian Shuhang. He still had to stage the scene and search the Qian Family's Mansion's Treasury. Time was short.

...

...

An hour later, back in his own courtyard, Lin Yan began to review the night's events.

The deaths of the Qian father and son likely wouldn't lead the Sanshan County Inspection Bureau to suspect him, but they would definitely be suspicious about Chen Hai's death.

However, the strength he had displayed during the day was no match for Chen Hai. Combined with the fact that the murder weapon wouldn't match, he should be able to clear his name.

He openly wore a saber scabbard at his waist and had never revealed his Swordsmanship. He would just swap the sword in the scabbard for a saber later, and then he wouldn't have to fear the Inspection Bureau's investigation.

In any case, he was a registered Martial Artist of the Tang Family and a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. His master was a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. Without evidence, the Sanshan County Inspection Bureau couldn't possibly force the blame onto him.

"What a ruthless kid. Not content with killing the second Chen brother, he even came to kill the eldest."

Just as Lin Yan was pondering if he had made any mistakes during his operation tonight, a voice suddenly rang out.

The instant he heard the voice, the hairs on Lin Yan's body stood on end. His gaze shot to the top of the left courtyard wall. Standing there, for who knows how long, was a middle-aged man.