This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

"The young master is of a virile age."

The butler at his side smiled, smoothing things over. Having worked for the Qian Family for decades, the butler was well aware of how much the master doted on his young master; he wasn’t truly angry.

"It’s acceptable at home, but you absolutely cannot misbehave once you leave the manor. After Hang’er departs, get rid of those two women."

Qian Zhengchu said this to the butler. Having had a son late in life, he had long since paved the path of Martial Arts for Hang’er. He had befriended the Wang Family in the Prefecture City in advance, and once Hang’er broke through to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, he spent a great deal to send him to the Wang Family.

As long as Hang’er could win the favor of Miss Wang and become the Wang Family’s prized son-in-law, the Qian Family would be able to rise to the next level.

He knew that Hang’er must have been terribly stifled in the Prefecture City. Since Hang’er wanted to indulge himself, he would let him, so long as no word of it reached Miss Wang’s ears.

"Rest assured, Master, I will handle it well."

The butler nodded in acknowledgment. Little did the two women know, they only had a few days left to live.

Qian Shuhang sat down nonchalantly in a chair to the side. The butler always cleaned up the women he brought into the manor.

He had no interest in women he’d already had his fun with. If they died, they died.

"Father, you wanted to see me for something urgent?"

"This trip back... are you hiding something from me?" Qian Zhengchu asked his son, his voice grave.

"It’s a small matter, Father. You don’t need to concern yourself," Qian Shuhang replied casually.

"A small matter?" Qian Zhengchu tapped his finger on the calling card on the table. "Does it have to do with the Chen Brothers? Or the Tang Family?"

"Father, how did you know?"

A look of astonishment crossed Qian Shuhang’s face. He hadn’t informed his family about his activities on this trip back.

"They’ve already sent a calling card to our door. If you hadn’t instigated it, why would the Chen Brothers be so eager to make a move on the Tang Family’s territory?"

Ever since receiving the calling card from Lin Yan, Qian Zhengchu had suspected that the Chen Brothers’ move to seize Tang Family territory was likely related to Hang’er. Otherwise, that Lin Yan wouldn’t have sent a calling card at this particular time.

"Hang’er, tell your father everything you have done, in full detail."

Seeing his father’s serious expression, Qian Shuhang pursed his lips. He hadn’t expected Lin Yan to actually dare send a calling card to his family. ’Is he begging for mercy or snitching?’

"Father, you should be aware of the situation in Guangping County Town."

"The struggle between the Four Seas Gang and the Inspection Bureau in Guangping County Town... Of course I’m aware of it. But our Qian Family doesn’t deal in medicinal herbs. Even if the Tang Family doesn’t have the energy to mind its affairs here, you shouldn’t have used the Chen Brothers to interfere."

As Qian Zhengchu saw it, Hang’er must have wanted to use this opportunity to enter the medicinal herb trade, but the move was a bit reckless. The situation in Guangping County Town was still unclear; they shouldn’t have acted so soon.

The Qian Family has operated in Sanshan County for many years. Our actions should not be adventurous; we must seek stability.

"I couldn’t care less about a few of the Tang Family’s mountains."

With a look of utter disdain, Qian Shuhang lowered his voice. "Father, when I was at the Wang Family’s residence, I heard something. The real backers of the Four Seas Gang are the Zhou, Zhuang, and Song Families from the Prefecture City. Those three families have their eyes on Guangping County Town."

"The Zhuang... Song... and Zhou Families?"

Qian Zhengchu’s eyes widened. "Is this news true?"

"Third Master Wang of the Wang Family said it himself, so there’s no doubt it’s true. Furthermore, I happen to know Second Young Master Song. I made a point to visit him before returning, and Second Young Master Song admitted it himself."

"If Third Master Wang said it himself, then the news can’t be false." Qian Zhengchu nodded, but then a look of confusion appeared on his face. "If those three families are standing behind the Four Seas Gang, they should have crushed the Guangping County Inspection Bureau long ago. How could it have reached a stalemate that’s lasted this long?"

"Second Young Master Song explained that the Inspection Bureau in Guangping County Town is backed by the Li Family. If the three families were to send their Powerhouses, the Li Family would do the same. It would most likely escalate into a massive war between the families, which is something none of the four want. So, by tacit agreement, they’ve kept the conflict contained within Guangping County Town."

Qian Shuhang chuckled slyly. "After I returned, I learned that the Martial Artist the Tang Family sent to guard the mountains, Lin Yan, is a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. And the master of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, Yang Qingfeng, is a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. If Yang Qingfeng can be swayed to the Four Seas Gang’s side, the gang will surely be able to take Guangping County Town. If I can be instrumental in this, the Song Family will definitely not treat me poorly."

"Hang’er, wait a moment."

Qian Zhengchu looked at his son; he was beginning to understand Hang’er’s intentions.

Hang’er wanted to make the master of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall defect to the Four Seas Gang and use that to curry favor with the Song Family.

"If you want to convince the master of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall to side with the Four Seas Gang, why are you targeting Lin Yan?"

By common logic, shouldn’t you convince Lin Yan and have him be the one to persuade his master?

"Father, although that Lin Yan is already at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, from what I understand, it’s difficult to sway his master with mere words. I was thinking of using the ’ruse of self-injury.’ If Lin Yan had been willing to cooperate, we’d have had him stage an injury, pretending to be wounded by men from the Inspection Bureau, and then report it to his master. That way, Yang Qingfeng would have very likely sided with the Four Seas Gang."

A smug look appeared in Qian Shuhang’s eyes. "That Yang Qingfeng is said to be extremely good to his disciples. If one of his disciples gets injured and he, as the master, remains indifferent, he would be slapping his own face."

Qian Zhengchu’s face took on a contemplative expression. After a moment, he said, "So, Lin Yan refused you?"

"Yes. On the day Cao Zhang broke through to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, I met with Lin Yan and presented him with my offer. I didn’t expect the guy to be so ignorant of his own interests as to refuse."

"Since he refused, your plan is useless, and you shouldn’t be targeting Lin Yan." Qian Zhengchu shook his head. "Hang’er, don’t let momentary emotions control your actions."

"Father, even though Lin Yan refused, that doesn’t mean my plan has failed."

"What do you mean?"

"With Lin Yan’s cooperation, the ruse of self-injury would be more convincing. But even if he doesn’t cooperate, we can still frame the Guangping County Town Inspection Bureau. I had the Chen Brothers target Lin Yan specifically to drive him out of Sanshan County. Once Lin Yan reaches the territory of Guangping County Town, we’ll make our move on him and do some... creative work on the corpse."

"Are you confident you can do it? What has the Song Family promised you?"

Killing Lin Yan was of little consequence to Qian Zhengchu. He was more concerned with whether Hang’er’s plan was sound and how much benefit it could yield.

"I am."

Qian Shuhang nodded. "A Vice Director in the Guangping County Town Inspection Bureau practices the Red Flame Palm. A person struck by it will have a Palm Seal on their body like a brand from a hot iron. When I was in the Prefecture City, I met a master of pharmacology whose medicinal solution can create the same effect. As long as we kill Lin Yan and treat his corpse afterward, we can frame the Inspection Bureau."

"As for the Song Family, from what I gathered from Second Young Master Song, the three families are currently in a difficult position. If I can help them break the stalemate, they will at least guarantee I can reach the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing."

Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Qian Zhengchu’s eyes. The very reason he’d sent Hang’er to the Wang Family to pursue Miss Wang was precisely to secure a sure path to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing.

Only a Martial Artist who has achieved the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing knows how difficult that threshold is to cross.

His own breakthrough back then had been a great stroke of luck, and the family’s resources could only afford for Hang’er to fail twice.

"You will write to Second Young Master Song today and lay out your entire plan. Don’t just ask the Song Family to guarantee you reach the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing; at the very least, they must guarantee you three attempts to break through the barrier."

In Qian Zhengchu’s opinion, this was a gamble worth taking, but only on the condition that this reward wasn’t just something Hang’er was taking for granted. They needed a concrete promise from the Song Family.

"If the Song Family agrees, I will personally go and deal with Lin Yan," Qian Zhengchu added.

"Father, it’s a little late today. I’ll write it tomorrow."

Hearing that his own father wanted to act personally, Qian Shuhang felt a pang of annoyance. ’He thinks I can’t kill Lin Yan myself.’

"Hang’er, if a plan is to be executed, it must be done perfectly. It’s not that I don’t believe in your strength, but if I handle it, there will be no unforeseen accidents."