Martial Saint with Passives

"What?!"

"He’s back?!"

Everyone in the hall jolted. Mrs. Yin and Yin Yingying shot to their feet, staring at the doorway in disbelief.

The expressions on Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang’s faces froze. Their previous anxiety, blame, and smugness instantly morphed into utter bewilderment and an indescribable stiffness.

Then, cool moonlight spilled over the threshold as three figures stepped into the hall.

The man in the lead was none other than Yin Rong! His face was a bit gaunt and his clothes were stained with dust, but his steps were steady, and his eyes shone with the thrill of having survived a great ordeal. Behind him was Steward Wang, his face pale and his legs still a little weak.

And walking at the very rear, his shoulders bathed in the cold moonlight, was the one they had declared would never return—Jiang Che!

He wore dark, fitted clothes, his posture was ramrod straight, and his expression was as calm as still water, as if he had merely gone out for a stroll.

Only a few barely perceptible dark stains on his robes and the faint, lingering killing intent around him silently spoke of the perilous battle he had just endured.

"Father!"

Yin Yingying’s tears instantly streamed down her face. She let out a cry and threw herself forward, hugging her father tightly.

"My lord!" Mrs. Yin also cried out as she rushed over.

Having narrowly escaped death, Yin Rong looked at his wife and daughter, tears streaming down his own weathered face as he patted their backs firmly. "It’s all right! It’s all right now!"

After comforting his wife and daughter, Yin Rong took a deep breath and turned to the others, his voice filled with the thrill and lingering fear of his survival:

"Everyone, I was only able to return alive thanks to Young Master Jiang’s divine courage! He stormed the bandits’ den single-handedly and cut down their leader, Ba Hui! He also eliminated five of their fiercest thugs! If not for Young Master Jiang, I, Yin Rong, would have met my end today at Old Locust Slope!"

He looked at Jiang Che, solemnly clasped his fists, and bowed deeply. "Young Master Jiang, for the great kindness of saving my life, I, Yin Rong, will be eternally grateful!"

His words struck the silent hall like a clap of thunder.

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Jiang Che.

Yin Yingying’s and Mrs. Yin’s eyes were filled with immense surprise, gratitude, and lingering fear.

As for Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang, they looked as if they had just swallowed a hundred flies. Their expressions were a mixture of shock, embarrassment, and disbelief, mingled with the humiliation of being proven wrong so publicly and a hint of fear.

Just moments ago, they had been desperately belittling the young man, insisting he was going to his death. But not only had he returned alive, he had also rescued everyone!

The slap to their faces was resounding!

Zhu Shichang reacted faster. Forcing a smile that was uglier than a crying face, he stepped forward and cupped his hands at Jiang Che and Yin Rong. "Con... Congratulations on your safe return, Uncle! Young Master Jiang is truly... truly a young hero! Incredible! Simply incredible!"

His eyes darted about, not daring to meet Jiang Che’s calm yet profound gaze.

Wang Xiufen also quickly plastered on a smile. "Yes, yes! I knew it! One look at Young Master Jiang and you can tell he’s a capable man! Just now... we were just too worried about Uncle’s safety... We misspoke. Young Master Jiang, you are a magnanimous man, please don’t take it to heart!"

She, too, did not dare to look at Jiang Che.

A great weight lifted from Yin Yingying’s heart. Seeing the couple’s sycophantic behavior—so arrogant before, so fawning now—and remembering their vicious curses and coercion from moments ago, a surge of anger rushed to her head.

She let go of her father without a second thought, turned, and stared coldly at Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang. "Cousin, Brother-in-law, that’s not what you were saying earlier. Weren’t you the ones saying over and over that Jiang Che was going to his death, that he would only bring harm to my father? Weren’t you the ones pressuring my mother to immediately agree to your predatory terms? What’s this? Now that he’s been saved, you’ve changed your tune?"

Yin Yingying’s words stabbed like daggers.

Yin Rong’s expression darkened as well. His gaze toward Zhu Shichang and his wife was now filled with distance and coldness.

Although Mrs. Yin didn’t speak, she gripped her husband’s arm tightly, and her look toward her niece and her husband was also clearly one of disapproval and alienation.

Publicly exposed by Yin Yingying, Wang Xiufen and Zhu Shichang’s faces flushed red then went pale. They were so embarrassed they wished the ground would swallow them whole.

Zhu Shichang gave a dry laugh. "Sister Yingying, you jest... It’s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding... Uh... It’s just good that Uncle is back safely, that’s all! It’s getting late, so we won’t disturb Uncle’s rest any longer! Farewell! Farewell!"

With that, he grabbed Wang Xiufen, who looked like she still wanted to say something, and practically fled in disgrace.

Watching their pathetic retreating figures, Yin Yingying snorted coldly.

Yin Rong, however, sighed and said solemnly to Jiang Che, "Young Master Jiang, the Yin Family will never forget the debt of saving my life today!"

Jiang Che shook his head. "You overstate things, Uncle. It was my duty."

As he spoke, he took a heavy money pouch from his robes and handed it over.

"This was recovered from the Iron Bone Gang’s lair. It should be the ten thousand taels in gold notes you sent before. Now it’s returned to its rightful owner."

Yin Rong looked at the money pouch but abruptly pushed it back into Jiang Che’s hands, his tone resolute. "Young Master Jiang! This money—you must take it!"

Jiang Che was slightly taken aback. "Uncle, this..."

Yin Rong gripped Jiang Che’s hand tightly, his eyes filled with gratitude:

"Young Master Jiang! You didn’t just save my life and Uncle Wang’s; you saved the very foundation of my Yin’s Cloth Shop! A mere ten thousand taels of gold is not even a fraction of what’s needed to repay your kindness! Please accept it as a small token from the Yin Family! Your Cultivation requires a great deal of resources right now. This money is far more useful to you than it is to me!"

’This young man before me can kill a Mid-stage of Bone Forging brute while only at the Force Integration stage. His future is truly limitless! This isn’t just hiring a Tributor; it’s investing in a dragon before it soars into the heavens! If not now, when is a better time to offer help when it’s needed most?’