Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Even though his Inner Strength had just broken through, he was still somewhat weary from such a hard ride.

Fortunately, it seemed he had made it in time.

The Lin family’s estate was just ahead. Xie Yuan was considering whether to stop for a moment and have a drink of water to recover his energy when his gaze suddenly hardened.

Outside the Lin estate’s gates, Soul Banners fluttered and paper money littered the ground. White funeral drapes hung high over the entrance. A funeral was in progress.

He tied his horse to a hitching post and strode to the gate, asking a servant dressed in mourning clothes:

"Excuse me, who in the household has passed away?"

The servant saw Xie Yuan’s kind face, took a closer look to recognize him, and exclaimed in surprise:

"Y-You’re Master Xie, who came by the other day?"

"That’s right. I was here not long ago. How could someone have passed away in just a few days?"

Xie Yuan frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

With such a display—the entire household in white, the funeral so grand—it had to be a major affair. It would have to be Landlord Lin’s own parents to warrant such a scale.

But the other day, Landlord Lin had practically introduced his entire family tree going back eighteen generations to Xie Yuan. His own parents had passed away long ago...

The servant’s eyes darted around evasively, but seeing Xie Yuan’s solemn expression and imposing aura, he still whispered:

"It’s... the master who passed..."

"What?"

Xie Yuan was stunned. Then the servant continued:

"And the mistress... and many others in the estate... they’re all dead..."

Xie Yuan’s eyes widened. He asked urgently:

"What happened?"

"The day you escorted ’Miss Lin’ away, Master Xie, a fierce man carrying a large saber came..."

The servant, his face filled with terror, tremblingly finished his explanation. Only then did Xie Yuan understand what had happened.

It turned out that not long after he had left that day, Lu the Third had found his way to the Lin estate. Under questioning, the unsuspecting Landlord Lin couldn’t provide the answers Lu the Third wanted and was killed on the spot by the bandit leader.

With Landlord Lin dead, the entire estate was thrown into chaos. Lu the Third, growing impatient, began killing indiscriminately, slaughtering half the estate’s residents before finally leaving.

As Xie Yuan listened, his fists clenched tightly. As he shifted, his hand brushed against the Treasure Saber at his waist.

He looked down. The Treasure Saber hung quietly at his side.

The scene of Landlord Lin personally tying the scabbard to his waist, proudly proclaiming, "A treasure saber for a hero," was still vivid in his mind.

Xie Yuan took a long, deep breath and said in a heavy voice:

"Please take me inside. I wish to offer a stick of incense for Landlord Lin."

The two servants at the gate exchanged a glance. The one who had spoken earlier stammered:

"Master Xie, you can’t go in."

Xie Yuan was very surprised to hear this and frowned.

"And why is that?"

In Yunzhou, it was customary for any prominent family holding a funeral to welcome all who came to pay their respects, even complete strangers, and offer them hospitality. This was all the more true for someone like Xie Yuan, who had a connection to the family.

That servant couldn’t answer, but the other one said impatiently:

"Because I said so! You don’t need a reason."

Xie Yuan glanced over and saw that this servant had a vicious expression. His mourning clothes were askew, clearly thrown on carelessly. In contrast, the servant he recognized was dressed much more properly and seemed vaguely afraid of the other man.

A glint appeared in his eyes. A suspicion formed in his mind, and he said in a low voice:

"Pardon my intrusion."

Then, with a flash of movement, Xie Yuan slipped right between the two servants and entered the estate.

"Hey, what are you doing! Get out!"

The vicious servant was startled and immediately gave chase, but he was no match for Xie Yuan’s speed.

Xie Yuan made his way to the main hall. Inside, a heavy, enormous sandalwood coffin rested in the center of the room, flanked by Soul Banners and funeral drapes. Everything was stark white.

Two young people dressed entirely in white mourning clothes knelt beside the coffin, their expressions grief-stricken. On the other side stood several middle-aged men, also wearing sackcloth and filial piety attire, but their faces showed little sadness. Instead, they seemed quite agitated, arguing amongst themselves.

Xie Yuan’s wind-like arrival caught everyone’s attention. The middle-aged men gradually fell silent. One of the kneeling youths stood up—a stout young man who looked as if he’d been cast from the same mold as Landlord Lin. He asked in a hoarse voice:

"You are...?"

Xie Yuan didn’t answer, asking instead:

"Are you Landlord Lin’s son?"

The stout young man paused, then nodded.

Xie Yuan then looked at the other kneeling person, a delicate-featured young woman. He froze for a moment before realizing this must be Landlord Lin’s daughter, Lin Zhen—the real one.

’I almost thought she was that Miss Yun.’

The Lin family had truly been dragged into this disaster because of Miss Yun. Xie Yuan’s heart grew heavy.

On the other side, the man who seemed to be the leader of the middle-aged group frowned. Just then, he saw the breathless gatekeeper run in and asked in a low, stern voice:

"Why did you let an outsider in?"

"H-He forced his way in! He said he wanted to offer incense for the Master."

The middle-aged man’s frown deepened. He addressed Xie Yuan:

"Sir, we appreciate your sentiment, but the Lin estate is going through a difficult time..."

"Since when did the Lin estate become yours?"

Young Master Lin cut him off bluntly, his voice filled with fury.

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, then said slowly:

"With my elder brother gone, it’s only natural that I take charge of family matters. Cheng’er, you’re an educated man. Don’t you understand the importance of respecting your elders? How can you speak to your Second Uncle like that!"

"Bah! All you ever do is ask my father for money to spend on whoring, gambling, and loafing about! Every one of you is a bloodsucking leech! Now, his body is barely cold—it hasn’t even been seven days—and you’re already in front of his memorial, squabbling over his property! You have the nerve to call yourselves elders? Did you ask my father? Did you ask me?"

Lin Cheng shouted.

Second Master Lin’s face flushed with momentary embarrassment, then he snorted:

"You’re young and have been away studying. You don’t understand the family’s businesses..."

"I don’t understand, but you do? You’re regulars at the brothels and gambling dens! Father once intended to train you to handle his affairs, but you were only quick to call him ’Elder Brother’ when you wanted money. The moment he needed help, you all vanished without a trace!

"Besides, even if I don’t understand, a son inherits from his father. None of this is yours."

Lin Cheng was a Scholar for a reason. His words left his uncles speechless. Humiliated, they became furious and retorted:

"Clan matters are decided by the elders! It’s not for a junior like you to interfere! We will divide our elder brother’s inheritance. We won’t let you starve, but you will stay out of the rest!"

"You dare!"

Lin Cheng roared in grief and rage and tried to rush forward, but his sister beside him held him back.

Lin Zhen sobbed:

"Brother, not in front of Father’s memorial..."

Xie Yuan watched this scene unfold, a complex feeling welling up inside him.

There was nothing new under the sun. Similar dramas played out everywhere, at all times. This one just happened to be unfolding right before his eyes.

He glanced at the large, gleaming thumb ring on Second Master Lin’s hand.

If he remembered correctly, that was Landlord Lin’s favorite. During his brief tour of the estate with the landlord, he had seen Landlord Lin caress it many times, unable to part with it.

It seemed it was now—or perhaps had long been—Second Master Lin’s favorite as well.

Xie Yuan stood to the side with his arms crossed and finally spoke up:

"I believe the landlord’s inheritance should be left entirely for Young Master Lin to manage."

His voice drew the attention of everyone in the hall. Second Master Lin shot him a look and snorted:

"Who are you? Does this place need an outsider like you sticking his nose in?"

"Forgive my presumption. My name is Xie Yuan. I am a master from the Longteng Escort Agency."

Xie Yuan cupped his fists, directing the gesture mainly toward Lin Cheng and Lin Zhen.

"You’re Master Xie?"

Lin Cheng and Lin Zhen were stunned and cried out in unison.

Lin Zhen, in particular, looked Xie Yuan up and down a few times before saying sorrowfully:

"That day, Master Xie was supposed to escort me to Yunzhou Prefecture, but a strange person subdued me and threw me in a cellar... By the time I woke up and got out, Father, Mother, and everyone in the estate..."

At this point, she began to sob again.

Xie Yuan’s expression was grave. He nodded and said:

"It is a blessing in this time of misfortune that you survived, Miss Lin. That strange person... I’m not sure of her identity. But the aggressor was a bandit leader from the West Desert, a Martial Arts Grandmaster known as Lu the Third. He came here hunting that strange person."

Lin Cheng and Lin Zhen were shocked. Only now did they understand the full story.

Lin Cheng looked to the heavens and cried out in grief and fury:

"How could my Lin family be so innocent, yet suffer such a calamity! May that strange person who implicated the innocent die a horrible death!"

Xie Yuan cleared his throat gently and said:

"The direct culprit was still Lu the Third."

"That Thief Lu deserves a thousand deaths, of course, but the strange person was the root of the disaster! Her crime is just as unforgivable!"

Lin Cheng’s eyes were wide and bloodshot. Lin Zhen’s eyes also burned with hatred, tears streaming down her face.

Xie Yuan didn’t know what to say and could only sigh.

Landlord Lin’s kinsmen first heard Xie Yuan’s identity, then heard that the killer was a Grandmaster. They all exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock.

While the middle-aged men were still reeling in shock and suspicion, Second Master Lin’s sharp eyes landed on Xie Yuan’s waist. He said in a strange tone:

"That at your waist... is that the Treasure Saber my elder brother cherished for so many years?"

Xie Yuan glanced at him.

"Yes. Landlord Lin gifted me this saber before I departed."

The blade was incredibly sharp and of extraordinary quality, rivaling the Treasure Saber carried by someone like Peng Wei, a second-generation scion with top-tier resources. It was indeed a rare and formidable weapon.

Second Master Lin’s expression shifted, and he suddenly said:

"My elder brother hired you to protect the Lin family. Not only did you fail to protect anyone, but you also led a murderer here and implicated our family. Your crime is heinous! I won’t hold you accountable for your transgressions, but you are no longer worthy of carrying that saber. Give it back to me!"

With that, he reached out to snatch the saber from Xie Yuan’s waist.