This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Blood Exchange Realm?

"Minghai warned you?"

"Yes, Brother Hai had a servant relay the message."

Lin Yan gathered his thoughts and explained the situation, including the matter of him defeating Lin Kang from the fourth branch.

"The people from the fourth branch are really restless troublemakers. The main house is like that, and the branch family is cut from the same cloth."

Lin Mingyuan sneered. He was beginning to understand why Minghai would offer a word of warning to Lin Yan.

"Let’s go. I’ll show you around first so you can get familiar with the place."

He turned and started up the mountain path, with Lin Yan following behind him.

Lin Mingyuan didn’t speak along the way. Only after they had left the cluster of houses and neared the path leading up the mountain did he finally say, "The Yantian Mountain Range stretches for nearly three hundred li east to west across Boshan County. The terrain is steep, so there are only five paths into the mountains. I’m in charge of all five, and each one is guarded by a team led by one or two Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists."

"Brother Yuan, are all these Martial Artists from our Lin Family?"

Lin Mingyuan shook his head. "With the Lin Family’s strength, guarding the Yantian Mountain Range alone would be no problem, of course. But you can’t be too absolute. We have to give the Martial Artists of Boshan County a piece of the pie. Letting them participate in guarding the mountain also gives them some benefits. When they’re on guard duty, they’re even more dedicated than our own family members, and it prevents the other three great clans from finding an opportunity to exploit."

Lin Yan understood the implications.

Unlike Deng State, where the Profound Celestial Sect reigned supreme, Qing State was jointly controlled by the Four Great Clans. Even though Boshan County was Lin Family territory, if the family lost the people’s support, the other three clans might secretly stir up trouble.

That was one reason. Another was that the local Martial Artists would never be content to guard a treasure-filled mountain they couldn’t enter. Many would likely take desperate risks.

So now, by sharing some of the authority over guarding the mountain with the local Martial Artists, the Lin Family could win them over and have them guard the Yantian Mountain Range even more effectively.

"Lin Yan, Minghai’s purpose in sending you here wasn’t for a few paltry Contribution Points. It was to give you a chance to enter the mountains. The clan tends to turn a blind eye when the guards go into the mountains. And what’s more, I’m the one in charge here in Boshan County."

"Thank you, Brother Yuan. I understand now."

Lin Yan had an epiphany. The Contribution Points were indeed minimal, but the chance to enter the mountains was a huge temptation for him. It would be a much better place to put his True Understanding of Earth Veins to use.

"This time, the fourth mountain entrance is short-staffed. When you get there, don’t worry too much if the Mountain Guardian Martial Artists go into the mountains, as long as it’s not too frequent. But there’s one thing you must remember... under no circumstances are they allowed to secretly let outsiders in. If you notice anything suspicious, don’t act rashly. Report to me immediately. Old Zhao is a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. If you expose him on the spot, he might get desperate and attack you."

"Understood. I’ll do as you say, Brother Yuan."

After lunch, Lin Yan bid farewell to Lin Mingyuan. Led by a Martial Artist, the two of them rode on horseback toward Eagle’s Beak Gorge.

At the entrance to Eagle’s Beak Gorge, the men had clearly been notified. When Lin Yan arrived on his horse, dozens of people were already standing at the entrance. The man in the lead, a middle-aged man, cupped his fist and smiled before Lin Yan could even dismount. "Young Master Lin, it must have been a long journey."

It turned out that after Lin Yan had arrived at Lin Mingyuan’s location, Lin Mingyuan had sent a messenger ahead with the news.

Lin Yan swung himself off his horse and returned the courtesy. "Not at all. May I ask for your name, senior?"

"This humble one is Zhao Tieshan." The middle-aged man had a hearty laugh. He was burly, with the build of a bear, and his square face was tanned dark. He spoke with a resonant voice. "Young Master Lin, just call me Brother. Calling me senior is too formal."

"If I call you Brother Zhao, then you can just call me little brother."

Zhao Tieshan laughed heartily. "Thank you for the honor, Young Master Lin! In that case, I’ll take the liberty of calling you little brother. Let me introduce you to the others."

He stepped aside, revealing the dozens of men arrayed neatly behind him before Lin Yan.

The men wore varied clothing, but without exception, each had a symbol indicating their Realm embroidered or carved on their chest.

Lin Yan’s gaze swept over them, and he quickly took stock of the group.

Zhao Tieshan was the only one at the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. There were four at the Third-Time Skin Smoothing, eight at the Second-Time Skin Smoothing, and the rest were all at Single-Time Skin Smoothing.

"This is Zhou Yuanqing." Zhao Tieshan pointed to a lean man in his thirties standing at the very front, whose gaze was steady.

Zhou Yuanqing cupped his fist with a smile on his face. "Young Master Lin."

Lin Yan smiled and extended his hand. Zhou Yuanqing froze, not understanding the gesture.

"This is a greeting from my hometown. It’s called a handshake."

Hearing Lin Yan’s explanation, Zhou Yuanqing finally extended his hand and shook Lin Yan’s, though his expression was a bit odd. ’This greeting from Young Master Lin’s hometown is certainly unusual.’

’Three and a half feet. Skilled in Saber Technique.’

"This is Qian Wanli." Zhao Tieshan pointed to another man, also in his thirties, with a plain face and a faint, constant smile on his lips.

This time, Qian Wanli proactively extended his hand. "Young Master Lin."

Lin Yan smiled and shook it. ’Three feet and four inches. Skilled in Leg Technique.’

"This is Sun Desheng."

Zhao Tieshan indicated the third man, who looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six. He had a stocky build and thick, powerful arms.

Sun Desheng extended his hand, his voice a low rumble. "Young Master Lin."

’Three feet and seven inches. Skilled in Heart-Pushing Palm.’

"This is Zixuan." Zhao Tieshan finally pointed to a young man standing at the very end. He was around twenty, with a slender build and a hint of arrogance in his eyes. "He’s my nephew. He broke through to the Third-Time Skin Smoothing the year before last."

Zhao Zixuan extended his hand, his tone flat. "Young Master Lin."

His expression wasn’t very enthusiastic; it even held a trace of disdain.

Lin Yan’s expression didn’t change as he smiled and shook the young man’s hand.

’Three feet and six inches. Skilled in Tiger Form Fist. His Realm is decent, but his Tiger Form Fist hasn’t even reached Minor Achievement.’