This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

Among these Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, the strongest was likely Sun Desheng.

Zhao Tieshan seemed to notice his nephew’s coldness and said with a smile, "Zixuan has a reserved personality and doesn’t talk much. Please don’t take offense, Young Master Lin."

"Of course not," Lin Yan said with a small smile.

Zhao Tieshan then introduced the remaining eight Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists one by one. Lin Yan committed them all to memory, his expression unreadable, but his mind was silently calculating.

’Five of them are named Zhao. It seems Brother Yuan was right; most of the Martial Artists at this entrance are from the Zhao Family.’

"Young Brother Lin, it’s getting late. We’ll arrange a place for you to stay first, and then we’ll hold a welcome dinner for you tonight." After speaking, Zhao Tieshan beckoned to someone behind him. "Ziming, take Young Master Lin to his quarters to rest."

"Yes, Second Uncle," Zhao Ziming replied, walking to Lin Yan’s side. "Young Master Lin, please follow me."

The two of them passed through the crowd and walked toward the back of the housing area.

The buildings at Eagle’s Beak Gorge were built on the left and right sides, totaling thirty to forty rooms. Zhao Ziming led Lin Yan directly to a separate courtyard on the far left. With its blue bricks and black tiles, it was clearly a cut above the other stone houses.

"Young Master Lin, this courtyard is reserved for members of the Lin Family. It’s quiet here."

Zhao Ziming offered this explanation before pushing open the courtyard gate.

The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was neat and tidy. It had a main building and two side wings, making three rooms in total. A pomegranate tree stood in the yard, and beneath it, a set of tea utensils was laid out on a stone table.

"Young Master Lin, please see if anything is missing. I can have someone procure it for you."

"This is very good."

Lin Yan walked into the main house and looked around. The furniture was simple but newly made, and the bedding was brand new as well.

Noticing Lin Yan’s gaze on the furniture, Zhao Ziming smiled. "We were notified of your arrival yesterday, Young Master Lin. Second Uncle had all this furniture and bedding delivered brand new early this morning."

"Brother Zhao has gone to a lot of trouble."

"Well then, Young Master Lin, please get some rest. I will come for you at dusk. Second Uncle has arranged a banquet in the mess hall to welcome you." With that, Zhao Ziming clasped his fist in farewell, turned, and left.

Lin Yan saw him to the courtyard gate, watched until Zhao Ziming was in the distance, and then closed the door.

He didn’t rest right away. Instead, he walked a lap around the courtyard, then pushed open the back gate to survey the terrain outside.

Standing in the front courtyard, he could see the sunrise perfectly the next morning. From a scenic perspective, it was indeed the best location.

The only problem was that it was nearly a li away from the entrance to the mountain pass.

...

「At dusk, as twilight deepened.」

Zhao Zixuan appeared at the courtyard gate right on time. Lin Yan, having changed into a clean set of robes, followed him toward the mess hall.

The mess hall was a large building in the middle of the housing area. Three tables were already set up inside, steaming with hot food and fragrant with the aroma of wine.

Zhao Tieshan was seated at the head table. Seeing Lin Yan enter, he stood and waved him over. "Young Brother Lin, come, sit here."

Lin Yan walked over and took a seat at the head table. Also at the table were Zhou Yuanqing, Qian Wanli, Sun Desheng, and Zhao Zixuan—all of them Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists.

"Young Brother Lin, you’re from the main family, so this old brother won’t stand on ceremony with you." Zhao Tieshan raised his wine bowl. "This first bowl is for you. Welcome to Eagle’s Beak Gorge."

After speaking, he tilted his head back and drank it all down in a few large gulps.

Lin Yan also raised his wine bowl and downed it in one go.

The wine was a strong local spirit from Boshan County. It was fiery on the tongue and burned like fire going down, but with Lin Yan’s physique as a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist, the alcohol’s kick was nothing to him.

"Good!" Seeing how decisively Lin Yan drank, the smile on Zhao Tieshan’s face widened. "Young Brother Lin is a straightforward man!"

He waved his hand, signaling for everyone to start eating.

Although there was no tiger or bear meat, the dishes were all made from wild game known to nourish one’s Qi Blood.

After three rounds of drinks and several courses of food, the atmosphere at the table gradually grew lively.

Zhou Yuanqing and the other two also toasted Lin Yan. When it was Zhao Zixuan’s turn, he suddenly asked, "How old are you this year, Young Master Lin?"

"I just turned twenty," Lin Yan said.

Zhao Zixuan grunted in acknowledgment. "Then when did you achieve the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, Young Master Lin?"

This time, Lin Yan did not answer.

"Zixuan, what do you think you’re doing?"

Zhao Tieshan, who was sitting next to Lin Yan, shot to his feet. "Young Brother Lin is a guest from the main family! What is this attitude of yours?"

"Second Uncle, you always tell me that the Martial Artists from the main family are very strong. Young Master Lin and I are the same age, and we are both at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing. I want to have a friendly spar with him."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere at the table instantly froze.

Zhou Yuanqing put down his chopsticks. Qian Wanli’s smile faded slightly. Sun Desheng’s raised wine bowl stopped in mid-air.

Zhao Tieshan’s expression turned completely grim.

"Nonsense!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the wine bowls jump. "Apologize to Young Brother Lin at once!"

But Zhao Zixuan was unmoved. He just looked at Lin Yan. "If Young Master Lin feels I am unworthy of sparring with you, then we can drop the matter. I will toast you instead."

His words were polite, but everyone could hear the unyielding competitiveness in his tone.

Zhao Tieshan was so angry his beard was trembling. Just as he was about to erupt, Lin Yan put down his wine bowl. He looked at Zhao Zixuan and said calmly, "Since Brother Zhao is interested, let’s have a spar."

Zhao Tieshan was taken aback. "Young Brother Lin, this..."

"Don’t worry, Brother Zhao. We’ll keep it friendly." Lin Yan smiled. "Just think of it as some entertainment for the evening."

Zhao Tieshan wanted to say more, but seeing Lin Yan’s composed expression, he swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue.

He shot a glare at Zhao Zixuan and snorted coldly. ’You don’t know your own limits.’

Zhao Zixuan didn’t respond. He simply stood up and walked to the open space outside the mess hall.

Lin Yan also rose and followed him out.

Seeing this, the others in the mess hall put down their bowls and chopsticks and swarmed out with a great clamor, forming a circle around them.

Zhou Yuanqing and Qian Wanli exchanged a look, both seeing the surprise in the other’s eyes.