Chapter 180 - 23: Reflection
But even if it was a trap, he wasn’t afraid. He had the Lin Family backing him.
...
Xiao Family Inn.
Ma Sheng paced back and forth in the courtyard. Ever since learning of his father’s murder, he had secretly returned to Qing State Prefecture, intent on finding his father’s killer.
After making numerous inquiries, he finally uncovered something. Before his father’s death, he had intercepted a shipment from an Escort Agency. Following this lead, Ma Sheng found the inn and clinic where that Escort Agency’s members had stayed. From an apothecary’s apprentice at the clinic, he learned that the Seven Stars Escort Agency had recovered its goods. He also heard from the apprentice that the Escort Masters had mentioned one person in their conversations: a member of a Lin Family branch, Lin Yan.
It was only because of Lin Yan that the Escort Agency had managed to get its cargo back.
With this information, Ma Sheng was able to piece together the truth.
After his father stole the cargo, the Seven Stars Escort Agency must have sought out Lin Yan. Then, Lin Yan surely enlisted a Powerhouse from the Lin Family to take action, which resulted in his father, Second Uncle Feng, and their men being slaughtered.
He didn’t dare to take revenge against a behemoth like the Lin Family, nor did he have the ability to do so.
He would take his revenge on Lin Yan.
Even if Lin Yan hadn’t killed his father with his own hands, the Lin Family’s Powerhouse would never have acted without his involvement. And given his father’s cautious nature, it was impossible that he would have offended the Lin Family.
He thought about how in just a few more days, his father was supposed to leave that life behind and settle down with him, his mother, and his younger sister in Lai State Prefecture. But all of that was ruined because of Lin Yan.
When he sent a message to his mother about his intention to get revenge on Lin Yan, she supported it.
However, Ma Sheng also knew he was no match for Lin Yan. His only option was to find Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists to deal with him.
Others might not have had the connections to find such assassins, but as the son of a mountain bandit, he knew the channels quite well. He spent more than half of his family’s savings to hire three Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Powerhouses who specialized in dirty work to assassinate Lin Yan.
’As long as those three deliver Lin Yan’s head today, I’ll grind his bones to dust, leave Qing State Prefecture, and never set foot in this place again.’
BANG!
A loud bang came from the courtyard gate, and several figures burst inside.
’It’s over!’
When he saw the attire of the people who had stormed into the courtyard, especially their belts, Ma Sheng’s legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground.
In that moment, he suddenly came to a realization. ’I... How could I have been so deluded? What possessed me to seek revenge for my father?’
’Father, you have doomed me!’
...
The Third Branch’s Area.
Lin Yan had been waiting in a pavilion for half an hour when Lin Minghai appeared.
Before Lin Yan could ask, Lin Minghai spoke directly. "The one who hired those three was indeed Ma Sheng, the son of the Qingfeng Stockade’s Village Chief. He believes you’re the one who called upon a clan Powerhouse to wipe out Qingfeng Stockade. Since he can’t touch one of the clan’s Powerhouses, he’s placed all the blame on you. As for how your portrait was leaked..."
A cold glint appeared in Lin Minghai’s eyes. "It was leaked by a Steward who has been with the family for many years. The clan’s Law Enforcement Hall has already begun interrogating him."
Lin Yan nodded. He wasn’t surprised that his portrait and information had been leaked.
When he had discovered that roster of the younger generation from within the Four Great Clans of Qing State Prefecture back at Qingfeng Stockade, he knew they must have had a way of obtaining inside information on the great clans.
"The family has already sent people to Lai State. You don’t need to worry about what happens to the Ma Family next. Since they dared to make a move on you, the Ma Family will not be allowed to continue to exist."
"Brother Hai, since Ma Sheng knows my identity, did he also hire Martial Artists to go to Guangping County Town?"
Lin Yan was afraid that the deranged Ma Sheng might have sent men to Guangping County Town to harm his aunt and younger brother.
"Yes. While that traitorous servant didn’t know the specific origins of you branch family members, Ma Sheng deduced from the Seven Stars Escort Agency that you also came from Guangping County Town in Deng State Prefecture. So he hired two Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists to head to Guangping County and target your family."
Hearing this, Lin Yan shot to his feet, his eyes filled with an endless chill.
His aunt and younger brother were his bottom line!
"Don’t lose your composure over every little thing," Lin Minghai said coolly, glancing at Lin Yan.
"Brother Hai, this isn’t a small matter to me! My family..."
Lin Yan thought Brother Hai had misunderstood his family’s situation, assuming his branch clan would have its own Third- or Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists. He was about to explain, but Lin Minghai interrupted him.
"It takes about ten days to get from Qing State to Deng State, even traveling day and night. Those two Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists are just mercenaries; they won’t be rushing frantically. They’re still a long way from Deng State. In a bit, you’ll write a letter to your kinsmen in Guangping County Town to explain the situation. I’ll have it sent out by one of the family’s Cloud-Breaking Kites. It can reach Guangping County Town by tomorrow."
Hearing Brother Hai’s words, Lin Yan let out a sigh of relief. He took a deep breath, calming the turmoil in his heart.
’One must remain calm in the face of great events.’
’I’m always paying lip service to that saying, but when I was actually faced with a crisis, I couldn’t remain calm. My self-cultivation is still lacking.’
"Brother Hai, can the family’s Cloud-Breaking Kites find their way?"
Lin Yan didn’t doubt the speed of a "Cloud-Breaking Kite"; he was curious about how it determined its destination.
"The family has outposts in every prefecture in Shandong Dao. You don’t need to worry about the rest. In short, the letter will be in your family’s hands before sunset tomorrow."
"Understood. Thank you, Brother Hai."
Lin Yan didn’t ask any more questions. From Brother Hai’s tone, he could tell this likely involved some of the clan’s secrets.
"Then I’ll go back and write the letter now."
"No need to go back. I’ve already sent a servant for paper and a brush. Just write it here in the pavilion. Once you’re done, I’ll arrange for someone to send it out immediately to avoid any delay."