This Martial Saint is Too Cautious

"Eldest, shut your mouth."

Zhou Cang glared at his eldest son. Seeing the ashen look on his daughter's face, he sighed inwardly.

He didn't know if Shu'er had truly let go of rejecting Lin Yan, but the matter had become a thorn in his eldest son's side.

In his eldest son's mind, he'd always believed that if Shu'er hadn't rejected Lin Yan, Lin Yan would have become the Zhou Family's son-in-law. With Lin Yan's help during the Four Seas Gang incident, the Zhou Family wouldn't have been implicated. Instead, they would have climbed even higher—one only had to look at the Lin Family now to see the proof.

"Lin Yan has already left Guangping County Town. There's no need to bring him up again."

"So, Father-in-law, you've heard the news as well?"

Just as Zhou Cang finished warning his eldest son, footsteps sounded from outside, and a young man strode in.

"What matter are you speaking of, my good son-in-law?"

Zhou Cang's eyes narrowed slightly. His family had managed to hide the fact that the head of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall had sent a matchmaker, so his son-in-law was still in the dark.

"You don't know, Father-in-law? It's about Lord Lin, Lin Yan! News just came from the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall—Lin Yan broke through to the Blood Exchange Realm in Qing State!"

Sun Yang was thrilled. He didn't notice the strange expressions on the faces of his wife, eldest brother-in-law, and father-in-law, assuming they were simply stunned by the news.

"It's been less than three years since Lord Lin joined the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall for his Cultivation, and he's already entered the Blood Exchange Realm. A talent like that is simply astonishing! It's a shame... our family only moved into the city this year. We were never fortunate enough to meet him."

As he finished, Sun Yang's face was filled with regret.

Seeing the regret on her husband's face, Zhou Shu's pretty face turned deathly pale, and her hands, hidden behind her back, were wringing a handkerchief.

...

「In a humble courtyard within the city.」

Dressed in martial attire, Li Yu brandished her longsword.

After the Lantern Festival, she had rejected an arranged marriage, had a falling out with her family, and was now living in a small courtyard with her maid.

The courtyard gate swung open. A maid entered carrying a basket of vegetables and headed for the kitchen.

Moments later, Li Yu put away her sword. She looked at her maid, who was washing vegetables by the well, and asked, "Did my family give you trouble again?"

"N-no..."

Qingzhu shook her head. Li Yu walked over to the well. Seeing that Qingzhu wouldn't meet her gaze, she said in a low voice, "Qingzhu, you've been with me since we were children. You wouldn't act like this unless something was weighing on your mind. If you still won't talk, you can go back to the estate."

"Miss, please don't... I... I'll tell you." Qingzhu quickly looked up. "It's... it's not about the estate. I just heard someone talking... ab-about Young Master Lin."

"Young Master Lin?"

Li Yu froze for a moment, then immediately knew which Young Master Lin her maid meant. The only person Qingzhu would be so reluctant to mention in her presence was Lin Yan.

She knew Lin Yan had left Guangping County Town, but she had no idea where he'd gone.

'So Lin Yan is back in Guangping County Town?'

'It must be more than that. If he'd simply returned, it's unlikely the news would have reached Qingzhu. She only interacts with people like the Shopkeeper when she picks up my medicine at the apothecary. They wouldn't be specifically tracking whether Lin Yan was back in town or not.'

"He broke through to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, didn't he?" Li Yu said. "Why couldn't you tell me that? I've already moved on from that setback."

Li Yu gave a faint smile. She truly had moved on. She understood now that relying on appearances was a fleeting illusion; once shattered, it left nothing behind.

'In the end, you can only rely on yourself.'

That was why she had refused her family's arranged marriage and was now living alone, dedicated to her training.

"M... Miss..." Qingzhu's voice was faint. 'Maybe I should just let her believe that,' she thought, 'but this news is huge. Even the apothecary's assistant knows about it. Miss will find out eventually. I can't hide it from her.'

"What is it? Was I wrong? Did Lin Yan not reach the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing?"

"Young Master Lin didn't just reach the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing... they say he has already entered the Blood Exchange Realm."

Li Yu was speechless.

...

「Qing State Prefecture City, Bai Family Estate.」

"Lin Yu of the Second Branch isn't bad. He was the first to break through to the Blood Exchange Realm."

"What's the use of being the first? It's potential that matters. That Lin Yan is only twenty; his potential is far greater than Lin Yu's."

"I favor Lin Xiao of the Fifth Branch. I hear he's already grasped Saber Intent. He might be slower than Lin Yu only because he spent more time accumulating his Qi Blood."

"And don't forget Lin Yujing of the First Branch. He may not have reached Blood Exchange yet, but that's because he's nurturing his Qi Blood during his Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. Once he breaks through to the Blood Exchange Realm, he'll absolutely crush the others."

...

Bai Jingxing sat at the head of the room, listening to the women of his family bicker. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. That's enough arguing. Ruo'er, what do you think?"

Called upon by her father, Bai Ruo rested her chin on her hand and began her analysis. "I believe Lin Xiao of the Fifth Branch is the most suitable."

"And why Lin Xiao?"

"Lin Yu of the Second Branch was the first of the branch members to break through to the Blood Exchange Realm. Among the many families like ours that are aligned with the Lin Family, plenty of them will have their eyes on him. If our gesture of support is too small, it will have little effect."

"Mm. Go on, Ruo'er." Bai Jingxing nodded, approving of his youngest daughter's reasoning.

"Lin Yan of the Third Branch broke through to the Blood Exchange Realm at twenty, making him the youngest of the branch members, true. But the enmity between the Third Branch and the Fourth Branch runs too deep. If our Bai Family shows favor to Lin Yan, we risk incurring the Fourth Branch's displeasure. As for Lin Yujing of the First Branch, while his potential is immense, the Bai Family needs tangible benefits now. There's no point in waiting."

"Therefore, Lin Xiao is the Bai Family's best choice. As for the others, we can simply send a modest gift to each."