The fight in front of the Piaoxiang Building quickly spread throughout the county’s Martial Arts Community.
Cheng Zonghan was a veteran Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist from the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall with a considerable reputation. Losing after a fierce battle would have been one thing, but being defeated in just two punches was enough to attract serious attention.
For the first time, the name Lin Yan, a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, truly reached the ears of the upper echelons of the great families.
While Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists were the ones who held real influence in the eyes of these families, they all had to start somewhere. As such, any Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist with potential drew their notice.
Wang Family.
"Uncle, it hasn’t been long since that Lin Yan broke through to the Second-Time of Skin Smoothing, but now he can defeat Cheng Zonghan. He’s also posted in Qingtian Town. Could it be that he was the one who killed Housekeeper Li, then stole and consumed the Purple Furred Beast? Is that why his strength has improved by leaps and bounds?"
Wang Heng listened to his nephew’s speculation, shaking his head with a smile. "Hao’er, your analysis seems logical on the surface, but it’s actually impossible."
Wang Hao: ?
"The Purple Furred Beast’s primary purpose is to increase the chances of a breakthrough. Unless Lin Yan is an absolute fool, he wouldn’t consume it just to enhance his Qi Blood. No one would treat gold as if it were mere silver."
"But how else do you explain the rapid improvement in his strength?"
"It’s highly likely that Cheng Zonghan was careless and underestimated his opponent. I’m familiar with Cheng Zonghan; he’s arrogant and conceited. It’s only natural that he would suffer a setback."
Wang Heng’s eyes held a look of certainty as he continued, "Besides, Hao’er, you’re looking at things too superficially. Housekeeper Li was no fool like Cheng Zonghan. Even if he couldn’t win, he could have escaped. I now suspect the person who killed Housekeeper Li was very likely a Third-Time Skin Smoothing powerhouse."
"A Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist? Then why did you have me investigate the Zhou Family?" Wang Hao asked, confused.
"To maintain morale." A sharp glint appeared in Wang Heng’s eyes. "If I were to announce that Housekeeper Li was killed by a Third-Time Skin Smoothing powerhouse, the Martial Artists in our family would grow fearful and consider leaving. No one could guarantee that this powerhouse wouldn’t decide to finish the job and come after our Wang Family."
"I see. You’re far more thorough in your considerations, Uncle. I still have much to learn."
"When you reach my age and have experienced more, you’ll understand."
Zhou Family.
"Father, Lin Yan defeated Cheng Zonghan in two punches. He must be close to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing! If you had just listened to me back then, Lin Yan would be the prized son-in-law of our Zhou Mansion by now."
The Zhou Family’s eldest son, Zhou Xu, paced back and forth in the main hall. A look of regret was also etched on Zhou Cang’s old face.
"Father, I doubt Lin Yan is engaged yet. It’s not too late for us to approach Hall Master Yang and discuss the marriage."
The eldest daughter spoke up, her gaze turning to Zhou Shu. "Little sister, surely you’re willing this time?"
"No."
Zhou Shu still shook her head. "It’s as I’ve said before: the barrier to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing is not so easily broken. The county is full of Martial Artists who cultivated quickly during the Second-Time of Skin Smoothing, only to get stuck at the final hurdle, unable to break through for years."
"That’s not right, little sister." Zhou Xu cut her off. "If we wait until Lin Yan actually breaks through to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing—forget breaking through at twenty, even if he breaks through by twenty-five—our Zhou Family won’t even be in the running."
"And what good would it do even if I were willing? He might not even agree. Even if he did, we rejected him once and are now changing our minds. The damage has been done. He would never be truly loyal to our Zhou Family."
Zhou Shu grew flustered. Not long ago, she had discussed this very matter with her closest friends, mocking Lin Yan for his wishful thinking. If she went back on her word and agreed to the marriage now, how could she possibly face them?
For the sake of her own pride, she could not go back on her decision.
"Shu’er is right," Zhou Cang said. "If we were to go back on our word now, he would always hold a grudge. There’s no need to bring this marriage up again."
Zhou Cang sighed softly. In the end, the Zhou Family didn’t currently lack a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist to hold the line. While it was a pity, it wasn’t a cause for deep regret.
Li Family.
"It seems I misjudged him. This Lin Yan is now qualified to be considered a candidate for my hand. Send an invitation to him in my name. Invite him to the flower-viewing banquet three days from now."
Li Yu took the towel from her maid, wiping the sweat from her face as she gave the instruction.
"My lady, what if he doesn’t come?"
"He’ll come." Li Yu’s face was filled with confidence—confidence in her own beauty, but even more so in her understanding of Lin Yan’s current situation.
’To achieve such rapid Cultivation, Lin Yan’s expenses must be astonishing.’
’Progressing to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing... so-called leaps and bounds are always accompanied by a sea of silver coins. Given Lin Yan’s family background, the faster he cultivates, the more strapped for cash he’ll be. It’s even possible he’s only advancing this quickly by borrowing money left and right just to keep up.’
’Under these circumstances, he has no reason not to attend.’
Tang Family.
"Eldest Miss, something happened in the city today."
"What is it?"
"In the city, Lin Yan defeated Cheng Zonghan, a Second-Time Skin Smoothing disciple from the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall, in just two punches."
"Who is Cheng Zonghan?"
The housekeeper was speechless for a long moment before remembering that, given his young miss’s status, an ordinary Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist was completely beneath her notice. Of course she wouldn’t have heard of Cheng Zonghan.
"Cheng Zonghan is a disciple of the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall. He reached the Second-Time of Skin Smoothing three years ago. Among those at that level, his strength is considered near the top, if not the very peak."
Tang Tang’s gaze lifted from her book, turning to the housekeeper. "So it seems the Elixirs Lin Yan purchased back then were indeed for his own Cultivation."
"It must be." The housekeeper agreed, though his tone then turned doubtful. "But even with those resources, it shouldn’t be enough for his strength to have reached this level."
"Everyone has their own fortuitous encounters; it’s nothing to dwell on. Has Lin Yan been back to the apothecary to buy more Elixirs or medicinal herbs recently?"
"He bought some medicinal herbs once, but didn’t spend much. He hasn’t bought any more Vital Tendon Pills, however. I imagine he can no longer afford such an expense."
"How did the conflict between Lin Yan and that Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall disciple start?"
"It was because of a distant aunt of Lin Yan’s..."
The housekeeper explained the situation in detail, adding at the end, "According to my findings, Lin Yan was first able to start on the path of Martial Arts because he acquired a Pile Skill manual from the Cai Mansion."
After listening, Tang Tang’s fair, slender fingers stroked the page of her book. After a long moment, she said, "In the name of the Tang Family, send him five bottles of Vital Tendon Pills."
"My lady, should we have him come to the mansion?"
The housekeeper wasn’t surprised by the gift of five bottles of Vital Tendon Pills. To the Tang Family, it was a trivial expense.
"That won’t be necessary."
Tang Tang shook her head. ’The pills are the gesture. The goodwill has been extended. Why force him to come here just to express his gratitude in person?’
’A grateful person will remember the kindness on his own. Summoning him to the Tang Family just to make him acknowledge the debt verbally would be a crude and inferior tactic.’
Lin Yan stayed at the Cai Mansion for a short while before leaving.
’Fighting Cheng Zonghan this time exposed some of my strength,’ Lin Yan mused, ’but I don’t regret it.’
’No matter how much one prefers to lay low, a man has to have principles.’
’The Cai Family was good to me. I couldn’t possibly have stood by and done nothing.’
After leaving the Cai Family, Lin Yan went straight home. He greeted his aunt but didn’t mention what had happened at the Cai Mansion, not wanting to make her worry.
"Is Young Master Lin in?"
Lin Yan had just returned to his room and changed his clothes when a voice came from the doorway.
Seeing the maidservant at the door, Lin Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’I’ve seen her before. She’s the one who was with Li Yu.’
"Young Master Lin, my lady is hosting a flower-viewing banquet in three days. She has specially sent me with this invitation, hoping you will grace the occasion with your presence to enjoy the flowers and the feast."
"I understand. I will attend if I am free."
Lin Yan took the invitation, and the maid departed with a smile. After closing the door, however, Lin Yan merely glanced at the invitation before tossing it onto the table.
To Brother Lin,
The flowers in my family’s garden are in full bloom, and the spirit of spring is in the air.
I am hosting a small flower-viewing banquet in our rear garden three days from now.
I have prepared some wine and hope you can spare the time to join me.
A sincere invitation from Li Yu.
He had a good idea of what Li Yu was up to.
’She was so blunt when we first met, but now her attitude has done a complete one-eighty. It’s all because I defeated Cheng Zonghan in two punches and showed my potential.’
But he had no intention of going.
’It’s not that I’m holding a grudge over a small thing like her previous rejection. I just have my mind entirely on Cultivation right now and have no time for such superficial social gatherings.’
’Besides, Li Yu might seem straightforward, but she’s calculating to the bone. It’s best not to get too involved with people like that.’
"Yan’er, which young lady invited you to view flowers?"
Liu Shi came out of the house. She had overheard most of what the Li Family’s maid had said, and her face was wreathed in smiles.
’Her nephew was so promising now. She didn’t have to worry about his livelihood anymore, but there was one thing still on her mind: Yan’er’s marriage.’
’A few days ago, the Third Mistress had invited her to the Cai Mansion and mentioned Yan’er’s marriage prospects. The Third Mistress told her that now that Yan’er was a Martial Artist, he couldn’t just marry any common girl.’
’The Third Mistress had a point, but she didn’t know any daughters of influential families. All she could do was worry silently.’
’Yan’er was nineteen now; he had already reached the age for engagement and marriage.’
’Only by seeing Yan’er married could she feel she had truly fulfilled her duty to his parents.’
"Aunt, please don’t rush me. All I want to do right now is train. I haven’t even thought about marriage."
Lin Yan knew what was on his aunt’s mind, so he stated his intentions plainly.
"Yan’er, even if you don’t plan on getting married right now, it wouldn’t hurt to meet some young ladies, get to know each other a little..."
"Is Young Master Lin in?"
Another voice from the door interrupted Liu Shi.
"Could it be that girl from before has come back?"
Liu Shi didn’t mind being interrupted and walked toward the door with a smile. Lin Yan, however, gave a knowing smile. ’My aunt is in for a disappointment,’ he thought.
’He didn’t know who was at the door, but their footsteps were completely different from the Li Family maid’s. This person had to be a martial practitioner.’
The door opened to reveal the face of a man about thirty years old.
The man saw Liu Shi at the door and inclined his body slightly. "Ma’am, I am a guard from the Tang Mansion, here to see Young Master Lin."
"The Tang Mansion... Please, please, come in."
Liu Shi quickly stepped aside. ’She knew her nephew held a post with the Tang Mansion. From her own knowledge, she only knew the Tang Mansion was a great family, but she didn’t grasp their true power. However, having grown closer to the Third Mistress these past few months, she had learned a few things about the situation in the county.’
’The Tang Family was the most powerful family in Guangping County.’
"Young Master Lin, my lady has specially sent me to deliver five bottles of Vital Tendon Pills to aid in your Martial Arts Cultivation."
The man held a wooden box. Lin Yan was taken aback. ’Why on earth would the Tang Family’s young miss send me Vital Tendon Pills?’ he wondered.
’Five bottles of Vital Tendon Pills were worth one hundred and fifty taels of silver. That was no small sum.’
"Please thank your Boss for me."
Lin Yan didn’t refuse, because the reason suddenly became clear to him.
’News of my victory over Cheng Zonghan must have reached the Tang Family. And considering the young miss’s decision to change the stipend for their affiliated Martial Artists, it’s clear the Tang Family is looking to recruit those with potential.’
’The Tang young miss must feel I have some potential on the Martial Arts Mountain, so she’s investing in me a little, sowing a seed of goodwill for the future.’
The man delivered the wooden box and left. Liu Shi, however, was frozen in place, lost in thought.
"Aunt, what are you thinking about?" Lin Yan asked curiously.
"Yan’er, this Tang Family young miss..."
In Liu Shi’s mind, one moment it was the Tang Family’s young miss, the next it was that young lady from the Li Family. She seemed to be at a loss as to which was the better choice.
’In her simple worldview, a young woman actively inviting a man or sending him gifts was a clear expression of romantic interest.’
Lin Yan read his aunt’s thoughts in her conflicted expression, and the corner of his mouth twitched. ’The young miss of the Tang Family as her nephew’s wife... My aunt sure has some bold ideas. I wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.’

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