Numerous clashes had broken out between the two sides. While the Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists had yet to make a move, there had been plenty of fights between the Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, with victories and defeats on both sides.
"You’re from the Inspection Bureau? Impossible. I’ve met all the Vice Directors at the Inspection Bureau, and you’re not one of them."
A Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist would either not join the Inspection Bureau at all, or they would have to be made a Vice Director upon joining. It was a matter of prestige.
"I’m not from the Guangping County Inspection Bureau. I was hired by Lord Shi, specifically to hunt down young Martial Artists like you from the major powers that haven’t yet picked a side. You aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last."
Listening to the man’s words, Lin Yan mulled it over. ’Logically, his story adds up, but the risk is immense. If the attempt to frame the Four Seas Gang fails, or if they get exposed, it would push that power right into the gang’s arms.’
There was only one reason the Inspection Bureau would resort to such a desperate measure: they were currently at a disadvantage in their conflict with the Four Seas Gang.
"Did that Lord Shi from the Inspection Bureau specifically order you to kill me?"
"Lord Shi doesn’t name names. He just gave me a list of all the various family powers that haven’t taken a side yet," Ma Xingjian replied truthfully, almost as a reflex.
"I see. The Inspection Bureau didn’t order you to target me. So, when all is said and done, this is just about your own jealousy."
Lin Yan’s final words left Ma Xingjian speechless, his expression instantly twisting into a furious snarl. "Brat, you talk too much! I’ve told you the truth, now you can die in peace..."
His innermost thoughts exposed, Ma Xingjian thrust his spear forward. This time, Lin Yan didn’t even have a saber. With his full power behind this strike, he was confident it would be enough to take the boy’s life.
However, at the very instant he lunged with all his might, Lin Yan’s left hand gripped his scabbard and gave it a light press.
SHING!
A flash of cold steel erupted from the scabbard!
It was a longsword, its blade as thin as a cicada’s wing, glinting with a frigid light.
Ma Xingjian’s vision blurred, his sight filled with the sword’s light. The momentum of his lunge was spent, leaving him no time to retreat or dodge. All he could do was grit his teeth and continue his thrust, gambling that his spear was faster than Lin Yan’s sword.
Pfft!
The longsword pierced his throat.
Ma Xingjian’s eyes widened. A gurgling sound escaped his lips as blood gushed from his mouth.
The tip of his spear was still a foot away from Lin Yan’s throat.
’So slow?’
’No, that’s not it. How could Lin Yan’s sword be so fast?’
’Doesn’t the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall teach Fist Technique? How could he possess such terrifying Swordsmanship?’
’What he couldn’t understand most was why, with such terrifying Swordsmanship, he would hide a sword inside a saber’s scabbard.’
’What was the point of the saber, then?’
’How could anyone be so despicable?’
’You animal!’
Even after he had stopped breathing and collapsed, Ma Xingjian’s face was etched with deep resentment.
Lin Yan walked over and, without a word, stabbed Ma Xingjian’s chest a few more times with his longsword. After confirming the man was well and truly dead, he began to loot the body.
"He’s this poor?"
After a thorough search, Lin Yan was exasperated. The man only had a few taels of broken silver on him and nothing else.
’He didn’t carry any valuables or identifying items to prevent any slip-ups. So how was he planning to frame the Four Seas Gang?’
Lin Yan would have preferred to keep him alive for questioning, but it was his habit to never hold back in a fight, especially when he didn’t know what other tricks his opponent might have.
’According to his story, he was hired by the Director of the Inspection Bureau, but the decision to kill me wasn’t the Director’s—it was his own. That means if I kill him, Director Shi of the Inspection Bureau won’t know a thing about it.’
A glint in his eye, Lin Yan hoisted the corpse and quickly darted into the mountain forest beside the county road.
A quarter of an hour later, Lin Yan stared at the corpse, now stripped bare, and fell into deep thought.
He had searched the body again, inside and out, but still found no other useful clues or items. It seemed the man’s plan for the frame-up involved taking his victim’s body elsewhere to stage the scene.
’Judging from his tone and expression, he was probably telling the truth. After all, in his eyes, I was already a dead man. There was no need to lie.’
’But I can’t be absolutely certain. What if he was just that meticulous, and deliberately lied to cover all his bases?’
’The possibility was low, but not zero.’
Lin Yan immediately dismissed the thought of confronting the Inspection Bureau.
Without evidence, Director Shi would never admit to it.
He was now considering whether he should tell his master about this and let him decide the next course of action.
’Besides myself, there’s still Junior Brother Zhao at the Martial Arts Hall.’
’If this Lord Shi doesn’t give up, will he target Junior Brother Zhao next?’
’Master has treated me well. There’s no reason to hide this from him.’
Having made up his mind, Lin Yan carried the corpse to another mountain, found a ravine to toss it into, and then headed back toward the county seat.
「Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.」
Lin Yan waited quietly in the back courtyard of the Martial Arts Hall. After he had returned and told his master about the ambush on the road, his master had simply told him to wait here.
He waited for half an hour.
The courtyard gate swung open, and his master walked in, accompanied by Senior Brother Hao.
"Jingnian knew nothing of this matter."
Yang Qingfeng got straight to the point. As soon as Lin Yan had come to the Martial Arts Hall to report the ambush, he had summoned Jingnian to return.
From his initial probing questions to the oath Jingnian swore afterward, he was convinced that Jingnian had not lied.

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