A cliff by the river.
Waves crashed against it, their roars like thunder.
A pleasure boat floated silently at the base of the cliff. Not a single lamp was lit on board, and it was cloaked in the darkness of night.
Tang Tang had just finished bandaging the wound on her father’s shoulder when she heard the excited voice of a family member from the deck:
"It’s Big Brother! He’s back!"
A look of joy spread across Tang Shaoqi’s face as he quickly rose and headed for the deck.
On deck, the moonlight was cold and pale.
Tang Shaoxin’s upper garments were shredded. A ghastly wound slashed diagonally across his chest from collarbone to ribs, the flesh torn open to reveal the faint, grim-white glint of bone. It was a horrifying sight.
"Uncle!"
Tang Tang hurried forward and offered him an Elixir.
Tang Shaoxin took it and swallowed it in one gulp. Seeing the worry in his niece’s eyes, he smiled. "Don’t worry. It’ll take more than this to kill your uncle."
"Big Brother, who were the ones that ambushed us?" Tang Shaoqi asked grimly.
"The Golden Saber Zheng Family." Tang Shaoxin’s eyes grew cold. "They sent one of their top Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, even a notch stronger than I am. But he valued his life too much. He wasn’t willing to risk a pyrrhic victory, so in the end, he could only watch me leave."
He spoke lightly, but everyone from the Tang Family present knew just how brutal the fight must have been for him to sustain such an injury.
"And how did the rest of you get away?"
Tang Shaoxin’s gaze swept over the crowd. "To be honest, when I realized it was the Golden Saber Zheng Family, I was more worried about you all."
The Zheng Family came fully prepared. Besides that top-tier Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing powerhouse, they must have had other plans in reserve.
He could tell from the fact that his opponent wasn’t willing to go all-out.
In their eyes, the Tang Family were like fish in a barrel—there was no escape.
"Uncle, we encountered a mysterious powerhouse. He was the one who helped us break free."
Tang Yang quickly spoke up, briefly recounting what had happened.
"An expert with a sword?" Tang Shaoxin’s brow furrowed. "In all of Guangping County Town, it seems no one but our Tang Family uses a sword. Could it be a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist from another county?"
The sword wasn’t a popular weapon among the Skin Smoothing Martial Artists of the county towns.
Most people practiced aggressive, powerful Cultivation Techniques that were quick to learn and potent in the early stages.
Their weapons of choice were mainly sabers and spears.
At the same Realm and with the same amount of time spent cultivating, a Swordsman is often no match for a Bladesman, unless that Swordsman possesses extremely high talent in the Sword Dao.
Tang Shaoxin mentally reviewed the sword-wielding Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists he knew, but his family’s relationship with them was casual at best. They wouldn’t have risked themselves to help.
"Big Brother, the man was masked, which means he doesn’t want his identity known." Seeing his brother lost in thought, Tang Shaoqi continued, "There’s no point in us guessing. If he wants to reveal himself, he will. Your injuries are severe, Big Brother. You should go back to the cabin and treat them first."
"Mm." Tang Shaoxin nodded, letting the matter go.
Tang Tang moved to support him. "Uncle, let me apply the medicine for you."
Inside the cabin, Tang Tang began to mix the medicinal herbs.
Tang Shaoxin watched his niece for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Tang’er, do you know something about the benefactor who saved our Tang Family?"
Tang Tang’s hands, busy mixing the herbs, paused for a fraction of a second. Without turning around, she answered, "Uncle, that man was using the Jinghong Sword Technique. He has already developed Sword Intent... and his final strike carried a Sword Intent even stronger than yours."
"Impossible!"
Tang Shaoxin’s brow furrowed deeply, his voice rising. "The Jinghong Sword Technique is something I found in the abode of a senior cultivator when I was traveling in my youth. In all of Deng State Prefecture, you and I are the only two who practice this Swordsmanship."
"Uncle, there’s actually one other person who has cultivated the Jinghong Sword Technique."
"Who?"
"Lin Yan."
Tang Shaoxin fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Tang’er, I’ve heard from your father that you’re considering taking Lin Yan as your husband. I know you have a favorable impression of him, but this theory of yours is a bit too far-fetched."
"You think it’s impossible, Uncle?"
"The Jinghong Sword Technique is a Top-grade Swordsmanship. How long has Lin Yan been practicing it? Forget Sword Intent, it would be impressive if he could even execute the moves proficiently." Tang Shaoxin chuckled and shook his head. "It’s absolutely impossible."
"But you also said that no one else knows the Jinghong Sword Technique, Uncle."
"Perhaps you were mistaken, Tang’er," Tang Shaoxin mused. "There are many similar styles of Swordsmanship in this world. What that man used wasn’t necessarily the Jinghong Sword Technique."
This time, it was Tang Tang’s turn to fall silent.
’Perhaps I really am overthinking this. Besides, the man’s height was quite different from Lin Yan’s.’
"We’ll speak of this later." Tang Shaoxin waved his hand dismissively. "Once the Tang Family has relocated to Dongping Prefecture, you won’t need to focus your energy on the family business anymore, Tang’er. With your talent for the Sword Dao, the proper path for you is to develop your Sword Intent as soon as possible and join the Huansha Sword Sect."
Tang Shaoxin had always held his niece’s talent for the Sword Dao in high regard. If she hadn’t been delayed by managing the family’s affairs all these years, he believed that with her aptitude, she would have developed Sword Intent long ago.
"Don’t worry, Uncle." Tang Tang nodded. "After this, I will focus my mind completely on my Martial Arts cultivation."
Under the moonlight, a figure sprinted toward the city gate. Upon reaching the walls of Guangping County Town, he scaled them silently and dropped down on the other side. The figure was none other than Lin Yan.
After dealing with the twelve men in the forest for the Tang Family, he had taken a detour directly back to the city.
He had done all that he could.
If the Tang Family still couldn’t escape after all that, it would only mean they faced even stronger enemies ahead, and his staying there would have been useless.
This was precisely why he hadn’t revealed his identity.
If the Tang Family ultimately failed to escape, he couldn’t guarantee that every single one of them would remain tight-lipped.
The possibility that they might sell him out to save their own skin was very real.
"I hope the Tang Family makes it out safely."
Muttering softly to himself, Lin Yan quickened his pace toward his home. Once again, he scaled a wall to enter, slipping quietly into his own room.
Back in his room, he didn’t immediately look at the Cultivation Manual. Instead, he sat on the edge of his bed and began to review the night’s events.

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