He ate his dry rations, applied the Secret Medicine, and swallowed a Bone Tempering Pill.
After three days of quiet cultivation, Lin Yan could already smell the fruit’s fragrance from ten feet away.
The Purple Essence Fruit was about to ripen.
Lin Yan began to watch his surroundings with careful vigilance, not missing the slightest disturbance.
"Something’s wrong."
Suddenly, Lin Yan whispered softly.
His muttering "something’s wrong" wasn’t about the current scene. It was about the three men. Recalling their actions, he had discovered something that didn’t add up.
’They used the Eagle to track my movements, but they don’t know my true strength. Logically, if they were uncertain about my capabilities, they should have had a backup plan for their ambush.’
’If I were in their shoes, I’d have set the ambush while also posting someone to watch the Purple Essence Fruit. If they realized their target was too strong, the scout could slip away unnoticed and tell their accomplice to grab the fruit immediately.’
’Even if the Purple Essence Fruit wasn’t ripe and its medicinal effects were greatly diminished, it would still be better than returning empty-handed.’
’And how would they send the message? The Eagle, of course.’
Having figured this out, Lin Yan re-secured the scabbard at his waist. His gaze was fixed intently on the Purple Essence Fruit, his entire being on high alert as he listened for any sound from his surroundings.
About fifteen minutes later.
Under Lin Yan’s watchful gaze, the green speck at the very tip of the Purple Essence Fruit began to slowly change color.
First, it turned light purple, then a deep violet, and finally, it settled into a rich, purple-gold hue. At the same time, its fragrance intensified from a subtle wisp to a clearly discernible scent—a sweet aroma laced with a hint of medicinal herbs, utterly invigorating.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin Yan reached out, his fingertips touching the stem. With a gentle twist, the Purple Essence Fruit detached and fell right into his palm.
The next instant, he moved like a phantom. Executing the Smoke-Stepping Technique with all his might, his toes tapped across withered leaves and loose stones without making a sound as he shot off in a different direction.
However, before he had even gone a thousand feet, he came to an abrupt halt.
’Someone’s here!’
Three figures emerged from the woods, surrounding him like a pack of hunters that had been lying in wait.
Lin Yan’s gaze fell on one of the young men. His belt was the same style as his own, but brown.
’More people from the Fourth Branch. Am I just cursed to run into them?’
’So these three must be with the other three. Are they the Martial Artists who were supposed to be guarding the other entrances?’
’No, that’s not right!’
’If they were really the guards from the other entrances, they wouldn’t necessarily need to kill me. They would just have to stop me and then notify the rest of the Fourth Branch.’
’More likely, this guy from the Fourth Branch secretly let these outsiders in. That’s the only way it makes sense.’
’My earlier guess was right, too. In addition to the three men in the ambush, someone else was waiting by the Purple Essence Fruit. When the Eagle didn’t return, they must have realized something was wrong and fled immediately.’
As Lin Yan was thinking, Lin Mingyu was sizing him up as well. Confirming that Lin Yan was alone, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
’He’d been afraid that Zhou Hong’s group of three had run into a whole party. If that had happened, the fact that he’d secretly let people into the mountains would have been impossible to hide.’
’But it’s just one person, and he’s from the Third Branch. He looks unfamiliar, so he must be a new member from one of their branch families.’
’It seems even the heavens are on my side.’
"The absolute audacity! How dare you impersonate a member of the Lin Clan!" Lin Mingyu shot at him, seizing the initiative with a fierce glare.
"I am a member of a Third Branch family, ordered to stand guard in the Yantian Mountain Range. I am no imposter," Lin Yan replied, cupping his fist. His tone was respectful but firm.
"A fine ’ordered to stand guard,’ indeed. Since when does guard duty require you to go deep inside the mountain range?" Lin Mingyu scoffed.
Lin Yan looked back at him and retorted, "And yet, you’re in the mountains too, are you not?"
The clan rules only stipulated guarding the pass, but over the years, it had become an unwritten rule that those guarding the entrance to the Yantian Mountain Range could enter the mountains themselves.
Lin Mingyu was left speechless. After a moment, he snorted coldly. "You’ve got a sharp tongue. I won’t waste any more words on you. If you’re truly a member of a Lin Clan branch family, hand over the Purple Essence Fruit, and I won’t hold you accountable for killing my men."
Before Lin Yan could respond, the bearded man beside Lin Mingyu couldn’t help but speak up. "Young Master, does that mean Zhou Hong and the others died for nothing?"
"You insolent bastard! How dare you question my decision? Zhou Hong was merely an outsider. Are you suggesting I should harm one of our own clansmen for the sake of an outsider?"
"This subordinate wouldn’t dare."
The bearded man immediately lowered his head and fell silent. Lin Mingyu then turned his gaze to Lin Yan, waiting for him to hand over the Purple Essence Fruit.
’He had no intention of letting Lin Yan go. His words were merely a ploy to lower Lin Yan’s guard.’
’A Treasure Medicine like the Purple Essence Fruit wasn’t something Lin Yan would consume on the spot. If he didn’t give Lin Yan the illusion of a way out, the man might destroy the fruit in a desperate, last-ditch effort.’
’First, he’d give Lin Yan the illusion of survival. It wouldn’t be too late to make his move after he had the Purple Essence Fruit in hand.’
’What just happened was merely an act, with his subordinate playing along perfectly.’
’He wouldn’t have let a member from any other branch leave, to say nothing of someone from the Third Branch.’
"I can hand over the Purple Essence Fruit, but not right now." Lin Yan shook his head. "You’ll have to wait until I’m out of the Yantian Mountain Range."
’Lin Yan didn’t believe a single word. The man had only pretended to scold his subordinate to make him lower his guard. It was an old trick.’
"Lin Yan, I’m giving you this chance because you’re a Lin Clan Member. If you refuse this kindness, then I’ll have no choice but to take it myself!"
Lin Mingyu’s expression darkened. ’If this man gets out of the Yantian Mountain Range and tells Lin Mingyuan from the Third Branch what happened, this whole affair will inevitably be brought before the clan. For secretly bringing outsiders into the mountains, even I won’t be able to escape the clan’s severe punishment.’

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