’Then I’ll wait until I’ve mastered the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques before heading to the Yantian Mountain Range.’
’I broke through to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing and learned a Cultivation Technique at the Library Pavilion. According to the clan rules, I can’t take the Cultivation Technique outside the mansion, so delaying my trip to the Yantian Mountain Range for a few days won’t be a violation.’
In the following days, Lin Yan focused on his Cultivation of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques, making rapid progress.
This surge of progress, achieved without relying on the Martial Arts Tree, gave Lin Yan a huge confidence boost.
In just four days, the tender bud representing his understanding of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques had blossomed into a fully-formed green leaf. Lin Yan was even confident that with another ten days, he could develop the Flowing Cloud Sword Stance.
Early one morning, as Lin Yan was practicing his sword as usual, a knock came from his door.
"Young Master Lin, there is someone looking for you at the mansion gate."
"For me? Did they give a name?"
"He said his name is Luo Feng, from the Seven Stars Escort Agency, and that he has urgent business with you."
"Thank you for the message. I understand."
Lin Yan nodded, changed his clothes, and left the Disciple’s Quarters, heading toward the Lin Mansion gate.
Beneath the massive archway of the mansion gate, a figure was pacing anxiously. His eyes lit up when he saw Lin Yan, and he immediately ran over. "Young Master Lin, I’m Luo Feng, an Escort Master from the Seven Stars Escort Agency. I had no choice but to come to you. Escort Leader Zhu has been injured and is still unconscious."
"Brother Zhu was injured? What exactly happened?"
Lin Yan remembered Luo Feng. When he had run into Zhu Xiao in the city, Luo Feng had been standing nearby. There was no mistaking his identity.
"To be honest, by the time we met you last, Young Master Lin, our shipment had already been seized by the men from Qingfeng Stockade. Escort Leader Zhu brought us into the city to ask someone to mediate with them and see if we could get our cargo back..."
Although Luo Feng was speaking in a rush, Lin Yan understood what had happened.
The Seven Stars Escort Agency had traveled this escort route several times without incident. This time, however, they were stopped in Qingfeng Stockade’s territory by the stockade’s own men. The two Village Chiefs of Qingfeng Stockade were both in the Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Realm, so Zhu Xiao decided against a direct confrontation. Instead, he left the cargo behind and took Luo Feng and the others to Qing State Prefecture. There, he found a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist who was an acquaintance of their Head of Escort Leader, hoping this person would mediate and convince Qingfeng Stockade to release the goods.
The man agreed to help mediate. The Seven Stars Escort Agency would pay a sum of money to Qingfeng Stockade in exchange for their seized cargo.
But unexpectedly, when Zhu Xiao went up the mountain to Qingfeng Stockade with the Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist, he was brought back down covered in blood. The martial artist simply said he couldn’t mediate the issue and left on his own.
"Where is Brother Zhu now?"
"At the Li Family Clinic in the city."
"I see. You can head back first. I’ll go visit Brother Zhu soon."
Hearing Lin Yan’s words, a flicker of disappointment crossed Luo Feng’s eyes, but he didn’t dare say more. "I apologize for the disturbance, Young Master Lin. I’ll take my leave now."
Lin Yan clearly saw the disappointment in Luo Feng’s eyes. ’He must think I’m brushing him off because I don’t want to get involved.’
’Qingfeng Stockade?’
Lin Yan pondered for a moment, then turned and walked toward the Third Branch’s area.
’Before I go see Brother Zhu, I need to learn more about Qingfeng Stockade. That way, I can decide what to do after I see him.’
’Any group of bandits capable of occupying a mountain and blocking the roads is not to be trifled with, especially one with two Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Powerhouses in charge.’
’After thinking it over, the best person to get information from was Brother Hai.’
’Brother Hai might have a harsh way of speaking, but he’s a genuinely warm-hearted person. Getting information from him is definitely the right move.’

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