"The household registrations are all taken care of. Once we get there, we’ll change our names, buy a few hundred acres of land, and live as wealthy gentlemen." Ma Xiong drained the wine in his bowl, a look of triumph in his eyes. "Manage it for a few years, and if you get restless, you can open a Martial Arts Hall. We’ll be considered local gentry. Who would ever guess that we were once bandits ruling over a mountain?"
Feng Kui smiled as he listened. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.
A bandit ran in and dropped to one knee.
"Great Village Chief, Second Village Chief, someone has arrived from the foot of the mountain."
"Who is it?"
"The man claims to be from the Third Branch of the Lin Family. He says his name is Lin Yan, and he wants to see the Village Chief."
’From the Third Branch of the Lin Family?’
Ma Xiong glanced at Feng Kui, who nodded. Feng Kui rose and walked to a wooden rack at the side of the hall. On it were over a dozen registers. He pulled one out, a booklet with the four words "Qing State Lin Family" on its cover.
His elder brother had spent a fortune to have these registers compiled. They contained information on the members of all the major families and influential powers in Qing State.
His brother’s purpose in doing this was to avoid provoking anyone they couldn’t afford to offend.
The two brothers had become bandits to make a fortune, not to get themselves killed.
Thanks to these registers, the two brothers had been able to hold Qingfeng Ridge securely without a single incident to this day.
After quickly flipping through the register, Feng Kui shook his head. "Brother, Lin Yan’s name isn’t in here. Could someone be impersonating a Lin Clan Member?"
Ma Xiong mused for a moment. "Within Qing State, I doubt anyone would dare impersonate a member of the Lin Clan. A few months ago, the Lin Family summoned a batch of members from their branch families. Perhaps this Lin Yan is from one of those branches."
After a moment, Ma Xiong looked at his subordinate. "Did he say why he came up the mountain?"
"He didn’t. He came alone."
"He came alone?"
Ma Xiong’s eyes narrowed as he mulled it over. "Show him in."
A short while later, the same bandit who had made the report led a young man into Juyi Hall.
The young man was dressed in white robes with a matching white sash at his waist. His expression was placid, his gaze composed.
Ma Xiong cupped his fist in greeting and smiled. "Young Master Lin, you honor us with your presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
"Village Chief Ma, you’re too kind."
The visitor was none other than Lin Yan, who now extended his hand with a smile. The gesture, however, left Ma Xiong dumbfounded.
"Young Master Lin, what is this?"
"I’m not from the main Lin Family, but from one of the branch families. In my hometown, this is how we greet one another—a handshake."
Hearing Lin Yan’s explanation, Ma Xiong laughed heartily and, without hesitation, extended his own hand to shake Lin Yan’s.
"This custom from your hometown is quite interesting, Young Master Lin."
As their hands parted, Lin Yan mentally consulted his Martial Arts Tree, which displayed his opponent’s Realm: a height of four feet five inches, specializing in the Wind-Slaying Saber Technique.
"And this must be Village Chief Feng."
Lin Yan extended his hand toward Feng Kui, who was standing to the side. Feng Kui shook it just as readily.
’Four feet four inches, also specializing in the Wind-Slaying Saber Technique.’
Now that he understood the strength of Qingfeng Stockade’s two Village Chiefs, Lin Yan had a clear picture of the situation.
Brother Hai had told him to act as arrogantly as he pleased—that in Qing State, aside from the other three great families, no other power would dare offend the Lin Family. But it was always better to be safe than sorry. He first needed to determine if they were experts of a higher realm or merely in the Ant Realm.
Now that he had confirmed their strength, Lin Yan got straight to the point. "Village Chiefs, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve come today for the men and cargo of the Seven Stars Escort Agency."
At Lin Yan’s words, Feng Kui immediately glanced at his brother, but the smile on Ma Xiong’s face never wavered. "So, Young Master Lin has a connection to the Seven Stars Escort Agency. Ah... they really should have said something. If they had mentioned knowing you, this whole misunderstanding could have been avoided."
"It’s not too late for you to know now, Village Chief Ma."
"Of course, of course!"
Ma Xiong asked with a smile, "So how would you like to resolve this, Young Master Lin?"
’Looks like the situation isn’t quite what Brother Hai described,’ he thought. ’Does he think my status as a branch family member isn’t enough?’
"I’m simply here to seek justice for the Seven Stars Escort Agency."
"Young Master Lin, you’re just from a branch family. To be blunt, if the Lin Family hadn’t summoned the branches and given you this chance to enter the main family, someone like you wouldn’t even be qualified to meet with us."
Feng Kui, standing to the side, couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. ’A mere branch family member. If he hadn’t gotten lucky this time, I’d have cut him down with a single slash by now.’
’Justice?’
’How about you get a taste of my Sword Dao instead?’
"Second Brother, hold your tongue!"
Ma Xiong’s face hardened as he barked the rebuke. When he turned back to Lin Yan, however, his smile returned. "I can accept your request, Young Master Lin. How about this... give me three days. Within three days, I will definitely give the Seven Stars Escort Agency their justice."
"Fine."
Lin Yan nodded. "In that case, I will take my leave."
"I’ll see you out, Young Master Lin."
"There’s no need."
Ma Xiong only made a show of walking a few steps with him. Watching Lin Yan’s figure disappear, Feng Kui asked, puzzled, "Brother, he’s just from a branch family. There’s no need to give him so much face."
"It doesn’t matter. We’re leaving soon anyway. By the time he comes back in three days, Qingfeng Stockade will be completely empty. Why stir up trouble now?"
"An excellent move, Brother!"
Feng Kui finally understood. ’That’s right,’ he realized. ’In three days, Brother and I will be long gone. If Lin Yan isn’t satisfied and decides to kill all the bandits we leave behind in Qingfeng Stockade, it’s no skin off our backs.’
"Second Brother, you need to use your head more," Ma Xiong said, stroking his beard with a calculating glint in his eyes. "The Seven Stars Escort Agency is from Deng State, so it’s highly likely this Lin Yan came from there as well. The agency didn’t go to him at first, which probably means he hasn’t even found his footing in the Lin Family and doesn’t dare to throw his weight around using their name. They most likely came begging at his door, and he couldn’t refuse, so he decided to take a gamble and come up here."

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