"Father, aren’t you going to meet Lin Yan from the Third Branch?"
As they were leaving, Lin Mingxi asked curiously. Yesterday, Uncle Qi had personally paid them a visit specifically for Lin Yan of the Third Branch, hoping her father would offer some guidance on his Sword Dao.
Her father’s Sword Dao lecture today was actually held for Lin Yan’s sake. Logically, he should have met with him.
"There’s no need. That Lin Yan is hardly a Sword Dao genius."
Lin Shouyuan shook his head. "Go to the Third Branch and pass a message to your Uncle Qi. Just tell him that Lin Yan had already learned Swordsmanship before entering the Lin Mansion. Your Uncle Qi will understand."
"Father, isn’t that a bit too arbitrary?"
"Unless Lin Yan didn’t show up, I can’t be wrong." Lin Shouyuan shook his head again and added, "I gave the lecture myself. If Lin Yan didn’t come... it can only mean he has no ambition in the Sword Dao. Talent without ambition isn’t worthy of my personal instruction."
Lin Mingxi was speechless.
"For the time being, you should enter seclusion and focus on your Cultivation of the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques. Strive to advance your Sword Intent."
Lin Shouyuan suddenly spoke up, and seeing the confused look in his daughter’s eyes, he explained, "An old friend of mine sent a letter a few days ago. In it, he mentioned taking on a new disciple, saying something like, ’This child is slow, I hope my old friend might offer a pointer or two.’ The request for pointers is false; the showing off is real. I know this guy’s personality too well. He must have found a disciple with exceptional Sword Dao talent. It won’t be long before he brings that disciple to our door, and he’ll undoubtedly have him challenge the younger generation of our Lin Family. I have no desire to see that smug look on his face."
"Father, you don’t mean Uncle He, do you?"
"Who else could it be?"
Lin Mingxi covered her mouth and chuckled. Uncle He and her father were the closest of friends who had adventured together in their youth. Although they bickered every time they met, when Uncle He was once being hunted down, her father had heard the news, grabbed his sword, and traveled nonstop for three days, crossing an immense distance to rescue him.
「A main street near the Lin Mansion.」
Lin Yan led his horse by the reins, heading toward the city gate.
As a member of the Lin Clan, even one from a branch family, he was entitled to ride his horse through the streets. But Lin Yan chose to lead his horse and walk instead; he didn’t much care for the feeling of being the center of attention on horseback.
After he had passed two streets, the pedestrians began to thin out.
Qing State Prefecture was vast, and not all parts of it were bustling. Here, the buildings on both sides gradually gave way to sparse trees.
Just as Lin Yan swung himself into the saddle, a chill exploded up his spine.
Without any hesitation, without even a second thought, the Longsword at Lin Yan’s waist was unsheathed. A silvery light cascaded like a waterfall as he executed the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques.
At the same time, three figures dropped almost simultaneously from the dense treetops in front of him and to his left and right. The trio were clearly experts in the art of concealment, their auras suppressed to an absolute minimum until the very moment they struck.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Metal ground against metal, and sparks flew.
All three long knives were parried away. The attackers landed in a triangular formation, surrounding Lin Yan. Each wore a mask, but the expressions beneath their coverings were even more shocked than Lin Yan’s own.
Relying on their skill in suppressing their auras, the three of them had often ambushed and killed Martial Artists far stronger than themselves. The intelligence they received said Lin Yan had only just broken through to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing, but they hadn’t underestimated him. They chose to strike at the precise moment Lin Yan was distracted mounting his horse. In such a situation, no one short of a Blood Exchange Realm Powerhouse should have been able to react. Even if they had, it would have been impossible to block the trio’s coordinated assault.
’According to our information, isn’t this Lin Yan just a member of a Lin Clan branch family? Didn’t he just recently break through to the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing?’
’This reaction time... this Qi Blood...’
’Could this really be someone who just reached the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing?’
Fury and shock were also written on Lin Yan’s face. This was the first time he had ever been ambushed. If his Stone Waist Thunder Ridge hadn’t sensed the danger at the critical moment, allowing his body to react, he would have been injured had he been even a fraction of a second slower.
Twirling the Longsword in his hand, Lin Yan didn’t bother asking his attackers why they had ambushed him.
At least, now was not the time for questions.
His sword rose!

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