The family for me, and I for the family. It’s a mutual relationship.
A person can’t be too selfish!
So right now, he had only two paths to choose from. One was to follow his master’s advice and avoid Shen Guyun.
The other was to defeat Shen Guyun!
Shen Guyun had defeated Jian Sheng with a single strike, and now that his own strength had improved, he could do the same.
But on second thought, Lin Yan discarded the idea of defeating Shen Guyun.
’There’s no need.’
He wasn’t cultivating the Devouring Sword Dao. Defeating Shen Guyun would bring him no benefit other than fame. Not only would he make an enemy of the Vice Patrol Envoy and the Shen Family, but even the other three great families of Qing State would become wary of him, watching his every move.
’If I’m being watched by so many powerful groups, how can I sneak out at night to find Martial Arts Fruits?’
’Looked at this way, Master’s suggestion to go to Tai Mountain is the best option right now.’
"Master, how long will I have to be away?"
Lin Yan asked another pressing question. ’What if Shen Guyun just waits for me to return before showing up?’
"Shen Guyun is already twenty-five this year. He can’t afford to wait."
Lin Shouyuan knew what his disciple was worried about and explained with a smile, "The Celestial Sword Sect and the Taiyi Sword Sect don’t appear to have an age limit for recruiting disciples, but the treatment for those under twenty-five is completely different from those over twenty-five. The journey from Shandong Dao to the North Sea Lineage alone takes several months. By the time you return from Tai Mountain... he’ll long be on his way to the North Sea Lineage."
"I understand."
Lin Yan nodded. He only needed to hide for a month or so, and Shen Guyun would be gone.
After Lin Yan had taken his leave, He Qiaosheng spoke up. "Actually, I think Lin Yan could very well be a match for that Shen Guyun."
"There’s no need for that."
Lin Shouyuan shook his head. "If Shen Guyun comes to issue a challenge and we don’t refuse, we’d have to make him offer a stake. But no stake Shen Guyun could possibly offer would be worth Lin Yan taking such a risk."
If he beat Shen Guyun, Lin Yan would become famous throughout all of Qing State, perhaps even the entire Shandong Lineage.
But fame couldn’t be exchanged for any real benefits. On the contrary, Lin Yan would gain powerful enemies like the Shen Family and that Vice Patrol Envoy. The Cui Family and the other two great families in Qing State would also start watching him. From then on, it would be extremely risky for him to travel alone, unless an elder were to accompany him at all times.
"You disciples from great families always have to consider every angle. That’s where you and I differ. If Jian Sheng had even a chance of defeating Shen Guyun, I would’ve marched him right up to their door long ago."
"A lone Martial Arts Powerhouse like yourself is someone no faction wants to provoke. With no family, you have no fetters. You can act with impunity."
Lin Shouyuan gave a wry smile, but a flash of pain showed deep within his eyes. He had once thought the same as Brother He—that a Martial Artist should forge ahead relentlessly. A young Martial Artist, especially, should be high-spirited and fearless. However, his own past pursuing the Martial Arts in the North Sea Lineage... had dealt him a crushing blow.
After bidding farewell to his master, Lin Yan returned to his courtyard and began to pack his bags.
First, he had over twenty thousand taels in silver banknotes on his person, all of which he would bring. He also had seventy-three Bodhi Pills to take with him.
Clothes, elixirs, silver banknotes... Once these items were packed away, Lin Yan began to study the Fireflies Illuminating the Night Swordsmanship.
After just one read-through, he confirmed that this swordsmanship was indeed in the same category as Shadowless Swordsmanship.
The swordsmanship took its inspiration from fireflies.
The fireflies of a summer night—drifting points of light, now bright, now dim, utterly elusive.
A sword strike was like the dance of fireflies—now visible, now hidden, darting left and right.
An opponent would only see specks of sword light drifting around them, never knowing which point of light would suddenly erupt into a fatal strike.
He picked up the Abyssal Sword, and after practicing it just twice, a leaf for the Fireflies Illuminating the Night Swordsmanship appeared on the Martial Arts Tree.
Swordsmanship initiation successful!
He glanced at the Martial Arts Fruit on the Martial Arts Tree. Only twenty-six years’ worth remained. This was far from enough to cultivate the Fireflies Illuminating the Night Swordsmanship to Perfection, so he decided not to rush the infusion.
「Two days later. Early morning.」
There was no one to see him off. Lin Yan followed He Qiaosheng and left the Lin Mansion.
The two did not leave the city directly. He Qiaosheng led Lin Yan to an inn, and in a private courtyard there, Lin Yan saw Jian Sheng.
Compared to the Jian Sheng on the Combat Platform, the current Jian Sheng was clearly far more dejected. Seeing Lin Yan arrive, he forced a smile, but the pained look on his face was something even Lin Yan found difficult to look at directly.
"Lin Yan, I’m the one who caused you trouble this time."
Jian Sheng apologized at once. His master had originally intended for him to stay at the Lin Mansion, but when he thought about the trouble his loose tongue had caused Lin Yan, he was too embarrassed to impose.
"You didn’t do it on purpose."
Lin Yan offered a comforting word while studying Jian Sheng closely. But aside from looking more dejected, and consequently a bit uglier, he couldn’t spot any other changes.
"We can talk after we’re out of the city. There’s no telling when that Shen Guyun might show up."
He Qiaosheng cut in. Jian Sheng nodded quickly. "Master, I packed my things while you were at the Lin Family’s. I’m ready to leave at a moment’s notice."
After leaving the inn, the three traveled by water. They boarded a boat at the docks, departed the city, and sailed down the East River...
「Late at night.」
The boat moved slowly across the river’s surface.
"Senior, I want to go kill Water Bandits."
Lin Yan walked from the cabin to the deck, speaking bluntly to He Qiaosheng, who was standing at the ship’s bow.
"Kill Water Bandits?"
He Qiaosheng hadn’t expected Lin Yan to say something like this so late at night.
"I’m from a small county, so I know firsthand the harm caused by bandits. A good friend of mine, Zhu Xiao, who was like an older brother to me, had his Martial Arts completely destroyed after an encounter with mountain bandits. That’s why I despise them with a passion. The reason I recently chose to guard the East River Waters was with the intent to eliminate every last Water Bandit I could."

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