The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Family

Great Fog Mountain!

Lin Yan's figure wove through the mountain forest; he had already been in the mountains for over two hours this time.

Following his second round of skin-polishing, his breathing and circulation were more enduring than before, and the detoxification pills lasted significantly longer.

However, Lin Yan was not very satisfied with his harvest this time. So far, he had only found a few medicinal herbs, and none of them were particularly old.

The Earth Vein True Interpretation states: "In winter, the earth's energy retreats and hides, like a snake entering its hole or hibernating in the abyss; it cannot be seen without deep digging, nor perceived without quiet waiting. The earth is closed and hidden, its energy returning to the roots, so the surface lacks luster and the vegetation withers—not because the earth's energy is waning, but because it is gathering strength to await the spring."

Translated into plain language, it meant that in winter, the earth's energy was hidden, making it difficult to find or judge based on the growth of vegetation.

Forget it, I'll come back next year.

With the end of the year approaching, he prepared to head back to the city.

Just as Lin Yan was about to leave, his ears pricked up. He hunched his body low, his gaze shifting toward the left.

Faint sounds drifted from the forest to his left. Had his five senses not been heightened by his second round of skin-polishing, he might not have noticed them at all.

A few breaths later, the sounds grew louder. Four figures appeared a few yards away. Due to the mountain mist, Lin Yan could not see their faces clearly, but likewise, the four men could not detect Lin Yan, who was hidden just a few yards away.

"The terrain here is good. Let's set it up here."

The four figures stopped, and a voice rang out. Immediately after, Lin Yan saw them squat down. Before he could clearly see what they were doing, a thick, bloody stench assaulted his nostrils.

Blood!

Lin Yan's eyes narrowed; he knew what they had done.

These four had scattered some kind of blood in the vicinity.

It shouldn't be human blood, as the stench was far too pungent.

In the middle of winter, scattering blood in the mountains—could they be trying to lure a beast?

"Alright, the bait is set. Let's leave for now and come back in an hour. That beast has a very sensitive nose and can smell human scent from far away. If it catches a whiff of us, it will never show itself."

Anyone capable of reaching this far was at least a martial artist who had undergone years of first-round skin-polishing, possibly even second-round.

Lin Yan did not want to invite trouble. He had stayed hidden to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and had originally intended to leave once they departed. However, upon hearing that voice, a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

He was very familiar with the owner of that voice: it was Steward Li from the Prince's mansion, the man who had come to test him after he killed the Clear Water Gang.

Since he had run into him, he no longer planned to leave.

Dozens of breaths later, the four figures vanished completely into the miasma. Lin Yan remained motionless, still crouched in the bushes. He waited for a full quarter of an hour to ensure Li Guiyi and his men weren't feigning departure to test the area, and only when he was certain they were truly gone did he slowly rise.

He did not approach immediately. Instead, he retreated dozens of yards, took a wide detour, and returned from a different direction.

Lin Yan stood in the area where Li Guiyi's group had been. The withered leaves on the ground were stained with blood, and a small clump of minced meat lay there, emitting an extremely foul, fishy stench.

It seemed this minced meat was the so-called bait.

He had no intention of lurking in the shadows to play the role of the oriole behind the mantis.

That Steward Li was a second-round skin-polishing martial artist, and the strength of the other three was unknown; the risk was too great.

However, since he had run into them, he would not let their plans succeed so easily.

Lin Yan unbuckled his belt and, without hesitation, aimed at the minced meat before circling the area to relieve himself.

Many wild beasts used urine and feces to mark their territory. Since that beast had such a keen nose, it should be able to smell his scent and would not come here again.

After finishing, Lin Yan left the mountain from another direction. He did not return to his residence in the town, but headed straight toward the county city.

An hour later, Li Guiyi and his three companions reappeared in the forest. Looking at the untouched minced meat on the ground, Li Guiyi's expression turned incredibly ugly.

The meat was still there, but there was no sign of the beast.

"Steward Li, could the rumors be wrong? Is there really no Purple Fur Beast in Great Fog Mountain?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Li Guiyi stared coldly at the man who had spoken. "Have you forgotten the rules before we came?"

"My apologies, Steward Li."

The man trembled under Li Guiyi's gaze and quickly apologized. However, he felt unconvinced; the Steward was being overly cautious. He was even worried about people being in the mountains and forbade them from saying the name of the Purple Fur Beast. In these deep, miasma-filled woods, how could anyone possibly be hiding?

Li Guiyi shifted his gaze away from the man and moved with a flash, beginning to search the surroundings. Only after confirming no one was lurking nearby did he stop.

Could I have been overthinking it just now?

Li Guiyi let out a sigh of relief. He was suspicious by nature, and the beast's failure to appear had forced him to wonder if someone was lurking nearby.

He could not afford to be careless; the Purple Fur Beast was a precious medicine with a high probability of helping a second-round skin-polishing martial artist successfully break through to the third round.

If word leaked out, every faction in the county would be stirred into action.

The news about the Purple Fur Beast could not be false; under his interrogation, the hunter had not dared to lie. The only possibility was that the beast was not in this area and had failed to smell the Fragrant Cloud Musk Meat he had prepared for it.

Looking at the Fragrant Cloud Musk Meat on the ground, Li Guiyi felt a pang of heartache. A pound of Fragrant Cloud Musk Meat cost a hundred taels, and with the secret medicine he had used to mix and refine it, this bait alone was worth two hundred taels.

If he had caught the Purple Fur Beast, it would have been worth it, but now that the beast was nowhere to be found, he felt as if his heart were bleeding.

In the short term, it was impossible to gather a second batch of bait; he would have to wait until after the spring of next year.

Three days after returning to the county seat, Lin Yan headed to the Tang Mansion to attend the banquet.

The banquet hall, specifically reserved for the martial artists registered with the Tang Mansion, was set with four tables, and many guests had already taken their seats.

Lin Yan swept his gaze across the hall, but failed to spot a single familiar face. Captain Ji was not there, and he did not recognize any of the others.

As Lin Yan sized up the Second-Stage Skin-Toughening martial artists present, they were doing the same to him.

Due to his background and the fact that he had been practicing martial arts for less than a year, Lin Yan was still a nobody in the Guangping County martial arts circle.

The Tang Family was generous; the wine was top-tier, and the dishes were excellent, including venison and snake meat capable of boosting a martial artist's blood and qi, though the portions were not large.

Lin Yan did not overindulge this time, merely tasting a little of everything.

No matter how thick-skinned one might be, there was a time and place for everything.

In a crowded setting like this, as a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, he still had to maintain the hall's reputation.

Midway through the banquet, the head of the Tang Family, Tang Shaoqi, appeared to share three cups of wine with everyone before departing. The Second-Stage Skin-Toughening martial artists present did not gorge themselves either; Lin Yan simply exchanged names with those at his table and left once the time felt right.

Regarding the head of the Tang Family, Lin Yan had only one impression: refined.

In the parlance of his past life, a "heartthrob."

After Lin Yan and the other Second-Stage Skin-Toughening martial artists departed, a discussion was taking place in the main hall of the Tang Mansion.

Tang Shaoqi looked at his son and daughter, a look of helplessness on his face. "Tang'er, if we do this, I fear there will be much gossip about our Tang Family in the city."

"Father, who would dare wag their tongues? You're only doing this for your own vanity."

Tang Yang spoke with annoyance. The Tang Family was known as the premier family in Guangping County; besides their genuine strength, another reason was their father's reputation.

The treatment the father provided to registered martial artists was the highest in the county, so to outsiders, the Tang Family naturally appeared the strongest.

"What do you mean, for my vanity? That is called building connections. Look around the city—is there anyone who doesn't speak well of our Tang Family?" Tang Shaoqi was quite dissatisfied. "Besides, this is a rule your grandfather established back in the day."

"Father, Grandfather hoped to build goodwill with martial artists who had potential, not cast a wide net like you do."

Tang Tang spoke softly, not sparing her father's dignity. "If you continue like this, the number of martial artists registered with the Tang Family will only grow. When we can no longer sustain the expenses and have to dismiss them, these people will only resent our Tang Family all the more."

A handful of rice breeds gratitude, but a bushel breeds enmity!

These registered martial artists had grown accustomed to receiving the Tang Family's stipend, and in time, they would only come to view it as their due.

"Tang'er, surely it won't come to that?"

Tang Shaoqi's voice lowered, clearly aware that such a possibility was very real.

"Father, I feel that a change is coming to the county. The Four Seas Gang has a mysterious origin; not only have they occupied the West City, but they also intend to take the North City, yet the Patrol Bureau sits by and does nothing. This matter reeks of suspicion. During this time, our family should be even more cautious."

Hearing his daughter mention the Four Seas Gang, Tang Shaoqi frowned. The Tang Family also operated pharmacies in the West and North cities, though those pharmacies rarely sold the medicinal herbs required by martial artists; they were meant for commoners and yielded low profits. Nevertheless, these pharmacies had also been affected by the Four Seas Gang recently.

"Fine, then we shall do as you say, Tang'er."

Tang Shaoqi compromised. Though he cared for his reputation, he cared more for the future of the entire family.

"According to my plan, from now on, a First-Stage Skin-Toughening martial artist cannot be registered for more than three years, and a Second-Stage for no more than seven. If they wish to continue, they must break through to the next realm."

Listening to his daughter, Tang Shaoqi's eye twitched several times. By her standards, more than half of the registered martial artists would have to be dismissed.

Tang Tang saw the change in her father's expression. Over the years, because of his vanity, any registered martial artist could stay indefinitely unless they committed a transgression.

If the martial artist had potential, it would be one thing, but many had already lost their drive for martial arts. No matter how wealthy the Tang Family was, they could not support ever-increasing stipend expenses.

"Tang'er, won't this lead to a shortage of martial artists?"

"After dismissing those who don't meet the requirements, I will recruit a new batch, but they must be young and have potential."

Tang Shaoqi fell silent; his daughter had already thought of everything.

"Very well, handle it as you see fit."