Second Skinning, This is the Strength?

On a flat patch of land halfway up the mountain.

Several crude wooden huts were scattered about, and in the clearing outside, a few burly men were huddled around a fire to keep warm.

Inside a cave not far from the huts, Yan Bin sat cross-legged, his upper body bare, a scabbed wound running the entire length of his back.

A cup of tea's time passed. Yan Bin, currently healing, suddenly sensed something. He stared toward the cave entrance and barked, "Who's there?"

Silence reigned at the entrance.

"Since you've come, show yourself."

No sound followed. Yan Bin did not lower his guard; instead, he grew even more vigilant.

He hadn't heard any footsteps approaching, but with his hearing, he should have been able to hear his subordinates outside cursing about the cold and the lack of women. Yet, just moments ago, those voices had vanished.

Something must have happened outside.

However, after waiting for a dozen breaths, there was still no movement at the entrance. Yan Bin frowned. If the intruder had already been discovered, what was the point of hiding?

But soon, Yan Bin realized why the intruder wouldn't show himself: thick smoke began to drift into the cave.

Damn them, how despicable!

To take out his subordinates without a sound and reach the cave, the intruder had to be at least a second-stage skin-tempering martial artist like himself.

A dignified second-stage martial artist, yet too afraid to face him head-on, resorting to smoke to force him out.

As a second-stage skin-tempering martial artist, he naturally wasn't afraid of thick smoke; holding his breath for hundreds of breaths was easy. But if the intruder kept pumping smoke in, he would eventually have to leave.

Yan Bin was a decisive man. He threw on his coat, grabbed the long blade resting beside him, and walked toward the entrance, maintaining absolute vigilance to avoid a sneak attack.

Yet, until he stepped past the fire outside the cave, no one attacked. He only saw one person standing ahead.

Very young.

Yan Bin paused, then sneered, "Just you?"

Lin Yan nodded. He had considered hiding at the entrance to ambush the man the moment he emerged, but ultimately decided against it.

Putting himself in the other's shoes, if he were trapped in a cave and smoked out, he would be extremely cautious upon exiting. For an old hand in the gangs, who knew if he had hidden weapons? A failed ambush might end up backfiring.

The purpose of the smoke was simply because the situation inside was unclear, and he didn't want to risk entering. Since he could force the man out, there was no need to take risks.

Yan Bin narrowed his eyes, sizing up the young man. His clothes were ordinary, but his aura was steady, and his eyes were calm. He was indeed a second-stage skin-tempering martial artist.

"You're not from the Four Seas Gang."

Yan Bin gripped his hilt. This man lacked the fierce, predatory aura of a gang martial artist. Most importantly, the Four Seas Gang only cared about territory; they never pursued gangs that had already abandoned their turf.

Lin Yan remained silent.

Yan Bin frowned. This silence made him uneasy, but he quickly suppressed the feeling. The opponent was a second-stage skin-tempering martial artist, true, but being so young, how much real combat experience could he have?

"Since you won't talk, then die!"

Yan Bin roared, drawing his long blade. The blade light flashed like a streak of silk, slashing straight at Lin Yan's face!

The edge tore through the air with a piercing shriek.

Lin Yan executed the Stone Waist Savage Spine, his body twisting into an incredibly bizarre and distorted angle, allowing the blade to graze past his torso.

Yan Bin's pupils contracted. He can twist his body to this extent?

But he had no time to think; a flicker of joy even crossed his eyes. He shifted his momentum and swung horizontally!

Truly a youngster, only knowing how to show off, yet giving me an opening.

With your waist twisted at that angle, let's see how you dodge this next strike.

Facing Yan Bin's second strike, Lin Yan did not dodge. Instead, he chose to punch.

While his body remained in its distorted posture, his fist landed squarely on the blade.

Bang!

The long blade, forged from refined iron, snapped in two!

Yan Bin stood frozen, clutching the broken half of his sword.

What kind of punch was that?

Before he could react, Lin Yan's second punch arrived.

This strike had no frills; it was just a straight, direct punch.

But where the fist passed, the air exploded, and an invisible pressure descended like a mountain.

Yan Bin saw Lin Yan's fist.

But in his eyes, it wasn't a fist.

It was a mountain of overwhelming, surging fist shadows.

The punch was like a tidal wave, crashing down upon him.

"Fist... Fist Intent?"

Yan Bin's eyes were filled with utter disbelief.

How could such a young martial artist possibly have cultivated fist intent?

BOOM!

The sound of shattering breastbones rang out with startling clarity in the silent mountain forest.

Yan Bin flew backward, slamming into the cave wall before crashing heavily to the ground.

His eyes grew vacant; he had already breathed his last.

"A second-stage skin-tempering martial artist, so pathetic. Or is it simply because he was already injured?"

Lin Yan frowned, his face showing surprise. This battle had been won far too easily.

He recalled his master's words: once he had cultivated fist intent, any martial artist of comparable blood-energy would be unable to withstand even a single strike from him.

If it wasn't that Yan Bin was too weak, then it meant that he, having mastered fist intent, was truly an invincible existence among those with similar blood-energy.

Forget it. The man was dead; there was no point in dwelling on it.

Lin Yan searched Yan Bin's body for a moment before entering the cave. When he emerged again, his face was wreathed in smiles.

This time, it could be considered a bumper harvest.

Altogether, the silver found on the Green Bamboo Gang members amounted to a full three hundred taels.

As for the Martial Fruit, Yan Bin alone contributed seven years of cultivation time, which, combined with the others, totaled fourteen years.

"I've already cultivated fist intent for the Mountain Splitting Fist. According to Master, it's a mid-grade technique, and fist intent is its peak. There's no use practicing it further, so I'll save this Martial Fruit time for now."

After looting the corpses, Lin Yan tossed them all into the cave. He then dismantled the wooden huts, threw the dry firewood inside, and set the whole thing ablaze to finish the job.

Over the next few days, Lin Yan visited the Great Fog Mountain daily, but unfortunately, the harvest was minimal.

The book Earth Vein True Interpretation studied the places where earth vein energy surged, and such spots usually featured vegetation that differed significantly from the surrounding areas. However, since it wasn't yet the season for all things to revive, it was difficult to track signs based solely on withered leaves and dead branches.

In the end, Lin Yan simply stopped coming; he would have plenty of time once he reached Qingshan Town.

As for silver, with the three hundred taels sponsored by the Green Bamboo Gang, he wouldn't be lacking for a while.

The eighth day of the first lunar month.

The Lin family moved to their new home.

They didn't make a grand display of it, but as the carriage parked at the door was loaded with household items, the neighbors noticed.

Facing the curiosity of the neighbors, Liu did not hide the move. Upon learning that the Lin family was moving to the South City, the neighbors wore complex expressions.

Envy mixed with jealousy; they couldn't even bring themselves to offer congratulations.

"Aunt, let's go."

Lin Yan watched as she held hands with several elderly neighbors she had been close to, bidding them farewell, and prompted her.

There were people waiting at the new residence.

Lin Yan's feelings toward these neighbors were neither good nor bad.

Xu Ping's plight had served as a reminder: not everyone possessed a heart that knew how to repay kindness.

Times were hard, and since Xu Ping was already crippled, he could rationally accept that these neighbors didn't want to pay out of selfishness. But precisely because of that, by helping to resolve the Three Heroes Gang issue, he had fulfilled his duty as a neighbor for all these years.

After they left today, the property agency would list the house for sale.

Liu was softer-hearted than Lin Yan. After all, they had lived together for many years, so she distributed the items they couldn't take or no longer needed to the neighbors before boarding the carriage.

South City.

Inside the new residence.

Zhang Wei and Monkey had already arrived. Lin Yan hadn't notified anyone else about the move. He had no relatives on his side, and while Liu had many on her side of the family, she hadn't informed them either.

"Stone, congratulations."

"A house in the South City. You've really become Master Lin now."

Only joy showed on the faces of Zhang Wei and Monkey; there was none of that complex resentment where one fears their brother's success more than they fear his hardship.

"Yan, keep Xiao Wei and the others company. I'm going to the kitchen to prepare some food."

"Aunt, don't trouble yourself. I ordered a table of dishes from a restaurant; they'll be delivered shortly."

Having earned three hundred taels and celebrating a housewarming, Lin Yan allowed himself a rare indulgence, spending two taels of silver on a banquet.

The same dishes would have cost only one tael in the North City.

Such was the difference in location and price. He hadn't become a "Shanghai master," but he was certainly paying the price of one.

Liu was about to urge Lin Yan not to waste money, but remembering her decision from a few days ago, she held her tongue.

Her nephew's status and position were different now; she could no longer advise him based on their past circumstances.

Just as Lin Yan was helping his aunt reset the spirit tablets of the Lin ancestors, a guest arrived at the door.

"Junior Brother Lin, moving house is such a major event, yet you didn't even send word. Could it be that you don't consider me your senior brother?"

Li An's voice drifted in from the doorway, accompanied by Cai Wanlong.

"Senior Brother Li, this was just a simple relocation."

"Moving into a new home is a significant milestone in one's life; how can you speak of it so lightly?"

Li An wore a stern expression, a testament to the difference in mindset between two generations.

In the hearts of the people of Guangping County, moving house is a major life event, second only to taking a wife.

"It is my fault for failing to notify you, Senior Brother Li."

Seeing Li An's serious demeanor, Lin Yan apologized with a smile and led Li An and Cai Wanlong into the house.

"Nephew Lin, this is a small token of my well-wishes."

Once inside, Cai Wanlong produced a red envelope. As Lin Yan took it, the lack of weight told him it likely contained silver notes.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Lin Yan accepted it politely. Li An also handed over a silver envelope, smiling as he said, "Junior Brother Lin, I have good news for you: the Green Bamboo Gang has been wiped out."

"The Green Bamboo Gang was destroyed?"

Li An chuckled. "Two days ago, some martial artists discovered numerous corpses on the mountain. Based on their attire, it was confirmed to be the Green Bamboo Gang. Some powerhouse must have slaughtered the entire gang, though it's unclear which expert was responsible."

"Then Uncle can save on those transit fees."

Lin Yan feigned surprise. Cai Wanlong was also visibly delighted; with the Green Bamboo Gang gone, he no longer had to pay those transit fees, saving him a considerable amount of silver.

Although he no longer needed his nephew to intervene, Cai Wanlong had still gifted fifty taels of silver, intending to further strengthen the ties between their families.

He didn't need Lin Yan's help this time, but who could guarantee he wouldn't need it in the future?

A martial artist who had reached the second stage of skin toughening at such a young age—even if he never reached the third stage—possessed enough strength to resolve many troubles for the household.

With Li An and Cai Wanlong present, Zhang Wei and Monkey became somewhat reserved. The two could joke around with Lin Yan because they had grown up together, but in their eyes, Li An and Cai Wanlong were big shots.

Fortunately, Li An was not the type to put on airs, and as a merchant, Cai Wanlong was even more adept at reading the room. Since Lin Yan had invited them over, their relationship was clearly good. At the dinner table, Cai Wanlong treated them as equals, and the atmosphere remained warm and lively.