The fight in front of the Fragrant Pavilion quickly spread through the county's martial arts circles.
Cheng Zonghan was a veteran second-stage Skin Polishing martial artist from the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall, and he was fairly well known. Losing after a hard-fought battle would have been one thing, but being defeated in just two punches was enough to draw attention.
Lin Yan, a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, was now appearing in earnest for the first time on the radar of the major families' senior members.
Even though the truly influential figures in these families were third-stage Skin Polishing martial artists, those martial artists had all emerged from the second stage. Any second-stage martial artist with potential would catch their attention.
The Wang Family.
"Uncle, Lin Yan only broke through to the second stage of Skin Polishing not long ago, and now he can already defeat Cheng Zonghan. He's also assigned to a post in Qingtian Town. Could he have killed Steward Li, taken the Purple Fur Beast, and eaten it? Is that why his strength has improved so rapidly?"
Hearing his nephew's theory, Wang Heng shook his head with a smile. "Hao, your analysis seems reasonable, but in reality, it's impossible."
Wang Hao was baffled.
"The Purple Fur Beast's greatest benefit is actually that it increases the chances of a breakthrough. Lin Yan would have to be an utter fool to eat one just to boost his qi and blood. No one would use a gold ingot as if it were silver."
"But how else can we explain Lin Yan's sudden leap in strength?"
"Most likely, Cheng Zonghan underestimated him and let his guard down. I know Cheng Zonghan. He's arrogant and conceited. It's only natural that he'd come off worse for it."
Wang Heng's gaze was full of certainty as he continued, "Besides, Hao, you're looking at things too narrowly. Steward Li wasn't some fool like Cheng Zonghan. Even if he was outmatched, he could have escaped. Your uncle suspects that the person who killed Steward Li was most likely a third-stage Skin Polishing expert."
"A third-stage Skin Polishing martial artist? Then why did you have me investigate the Zhou Family?" Wang Hao asked, bewildered.
"To keep everyone calm." Wang Heng's eyes gleamed. "If I announced that Steward Li had been killed by a third-stage expert, the martial artists in our family would be terrified and might even consider leaving. No one could guarantee that this third-stage expert wouldn't eliminate the roots and come after our Wang Family next."
"I see. Uncle, you really have thought it through. I'm nowhere near your level."
"When you're my age and have seen as much as I have, you'll learn."
The Zhou Family.
"Father, Lin Yan defeated Cheng Zonghan in two punches. He must be close to the third stage of Skin Polishing. If you'd listened to me back then, Lin Yan would have been the perfect son-in-law for our Zhou Mansion."
Zhou Xu, the Zhou family's eldest son, paced back and forth in the main hall. Regret showed on Zhou Cang's aged face as well.
"Father, Lin Yan still probably isn't engaged. We can still speak with the Yang Family's Hall Master about this marriage."
His eldest daughter joined in, then looked at Zhou Shu. "Little sister, surely you'll agree this time?"
"No."
Zhou Shu shook her head again. "As I've said, breaking through to the third stage of Skin Polishing isn't easy. There are plenty of martial artists in the county who advanced quickly through the second stage, only to get stuck at the bottleneck and remain unable to break through."
"Little sister, that's not right." Zhou Xu cut her off. "If we wait until Lin Yan reaches the third stage, then even if he breaks through before he's twenty-five, he won't be someone our Zhou Family can marry into."
"Even if I agreed, what would it matter? He might not agree. And even if he did, we rejected him before and are now changing our minds. The thorn's already there. He probably wouldn't be wholeheartedly on our Zhou Family's side."
Zhou Shu was flustered. Not long ago, she'd discussed the matter with several close friends and even laughed at Lin Yan for reaching beyond his station. If she now went back on her word and agreed to the marriage, how could she face them?
For the sake of her own pride, she couldn't turn back.
"Shu is right. If we went back now, the thorn would still be lodged in his heart. There's no need to bring up this marriage again."
Zhou Cang sighed. In the end, the Zhou Family didn't currently need a third-stage Skin Polishing martial artist to bolster its standing. It was a shame, but not enough to make him regret it too deeply.
The Li Family.
"It seems I really did misjudge him at first. Lin Yan is certainly worthy of being considered as a candidate for my husband. In my name, send him an invitation to the Flower Appreciation Banquet three days from now."
Li Yu took the towel her maid handed her and wiped the sweat from her face as she gave the order.
"Miss, what if Lin Yan doesn't come?"
"He'll come." Li Yu's face brimmed with confidence—not just in her looks, but in her understanding of Lin Yan's current circumstances.
With training at such a rapid pace, Lin Yan's expenses must be staggering.
The supposed rapid progress of a fourth-stage Skin Polishing martial artist came at the cost of vast sums of silver. Given Lin Yan's family circumstances, the faster he trained, the more money he'd need. It was even possible that he'd made such rapid progress by borrowing money wherever he could.
In that situation, Lin Yan had no reason not to attend the banquet.
The Tang Family.
"First Miss, something happened in town today."
"What happened?"
"Lin Yan defeated Cheng Zonghan, a second-stage Skin Polishing disciple of the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall, in just two punches."
"Who is Cheng Zonghan?"
The steward was at a loss for a moment before remembering that someone of his young miss's standing wouldn't spare a thought for ordinary second-stage Skin Polishing martial artists. She wouldn't know who Cheng Zonghan was.
"Cheng Zonghan is a second-stage Skin Polishing disciple of the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall. He entered the second stage three years ago. His current strength may not be at the very top of the second stage, but he's only a little below it."
Tang Tang lifted her beautiful eyes from the book in her hands and looked at the steward. "So it seems the pills Lin Yan bought back then really were for his own training."
"Certainly." The steward agreed, but then asked in a puzzled tone, "Even with those resources, though, it shouldn't have been enough to bring Lin Yan to his current level."
"Everyone has their own opportunities. There's no need to dwell on it. Has Lin Yan bought any more pills or medicinal herbs from the pharmacy lately?"
"He bought medicinal herbs once during that period, but didn't spend much. He hasn't bought any more Muscle-Generating Pills, so I imagine he can no longer afford that kind of expense."
"How did Lin Yan come into conflict with that disciple of the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall?"
"It was because of one of Lin Yan's aunts..."
The steward explained everything he'd learned in detail. At the end, he added, "According to what I've found out, Lin Yan first set foot on the path of martial arts with a copy of the Stance Technique he obtained from the Cai Mansion."
After listening, Tang Tang ran her slender, fair fingers over the page. After a long pause, she said, "Send him five bottles of Muscle-Generating Pills in the Tang Family's name."
"Miss, should we invite Lin Yan to the mansion?"
The steward wasn't moved by the five bottles of Muscle-Generating Pills. To the Tang Family, they were nothing.
"No need."
Tang Tang gave a slight shake of her head. By sending the Muscle-Generating Pills, she'd already offered her kindness. There was no need to make Lin Yan come in person to thank her.
Someone who remembered kindness would naturally keep it in mind. Calling Lin Yan to the Tang Family and making him acknowledge the favor to her face would only be a crass move.
Lin Yan sat in the Cai Mansion for a while, then left.
By making a move against Cheng Zonghan this time, he'd revealed some of his strength, but he didn't regret it.
No matter how cautious he was, there were still things he should do and things he must not do.
The Cai Family had shown him kindness, one way or another. He couldn't stand by and refuse to help.
After leaving the Cai Mansion, Lin Yan went straight home. He greeted his aunt but didn't mention what had happened with the Cai Family, so she wouldn't worry about him.
"Is Young Master Lin here?"
Lin Yan had just returned to his room and changed when a voice came from the door.
Seeing the maid standing there, Lin Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. He recognized her; she was the maid who'd accompanied Li Yu last time.
"Young Master Lin, my miss is holding a Flower Appreciation Banquet three days from now. She asked me to bring you an invitation and invite you to join her for flowers and refreshments."
"I understand. I'll come if I have time."
Lin Yan took the invitation. The maid left with a smile, but once he'd closed the door, he glanced at the invitation and set it on the table.
[Brother Lin:]
[The flowers in my family's garden are all in bloom, and spring is at its height.]
[I have arranged a small flower-viewing banquet in the garden at the back of my home three days from now.]
[I have prepared a simple feast and hope you can spare the time to join me.]
[With an invitation from Li Yu.]
He could guess some of Li Yu's intentions.
She'd spoken bluntly when they first met, but her attitude had changed now because he'd defeated Cheng Zonghan in two punches and shown enough potential.
But he hadn't planned to go.
It wasn't that he held a grudge over the small matter of being rejected before. His thoughts were simply fixed on training, and he had no time to deal with these formal social gatherings full of empty pleasantries.
Besides, Li Yu might seem straightforward, but she was calculating to the core. There was no need to associate with someone like her too much.
"Yan'er, which young lady invited you to admire the flowers?"
Liu emerged from the room. She'd heard most of what the maid from the Li Family had said, and now her face was full of smiles.
Her nephew had made something of himself, and she no longer needed to worry about his daily life. But she still had one concern: Yan'er's marriage.
A few days earlier, Third Mistress had invited her to the Cai Mansion and brought up Yan'er's marriage. Third Mistress had told her that once Yan'er became a martial artist, he certainly shouldn't marry the daughter of an ordinary family. He couldn't just pick any girl and marry her.
Third Mistress's words made sense, but Liu didn't know any daughters of influential families, so she could only fret silently.
Yan'er would turn nineteen after the New Year. He was already old enough to be engaged and married.
Only when she saw Yan'er married would she have truly fulfilled her duty to his parents.
"Aunt, please don't keep urging me. I only want to train in martial arts right now. I haven't given any thought to marriage."
Lin Yan knew what his aunt was thinking and spoke plainly.
"Yan'er, even if you're not planning to marry now, there's no harm in meeting some girls and getting to know them better..."
"Is Young Master Lin here?"
Another voice came from the door, interrupting Liu.
"Could that young lady from before have come back?"
Liu didn't mind being interrupted. Smiling, she walked toward the door. Lin Yan only smiled wryly; he was afraid his aunt would be disappointed.
He didn't know who was outside, but the person's footsteps were entirely different from those of the maid from the Li Family. The visitor must have practiced martial arts.
When the door opened, the face of a man around thirty appeared.
The man saw Liu at the door and turned slightly to one side. "Madam, I'm a guard from the Tang Mansion. I've come to see Young Master Lin."
"The Tang Mansion... Please, come in!"
Liu quickly stepped aside. She knew her nephew held a post at the Tang Mansion. With her limited experience, she'd only known it was a great family, not how powerful it was. But over the last few months, she'd grown close to Third Mistress and learned a little about the county from her.
The Tang Family was the most powerful family in Guangping County.
"Young Master Lin, my miss asked me to bring you five bottles of Muscle-Generating Pills to aid your martial arts training."
The man held out a wooden box. Lin Yan was a little surprised. Why had the eldest miss of the Tang Family suddenly sent him Muscle-Generating Pills?
Five bottles of Muscle-Generating Pills were worth one hundred and fifty taels. That was no small sum.
"Please thank your employer for me."
Lin Yan didn't refuse, because he'd suddenly understood the reason.
News of his defeat of Cheng Zonghan had reached the Tang Family. Judging by the Tang Family eldest miss's decision to revise the allowances for martial artists holding assigned posts, the family clearly wanted to recruit promising martial artists.
The Tang Family's eldest miss had probably decided he showed some potential on Martial Dao Mountain. She was giving him a helping hand and building a good relationship early.
The man left after delivering the wooden box. Liu, however, stood frozen in place, lost in thought.
"Aunt, what are you thinking about?" Lin Yan asked curiously.
"Yan'er, this eldest miss of the Tang Family..."
In Liu's mind, one moment she pictured the eldest miss of the Tang Family, the next the young lady from the Li Family. She seemed unable to decide what to make of it.
In her simple understanding of the world, when a young woman invited someone over or gave him a gift, it meant she had feelings for him.
Lin Yan read his aunt's conflicted expression and felt the corner of his mouth twitch. His aunt dared to imagine the Tang Family's eldest miss as her nephew's wife, but he didn't even dare entertain the thought.