The Name of Repaying Kindness (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

After defeating Cheng Zonghan, Lin Yan had originally expected it to bring him some trouble.

Such as Cheng Zonghan's senior martial brothers, or perhaps retaliation from the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall.

But a piece of news three days later let Lin Yan know he could rest easy.

A deputy director of the Patrol Bureau had been murdered in the dead of night!

This news shook the entire martial arts circle of Guangping County.

A powerhouse who had completed three skin-toughening stages was already considered a big shot in Guangping County, and with the added status of being a deputy director of the Patrol Bureau, the entire martial arts circle was in an uproar over his murder, and the Patrol Bureau had mobilized its entire force.

Under these circumstances, the once-common disputes between martial artists miraculously vanished.

Martial artists in Guangping County were not stupid; to go looking for trouble at a time like this would be poking the hornet's nest of the Patrol Bureau and asking for disaster. Consequently, the attention surrounding Lin Yan's defeat of Cheng Zonghan plummeted.

Indeed, the best way to divert attention is to break an even more sensational piece of news.

On this day, Lin Yan was drinking tea and listening to a play with Zhang Wei and Monkey.

Neither Zhang Wei nor Monkey were martial artists, and the gap in status between them and Lin Yan was constantly widening. However, in Lin Yan's heart, these two were his childhood playmates who had provided him with help when he first began practicing martial arts; he had always cherished this bond of brotherhood.

As people climb higher, they tend to have fewer friends.

Only in one's youth can one find a few true friends.

Looking at Zhang Wei and Monkey, Lin Yan did not want to see a future where they became like Xun Ge'er and Runtu, respectfully addressing him as "Master Lin" or "Lord Lin."

As his thoughts drifted, Lin Yan asked, "Wei-zi, Monkey, what are your plans for the future?"

"Plans?"

Zhang Wei was taken aback, then asked, "Stone, did you hear something about our escort agency?"

"What happened to the Might-Vast Escort Agency?"

"You don't know, Stone?" Zhang Wei looked left and right before lowering his voice: "For the past few months, our agency has had several shipments robbed. The head escort had to pay a lot of money to keep the clients from leaking the news, and we've lost quite a few escort leaders. Escort Leader Chen, whom you met last year, is still recovering from his injuries."

"Escort Leader Chen is injured?"

Lin Yan glared at Zhang Wei: "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"

He had chosen to join the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall because of the guidance Escort Leader Chen had given him back then, and as it turned out, the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall was indeed the most suitable place for him. This debt of gratitude was not light.

"This... the head escort issued an order not to disclose the agency's situation, and since you were over in Qingtian Town, I couldn't find the time to tell you."

"Take me to Escort Leader Chen's home."

Lin Yan had originally thought about finding some way for Zhang Wei and Monkey to make money, but after learning the current state of the Might-Vast Escort Agency, he changed his mind.

The county town did not seem as peaceful as he had imagined.

First, the Four Seas Gang unified the entire west side of the city and was eyeing the north side like a tiger, then the deputy director of the Patrol Bureau was murdered, and now even the Might-Vast Escort Agency was in trouble.

Since practicing martial arts, Lin Yan had gained some understanding of the county's martial arts circle. The current head escort of the Might-Vast Escort Agency was a three-stage skin-toughening expert, and his father was a four-stage expert. Although he was old and frail now, his connections and lingering prestige remained; which ordinary faction would dare to rob the Might-Vast Escort Agency's caravans?

All the information told Lin Yan that undercurrents were surging in Guangping County.

Perhaps in the past, relying on his own strength, starting a business would have been fine, but under these special circumstances, it was better to stay still than to act.

In a remote part of the south city, Lin Yan and Zhang Wei arrived at the Chen family residence.

Although Chen Lang was an escort leader at the Might-Vast Escort Agency, he was only a skin-toughening martial artist. With a son and daughter-in-law to support, his household expenses were high, and he could not afford a home in a better area.

"Who are you?"

Shortly after Zhang Wei knocked on the door, a young man opened it, staring cautiously at Lin Yan and Zhang Wei. Only when he saw the gift box in Lin Yan's hand did a smile appear on his face.

"I am Lin Yan, here to pay a visit to Escort Leader Chen."

"Come in, my father is recovering from his injuries inside. Sit in the courtyard for a moment."

The young man led Lin Yan and the other into the courtyard and to a stone table. Lin Yan glanced at the clothesline on the side of the courtyard, which was covered in laundry; it was clear that the four members of Chen Lang's family were all squeezed into this courtyard.

Living in the south city was not easy.

No sooner had Lin Yan and Zhang Wei sat down than Chen Lang's voice came from inside the house: "Which friend has come to visit?"

The voice was loud, but Lin Yan could detect the weakness in his breath.

When Chen Lang walked out of the house and saw Lin Yan standing up from the stone bench, he was stunned for a moment, then immediately scolded his son with dissatisfaction: "We have an honored guest, why haven't you served tea?"

"Escort Leader Chen, there is no need for such trouble. I only learned from Wei-zi today that you were injured, so I came specifically to visit." Lin Yan smiled and offered a way out.

Chen Lang's son felt a bit aggrieved. Seeing that Lin Yan and Zhang Wei were young, he hadn't thought of them as martial artists at all, assuming they were just bringing gifts to ask his father for a favor.

"Still not convinced? Young Master Lin is a second-stage skin-toughening martial artist. Him coming to our home is an honor for us. Get moving and pour the tea!"

Hearing "second-stage skin-toughening," Chen Lang's son stared at Lin Yan with wide eyes, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. So young and already at the second stage?

Seeing his son's expression, Chen Lang glared at him again until he hurried into the house. Only then did he turn his gaze back to Lin Yan, his eyes filled with both appreciation and disbelief.

Some time ago, he had curiously asked Zhang Wei about Lin Yan, and when he heard from Zhang Wei that Lin Yan had reached the second stage, he had been shocked for a long time. Although he knew in his heart that Zhang Wei wouldn't lie to him, he still couldn't believe it until he later verified the fact with an escort leader who had come from the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

Who could have imagined that the boy who once knew nothing about the martial arts halls would now be a second-stage skin-toughening martial artist, worthy of being addressed as "Master"?

A true model of a commoner rising to greatness!

"Is your health holding up, Head Escort Chen?"

Seeing Chen Lang walk over, Lin Yan took the initiative to step forward to support him, but Chen Lang waved him off. "Another half a month of rest and I'll be just about right... You've spent far too much on this."

On the table sat the gift box Lin Yan had brought. One glance at the Tang Family mark on the box told Chen Lang that it contained nourishing medicinal herbs.

"Compared to the guidance you gave me back then, these things are nothing."

Lin Yan's words were sincere. Chen Lang fell silent, sighing only after a long moment. "The reason I offered you advice back then was simply because we came from similar backgrounds. I just didn't understand the quality of martial arts schools at the time and ended up in a negligent one; I couldn't bear to see you walk the same path I did."

As he finished, Chen Lang's tone shifted, and he smiled. "I never expected that my little bit of guidance would help forge a true dragon. That alone is enough for me to boast about for the rest of my life."

Soon, Chen Lang's son poured tea. Lin Yan chatted with Chen Lang; as martial artists, their conversation naturally turned to the circles they moved in. The most explosive news in the martial arts community was the assassination of the Deputy Chief of the Patrol Bureau.

"You are on good terms with Zhang Wei, so you likely know the situation at our escort agency. While my own martial prowess isn't much to speak of, I've been in this business for nearly twenty years. There is something I must warn you about, Young Master Lin."

Chen Lang rubbed the rim of his teacup with his finger. "Guangping County looks no different than it did before, but in reality, there are undercurrents surging. I fear the death of the Deputy Chief is only the beginning; greater turmoil is yet to come."

Lin Yan's eyes narrowed. Head Escort Chen's analysis matched his own judgment.

"At your age, to have already reached the second stage of skin-toughening, Master Yang must hold you in high regard. Since you also hold a position with the Tang Family, just focus on your training and try your best to avoid getting involved in the power struggles within the city."

"Thank you for the advice, Head Escort Chen. I will keep it in mind."

Seeing Lin Yan's serious expression, it was clear he had truly taken the words to heart. Chen Lang was pleased; he had feared that Lin Yan, having achieved success at such a young age, might be too arrogant to listen, especially since he himself was a failure in the eyes of a martial artist like Lin Yan.

"I can only offer advice on these matters; I have nothing left to teach you regarding martial arts."

After finishing the pot of tea, Lin Yan took his leave with Zhang Wei. Chen Lang intended to see them out personally, but Lin Yan politely declined, so Chen Lang's son saw them to the end of the alley instead.

"Father, is he really a second-stage skin-toughening martial artist? Isn't he a bit too young?"

Watching Lin Yan's retreating figure, Chen Lang's son spoke with disbelief.

"Age is nothing. Do you know he only started training last year? That's barely a year of effort. He is steady and composed; if nothing goes wrong, he will surely carve out a place for himself in the Guangping County martial arts circle."

Chen Lang's son's mouth hung slightly open, but he was more interested in the gift box Lin Yan had brought.

"Father, this... this must have cost a fortune."

Seeing the ginseng and other precious herbs inside, Chen Lang's son deeply understood what it meant to be a second-rank martial artist with wealth.

"Ten-year-old mountain ginseng, plus these other herbs—this must have cost twenty taels. This is no small gift."

Even Chen Lang was shocked by Lin Yan's generosity. If Lin Yan came from a wealthy family, it wouldn't be surprising, but he came from humble roots. Even with a generous stipend from the Tang Family, the costs of martial arts training were immense; that stipend would barely cover his basic needs.

Lin Yan had clearly chosen to give medicinal herbs because he knew Chen Lang wouldn't accept raw money.

In the martial arts world, such nourishing herbs were hard currency, easily exchanged for silver at any pharmacy.

After a few moments of contemplation, Chen Lang turned to his son. "Go and invite Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhang, and Uncle Fang to the house as guests. On your way back, stop by the street and buy some cooked food. I want to use their mouths to spread the word about Lin Yan's visit today."

"Heh, Father, you want people to know we have a connection with Lin Yan."

"You know nothing."

Chen Lang glared at his son. "Lin Yan comes from a humble background; his future training expenses will likely be tight. I'm spreading the news of his visit to highlight his gratitude. Everyone is willing to build a favorable connection with a young man who has both potential and a sense of loyalty."

Chen Lang did not know that Lin Yan had defeated Cheng Zonghan yesterday; he was simply using his own methods to help Lin Yan as much as he could.

Merchants hired martial arts students as guards precisely because schools kept their students in check for the sake of their reputation. Now that word of Lin Yan's gratitude would spread, even if the great families of the county didn't care, at least one or two of the local merchants would be tempted.

Many merchants were willing to sponsor a few dozen taels to secure a favorable connection.

If a few such merchants came forward, it would at least ensure Lin Yan wouldn't be so financially strapped.