After defeating Cheng Zonghan, Lin Yan had expected to run into some trouble.
For instance, trouble with Cheng Zonghan's senior brothers, or retaliation from the Zhou Family Martial Arts Hall.
But three days later, a piece of news made Lin Yan realize he could relax.
A deputy director of the Patrol Bureau had been murdered in the middle of the night!
The news sent shock waves through the martial arts circles of Guangping County.
A master who had polished his skin three times was already a big shot in Guangping County. Add to that his position as deputy director of the Patrol Bureau, and his murder sent the entire martial arts world into an uproar. The Patrol Bureau deployed all its forces.
Under those circumstances, the martial artists' disputes that had once been commonplace mysteriously disappeared.
The martial artists of Guangping County weren't fools. Picking a fight and causing trouble now would be like provoking the Patrol Bureau and inviting trouble for themselves. As a result, interest in Lin Yan's defeat of Cheng Zonghan plummeted.
Sure enough, the best way to divert attention was to break an even more explosive piece of news.
That day, Lin Yan sat with Zhang Wei and Monkey, drinking tea and listening to an opera.
Zhang Wei and Monkey weren't martial artists, and the gap between their status and Lin Yan's kept widening. But in Lin Yan's heart, they were the friends he'd grown up with. They had also helped him when he was first learning martial arts, and he had never forgotten their brotherly bond.
The higher a man climbed, the fewer friends he had.
Only in youth could a person find a few true friends.
Looking at Zhang Wei and Monkey, Lin Yan didn't want to see them years later become like Lu Xun and Runtu, respectfully calling him "Master Lin" or "Lord Lin."
After a moment's thought, Lin Yan asked, "Wei, Monkey, what are your plans for the future?"
"Plans?"
Zhang Wei was taken aback, then asked, "Shitou, did you hear something about our escort agency?"
"What's going on with the Might-Vast Escort Agency?"
"You don't know?" Zhang Wei glanced around and lowered his voice. "Over the past few months, our escort agency's caravans have been robbed several times. The chief escort had to pay out a lot of money to keep the clients from spreading the news, and we've lost quite a few escorts, too. Escort Chen, whom you met last year, is still recovering from his injuries."
"Escort Chen was injured?"
Lin Yan glared at Zhang Wei. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
He had chosen to join the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall on Escort Chen's advice, and as it turned out, it really was the best place for him. That guidance had been no small favor.
"I... The chief escort ordered us not to reveal anything about the agency, and you were over in Qingtian Town. I never found the right time to tell you."
"Take me to Escort Chen's home."
Lin Yan had been thinking about finding Zhang Wei and Monkey some way to make money. But when he learned about the Might-Vast Escort Agency's current situation, he changed his mind.
The county town didn't seem as peaceful as he'd imagined.
First, the Four Seas Gang had unified the entire western part of town and was eyeing the north. Then a deputy director of the Patrol Bureau had been murdered. Now the Might-Vast Escort Agency was in trouble as well.
After taking up martial arts, Lin Yan had learned a little about the county town's martial arts circles. The current chief escort of the Might-Vast Escort Agency was a three-time skin-polishing master, while his father was a four-time skin-polishing master. Though old and waning, his father still had connections and clout. What ordinary force would dare rob their escort caravans?
Everything he'd heard told Lin Yan that undercurrents were surging in Guangping County.
Perhaps in the past, with his strength, he could have started a business without trouble. But in these unusual times, it was better to stay still than to make a move.
In a remote part of the southern district, Lin Yan and Zhang Wei arrived at the Chen Family home.
Though Chen Lang was an escort for the Might-Vast Escort Agency, he was only a skin-polishing martial artist. He also had a son and daughter-in-law to support, and the household expenses were high. He couldn't afford a home in a better neighborhood.
"Who are you?"
Shortly after Zhang Wei knocked, a young man opened the door and watched Lin Yan and Zhang Wei warily. Only when he saw the gift box in Lin Yan's hand did a smile appear on his face.
"I'm Lin Yan. I've come to pay a visit to Escort Chen."
"Come in. My father's inside recovering from his injuries. You can wait in the courtyard for now."
The young man led them into the courtyard and showed them to the stone table. Lin Yan glanced at the clothesline along one side of the yard. It was covered with laundry; clearly, all four members of Escort Chen's family were crammed into this little courtyard.
In the southern district, even finding a place to live was hard.
Lin Yan and Zhang Wei had barely sat down when Chen Lang's voice came from inside. "Which friend has come to visit?"
His voice was loud, but Lin Yan could hear how weak his breath was.
When Chen Lang stepped out and saw Lin Yan rise from the stone stool, he froze for a moment, then immediately scolded the son beside him. "A distinguished guest is here. Why didn't you bring out tea?"
"Escort Chen, there's no need for all that. I only learned from Wei today that you were injured, so I came to see you." Lin Yan smiled as he stepped in to smooth things over.
Chen Lang's son looked a little aggrieved. Seeing that Lin Yan and Zhang Wei were young, he hadn't even considered that they might be martial artists. He'd assumed they had brought gifts because they wanted something from his father.
"You still don't believe it? Young Master Lin has polished his skin twice. For him to visit our home is an honor. Now go make tea."
When Chen Lang's son heard "polished his skin twice," his eyes widened as he looked at Lin Yan. He swallowed several times. Was someone this young really already a two-time skin-polishing martial artist?
Seeing his son's expression, Chen Lang glared at him again. Only after his son hurried inside did Chen Lang turn his gaze to Lin Yan, his eyes full of admiration and disbelief.
Some time ago, he'd asked Zhang Wei about Lin Yan out of curiosity. When Zhang Wei told him Lin Yan had polished his skin twice, Chen Lang had been stunned for half a day. He knew Zhang Wei wouldn't dare lie to him, but he still couldn't believe it. Only after a fellow escort who had come from the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall confirmed it did he accept that it was true.
Who could have imagined that the boy who once knew nothing about martial arts schools had become a two-time skin-polishing martial artist, someone who could be addressed as "Master"?
A true example of a poor man making an astonishing comeback!
"Escort Chen, is your health all right?"
As Chen Lang walked over, Lin Yan stepped forward to support him. Chen Lang waved him off. "Another half month of rest should about do it... You really didn't need to spend so much."
The gift box Lin Yan had brought was on the table. Chen Lang needed only glance at the Tang Family emblem to know it contained nourishing medicinal herbs.
"Compared to the guidance you gave me back then, this is nothing."
Lin Yan spoke with heartfelt sincerity. Chen Lang fell silent. After a long while, he sighed. "I only offered you advice back then because you and I came from similar backgrounds. I didn't understand the strengths and weaknesses of the martial arts schools at the time, and I joined one that didn't take its students seriously. I couldn't bear to see you make the same mistake."
Then Chen Lang changed his tone and said with a smile, "I never expected my advice to have helped a true dragon take flight. I'll have something to brag about for the rest of my life."
Soon, Chen Lang's son brought them tea. Lin Yan chatted with Chen Lang. Since both were martial artists, naturally they talked about the martial arts world—and the most explosive news in those circles was the assassination of the Patrol Bureau's deputy director.
"You're close with Zhang Wei, so I assume you know how things are going at our escort agency. My martial arts aren't much to speak of, but I've been working at the agency for nearly twenty years. There's something I need to warn you about, Young Master Lin."
Chen Lang rubbed his fingers against his teacup. "Guangping County looks no different from before, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging. The deputy director's death may only be the beginning. There could be even greater upheaval ahead."
Lin Yan's eyes narrowed. Escort Chen's analysis matched his own judgment.
"Given your age, Young Master Lin, you've already polished your skin twice. Master Yang must value you greatly, and you also hold a position with the Tang Family. Focus on your training in the years ahead, and try not to get involved in the struggles between the various factions in town."
"Thank you for the advice, Escort Chen. I'll keep it in mind."
Seeing how seriously Lin Yan listened, Chen Lang was pleased. He'd been afraid that Lin Yan, having reached the second stage of skin polishing at such a young age, would let early success go to his head and ignore his advice. After all, compared to Lin Yan, he was a failure in martial arts.
"I can only offer you advice in this regard, Young Master Lin. There's nothing more I can teach you about martial arts."
After finishing a pot of tea, Lin Yan and Zhang Wei took their leave. Chen Lang had wanted to see them out himself, but Lin Yan politely declined. In the end, Chen Lang's son walked them to the alley entrance.
"Father, he really is a two-time skin-polishing martial artist? He's so young!"
Chen Lang's son watched Lin Yan's departing figure, his voice full of disbelief.
"What does his age matter? Did you know he only started training in martial arts last year? It hasn't even been a full year, and he's already this capable. He's also steady and levelheaded. If nothing goes wrong, he'll surely have a place in Guangping County's martial arts circles one day."
Chen Lang's son's mouth fell open. But more than any of that, what interested him was the gift box Lin Yan had brought.
"Father, this... It must have cost a fortune, right?"
Seeing the ginseng and other precious medicinal herbs inside, Chen Lang's son finally understood just how generous a second-grade martial artist could be.
"Ten-year-old mountain ginseng, along with all these other herbs—it must be worth twenty taels. This is quite a gift."
Even Chen Lang was shocked by Lin Yan's generosity. If Lin Yan had come from a wealthy family, it wouldn't have been so surprising. But Lin Yan came from an ordinary background. Though his position with the Tang Family brought him a generous stipend, martial arts training also cost money. That stipend could barely cover the expenses of his training.
Lin Yan had probably known Chen Lang wouldn't accept money, so he'd given him medicinal herbs instead.
Among martial artists, nourishing herbs like these were hard currency, easily exchanged for silver at any pharmacy.
After thinking for a few moments, Chen Lang said to his son, "Go invite Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhang, Uncle Fang... Tell them to come over. Then stop by the street and buy some cooked dishes on your way back. I want to spread the word through them that Lin Yan came to visit today."
"Heh, Father, you want people to know our family has ties to Lin Yan?"
"You don't know a damn thing."
Chen Lang glared at his son. "Lin Yan comes from an ordinary background, and the cost of training will probably become a burden as he progresses. I'm spreading the word that he came to visit me because I want people to know he repays kindness. Anyone would be glad to build a good connection with a promising young man who remembers the favors he's received."
Chen Lang didn't know that Lin Yan had defeated Cheng Zonghan the previous day. He was simply doing what he could to help Lin Yan.
Why did merchants hire martial arts school disciples as guards? Because the schools restrained their students to protect their reputations. Now that word of Lin Yan's gratitude spread, even if none of the county's great families were interested, surely a merchant or two would be.
Many merchants would be willing to spend a few dozen taels to build a good connection.
If several of them did so, Lin Yan wouldn't have to struggle so much to make ends meet.