Startling Swan Sword Technique

An hour later, Lin Yan waited at home for the arrival of the Tang Mansion's envoy.

True to the agreement between Lin Yan and Tang Tang, the Tang Mansion's steward arrived in person, carrying a gift box.

Once the steward had been seen off, Lin Yan opened the box.

On the top layer sat two jade vials, each labeled with small characters: Leopard Bone Tempering Pill.

Two vials, twenty-four pills in total.

"These two bottles represent my annual retainer."

Lin Yan couldn't help but sigh with emotion. This was the arrangement he had negotiated with the eldest daughter of the Tang Family: his entire retainer would be paid out in Leopard Bone Tempering Pills.

The Tang Family made their fortune in medicinal herbs, and their understanding of the efficacy of tempering pills far surpassed that of ordinary martial artists. In terms of pure medicinal potency, two Leopard Bone Tempering Pills were superior to a single Tiger Bone Tempering Pill.

Without considering the success rate of breaking through to the fourth stage of skin tempering, the Leopard Bone Tempering Pill offered much better value for money.

For Lin Yan, who possessed the Martial Dao Tree, he had no fear of failing a breakthrough, so naturally, he chose the most cost-effective option.

Two bottles of Leopard Bone Tempering Pills had a market value of 1,200 taels. Even with the thirty percent discount afforded to a Tang Family retainer, they were worth over 800 taels—a figure far exceeding the typical compensation for a third-stage skin tempering martial artist.

In truth, very few martial artists at the third stage of skin tempering in Guangping County took on such retainer positions.

Firstly, few families could afford to hire a third-stage martial artist as a retainer; most were like the Lin Mansion, simply paying a nominal fee of one or two hundred taels a year for the prestige of the association.

Secondly, those who reached the third stage of skin tempering usually belonged to their own established families and would not serve as retainers for other factions.

Someone like Lin Yan—possessing the strength of a third-stage martial artist but hailing from an ordinary background—was a unique existence in Guangping County.

Removing the top layer of the box, Lin Yan found a booklet resting on the bottom. He picked it up, and before even opening it, he caught the scent of fresh ink.

"It seems the Tang Family had this copied specifically for me."

Lin Yan understood; the Tang Family would never let the original manual out of their hands, so they had to transcribe a new one. As long as the content was accurate, it made no difference to him.

He flipped the booklet open, and four characters caught his eye on the title page: Startling Swan Sword Technique.

A flash of surprise crossed Lin Yan's eyes, followed by a subtle expression.

To be honest, he hadn't really wanted to learn sword techniques.

In his impression, sword cultivators could be summed up in one word: poor.

Fragile bodies, short lives, and a pride that far outweighed their wealth.

But then again...

He looked down at the sword manual in his hands, then back at himself.

The sword, the gentleman of all weapons—in that regard, it did seem to suit him.

"Having something to learn is better than having nothing at all. Who am I to be picky?"

Lin Yan opened the manual, browsing page by page and committing it to memory.

Closing the book, he stood up, walked into the courtyard, and drew a long sword from the weapon rack in the corner.

The weapon rack had been a gift from his uncle at the Cai Mansion not long ago. In his uncle's words, how could a second-stage skin tempering martial artist not have a weapon rack at home?

He took his stance. The first form.

He thrust the sword forward, but it was crooked and lacked any semblance of technique.

Lin Yan's mouth twitched; he hadn't controlled the force or the precision well enough.

Again.

The second attempt was just as clumsy.

The third attempt was slightly smoother, but it was still far from being a "sword technique."

He practiced for an hour straight.

After a hundred repetitions, a cool stream of energy surged into his mind, just as it had before, guiding him on how to circulate his internal energy and wield the blade.

Startling Swan Sword Technique, mastered!

Lin Yan looked at the Martial Dao Tree in his mind; a new cluster of buds had appeared.

Looking at the Martial Fruits on the tree, he calculated a total of thirty-eight years of cultivation time.

Thirty-eight years... if he were to pour it all into the Startling Swan Sword Technique...

A flash of resolve crossed Lin Yan's eyes.

Strike while the iron is hot!

The Martial Fruits dissolved.

Thirty-eight years of arduous training flooded his mind like a bursting dam.

Lin Yan saw himself, day after day, gripping the sword.

At first, the sword was heavy and difficult to control.

Later, the sword gradually grew lighter—not that it had truly lost weight, but his arm had learned how to become one with the blade.

He saw the subtle changes in the air as the sword edge sliced through it and then closed back up.

He saw the moment sunlight struck the blade, the blinding reflection marking the perfect instant to strike.

He saw the split second his opponent's pupils contracted, and the sword was already sent forth.

One year, two years, five years, ten years...

The sword was no longer an external object.

It had become an extension of his arm, a part of his breath.

There was no need to think when striking; his wrist naturally knew where to move, and the tip of the sword naturally knew where to land.

He did not know how much time had passed.

Lin Yan opened his eyes.

He looked down at the long sword in his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

He raised his hand and swung it casually.

There were no techniques, not even any intent; he simply wanted to swing it.

Yet in that single swing, a sharp, peerless momentum erupted from the blade.

Sword Momentum.

It was the result of thirty-eight years of day-and-night tempering, the sword practiced into his very bones.

There was no need to deliberately unleash it; with the sword in hand, the momentum arose naturally.

Lin Yan looked inward at his mind, where the sprout that had just grown was now a golden leaf, and this gold was even more brilliant than the leaf from the Mountain Splitting Fist.

"Is the sword momentum brighter than the fist momentum because it is more powerful, or because I am practicing a superior-grade technique?"

A thoughtful look crossed Lin Yan's face, but then he looked at the empty Martial Dao Tree and couldn't help but click his tongue.

Thirty-eight years of sword practice had only just yielded sword momentum; if he had spent that time on fist techniques, he could have forged two fist momentums by now.

Was sword momentum harder to achieve, or was it because the Startling Swan Sword Technique was a superior-grade technique?

At this rate, it would take at least another ten years to forge sword intent.

He estimated ten years because, compared to the Mountain Splitting Fist, the gold on the Startling Swan Sword Technique leaf was much richer. It might be a long way from sword intent, or it might be just a single step away, so he took a middle-ground estimate.

Ten years—killing a few people would be enough.

Regrettably, there was no trouble at the Lin residence, and he could not simply attack martial artists for the sake of Martial Fruits.

If he truly did that, how would he be any different from those he had stripped of their humanity?

He could target the gang martial artists who were full of evil, but as far as he knew, the West and North sides of the city had already been occupied by the Four Seas Gang. Those gang members had either joined the Four Seas Gang or left Guangping County.

Against a behemoth like the Four Seas Gang, his strength at the third stage of skin tempering was still not enough.

Pulling his thoughts back, Lin Yan was just about to continue practicing his sword when he heard footsteps at the courtyard gate and looked over.

The gate was pushed open, and his aunt Liu and Li Min walked in.

"Yan'er is back."

Seeing Lin Yan standing in the courtyard, Li Min was the first to greet him with a smile.

Ever since Lin Yan had resolved the trouble for the Cai Family, Li Min had grown very close to Liu, often inviting her to visit the Cai Mansion. Lin Yan understood his fourth aunt's intentions perfectly well, but he did not object to her getting close to his aunt.

The Cai Family had bestowed martial arts upon him, and furthermore, his aunt had been in less contact with her own family because of him; having the fourth aunt around allowed his aunt to make up for that lack of familial connection.

"Fourth Aunt is here."

After exchanging greetings, Lin Yan noticed his younger brother was missing and asked curiously, "Aunt, where is my little brother?"

"Jun is at the age to learn to read, and the master has hired a tutor. Isn't Mo also learning to read? So I had Mo study at the mansion with Jun. Once the lessons are over, the servants will send Mo back."

Li Min explained with a smile, and Lin Yan nodded. "My little brother is mischievous; I've troubled you, Fourth Aunt."

"It's no trouble at all. We are family; saying it's a trouble is just being distant. Jun and Mo get along well, like brothers."

Lin Yan smiled. He was certain that his cheap uncle and fourth aunt must have instructed their son; if one side was intentionally fawning, how could their relationship not be good?

"May I ask if this is the residence of Young Master Lin Yan?"

A voice suddenly came from the entrance. A middle-aged man in silk robes stood at the gate, with two brokers standing behind him.

Before Lin Yan could speak, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up upon seeing him. He stepped forward and said, "Young Master Lin, I am a manager at the brokerage. Our boss learned that you have broken through to the third stage of skin tempering and sent me to offer congratulations. This is the deed you left behind."

A brokerage manager?

Lin Yan was surprised and said in a deep voice, "I don't believe I know your boss. I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

When he bought this house, he had taken out a loan and still owed one hundred taels. He had intended to pay it back when the year was almost up, but he hadn't expected the brokerage to waive it directly.

"Young Master Lin, your breakthrough to the third stage of skin tempering is a joyous event for our entire county. Every family wishes to express their sentiments; this is a custom that has been passed down in Guangping County for many years. Please accept it, so I can report back to my boss."

"If that is the case, then thank you and your boss on my behalf."

Hearing this, Lin Yan did not decline further and accepted the deed the man handed over.

"I shall not disturb Young Master Lin any further."

The middle-aged man left with the broker, while in the courtyard, Li Min's beautiful eyes were shining, her delicate frame even trembling with uncontrollable excitement.

If she had heard correctly, Lin Yan had broken through to the third stage of Skin Tempering.

Third-stage Skin Tempering meant he was a true bigwig in the city.

The Lin family had struck it rich, and her own family would surely bask in the reflected glory.

"Yan'er, you've broken through to the third stage of Skin Tempering?"

Although Liu knew a little about martial arts because her nephew practiced it, and she knew that the second and third stages were considered quite impressive, she didn't fully grasp what it truly signified.

"Yes, I just broke through yesterday. I didn't expect the families in the county to be so well-informed."

"How could they not be? This is the third stage of Skin Tempering! There are only a few dozen such people in our entire county, and Yan'er, you are still so young—your future is truly limitless."

Li Min reined in her emotions and immediately stepped forward to take Liu's hand. "Sister-in-law, from now on, you just wait to enjoy your blessings."

The broker's gift was like a bugle call before a charge. Over the next hour, people from various major families in the county arrived one after another; some sent their stewards, while others came in person.

Liu found it difficult to handle the reception, but fortunately, Li Min had come from the Cai Mansion and had experience with such social exchanges. She took charge of greeting the guests while recording the gifts each one brought.

It wasn't until night fell that the Lin residence finally quieted down.

Looking at the records on the gift list, Li Min was incomparably shocked. Although the gifts from each family weren't huge—twenty or thirty taels each, with an occasional fifty—the sheer number of visitors meant the total added up to over a thousand taels.

But what excited Li Min even more was that many of the visitors were stewards from major families. In the past, her husband had often hosted banquets at home to try and sell cloth to the nobility, and those stewards had always been arrogant and stuck-up. Today, however, once they learned she was Lin Yan's aunt, they were incredibly warm—not quite groveling, but close to it. Several even hinted that they wanted to visit the house.

Li Min cast a glance at Lin Yan, who stood to the side with a calm expression. She knew very well that all of this was because of her nephew.

When one person attains the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

No, I must go back and talk to my husband properly. Our family must send a generous gift this time.

Liu, standing nearby, was still in a state of utter shock, unable to snap out of it.

"Aunt, are you alright?"

Seeing his aunt sitting on the stone bench and remaining silent for a long time, Lin Yan asked with some concern.

"I... I'm fine."

Liu picked up the teapot from the table and poured herself a cup to soothe her parched throat. "Yan'er, go... go pay your respects to your parents and ancestors. Thank the ancestors for their protection."

The simple-minded Liu had no other thoughts in her head right now; she only wanted to thank the Lin family ancestors for their blessing.