Ambush and Treachery

After leaving the Lin Mansion, Lin Yan went to the stables at the city gate to rent a horse and rode toward Sanshan County.

Barely a few miles outside the city, Lin Yan pulled on the reins and looked at an overturned cart ahead.

"Young man, could you please give me a hand?"

On the tilted side of the cart, a middle-aged man was bracing his body against it to keep the cargo from spilling. Seeing Lin Yan, he immediately called out for help.

"Sure."

Lin Yan nodded, swung off his horse, and walked toward the man.

One step, two steps, three steps.

When he was five feet away, Lin Yan suddenly drew the long saber at his waist and slashed down with a fierce strike!

The blade glinted coldly!

The middle-aged man's expression changed drastically. His body, previously pinned by the cart, slid away like an eel. At the same time, his right hand darted out, pulling a long spear from beneath the cart.

The saber missed, slamming into the cart instead. With a loud crack, the cart split in two, and the cargo rolled across the ground.

"How did you see through it?"

Ma Xingjian shed his previous demeanor, his gaze fixed coldly on Lin Yan.

Since he had been exposed, there was no point in pretending.

However, he was puzzled. While his setup wasn't exactly brilliant, it wasn't particularly poor either. Most importantly, he understood Lin Yan's situation.

Born into an ordinary family and having practiced martial arts for only a year, let alone lacking experience in the outside world, he probably hadn't even been in many fights. How could a fledgling like this see through the trap at a glance?

"See through what?"

Lin Yan stood with his saber, his expression indifferent. "You were pinned by the cart, and I was simply helping you out of a predicament."

Ma Xingjian's mouth twitched. Helping him out? Was that how one helped?

That strike had been aimed directly at his head. If he hadn't dodged, it wouldn't have been the cart split in two, but himself.

Ma Xingjian didn't press the matter; the kid wouldn't tell him even if he asked.

"Whatever. Keep playing tough; I'll get the answer from your mouth before you die."

He had been tracking Lin Yan for several days. He had wanted to strike inside the city, but Lin Yan never took side paths. Even when traveling from the martial arts hall to his home, where there were shortcuts with fewer people, the kid preferred to take the long way on the main road, leaving Ma Xingjian waiting in vain on the side paths several times.

It wasn't until this morning, when he saw Lin Yan carrying a bundle toward the city gate, that he knew Lin Yan was leaving the city, so he had set the ambush outside ahead of time.

Because of the short notice, the trap wasn't perfect. If Lin Yan fell for it, great; if not, it didn't matter—it would just take a little more time.

"I've answered your question, so you answer one of mine. I should have no grudges or grievances with you; why ambush me here?"

Lin Yan looked at the man. Aside from Cheng Zonghan, everyone who held a grudge against him was already dead.

This man had to be at the third stage of skin-toughening; otherwise, he wouldn't dare ambush him. Given Cheng Zonghan's status, he couldn't afford to hire three skin-toughening martial artists to deal with him.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you the answer before you die."

Ma Xingjian didn't intend to drag this out; this was a county road, and someone could appear at any moment. He flicked his spear, and it transformed into points of cold starlight as he thrust toward Lin Yan!

Lin Yan drew his saber and swept it horizontally, blade meeting spear.

Clang!

Amidst the sound of clashing metal, Lin Yan looked down to see a grain-sized chip missing from his blade.

Seeing the notch in Lin Yan's saber, Ma Xingjian smiled, and a second strike followed immediately.

This strike was faster and more ruthless, the spear tip vibrating as it covered all of Lin Yan's vital points.

Lin Yan swung his saber to parry.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

After a few exchanges.

Crack!

With a crisp snap, the saber in Lin Yan's hand broke. Half the blade flew off and embedded itself in the ground.

Ma Xingjian looked at the broken blade remaining in Lin Yan's hand, stunned for a moment before bursting into mocking laughter. "Of course. Someone of your poor background reaching the third stage of skin-toughening is already a blessing from your ancestors. Where would you find the extra money to forge a good blade? This piece of junk was probably bought at a random blacksmith shop, right?"

A weapon was half a martial artist's life. Anyone who had traveled and fought for years knew the importance of a weapon. Only a fledgling with a poor background like Lin Yan would be too stingy to spend money on a quality blade.

Heaven was truly unfair to let such a person reach the third stage of skin-toughening.

Lin Yan looked down at the broken blade, his expression unchanged, though a look of sudden realization appeared on his face. "Your tone is full of jealousy. I understand now—you're jealous of my martial arts talent, and that's why you're attacking me."

"Jealousy?"

Ma Xingjian sneered. It was true that he had chosen Lin Yan as a target partly for that reason, but he would never admit it.

"I'm jealous of you? What a ridiculous joke."

Using laughter to mask his true feelings, Ma Xingjian retorted, "I'll let you die with clarity. Killing you is to frame the Four Seas Gang and force your master and the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall to go to war with the Patrol Bureau."

Ma Xingjian hadn't intended to reveal the truth; he wasn't the type to be unable to keep a secret. But seeing Lin Yan's self-assured expression—convinced that the attack was born of jealousy—made him unable to resist refuting it. He wanted Lin Yan to know that he wasn't being killed for his talent, but purely because he was a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

"Frame the Four Seas Gang?"

Lin Yan frowned. He thought of the recent situation in the city; it was said that the Four Seas Gang and the Patrol Bureau had completely torn off their masks.

The two sides had erupted into numerous conflicts. While the fourth-layer skin-tempering martial artists from both sides had yet to make a move, the battles between the third-layer skin-tempering martial artists were frequent, with each side suffering wins and losses.

"Are you from the Patrol Bureau? Impossible. I have met all the deputy directors of the Patrol Bureau, and you are not among them."

Third-layer skin-tempering martial artists either did not join the Patrol Bureau, or if they did, they had to be deputy directors; this was a matter of face for martial artists of that level.

"I was never from the Guangping County Patrol Bureau to begin with. I was invited by Lord Shi specifically to hunt down young martial artists like you from various factions that haven't picked a side yet. You are not the first, and you won't be the last."

Listening to the other man, Lin Yan pondered to himself. Logically, it held up, but the risks were immense. If the framing failed or was exposed, it would be equivalent to pushing that faction toward the Four Seas Gang.

There was only one scenario where the Patrol Bureau would take such a desperate risk: they were currently on the losing end of their confrontation with the Four Seas Gang.

"That Lord Shi from the Patrol Bureau specifically ordered you to kill me?"

"Lord Shi wouldn't name names. He just gave me a list of various family factions that haven't picked a side yet," Ma Xingjian replied truthfully, acting on instinct.

"I understand. The Patrol Bureau didn't tell you to target me, so when it comes down to it, this is all because of your jealousy toward me."

Lin Yan's final sentence left Ma Xingjian speechless, his expression instantly turning furious. "Kid, you talk too much. I've told you the truth, now you can die with your eyes closed..."

Having his inner thoughts exposed, Ma Xingjian thrust his long spear forward. This time, Lin Yan didn't even have a blade. With Ma Xingjian putting his full strength into this strike, it was enough to take the kid's life.

However, the moment the spear was thrust with full force, Lin Yan gripped his scabbard with his left hand and pressed it lightly.

Clang!

A cold glint sprang from the scabbard!

It was a long sword, its blade as thin as a cicada's wing, shimmering with a biting chill.

Ma Xingjian felt his vision blur, his eyes filled with the flash of the blade. His spear momentum was not yet spent, and he had no time to retreat or dodge. He could only grit his teeth and continue the thrust, gambling that his spear was faster than Lin Yan's sword.

Pfft!

The long sword pierced through his throat.

Ma Xingjian's eyes widened, a rattling sound coming from his throat as blood gushed from his mouth.

His spear tip was still a foot away from Lin Yan's throat.

So slow?

No, how could Lin Yan's sword be this fast?

Doesn't the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall teach fist techniques? How could he possess such terrifying swordsmanship?

What he couldn't understand most was why someone with such terrifying swordsmanship would hide the sword inside a scabbard.

What was the point of bringing out a blade?

How could a person be this despicable?

What a beast!

Even after he had breathed his last and collapsed to the ground, Ma Xingjian's face still held a deep sense of unwillingness.

Lin Yan stepped forward and, without a word, stabbed the long sword into Ma Xingjian's chest several more times. Only after confirming the man was dead beyond any doubt did he begin to loot the corpse.

"So poor?"

After a quick search, Lin Yan was speechless. The man only had a few taels of broken silver on him and nothing else.

"To prevent accidents, he didn't carry money or any identification, but then how was he supposed to frame the Four Seas Gang?"

If he could, Lin Yan would have preferred to leave him alive for interrogation, but he was accustomed to not holding back once he started, especially when he didn't know what kind of trump cards the opponent might have.

According to this man, he had been invited by the director of the Patrol Bureau, but killing him wasn't the director's decision—it was the man's own initiative. In other words, if he killed him, Director Shi of the Patrol Bureau would be none the wiser.

Lin Yan's eyes flickered. He hoisted the corpse and quickly darted toward the woods beside the county road.

A quarter of an hour later, looking at the stripped corpse on the ground, Lin Yan fell into deep thought.

He had searched him inside and out, front and back, and truly found no other useful clues or items on the man. It seemed that even if the man intended to frame someone, he would have had to bring the body to another location to set the scene.

Judging by the man's tone and expression, he had been telling the truth. After all, in his eyes, Lin Yan was already a dead man; there was no need to lie.

But it wasn't absolute. What if the man was the type to be meticulous and had lied on purpose to prevent any variables?

That possibility was low, but not non-existent.

Confronting the Patrol Bureau was a thought Lin Yan dismissed immediately.

Without evidence, Director Shi of the Patrol Bureau would never admit to it.

What he was considering now was whether to inform his master and let him decide.

Besides himself, the martial arts hall also had Junior Brother Zhao.

If this Lord Shi didn't give up, would he set his sights on Junior Brother Zhao?

His master treated him well; there was no need to hide this.

Having figured this out, Lin Yan took the corpse to another mountain, found a mountain stream, and dumped it in before turning back toward the county town.

Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

Lin Yan waited quietly in the back courtyard of the martial arts hall. After he returned and informed his master about the ambush he had encountered on the road, his master had told him to wait there.

He waited for half an hour.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and his master walked in with Senior Brother Hao.

"Regarding this matter, Jingnian had no knowledge of it."

Yang Qingfeng spoke directly. As soon as Lin Yan had arrived at the hall to report the ambush, he had summoned Jingnian back.

Whether it was the initial verbal probing or Jingnian's subsequent oath, he was convinced that Jingnian had not lied.

"Junior Brother Lin, I truly knew nothing of this... If you do not believe me, I can swear an oath."

"Senior Brother Hao, there is no need for that. I certainly believe you," Lin Yan replied hurriedly.

In his view, if it were confirmed that Director Shi of the Patrol Bureau had arranged it, then the man who ambushed him had not lied, and Senior Brother Hao was completely above suspicion.

If the assailant had lied and the Four Seas Gang were the true culprits, then Senior Brother Hao could not possibly have known either.

"We will discuss the rest later. Lin Yan, take me to where the body is."

"Yes, Master."

Two quarters of an hour later.

Lin Yan retrieved the corpse from the mountain stream. Hao Jingnian stepped forward to examine it carefully for a moment before looking up. "Master, this man is indeed not from the Patrol Bureau, nor is he from the Four Seas Gang."

The Patrol Bureau and the Four Seas Gang had been clashing frequently of late, and Hao Jingnian had crossed paths with all of the Four Seas Gang's third-stage skin-tempering martial artists.

Yang Qingfeng stroked his beard, pondered for a long while, and said slowly, "It seems that what this man said to Lin Yan before he died was likely the truth."

"Master, I will go confront Shi Guanyun."

Hao Jingnian spoke immediately, but as soon as the words left his mouth, Yang Qingfeng and Lin Yan spoke almost in unison:

"Inappropriate!"

"Senior Brother, that is inappropriate!"

"Lin Yan, tell me why it is inappropriate?" Yang Qingfeng looked at Lin Yan, wanting to see if his disciple's thoughts aligned with his own.

"Master, the man is already dead. We have no evidence, and that Lord Shi will certainly never admit to it. It is meaningless for Senior Brother Hao to confront him, and it would only make the other party act more cautiously in the future."

After finishing, Lin Yan smiled somewhat sheepishly. "The second reason is that Lord Shi likely does not yet know that the person he hired moved against me today. I do not wish to expose myself."

For Lin Yan, he did not want to put himself in the spotlight.

"Are we just going to let this go?" Hao Jingnian frowned. "Junior Brother Lin, do not worry. Since Master knows about this now, Shi Guanyun will never dare to move against you again. After all, he is already overwhelmed by the Four Seas Gang; he would never dare to offend our Yang Family Martial Arts Hall."

Lin Yan explained, "Senior Brother Hao, once we show our hand, Shi Guanyun will view us as enemies. Even if he fears Master and stops targeting me, if the news spreads, is it not possible that the Four Seas Gang might become interested? They could find an opportunity to ambush me in secret, using the Patrol Bureau as the perfect scapegoat."

Hao Jingnian fell silent. As a third-stage skin-tempering martial artist and Deputy Director of the Patrol Bureau, he was a sharp-minded man, and he quickly grasped the meaning behind Lin Yan's words.

A look of gratification appeared in Yang Qingfeng's eyes; Lin Yan's thinking was indeed comprehensive, and he had considered every angle.

"Lin Yan is right. I am not afraid to go and demand an explanation from Shi Guanyun, but we have no evidence. Furthermore, with the Four Seas Gang and the Patrol Bureau currently at each other's throats, who can guarantee this isn't a trap set by the Four Seas Gang? Perhaps the man's original goal wasn't to kill Lin Yan, but to intentionally act as if he were provoked into revealing the truth in front of him, only for some twist to allow Lin Yan to survive. All of these are possibilities."

Yang Qingfeng said slowly, "For now, we will act as if this never happened. Jingnian, since you are in the Patrol Bureau, keep an eye on Shi Guanyun's movements in private, but do not take unnecessary risks. Shi Guanyun is, after all, a veteran fourth-stage skin-tempering expert; even I am not certain I could defeat him."

"As for you, Lin Yan..." Yang Qingfeng turned his gaze back to him. "Since you have decided to go to Sanshan County, continue with that plan. Shi Guanyun's reach does not extend to Sanshan County, and by going there, he will be even less likely to suspect that you were the one who killed his man. As for your family, I will keep an eye on them for you."

"Thank you, Master."

Lin Yan nodded. In truth, this was what he had been thinking as well, but his only worry had been his aunt and younger brother.

Now that he had his master's word, he could head to Sanshan County with peace of mind.