Guangping County, Patrol Bureau.
"Chief, there's been no word from Lord Ma for two days. I'm afraid something's happened to him."
The iron ball in the hand of Shi Guanyun, chief of the Guangping County Patrol Bureau, shattered into powder. "Where has Ma Xingjian been these past few days?"
"Chief, following the list you gave him, Ma Xingjian was secretly ambushing young martial artists from neutral factions and framing the Four Seas Gang. But Lord Ma didn't say exactly whom he planned to kill."
The subordinate lowered his head, looking troubled.
Shi Guanyun's expression darkened. Ma Xingjian was arrogant and refused to follow orders, but Shi Guanyun had no better candidate at the moment.
The idea of assassinating young martial artists from neutral factions and framing the Four Seas Gang had occurred to him after the Wang Family was wiped out.
A few days ago, the Wang Family's uncle and nephew had been killed. The investigation showed that the culprit was a martial artist who had polished his skin three times.
Under ordinary circumstances, Shi Guanyun would have ordered his men to investigate thoroughly and track down the three-times skin-polishing martial artist. But the Four Seas Gang was pressing them hard, and the Patrol Bureau had no energy to spare for private feuds between martial artists.
Looking for the culprit would be tantamount to pushing that three-times skin-polishing killer into the Four Seas Gang's camp.
So he had instructed his subordinates to tamper with the scene and pin the murder on the Four Seas Gang.
Their excuse was that the Wang Family had refused to join the Four Seas Gang, prompting the gang to take offense and send people to wipe out the entire family.
At the very least, this would persuade those still wavering, those who didn't want to take sides, and those hoping to stay out of the conflict to join the Patrol Bureau for the sake of their families' safety.
The results were even better than he'd imagined. Once word spread that the Four Seas Gang had destroyed the Wang Family, several families that hadn't planned to take sides chose to join the Patrol Bureau.
Having tasted success, Shi Guanyun wanted to repeat the same trick.
The three-times skin-polishing martial artist wouldn't strike again, so he would have another three-times skin-polishing martial artist do it instead.
But this had to remain secret. If word got out, the Patrol Bureau would be dragged into endless trouble.
That was why he had personally recruited Ma Xingjian from another county. Only Shi Guanyun and a few trusted subordinates in the entire Patrol Bureau knew Ma Xingjian's identity.
Every three days, Ma Xingjian contacted Shi Guanyun's trusted subordinate to report his whereabouts.
But it was already the fourth day, and Ma Xingjian still hadn't shown up. What's more, no young martial artists had been assassinated in the past three days. It seemed Ma Xingjian was truly in grave danger.
"Keep an eye on Ma Xingjian's family."
Shi Guanyun gave the order coldly. He had considered that Ma Xingjian might fail, so he had taken Ma Xingjian's family into custody in advance. As long as they were under his control, Ma Xingjian wouldn't dare reveal the truth even if he fell into someone else's hands.
And even if Ma Xingjian did tell the truth, Shi Guanyun could turn around and claim that Ma Xingjian was a member of the Four Seas Gang who had deliberately framed the Patrol Bureau.
Sanshan County.
At the basin where three mountains met, Lin Yan noticed the difference between the people here and those in Guangping County as soon as he crossed into Sanshan County.
Even the common folk were tall and powerfully built. Hunters with quivers slung across their backs were everywhere.
The Tang Family had an apothecary in Sanshan County town, but Lin Yan was headed for the mountain region where the Tang Family grew medicinal herbs.
At the foot of the mountains belonging to the Tang Family stood a row of wooden huts. Deeper in, there were several courtyards.
The man originally responsible for the Tang Family's affairs here was a middle-aged martial artist who had polished his skin three times. He was delighted to see Lin Yan. "I've been stationed in Sanshan County for ten years, always asking the family to transfer me back, but they never agreed. Now that you've arrived, young Lin, I can finally go home and get some proper rest."
Lin Yan only smiled. He had no idea whether the man was telling the truth.
Back when Lin Yan guarded Qingtian Town, the guards and the herb farmers had had an unspoken understanding. And the herbs grown here in Sanshan County were even more precious. He didn't believe there was no profit to be made.
"The family said Brother Zhang has served in Sanshan County for ten years and truly worked himself to the bone. I'm new here, so I'll leave everything as you had it before."
At Lin Yan's words, the smile on Zhang Xin's face grew even brighter.
He was making quite a bit from his post in Sanshan County. What worried him was that the family might not trust him and would send someone to investigate the old accounts.
Besides, most of the other martial artists stationed here were his men. If Lin Yan had other plans, their lives would be difficult.
Now that Lin Yan had given his word, he could finally relax.
"You've come a long way, young Lin. Go freshen up first. Tonight, I'll host a welcome banquet for you and introduce you to the other martial artists stationed here."
Lin Yan readily agreed. But as soon as he had left, several figures slipped in through the back door.
"Lord Zhang, how did it go?"
"This man shouldn't have been sent by the family to audit the accounts."
Zhang Xin took a sip of hot tea, and only then did the men who had entered let out sighs of relief.
"Still, don't think he's young and easy to push around. Anyone who's reached the third stage of skin polishing at his age can't be a fool. Don't skimp on the respect you owe him."
"Lord Zhang is absolutely right. We wouldn't dare neglect him."
The men exchanged glances. They had discussed it among themselves: as long as the newcomer wasn't there to audit the accounts, they would give him every bit of what they had originally given Lord Zhang, and add another ten percent on top.
There was no other reason. Lord Lin was simply too young.
He wasn't even twenty and had already polished his skin three times. He was surely focused on breaking through to the fourth stage, and the more money he had, the better.
That evening, the welcome banquet was a delight for host and guests alike.
Lin Yan could sense what they were thinking, but clear water held no fish. Besides, he hadn't come to audit the accounts. As long as the Tang Family had no complaints, he would let things remain as they were.
Half a month later.
Lin Yan had familiarized himself thoroughly with the surrounding area and was ready to begin the plan he had in mind.
Into the mountains, in search of herbs!
He had volunteered for the post in Sanshan County partly to avoid the undercurrents swirling through Guangping County town, and partly because the Earth Vein True Interpretation could only truly come into its own here.
After packing some provisions, Lin Yan left the courtyard and headed toward the White Cloud Mountain Range.
There were no poisonous mists on White Cloud Mountain. Along the way, Lin Yan encountered plenty of hunters heading into the mountains, including quite a few skin-polishing martial artists. He didn't linger on the outskirts and went straight into the depths of the mountain.
"Life stirs beneath the earth; the dragon roams, the serpent winds."
After crossing several mountain ridges, Lin Yan drew on the knowledge in the Earth Vein True Interpretation, constantly changing direction. At last, he stopped on an inconspicuous slope.
He pushed aside the waist-high weeds, revealing a patch of semicircular leaves beneath them.
"Musk Ear Herb!"
Lin Yan's eyes lit up. Musk Ear Herb was a main ingredient in Muscle-Generating Pills, and it was worth quite a bit.
But he didn't pick it right away. He quietly memorized the location, then put the weeds back in place. He would gather the herbs on his way back.
As he continued searching through the forest, Lin Yan suddenly stopped. His sword flashed from its sheath, a streak of cold light stabbing toward the shadow darting out of the brush on his left.
The shadow fell to the ground. It was a black snake, cut cleanly in two.
"Five feet long. That's enough for lunch."
Lin Yan stabbed the sword tip toward the snake's head and flicked his wrist. Its head burst apart.
Anyone who'd killed snakes knew that even if a snake's body was cut off, its head could still bite because of its localized nerves.
After sheathing his sword, Lin Yan drew a dagger and skinned the snake, removing its entrails. He rinsed it quickly with water from his canteen, then sprang up onto a boulder, ready to eat lunch there.
Firewood was plentiful in the mountains. He skewered the snake meat on sticks and roasted it over a fire, sprinkling it with seasonings. Before long, its savory aroma filled the air.
Before coming to Sanshan County, he had made a special trip to a spice shop to buy cumin, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili peppers, then blended them himself in the right proportions.
In his previous life, after quitting his job and before setting off to tour the country by bicycle, he had gone out of his way to learn grilling and seasoning from a barbecue chef. He hadn't needed that skill in his previous life, but here it had come in handy.
Roar!
Just as Lin Yan finished eating the snake meat, a beast roared somewhere in the forest ahead. A flock of birds burst from the trees in a panic.
"That sound... could it be a bear?"
Of the five prized game animals, bear meat was second only to tiger meat in price.
Since arriving in Sanshan County, Lin Yan had been eating venison. At ten taels a pound, it had drained his purse like water.
If venison cost that much, bear and tiger meat went without saying.
At first, Lin Yan had thought bear and tiger meat were so expensive because martial artists were in such great demand for them, and so many tigers and bears had been hunted that few remained. But later he learned that wasn't the case.
The wild beasts in this world were far stronger than those in his previous life. Even second-stage skin-polishing martial artists wouldn't dare approach an adult tiger or wild bear. It took several martial artists at that stage to have any chance of surrounding and hunting one.
Lin Yan put away his canteen of seasonings and followed the sound. Soon, he spotted movement in a clearing in the forest.
Five young people were surrounding an enormous black bear.
Its fur was matted with blood, and a hunting trap had clamped tightly around its left foreleg, biting down to the bone. Yet it remained ferocious. With a roar, it charged at a gray-clad young man, its massive paw sweeping through the air.
The gray-clad young man hurriedly retreated, but the bear's paw still grazed his chest. His clothes tore, and three deep bloody gashes opened across him. He staggered backward.
But the black bear roared and chased after him, its massive body barreling toward the young man like a small mountain.
"Third Junior Brother, run!"
A blue-clad man at the side had his left arm hanging limp, clearly dislocated. His face was pale as paper as he shouted in alarm at the sight.
"Beast, stop right there!"
Seeing his companion in danger, another young man shouted and brought his long saber down hard on the black bear's back. The blade sank three inches into its flesh, but the bear spun around in pain and swatted him away. He slammed into a tree and spewed blood from his mouth.
The black bear, stung by pain, was now enraged. With a roar, it charged at the young man lying on the ground.
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
A glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. He drove off the ground and shot forward like an arrow, grabbing the young man before the black bear could reach him, then retreating at speed.
"Thank you for saving me, brother. I'm Bai Qingrang, a disciple of Green Pine Martial Hall."
Bai Qingrang introduced himself at once after being rescued. The five of them were all second-stage skin-polishing martial artists. They had thought the hunting trap would injure the black bear enough for them to kill it, but hadn't expected it to become so terrifying once enraged.
With no target left, the black bear didn't attack again. It glared at Lin Yan with its beady eyes, then abruptly turned and ran toward the mountains.
"Eldest Senior Brother, that beast is heading deeper into the mountains!"
Bai Qingrang's junior brothers and sister hurried over, curiously looking Lin Yan up and down.
"Brother, if you can help us kill that beast, half of its meat is yours."
Bai Qingrang looked anxious. Several of them had been injured trying to hunt the black bear. If it got away, they would have suffered a great loss.
"All right."
Lin Yan agreed without hesitation. If he'd been more cold-blooded, he could've stood by and watched the bear kill all five of them—or waited for one or two of them to die before the rest gave up and fled. Then the bear would've been his.
But they were all human, and he just couldn't bring himself to be that cold.
"Be careful, brother!" Bai Qingrang called after him. "That beast is cunning!"
Lin Yan didn't reply. He raced forward at full speed, his figure as swift as lightning, following the black bear's trail. There was blood on the ground, bushes broken by its passage, and the occasional crash of snapping trees ahead. All of it told him the bear was fleeing in a frenzy, smashing trees as thick as bowls aside.
After crossing a ridge, Lin Yan finally spotted the bear's enormous figure.
Its left hind leg had been badly hurt by the hunting trap. It limped as it ran, but its speed was still considerable. It seemed to sense someone behind it and glanced back, letting out a low growl before running even faster.
Lin Yan followed at an unhurried pace.
He wasn't in a hurry to attack.
The more you pushed a beast like this, the more vicious it became.
Let it run until it was exhausted. That would be the best moment to strike.
After another quarter-hour of pursuit, the black bear's pace visibly slowed. At last, it stopped beside a boulder, panting heavily. Blood still seeped from its wounds, staining the fallen leaves beneath it.
Lin Yan stopped three yards away and watched it.
The black bear turned around and stared at Lin Yan. Its eyes were full of ferocity and wariness. As if it knew it couldn't escape, it stopped running and dug at the ground with its forepaws, growling a low warning.
Lin Yan slowly drew his long sword.
The instant the blade left its sheath, an invisible aura rose from him.
The black bear seemed to sense something. Its roar cut off abruptly, and its massive body actually took half a step back. The beast's instincts screamed a warning: the man in front of it was dangerous.
Lin Yan moved.
He took one step forward. His sword flashed like a startled swan, a storm of sword shadows engulfing the black bear.
Pfft!
The sound of the blade entering flesh was almost too soft to hear.
The sword pierced the black bear beneath the jaw and went straight through its skull.
The black bear's massive body swayed. The ferocity in its eyes faded at once, and it crashed to the ground.
"Had I misjudged it again? That black bear had looked so fierce, and those people couldn't even cut through its hide. I thought my sword might not get through either. Still, there was no harm in being careful. It only cost me a little more time."
Realizing he had overestimated the black bear's strength, Lin Yan shook his head ruefully. Then he sheathed his sword, drew the broad-bladed knife he had brought especially for his trip into the mountains, and began cutting up the bear's carcass.
Just as Lin Yan finished cutting up the bear, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.
"Brother!"
Bai Qingrang and the others caught up. When they saw the carcass already cut apart on the ground, they all froze.
"As agreed, I'll take half. The rest is yours."
Lin Yan glanced back at Bai Qingrang, hoisted most of the bear meat onto his shoulder, and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
The only woman there frowned and called after him. "We lured this black bear here with bait. Isn't it a bit much for you to just take half?"
Lin Yan ignored her and looked instead at Bai Qingrang.
"Please don't take offense, brother!"
Bai Qingrang hurriedly apologized, then turned to the woman. "Junior Sister, I already promised him half the bear meat. I can't go back on my word."
Bai Qingrang scolded her, but the woman wouldn't give up. "Eldest Senior Brother, the bear was already badly wounded. Even without him, all we'd have had to do was spend a little more time."
As she saw it, Lin Yan had simply gotten lucky.
If he were really capable, why had he let the bear run so far before striking, waiting until it had lost blood and its ferocity?
"Junior Sister makes a good point. Since you saved Eldest Senior Brother, we'll give you ten catties of bear meat... All right, twenty." Another young man chimed in.
At their charitable tone, Lin Yan smiled.
He wasn't laughing because he was angry. He genuinely found it funny.
He looked at Bai Qingrang, his gaze calm. "So, what do you say?"
Most of the gratitude had faded from Bai Qingrang's face, replaced by a strained uncertainty.
He looked at the black bear on the ground, then at his junior sister. His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he said nothing.
"What we're saying is that we lured the bear here and wounded it. You only came along to land the final blow. What gives you the right to take half?" The fourth junior brother stepped forward. "Twenty catties of bear meat is worth more than three hundred taels. You've already made a profit. Learn to be content."
"And if I don't?"
Lin Yan glanced down at the long sword in his hand. It really didn't pay to be a good person.
Bai Qingrang's face flushed red. His throat bobbed a few times before he finally spoke. "Brother, how about this? You can take thirty catties. Green Pine Martial Hall will owe you a favor. If you ever need anything, you can come find me at the hall."
So they were trying to intimidate me with their backing!
Lin Yan understood perfectly well. By mentioning that Green Pine Martial Hall would owe him a favor, and bringing up the hall itself, Bai Qingrang was reminding him that they were disciples of Green Pine Martial Hall, and their master was a fourth-stage skin-polishing expert.
"Eldest Senior Brother, stop wasting your breath. Make him put down the bear meat and let him go. If he still won't get the hint..."
She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
Bai Qingrang said nothing, and he didn't stop her either.
Lin Yan understood. He raised his right hand, and a flash of sword light appeared.
There was no whoosh through the air, no sharp gust of wind.
The sword light was as thin as a wisp of smoke. It drifted from its scabbard, traced a fine arc through the air, and stabbed toward the woman.
This woman had the foulest mouth.
As Mencius once said: ...not fit to be counted among the human race. She deserved to die!
Pfft.
The junior sister froze mid-motion.
The smug look had not even faded from her face, yet the light had already gone from her eyes.
A bloodline, fine as a silkworm's thread, slowly seeped from her throat.
"Junior Sister!"
The Fourth Senior Brother's pupils contracted. With an angry roar, he drew his saber and charged.
He had barely drawn it halfway when the sword light was already in front of him.
He instinctively raised his saber to block, but the sword light moved like a living snake, curling around the blade and lightly brushing past his neck.
Pfft.
The Fourth Senior Brother stiffened where he stood. The saber in his hand clanged to the ground. His body swayed, then crashed down.
The two junior brothers left behind saw what had happened and fled in terror, but the sword light was faster.
Bang! Bang!
Neither of them made it ten yards before they fell.
"Y-you... who are you?"
In the span of three breaths, only one person remained.
Bai Qingrang trembled all over, his face filled with terror.
Lin Yan looked down at him, the tip of his sword lowered as beads of blood slid slowly along its edge.
"I have one question. From the start, you never intended to let me take half the bear meat, did you?"
"N-no, I intended to let you take half, brother. It was my junior brothers and sister who disagreed." Bai Qingrang shook his head frantically, trying to defend himself.
"So you were afraid of offending your fellow disciples? You'd rather betray the person who saved your life than risk upsetting them."
"My junior sister is dearly favored by our master. If I angered her, our master would surely punish me. Brother, I was wrong. Please spare my life."
Bai Qingrang's lips quivered as he frantically knocked his head against the ground.
"I've finished asking."
Lin Yan sheathed his sword and turned away.
Bai Qingrang froze for a moment, then, as if granted a new lease on life, scrambled to his feet and made to run.
After two steps, he suddenly remembered something and whipped around.
The sword light had already flared.
Pfft.
Bai Qingrang swayed, then pitched forward onto the ground.
Lin Yan looked at the rigid confusion on Bai Qingrang's face and murmured, "Biting the hand that fed you—you deserved to die more than your junior brothers and sister."
What had happened today left Lin Yan feeling a little disheartened.
But if he encountered something like this again, he would still step in to help—provided he was strong enough both to save someone and to kill.
PS: We've been married for three years and still haven't taken our wedding photos. We're finally taking them over the next few days. Luckily, I have a backlog of chapters. Thanks for following along—the new book is now tenth on the rankings. Here's a 5,000-word chapter for you!