Damn, You Didn't Say So Earlier

Damn, he didn't say it was in the afternoon. Lin Yi put his clothes back on and brought some afternoon food for Yu Qinglian from a nearby eatery.

He then prepared to head back for a visit.

After all, ever since he started practicing martial arts, he hadn't been back for nearly a month.

[Today's Fortune: Minor Misfortune]

Minor Misfortune: During the Chou hour today, the Black Wind Gang will ambush and kill Lin Hua and his family.

[Reward for avoiding misfortune: 1,000 Destiny Talisman Coins]

[Current Destiny Talisman Coins: 19,500]

Lin Yi's pupils constricted.

How could this be?!

Wasn't Hu Ma already dead?!

Why would the Black Wind Gang still make a move against the Lin family?

That night, at the Lin residence.

Lin Hua lay on the bed, one hand holding a stick as he gently tapped his lower back.

Business at the restaurant had been booming lately, and he was truly exhausted.

Lin Hua couldn't help but suffer from a bit of lumbar muscle strain.

"Sigh, these days are truly hard to endure..." Lin Hua chuckled to himself.

Knock, knock, knock—

A faint, light tapping sounded at the door.

Lin Hua frowned, subconsciously assuming it was his wife, Chen.

But the next second, the door to the main hall was pushed straight open. A tall, slender man with a long face, phoenix eyes, a straight nose, and a slight limp, looking to be in his thirties, walked in.

Seeing who it was, Lin Hua froze for a moment before bursting into a curse.

"You have the nerve to come back!"

The person who arrived was none other than Lin Hua's second younger brother, Lin Changgong.

"Big brother, it's been a long time." Lin Changgong chuckled twice and sat down in the seat in front of Lin Hua with a reckless air.

"I've been a bit tight on cash lately, so I'm very grateful for your patience, brother."

Lin Changgong cupped his hands toward Lin Hua.

"Sigh..." Lin Hua sighed, eventually saying earnestly, "Second brother, so many years have passed; you should really face reality and live a proper life."

The smile on Lin Changgong's face gradually faded, leaving a deep, dead silence in the depths of his eyes.

"Alright, brother, I know." Lin Changgong looked up and said airily.

Lin Hua felt helpless, knowing the words had gone in one ear and out the other, so he said no more.

Lin Hua understood the blow his brother had suffered.

Back when the Lin Clan Escort Agency existed, he himself had mediocre talent, possessing only a Grade D root bone.

Lin Changgong, however, had a one-in-ten-thousand Grade A root bone and carried the hopes of the entire clan.

But during their final escort mission, the Lin family met with disaster, the entire household was wiped out, and Lin Changgong's root bone was crippled, reducing him to an ordinary person overnight. This blow was far greater than anything he had experienced.

"Forget it, forget it." Lin Hua said helplessly, "Why have you come to find me today? Let's get this straight: there is no more silver in the house."

Lin Changgong said, "Big brother, that's not right. How could I be the kind of brother who covets your few taels of silver?"

Lin Hua asked in surprise, "Then what is it?"

Lin Changgong smiled and took a sip of the cold tea on the table, "I just haven't seen you in a long time, and since I was passing by, I thought I'd come over and ask for a cup of tea."

Night fell.

Lin Yi was dressed in black night-traveling clothes, a horizontal blade strapped to his waist, his face casually covered with a black cloth.

The Hidden Origin Technique that Lin Yi practiced had the effect of concealing his aura and figure.

Thus, as his silhouette darted across the rooftops, it was almost impossible for an ordinary person to notice him, leaving only a shadow in motion.

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of soft, measured footsteps came from the corner of the alley.

Lin Yi's eyes sharpened, and his movements became even more subtle.

"The higher-ups are crazy. It's just a family of three; was it necessary to send so many people?"

"Yeah, and there are five martial artists who have entered the Qi stage."

"You'd think the Lin family just runs an eatery, so why are the higher-ups taking this so seriously?"

"Sending so many people out in one night—they're determined to take that Lin Hua away today."

"Shh... I'll tell you this one thing..."

Another person leaned closer.

"I heard it was this Lin family's younger brother, Lin Changgong, who stole a treasure from the higher-ups."

"The higher-ups?"

"The ones above our gang leader."

"Hiss! What kind of influence does this Lin family have!"

"No, no..."

"As for why they're forcibly abducting this Lin family tonight, the reason is also very simple. I heard Lin Hua's nephew is about to break through to become a martial artist at the martial arts school. It'll be a bit more troublesome then..."

"..."

Lin Yi's eyes darkened.

The Black Wind Gang had been able to establish themselves in Jiaqing County for many years primarily because of the protection they received.

That is, the county's high-ranking officials tacitly allowed the Black Wind Gang to handle some unsavory matters.

Lin Yi never expected that the real force targeting the Lin family throughout the entire process would be the county's high-ranking officials.

"Second Uncle, Second Uncle, what exactly did you get your hands on..."

Lin Yi was filled with doubt.

As the two below began to change the subject, no longer discussing important matters and even starting to talk obscenities, Lin Yi quietly withdrew his body, moving towards other directions while constantly observing the alley entrances.

As expected.

All the alley entrances were completely surrounded by members of the Black Wind Gang, leaving no escape route.

Furthermore, all the alley entrances were guarded by martial artists.

Lin Yi's eyebrows shot up.

Fortunately, he had also summoned the Corpse Puppet when he returned, otherwise, it would have been difficult to deal with.

There was also a figure that made Lin Yi's heart tighten.

At the alley entrance closest to the Lin family residence stood a tall, stern-looking middle-aged man with a full beard.

He was a ninth-grade martial artist.

And judging by his cultivation, he wasn't far from breaking through to the eighth grade.

Lin Yi pondered in secret.

If the Black Wind Gang attacked all at once, with so many people at the alley entrance, he would have to let the Corpse Puppet block them.

After that, it would be up to him to deal with this martial artist.

Even though he was not far from being a martial artist himself, the difference in strength between a martial artist and an ordinary person was worlds apart. Lin Yi didn't know if he could defeat the opponent.

Not to mention the twenty or so Black Wind Gang thugs surrounding them.

His mind raced.

Lin Yi's gaze suddenly firmed.

"A direct confrontation won't work! Only by blending into the chaos can I find a way to survive!"

"Martial Master Wang, most of the brothers have arrived, and the alley entrances are all secured."

"Mm, let's wait for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The people inside haven't slept yet. If we barge in rashly, they might shout and alert the neighbors, causing unnecessary trouble," Martial Master Wang said.

Time quietly slipped away.

In the blink of an eye, the time it took for an incense stick to burn had passed.

As a martial artist, Martial Master Wang had keen senses and could faintly hear voices from the rooms within the courtyard.

"Why is this person sleeping so late tonight?" Martial Master Wang frowned, then seemed to make up his mind: "Forget it, I'm not waiting any longer!"

A gust of wind blew, carrying a pungent smell of smoke in the air.

Martial Master Wang's heart leaped, and he quickly looked to the side.

He saw thick black smoke suddenly billowing from two or three houses surrounding the Lin family's residence.

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

A sudden commotion erupted.

Suddenly, a desolate silence descended, and the quiet alleyway abruptly lit up.

Almost in an instant, the lights in every household flickered on, and rustling sounds began to emerge from all directions.

"This is bad!"

Martial Master Wang's heart sank.

With everyone awake now, how could he possibly abduct the entire Lin Clan under the eyes of the public?

"Move!" Martial Master Wang ordered, signaling the three men closest to him.

All three had studied martial arts and had broken through the Martial Pass; although they hadn't become true martial artists, they were still highly capable fighters.

The three men vaulted over the wall and landed inside the courtyard.

They had already inquired about the layout of the Lin Clan's residence in advance.

Their tasks had been assigned long ago, and the target for these three was to kidnap Lin Hua's son, Lin Xiuwen.

As for Lin Hua and his wife, they were left to Martial Master Wang.

Without hesitation, they charged toward Lin Xiuwen's room.

Reaching the door, they leaned in to listen.

The room was deathly silent.

The three men breathed a sigh of relief, assuming the Lin boy was a heavy sleeper and hadn't been awakened by the commotion outside, which would make their job even easier.

They didn't hesitate; delays only invited trouble.

The three of them burst into the room.

The room was pitch black, thick enough to obscure one's own hand, and the hazy moonlight could not dispel the darkness of the night.

Yet, perhaps reflected by the moonlight, a distinct white gleam was visible amidst the black.

Thin, biting, and ferocious!

That was the final impression in the three men's minds.

The sound of flesh being sliced was unnervingly smooth.

In an instant, three whole men were transformed into six neatly severed pieces.

Lin Yi flicked his blade, scattering the blood droplets from the edge.

He then turned his head to glance at Lin Xiuwen, who was still fast asleep.

Lin Yi had cast a technique of the Corpse Puppet Path—Corpse Eye Blinder—on Lin Xiuwen, trapping him in an illusion.

That was why he hadn't woken up despite the massive commotion.

Lin Yi ignored him, and after cleanly dispatching the three men, he immediately exited the room, taking the time to close the door behind him for Lin Xiuwen.

The moment he stepped outside.

The hair on Lin Yi's body stood on end, and he abruptly drew his blade to parry!

The clanging ring of steel striking steel erupted in the empty courtyard, though it was quickly drowned out by the roaring flames and the clamor of the crowd outside.

His blood surged, and Lin Yi retreated dozens of steps before steadying himself, his gaze sharp.

"Who are you?!" Martial Master Wang demanded, his face twisted with fury.

He wasn't a fool.

In an instant, he understood the source of the surrounding fire.

It seemed tonight's mission was impossible to complete.

Lin Yi did not answer, nor did he launch an attack, simply standing his ground with his blade held ready.

Thoughts raced through his mind.

The fire was already raging.

With the entire alleyway full of people, it was impossible to take anyone away under their watchful eyes.

Furthermore, the county authorities would arrive soon; if he didn't leave now, it would be too late.

The martial artist before him was likely just a guest retainer for the Black Wind Gang, collecting a monthly stipend, and shouldn't be willing to risk his life.

Now that the mission had failed, a sensible person would leave early.

Lin Yi didn't want to fight a martial artist to the death either.

It was highly likely that a fight wouldn't break out tonight.

Lin Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

"Not talking? No matter, you're a dead man anyway." Martial Master Wang's eyes turned bloodshot. "A mongrel who hasn't even broken the Martial Pass dares to kill my nephew!"

The heart that had just relaxed in Lin Yi's chest instantly leaped into his throat.

Wait, what!?

One of those three people just now was your nephew!

Damn it, you didn't tell me that beforehand!

He didn't give Lin Yi any time to react.

The next second, Martial Master Wang lunged violently toward Lin Yi.

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