Chapter 154 - 17: Pursuing the Killer

Chapter 154: Chapter 17: Pursuing the Killer

Only a few special circumstances were exempt, and a breakthrough in one’s Realm was one of them.

Lin Yan had noted this point after carefully reviewing the clan’s rules.

...

...

「Qing State Prefecture City.」

Lin Yan entered the city through the North Gate, feeling a wave of emotion as he watched the ceaseless flow of convoys coming and going.

When he first arrived, he had entered through the West Gate, marveling at the prosperity of the Qing State Prefecture. He had rushed straight to the Lin Family residence without stopping to look around, partly because he wanted to avoid any trouble.

Back then, he was only at the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing. In a place as vast as the Qing State Prefecture, ’it might be an exaggeration to say I was a complete nobody, but I was close... which isn’t much better.’ ’What if some ridiculously cliché scene happened, where I ran into some rich scoundrel on horseback, recklessly injuring people on the street? If he was about to hurt an old person or a child, should I intervene or not?’ ’Well, calling it paranoia might be an exaggeration.’

In any case, his first priority back then was to avoid causing trouble and reach the Lin Family as soon as possible.

Now, he had reached the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing. While he was hardly a big shot, he could finally slow his pace here in the North City—the Lin Family’s territory—and appreciate the sights and sounds of Qing State.

The main street in North City was several times wider than the one in Guangping County Town. The bluestone pavement was as smooth as glass, flanked by rows of tightly packed shops with wine flags and tea banners fluttering in the wind.

The streets were crowded with pedestrians in all sorts of attire, but what caught Lin Yan’s eye was the sheer number of Martial Artists. He frequently spotted burly men with long sabers at their hips, lean fighters with Iron Spears on their backs, and youths in flowing robes with Longswords at their waists.

With his discerning eye, Lin Yan could tell that most of these Martial Artists were at the Single-Time or Second-Time of Skin Smoothing. He occasionally spotted some at the Third-Time, but he hadn’t seen anyone at the Fourth-Time yet.

Lin Yan slowed his pace, taking in the surrounding shops and pedestrians with great interest. Suddenly, a voice from up ahead called out, "Young Master Lin?"

He looked toward the voice and saw Zhu Xiao a short distance away, his expression a mixture of surprise and a hint of poorly concealed worry.

Zhu Xiao hurried over. "I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I can’t believe it’s really you, Young Master Lin."

Looking at Zhu Xiao and the several Escort Masters behind him, Lin Yan smiled and asked, "Brother Zhu, are you on an escort mission to Qing State?"

"Our Escort Agency isn’t that capable," Zhu Xiao said, shaking his head with a wry smile. "We’re just delivering a shipment to one of the counties under the Qing State Prefecture’s jurisdiction... And you, Young Master Lin? What brings you to Qing State?"

"My ancestors hail from the same lineage as the Qing State Lin Family. I’ve come to Qing State to join the main branch and study martial arts."

Lin Yan had no intention of hiding the fact that he was studying with the Lin Family, nor was there any reason to.

Although Guangping County Town was under the Profound Celestial Sect’s jurisdiction, the sect had no rule forbidding Martial Artists from its territories from training in other prefectures.

Qing State Lin Family?

Zhu Xiao was visibly stunned. Having run several escort missions to counties within the Qing State Prefecture, he had heard of the major powers in Qing State. The Qing State Lin Family was one of the Four Great Clans.

The Escort Masters behind him were even more slack-jawed. They, too, had heard of the Qing State Lin Family. It was a behemoth so powerful that a single stomp of its foot could make the entire Qing State Prefecture quake.

"I never imagined you had such a background, Young Master Lin. With your talent and the Lin Family’s resources, forget the Fourth-Time of Skin Smoothing—even reaching the Blood Exchange Realm is only a matter of time."

After recovering from his shock, Zhu Xiao spoke quickly. Lin Yan waved a dismissive hand. "I’m just from a branch family, so I don’t amount to much within the Lin Family. Still, meeting like this is fate. Why don’t I treat you, Brother Zhu, and your companions to a meal?"

Out of respect for Escort Leader Zhang, Lin Yan was more than willing to host Zhu Xiao and the others from the Seven Stars Escort Agency.

Zhu Xiao was tempted by Lin Yan’s offer, but after a moment’s thought, he declined. "I’m afraid we don’t have the time today. We still have some business to take care of. But once we’re finished, before we leave Qing State, I’ll be sure to find you for a proper drink, Young Master Lin."

"Excellent. When the time comes, Brother Zhu, just go to the Lin Family estate and say you’re looking for Lin Yan of the Third Branch."

Zhu Xiao declined, and Lin Yan didn’t press him. He could tell Zhu Xiao and his men had run into some kind of trouble, but since they didn’t bring it up, he wasn’t about to eagerly offer his help.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lin Yan took his leave. Zhu Xiao remained where he stood, a smile on his face as he watched Lin Yan walk away.

"Escort Leader, why didn’t you ask Young Master Lin for help?"

Seeing that Lin Yan was a good distance away, one of the Escort Masters at his side couldn’t hold back any longer. The others were clearly just as confused.

"Young Master Lin is from the Qing State Lin Family and happens to be on friendly terms with you, Escort Leader. Asking for his help with our current problem would be the perfect solution."

"What the hell do you know? Young Master Lin and I have only met once. What ’friendly terms’? How could I be shameless enough to ask him for help? If we really needed to ask, we’d have to send a message to the Head of Escort Leader and let him make the call."

Zhu Xiao shook his head. "The Head of Escort Leader and Young Master Lin definitely have some connection, otherwise he wouldn’t have praised him so highly in front of us Escort Leaders. But that doesn’t mean *we* have a connection with Young Master Lin."

"More importantly, Young Master Lin said he’s from a branch family and doesn’t amount to much. While that was him being modest, it’s probably also the truth. Don’t be fooled by the high status of being a Lin Family member; surviving in a great clan like that isn’t easy. To make a name for yourself and have any say, you either have to be a genius or the child of someone in power."

Zhu Xiao sighed softly. "In a place like Guangping County Town, someone reaching the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing at Young Master Lin’s age is considered a genius and a big shot. But in the context of the Lin Family, that’s likely nothing special. Young Master Lin just arrived at the Lin Family; he probably hasn’t even secured his footing yet. Bringing up our problems would only put him in an awkward spot."

Hearing this, the other Escort Masters said no more.