This Martial Saint is Too Cautious
Chapter 23 - 18: Guilt

Chapter 23: Chapter 18: Guilt

"Three years, six months, and twelve days."

"One year and five months."

"One year and eight months."

"One year and four months."

In the courtyard, Lin Yan gazed at the four fruits on his Martial Arts Tree. They had appeared after the deaths of Cao Peng and his three men the previous night.

He didn’t rush to consume the four fruits. Instead, he slathered a layer of Muscle Strengthening Ointment on his body and began practicing his martial arts in the courtyard.

Half an hour later, the clamor of neighbors suddenly drifted in from outside the courtyard.

"Xiaoyan, you keep training. I’ll go out and take a look,"

Aunt Liu Shi said, having heard the commotion from inside. She set aside her work and walked toward the courtyard gate.

"Alright."

As Liu Shi stepped outside, the noise gradually subsided.

When his aunt returned a short while later, Lin Yan asked, "Aunt, what was going on outside?"

"Xu Ping was ambushed on the street when he went out earlier. They say he’s badly hurt. He was just carried back from the physician’s hall."

As she spoke, a worried expression crossed Liu Shi’s face. Just yesterday, Xu Ping had been riding high, with all the neighbors fawning over him. Even the Qingshui Gang had to show him respect, yet today he was grievously injured.

’Those gangs are ruthless. Could it be that because he offended the Qingshui Gang yesterday, they took revenge?’

There were only two Martial Artists in Willow Lane. Now that Xu Ping was injured, the neighbors, upon hearing the news, had flocked to the Lin Family to get the story. That was the reason for the earlier commotion, but Liu Shi had managed to persuade them all to leave.

"Xiaoyan, you should go back and live at the Martial Arts Hall."

Lin Yan paused. Seeing the worried look on his aunt’s face, he knew what she was thinking.

’She’s afraid I’ll be attacked and injured, just like Xu Ping.’

"Yesterday, you and Xu Ping slighted the Qingshui Gang, and now Xu Ping has been attacked. The Qingshui Gang must have done it."

’The Qingshui Gang is already gone,’ Lin Yan added silently. ’The ones who attacked Xu Ping definitely weren’t from the Qingshui Gang. But it could be the Wang Family, the power behind them.’

’The Wang Family suspects that Xu Ping and I were the ones who acted. Housekeeper Li’s earlier visit was a test.’

As for why the Wang Family had gone after Xu Ping and not him, he had a few ideas.

’Martial arts halls aren’t all equal; some are strong, and some are weak.’

’The Martial Arts Hall that Xu Ping joined, according to Senior Brother Li An, was a second-rate establishment. The Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, on the other hand, was one of the six major halls in Guangping County Town.’

’The Wang Family didn’t dare touch me because they’re wary of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall at my back.’

’That’s why Ge Hui had to go to such great lengths, getting Zheng Bo to set a trap for me—he couldn’t find a Martial Artist willing to make a move against me directly.’

’Of course, Ge Hui being too cheap to spend the money was also a factor.’

Lin Yan felt a surge of relief, grateful he’d listened to Escort Master Chen’s advice and spent the silver coins to join the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

After a moment’s thought, Lin Yan said, "Aunt, I’m going to go see Brother Xu."

When he arrived at the Xu residence, he felt the atmosphere and frowned slightly.

The Xu household, so full of celebration just yesterday, was now shrouded in gloom.

"COUGH, COUGH... Lin Yan, you’re here." Xu Ping lay on the bed, his face ashen.

"Brother Xu, do you have any idea who attacked you?"

"My attacker was masked, so I couldn’t see their face. But they were definitely an expert at the Single-Time Skin Smoothing level. At first, I suspected the Qingshui Gang, but my senior brother from the Martial Arts Hall just told me that their leader, Cao Peng, has been killed."

Xu Ping gave a bitter smile. "Lin Yan, you’re a Martial Arts Hall disciple too. You know that those of us from humble backgrounds just focus on our training and try not to stir up trouble. I honestly can’t think of anyone who would do this."

Lin Yan fell silent. Xu Ping had become collateral damage in his affairs.

’I killed the men, but Xu Ping is the one taking the blame.’

’Then again, it’s possible the Wang Family knows Xu Ping isn’t the culprit and are just using him to vent their anger.’

After staying for a short while, Lin Yan turned and left the room. Seeing the deep worry on Father Xu’s face, he hesitated for a moment before pulling a five-tael silver ingot from his robes.

’I got thirty taels off Cao Peng and his men, and Xu Ping suffered because of me. Even giving him ten or twenty taels wouldn’t be unreasonable.’

’But in the end, I’m only giving five. It’s not because I’m stingy. I don’t know if the Wang Family is watching me, and Xu Ping and I don’t have that close of a relationship. Given my family’s financial situation, five taels is already a significant amount. Giving more might attract the Wang Family’s suspicion.’

"Uncle, this is just a small gesture," Lin Yan said.

"Th-thank you, Xiao... Thank you, Master Lin."

"Uncle, you’re my elder. Please, just call me Xiaoyan."

Watching Father Xu’s trembling excitement and caution as he accepted the silver, Lin Yan sighed inwardly. Without another word, he strode out of the Xu residence.

As he stepped out of the Xu family’s home, a cold glint entered Lin Yan’s eyes. ’The Wang Family came after Xu Ping because of me. I’ll have to settle this debt for him.’

"Dad, is Lin Yan gone?"

Xu Ping asked from his bed, watching his father walk back into the room.

"I just saw him out. Before he left, Lin Yan gave us five taels of silver. I’ll go to the physician’s hall in a little while and get you a few more doses of medicine."

"Five taels?"

Xu Ping’s face was a mask of surprise. He had thought Lin Yan might give them some money, but he never expected this much.

He knew the Lin Family’s situation well. Frankly, the fact that Lin Yan even had enough money to cultivate to the Single-Time Skin Smoothing stage was already a surprise.

’Five taels... that must be most of the silver Lin Yan has on him.’

"People are so fickle,"

Xu Ping said with a sneer. He had been attacked, and even if it wasn’t the Qingshui Gang’s doing, he had stood up for his neighbors yesterday, saving them from having to pay protection money.

Yet today, when his father had gone to those same neighbors to borrow money for his treatment, they had all pleaded poverty. Some even made snide remarks, wondering what the difference was between pooling money for his medical bills and just paying protection money to the Qingshui Gang.

"Dad, that sponsored position you secured for me... give it to Lin Yan."

Father Xu was taken aback. "Ping’er..."

"Dad, my life as a martial artist is over. Giving this opportunity to Lin Yan will forge a valuable connection for our family."

Xu Ping’s attitude was resolute. The fact that Lin Yan had given them five taels of silver at a time like this proved he wasn’t a cold-hearted person. This was the perfect time to provide a helping hand in return.

...

After visiting Xu Ping, Lin Yan returned home to continue his training, unaware of the conversation that had taken place between the father and son after he left.

Night fell.

Lin Mo, who had been playing by the gate, burst into the courtyard in a flurry. "Mom! Big Brother! Uncle Xu is here!"

Right after, Xu Hai appeared at the entrance. His eyes went straight to Lin Yan in the courtyard. "Xiaoyan, I hope I’m not interrupting your cultivation."

"Not at all. Uncle Xu, please, come in."

Lin Yan welcomed Xu Hai inside. Liu Shi was about to go make tea, but Xu Hai waved his hands dismissively. "Please, don’t trouble yourself. I just need to speak with Xiaoyan for a moment, then I must get back. There are... matters at home."

As he finished, Xu Hai’s voice dropped.

"Uncle, Brother Ping is a good man. Fortune will favor him. He’ll surely recover," Lin Yan offered comfortingly.

"Even if he recovers, his path in Martial Arts is finished."

Xu Hai heaved a long sigh. Sensing the heavy atmosphere in the courtyard, he quickly remembered he hadn’t come here to complain.

"Xiaoyan, there’s a reason I had Ping’er study martial arts. When I was younger, I worked as a laborer at my Master’s estate. One day, the Master’s young son was playing and fell into the water. I happened to be working nearby and pulled him out. To be sure, the household guards would have arrived moments later and saved him anyway. But the Master, grateful for the gesture, gave me a handsome reward in silver coins. That reward is what allowed our family to afford Ping’er’s martial arts training. The Master also made a promise: if Ping’er became a proficient martial artist, he could have a sponsored position at the estate."

As Xu Hai spoke, Lin Yan began to understand the story behind him and his master.

While it wasn’t exactly a life-saving debt, for a wealthy family, even sparing their child a few extra seconds of struggle in the water was worthy of a reward.

Back then, the Master had offered Xu Hai an easy job at the estate, but Xu Hai had refused.

Xu Ping was only ten at the time, but working at the Master’s estate had shown Xu Hai a glimpse of a wider world, and he wanted his son to learn martial arts.

In the end, the Master gave Xu Hai fifty taels of silver, along with the promise of a sponsored position.

"Now, it’s clear Ping’er can no longer take up that position. After discussing it, he and I have decided to offer this opportunity to you, Xiaoyan."

"Uncle Xu, which family in the city does this master belong to?"

Lin Yan asked, his curiosity piqued. Someone who could casually give away fifty taels and promise a sponsored position had to be from an extraordinary background. The position itself was likely remarkable, and the master behind Uncle Xu must be a significant figure.

"The Tang Family of East City."

"The Tang Family that deals in medicinal herbs?"

Lin Yan’s voice rose in volume. He couldn’t help it; the Tang Family was simply too famous in the county town.

During his time at the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Yan had learned a fair bit about the town’s various powers from Senior Brother Li An. And Li An had always said that the Tang Family was the absolute best place to secure a sponsored position.

In Senior Brother Li An’s words, among all the influential families in the county—be it the Zhou Family, the Wang Family, or the Sun Family—none of them had any real foundation. The truly strongest was the Tang Family.

The Tang Family held a near-monopoly on the entire medicinal herb trade in Guangping County. Securing a sponsored position with them not only meant high pay in silver coins but also access to the medicinal ingredients Martial Artists required at a discounted price.

Any Martial Artist who had the chance to get a position with the Tang Family would never choose another patron.

Unfortunately, the Tang Family’s sponsored positions for Martial Artists had long been filled. Only a few Martial Artists managed to secure a spot with them each year.

Lin Yan never imagined that the five taels of silver he had given Xu Ping out of a guilty conscience would lead to such an incredible opportunity.

"Uncle Xu, since you have this connection with the Tang Family, why not ask them to have a look at Brother Ping?"

A bitter smile touched Xu Hai’s lips. "Xiaoyan, I won’t hide it from you. Back then, you could say I was greedy. Even though the Master was kind enough to agree and make that promise, it also meant the debt was considered paid in full on his end."

Looking back, Xu Hai was filled with regret. In that moment, when the Master told him to name his price, his mind went blank, and all he could think of was having Ping’er learn martial arts. He forgot that he wasn’t truly the young master’s savior; he’d just been a few moments faster than the estate’s servants.

He had been greedy, and the Master hadn’t refused. But in doing so, that connection, that favor, had been completely used up.