This Martial Saint is Too Cautious
Chapter 24 - 19: A Post with the Tang Family

Chapter 24: Chapter 19: A Post with the Tang Family

East City, Tang Mansion.

Even before Lin Yan got close, he could sense an air of magnificence that was entirely different from that of an ordinary wealthy household.

The mansion’s gates weren’t ostentatious, but the materials used were incredibly solid. The two heavy, vermilion-lacquered doors were studded with bowl-sized nails, polished to a brilliant shine.

’Understated luxury!’

Two guards stood before the gate. They weren’t burly brutes, but rather lean, sharp young men with calm gazes. Their temples bulged slightly and their breathing was long and steady. Although they hadn’t yet reached the Single-Time Skin Smoothing Realm, they were clearly martial arts practitioners.

"May I help you, sir?"

Dressed in the uniform of a Yang Family Martial Arts Hall disciple, Lin Yan had naturally caught the two guards’ attention.

"I am Lin Yan, a disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. I’m here to take up a post with the Tang Family."

Lin Yan took out a slightly yellowed slip of paper. Xu Hai had given it to him the day before. On it was just one sentence: "Permitted to take up a post at the Tang Mansion."

There was no signature and no seal.

The guards at the gate looked at the handwriting, then at each other. If an ordinary person had brought this note, they would have been sent packing long ago.

However, a Single-Time Skin Smoothing disciple from the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall was unlikely to forge such a note.

"Please wait a moment, sir."

One guard remained at the main gate while the other led Lin Yan to a side room to wait, then went into the mansion to announce his arrival.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the guard who had left returned to the side room, following behind a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man was around forty years old, dressed in a long, dark-blue robe of fine cotton. He was slender, but his steps were steady and even as he walked. The distance of each stride seemed measured with a ruler, silent yet possessing a strange, rhythmic quality.

The man’s face was ordinary, and his gaze wasn’t sharp or intimidating, but rather reserved. Yet, the moment his eyes fell upon Lin Yan, Lin Yan felt a sense of crisis, as if he were being watched by a ferocious beast.

"Lin Yan, disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, how did you come by this note?"

"Uncle Xu gave me this note."

Lin Yan didn’t hide anything and recounted what had happened to Xu Ping. The middle-aged man’s expression didn’t change at all.

’Uncle Xu was right. In the eyes of the Tang Family, the favor Xu Hai did for them back then has already been paid in full.’

’I had originally thought that if the Tang Family still valued that favor and was willing to avenge Xu Ping, I could find an indirect way to reveal that the Wang Family was behind his injuries. Now, I can discard that idea.’

"With your current strength, there are two positions in the mansion suitable for you. One is guarding the medicinal fields for a monthly salary of twenty taels. The other is joining the escort team, also for twenty taels a month. If you undertake an escort mission, you’ll receive a ten-tael supplement for each one. Regardless of which job you choose, you can purchase medicinal herbs from my Tang Family at seventy percent of the market price."

"This junior chooses to guard the medicinal fields."

Lin Yan made his choice without much hesitation.

’Although the escort team offered supplements for missions, undertaking them would inevitably delay my Cultivation. Besides, the fact that even the Tang Family needs an escort team means the missions are inherently dangerous. Comparing the two, guarding the medicinal fields is more suitable for me.’

"Follow me."

The middle-aged man led Lin Yan into the mansion and to the accounting office to register his information. It was only then that Lin Yan learned that this man was the head steward of the Tang Mansion.

"You can go to Qingtian Town tomorrow. Someone will inform you of the specific details when you arrive."

"I will go tomorrow."

...

Lin Yan left the Tang Mansion with a Token in hand, but instead of heading home, he went to the Martial Arts Hall.

The Martial Arts Hall had a rule: disciples who took up external postings had to register at the hall. This allowed the hall to keep track of its disciples’ positions and make recommendations in the future if wealthy families needed to hire a Martial Artist for a post.

Just as Lin Yan reached the steps of the Miscellaneous Affairs Room, he happened to run into several of his senior brothers.

"Junior Brother Lin!"

Li An was as friendly as ever, waving to Lin Yan. "Junior Brother Lin! As it happens, the Li Family from the city came to the Martial Arts Hall today looking to hire two household guards. Junior Brother Lin, want to give it a try?"

"Senior Brother Li, I’ve already found a post."

Lin Yan shook his head. He was confident the Li Family’s offer wouldn’t be better than the Tang Family’s.

"You found a post so quickly?" Li An was a little surprised, then lowered his voice. "Junior Brother Lin, if you haven’t signed a contract yet and the silver coins they’re offering aren’t much, you can turn it down. The Li Family is offering a monthly salary of fifteen taels."

"I’ve already signed the contract."

Li An looked regretful. In his opinion, a post that Junior Brother Lin had found in such a hurry surely couldn’t offer better terms than the Li Family.

"Some people have never seen the world. Someone offers them a pittance and they go take a post. When word gets out, it’ll bring shame to our Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. The other Martial Arts Halls will laugh at our disciples for selling their lives for a bit of chump change."

Ge Hui’s words, spoken from the crowd, were dripping with sarcasm. He thought the same as Li An: Lin Yan must be short on money—perhaps even struggling to afford the expenses needed to maintain his Qi Blood—which was why he was so desperate to find a post.

"Junior Brother Ge, aren’t you going a bit too far?"

Li An didn’t know the specifics of the conflict between Ge Hui and Lin Yan, but he remembered that the last time Junior Brother Lin had just arrived in the back courtyard, Junior Brother Ge’s words had also been pointedly aimed at him.

"Senior Brother Li, I’m just speaking the truth. When we Martial Arts Hall disciples take a post, the salary we demand is always higher than that of those self-taught Martial Artists. If Lin Yan breaks this rule, what will the outside world think of our Yang Family Martial Arts Hall?"

Watching Ge Hui’s buffoonish antics, Lin Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’The day I reach Second-Time Skin Smoothing will be the day Ge Hui dies.’

"Senior Brother Li, there’s no need to say more."

Lin Yan stopped Li An from speaking further and walked on his own to the counter of the Miscellaneous Affairs Room.

The senior brother managing the Miscellaneous Affairs Room glanced up at him, pushed a worn-out register forward, and handed him a fine-tipped brush.

Lin Yan took the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote his name in the "Name" column. He then wrote in the "Place of Posting" column, and after the final stroke, he set down the brush and gently pushed the register back.

The managing senior brother took the register and glanced down. His previously indifferent expression froze slightly, his gaze lingering on the line of text for two breaths before he looked up to re-evaluate Lin Yan.

"Junior Brother Lin’s posting has been recorded." The managing senior brother’s tone was a few degrees warmer than before.

Ge Hui, still standing by the door, muttered to himself, "What, afraid to say it out loud? Scared of embarrassing yourself?"

This time, the managing senior brother frowned, his expression turning cold. "Junior Brother Ge, have you already reached the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing?"

"Senior Brother Qin, what... what do you mean by that?"

"Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’d already reached the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing and were the head senior brother of the Martial Arts Hall, sticking your nose in everyone’s business."

Qin Cheng’s words gave Ge Hui no face at all. In terms of strength, Qin Cheng had already reached Second-Time Skin Smoothing, and in terms of family background, he was leagues above Ge Hui.

The other disciples at the door sensed that something was amiss and silently distanced themselves from Ge Hui.

Senior Brother Qin had a gentle temperament, and while he managed the Miscellaneous Affairs Room, he was, in fact, responsible for all the hall’s affairs and was deeply trusted by the master.

Ge Hui gave an awkward laugh and explained, "Senior Brother Qin, I was just worried that Lin Yan took a post with some insignificant power and would bring shame to our Martial Arts Hall."

"If taking a post with the Tang Family is considered bringing shame to the Martial Arts Hall, then I’d hope for this kind of ’shameful’ situation to happen a few more times."

Qin Cheng’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a needle that precisely punctured Ge Hui’s incessant chatter.

"What Tang Family?" Ge Hui’s voice faltered, and the question slipped out subconsciously.

However, Qin Cheng did not answer him.

Ge Hui’s expression froze.

The room was silent for a moment.

No one present was a fool. There was only one "Tang Family" in all of Guangping County Town that would warrant such a response from Senior Brother Qin.

The East City Tang Family!

The disciples who had been watching the drama unfold now looked at Lin Yan with a changed expression—one of surprise, scrutiny, and a new, serious reassessment.

They knew from Ge Hui’s words that Lin Yan came from a humble background. But someone from a humble background could get a post with the Tang Family?

’This Junior Brother Lin is not as simple as he appears.’

Li An was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. He clapped Lin Yan on the shoulder, a little harder than usual. "Junior Brother Lin, you kept quiet and pulled off something this impressive."

He didn’t say anything more, just turned and glanced at Ge Hui.

That glance said nothing.

But sometimes, saying nothing is harder to bear than any words.

As for Lin Yan, he didn’t even spare Ge Hui another glance.

...

After returning home from the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Yan told his aunt the good news.

"Yan’er, you must find a chance to repay this favor to the Xu Family in the future."

While happy for Lin Yan, Liu Shi also reminded him, "When your parents were alive, they always taught your uncle that the Lin Family must act with conscience and always remember the kindness others show us."

"Aunt, I will keep the Xu Family’s favor in my heart."

"Good." Liu Shi said no more. "Qingtian Town is quite far from the city. I’ll go pack a few changes of clothes for you."

"Aunt, why don’t we move to South City?"

Lin Yan looked at his aunt. Gangs were fighting in West City, and even North City was being affected. Since he was going to Qingtian Town and would likely only be able to return once or twice a month, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to help if anything happened at home.

South City and East City were home to many wealthy and powerful families, so the public order was much better there.

’With the silver coins I have, I can’t afford a fine residence, but a single-courtyard house in a more remote location should be manageable.’

"Move to South City?"

Liu Shi hadn’t expected her nephew to suggest moving. She knew he was worried she and Mo’Er would be in danger here, so she smiled reassuringly. "Yan’er, you don’t need to worry about your aunt and Mo’Er. I do a bit of sewing and mending for the big households; I won’t get into any trouble. You’re at a point where you need money the most. You have to spend it on your martial arts training."

Seeing his aunt’s firm attitude, Lin Yan didn’t bring it up again. ’I’ll just wait until after I reach Second-Time Skin Smoothing to think about moving,’ he decided.

Taking advantage of his free time today, Lin Yan made another trip to the Xu Family to inform them about what happened at the Tang Mansion. Before he left, he quietly left five taels of silver on the table.

After leaving the Xu Family, Lin Yan went to the Weiyuan Escort Agency, but Zhang Wei wasn’t there. He had gone out on a job with a team of Escort Masters.

When Escort Masters were on a job, they still needed people to push the cargo carts. That wasn’t work for a Skin Smoothing Martial Artist.

Unable to find Zhang Wei, Lin Yan had intended to look for Monkey, but it turned out Monkey wasn’t at the pharmacy either; he had gone with his uncle to procure medicinal herbs.

Childhood friends, in the end, all start down their own paths in life. It was no longer a time when they could all gather with a single shout.