This Martial Saint is Too Cautious
Chapter 3 - 2: Who Doesn’t Have a Rich Relative?

Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Who Doesn’t Have a Rich Relative?

"An elder brother is like a father. Your dad took his duty seriously, and your mom was a wonderful sister-in-law. To raise your uncle, they didn’t rush to have children. Only after your uncle was grown and had married me did your mother finally get pregnant with you."

Liu Family’s face softened with nostalgia. "When I first married your uncle, I didn’t get pregnant for two years. The neighbors gossiped endlessly, saying your uncle had married a hen that couldn’t lay eggs. It was your mother who stood up for me. She marched up to their doors to curse out those loose-tongued women and constantly comforted me. Later, when I finally did get pregnant, your uncle was clumsy and had no idea how to care for anyone. Once again, it was your mother who took painstaking care of me, all the way through my pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum confinement."

"Your uncle once told me that in his heart, your mother wasn’t just his sister-in-law—she was like a mother to him."

"And it wasn’t just your uncle who felt that way. In my heart, it was the same."

Listening to his aunt’s story, Lin Yan finally understood why she was so good to him, why she cared so much.

His aunt and uncle were repaying their debt of gratitude to his parents through him.

"Originally, I was thinking that since you can read and write, you could find a steady job and avoid back-breaking manual labor. Then, in another year, I would arrange a marriage for you. Once you were married with children of your own, I would feel I could finally answer to your parents. But Yan’er, you want to learn Martial Arts. It’s not that I don’t want you to learn, it’s just that I’m afraid... I’m afraid if you don’t succeed, you’ll have wasted your time. I would be letting down your parents, and failing the duty your uncle entrusted to me before he left for his service."

Liu Family looked at Lin Yan seriously. The first path was the one traveled by common people like them, a path with a predictable future.

Practicing Martial Arts... there were too many uncertainties.

"But the way you reasoned things out today shows you’ve really grown up and become sensible."

Liu Family felt a mix of relief and helplessness. "Learning Martial Arts costs a lot of money. The enrollment fees for those Martial Arts Halls are often dozens of taels of silver. Our family doesn’t have enough, and we cannot sell the house your parents left you."

The house left by his parents absolutely could not be sold. That was Liu Family’s bottom line.

"Aunt, I won’t go to a Martial Arts Hall for now."

Liu Family froze. If he wasn’t going to a Martial Arts Hall, then where would he learn Martial Arts?

"Aunt, Fourth Aunt at the Cai Mansion must have Martial Artists in her household. Could we ask her for help?"

From the moment he had spoken to his aunt, Lin Yan had already figured out his first step on the path of Martial Arts.

The Lin Family was ordinary, but ’doesn’t every family have at least one wealthy relative?’

In the memories of this body’s previous owner, the Third Mistress of the Cai Family was the Lin Family’s wealthy relative.

The mother of the Cai Mansion’s Third Mistress was his own grandmother’s younger sister. By relation, he should call this Third Mistress his grand-aunt.

Unfortunately, the two sisters had passed away long ago, so the families weren’t very close. Lin Yan had no memory of ever meeting this grand-aunt, but his aunt still visited the Cai Mansion every year during the holidays to pay her respects and offer a gift.

Lin Yan could guess his aunt’s motive. She wasn’t maintaining the relationship in hopes of gaining anything from the Cai Family, but merely as a precaution for a rainy day.

’A widow raising two children... if she ever ran into a problem she couldn’t solve, this connection might be her only hope.’

Liu Family looked at her nephew, feeling for a moment as if he were a stranger.

From the moment Yan’er said he wanted to learn Martial Arts, to his lecture on rising grain prices, population growth, and how ’when grain is dear, life is cheap.’

’That whole speech was so clear and logical. How could an eighteen-year-old boy come up with that?’

What surprised her even more was that Yan’er had thought to ask the Cai Family for help.

She visited the Cai Mansion during holidays to maintain that fragile thread of a relationship, thinking that if a disaster ever struck her family, it would give her a place to turn for help.

’But she had never spoken a word of this to Yan’er. How did he know?’

’Or had the boy been observing quietly all this time, tucking it away in his heart?’

Liu Family’s lips trembled, and a storm of emotions churned within her.

She was relieved that Yan’er had grown up and had a mind of his own.

She was shocked by how sudden the change had been.

’It was like he’d become a different person overnight.’

’The way he spoke and acted... there was a hint of his father in him.’

’Could it be that his parents’ spirits were watching over him from the heavens?’

"Aunt?" Lin Yan called out, seeing his aunt staring into space.

"Ah... alright." Liu Family snapped out of it and took a deep breath. "Since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll take you to the Cai Mansion tomorrow. But a great household like theirs has many rules. Once we’re inside, you are not to speak out of turn, and you must mind your manners."

"I understand."

Liu Family nodded. She turned to the ancestral tablets on the altar and prayed silently in her heart, ’Brother, Sister-in-law, do you see? Yan’er has grown up. He’s even more sensible than you could have imagined. If your spirits are in heaven, you must watch over him...’

"Yan’er, go offer incense to the Lin Family ancestors and your parents. First thing tomorrow morning, we’ll go to the Cai Mansion." Liu Family steeled herself, her voice much firmer than before.

...

...

In his room, Lin Yan lay on his bed, unable to sleep a wink. It wasn’t because the wooden planks were too hard, but because he was too excited.

His previous life had been utterly ordinary; mediocre was the only word for it.

But in this life, he had a system and was about to come into contact with Martial Arts. It’d be stranger if he *could* sleep.

Even in his past life, he’d had a wuxia dream in his youth. With a wooden stick in hand, he’d whack every patch of weeds by the roadside.

’Since I can’t sleep, I might as well try to figure out my system.’

’System?’

’Lord System, you asleep?’

’Yo, buddy, you up?’

’System-daddy.’

...

「The next day.」

Lin Yan followed his aunt to the South City District.

Compared to the dilapidated North City District, the South City District was bustling with streets and alleys. The pedestrians and vendors here had a vitality and spirit that the residents of the North City District couldn’t hope to match.

The two stopped before the gate of a large, three-courtyard mansion in an alley. Though called an alley, the lane was wider than the street where the Lin Family lived.

The Cai Mansion.

Liu Family explained their purpose to the doorman, who then led them into the mansion. He brought them to a side hall in the front courtyard and served them tea.

"Please have a seat. The Third Mistress will be here shortly."

Liu Family remained standing, so naturally, Lin Yan did as well.

A few moments later, footsteps sounded from behind a partition screen, and two figures emerged.

The woman in the lead was graceful and fair-skinned. Her outfit gave her an alluring, mature appeal—the aesthetic of a "hot young stepmom" from another world, the kind that would make men go wild.

Lin Yan took one glance before lowering his head.

According to his aunt, this grand-aunt was the same age as her. But based on looks alone, anyone would assume his aunt was a full twelve years older.

’Wealth truly nurtures a person. The saying is true.’

"Madam, this is my nephew, Lin Yan, the eldest grandson of the Lin Family."

Liu Family took the initiative to speak, then looked at Lin Yan. "Yan’er, why haven’t you greeted your Fourth Aunt yet?"

"Greetings, Fourth Aunt." Lin Yan bowed as a junior.

Li Min sat in the host’s seat and gestured with her hand. "Good boy. Cui’er, go to the kitchens and bring some pastries."

After giving the order to her maid, Li Min turned to Liu Family, her tone playfully chiding. "Liu Family, I told you long ago to bring my aunt’s grandson to see me, but you’ve waited until now."

"Madam, Yan’er was too young before and didn’t know his manners. Your mansion is frequented by the city’s most prominent figures. I couldn’t dare risk him embarrassing you."

Li Min smiled at Liu Family’s words. Though she knew it was flattery, she enjoyed hearing it all the same.

’Liu Family isn’t like some of our other relatives, whose crude behavior is a complete embarrassment.’

The two made small talk for a while. After a servant brought the pastries, Li Min changed her tone. "So, is there a reason you’ve brought Yan’er to my door this time?"

Li Min knew perfectly well that Liu Family wouldn’t bring her nephew to visit without a reason, and that it must have something to do with the boy himself.

’Judging by his age, he’s probably ready for marriage. Are they short on the betrothal gift and here to borrow money?’

’For the sake of Liu Family being so sensible and pleasant to talk to, I wouldn’t mind lending some silver coins.’

"Madam, there has been no word from my husband since he left for his service, and things in North City are getting more and more chaotic. I was hoping Yan’er could learn some basic self-defense from the mansion guards, so that our family won’t be so easily bullied in the future."

Liu Family’s voice was filled with sorrow. Thinking of the Lin Family’s situation, Li Min sighed inwardly.

’No news from his service... that means he’s dead.’

’The Lin Family is now just a widow, Liu Family, raising two children. Life in a place like the North City must be incredibly difficult.’

’Oh, alright. For the sake of all the gifts Liu Family has brought over the years, I’ll help them this once.’

"A family does need a man who can take charge to keep from being bullied. However, the mansion guards were all hired by the Master himself; a mere woman like me has no authority to command them. I will ask the Master about it when he returns. In the meantime, please stay and have lunch with us."

"Thank you, Madam! Yan’er, quickly, thank your Fourth Aunt."

"Thank you, Fourth Aunt."