Unstoppable Martial Arts: Starting from Fist Technique Deduction
Chapter 53 - 44: Encounter (1)

Chapter 53: Chapter 44: Encounter (1)

Ignoring Zhou Jianxing and the others, Lin Yuan returned to his room and slept in his clothes.

After Lin Yuan left, the gathering in the courtyard naturally couldn’t continue, and everyone left quietly, each to their rest.

The next day, early morning.

After washing up, Lin Yuan walked out of the house.

Contrary to what he imagined, he didn’t encounter cold stares from most people; instead, many approached him to greet him.

"Human nature is such that once you have some influence, people will naturally look at you differently. Just like now, although I slapped them in the face last night, wherever I go, people greet me voluntarily, and no one dares to say a word against me."

"And I merely hinted at having connections with the upper echelons, yet the difference in treatment is vast compared to before." Thinking this, Lin Yuan’s mind was filled with thoughts.

After sighing, Lin Yuan naturally did not remain aloof and smiled in response to the greetings of others.

After a few steps, Gong Zhangshan happened to open the door and bumped into Lin Yuan.

Seeing Lin Yuan come out, a slight cloudiness appeared on his face. However, his attitude seemed the same as usual, with an even colder look toward Lin Yuan in his eyes.

It’s just that unlike usual, he slightly concealed his contemptuous demeanor.

After they passed each other, another door opened, and it was Zhou Jianxing.

Early that morning, Zhou Jianxing had been watching by the window, waiting for Lin Yuan to come out and then go out himself.

His aim was to show Lin Yuan his apology, and words alone weren’t enough.

Having roamed the martial world for a long time, he knew well how to make amends.

"Brother Lin, I acted impulsively last night, and didn’t recognize the great person before me. We were like the river flooding the Dragon King’s temple." Zhou Jianxing’s attitude toward Lin Yuan seemed as if he were a different person.

Then he gritted his teeth, took out a brocade box from his chest, and handed it over.

"Brother, it’s really tough struggling in the academy, and improving martial skills is incredibly difficult. I’ve been there, and I deeply understand this. This Five Qi Pill will be very beneficial for your cultivation, just a small token of thought, please accept it." Zhou Jianxing spoke sincerely.

"Haha, thanks for taking care of me, old Zhou, I will accept it then." Lin Yuan chuckled and accepted it without hesitation.

The saying goes, there’s always a bigger fish to eat the bad ones; what Zhou Jianxing and the others experienced was well-deserved.

If it were someone without such a strong background, they would naturally not fare well under Zhou Jianxing and the others. Kicking to someone like Lin Yuan, of course, they had to pay the price. As for Gong Zhangshan, it’s just not the right time yet.

Besides, items like the Five Qi Pill are too good not to take.

Taking the compensation without any burden in his heart, Lin Yuan felt at ease.

Seeing Lin Yuan accept the Five Qi Pill he gifted, Zhou Jianxing finally relaxed his hanging heart.

After drinking and returning to his room last night, he was anxious, fearing he had offended Lin Yuan.

"How much silver can a little face-saving bring?" His mind calculating all the possibilities with loud clatter.

Temporarily lowering his head to Lin Yuan had no downsides.

If the rumors were true, and Lin Yuan, as a follower, ascended to the heavens with Hou Sixian, his identity and status would naturally be different, possibly becoming a person of power.

Moreover, during the caravan’s journey, Lin Yuan wouldn’t have the chance to consume the pills to cultivate. When they return to Yanghua Town, arrangements can be made ahead of time to verify the truth of Lin Yuan’s words from last night.

Last night’s performance by Lin Yuan stunned them and others; if exposed, Lin Yuan would no longer be able to maintain his bluff.

"It’s more prudent to handle it this way." Zhou Jianxing estimated silently, suppressing his turbulent thoughts.

Lin Yuan, having accepted the Five Qi Pill, ignored Zhou Jianxing’s thoughts and proceeded straight to the place where the caravan was loading.

"Brother Lin, it’s your first time out, let old Zhou give you an introduction." Zhou Jianxing hastily followed, accompanying Lin Yuan all the way out.

******

Chunli Manor’s Central Sunbathing Grounds.

The soil on the sunning grounds was not as clean as the training field at Bull Horn Village, it appeared as if paved with a layer of black iron filings. Upon closer inspection, these were iron fragments worn off during iron goods transportation, accumulating over years.

In the field, carts and horses were constantly loaded with boxed and packed goods; cooks and laborers carried and hoisted, resembling ants continuously transporting grain, gradually filling the carts.

Meanwhile, the coachman fed the horses, the driver checked the carts, and the place was bustling with activity.

As Lin Yuan approached, he strolled around the loaded carts and horses.

"Brother Lin, Chunli Manor is rich in iron mines. After being refined into iron billets, they’re transported to the town’s blacksmith shops to forge weapons." Seeing Lin Yuan seemed interested in the transported goods, Zhou Jianxing stepped forward to explain.

He held a piece of iron billet weighing about twenty pounds in his hand: "Look, Brother Lin. The refined iron from Chunli Manor is uniform and free of impurities; plus, it’s hard, making it excellent material for sword-the-making."

Lin Yuan nodded, took one, exerted some force secretly, and carefully sensed the feedback of the iron billet.

It’s worth noting that he had already cultivated his Stone-Splitting Hand to perfection, and ordinary iron felt like rotten wood in his hand.

But the iron disc in his hand was extremely hard.

To avoid leaving any marks, he only used ten percent of his strength. Although just ten percent strength, with his level, it was still considerable.

Yet the iron billet withstood it entirely without significant deformation.

Evidently, its quality, as stated by Zhou Jianxing, was excellent material for sword-making.

"Hmm, not bad." Lin Yuan nodded and then asked, "Old Zhou, given the value of these iron billets, shouldn’t there be a specialized transport team to guard them? Why is this task assigned to Tian’s transport business?"

"Usually, transport involves things like grains and ordinary goods. However, before we set off, I heard from Tian Lao San that they’ve been running low on transport capacity lately, as the upper management seemed to be preparing something, so they let Tian’s business take on this task."

While listening, Lin Yuan’s feet didn’t stop; after putting down the iron billet, he continued to walk forward.

After passing about six or seven carts and horses, Lin Yuan discreetly sniffed.

"That’s the smell." Lin Yuan halted, distinguishing carefully, "Some of the items packed here differ from the previous ones; they’re either Qi-Blood Scatte or raw medicinal materials."

Having walked through the entire caravan and not smelling it a second time.

"Hmm. This transport might not be peaceful." Lin Yuan realized in his heart.

Clearly, the iron billet transportation was a facade, with the crucial part being the transportation of medicinal materials.

The fact that even the high-standing Pei family of Yanghua were concealing their actions showed the tense situation could be sensed.

After confirming his speculation, Lin Yuan didn’t linger and returned to the guest elder’s resting area together with Zhou Jianxing.

While Lin Yuan rested, the person in charge of the Tian family caravan came to Lin Yuan’s side.

"Young Master Lin, I already learned about last night’s matter. After we return, I will report to Third Master, ensuring you don’t suffer any grievance." The person in charge of the Tian family caravan understood Lin Yuan’s status and came to explain the Tian family’s stance to him.

"Okay!" Lin Yuan stopped discussing further, nodding his head.

******

The sun rose, and the transport goods were finally loaded.

Outside the resting area, the person in charge of the Tian family caravan came to inform the guest elders.

"Brother Lin, we’re all set, the carts are all prepared, ready to return. What do you think?" Pan Xuncheng gestured to Lin Yuan, seemingly seeking his opinion.

"The sooner we return, the better." Lin Yuan was already prepared and made his intention clear.

Having been out for so many days, though the academy had Shen Huaining to take special care, staying away for too long equally delayed his cultivation progress.

Pan Xuncheng nodded, then walked to the front of the team, mounted his horse.

"Brothers, not much to say, everyone knows the rules. As usual, take your positions, and let’s move out immediately." Pan Xuncheng shouted loudly.

"Snap!"

All the ready carts and horses, each driver raised their whip, lashing it on the horse’s hips. The horses, feeling the pain, promptly followed Pan Xuncheng out of the manor.

The journey took five days to get here, but on the return trip, due to the heavy iron billets, the pace slowed considerably, taking roughly six days to return.

As the caravan moved, there was naturally no need for words.

Talking and joking, without realizing it, it was already sunset.

As the sun set, the people and horses rested. The caravan, people, and horses, already tired, found a flat spot, and set up camp.

Many drivers and cooks let their guard down. After encircling the horses and carts at the center, they found a place to rest on the outside.

Lin Yuan naturally also rested with the caravan.

However, he chose a spot that wasn’t too close or too far from those carts.

If his guess was correct, in case of disaster, the carts and horses positions would be the most intense conflict, so staying away was best.

"This spot is good; there’s a dense forest beyond that path, when the time comes, just slip inside, and others will have a hard time finding." He appeared relaxed during the day but was now highly alert, with his pack always by his side.

Being aware that the cargo being transported was unusual, he naturally needed to be ready to escape at any moment.

One cannot blame him for lacking professional spirit; the current transport was simply unmatched income and risk.

It was clearly Tian’s family concealing information, nearly endangering guest elders like them. If anything happened, don’t blame him for abandoning the goods and fleeing.

As the people and horses lit fires and relaxed to rest.

On the other hill.

A team of people were hiding quietly in the dense forest, overlooking the fireworks of the caravan.

"Boss, it’s confirmed. They’re the same people and horses that went ahead before." A subordinate looked at the distant Tian family caravan, panting, reporting to Boss Ma.

"Well done, there will be ample rewards after the task is done." Ma Jinfu patted the back of the informant, "Continue tracking, be sure to hide and don’t let them spot us."

"Understood." The subordinate, spirited and excited, clasped his hands, then hurried back.

"Boss, shall we make our move now? Catch them off guard?" said a leader beside him.

"Old Kong, you’re too hasty. We’re barely a day into the journey; they haven’t exhausted much physical or mental strength. Attacking now I’m afraid would cause too much loss to our brothers." Ma Jinfu shook his head, rejecting Leader Kong’s suggestion.

"Then after two days?" asked another leader casually.

"Correct, the second leader and I are thinking alike. Give it two more days, they’ll be exhausted, and that’d be the perfect time." Ma Jinfu nodded, "Tonight, let’s keep it like this, tell the brothers to rest well, and sharpen their blades tomorrow."

The second day was the same as before.

The Tian family caravan naturally traveled by sunrise and rested by sunset without any signs of the bandits.

And on the mountain overlooking the caravan, naturally, it was the bandits from Qingfeng Village.

"Chief, the caravan is sluggish and slow; at this pace, they’ve regained their energy. How do we make our move?" said the same leader from yesterday, frowning with no solution in sight.

"Heh, they want to rest, whether they can is up to us. Gentlemen, I have an idea; come over and I’ll tell you." Ma Jinfu chuckled.

"If they want to rest, they simply cannot; tonight, let our brothers harass them in shifts. Do not let them rest."

"Old Er, Old San, you will take turns tonight to harass them. Remember, never truly engage, just disrupt without fighting. Keep them moving, moving will wear them out mentally."

"Old Si, Old Wu, you both block off the two ends, let no informant escape."

"I will stay here, ready to support at any time."

"Boss, since we’re harassing them, why didn’t we do it last night and instead move tonight?" questioned Leader Cao, out of curiosity.

"We were too close to Chunli Manor yesterday, if they directly turned back, it would have been hard for us to act. Now we’re far enough from Chunli Manor, they’re too far to retreat. Furthermore, surrounding villages only have the old, weak, women, and children; the caravan won’t receive any aid." Boss Ma laughed, self-satisfied.

"Well thought, boss." They all praised in unison.

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