Chapter 234 - 38: Status

Chapter 234: Chapter 38: Status

Zhao Tong murmured to himself before a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. If he remembered correctly, Young Master Yan had written a letter three days ago—a letter he himself had arranged to be delivered.

’So, the people from the Third Branch are here to back up Young Master Yan?’

"Old Zhou, who says Young Master Yan doesn’t have any backing? Even a disciple from the main branch might not be able to summon so many people with just one letter..."

Zhao Tong turned his head, but his words died in his throat. Old Zhou was already dozens of yards away, running in the direction of Young Master Yan’s courtyard.

"Old Zhou, what are you doing?"

"People from the main family’s Third Branch have arrived. I’m going to inform Young Master Yan."

Without turning his head, Zhou Chuan picked up his pace.

Zhao Tong: ...

...

"Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle."

Lin Yan bowed in greeting from the prow of the ship.

Even before Zhou Chuan brought the news, he had already spotted the ships on the river. In fact, he had made out the people aboard even earlier.

To be honest, he was deeply moved when he saw who had arrived.

He had thought that even if the Third Branch sent people, it would likely be just Brother Hai and his group. He never expected two elders at the True Gang Realm to come. The entire Third Branch only had five such powerhouses, meaning nearly half of them had shown up at once.

As for the young clan members on the other two ships, they represented the majority of the Third Branch’s younger generation. Those who hadn’t come were likely either unable to leave secluded cultivation or were away on missions.

"Lin Yan, why didn’t you tell me about that business with Huo Shen? If you had, I would’ve made sure he wouldn’t get away with it!"

Lin Shouzhi spoke up from the side after Lin Yan had finished his greetings, his tone laced with friendly reproach.

"Uncle Shouzhi, I figured you were busy with that band of Roving Bandits recently, so I didn’t want to disturb you," Lin Yan explained.

"No matter how busy I am, you should have told me about something like this. I may be from the First Branch, but I’m still your elder."

"I was being inconsiderate."

Lin Yan apologized with great sincerity. Whether this Uncle Shouzhi truly didn’t know or was just feigning ignorance was unimportant.

"Shouzhi, it’s getting late. Let’s head there directly."

Lin Shouheng spoke, saving Lin Yan from the awkward spot. "Lin Yan, go get on Minghai’s ship."

Soon, Lin Yan’s patrol team also boarded the ships. They went to the rearmost vessel, joining the Third Branch’s Skin Smoothing Clan People and other branch members of the Lin Family.

"Brother Hai, this... spectacle... I’m a bit overwhelmed."

Lin Yan boarded the second ship and saw Brother Hai looking at him with a teasing expression. He explained with a wry smile.

"This is enough to overwhelm you? And who was it that wrote such a pitiful letter about how wronged they were? If we hadn’t shown up, I bet your heart would have grown cold."

"Not at all, Brother Hai, you’ve completely misunderstood me." Lin Yan gave a mischievous chuckle, refusing to admit it.

"But you were right to write that letter. When you’ve been wronged, don’t keep it to yourself. You’re one of ours, from the Third Branch, so it’s only natural for the Third Branch to back you up. And let me tell you something else—besides Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle, there’s one more person in the cabin of the ship up ahead. Take a guess who it is."

Seeing Brother Hai waggling his eyebrows at him, Lin Yan froze. An image of a person surfaced in his mind, and he asked in disbelief, "Uncle Qi is here too?"

"And here you are! Talk about having some pull. That Huo Shen gives you three chests, and in return, you give him four True Gang Realm powerhouses. Now you see your status in our Third Branch, don’t you? Not even I could pull that off."

After getting Brother Hai’s confirmation, Lin Yan couldn’t help but gaze at the ship ahead. ’Uncle Qi actually came out for this.’ It was far beyond anything he had expected.

"Lin Yan, don’t let Minghai mess with you."

From the side, Lin Mingchen laughed. "Our Third Branch has been keeping a low profile for the last few years, leading many of the powers in the Qing State Prefecture to think we’re on the decline. This time, Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle brought everyone to use this as an opportunity to make an example of someone and intimidate the other powers. As for Uncle Qi... that Blind Huo is also a True Gang Realm powerhouse. We can’t let him escape."

There was one thing Lin Mingchen left unsaid. The Water Bandit Alliance, the Black Flood Dragon Society, and the Swallow Gang—these three bandit factions have been showing signs of forming a union. The fear was that the other two might get hot-headed, realize that his fall would leave them vulnerable, and help Blind Huo escape.

With Uncle Qi here, those two factions wouldn’t dare to make a move.

"Mingchen, I was hoping to see Lin Yan so moved he’d be crying his eyes out, and you just had to spoil the fun."

Lin Minghai grumbled, and the corner of Lin Yan’s mouth twitched. He knew Brother Hai was just joking, but regardless of the primary reason for Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and even Uncle Qi to make an appearance, it all proved one thing: the elders of the Third Branch genuinely saw him as one of their own.

Otherwise, if they just wanted to make a show of force, there were plenty of other ways to do it. There was no need to come all the way to the East River Waters and raise such a fuss.

On the third ship, Zhou Chuan and Zhao Tong shrewdly led their men to a corner on one side of the deck, leaving the main area for the two groups of young Lin Family members.

"How long has it been since our whole Third Branch mobilized like this? When we start killing Water Bandits later, nobody better compete with me. I’m going to kill a hundred of them!"

"Stop bragging. A hundred? Who do you think you are, Third Uncle and the others?"

"Hehe, well, I’m just going to kill every single one I see."

The young man who had spoken didn’t seem to mind the teasing. His gaze shifted to the second ship. "Brother Yan really has some serious pull. Almost everyone from our Third Branch’s younger generation is here, except for those in seclusion or away on missions."

"If you could reach the Blood Exchange Realm by twenty, comprehend Sword Gang, and beat down the Fourth Branch a few times like Brother Yan has, you’d have this kind of pull too."

"I’d be happy just to reach the Blood Exchange Realm by twenty and comprehend Spear Intent. As for Great Success Level Sword Intent fused with Sword Gang... I can’t even dare to dream of that."