Chapter 235 - 38: Status

Chapter 235: Chapter 38: Status

The younger generation of the Third Branch’s main family chatted freely, their conversation circling back to Lin Yan time and again. Their tone wasn’t one of jealousy or discontent, but of sincere admiration and respect. This filled the eyes of the accompanying branch family members, like Lin Zhaowu, with deep envy.

They had all come from the branch families, yet Lin Yan had already earned the recognition and admiration of the main family’s younger generation, while these same peers hadn’t even bothered to remember their names.

By now, they no longer felt any jealousy toward Lin Yan.

One might feel jealous of someone with similar strength and status, but as the gap between them and Lin Yan grew ever wider, that jealousy naturally faded away.

Standing in the farthest corner, Zhao Tong and Zhou Chuan listened, dumbfounded—especially Zhou Chuan.

’Is Lin Yan’s status in the Third Branch really that high?’

The two of them had originally assumed that while Lin Yan’s breakthrough to the Blood Exchange Realm had granted him the status of a Third Branch main family member, despite his branch origins, it was ultimately just a title. His actual standing surely couldn’t compare to a Blood Exchange Realm powerhouse who hailed from the main family itself.

The reason was simple: those from the main family were backed by elders to whom they were closely related by blood. As for Lin Yan, who came from a branch family... his connection to the Third Branch elders was likely even more distant than the relationship between Zhou Chuan and his brother-in-law’s older brother.

’How could I have been so blind!’

Zhou Chuan was filled with regret. ’If only I’d known, I would’ve asked my brother-in-law to find out the real situation sooner.’

Now, he could only hope Lin Yan hadn’t noticed his recent disrespectful behavior.

’It’s all that damn Huo Shen’s fault. Once we’ve wiped out this Water Bandit Alliance, I’ll go back and find my brother-in-law. I’ll see if he can put in a good word for me with Lin Yan. Otherwise, it would be all too easy for Lin Yan to make my life difficult. A single word from him could land me on all-day river patrol duty.’

...

The river wind began to rise as three large ships fanned out, silently approaching the Reed Marsh at Broken Dragon Beach.

Blood Exchange Realm powerhouses had already gone ahead to clear the way, eliminating the hidden lookouts.

Broken Dragon Beach stretched for three hundred li, a vast expanse of reed marshes crisscrossed by a complex network of waterways. Numerous hidden stakes lay beneath the surface, and Water Bandits watched from concealed positions within the reeds. On the surface... it seemed an impossible place to besiege.

But that was only an illusion.

Lin Shouzhi had guarded the East River Waters for years and had long since mapped out the three outer territories of the Water Bandits in perfect detail.

Previously, there had simply been no need to launch a full-scale assault.

But now that the Third Branch had decided on a lightning strike to utterly annihilate the Water Bandit Alliance, the so-called hidden lookouts and underwater stakes were of no consequence.

The three ships drew ever closer to the Reed Marsh. Half an hour earlier, the Lin Family’s three True Gang Realm powerhouses had each taken command of a ship. The Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artists, including Lin Yan, had been divided into two groups and sent to the other two vessels.

As for Uncle Qi, he had not made an appearance.

The clansmen of the Third Branch were a uniform sea of white sashes, every one of them with their right hand resting on their weapon.

No one spoke; no one whispered.

There was only the mournful whine of the river wind across the decks and the slosh of the bows cleaving through the water.

The ships came to a halt at the edge of the Reed Marsh. Lin Shouheng was the first to step into the reeds.

"Go!"

A single word.

It wasn’t loud, but it was perfectly clear.

Behind him, dozens of figures followed in silence.

They left a trail of deep and shallow footprints on the muddy flats, which were quickly churned and flattened by the men behind.

The dozens of men vanished deep into the Reed Marsh, as silent and traceless as water seeping into sand.

Grasping his Abyssal Sword, Lin Yan led Zhao Tong and the others off the ship, heading straight in a specific direction.

That was the location of the Water Stockade where Huo Shen was hiding.

This mobilization of so many clansmen was also a training exercise for the Third Branch. The senior elders wouldn’t be the first to strike; instead, they would manage the overall situation and only intervene if a particular front ran into trouble.

...

The Water Stockade.

Inside a converted cabin, Huo Shen’s laughter echoed across most of the Water Stockade.

"What are you crying for? I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll play with you a while longer. Cry again, and I’ll cut out your tongues to go with my wine."

Seven or eight oil lamps lit the cabin, making it as bright as day.

Thick felt carpets covered the floor, where several disheveled women huddled in a corner, trembling uncontrollably.

Huo Shen sat in a large armchair, a vile look in his eyes as he stared at the women on the floor.

"I’ll give you a chance to live. Whoever can finish a jar of wine survives. As for the slowest drinker... she’ll have to entertain my brothers."

At his words, the women’s faces turned deathly pale. Forgetting everything else, they scrambled for the nearest wine jars, grabbed them, and began to chug.

"COUGH COUGH!"

"COUGH COUGH..." ℯℯ𝑙.

Even as they choked on the potent liquor, none of the women dared to stop.

They knew their fate was sealed the moment they fell into the hands of these Water Bandits, but they still clung to a sliver of hope, unwilling to give up until the very last moment.

"Haha! It’s true... people are so pathetic when they’re fighting to survive!"

The look on Huo Shen’s face twisted into a crazed expression. He rose from his large armchair and started toward the women, but in the next instant, the cabin door was thrown open.

"Run! The Lin Family has attacked!"

It was Zhu Danren. For a man of his strength in the Blood Exchange Realm to have sweat beading on his forehead, one could only imagine how fast he had run to get here. He must have gone all out.

"The Lin Family? What kind of joke is that? This is Broken Dragon Beach. Even if that Lin Shouzhi himself showed up, he wouldn’t get the better of us."

Huo Shen wasn’t concerned. ’With my grandfather and all these Water Bandits around, would the Lin Family really dare to attack? If the Lin Family is looking for a death wish, we can just kill them all and then flee Qing State. No big deal.’

"The Lin Family sent three True Gang Realm powerhouses and over a dozen Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artists! The old Alliance Leader is already tied up by two of their True Gang powerhouses. If we don’t go now, we won’t get another chance!"

Zhu Danren stared coldly at Huo Shen. At these words, the crazed expression on Huo Shen’s face vanished, and his eyes flashed with panic.

"Fine, I... I’ll go."

Catching the panic in Huo Shen’s eyes, Zhu Danren felt a flicker of scorn. ’Huo Shen’s arrogance is entirely dependent on the old Alliance Leader. The moment his grandfather is in trouble, he completely falls apart. If he had any spine and chose to fight the Lin Family to the death, I might actually respect him a little. But he’s the old Alliance Leader’s only grandson, and I owe the old man my life. I have no choice but to do everything I can to get this idiot out of here.’

"Stay close to me."

Zhu Danren led the way, guiding Huo Shen out of the Water Stockade. Just as they were about to plunge into the Reed Marsh, a brilliant Sword Aura shot out from the reeds.