Chapter 12: Vajra Indestructible

"Many thanks for your help, Young Hero Xie."

Shen Qingci bowed slightly. "If not for you, Young Hero, I'm afraid I truly would have fallen into the villain's trap."

Xie Yun waved his hand, his expression entirely indifferent. "Black Wind Stronghold has been breached. I still need to return to my sect to report back, so we shall part ways here."

He glanced at Lin Yan and added, "Lin, we will meet again."

"Take care." Lin Yan gave a slight nod.

Xie Yun turned and strode out toward the mountain exit. His silhouette stretched long in the twilight, and in a matter of moments, he vanished deep into the forest.

Shen Qingci watched him leave, then slowly stepped down from the ox cart. She walked up to Ma Wencai, staring down at this shivering scumbag.

"Look up."

Ma Wencai lay prostrate on the ground, trembling like a leaf. Hearing her voice, he desperately lifted his face. It was deathly pale, cold sweat continuously pouring down his temples.

Shen Qingci stared at him, asking in a cold, harsh tone, "What did the Zhao Family send you here to do?"

Ma Wencai's lips quivered. He didn't dare hold back. He spilled everything at once—how the Ma Family had bribed Duan Laoqi, and how they planned to silence them on the road. Although his words were disjointed and contradictory, the meaning couldn't have been clearer.

After listening, a cold sneer appeared on Shen Qingci's face. At this moment, she was no longer the flustered young widow she appeared to be in front of Lin Yan, but the matriarch of the Liu Family.

"Good!" She spat out the single word softly before continuing, "Go back and tell Old Mr. Zhao, and tell your masters of the Ma Family: I, Shen Qingci, will return to Qing Province tomorrow. When that time comes, I will definitely settle this score with them!"

Ma Wencai kowtowed furiously. "Yes, yes! I will definitely deliver the message! I definitely will!"

"Scram."

Ma Wencai scrambled to his feet and stumbled away back the way he came. He didn't even dare turn back to retrieve a lost shoe, disappearing around the bend of the mountain path with one bare foot.

Shen Qingci withdrew her gaze, the coldness on her face slowly fading. Cradling her child, she sat back down in the ox cart.

Lin Yan had not spoken a word the entire time, silently driving the cart. Letting a tiger return to the mountain meant it would eventually bite. How could Shen Qingci expect a mere few words of threat to make those people obediently submit? But ultimately, he didn't speak up, because this matter had nothing to do with him. Lin Yan had a very clear understanding of his own position. He was just a driver, taking money to escort someone. Once they reached the destination, they would be even.

The rest of the journey was very peaceful. The trees along the roadside gradually thinned out, and vast expanses of farmland appeared in the distance.

Shen Qingci gazed at the fields slowly retreating outside the cart. Ever since she saw Ma Wencai, she had remained silent, her expression betraying neither joy nor sorrow. Lin Yan would occasionally look back. Seeing her in this state, he had no desire to be nosy and simply flicked the reins.

Old Niu mooed displeasedly, but still obediently quickened its pace.

A day later, they arrived at Qingzhou City.

The city walls were much taller and significantly thicker than those of the city Lin Yan had stayed in previously. The city gates were wide open, with an endless stream of people flowing in and out.

Once they entered the gates, the streets suddenly opened up. The bluestone-paved road was wide enough for four horse carriages to travel side by side. Shops lined both sides, tavern banners fluttered in the wind, and the shouts of hawkers rose and fell in succession. Compared to this place, the area where Lin Yan had previously lived felt like a remote little town. However, his face showed no superfluous emotion; he merely drove the ox cart, navigating through the crowd.

Shen Qingci lifted a corner of the cart curtain, the emotions in her eyes extremely complex.

Lin Yan had already asked for the Shen Family's address. Discerning the direction, he drove straight toward the largest estate in the city.

After the time it took for two incense sticks to burn, he arrived at the destination.

Before his eyes were vermilion doors flanked by two stone lions, exuding an extraordinary, imposing presence. A golden plaque hung above the entrance, with the words "Shen Mansion" shining brightly in the setting sun.

The doorman had been dozing off. Startled awake by the noise, he lazily opened his eyes. Seeing it was a dilapidated ox cart, he was about to yell at them when he suddenly spotted Shen Qingci poking her head out. The doorman stared blankly, rubbing his eyes vigorously. Then, he suddenly leaped up and scrambled wildly into the estate, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Eldest Miss is back! Eldest Miss is back!"

Clearly, the Shen Family had long known the news that Shen Qingci was returning to her maiden home.

In a matter of moments, the main doors swung wide open. Several maids and older female servants flooded out, hurriedly helping Shen Qingci down from the ox cart. An older servant took the child from her arms, repeatedly saying, "The Young Master has grown so much. He must have suffered on the journey."

Surrounded by the crowd, Shen Qingci was escorted inside, but she suddenly turned her head to look back at Lin Yan. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but with the crowd pushing her along, she ultimately didn't speak. She only had time to cast one final glance before being ushered into the Shen Mansion.

Lin Yan stood outside the gates, unmoving. He was waiting to get paid.

Before long, an elderly man who looked like a butler walked out. The man was in his fifties, sporting a goatee and dressed in a cyan silk long gown, with a lean face. He walked up to Lin Yan, sizing him up for a few seconds before cupping his hands in greeting. "You must be Mr. Lin, yes? My surname is Shen, and I am the manager of this estate. The Young Miss has instructed that since she was relying on your escort for this journey, the reward has been prepared."

He gestured, and a young servant behind him presented a wooden tray. Resting on the tray were two large silver ingots, along with several pieces of broken silver.

"A total of one hundred taels. Please count them, Sir."

The manager was very polite, though not exactly respectful; it was merely the customary decency of a prominent family.

Lin Yan tucked the silver into his robe without counting it, stating flatly, "No need."

He had more important things to do and didn't want to get entangled here.

Returning to the ox cart, Lin Yan drove while sensing the changes in his body.

[Guard System Task Completed]

[Task Reward: Level 10 Vajra Invulnerability Divine Skill]

[Reward Distribution Commencing—]

A wave of heat, ten times more intense than the last time, exploded from his Dantian and instantly surged through his limbs and bones. Unlike the mild tempering of the Golden Bell Shield, this time, the power was so tyrannical it felt as if it were going to crush and reforge all his bones. His internal organs, in particular, trembled continuously under that force of supreme Yang and unyielding firmness. He felt as if his organs were being repeatedly doused with red-hot molten iron, only to solidify into indestructible refined steel at the most scorching moment.

A few breaths later, the heat slowly dissipated.

With the Level 10 Vajra Invulnerability Divine Skill, blades and swords could not harm him, nor could Inner Family Gang Qi break his defenses. Furthermore, every punch and kick carried immense, overwhelming strength. Unfortunately, this was Qingzhou City; it wasn't very convenient to test out Cultivation Techniques here.

Lin Yan opened his eyes. Seeing no one nearby, he couldn't resist channeling the Cultivation Technique into his right hand. His originally flesh-colored skin instantly turned a brilliant, radiant gold. Just looking at it, one could feel its immortal and indestructible essence.

Golden Bell Shield combined with Vajra Indestructible—as long as his Inner Strength didn't run out, could anyone in the world break his defenses? With such abilities, he should be able to venture out into the Jianghu now, right?

With this thought in mind, Lin Yan suddenly rummaged through the cart's awning, eventually finding an old almanac passed down from his predecessor's father in a corner.

"I'll pick a good day and go out to take a look!"