Chapter 30: New Mission

The Nine Diagrams and Six Seated Postures.

It came from the Body Technique Chapter of the Seventy-Two Skills. It was so simple that it consisted of only nine movements, but they were the purest essence left after being tempered thousands of times.

Its advantage was speed. By abandoning the flexibility of dodging and weaving, it concentrated everything on short-distance explosive power. Furthermore, this Cultivation Technique consumed very little energy to use.

With it, Lin Yan could directly transform into a human cannonball—whoever he crashed into would die.

After circulating his energy for a moment, Lin Yan opened his eyes. The warm current in his body had dissipated, but a faint, burning sensation still lingered in every refined part of his body.

At this moment, Zhou Wanqing walked out the door, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, looking ready to work. Seeing Lin Yan still standing outside, she couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

"Mr. Lin, why are you still outside? Come in quickly. I've already prepared fodder for your ox."

Lin Yan looked up. He had originally planned to leave right away, but seeing Zhou Wanqing's slightly eager eyes, he hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

"Alright."

Zhou Wanqing's house was very small. Entering it, one would see a main hall furnished with a square table and a few long benches. A coarse pottery teapot sat on the table, with several teacups placed upside down on a tea tray. A wooden cabinet stood in the corner, its door half-open to reveal neatly folded cloth and a few books. However, the first thing Lin Yan noticed upon entering was the spirit tablet right in the center of the hall.

A black-lacquered wooden plaque with mottled gold lettering was enshrined on the altar. An incense burner sat in front of it, filled with a thick layer of accumulated ash. The tablet bore the name of Zhou Wanqing's late husband.

Having fed the ox, Zhou Wanqing walked over from the back. Catching Lin Yan's gaze, she stepped in front of him and whispered, "It's been almost two years..."

Lin Yan didn't know what to say, so he remained silent. The pressure a lone woman had to endure in this era was far beyond what people of later generations could imagine.

Zhou Wanqing didn't mind his silence. She simply walked to the table, lifted the teapot, and poured him a cup. The tea was coarse, with a brownish hue, but it carried a faint chrysanthemum fragrance.

"Have a seat."

Lin Yan took the teacup and was about to sit down when the curtain to the bedroom was lifted from the inside. Mei Ruoying walked out. Her injuries were clearly not fully healed; her footsteps were a bit unsteady, and her left arm was still suspended in a cloth sling across her chest. Upon seeing Lin Yan, she walked straight toward him. When she reached him, she suddenly bowed deeply in a grand gesture of respect.

Lin Yan's brow twitched. The moment Mei Ruoying bowed, he preemptively stepped aside to avoid accepting it. "What's this about?"

Mei Ruoying straightened up. The icy sharpness that usually kept people at arm's length was gone from her eyes, replaced by an almost fragile pleading.

"Mr. Lin," she said, her voice low and clear. "I implore you to take action and save the Patriarch of the Shen Family."

Lin Yan frowned even more tightly. "Does the Shen Family have ties to you?"

Mei Ruoying didn't avoid his gaze. "Yes," she answered firmly. "When I escaped from Meihua Mountain Villa, if Elder Shen hadn't taken me in and helped hide my tracks, I probably would have been captured by the Yang Family long ago." She gently lowered her head. "Mr. Lin, he is now suffering because of me. I... cannot just sit idly by."

Lin Yan remained silent. No task had appeared this time.

Mei Ruoying stood there watching him, her eyes devoid of any pressure, holding only candor and solemnity.

After a long time, she finally spoke up. "If you are unwilling to help, Mr. Lin, it's fine. I know I am asking too much."

"Perhaps you can phrase it differently," Lin Yan suddenly interjected.

Mei Ruoying froze for a moment, not quite understanding. "What?"

"Helping you save someone is a no-go, but when you go to save them yourself, I can protect you," Lin Yan said softly. "Just like when you hired me to escort Doctor Zhou."

This...

Mei Ruoying didn't know why he was still nitpicking over such a trivial detail at a time like this, but as long as he was willing to act, there wouldn't be a problem. Experts all had their quirks; she had seen plenty of them back at Meihua Mountain Villa.

"Alright," she nodded, her answer crisp and clean, without the slightest hesitation.

The very instant she nodded, the system's voice rang out in Lin Yan's mind.

[Guard System has detected a triggerable task—]

[Task Objective: Protect Mei Ruoying's safety until the Shen Family is rescued.]

[Task Character Star Rating: Two Stars]

[Task Reward: Jade-Breaking Fist Skill]

The corner of Lin Yan's eye twitched slightly.

A Fist Skill!

Although the name sounded a bit generic, it was still an offensive method at the very least. He wouldn't have to rely on brute strength and recklessly swing Turtle Fists every time.

Suppressing his thoughts, he looked up at Mei Ruoying. "I have to lay down some ugly truths beforehand to avoid any unpleasantness later."

"Please speak, Mr. Lin," Mei Ruoying hurriedly said.

"The Yang Family has massive influence, and they're likely colluding with local prominent families in Qing Province. With them acting in cahoots, I'll probably have to kill quite a few people when the time comes.

"Therefore, since you sought me out, you cannot back out halfway. Otherwise, I will use my own methods to carry out this transaction."

"No problem!" Mei Ruoying's eyes were resolute. "Is there anything else?"

"Of course there is. What about my payment?" Lin Yan reached out his hand and asked, looking as though this was only natural.

The emotional momentum Mei Ruoying had been building up for a long time instantly vanished, leaving her completely stunned. She gritted her teeth in silence before finally taking off the Jade Pendant she always wore around her neck and handing it over.

"This item is Celestial Jade. Wearing it for a long period can calm the mind, and it also has a certain detoxifying effect."

Seeing this Jade Pendant, Zhou Wanqing, who was standing to the side, suddenly looked as though she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Lin Yan didn't overthink it and directly accepted the Jade Pendant, placing it in his palm. It still carried the residual warmth of a woman's body.

"Deal!" Lin Yan slowly revealed a smile.

Truthfully, he quite enjoyed the feeling of participating in intense conflicts. Not only did he not lose out, but he could also kill multiple birds with one stone. Of course, the prerequisite was having the ultimate strength; otherwise, it would just be courting death.

Zhou Wanqing had stood aside watching for a long time before she finally found an excuse to interject. "Mr. Lin, will you be staying here tonight? I'll go tidy up a room for you."

Lin Yan shook his head. "No need for the trouble." He stood up, downed the last mouthful of cold tea in his cup, and gently placed it back on the table. "I'm going to ask around for some information. You two go ahead and eat without me."

After saying that, he turned and walked out the door.

Mei Ruoying stood where she was, letting out a soft breath as she watched his retreating back.

Once Lin Yan's figure had completely disappeared, Zhou Wanqing could no longer hold back. "Sister, that Jade Pendant was your..."

"You don't need to say more, Sister. Things like that are merely worldly possessions," Mei Ruoying gently shook her head. "Compared to Mr. Lin's chivalry, I am ultimately still a bit too shallow."

"Why do you say that?" Zhou Wanqing was puzzled.

"By proposing a transaction, Mr. Lin was actually looking out for me, preventing me from feeling too indebted in my heart..."

A hint of bitterness suddenly welled up in Mei Ruoying's heart. She wondered if she would have been qualified to stand by Mr. Lin's side had she not married that villain.