Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

Chapter 89 Why are you running away if you didn't kill anyone?

Old Li's methods are truly ruthless; he shows absolutely no mercy.

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, daring not to speak out in anger, though a few hot-tempered individuals wanted to confront Old Li.

Lin Yuan turned and left, not wanting to get involved at all, and even less wanting to cause any trouble or attract Old Li's attention.

I went back to the courtyard and practiced Gao's Snake Fist for a while.

When it was time for dinner, he went to the dining room to have his meal.

Someone nearby said that in the afternoon, Old Master Li drove away three or five retainers and arrested two others. One of the arrested retainers seemed to have corresponded with the maids in the mansion, and the other seemed to be colluding with someone outside the mansion.

It was clear that Old Master Li was using this opportunity to purge his retainers who harbored disloyal intentions.

The atmosphere in the mansion was tense. Several timid retainers resigned and left, but Old Master Li let them go. However, most of the retainers stayed.

Because the Li family gave enough and had few problems.

So everyone tolerated this grievance.

The next morning.

Wu Yong has not yet returned from guarding the Yin Pool.

Lin Yuan arrived alone at the Red Instructor's courtyard, only to find the gate locked. He knocked on the door, but no one answered; he called out several times, but still no one responded.

I considered climbing over the wall to get inside, but considering this was the Li residence, I gave up.

At this moment, the female martial arts instructor from the neighboring courtyard was attracted by his commotion. After inquiring, she learned that Instructor Hong was responsible for guarding the mansion today and would not be relieved until evening.

Wang Anren got Shi Shu pregnant, which immediately caused the status of all the male retainers to plummet, and he even assigned a bunch of chores to the idle Hong Jiaotou.

This left Lin Yuan with some resentment.

He had no choice but to return to the courtyard, take the Bone Forging Pill, and train his body and strengthen his bones on his own.

During this period, he thoroughly mastered the two forms of snakes: the form of a venomous snake and the form of a python, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of both.

His deepest realization after a year of martial arts training is that Taizu Changquan is the foundation, the mother of all fist techniques. It makes practicing Sheyiquan much easier on this basis.

The Northern School Gao Family Snake Fist combines the power and ferocity of Long Fist with the fluidity and unpredictability of Snake Intent Fist. With the foundation of these two styles, Lin Yuan found it much easier to comprehend the form of a python.

Even without Coach Hong's long whip, he can now freely use the two forms of the snake.

In other words, he integrated the two forms of the snake, achieving the three external harmonies in the three realms of external training: hand and foot harmonize, elbow and knee harmonize, and shoulder and hip harmonize.

That is, the body and form become one, and one can do whatever one pleases.

After he achieved unity of body and mind, he entered a state of selfless martial arts practice, becoming increasingly free and unrestrained. He no longer needed the whip as a catalyst; he could complete the chemical reaction on his own.

Moreover, through his increased interactions with Liang Yingxiao and others during this period, he gradually figured out how to achieve a high-frequency combat state by unifying his body and mind. Even without Coach Hong's long whip, he could efficiently train his muscles and bones on his own.

From initial patience to gradual adaptation, and then to mastery and application, it requires a long process. It is the quantitative change of his daily practice, reflection, and enlightenment that leads to qualitative change.

The only drawback was that he dared not push his physical limits. Without Coach Hong watching over him, he was afraid that he might injure his bones and internal organs if he didn't control himself properly.

Even without pushing the limits, this efficiency is more than enough, far surpassing his peers. Even Wu Yong is not as good as him in this aspect, and Liu Jingtian is far behind.

Only Liang Yingxiao could barely keep up with his rapid progress. The two were neck and neck in both martial arts combat and martial arts theory.

Because of this, Liang Yingxiao interacted with him more and more, and they grew to appreciate each other more and more.

Lin Yuan completed the high-frequency training on his own, which strengthened his skin, muscles and bones. He also practiced Gao's Snake Fist and Snake Intent Fist several times.

Just then, someone from next door called out; it was Zheng Xingzhou, Liu Jingtian's former roommate: "Professor Li wants everyone to go to the main hall!"

"What is it you wish to say?"

"They didn't say anything, just told me to inform the neighbors next door. You should tell them too!" Zheng Xingzhou said casually.

"Okay." Lin Yuan had no choice but to say goodbye to the person next door, then wiped himself down and changed into a clean set of clothes.

He arrived at the main hall, where a large crowd had gathered in the courtyard.

"Is everyone here?"

"All of them are here!"

Old Li, with his hands behind his back and a pipe in his hand, scanned the crowd: "Someone has reported that Liu Jingtian has been found. Go and arrest him. I want him alive or dead."

"Yes!" The crowd responded loudly, eager to try. Compared to carrying coffins and attending funerals for servants, which was neither rewarding nor meritorious, catching thieves was a rewarding and meritorious deed.

This time, Lin Yuan couldn't even squeeze to the front of the crowd, as most of the people in front of him were older and had higher martial arts levels.

He had no choice but to be grouped with Zheng Xingzhou and the others who were hiding at the very back in the third group, which was considered an outer perimeter safety net.

Lin Yuan could tell that Zheng Xingzhou didn't really want to capture Liu Jingtian. The two had been roommates in the same college and often gambled together. Although they weren't close friends, they still had some connection.

Old Master Li ordered his household servants and martial arts instructors to lead three groups of men out of the mansion in three separate routes.

Lin Yuan followed the others out of the mansion, riding swiftly towards the riverside streets along the inner river of the city. That alley was a red-light district, backed by the river and facing the street, with the most diverse crowd.

Their third group was responsible for blocking street entrances and exits and blocking boats on the river.

Zheng Xingzhou led four people to inspect the ships. He was a seventh-rank martial artist, the highest level, and everyone respected him.

Holding the Li family token, he leaped onto the merchant ship that was about to depart.

"The Li family has apprehended a thief; please have the boatman come forward to speak with them."

Upon hearing that it was the Li family, the boatman knew he couldn't afford to offend them, so he cautiously stepped forward, secretly slipped them some silver, and said some flattering words.

Zheng Xingzhou immediately stuffed the silver into his pocket and winked at Lin Yuan and the others: "Pre-departure inspection!"

Lin Yuan didn't pay much attention. Taking bribes and demanding favors was a local custom. Even if Old Master Li sent people to search the servants' rooms, those servants would still take a few silver notes.

Who can I complain to?

Those who tried to reason with them were all driven away.

Lin Yuan carefully inspected the merchant ships and found that they were all carrying newly harvested rice, with no people hiding inside.

"Let them through!" Zheng Xingzhou waved his hand.

The three continued inspecting the boats that had been released into the river.

With the river blocked off, many boatmen who didn't want to spend money simply moored their boats on the riverbank and waited for the Li family to finish their business.

As a result, many boats accumulated on the river, obstructing the view and causing a great commotion, but few boats came to pay and leave.

After a while, the leading servant of the Li family, a martial arts master, shouted from the shore: "Something has happened over there, Zheng Xingzhou, you stay behind, the rest of you come up with me."

Zheng Xingzhou glanced at the faces of the group and learned that Lin Yuan had been taught Northern Snake Fist by Liu Jingtian. Out of gratitude for the teaching, he kept him on the team.

Seeing that the leader on the shore had left, Zheng Xingzhou suddenly waved to the nearby boats, signaling them to leave quickly.

Lin Yuan couldn't control him, so he pretended not to see it and randomly found a fishing boat to investigate.

These are fishermen who came into town to sell fish. They've sold out and are now leaving town. The boat is filled with the smell of fish.

Lin Yuan suddenly noticed that there was an overturned fish basket in the cabin, while the other fish baskets were all upright.

He dared not be careless, so he wedged himself in the cabin door, slowly drawing his knife. To cover the sound of the knife being drawn, he bluffed, "Brother Liu, even if you escape the city now, you won't escape the pursuit of the powerful families. Your portrait is everywhere in Linyuan, in every village and wharf. Unless you can fly, you'd be better off clearing your name and living a decent life!"

Lin Yuan drew his cold blade, but heard no response, and the fish basket remained motionless.

There might really be no one there!

Lin Yuan was also frightened by Elder Li last time, but after thinking about it, he decided it was better to play it safe. There was no need to risk his life, and he didn't want to investigate anymore, so he turned around and left the cabin.

Just then, a voice came.

"Brother Lin, please wait!"

Liu Jingtian suddenly emerged from behind the cabin door. He had only dared to come out to meet Lin, his former mentor, after hearing that Lin's words were merely admonition.

"Brother Liu?" Lin Yuan quickly raised his sword and assumed a defensive stance, feeling both amused and exasperated. You really did hide here.

"Brother Lin, don't worry!" Liu Jingtian immediately raised his hand. "I really didn't kill anyone, please believe me, Brother Lin!"

Liu Jingtian immediately clasped his hands in a salute and recounted the events of that day: "That man surnamed Wang insists that I killed him, but it really wasn't me! I couldn't beat them, so I dared not not flee—"

"We've known each other for a long time, so I naturally know what kind of person Brother Liu is." Lin Yuan knew he was innocent, and a plan flashed into his mind: "Since the eldest branch of the Li family can produce several immortal offspring, they must also have immortal methods. Let me tell you, whether you killed them or not, you can't escape! You've been on the run for so long and haven't even been able to escape the county town, which means you've obviously seen the Li family sending people to keep watch everywhere."

If you insist on escaping, you will not only be guilty of a crime, but you will also be subject to the Li family's discipline.

Seeing that Lin Yuan believed in his innocence, Liu Jingtian immediately pleaded, "Brother Lin, please help me, what should I do?"

"There's no escaping it. The only option now is to confess and seek leniency. Your old friend Zheng Xingzhou is on the boat. He's a fairly righteous man. We'll escort you back to the Li residence to see Old Master Li. We guarantee that Wang Anren and his gang won't be able to touch you. Old Master Li is no ordinary person. If you confess everything, he'll surely have a way to handle it."

"This?" Liu Jingtian hesitated. He was uneasy about entrusting his life to Elder Li. "I want to see Qilang!"

"Brother Liu, let's not beat around the bush. Qi Lang dislikes warriors. Going to him is just asking for trouble."

"Sigh!" Liu Jingtian was at a loss, looking pleadingly at Lin Yuan, "Brother Lin, can you guarantee that Elder Li will let me go?"

"I can't guarantee that," Lin Yuan suddenly added, "but you can provide evidence against the murderer and shift the blame onto someone else!"

"It must be that bastard Wang Anren!" Liu Jingtian grew angrier the more he thought about it. If Wang Anren hadn't insisted he was the murderer and attacked him relentlessly, he wouldn't have had to run for his life. "I've been thinking about it all night, and he's the most suspicious! I heard a woman crying, and when I went to check, she was dead. She had clearly just died, and then he showed up and accused me of murder. What a coincidence!"

It seems Liu Jingtian isn't stupid after all.

Lin Yuan suddenly realized that he didn't need to remind him at all, but Wang Anren's actions in his haste were indeed too obvious: "Wang Anren is a seventh-grade martial artist, and he brought two helpers with him. You are only an eighth-grade martial artist, yet you managed to escape from a group of three. Do you think you escaped because of your great skill, or did they deliberately let you go?"

"They did it on purpose!" Liu Jingtian suddenly realized.

"They just want to force you to flee to avoid punishment, so they can ruin the case," Lin Yuan laughed. "After all, if you didn't kill anyone, why would you run away?"