Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 424: Chapter 9: Here for No Reason, Only to Ease Longing

Canglan Martial Arts Academy!

It occupies an extremely large area, with the entire Canglan Mountain range at its back belonging to the academy.

The outer buildings include the Martial Arts Arena and the Martial Arts Pavilion, serving functional purposes, while all the disciples reside at the foot of the mountain peaks.

As a disciple personally taught by the Director, Lin Chen’s dormitory is located at the foot of Canglan Peak.

The entire Canglan Peak only houses him and the Director.

Coming out of the main hall, it took Lin Chen half a two-hour just to walk to Canglan Peak, which shows how vast the academy is.

A single courtyard house, this is Lin Chen’s dormitory.

Lin Chen isn’t the only one enjoying the luxury of an individual courtyard; those who enter the academy are all genius disciples of Liang, and the academy doesn’t lack the space or timber to build these dorms, so each student resides in a separate villa.

The courtyard of the villa is large, with a small martial arts arena paved with bluestone slabs, and the weapon rack by the wall is filled with various weapons. The other half of the yard has a stone table for entertaining guests.

After putting down his bundle, Lin Chen didn’t stay long in the courtyard before heading out.

He was going to find Senior Sister Jiang, who arrived at the academy earlier than he did and didn’t need to pass an assessment. He just asked the Director, who told him that Senior Sister Jiang was guided by Vice Director Chen.

Back then, his father-in-law was an instructor at Canglan Martial Arts Academy, which was Vice Director Chen.

The peak where Vice Director Chen is located is Cyan Nether Peak, a bit of a distance from Canglan Peak.

After descending the mountain, Lin Chen walked a while and found himself somewhat lost.

The academy is too large, and unlike in his previous life, there are no signposts at intersections to indicate which direction to go.

Fortunately, a disciple of the academy came toward him, and Lin Chen asked, ”Senior Brother, could you tell me which way to Cyan Nether Peak?”

”Cyan Nether Peak?” The young man was momentarily stunned and took a while to respond, ”You mean the Fifth Peak, right? Just keep walking in that direction, and the fourth mountain is Cyan Nether Peak.”

”Thank you, Senior Brother.”

”Are you a new junior brother?”

Seeing Lin Chen’s puzzled expression, the young man smiled and explained, ”We, the senior members, refer to the peaks by numbers. Canglan Peak is the first, Cyan Nether Peak is the fifth. The entire Canglan Martial Arts Academy has nineteen peaks. If we remembered names, we’d get confused; only you new disciples use the real names.”

Lin Chen suddenly realized; no wonder Senior Brother Qu mentioned he is on the Seventh Peak. He had been looking at the map of the academy for ages and couldn’t find where the Seventh Peak was.

”Did you enter the academy directly with a Disciple Letter? What’s your name?”

As a senior, the young man knew that those who could enter the academy at this time are usually recruited by instructors, and are of the genius level.

”Lin Chen.”

”Lin Chen... good name... you’re Lin Chen?”

The young man instinctively responded halfway, but suddenly realized something, and his gaze scanned Lin Chen’s body as if he were examining a beauty.

”So you are Junior Brother Lin, your name has been spread throughout the academy a month ago.”

The senior disciples at Canglan Martial Arts Academy are all in the Refining Viscera Realm and may not care about matters of the Opening Acupoints Realm. Unless they have interacted with the outside world, they may not even know what’s happening within the academy.

But since the notice at the academy’s entrance mentioned it, some disciples noticed, and word spread among the circles.

All the disciples of Canglan Martial Arts Academy know what it means to leave your name seven times at Martial Arts Mountain!

As a result, all the old disciples were quite curious about Lin Chen’s impending arrival, and the young man did not expect to encounter Lin Chen as the first new junior brother he met.

”I only achieved some success by luck, nothing compared to you senior brothers,” Lin Chen humbly said.

”If your achievements are considered nothing, then we are even less than nothing; strength speaks in Martial Path. Junior Brother Lin, you don’t need to be overly modest.”

The young man chuckled, glancing again in the direction Lin Chen came from, ”Junior Brother Lin lives?”

”Canglan Peak.”

”First Peak?”

Though the young man had his suspicions, he was still shocked and envious when he got confirmation from Lin Chen.

Being personally taught by the Director is unprecedented in the academy, and Junior Brother Lin breaking such a record upon entry is noteworthy.

However, recalling Lin Chen’s potential in the Martial Path, the young man’s slight envy disappeared.

Junior Brother Lin’s potential is worthy of the Director’s personal guidance.

...

...

After bidding farewell to this senior brother, Lin Chen arrived at the Fifth Peak: Cyan Nether Peak.

At the foot of Cyan Nether Peak are ten separate courtyards, arranged like scattered stars.

”Which one does Senior Sister Jiang live in?”

Lin Chen found himself in a bit of a pickle; he couldn’t knock on each door or shout, ”Senior Sister Jiang, where are you?”

Fortunately, there were quite a few people at the foot of the Fifth Peak, and he saw several senior brothers lingering, apparently waiting for someone.

”Excuse me, Senior Brother...”

Lin Chen approached the nearest senior brother, but as he got closer, the senior brother seemed to see something, and in a flash, he was behind Lin Chen.

”Why isn’t it Senior Sister!”

Lin Chen turned around and saw a woman walking out from a villa at the foot of the mountain, followed by this senior brother’s voice of regret.

”Ahem, Junior Brother, did you need something?”

Yu Chen withdrew his gaze with a look of regret and noticed Lin Chen for the first time, ”Are you the new junior brother? Need anything?”

”I wanted to ask...”

”Here they come!”

Before Lin Chen could finish speaking, Yu Chen’s face lit up with excitement, his eyes fixed on the direction of the separate courtyard ahead.

Lin Chen: ...

Following the direction of his senior brother’s gaze, Lin Chen saw a figure in white emerging from the courtyard. At the sight of this figure, he knew there was no need to ask further.

At this moment, the few men waiting at the crossroads straightened up, their faces breaking into smiles as the girl in the white skirt approached.

”Junior Sister, you’ve just arrived at the Martial Arts Academy. Would you like Senior Brother to show you around?”

Yu Chen, standing next to Lin Chen, looked annoyed as someone stepped forward to greet the girl in white before he could. How could he be a step too late?

”Thank you, Senior Brother, but there’s no need.”

A cool voice came from the girl’s rosebud lips, and she continued without pause, leaving the man standing there, helpless.

He had failed!

It was hard to come by a Junior Sister at the Martial Arts Academy, and such a beautiful one at that. He had thought his handsome appearance would surely win her heart, leaving a fairy-tale romance in the academy’s history.

But he was rejected after the first step.

Everyone appreciates beauty.

The academy wouldn’t interfere in these matters, but those entering the Canglan Martial Arts Academy were geniuses from various prefectures and paths, so naturally, they wouldn’t be persistent.

The girl in the white skirt turned down several suitors one after another. Yu Chen watched as the girl walked in his direction, excitement written all over his face. He then lightly cleared his throat and looked at Lin Chen with enthusiasm, ”Junior Brother, if you need help, feel free to ask. I love helping new Junior Brothers and Sisters like you.”

His voice was so loud, as if afraid that those a few yards away couldn’t hear him.

Lin Chen, watching Senior Sister Jiang approach, shook his head, ”Senior Brother, there’s no need.”

”No need to be polite with Senior Brother, just say what you want.”

Yu Chen looked at Lin Chen encouragingly. ”When I first arrived at the academy, everything was unfamiliar. I also met a Senior Brother who helped me get to know the academy and understand Canglan Prefecture. Although that Senior Brother has already left the academy, I’ve inherited his spirit.”

”Today, I help Junior Brother without expecting anything in return. All I hope is that when Junior Brother meets new arrivals in the future, you will also passionately assist them like I did.”

His sincere words spilled out, nearly convincing himself.

He wasn’t like those others who didn’t think things through. The Junior Sister didn’t know them, so how could she easily be wooed?

But he was different; he offered care and assistance to Junior Brothers and Sisters. Surely, this Junior Sister would let down her guard and develop a fondness for him... eventually allowing him to show her around the academy and sail the East Sea...

”Really, there’s no need.”

Lin Chen’s lips twitched slightly. Oh boy, this Senior Brother was quick to change his face; a moment ago, he hadn’t even noticed Lin Chen standing right in front of him, and now he was starting to act all valuable.

”The person I’m waiting for has already arrived. Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother.”

”What do you mean?”

Yu Chen hadn’t caught on, but Jiang Qing’s crisp voice answered him.

”Junior Brother Lin, what are you doing here?”

Jiang Qing stood with her hands behind her back, smiling sweetly at Lin Chen, completely ignoring Yu Chen by her side.

”I’m here for no purpose, only to ease my longing.”

Lin Chen blurted out, and Jiang Qing’s cheeks were instantly tinged with two shades of red, her hands subconsciously pinching her clothes, revealing the shyness of a young girl.

”We haven’t seen each other that long, yet you’re this glib already, have you said this to anyone else?”

”Senior Sister, you’ve misunderstood me. I’ve never said this to anyone else. If Senior Sister doesn’t believe me, you can call upon the Celestial to judge!”

”Stop talking nonsense!”

Seeing Lin Chen raise his hand, Jiang Qing quickly grabbed it. The next moment, realizing her action, she tried to withdraw it, but it was held by another hand.

She pulled once, and when it didn’t break free, Jiang Qing just let Lin Chen hold it.

Crack!

Yu Chen standing aside felt as though he heard the sound of his own heartbreak.

Some things are over before they even begin.

Watching the Junior Brother and Sister walk away hand in hand, Yu Chen couldn’t help but mutter, ”Is it because I’m not smooth with words? Here for no purpose, only to ease my longing—I’m remembering this.”

”Senior Brother Yu, don’t remember that. When Junior Brother Lin says it, it’s romantic. If you say it, it’s harassment.”

The young man who had earlier directed Lin Chen stepped over, hearing Yu Chen’s words, and couldn’t help but interject.

”Why is that?”

Not only Yu Chen but the other two suitors who failed also turned their eyes to him.

”This Junior Brother Lin resides on the First Peak and is personally taught by the Director.”

Gasp!

The three of them drew in a cold breath, realizing.

”You said this new Junior Brother’s surname is Lin, could it be Lin Chen?”

”Aside from him, who else would the Director personally tutor?”

This rhetorical question left the three silent.

Initially seeing the new Junior Brother trying to win over Junior Sister stirred some competitive thoughts in the two men, but now they had no intention of teaching the naïve Junior Brother a lesson.

They couldn’t afford to offend him!