Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Lin Family.

To Lin Chen’s delight, the third generation of the Lin Family had arrived.

His sister-in-law was already pregnant.

”Brother Chen, these are some gifts sent by others.”

His elder brother, Lin Liang, brought over a gift list. Seeing Lin Chen’s puzzled expression, he explained, ”When I and your sister-in-law got married, we only invited relatives from our two families and people from the village, plus Uncle Zhao and three other families. But somehow, the news got out, and many big families in the city sent gifts.”

The influential people in the city didn’t come themselves, but they sent their servants to deliver gifts.

”I kept this gift list for you to decide how to handle it.”

Lin Chen took the gift list, glanced over the gifts, and then set it aside.

”It’s fine, elder brother, just keep them. They’re not really anything valuable.”

Beside him, sister-in-law Chen Ting heard what her brother-in-law said and was at a loss for words.

Is this called not valuable?

She had shown this gift list to her relatives, and it had shocked them.

She also had some relatives in the city who were trained in martial arts. When they saw the list, they just said that the total value of these gifts was thousands of taels.

Gifts worth thousands of taels were considered not valuable by her brother-in-law.

Now, she realized what her distant relative meant when they said:

”People give gifts, just accept them. With how formidable your brother-in-law is now, these gifts are nothing.”

In Chen Ting’s mind, she didn’t understand much about the Martial Path, only knowing that her brother-in-law was very powerful. Even the County Magistrate came to their house several times, but she still didn’t have a real sense of it.

Now the value of the gift list and her brother-in-law’s words made her realize for the first time what kind of family she had married into.

”Uncle, neither your brother nor I have read much. Can you name the child?”

Chen Ting asked with a smile. Lin Chen was taken aback, asking him to name the child?

Is that appropriate?

The naming right should belong to his father. If he overstepped, his father might be angry.

”It’s appropriate. What’s not appropriate? Your dad hasn’t read much either. Just give a name to your unborn nephew or niece.”

Mrs. Lin walked out from the yard, carrying freshly washed fruits and placing them on the table. Hearing this, Lin Chen smiled wryly. Since his mother said so, he could only name them.

Lin Chen clearly understood his sister-in-law’s subtle intention of having him name the child. It was no big deal.

It was just that they hoped that in the future, he would feel closer to his nephew or niece since he gave them their names.

”If it’s a boy, he’ll be Lin Xiao. If it’s a girl, she’ll be Lin Zhao.”

Xiao, with aspirations as high as the heavens.

Zhao, as bright as the sun and moon.

”Lin Xiao... Lin Zhao.”

Chen Ting repeated it several times, feeling very satisfied.

Though she didn’t understand much, the names sounded different from those of other village children.

”Mom, where’s Dad?”

”Your father has taken a liking to fishing now. Who knows when he picked up this bad habit? He’s out fishing with Elder Zhao every day, never getting tired of catching fish his whole life.”

Hearing his mother’s complaint, Lin Chen chuckled.

Those dressed in finery are not necessarily silk farmers.

Fishing and catching fish are different.

The former is a hobby; the latter is a livelihood.

When a hobby becomes a livelihood, it naturally loses its charm. Now that the family doesn’t lack silver coins, it’s nice that his father has such a hobby.

As for when his father became fond of fishing, an image popped into Lin Chen’s mind. It must have been during the time Senior Brother Qu Feng stayed in Linhu Village.

Senior Brother Qu loved fishing. At the time, Lin Chen was busy training. Others in the village revered Senior Brother Qu’s status and avoided getting too close, so only his brother and father interacted with Senior Brother Qu during that time.

After staying at home for half a day, Lin Chen chatted with the village chief for a while, where the chief mainly talked about his money-making plans, and Lin Chen occasionally offered some advice.

Elder brother Lin Liang was kept by Zhao Canghe to listen in.

According to Zhao Canghe, he didn’t have many years left, and the future of Linhu Village would be in Lin Liang’s hands.

As for Gu Fei...

He was selectively ignored by Zhao Canghe.

After staying in the village until the afternoon, Lin Chen got up to enter the city and went to the Jingshui Martial Arts Hall first thing.

At this time, it was just when the new students had recently joined the martial hall, and as Lin Chen passed by the Martial Arts Arena, he unexpectedly saw Hall Master Kong there.

Between Hall Master Zeng and Hall Master Kong at Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, he was most grateful to Hall Master Kong.

He was given the first-class student treatment, and though Hall Master Zeng approved it, it was because Hall Master Kong gave him the opportunity.

”You bunch of freshmen are too lousy, to be honest. I’ve never led such poor students before!”

Kong Yinglei’s voice resonated across the Martial Arts Arena. Hearing it, Lin Chen’s mouth twitched. How familiar these words were; last year, Hall Master Kong said the same thing.

In Hall Master Kong’s words, every cohort of freshmen was the worst they had ever led.

Each batch was worse than the last!

”Not convinced?”

Kong Yinglei looked at a few dissatisfied female disciples and shouted, ”Let me tell you, the previous batch’s disciples had already mastered the cultivation technique by this time!”

Last term, mastering the cultivation technique?

Lin Chen recalled for a moment, at this point in time, it seemed that aside from himself, none of the other young female disciples had mastered the cultivation technique.

Just as Kong Yinglei was about to continue reprimanding these new disciples, she caught sight of Lin Chen appearing in the Martial Arts Arena from the corner of her eye. Initially, her face showed disbelief, but the next moment, her gaze swiftly fixed on Lin Chen.

”Hall Master Kong!”

Lin Chen greeted with a smile, and as he spoke up, combined with Kong Yinglei’s gaze towards him, the young girls in the Martial Arts Arena also turned their attention to him.

”Who is this person?”

”There aren’t any male disciples in the martial arts hall, right?”

Curiosity swelled in the hearts of these young girls, but the next moment they saw a scene that shook them even more.

Since their entry into the martial arts hall, the always stern and unsmiling Hall Master Kong actually smiled.

Could it be, this person and Hall Master Kong...

No, the ages don’t match either.

It can’t be that Hall Master Kong is the old cow eating young grass.

Their hearts burned with the fire of gossip at this moment.

Kong Yinglei ignored the curiosity of the young girls, and walked straight towards Lin Chen: ”The martial arts hall just posted an announcement about you today, I thought you were in Lingxiao City, how did you come back?”

”I’ve missed hearing Hall Master Kong’s teachings, so I specifically came back to listen.”

Lin Chen joked, causing Kong Yinglei to feel a bit speechless: ”You came back for something?”

”I’m staying for a while. Tonight, Lord Su has arranged a banquet. I came specifically to invite Hall Master Kong and Hall Master Zeng.”

”A welcoming banquet, is it? Alright, I’ll be there on time tonight.”

Kong Yinglei nodded. With Lin Chen’s current status, for him to personally come to the martial arts hall to invite them, she was already very satisfied.

”This batch of disciples has a few promising ones; would you like to say a few words of encouragement?” Kong Yinglei scanned the curious young girls behind her and asked Lin Chen.

”You’ve just tempered their arrogance, and now I’m supposed to encourage them? Isn’t that inappropriate?”

”What’s inappropriate? Your name is the greatest encouragement to them.”

Kong Yinglei wasn’t just flattering Lin Chen. This year, the number of disciples signing up for Jingshui Martial Arts Hall exceeded any previous year, with more registrants than ever since the hall was established, and the quality of students was also far superior.

Not only from Poyang County but also eligible girls throughout Raozhou Prefecture signed up for Jingshui Martial Arts Hall.

For this reason, she and the Hall Master specifically approached Lord Su, requesting twenty more slots for the Opening Acupoints Pill. This year, the hall accepted a hundred female disciples, with thirty of them being eligible for the pill.

”Alright then.”

Lin Chen nodded, and seeing him agree, Kong Yinglei smiled and turned back to the young girls, smilingly saying: ”What, are you very curious about this person’s identity?”

The young girls nodded instinctively, but Kong Yinglei suddenly put on a stern face: ”I say this cohort is the worst I’ve ever taught, and you don’t agree? Unless you’re dim-witted, you should at least know how many male disciples there are in Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, right? Can’t you guess the identity?”

Lin Chen’s mouth twitched slightly; even now, Hall Master Kong wouldn’t miss a chance to poke at their arrogance.

But the young girls on the scene didn’t care about the disparagement in Kong Yinglei’s words, instead looking at Lin Chen with excitement.

Whether Jingshui Martial Arts Hall ever had male disciples was unknown to them, nor did it matter.

There was only one person who could make Hall Master Kong say something like that.

A name they had memorized even before entering the hall.

”Senior Brother Lin!”

One of the young girls shouted out.

The next moment, the entire Martial Arts Arena erupted into cheers.

Looking at these young disciples, Lin Chen couldn’t help but think of two words: ”Fan Girls!”

Especially as these young disciples rushed forward, surrounding him.

”Senior Brother Lin, I just learned about how you defeated the Nansha Three Islands in Lingxiao City today. That’s amazing.”

”Senior Brother Lin, are the martial artists on the Hidden Dragon List very strong?”

Looking at the excited young disciples, Lin Chen felt a bit helpless. If you’re going to ask questions, just ask. What’s with the hands?

Touching with a satisfied look, what does it mean?

...

...

It took half an hour for Lin Chen to leave Jingshui Martial Arts Hall under the reluctant gazes of the young disciples.

A quarter of an hour later, Lin Chen appeared at the Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall.

The scenario was quite similar, except the newcomers at Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall who attempted to touch him were all repelled by Lin Chen.

He could understand the excitement of the young disciples, but he couldn’t understand the young juniors.

This is Jiangnan Dao, not Chuanshu Path.

Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall, Gale Martial Arts Hall...

That night, under Su Lingchuan’s arrangements, Lin Chen hosted a banquet for the prominent martial arts halls, including some young juniors and fellow disciples, Fu Jingya from Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, as well as Gu Shan, Fu Ang...including several junior brothers such as Zhao Jingchuan and Lu Yongfeng.

With things happening like this, the news of Lin Chen’s return to Poyang County naturally couldn’t be kept hidden.

Early the next morning, Lin Chen headed to Raozhou Prefecture.

He planned to visit Instructor Yu first, and then proceed to the Jiang Mansion.