Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

”The Martial Arts Garden just updated the Hidden Dragon List. Senior Brother Lin jumped from first on the Human List to eighth on the Earth List.”

Fang Zhan was equally excited. When he first saw the update to the Hidden Dragon List, he couldn’t quite believe his eyes.

Senior Brother Lin disappeared at Canglan Lake, his life or death still unknown.

However, with the Martial Arts Garden updating the Hidden Dragon List and placing Senior Brother Lin at the eighth position on the Earth List, it must mean that Senior Brother Lin has accomplished something to earn such a ranking.

Jiang Qing took the document Fang Zhan handed over. When her gaze fell on the name at the eighth spot on the Earth List, her charming face finally showed the first trace of a smile in days, like frost melting in spring’s dawn.

”Senior Sister Jiang, the headmaster is likely sending someone to find out why the Martial Arts Garden ranked Senior Brother Lin eighth on the Earth List. It won’t be long before we hear news about Senior Brother Lin.”

...

...

Capital of the Liang Kingdom.

Military Affairs Department.

The elder was also looking at the updated Hidden Dragon List from the Martial Arts Garden, a trace of satisfaction in his elderly eyes.

”Sir, would you like me to prepare a pot of wine for you tonight?”

Listening to the middle-aged man beside him, the elder lifted his eyes slightly: ”Go ahead.”

Seeing the elder agree, the middle-aged man also smiled. Since the news came from Canglan Martial Arts Academy that Lin Chen was missing at Canglan Lake, the elder hadn’t shown much reaction, but as someone attending to the elder’s daily life, he could sense that the elder’s mood hadn’t been good over the past few days.

The elder used to enjoy a small drink every day, but had abstained during these days.

Now that there’s news about Lin Chen, the elder’s mood has improved as well.

...

...

The moon is brightest in one’s homeland.

Though this trip abroad was only a few days, returning to the territory of Liang, Lin Chen felt an inexplicable sense of peace.

Vessel!

On the deck stood a few youths.

”That’s a warship.”

The youths watched a dozen or so warships sail past. Every soldier on board was clad in armor, glistening in the sunlight.

Their presence was imposing, and the spears in their hands gleamed with a cold light.

On the bow, military flags fluttered.

”These are all Refining the Viscera experts.”

”I wish I could join the army too, head north and take on those damn demons.”

”You... you better forget it. You’re likely to wet your pants at the sight of a demon. I’ve heard Northern Border demons are extremely ugly, enough to make children cry.”

”Do you think I’m still as timid as before? Ever since I started training in martial arts, my courage has increased several folds. I have no fear facing the demon race.”

”Humph, you really think demons are so easy to eradicate? I really don’t know what the Imperial Court is thinking. The Northern Border demon race is no longer a threat. To wipe out the Northern Border demons, we’ve offended the Han Kingdom, and now several countries have closed their borders, making it impossible to buy many pills in the future.”

A discordant voice rang out. A well-dressed young man couldn’t help but interrupt the others’ conversation.

”Zhao Xin, what are you saying!”

”Did I say anything wrong?” The young man called Zhao Xin snorted: ”War means death. How many martial artists has Liang lost by now?”

”According to you, should we just let the Northern Border demon race continue to harass the borders of Liang and harm our people?”

”When did I say let the demons harm our people? What I meant was we should endure for now. When Liang was first established, didn’t we also refrain from taking direct action against the Jiangnan Dao demons, waiting until unification to concentrate all our forces to eradicate the Jiangnan Dao demons in one go?”

Faced with the angry glares of the youths, Zhao Xin remained unfazed: ”Since most of the Northern Border demon race has already been wiped out by Liang, they aren’t a threat in the short term. We could temporarily hold off on eradicating them, so that the Han Kingdom and several other countries wouldn’t close our borders.”

”It’s easy for you to say. If we miss this opportunity, when the Northern Border demons recover, how big a price will we have to pay to eradicate them? Did the sacrifices of those who died in battle mean nothing?”

”What are you all arguing about!”

A young man emerged from the cabin, looking at the youths arguing on the deck, and the next moment, he lifted Zhao Xin by the collar as if he were a chick: ”You little brat, if you’re afraid of the border closure, then head down the river now. Once you reach the Eastern Sea, you can leave Liang, and go wherever you like.”

With that, the young man tossed Zhao Xin into the river.

This scene gave the other youths a sense of satisfaction; they had endured Zhao Xin for long enough.

”You... you’ll regret this.”

Thrown overboard, Zhao Xin wouldn’t drown in the river; as an Opening the Acupoints martial artist, he could almost certainly swim.

”Keep shouting, and I’ll feed you to the fish in this river.”

Faced with the young man’s threat, Zhao Xin fell silent, not daring to argue further, and silently swam towards the shore.

”Brother, Zhao Xin is a member of the Zhao Family in Jiejiang City.”

Although the youths felt good about the scene, remembering Zhao Xin’s family background, they spoke up to remind.

”The Zhao Family of Jiejiang City?”

”Yes, Zhao Xin is the youngest son of the Zhao Family Patriarch. We are all students of the Qingsong Martial Arts Hall.”

The young man’s expression froze upon hearing Zhao Xin’s identity, but he remained nonchalant: ”Only the Zhao Family of Jiejiang City, not much.”

After all... this ship was about to leave the region of Jiejiang City; the Zhao Family wouldn’t chase after something so trivial.

The youths didn’t notice the young man’s bluff, assuming he too had influential connections, unafraid of the Zhao Family, and thus relaxed.

”Now is the perfect opportunity for Liang to eradicate the Northern Border demon race. I can’t stand those who act all sarcastic here just because it stops them from going abroad, affecting their business revenues.”