Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

The Imperial Palace!

Lin Chen followed Li Yuan and several other disciples from martial academies through the gates of the Yan Kingdom’s Imperial Palace, led by a middle-grade guard, towards a certain part of the palace.

If this royal banquet initiated by the Yan Kingdom’s Royal Family had been before he came to Yan Kingdom, Lin Chen definitely wouldn’t have attended.

He was not very interested in this kind of socializing.

However, after arriving in the Yan Kingdom, Murong Yan sent him intelligence from various countries. Knowing that Murong Yan was a princess of the Yan Kingdom, Lin Chen naturally had to show respect for the banquet held by her father.

Following the guard to the Imperial Garden, the middle-grade guard leading them smiled and said, ”There’s still some time before the banquet starts, why don’t you all rest here for a moment.”

Though the Yan Kingdom guard was a middle-grade martial artist, he dared not put on airs in front of talents from various countries. Moreover, he knew that the purpose of His Majesty hosting this banquet was to provide the princess and the commandery princess a chance to interact with the talents from various countries.

The young disciples of the martial academies from different countries would stay in the Imperial Garden for half a two-hour period before proceeding to the banquet location.

Lin Chen looked around the Imperial Garden. The garden in the Yan Kingdom’s Imperial Palace was quite large, but at the moment, there were already many young people occupying different areas.

”Those are the people from Ze Kingdom’s martial academy, and over there on the right side is the Wu Kingdom’s martial academy.”

Li Yuan, seeing Lin Chen scanning the young people in the garden, leaned over and quietly informed him of their identities and backgrounds.

The martial artists from the Nine Kingdoms numbered only a few hundred, so the vast Imperial Garden was more than sufficient to accommodate them.

However, the disciples from each martial academy only moved within their own areas and did not venture into other areas. With only two days to the ranking competition, everyone was a competitor, so naturally, there would be no small talk or exchanges at this time.

If it were the older generation like Hou Zhantian, they might maintain a facade of harmony, but for these young talents, they were all rivals, and there was no need to pretend to be on friendly terms.

”The people from Han Kingdom have arrived.”

Just as Lin Chen was sitting in the area allocated by the Yan Kingdom, a senior brother beside him whispered. At this moment, fifty people from the Han Kingdom’s martial academy entered the garden.

Perhaps the Yan Kingdom was aware of the recent intense conflict between Liang and Han Kingdom, so the guard who led the way had arranged for the Han Kingdom martial artists to be positioned farthest from Lin Chen and others, to prevent a confrontation in the garden.

The Yan Kingdom Royal Family’s dignity was something all countries naturally had to respect, and generally wouldn’t cause a brawl here. However, if they were too close, and a heated argument ensued, then it would be uncertain.

The Yan Kingdom Royal Family provided each martial artist with a table, each filled with delicacies, and Lin Chen leisurely sampled the unique dishes of the Yan Kingdom.

As for the Han Kingdom martial artists, after they entered, Lin Chen couldn’t help but feel several gazes on him, but for those hostile stares, he didn’t even bother to lift his head.

”Does Senior Brother Lin like the food of the Yan Kingdom?”

Meng Xing, who was sitting next to Lin Chen, asked, a bit puzzled after seeing Lin Chen focusing on the food in front of him.

”It’s alright.”

The few dishes on the table had a sweet and mild flavor. As someone accustomed to the spicy and fishy taste of Jiangnan Dao, he could only treat it as a novel experience, but couldn’t say he liked it.

”The royal women of the Yan Kingdom will appear shortly. Does Senior Brother Lin have any thoughts?”

Meng Xing looked at Lin Chen. Everyone present understood the reason why the Yan Kingdom Royal Family arranged for them to be in this garden.

”What do you mean?” Lin Chen frowned.

”Doesn’t Senior Brother Lin know?”

Seeing Lin Chen frown, Meng Xing was a bit surprised: ”It’s the same as the flower appreciation gatherings in our Liang.”

”Flower appreciation gathering?”

Lin Chen was still puzzled. Meng Xing realized that given Senior Brother Lin’s family background, he might indeed not know what a flower appreciation gathering was.

Of course, after Senior Brother Lin became top at Martial Arts Mountain, he certainly has the qualifications to attend some flower appreciation gatherings, but since Senior Brother Lin is devoted to the Martial Path, he likely wouldn’t be interested in these, not knowing about the gatherings is quite normal.

”The flower appreciation gathering is an event organized by the ladies of some families under the guise of appreciating flowers. It provides an opportunity for the unmarried women of their families to interact with young martial artists...”

After hearing Meng Xing’s explanation, Lin Chen understood.

A blind date meeting.

Only under the guise of flower appreciation.

The atmosphere in Liang is relatively open, allowing both men and women to learn martial arts, but that doesn’t mean every opposite-sex peer has a chance to meet. The martial arts halls in each place are separate for men and women, just like in Poyang County, where women usually go to Jingshui Martial Arts Hall.

However, what he was currently attending was an upgraded version of a blind date meeting, elevated to the height of the Yan Kingdom Royal Family.

”I heard that this time, the princess of the Yan Kingdom will appear. There are currently two princesses in the Yan Kingdom who are unmarried. If one were to be chosen by a princess, he could become the Prince Consort of the Yan Kingdom.”

On the other side, Kong Qing from Qingyun Martial Arts Academy also leaned over, winking playfully.

Observing Kong Qing, exuding hormones, Lin Chen was a bit helpless. After all, they were young and vigorous, and when discussing such topics, there was no longer the aloofness of a genius.

In contrast, Meng Xing’s response was calm, reminding him of Junior Brother Fang’s description of the Meng Family.

Conservative, traditional...

Every move follows protocol.

The most conservative family in Liang, bar none.

”Senior Brother Kong, we are here to participate in the ranking competition.”

Indeed, there was a look of dissatisfaction in Meng Xing’s eyes. Kong Qing shrugged, ”We’re just here to observe, we can’t really participate. Besides, being chosen by the Yan Kingdom’s princess doesn’t interfere with our training.”

”Junior Brother Kong, with so many seniors ahead, forget about the princess of the Yan Kingdom, maybe try for the commandery princess. Why don’t you switch seats with the seniors in the front?”