Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

In the secluded courtyard.

Kong Qifeng and Lin Chen chatted for about half a two-hour period. Kong Qifeng didn’t ask much about Lin Chen’s martial arts cultivation, but instead told Lin Chen about some situations in Liang.

In the Northern Border of Liang, the moment they entered Liang’s territory from the Yan Kingdom, the Northern Garrison Marquis led an army of one hundred thousand from the Northern Border to launch a decisive battle against the Demon Race’s royal court in the Northern Border.

The thirty thousand troops stationed by the Han Kingdom at the border ultimately chose to stand by and do nothing.

”All reactionaries are paper tigers.”

Lin Chen whispered softly, inexplicably thinking of the words of a certain predecessor.

”Paper tiger? Why describe it this way? Don’t underestimate the Han Kingdom.”

”My lord, I am not underestimating the Han Kingdom. For a thousand years, the Han Kingdom has been the top among the Nine Kingdoms, its strength undeniable. But the reason the Han Kingdom has been able to maintain its position as number one is that since its rise, it has always taken the path of intrigue, inciting conflicts among other nations, taking advantage of the chaos to seize territory and resources.”

Lin Chen’s face carried a mocking expression; the methods of the Han Kingdom were remarkably similar to those of a certain country he was familiar with in his past life.

”The people of the Han Kingdom have become accustomed to this kind of scheming, orchestrating things from behind the scenes, controlling the other Eight Kingdoms. If any kingdom rises and poses a threat to them, they manipulate other countries to suppress it. But once they’re truly at war, the Han Kingdom becomes apprehensive.”

”They fear that a battle might also damage their own strength, giving other nations the opportunity to rise. There’s a saying in my hometown: ’Porcelain doesn’t clash with tiles,’ and the Han Kingdom is like that exquisite porcelain; in their eyes, we are like tiles, and they don’t have the resolve to shatter themselves.”

Upon hearing Lin Chen’s explanation, a sharp look appeared in Kong Qifeng’s aged eyes; for someone of Lin Chen’s background, to have such insight was quite rare.

In fact, Liang’s decision to launch a final strike on the Demon Race’s royal court was also based on analysis, concluding that the Han Kingdom wouldn’t be directly involved in a war with Liang in the short term.

There are several factions within the Han Kingdom. For these forces to compromise and make a decision to go to war, it would take at least several days to tens of days, and that’s the time advantage Liang seeks.

However, he didn’t plan to explain this in detail to Lin Chen. Lin Chen’s only task now was to cultivate; there was no need for him to be overly distracted by these matters.

He simply informed Lin Chen of Liang’s current situation, just so Lin Chen would be aware.

”Go and rest well today; I’ll take you to the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”

”Alright.”

Lin Chen bid farewell to Lord Kong and walked out of the secluded courtyard.

”Lin Chen, My lord has arranged accommodations for you. Tonight, I’ll take you to taste some delicacies of the Capital City.”

”Lord Chu...”

”No need to call me lord. I’m a bit older than you; you can call me big brother or Senior Brother like you do with Pei Qingming, or if you feel I’m not worthy to be compared to Pei Qingming, then call me lord.”

Isn’t this moral coercion?

Lin Chen twitched the corner of his mouth and said, ”Then, ’politeness demands reciprocation,’ I’ll call you Senior Brother Chu.”

”Fair enough.”

Although ”big brother” is more intimate than ”senior brother,” if it were another young man, even one of the genius disciples from those powerful families in the Capital City, they would probably immediately address him as ”big brother,” seeking to draw closer to him.

But Lin Chen had no need for such gestures. Lord Kong cared deeply for Lin Chen, and as for the Imperial Court, there were several lords who had tried several times to meet Lin Chen, even planning to visit Canglan Martial Arts Academy personally, but were stopped by Lord Kong.

”Senior Brother Chu, I plan to go to Qingyun Martial Arts Academy to find Junior Brother Kong Qing. On the way back, Junior Brother Kong Qing has mentioned several times he wants to show me the bustling Capital City.”

Hearing that Kong Qing wanted to show Lin Chen the prosperous Capital City, Chu Zining didn’t insist. After all, compared to Lin Chen, he was from an earlier generation. If he were Lin Chen, he too would prefer to hang out with peers for more freedom and ease.

”Alright, if you encounter any issues, come to the Military Affairs Department to find me.”

”Thank you, Senior Brother Chu, for looking out for me, but there’s no need to see me off.”

Refusing Chu Zining’s offer to see him off, Lin Chen left the Military Affairs Department alone. Several martial artists standing at the entrance of the department smiled as Lin Chen walked out, and Lin Chen slightly nodded to them in return.

”I didn’t expect Lin Chen, Liang’s top genius, to be so humble.”

”We’ve seen quite a few geniuses here; even if they hide it when they come to the Military Affairs Department, they can’t conceal that innate arrogance, but I don’t sense it at all in Lin Chen.”

As gatekeepers at the Military Affairs Department, the four of them weren’t even of the ’Entering the Grade’ level, just opening the acupoints martial artists. No one dared to cause trouble at the Military Affairs Department; their presence here primarily served to symbolize the department’s authority.

Precisely because the four weren’t even ’Entering the Grade,’ many geniuses wouldn’t give them a second glance when passing through. Yet just now, when Lin Chen was leaving, he nodded to them, displaying not an ounce of superiority despite their lower standing.

”Lin Chen comes from an ordinary family, unlike those geniuses from powerful families. I’ve heard young martial artists from Jiangnan Dao all hold Lin Chen in high regard. At first, I thought it might be exaggeration, but now it seems the rumors are true.”

”A super genius who doesn’t look down on others, anyone would respect that. Anyway, I wholeheartedly admire him.”

...

...

Already a good distance away, Lin Chen naturally didn’t know that his simple act of nodding would evoke such admiration from the martial artists at the gate. He wasn’t putting on a show; rather, the mindset from his past life prevented him from assuming a superior attitude.

On the way from the Military Affairs Department to Qingyun Martial Arts Academy, Lin Chen paused again in front of the Dai Family’s pharmacy. At this moment, the onlookers who had gathered earlier were gone, leaving the shop empty and quiet.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Chen stepped into the shop. As soon as he entered, two pairs of eyes fell on him. Lin Chen smiled and said, ”I’m here to buy medicine.”

”Buying medicine, are you from the Capital City or elsewhere?”

”Why, does buying medicine depend on where you’re from?”

Confused, Lin Chen wondered aloud as Dai Yuze was about to continue speaking when a voice came from behind him, ”Little brother, don’t talk nonsense.”

Dai Yuxi emerged, parting the curtain behind, while Dai Yuze mumbled, ”Sister, I’m not talking nonsense. What if he’s another troublemaker?”

”Alright, go rest in the back first.”

Dai Yuxi patted her brother’s shoulder, but Dai Yuze remained unmoved. With a hint of helplessness, Dai Yuxi ignored her brother and turned to face Lin Chen, ”What kind of medicine does the customer want to buy?”

”I want to know, what does it mean when he mentioned being from the Capital City or elsewhere?”

Although he had somewhat guessed the young Dai’s implication, his entry was to understand the situation, so naturally, he pretended not to understand.

”There are some martial artists from elsewhere who come to buy medicine and then falsely accuse us of selling substandard goods, saying we only dare to sell poor quality to outsiders without connections, while not daring to do so to the Capital City locals.”

Dai Yuze couldn’t help but divulge the situation. After previous incidents, he suspected everyone who entered of being sent by some backstage orchestrator to buy medicine and then slander their family business.

”Is that so?”

Surprised, Lin Chen asked, ”If your pharmacy’s pills have no issue, why not report it to the authorities?”

”What’s the point? The Government Office might take the troublemakers away and warn them not to return, but outsiders will see it as our Dai Family using connections within the Capital City to bully outside martial artists.”

With a hint of exasperation, Lin Chen contemplated; if what this descendant of the Dai Family said were true, it would indeed be difficult to clear their name.

The officials would definitely require evidence from the complainants, and without it, they would be reprimanded. Yet the damage to the pharmacy’s reputation would persist, as the Dai Family had no evidence proving that any issues weren’t due to their pills.

Given the young Dai’s words, this situation likely wasn’t isolated. Frequent occurrences could even lead the Government Office to suspect the Dai Pharmacy of genuinely selling inferior pills.

This leaves two possibilities: either the Dai Pharmacy does sell inferior pills—good ones to locals and bad ones to outsiders—or they’ve offended someone and are being targeted.

”So that’s how it is. By the way, from your accent, is your family originally from Jiangnan Dao?”

”Are you buying or not? Why all the questions?”

Dai Yuze’s impatience was apparent, and Dai Yuxi immediately rebuked, ”Little brother, go to the backyard.”

”Sister, I...”

”Go in.”

Faced with his sister’s stern face, Dai Yuze didn’t dare to persist and turned to leave for the backyard.

”Our family is indeed originally from Jiangnan Dao. Sir, you must not be here merely to buy pills, correct?”

Dai Yuxi’s eyes fixated on Lin Chen, filled with scrutiny.