Chapter 637: Let Ma Jian become a cultivator!

The Su family's courtyard was as quiet as ever.

Linghu Xue was sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, flipping through a yellowed ancient book, when the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Jiang Feng walked in front, his pace neither fast nor slow, like a stroll.

Ma Jian followed behind, striding out with vigorous energy, showing no trace of the near-death state he had been in on the sickbed a few days earlier.

Linghu Xue heard the movement and lifted her head; her gaze first fell on Jiang Feng, then shifted to behind him.

The next second, the ancient book in her hand snapped onto the stone table.

"Ma... Ma Jian?"

Ma Jian grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"Miss Linghu, I'm back."

Linghu Xue's mouth opened, but no words came out.

She rose from the stone bench, took a few unsteady steps forward, and looked Ma Jian up and down.

The person before her had a ruddy complexion, bright eyes, stood ramrod straight, and exuded vigor from head to toe—utterly unlike the wretched, tormented figure he had been before.

"You... you're better?"

Linghu Xue's voice trembled slightly.

"Really better?"

Ma Jian extended a hand, clenched his fist, then bounced on the spot twice.

"All better! Look at my arms and legs—they're even more nimble than before I got sick!"

Linghu Xue turned her head to look at Jiang Feng.

That young man had already walked to the large locust tree in the courtyard, leaning against the trunk with his hands in his pockets, an air of unconcerned leisure.

Linghu Xue drew a deep breath and exhaled.

She knew that besides Jiang Feng, no one else could accomplish this.

"Mr. Jiang..."

Jiang Feng waved his hand, too lazy to respond.

Linghu Xue didn't say anything more, turning instead to Ma Jian with a curious question.

"How did you recover?"

Hearing this, Ma Jian immediately puffed out his chest.

"It's all thanks to my Jiang Ge!"

He turned his head to look at Jiang Feng, his face full of unreserved pride.

"When my Jiang Ge makes a move, it's nothing like anyone else's—just a lift and a drop, and I was hauled back from the Gate of Ghosts..."

"Enough, enough."

Jiang Feng finally spoke, his voice light.

"Stop bragging."

Ma Jian gave a sheepish grin, closed his mouth, but the smugness on his face couldn't be hidden.

At this moment, Linghu Xue's gaze finally fell on Lin Yanqian, who had been bringing up the rear.

She blinked, blinked again, making sure she wasn't mistaken.

"Xiao Qian?"

Hearing this greeting, Lin Yanqian's body tensed slightly.

She half-turned from Ma Jian's side, offering Linghu Xue an awkward smile.

"Sister Xue."

Linghu Xue quickly stepped forward, sizing up Lin Yanqian.

"How did you end up here? How did you come back with Mr. Jiang and them?"

Lin Yanqian opened her mouth, then swallowed the words back.

Although the Tianzhou Lin Family isn't as illustrious as the Four Great Families of the Capital, it is still a powerful clan in the northern reaches of the empire.

And as a major northern clan, the Linghu Family has always had some dealings with them.

More importantly, Lin Yanqian's mother comes from the Linghu Family—though a branch line, they still keep in touch during festivals.

Thus Lin Yanqian and Linghu Xue have known each other since childhood; they aren't especially close, but they always address each other as elder sister when they meet.

Lin Yanqian bit her lip, deciding to tell the truth.

"I... I saw Mr. Jiang heal Ma Jian."

She lowered her voice, speaking softly.

"I watched him bring a dying person back to life with methods I've never even heard of, so I... I asked Mr. Jiang to be my teacher."

"Be your teacher?"

Linghu Xue's eyes widened.

"Yes."

Lin Yanqian lifted her face, a hint of determination in her eyes.

"Registered disciple."

Registered disciple.

These four words landed in the courtyard, and the air fell silent for two seconds.

Linghu Xue's head buzzed.

She turned her head to look at Jiang Feng, then Linghu Xue turned her head to look at her own Linghu Dongyuan.

Linghu Dongyuan didn't know when he had come out of the house, standing under the eaves.

Both of them understood the meaning in each other's eyes.

Lin Yanqian is not a cultivator.

She had no idea what the two words "Martial Ancestor" meant.

Throughout the empire, those with Martial Ancestor-level strength can be counted on one's fingers.

Any family or faction with a Martial Ancestor in charge will instantly see its status rise countless levels.

And someone like Jiang Feng is even more special than an ordinary Martial Ancestor.

He is too young.

What does a young Martial Ancestor mean?

It means his future holds infinite possibilities.

It means that, if he wishes, in a little over ten years he can become the founder and patriarch of a top-tier power, becoming someone even the four great clans would have to bow to.

Someone like that, even Linghu Xue herself had entertained the thought of taking him as a master.

She had calculated more than once in her heart how to get Jiang Feng to glance at her more often and give her a few more pointers.

She had even thought that, if Jiang Feng were willing to take her as a disciple, she could set aside all the airs of the Linghu family's young lady and start from the most basic chores……

So what happened?

As a result, this girl who popped out of nowhere from the medical world, just followed Jiang Feng and watched him treat a patient, and easily obtained the status of a nominal disciple?

Linghu Xue's mouth corner twitched.

Lin Yanqian, seeing Linghu Xue's expression, spoke somewhat nervously.

"Sister Xue... what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

Linghu Xue came to her senses, shook her head, and forced a smile onto her face.

"No. You didn't do anything wrong."

She turned her head and glanced at Linghu Dongyuan once more.

Linghu Dongyuan gave a slight nod.

The Lin family might, because of this girl, completely turn things around.

In the imperial system, whether a faction has a Martial Ancestor in charge makes all the difference—two entirely different worlds.

Families with a Martial Ancestor can enter the true core of power, participate in the high-level meetings that decide the nation's direction, and obtain resources and opportunities that ordinary people have never even heard of.

Meanwhile, families without a Martial Ancestor, no matter how wealthy or well-connected, are ultimately just pieces on the board.

The Lin family originally belonged to the latter.

But from today onward, everything will be different.

As long as Lin Yanqian can steady her footing under Jiang Feng's tutelage, as long as she can learn even a little bit of his skill, the Lin family's path for the next few decades will become much smoother.

Linghu Xue let out a sigh in her heart.

Saying she isn't envious would be a lie.

But she didn't show it on her face.

"Xiao Qian, this is a good thing."

She walked over and patted Lin Yanqian's shoulder, her tone sincere.

"Mr. Jiang's willingness to take you on is your good fortune."

Jiang Feng slowly turned his head.

His gaze fell on Lin Yanqian, scanning her up and down, then he spoke.

"Since you've taken me as your teacher, you still need to let your parents know."

Lin Yanqian froze for a moment.

"Ah?"

"How about this."

Jiang Feng's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"We'll set out today for a trip to Tianzhou."

Lin Yanqian's eyes widened instantly.

"Go... go to Tianzhou?"

"Mm."

Jiang Feng nodded.

"Meet your parents and make things clear."

Lin Yanqian's lips twitched.

"No... can't we not go?"

She knew all too well what her parents were like.

Her father, Lin Zhenshan, is the chairman of the Tianzhou Chamber of Commerce, and he does things by the book, extremely strict.

Her mother, Linghu Wan, is gentle, but on important matters she always sides with her father.

If they found out that she had casually taken a stranger as her teacher on the street, without even knowing where that person came from……

Just imagining that scene made Lin Yanqian's scalp go numb.

"Jiang... Master"

She took two steps forward, her voice tinged with a hint of pleading.

"Could we delay it a bit? I... I haven't figured out how to tell them yet."

Jiang Feng glanced at her and said nothing.

Just then, Linghu Xue suddenly spoke.

"Mr. Jiang, shall I accompany you all and go together?"

She wore an eager smile on her face and stepped forward.

The Tianzhou Lin Family and our Linghu Family are also relatives; I will step in to speak for Yan Qian, and her parents should be more receptive. I promise to clarify your identity to the Lin Family…

Jiang Feng's gaze lightly swept over.

Just that glance.

Linghu Xue's words got stuck halfway in her throat.

It was a very ordinary glance.

In that instant, Linghu Xue felt as if a bucket of ice water was poured over her from head to foot.

Her hair stood on end, and a reverence that seeped from her bones made her swallow the rest of her words.

This matter…

Jiang Feng withdrew his gaze, his voice flat.

It is a matter between me and Lin Yanqian. No need for the Linghu Family to step in.

Linghu Xue also lowered her head.

Sorry, Mr. Jiang, I spoke out of turn.

Her voice was a bit tense.

Jiang Feng said nothing more, and redirected his gaze toward the distant horizon.

The courtyard fell silent for a few breaths again.

Then Jiang Feng suddenly spoke.

By the way, there is another matter I need to trouble you with.

Linghu Dongyuan immediately lifted his head, and his whole demeanor brightened a few points.

"Mr. Jiang, feel free to command." He took two steps forward, his tone exceedingly respectful.

"Anything my Linghu Family can do, we will exert our utmost effort."

Jiang Feng nodded, his tone still flat.

"I need a Supreme Golden Pill of Wood attribute."

Linghu Dongyuan's eyes widened slightly.

Supreme Golden Pill.

These four characters, no matter which family they appear in, are enough to make hearts race.

One such item is enough to transform an ordinary cultivator, and if used to nurture a Core Disciple, it could even create a future powerhouse.

In the Linghu Family's storeroom, there happens to be one.

Linghu Dongyuan's Adam's apple moved.

He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking.

"May I ask, Mr. Jiang… what will this Golden Pill be used for?"

Jiang Feng turned his head and glanced at Ma Jian.

"I want to make Ma Jian a cultivator!"