[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback":3,"chapter-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising from Obscurity: My Martial Path Comeback",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},2265836,4424,"Chapter 1: Hard to Earn Money, Hard to Learn Martial Arts","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>Riverbank Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn, the sky just beginning to lighten, the Chen Fish Shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This knife fish is too small—two cash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aunt Qin, this knife fish is so small, how could I take your money? I’ll give it to you. Look at these blackfish—just caught, I saved them special for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re nice-sized. How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty cash each.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty cash? Isn’t that expensive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not cheap, but you don’t lack silver. These blackfish were meant for the county, but last week you said your daughter-in-law is pregnant, so I told the shopkeeper to set them aside for you. Blackfish are full of benefits—old saying goes, eat blackfish, bear a good grandson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, pack them up, and throw in these knife fish too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem, I’ll pack them right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin boy swiftly packed the blackfish into the woman’s basket, then added two lake mussels. The woman smiled even brighter at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Aunt Zhang, you’re here just in time—these two carp are fresh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Li, you’re buying fish yourself today? You really dote on Auntie—tell me what fish you want…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, same as always—I’ll scale them for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy gripped the fish in one hand, scissors in the other, scaling with swift precision, never even glancing at his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Chen, ever thought about finding a wife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too early? At your age, you should be thinking. When I was your age, Xiao Bao was already born.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, scaled. I put them in your basket.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All done? Xiao Chen, you’re fast, I’ll give you that.” The middle-aged man wanted to chat more, but seeing the boy already take the next customer’s order, he sighed and left with his basket, unsatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, the three baskets of fish before the boy were empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper came over, smoking a pipe: “Xiao Chen, ever think about working for me? I’ll talk to the proprietor—you’d get ten cash more a month than a new hire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Yang, I’m still training at the Martial Hall.” The boy politely declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Training is never easy. Without money, you’ll get nowhere. Work here now—I’ll recommend you to the proprietor. One day, you could become a shopkeeper yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your kindness. When I’m kicked out of the Martial Hall, I’ll come work for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy wiped the fish slime from his hands—his skin cracked from scaling—and took the fifteen cash the shopkeeper offered, still declining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got a head for business—why waste it on martial arts? That’s not for common folk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper sighed, watching the boy walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No money, no martial arts—otherwise, you end up with nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Yang, Lin Chen’s just being ungrateful. He only figured out how to scale fish, and you admire him so much—he still turned you down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop’s other boys resented Master Yang’s favoritism toward Lin Chen—they could scale fish too, and even faster than Lin Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know nothing!” Master Yang turned, glaring. “You think scaling fish is simple? Other fish shops copied him, yet still can’t outsell us—that’s his skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Yang understood: Lin Chen’s real talent was turning customers into regulars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing the boys were right about—he did admire Lin Chen and wanted him to join the shop. Yet despite Lin Chen’s polite refusal today, he had no intention of becoming a shop assistant. This side job couldn’t continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen cash isn’t much, but it’s extra expense. If I gave it to the regular boys, I wouldn’t have to pay it at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m just a shopkeeper—I have to answer to the proprietor. Besides, this is also protection for Lin Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the fish shop, Lin Chen sighed. He couldn’t keep doing this fish-scaling side job anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once is acceptable, twice is tolerable, three times is too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d refused Master Yang three times now—Master Yang wouldn’t let him keep doing the side work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, he sold more fish than the other boys, but Master Yang was just a manager—a high-level employee. The job could easily go to the regular staff; giving him extra ten cash each time would look bad to the proprietor over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s offer was his final chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Master Yang hadn’t asked today, Lin Chen would’ve quit after a few more visits anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other fish shop owners had been eyeing him with growing hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were a shop assistant, his skill would be fine—he’d be part of the trade, earning by ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a side worker, stealing their customers? He’d earn their hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen shook his head. Over the past few months, he’d taken many side jobs in town—each lasted only a month or two, for exactly this reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen returned to the town’s Martial Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the training yard, many boys practiced fist forms, their shouts echoing nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chenzi, you’re back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One boy nearby leaned over, whispering: “This is the last month—if your strength doesn’t hit two hundred jin, you’ll be kicked out. If you’re short on cash, I’ve got some—take it. Don’t waste time on side jobs anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen’s heart warmed: “Don’t worry—if I really need it, I won’t be shy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was from his village, they’d grown up together—best friends who’d shared everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your grandpa’s really unfair—your cousin gets money to train, but you don’t,” Gu Fei muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The family already spent a fortune on my cousin’s training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen felt helpless—he’d been reborn too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only crossed over half a year ago; his cousin had already trained for two years. The family’s savings were gone, and he’d only gotten into the Martial Hall by threatening to kill himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, there was no path of scholarly exams—this was a martial world, where martial artists ruled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All officials and nobles were martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other paths were lowly; only martial arts were noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But training was expensive—the Martial Hall tuition alone cost ten taels. Lin Chen’s village, Linhu, had won a ten-year free training privilege ten years ago, thanks to a remarkable Provincial Graduate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The free period was ending—this was the final year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen knew: if he missed this year, training would become impossible. Ten taels was no small sum, and the Martial Hall only accepted students under sixteen—he’d be too old next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After absorbing the original body’s memories, he understood the situation. He’d threatened suicide to force his grandfather into letting him train. His grandfather finally agreed to a deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lin Chen passed the six-month assessment, the family would support his training. If he failed, he’d quit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During these six months, his grandfather would give him no silver—only a few sacks of grain at the start, exchanged for meal tickets at the canteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen understood his grandfather’s plan: no meat meant no blood and qi boost, so he’d fail the assessment, get kicked out, and stop begging to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the deal was unfair—but he agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he refused, his grandfather would never let him enter the Martial Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His second uncle’s son, Lin Hui, had once begged to train—his grandfather had scolded him and refused to even enroll him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children of Linhu could enter the Martial Hall for free, but only with the family head’s approval. The Lin family hadn’t split yet—the head was his grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without his grandfather’s consent, he couldn’t enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the Martial Hall, Lin Chen realized training was harder than he imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without money, progress was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Hall taught the Warm Sun Fist—a form with no combat application, more like gymnastics, designed to improve blood and qi circulation and accelerate growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it required proper nutrition—not just enough to eat, but to eat well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beef at the canteen cost fifteen cash per jin; some students ate it every meal. He’d never bought any.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he still didn’t give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One reason: he’d lived two lives. He knew training was his only chance to rise in this world—he couldn’t abandon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another reason: the interface that appeared when he crossed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Name: Lin Chen】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Profession: Martial Artist】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Blood and Qi: 802\u002F3000】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Destiny: [Water Flows Naturally]: First Realm of Martial Path—perseverance, steady progress, unstoppable momentum, no stagnation.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having read countless webnovels in his past life, he recognized this as his cheat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This interface was his motivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he saw other students devouring meat while he ate plain vegetarian fare, he’d pull up the interface, watch the blood and qi numbers climb, and regain strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though my meals lack meat, I feast on hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and qi grow slowly—but they grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his destiny was [Water Flows Naturally]. From its description, he understood its power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In countless martial novels he’d read, how many geniuses were trapped by realm barriers? He had no such block—he could overtake them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The future was bright; the path was winding. If he walked through this winding road, a bright future awaited him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trainees in the training yard left in small groups; Lin Chen continued practicing Warm Sun Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei sat beside him, keeping company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after a quarter hour did Lin Chen finally stop his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without money to buy meat, one must train more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen was deeply grateful for his panel, which allowed him to clearly see the growth of his blood qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first entered the Martial Hall, his blood qi was 500 points; when well-fed, it increased by 1 point per day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew exactly what caused that 1-point increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his age, blood qi naturally increased as long as he ate enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several days testing Warm Sun Fist, Lin Chen deduced the pattern: according to the academy’s requirement of four hours daily, his blood qi increased by 5 points every three days; subtracting his natural 3-point gain, Warm Sun Fist contributed an additional 2 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he trained five hours daily, his blood qi increased by 2 points per day, totaling 6 points every three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That extra 1-point gain was negligible to students from wealthy families, but for him, each point meant progress, bringing him closer to the assessment goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Chen and Gu Fei arrived at the mess hall, some trainees were already leaving after finishing their meals; few remained at the serving windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trainees brought their own grain to the Martial Hall and exchanged it for a corresponding weight of rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vegetables were free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meat dishes cost money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, Lin Chen took his rice and vegetables, then walked to the barrel of beef broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mess hall’s beef broth was distinctive—the beef slices melted in the mouth—but since it was free, no trainee complained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the barrel nearly empty, Lin Chen ladled himself a bowl; he came late to the mess hall not only to train longer, but to claim this free beef broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beef broth was placed beside the meat serving window; though free, it was effectively an extra for those who bought meat, with the kitchen preparing the quantity based on the weight of beef used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If trainees rushed in at mealtime to steal a bowl of broth, those who came later to buy meat would find none left—and would surely cause a scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after most trainees had finished eating, when surplus broth remained, could one safely take a bowl without drawing complaints from the staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every day stealing free beef broth from the mess hall—what kind of martial arts student is this? To outsiders, it looks like he has nothing to eat at home and comes here just to scavenge meals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen returned to his table with his food; a trainee at the next table sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen ignored the taunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Tao, what are you saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen said nothing, but Gu Fei slammed his fist on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I say anything wrong? You can’t even afford beef—what business do you have learning martial arts?” The other man glared back without fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to argue with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen held back Gu Fei; the Martial Hall forbade students from fighting or assaulting each other—punishments were severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cold gaze swept over the man; if his divine ability were a genius buff, today he’d make Zhang Tao understand what it meant to have already courted death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, he wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many trainees in the mess hall heard the argument and turned to look; when they saw it was Lin Chen, several faces twisted with mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen was quite well-known in the Martial Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not for his performance—but for his stinginess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day stealing free beef broth and vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the words of the mess hall staff, over the years, Lin Chen was the only trainee who never made them money—and instead cost them dearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chenzi, I’m full. You can have the rest of this beef—it’d be a waste otherwise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei pushed half his plate of beef toward Lin Chen; Lin Chen knew Gu Fei had deliberately ordered extra to give him, but in the past he had always refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, then I won’t be polite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I really ate…” Gu Fei froze mid-sentence. In the past, whenever he pretended to offer half his beef to Lin Chen, Lin Chen always refused. He’d instinctively assumed Lin Chen would refuse again, and was about to press further—when suddenly, Lin Chen accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Zhang Tao’s taunt actually worked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2238,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z","Qwen3-Next 80B","6ef87c317602bcb94f35f30eae5918938b10167dad89b035db0412ec2aaaf858","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-2",null,591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]