Chapter 127: Jiang family past, County Magistrate bestows words (Please subscribe)

Two days later!

The county competition of ten counties ended.

This grand event for the new batch of martial hall students in Raozhou Prefecture came to an end.

Many names would start to spread in the martial halls of various counties from this duel.

Shen Ge of Yanshan County, Wang Hu of Wannan County... and the most talked-about Lin Chen of Poyang County.

A duel of Open-Acupuncture stage martial artists wouldn't cause a shock to the martial artists of the entire Raozhou Prefecture, but those who cared still remembered these names.

Jiang Mansion!

The black-bottomed, gold-lettered plaque was inscribed with the two characters "Jiang Mansion", the brushwork was vigorous and powerful, shining brightly under the sunlight.

The mansion was magnificent, and the stone lions on both sides of the gate were as tall as a person.

On the quiet street, there was suddenly the sound of horse hooves, finally stopping in front of the Jiang Mansion gate.

"Kong Guanzhu is back!"

The gatekeeper who came out to watch heard the sound of horse hooves, looked at the middle-aged man who got off the horse, and was excited. He turned back and shouted into the gate, while quickly stepping forward to take the reins from the middle-aged man.

The man's posture was as straight as a pine, his face contours were distinct, his eyes were deep and spirited, and he dismounted and stepped into the mansion.

In the backyard of the mansion.

Jiang Duanchao stepped into the gate and didn't go to the main hall, but went directly to the backyard of the mansion.

In the backyard, rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and towers were arranged in an orderly manner. At this moment, by the pond, a graceful and luxurious woman was feeding the koi in the pond.

"Husband is back?"

"Madam, where is Qing'er? Didn't you say Qing'er came back from the Wu Yuan?"

Jiang Duanchao didn't see his precious daughter and had a puzzled look on his face.

"Qing'er went to the Wu Yuan early this morning. You came back one step late."

Seeing the regret on her husband's face, Zhuang Min teased: "It seems that in my husband's eyes, there is only Qing'er. If it weren't for Qing'er coming back, my husband wouldn't be willing to return to this home."

"Madam, I don't mean that."

Listening to his wife's words, Jiang Duanchao immediately explained: "It is precisely because I miss Madam that I rushed back immediately after completing the military affairs."

"Is that so?"

"How could that be fake." Jiang Duanchao laughed.

"Since that's the case, then I forgive my husband. I will order the kitchen to boil a bowl of Cistanche Tiger Soup for my husband to relieve the fatigue of the journey."

Jiang Duanchao's body paused. Facing his wife's teasing eyes, he had to bite the bullet and agree.

"What is this?"

Jiang Duanchao looked at the rice paper on the table and changed the subject.

"This was issued by the Martial Way Office. Qing'er brought it back. This time the Raozhou Martial Way Office held a county competition, and it records the rankings of the students in this batch of county competitions."

"Is that so? Let me see."

Picking up the paper on the table, Jiang Duanchao scanned it. His expression didn't change. The duel of Open-Acupuncture stage martial artists could only be considered a child's play for him.

However, when he saw one of the names, his pupils contracted.

This announcement document issued by the Martial Way Office not only had the rankings of each county in this county competition but also the names of some students, and behind each student, it recorded the martial hall and hometown of the other party.

Jiang Duanchao's gaze fell on a youth named "Lin Chen".

Lin Chen: Student of Jing Shui Martial Hall and Zhen Yue Martial Hall in Poyang County, from Linhu Village.

The three words "Linhu Village" caught his attention.

Even without the three words "Linhu Village", it would be difficult for Jiang Duanchao not to notice the name Lin Chen. On this document, the information about Lin Chen was circled with cinnabar ink.

"This was circled by Qing'er, saying that this Lin Chen came from the same place as you, husband. Qing'er stayed in Jing Shui Martial Hall for three months, and because of Lin Chen's background, she paid special attention to it. I heard Qing'er's tone, and she evaluated this Lin Chen very highly."

"Coming from Linhu Village, what good things can there be."

Jiang Duanchao snorted disdainfully. Zhuang Min covered her mouth and smiled: "So many years have passed, and you still can't let go of such a small matter. Qing'er asked me around why we never return to Linhu Village. I was too embarrassed to tell Qing'er that it was because your father was bullied by his peers in the village when he was a child, and he was afraid of returning and recalling these shameful things."

Mentioning Linhu Village, Jiang Duanchao's memories were indeed not very good.

His Jiang family ancestors went to Linhu Village to avoid natural disasters. By his generation, it was only the third generation. The Jiang family originally had few people, and he didn't have any siblings, so he was bullied by his peers in the village.

The reason Jiang Duanchao didn't want to return to Linhu Village was that he didn't want to see those guys. Although if he went back now, those peers who bullied him would probably be respectful to him, he still felt awkward.

"I'm not afraid of shame, I'm just cheated by that old guy Zhao Canghu, and I'm unhappy in my heart. Anyway, giving Linhu Village ten years of free entry to the school is considered repaying this hometown affection."

That old guy Zhao Canghu is truly shrewd. On the day of his county examination, he brought dozens of villagers from Linhu Village into the city to cheer for him, left and right saying the hope of the whole village, the pride of Linhu Village.

Outsiders who didn't know the truth would think that he and the villagers of Linhu Village had a deep relationship, and that their Jiang family was very popular in Linhu Village.

Unfortunately, to maintain his reputation, he couldn't stand up and deny it.

The Martial Way Office, besides the requirements for Martial Way talent and strength, also has considerations for the morality of students.

Finally, he had to pretend to be extremely close to Linhu Village. Who knew that this old thing Zhao Canghu would take advantage of the situation and let the villagers of Linhu Village wantonly publicize his talent and achievements in the Martial Way.

A look of pride!

And after he passed the examination, Zhao Canghu brought villagers with gongs and drums, from the county city to the town and then to the village, and even put his Jiang family ancestors' memorial tablets into the ancestral hall.

If the ancestors' memorial tablets were in the Linhu Village ancestral hall, he as a descendant would naturally have to return to worship them often. In order not to have more dealings with Linhu Village, he and that old guy Zhao Canghu had a tacit understanding. He obtained the welfare of ten years of free entry to the Martial Hall for Linhu Village, and Zhao Canghu let him take the ancestors' memorial tablets away from the ancestral hall.

Externally, the two staged a touching story of a youth passing the examination and giving back to his hometown. This kind of story is exactly what the people love to see, and it is also what the Martial Way Office is willing to see, which has a positive effect on the people sending their children to learn martial arts.

"Husband, actually I think you don't really hate that Village Chief Zhao. At least the people of Linhu Village are truly grateful to you, and Village Chief Zhao also gave you a loyal and righteous image."

Zhuang Min understands her husband. To say he really hates that Village Chief Zhao is not true, he just feels unhappy about being calculated.

If he really hated Village Chief Zhao, with her husband's means and ability, how could a small village chief bear it?

Jiang Duanchao was silent and didn't continue this topic, but he also remembered the name "Lin Chen" in his heart.

Poyang County.

Su Lingchuan led the martial hall crowd back to Poyang County. As soon as the group arrived at the Martial Way Office, He Ruyun appeared.

Poyang County took first place in the county competition, so He Ruyun, as the County Magistrate, naturally wanted to come and congratulate.

Although this county competition cannot compare to the prefecture examination, it is not much different from the annual county examination.

Poyang County holds a county examination every two years, and all students of major martial halls can participate. This is the top duel among martial hall students.

First place in the county examination basically represents the first place of the current batch of martial halls in the whole county.

Compared to the county examination, although the students' strength in this county competition will be worse, the top ten in each county examination have the strength close to the Organ Cultivation stage.

But there is a saying, internal fighting is never as meaningful as external fighting.

The victory of the county competition is to win glory for Poyang County. From this point, the significance is not below the county examination.

"Lin Chen, I have learned about the process of this county competition. You turned the tide and saved my Poyang County from humiliation. Lord Su will give you a reward. I don't participate in Martial Way education, so I can't give you rewards in Martial Way cultivation, so I will give you some empty names."

He Ruyun looked at Lin Chen and smiled: "I personally wrote a piece of calligraphy, which will be sent to Linhu Village tomorrow."

County Magistrate bestows words.

Fu Ang and others on the side showed envy. County Magistrate bestows words is a great honor.

If it were just a private bestowal of words, it would be fine, just expressing appreciation for a junior as a Ninth-Rank expert.

But since the County Magistrate said this in front of everyone and also wanted to send it to Linhu Village, it must be through the government office.

Catchers beat gongs, walk through the four main streets, then to the town, then circle the town, and then go to the village accompanied by the town mayor and many local gentry.

In the past, only the first place in the annual county examination had this honor.

No, in the past, the first place in the county examination was at most ordered by the County Magistrate to beat gongs and drums like this and send good news, but this time it was bestowing words, which was more grand.

Su Lingchuan looked at He Ruyun with a smile. Lin Lin Shixiong He is also a shrewd person.

Lin Chen took first place in the county competition and satisfied the genius system, already having the

Once He Ruyun said this, Fei Hong and the others all felt a bit embarrassed; young people are thin-skinned after all. They hadn't contributed much this time, and if it weren't for Lin Lin Shixiong, Poyang County would likely have been mocked by others.

However, the banquet still had to be attended.

The blood deer at the Deer Pavilion was precious game meat, a great supplement for Qi and blood.

For students with family backgrounds like Fei Hong and Song Yu, they could only afford to go a few times a month; they couldn't afford to eat there any more often.

With the County Magistrate hosting, it would certainly be an all-you-can-eat affair.

……

……

Deer Pavilion.

The entire second floor was not receiving outside guests today.

Lin Chen and the other nineteen students, along with eight Martial Hall Masters, plus the martial artists from the Wuzheng Office and the government office, made a total of six tables.

Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun sat at the main table, joined by the Deputy Director and the government clerk, as well as Ceng Qingyao and Tai Rubai, plus two elderly men.

Ceng Qingyao and Tai Rubai were able to sit at this table naturally because they were basking in Lin Chen's glory; the other six Martial Hall Masters were seated at a different table.

Because the two officials and their respective Hall Masters were present, the students at the scene just ate in silence, with very little conversation.

Lin Chen was staring at the gilded copper pot in front of him, the crimson charcoal fire licking the bottom of the pot, with thumb-sized blood deer meatballs churning in the amber broth.

Charcoal hot pot.

Lin Chen hadn't expected that Poyang County would actually have hot pot. It truly lived up to the saying that delicious food exists in every era; it just depends on whether you can get access to it.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, I toast you. If it weren't for Lin Lin Shixiong this time..."

Zhao Kang of the Mantis Martial Hall, sitting at the same table, stood up and raised his wine cup, but stopped halfway through his sentence.

Speaking the truth at this moment would be too damaging to everyone's dignity.

"Zhao Lin Shidi, you speak too heavily. I am also a student of a Poyang County Martial Hall; defending the martial dignity of Poyang County is my duty."

Lin Chen stood up and drank a cup with Zhao Kang.

With Zhao Kang taking the lead, Fei Hong and the others present all toasted Lin Chen as well. It wasn't that they didn't know etiquette or didn't toast the two officials first, but they knew clearly that they didn't yet have the qualifications to toast the two officials.

In the entire room, only Lin Lin Shixiong had that qualification.

After Fei Hong and the others finished toasting, Fu Ang and the others from the other two tables also ran over to join in.

Lin Chen looked at the many Junior Brothers eager to move and felt a bit numb; if he had to drink a cup with each of them, even with his good tolerance, he would end up tipsy.

Martial artists have vigorous Qi and blood, so their alcohol tolerance is indeed far superior to ordinary people.

But precisely because of this, the wine ordinary people drink tastes as bland as water to martial artists, which is why merchants brew strong spirits specifically for martial artists to drink.

The Deer Pavilion provided exactly this kind of strong spirit.

"I have felt the sincerity of all you Junior Brothers, so there is no need to toast me one by one. On the first day I stepped into the Martial Hall, I set a goal for myself: before entering the Ranked Tier, I must persist in training every day. I didn't train during the day today, and only the evening time remains; if I keep drinking, I'm afraid I won't be able to train."

"I have persisted for half a year, and I'm sure you Junior Brothers wouldn't want my persistence to come to an abrupt end here."

Hearing this from Lin Chen, the other students at the scene didn't come up to toast him one by one, but their admiration for Lin Lin Shixiong in their hearts grew even deeper.

For half a year, Lin Lin Shixiong hadn't missed a single day of training. Thinking of themselves, after breaking through a few acupoints, they would invite three or five fellow students to get dead drunk in the name of celebration.

Compared to Lin Lin Shixiong, they were truly ashamed.

"Not bad. Our Poyang County has not only produced a genius but also a role model. Lin Chen is very good."

At the main table, one of the elderly men listening to Lin Chen's words looked satisfied. The old man was an Eighth-Rank martial artist who had once served as the County Magistrate of a large outer prefecture, but after his Qi and blood declined, he retired to his hometown in Poyang County to enjoy his twilight years.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Xu is right. The appearance of a genius can inspire a group of youths, but it can also discourage a group. However, a genius like Lin Chen is a blessing for the martial arts of our Poyang County."

The other elderly man also spoke up: "Although I am advanced in age, I have had several disciples in the past who now serve in the Jiangnan Dao Wuzheng Office. Since Lord Su has established Lin Chen as a role model for our Poyang County martial artists, this matter should also be reported to the Wuzheng Office."

Su Lingchuan felt a surge of joy upon hearing this. This Lord Zhang himself was not of a high stage, but during his tenure as the head of the Wuzheng Office, several genius youths had emerged under his governance, one of whom held an important position in the Wuzheng Office.

Everyone helps carry the sedan chair.

Regardless of whether that person acknowledges the favor of Lord Xu serving as the head of the Wuzheng Office back then, if a teacher reports to the Wuzheng Office, and if the Wuzheng Office needs to discuss it, having Lord Xu write a letter would surely help put in a good word.

Being a role model for students in Jiangnan Dao is not just a simple matter of a public announcement; it involves the weighting of training resources from the Wuzheng Office, and other prefectures would inevitably have people who object.

"Lin Chen!"

He Ruyun beckoned to Lin Chen, and Lin Chen stood up, left his seat, and walked over.

"Let me introduce you. This is Lord Xu, and this is Lord Zhang. Both officials are extremely concerned about the martial arts of our Poyang County and hold you in high regard."

"This junior thanks both lords for their kindness."

Lin Chen did not act humble at this moment by saying he was unworthy of this regard, as that would have seemed too hypocritical.

"A young talent, are you betrothed?" Lord Xu looked at Lin Chen and asked with a smile.

"This junior is focused on martial arts; before entering the Ranked Tier, I dare not consider the matter of marriage."

Lord Zhang listened to Lin Chen's answer and did not continue the topic. After that, he encouraged Lin Chen a few more times and then said no more.

The banquet ended, and the sky had already turned dark.

That night, Lin Chen thought about it and decided to go directly to the Wu Yuan.

The dormitory courtyards of the Jing Shui Martial Hall and the Zhen Yue Martial Hall were too small and not very suitable for his martial arts training, especially since he had just obtained the Snake Shadow Bow and wanted to test its power; the Wu Yuan's courtyard was more suitable.

To Lin Chen's surprise, just as he had explained his destination to Kong Kong Guanzhu Ceng and Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai, before he had walked a few steps, a figure was already walking toward him.

"Kong Kong Guanzhu... Hall Zhao Kong Guanzhu."

Looking at Hall Zhao Kong Guanzhu of the Gale Martial Hall emerging from the corner, Lin Chen was a bit puzzled. Judging by Hall Zhao Kong Guanzhu's expression, he seemed to be waiting specifically for him.

"Lin Chen, this Kong Kong Guanzhu has been waiting here specifically for you."

Zhao Qifeng looked at Lin Chen with a smile. From the day of the County Tournament, the moment Lin Chen revealed that his Iron Bone Art was perfected, he had felt incomparably annoyed in his heart, and he instantly understood that Tai Rubai had dug a pit for him.

If he hadn't sworn in front of Tai Rubai that even if Lin Chen practiced the Gale Leg, he wouldn't enroll Lin Chen in the Gale Martial Hall, he could have completely taken his time and just waited for Lin Chen to come to the Gale Martial Hall.

But being cornered by Tai Rubai like this, he could imagine that Tai Rubai would inevitably tell Lord Su about his words.

By then, the Gale Martial Hall would still have to teach the Gale Leg to Lin Chen.

As a disciple of the Jing Shui Martial Hall, it was normal for Lin Chen's Water Cloud Palm to be perfected; as a disciple of the Zhen Yue Martial Hall, it was also acceptable for his Iron Bone Art to be perfected. But if his Gale Leg were perfected without him being a disciple of the Gale Martial Hall, he would be scolded to death by the old Hall Masters.

As for the Clear Wind Palm being perfected without him being a disciple of the Clear Qing Qing Feng Wuguan, that was the Clear Qing Qing Feng Wuguan's own fault.

The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. He could only settle this privately with Lin Chen before Tai Rubai approached Lord Su; only then would there be a turning point.

As long as Lin Chen agreed to join the Gale Martial Hall, Lord Su would certainly not say anything. As for Tai Rubai, let him bark like a dog.

"Hall Zhao Kong Guanzhu was waiting specifically for this junior?"

Lin Chen was a bit surprised. His next step was indeed to prepare to learn the Gale Leg, but logically speaking, he should have been the one to go to the Gale Martial Hall. Why was this Hall Zhao Kong Guanzhu more anxious than he was?

"Lin Chen, I..."

"Ahem, I was wondering where Zhao Lin Shidi went. So he's here. Zhao Lin Shidi left the table just now saying he was going to relieve himself and would return to continue drinking. Why did he relieve himself all the way here?"

Under the night sky, Tai Rubai's figure walked over from not far away, and Zhao Qifeng's face turned black instantly.

"It's getting late, Lin Chen, you should go back early."

Lin Chen saw the black-faced Hall Zhao Kong Guanzhu and then saw the playful look in Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai's eyes, guessing in his heart that there must be something going on between the two Hall Masters.

However, Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai had already taken him to see Lord Li, so he would definitely not have any malice toward him. Letting him leave now was likely more beneficial to him.

"This disciple takes his leave."

Zhao Qifeng watched Lin Chen leave and opened his mouth several times, but was interrupted by Tai Rubai's coughing.

He also understood that if he wanted Lin Chen to become a disciple of the Gale Martial Hall, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to get away without a heavy price this time.

Damn Tai Rubai.

Then let's drink!

This time he would let Tai Rubai know who the true number one drinker among the eight great Martial Halls of Poyang County was.

(End of chapter)