Chapter 177: 《A Word to the Junior Brothers of Jiangnan Circuit, by Lin Chen》

Inside the main hall of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo.

Everyone looked toward Shao Jingshan with expressions of confusion.

Logically speaking, Lin Chen winning the title of Model Student was a matter of course. This time, Magistrate Shao had summoned them for this very reason; why would he raise new demands at this final step?

Shao Jingshan looked toward Qiu Rufeng at the side: "I heard from Magistrate Qiu that you once wrote an article, but it seems it was never finished. I would like you to complete it, and have it published throughout the entire Jiangnan Circuit along with this announcement."

Qiu Rufeng, sitting at the end of the right-hand row, understood Magistrate Shao's intent the moment he heard this.

Lin Chen's deeds served as an inspiration to the martial arts students of Jiangnan Circuit, but that article would do the same.

Back then, he had wanted Lin Chen to finish that piece, but complications arose; he was transferred away from the Raozhou Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, and Lin Chen headed to the special training grounds, so the matter was dropped.

"Lin Chen, Magistrate Shao's meaning is for you to complete the article you thought of when you passed the Wu Tang assessment, so that the martial arts students of our Jiangnan Circuit may recite it to inspire themselves. A martial arts model... is not just an honor, but a responsibility."

"This disciple understands."

Hearing Magistrate Qiu's words, Lin Chen understood what this Magistrate Shao meant.

The Great Liang valued the Martial Way, but that did not mean they were indifferent to literature.

The power of words, at times, is also extremely potent and full of infectious influence.

"Do you need time to prepare?"

"No need."

"Good!"

Shao Jingshan nodded in satisfaction and ordered: "Bring brush and ink!"

Soon, someone carried a desk into the hall, already set with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"This disciple will overstep."

Lin Chen bowed, walked to the desk, picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote without hesitation.

【In my youth, my family was poor. Three generations lived on five mu of thin fields and one fishing boat. Among four cousins, I was the youngest.】

【By the age of binding my hair to study martial arts, my eldest cousin had already been training at the Wu Tang for years, and the family's silver was already stretched thin.】

【Fortunately, thanks to a Jiang-surnamed scholar in the village who secured a tuition waiver for the village, I was able to enter the Wu Tang to train.】

【The senior brothers in the hall all wore brocade tunics, while I alone wore hemp clothes and straw sandals, carrying firewood to train under the moonlight.】

【Every mealtime, the students feasted on roasted beef, the fragrance filling the halls, while I ate only salted vegetables and white rice, with the leftover meat broth from the dining hall.】

【The meat in the broth was thin, melting in the mouth; to me, it was nothing short of a worldly delicacy.】

【Senior brother Zhang Tao of the same hall patted his belly and laughed: "A lowly weed from a humble family, how dare you peer into the gates of the Martial Way?"】

【I smiled and let it pass.】

【For five months, fearing my strength was insufficient to pass the Wu Tang's six-month assessment, I gritted my teeth and bought meat. The freshness of its taste and the bitterness in my heart were beyond words for outsiders.】

【By heaven's grace, I passed the Wu Tang assessment and met a kind teacher, Yu Yu Jiaoxi Yongnian, who pitied my poverty and allowed me to work-study at the Wu Tang.】

【...】

【Dignity in front of others is incredibly fragile. If not for the nights when I lifted stone weights to improve, finding a sliver of solace, I could never have persisted.】

【...】

【Later, I was admitted to the Wu Tang. Yu Yu Jiaoxi Yongnian gifted me silver and words: "A martial artist's muscles and bones can be forged, but the heart and will must not be broken..."】

【In the county Wu Tang, the senior brothers and sisters all came from wealth; I could not compare.】

【Family background and talent are not things I can choose; they are fate.】

【Only diligence is something I can master myself.】

【I know well that my talent is poor, so I must compensate with diligence; I also know I lack silver, so I must compensate with diligence.】

【Only by working many times harder than the senior brothers and sisters can I catch up to them on the Martial Way.】

【Fortunately, heaven has mercy; heaven rewards diligence...】

【...】

【Today, receiving the title of Jiangnan Circuit Model Student, I am filled with trepidation and unease. By what virtue or ability do I deserve this title...】

【At Magistrate Shao's request, I write this to encourage my junior brothers. All of you must remember:】

【Where the moonlight leaks into a humble shack, there is starlight.】

【The sound of iron bones from a humble family can shake the heavens and earth.】

【Great Liang Year 299, Lin Chen leaves these words.】

Written in one go!

This article, though borrowing the brush of predecessors from a past life, was a true portrayal of Lin Chen's journey.

Even with the panel and the destiny, without the diligence of his journey and his relentless training, he could not have reached today's heights, let alone stand here in the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo.

Once finished, someone nearby took the rice paper and began to chant it aloud.

As the man chanted, the impressions of a young boy clearly emerged in the minds of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo directors and the various magistrates present.

A diligent youth, shedding his dignity in front of others, and training bitterly day and night behind their backs.

For a youth from a humble family, the hardships of martial arts training are only more difficult than what was written on the paper.

For the children of the powerful, entering the county Wu Tang was easy, but for a student of Lin Chen's background, it consumed a whole year of effort.

"Lin Chen, I apologize to you. You are truly worthy of being the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student!"

On the left sat the directors of the seven prefectural Martial Administration Offices of Jiangnan Circuit. The old man at the head of the left side stood up, looking at Lin Chen with burning eyes.

For Jiang Zheng, as the director of the Hongdu Prefecture Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, he had to fulfill his duties and naturally had to secure more training resources for the students of Hongdu Prefecture.

Before Qiu Rufeng reported to the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo to fight for the title of Jiangnan Circuit Martial Arts Model Student for Lin Chen, he had the same thought: to nominate Li Zhe as the model student to secure more resources for Hongdu Prefecture.

Likewise, he had his own selfish motives in doing so.

Li Zhe had good talent, and with the Li family thriving, he could also sell the Li family a favor and build a connection.

But more importantly, out of respect for Li Zhe's father, the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo was highly likely to agree.

Because of these reasons, he opposed Qiu Rufeng when he put Lin Chen forward, and even immediately reported Li Zhe.

He knew little of Lin Chen's deeds and disdained to learn more, knowing only that Lin Chen had an ordinary background as a fisherman's son.

A fisherman's son winning one of the county battles?

He scoffed at this news, assuming from the start that Qiu Rufeng must have used some underhanded means.

Qiu Rufeng's realm had broken through to the Sixth Rank, reaching the conditions for promotion, but his achievements were insufficient. This Lin Chen was just a pawn pushed out by Qiu Rufeng; seemingly poor, but secretly receiving training resources from Qiu Rufeng.

The goal was to have Lin Chen elected as the Jiangnan Circuit Martial Arts Model Student, allowing him, the director, to gain sufficient merit.

But now, Jiang Zheng knew he was wrong!

To be precise, the moment Lin Chen left his name on Mount Wudao, he already knew his judgment was wrong.

Lin Chen was not a pawn arranged by Qiu Rufeng.

Qiu Rufeng could not cultivate a young genius capable of ascending Mount Wudao.

But even knowing he was wrong, Jiang Zheng only had Li Zhe give up the fight for the title; he felt no apology or guilt in his heart.

Not until this moment, hearing the article Lin Chen wrote—the article was not flowery, but it was precisely this simplicity that made him realize how difficult Lin Chen's journey had been.

For Lin Chen, the title of Martial Arts Model Student meant his future.

For Li Zhe, getting the title was just icing on the cake, but for Lin Chen, it determined his future and destiny.

If Lin Chen hadn't left his name on Mount Wudao and hadn't been elected as the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student, upon returning to Poyang County, he might not have worried about the Organ Cultivation Stage, but the subsequent path to becoming a Ranked practitioner would have been very difficult.

This was why he, as a Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo director, apologized to Lin Chen.

It was not because he feared Lin Chen would remember this grudge and retaliate when he grew up; even if Lin Chen really reached that point, he would likely be nothing but dust by then.

He felt guilty for nearly destroying the future of a hardworking genius youth.

As Jiang Zheng stood up to apologize, the directors of the other three Martial Administration Offices who had also nominated students followed suit.

Shao Jingshan watched this scene with a look of gratification.

As the head of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, he could decide the ownership of the model student title with a single word, but he would not do so.

Because whether it was Jiang Zheng or the other directors, pushing their students to compete with Lin Chen, while having their own selfish motives, was mostly out of consideration for the interests of the students under their jurisdiction.

The head of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo practices the way of edification.

One must make people convinced. "A noble son from a humble family is a rare treasure of the world."

Shao Jingshan spoke slowly: "Yu Yu Jiaoxi Yongnian of the Poyang County Wu Tang can be called a teacher."

After speaking, Shao Jingshan looked at Lin Chen: "Where is this instructor of yours now?"

"Reporting to the Magistrate, Yu Yu Jiaoxi has already resigned from his position and begun preparing for the Martial Examination. As for where he is, this disciple does not know; the instructor did not tell me."

Qiu Rufeng, hearing Shao Jingshan ask about Yu Yongnian's whereabouts, laughed: "Magistrate Shao, speaking of this Yu Yu Jiaoxi, after Lin Chen went to the Wu Tang, he resigned, but he never cut ties with Lin Chen. To exhort and encourage Lin Chen, he even specially wrote two letters..."

Qiu Rufeng slowly recounted how Yu Yongnian had written two letters and had Hua'er give one of them based on Lin Chen's performance in the Wu Tang, causing the experts present to stroke their beards and smile.

It was a stroke of luck in life for Lin Chen to meet such a good instructor.

"Without Yu Yu Jiaoxi, this disciple would have struggled to fill his belly and might not have cultivated Qi and blood. Without the instructor's gift of gold, it would have been even harder to take first place in the June Wu Tang competition."

"Whenever this disciple trained late at night at the Wu Tang, I often felt Yu Yu Jiaoxi standing behind me. Though the instructor has not yet entered the Ranked Tier, those earnest teachings were more encouraging than the pressure of any Ranked expert."

"Meeting Yu Yu Jiaoxi is truly a great fortune for this disciple."

The many experts present, listening to Lin Chen's words, knew this was the youth's true feelings.

"Besides Yu Yu Jiaoxi, after this disciple entered the Wu Tang, the master of the Jing Shui Wu Tang, Vice-Master Kong, as well as Master Tai of the Zhen Yue Wu Tang, Master Zhao of the Kuang Feng Wu Tang, and Magistrate Su of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, all took great care of me. Vice-Master Kong secured Grade-A treatment for me, and Master Tai took me to seek advice from a senior..."

Lin Chen thanked all the instructors and masters he could thank for the past year in one breath, but he did not mention the Qing Feng Wu Tang.

Family shame should not be spread; Magistrate Su had already handled the Qing Feng Wu Tang matter, so there was no need to bring it up here.

"Hmm, a grateful little fellow. Look, he's even inviting credit for these instructors and masters in the main hall."

When Shao Jingshan said this, everyone else's faces showed smiles.

Being grateful is good.

As a member of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, practicing the way of edification, isn't the hope to have more students like Lin Chen?

"Magistrate Bu, you are now the director of the Raozhou Prefecture Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo. You heard the little fellow's words; he is counting on you to reward those instructors."

"This subordinate will handle this matter upon returning to Raozhou Prefecture."

Bu Wenbin agreed without hesitation. Lin Chen being elected as the Jiangnan Circuit Martial Arts Model Student meant the instructors who taught him, including the Martial Halls, would naturally be rewarded.

"Hmm." Shao Jingshan nodded, his smile fading the next moment: "Proclaim my oral decree: Lin Chen, a student of the Poyang County Wu Tang in Raozhou Prefecture, is hereby elected as the Jiangnan Circuit Martial Arts Model Student. Announce this to the entire circuit and publish this article along with it."

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison.

"Former Poyang County Yu Yu Jiaoxi Yongnian, for his meritorious service in edification, is granted the title of 'Master Qiming', Eighth Rank, and may enter the 【Edification Pavilion】 to contemplate the Martial Way. Announce this to the entire circuit, and let instructors of all counties take him as an example to cultivate more pillars of talent for our Great Liang."

Eighth Rank?

Lin Chen's pupils contracted slightly; the instructor had soared in status in an instant.

Magistrate Su was only Ninth Rank.

No, that was temporary Ninth Rank; with him winning the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student title, Magistrate Su would surely be promoted as well.

Qiu Rufeng, who knew Yu Yongnian's situation best, felt moved in his heart.

Yu Yongnian had once again risen in status because of his student.

A Ninth Rank official position does not represent strength.

Many Ranked martial artists might not necessarily obtain a Ninth Rank position, yet Yu Yongnian, without even entering the Ranked Tier, was already Eighth Rank. Although it was a nominal position, directors of local Martial Administration Offices everywhere would have to treat him with courtesy.

Entering the 【Edification Pavilion】 to contemplate the Martial Way went without saying; this was equivalent to guaranteeing his entry into the Ranked Tier.

【For other meritorious individuals in Poyang County, the Raozhou Prefecture Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo shall reward them based on merit.】

"Yes!"

Bu Wenbin responded again.

【Raozhou Prefecture producing the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student Lin Chen highlights the outstanding people and flourishing martial spirit of Raozhou Prefecture. The Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo shall allocate resources and tilt them toward Raozhou Prefecture according to the law. Magistrate Zhang, you shall be responsible for this.】

"I obey the Magistrate's order." Zhang Dingfeng also stood up to respond.

Shao Jingshan's gaze finally landed on Lin Chen: "Leaving your name on Mount Wudao twice, Lin Chen... how should I reward you?"

Left his name twice?

The various magistrates in the hall showed expressions of surprise, especially the directors of the Martial Administration Offices, who were hearing this for the first time.

Lin Chen had left his name on Mount Wudao twice?

How long had it been since the first time?

It seemed it had been a hundred years since a student in Jiangnan Circuit was able to leave their name on Mount Wudao twice.

Qiu Rufeng's mouth opened slightly, looking at the joyful Bu Wenbin, feeling nothing but regret in his heart.

If he had known Lin Chen had such potential, he would have learned from that old Magistrate Li and slammed the table of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo to keep him in the Raozhou Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo.

This heaven-sent merit of edification...

It all went to Bu Wenbin's benefit.

"I leave it to the Magistrate's arrangement." Lin Chen laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"If it were just leaving your name on Mount Wudao once, it would be easy for me to reward you, following precedent. But you have left your name twice; in our Jiangnan Circuit, only three students have done this in over two hundred years, and that was a long time ago. The rewards from back then are no longer appropriate for today."

"Does anyone have any good suggestions?"

Hearing Shao Jingshan ask this, the others in the hall shook their heads slightly. With no precedent to refer to, it was indeed difficult.

"How about this... I will give you a small reward first. For the training resources you need before reaching the Organ Cultivation Stage, I will supply you with as much as you need, without limit."

Shao Jingshan's words left many in the hall looking confused. Just until Organ Cultivation? Was this reward too small?

But thinking that Magistrate Shao said it was just a small initial reward, it was acceptable.

Only Jia Nanzhu and Bu Wenbin had a glint in their eyes; both understood the intent behind Magistrate Shao's arrangement.

How many training resources Lin Chen used at the special training grounds had been reported to the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo. Lin Chen was only at nineteen acupoints now; by the time he reached twenty-four, the resources required would be a massive number compared to an ordinary martial artist.

"I am not being stingy, but if I set the reward now, and you leave your name on Mount Wudao again next time, wouldn't I have to rack my brains to think about how to reward you again? So, I will just leave it until you reach twenty-four acupoints before making a decision."

Shao Jingshan's explanation made the others suddenly realize.

They only then remembered that Lin Chen was only at nineteen acupoints, with five more to break through. Since he could leave his name at eighteen and nineteen, it was not impossible for him to leave his name at twenty.

Magistrate Shao's arrangement was very reasonable.

"Regarding Lin Chen leaving his name on Mount Wudao twice, keep it confidential for now."

"Magistrate Shao, why is that? If this were publicized, wouldn't it inspire the martial artists of our Jiangnan Circuit, and serve as an inspiration for the students?"

"This is a requirement of the Martial Administration Department."

Shao Jingshan replied indifferently, and the person who asked did not inquire further.

"This disciple actually thinks it is a good thing not to announce that I left my name on Mount Wudao twice."

Lin Chen added, and his words made the experts present curious. At this age, shouldn't one be thinking of making a name for oneself?

"Oh, why do you think it is a good thing?" Shao Jingshan asked with a smile.

"This disciple leaving my name on Mount Wudao once is extremely difficult for most students to achieve, but at least every few decades, a student in Jiangnan Circuit can do it. But leaving my name twice... my hometown has a saying: 'Small wealth depends on diligence, great wealth depends on fate.'"

"It means that as long as one is diligent, one can always catch up to some wealthy households, but to compare with martial arts families and the powerful, one must have the fate for it; otherwise, no matter how hard one tries, it won't work."

"This disciple leaving my name on Mount Wudao once will inspire those who come after, but if I leave my name twice or more, the effect will be counterproductive. It is not something human effort can achieve; it is truly fate."

Lin Chen explained the reason. Everyone present was intelligent and quickly understood the meaning in Lin Chen's words.

Thinking about it carefully, there was indeed some truth to it.

Too much is as bad as too little!

With the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo announcing Lin Chen's name-leaving on Mount Wudao, a trend related to Mount Wudao had recently emerged in the Jiangnan Circuit martial arts circle.

At banquets, one must talk about Mount Wudao.

Martial artists who originally didn't understand Mount Wudao became increasingly familiar with it, and the more they understood, the more they knew how difficult it was to leave one's name there.

Lin Chen leaving his name once inspired them.

If Lin Chen could do it, why couldn't they? Those genius youths also had their own pride.

But if it were revealed that Lin Chen left his name twice, three times...

It would instead deflate the spirit of chasing and the refusal to admit defeat in their hearts.

A person of destiny, accompanied by martial luck...

Such talk also circulated in the Great Liang martial arts circle.

PS: It's the end of the month. I know many of you have generated quite a few monthly tickets. Please vote! The two sessions are over, and Jiudeng will try hard to write more and prepare to pay off the debt!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 178 =====