Chapter 179: Returning Home in Glory (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Poyang County!

County wharf!

Nearly a hundred people gathered here.

The Poyang County Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo and the Poyang County government office had long received news that Lin Chen would be returning to Poyang County by cruise ship today.

Although Lin Chen's realm was only at the Acupoint Opening Stage, with documents issued by both the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo and the Circuit government, this honor meant that according to the law, either the director of the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo or the county magistrate had to come to welcome him.

On the wharf, Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun had both arrived.

Not only had the two of them arrived, but the masters of the eight major Martial Halls, including half of the students from each hall, were also present.

"Is some big shot coming to our Poyang County?"

On the far side of the wharf, several fishing boats approached. Today, the main wharf of Poyang County was not allowed to be approached by any fishing boats. Fishermen delivering fish to the city could only park their boats on the shore a mile away.

The fishermen looked at the sea of people on the wharf and the government runners maintaining order, their eyes filled with curiosity.

"It's Young Lin Shi returning to Poyang County."

"Young Lin Shi? Which Young Lin Shi? Never heard of any big Lin family in our Poyang County."

"It's the Young Lin Shi from Linhu Village. I heard it from the owner of our fish stall. It was a few days ago when the Prefect himself came to Poyang County; it was very lively then. That Prefect was the one who came to deliver the stele to that Young Lin Shi."

"Linhu Village? Isn't that just a small village? Even the Prefect came in person?"

"You know nothing. My owner said that Young Lin Shi is extraordinary. It seems he left his name on some mountain; it's a very remarkable thing."

"Leaving a name on a mountain is remarkable? I've even peed on a mountain."

"Hu the Second, if you have the guts, go say that over at the wharf and see if you don't end up in jail."

Several fishermen bickered. To them, the Martial Way was too far away. Catching fish to make money and supporting their families consumed most of their time. In their rare spare time, they would either crawl into their wives' quilts or go to the small alleys to find some pleasure.

"Hu Shu, it's Mount Wudao. That Young Lin Shi is from Linhu Village."

While several fishermen were bickering, a thin youth who was organizing the catch suddenly spoke up.

"What is Mount Wudao? Little Tong, how do you know?"

"I saw the announcement posted by the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo yesterday, so I went to look." Su Tong replied in a crisp voice.

"Went to the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo to look? Little Tong, you don't want to practice martial arts too, do you?" The fisherman looked at the youth and hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "Little Tong, listen to your uncle's advice. Practicing martial arts is not something someone of our background can aspire to. You know your family's situation—your mother is sick, and you have a younger sister... Follow your uncle and learn to catch fish properly. When you get older, Hu Shu will recommend you to the owner to find a stable job, save some money to get medicine for your mother, and then marry a wife in the future."

Su Tong pursed his lips. He knew Hu Shu meant well, but his family couldn't afford the money to practice martial arts.

He had never thought about practicing martial arts before, only wanting to make money to buy medicine for his mother and take care of his younger sister as she grew up.

But some time ago, he saw gongs and drums beating in the county, and out of curiosity, he watched for a while. Only after hearing the commoners on the side did he know that a martial arts genius had emerged from Linhu Village.

He knew Linhu Village. When his father was still alive, he would take him to Linhu Village to visit relatives. Later, after his father passed away, he didn't go to Linhu Village to visit relatives anymore. People in Linhu Village weren't rich either.

Listening to the commoners describe the achievements that Young Lin Shi had made in martial arts, Su Tong was also very happy. After all, he was also a member of Poyang County, and Young Lin Shi had brought glory to Poyang County.

But he was only happy; he didn't have too many thoughts in his heart. Just as Hu Shu said, the Martial Way was too far away from him.

It wasn't until the day before yesterday, when passing by the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo, that he saw an announcement posted in front of the gate. Many people were watching, so he curiously stepped forward. Only then did he know that this announcement was also about that Young Lin Shi, and at the end of the announcement, he saw the article written by Young Lin Shi.

《A Word to the Junior Brothers of Jiangnan Circuit》

【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.】

These two sentences were deeply imprinted in his mind.

Only then did he know that this Young Lin Shi's family background was also poor, and he had suffered so much on the path of practicing martial arts.

For the first time, the heart to practice martial arts sprouted in his mind.

Poyanghu, at a glance.

Lin Chen took a cruise ship, sailing down the river from outside Hongdu Prefecture, and finally entered the territory of Raozhou Prefecture, merging into Poyanghu.

"Young Lin Shi, there is still one hour until we reach Poyang County."

"Hmm."

Hearing the words of the government runner rowing the boat, Lin Chen responded and then walked out of the cabin.

This cruise ship was arranged for him by his teacher. This time returning to Poyang County, his teacher had disembarked when they reached Raozhou Prefecture, as there were some matters to attend to.

Lin Chen originally planned to take a boat directly back to Linhu Village, but his teacher instructed him to disembark at the Poyang County wharf, where someone would be waiting to welcome him.

In September, Poyanghu was crisp and cool. There were fishing boats docked in the lake casting nets to catch fish, and people boating on the lake.

The cruise ship stirred the lake surface, and the water rippled.

"Floating light leaps like gold, silent shadows sink like jade, fishing songs answer each other—what joy could be greater than this!" Standing on the deck, Lin Chen couldn't help but whisper.

The beautiful scenery on the lake was refreshing.

"Young Lin Shi has a good literary talent; a rough person like me couldn't say such things."

The government runner rowing the boat smiled and added. Lin Chen smiled; it wasn't that he had literary talent, but that his predecessors did.

Half an hour later, the outline of Poyang County could already be seen. Lin Chen scanned the lake surface and suddenly shouted: "Careful, brother!"

Ahead, a cruise ship came straight toward them like an arrow from a bow.

"Coming for me?"

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed. After reminding the rowing government runner, he was also fully on guard.

Ten feet, five feet, three feet...

When the cruise ship opposite was only a foot away, Lin Chen was thinking about whether he should make the first move, but the cruise ship stopped abruptly.

On the two-story cruise ship, two young men appeared on the deck.

"Are you Lin Chen?"

Hearing the other party's shout, Lin Chen frowned but did not deny it. Since the other party could accurately intercept his boat, denying it would be useless.

"It is I. I don't know what the intention is for the two of you to intercept my cruise ship?"

"Haha, we two are from the Qingyun Wu Yuan. This time we are here on orders to deliver your admission letter. You are qualified to enter our Qingyun Wu Yuan. With this letter, you can go to the Qingyun Wu Yuan to report."

People from the Qingyun Wu Yuan?

Lin Chen didn't expect to meet people from the Qingyun Wu Yuan here.

Even if the Qingyun Wu Yuan wanted to recruit him, they shouldn't have intercepted him halfway, right? This behavior was a bit too rude.

"Lin Chen, have you never heard of our Qingyun Wu Yuan?"

Seeing Lin Chen silent, the two young men on the opposite boat had looks of surprise in their eyes.

"I have naturally heard of the name of the Qingyun Wu Yuan. I don't know about this admission letter?"

"Once you accept the admission letter, you are considered a disciple of our Qingyun Wu Yuan. To be able to have our Qingyun Wu Yuan personally deliver an admission letter, Lin Chen, you are the first person in Jiangnan Circuit in the last five years. Our Qingyun Wu Yuan is full of sincerity."

The young man on the left revealed his arrogant attitude in his words.

To hell with full of sincerity.

Lin Chen slandered in his heart. Just delivering an admission letter is sincerity?

"Thank you for the kindness of the Qingyun Wu Yuan. As for which martial academy to go to, I still need to discuss it with my teacher and elders. I'm afraid I can't make a decision so quickly." Lin Chen replied indifferently.

Hearing Lin Chen's answer, the two young men's faces darkened instantly. They didn't expect Lin Chen to refuse.

"Lin Chen, our Qingyun Wu Yuan only recruits students at the Organ Cultivation Stage, and to enter our Qingyun Wu Yuan, one needs to go to the capital to participate in the academy's assessment. For you to receive an admission letter without even reaching the Organ Cultivation Stage is already an exception."

"Thank you for thinking highly of me, but I really need to discuss this matter with my elders."

Lin Chen's expression remained unchanged. Yu Yu Jiaoxi Jia had said that when a martial academy comes to recruit him, they would offer him corresponding treatment. This Qingyun Wu Yuan wanted to get something for nothing; what did they take him for?

As for being an exception for receiving an admission letter before the Organ Cultivation Stage, that was earned by his name-leaving on Mount Wudao, not something the Qingyun Wu Yuan was bestowing upon him.

"Lin Chen, if you miss this opportunity, there will be no other chance. Do not ruin yourself!"

The young man on the right released his aura as he spoke, tightly locking onto Lin Chen. "I still say the same thing: which martial academy to enter requires discussion with my elders."

Lin Chen remained unmoved; this bit of momentum couldn't scare him.

Moreover, he didn't believe the two of them dared to make a move on him. This was the Raozhou Prefecture area, and he was the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student.

"Hmph, I hope you don't regret it!"

The two young men looked at each other and stopped talking. The young man on the right stomped on the deck, and the cruise ship beneath their feet moved again, passing directly by Lin Chen's cruise ship, causing the water waves to make Lin Chen's cruise ship sway, nearly capsizing.

"If the students of the Qingyun Wu Yuan are of this quality, then there is no need to go to this Qingyun Wu Yuan."

Lin Chen looked in the direction where the other cruise ship was leaving and whispered in his heart.

Peering at a spot reveals the whole leopard; sometimes the performance of the students can reveal a lot of information about the martial academy. The impression of the Qingyun Wu Yuan in Lin Chen's heart was already negative.

The cruise ship, which had sailed more than ten miles away, saw the two young men look at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Lin Lin Shidi Xiao, how did I perform, Lin Lin Shixiong?"

"Lin Lin Shixiong Feng portrayed the sense of superiority of being high above perfectly. If I were that Lin Chen, I fear I would have no good impression of the Qingyun Wu Yuan anymore."

"Hehe, Lin Lin Shixiong is also doing this for our martial academy. Lin Chen can choose not to join our Kyoto Wu Yuan, but he absolutely cannot join the Qingyun Wu Yuan."

Feng Jin gritted his teeth. Among the five major martial academies, excluding the special Zhan Yao Wu Yuan, the remaining four martial academies—from instructors to students—all looked at each other with displeasure.

The reason was simple.

One mountain cannot hold two tigers.

Both martial academies were in the capital, and both sides claimed to be the number one martial academy in the capital, neither willing to submit to the other. Over the years, there had been no shortage of friction between the students.

Whether in the Qingyun Wu Yuan or the Kyoto Wu Yuan, students shared a common concept: it's okay to lose to any martial academy in a competition, but never to Qingyun (Kyoto).

If you win against other martial academies, you are winning glory for your own; but if you win against Qingyun (Kyoto), you are a hero of the martial academy.

"We have done what we should do. As for whether we can recruit Lin Chen, that depends on the instructor's ability. He is indeed worthy of leaving his name on Mount Wudao; facing my aura lock, his expression didn't change at all."

"But if Lin Chen finally joins our Kyoto Wu Yuan and finds out that we were two people pretending to be students of the Qingyun Wu Yuan, won't that be bad?"

"Once he's in the martial academy, he can't run away. That's something for the instructors to worry about."

Feng Jin chuckled. Anyway, he had successfully smeared the Qingyun Wu Yuan in front of Lin Chen.

This matter was not arranged by the martial academy instructors, but he happened to be passing through Jiangnan Circuit and thought of Lin Chen leaving his name on Mount Wudao. The academy instructors would definitely come, so he took the liberty to stage this scene.

As for knowing that Lin Chen would return to Poyang County at this time, it was because he and his junior brother had been lurking in Poyang County for two days. Seeing many people at the Poyang County wharf today, he guessed that Lin Chen should be returning.

Originally, he was afraid that there would be experts from the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo accompanying Lin Chen on his way back, and the plan might not succeed. He didn't expect Lin Chen to return alone. It seems even heaven didn't want Lin Chen to join the Qingyun Wu Yuan.

The arrival of people from the Qingyun Wu Yuan did not affect Lin Chen's mood.

When the cruise ship approached the wharf, Lin Chen saw the two magistrates, and also saw Master Zeng, Master Tai, Master Zhao, and the masters of several other halls.

He saw Xiao Xiao Shimei Fu Qingqing and others from the Jing Shui Martial Hall, saw Junior Brothers Lu Yongfeng, Zhao Jingchuan, and Cheng Ying, saw Fu Ang, Gu Shan, and Zhao Kang, and finally saw Sister Hua'er.

There were many familiar faces, and many unfamiliar ones.

The cruise ship stopped steadily at the shore. Lin Chen clasped his fists to thank the government runner who rowed the boat before stepping onto the shore.

Boom!

The moment Lin Chen's feet stepped onto the shore, the sound of drums and gongs rang out not far away.

Lin Xiuyong was currently beating the gongs and drums with all his might, his face full of excitement. The other government runners beside him could understand why Lin Xiuyong was so excited.

When the previous Raozhou Prefecture Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo came to Poyang County to find trouble with Lin Chen, Lin Xiuyong had risked his life to stand up and delay them. Young Lin Shi would surely remember this favor. With Young Lin Shi around, Lin Xiuyong's position as a constable in the government office was absolutely guaranteed.

Wealth is sought in danger; Lin Xiuyong had really gambled and won.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Chen greets Magistrate Su and Magistrate He."

Lin Chen walked up to Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun, bowed respectfully, and then bowed and greeted the masters like Zeng Qingyao, not becoming arrogant at all after leaving his name on Mount Wudao, receiving a stele from the imperial court, and being elected as the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student.

"Haha, Lin Chen, you have given me two surprises in a row this time."

Su Lingchuan did not hide his happiness. Lin Chen heard this and muttered in his heart: If the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo hadn't hidden the fact that I left my name on Mount Wudao twice, Magistrate Su, you would have been surprised one more time.

"Lin Chen, that our Poyang County can have a genius like you, I am also honored."

He Ruyun also followed with praise. Although he and Su Lingchuan were Ranked martial artists, their upper limit was at most the middle rank. But Lin Chen was different; although Lin Chen's strength was low now, he had the potential of the upper rank.

"Let's go. Magistrate He and I have already prepared a welcome banquet for you. After the banquet, the two of us will accompany you back to Linhu Village."

"This disciple obeys the Magistrate's arrangement."

Lin Chen did not refuse, but when Su Lingchuan wanted him to walk in front, Lin Chen declined.

"This disciple hasn't seen the junior brothers for several months and has some things to talk about. Magistrate Su, please let me walk with the junior brothers."

Facing Lin Chen's request, Su Lingchuan was stunned, but he was even more satisfied with Lin Chen in his heart.

With such honor, to still be able to maintain his original heart—truly rare!

"Good, I will follow your wishes, but you cannot be so willful at the welcome banquet."

Su Lingchuan stroked his beard and laughed. Lin Chen was the protagonist of the welcome banquet, so he naturally couldn't run to the students' table.

Walking up to the many students of the Martial Hall, seeing the unnatural expressions of these junior sisters and brothers, Lin Chen naturally knew what was going on.

He had suddenly risen too high, and these junior sisters and brothers felt awe and a sense of alienation toward him.

"Why, it's only been a few months, and you junior brothers and sisters are so silent? Lin Lin Shidi Fu, Lin Lin Shixiong remembers that you used to talk the most. Why are you so silent today?"

Being named by Lin Chen, Fu Ang naturally wouldn't say it was because of awe that he felt estranged from Lin Lin Shixiong, so he defended himself: "It's not that; with the Magistrate and the masters here, I thought I should be quieter."

"You say that as if Master Tai doesn't know what your character is like."

With the conversation between Lin Chen and Fu Ang, the sense of alienation caused by awe in the students present slowly disappeared, and they began to ask curious questions one after another.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, you are truly great."

"Lin Lin Shixiong, you don't know how shocked we were when the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo issued the document..."

"Lin Lin Shixiong, what exactly is the situation with Mount Wudao?"

Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun walking in front, including the masters of the major Martial Halls, listened to the conversation of the students behind them, and smiles appeared on their faces.

These youths behind them would support the martial arts of Poyang County in ten years, and Lin Chen would undoubtedly be that pillar.

Even if Lin Chen hadn't won the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student title, they believed that in the eyes of these youths, Lin Chen would still be the senior brother in their hearts—not just because of his strength, but because of Lin Chen's character.

Young geniuses, they hadn't seen them before!

Most were arrogant people!

A genius like Lin Chen was rare in Jiangnan Circuit, let alone Great Liang.

One Lin Chen could drive the overall martial arts strength of the entire Poyang County up by a large margin.

Su Lingchuan and the major masters knew this best. The strength of this batch of students had significantly improved compared to the previous few batches, and most of the credit for this was brought by Lin Chen.

Linhu Village.

"Hurry up, Xu the Second, have you swept the ancestral hall clean?"

"What are you dawdling for?"

"Those who bought burial plots also want to put their spirit tablets in the ancestral hall. They are dreaming."

"Give money? No amount of money will do!"

"One hundred taels?" Zhao Canghu swallowed: "Put them, put them, put as many as they want. Isn't it just wanting Lin Chen to pay respects? Anyway, paying respects to one spirit tablet is paying respects, and paying respects to two is also paying respects."

PS: I said I would update at dawn. Although I wrote until two o'clock, I finally caught up. Are there any more monthly tickets?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 180 =====