Chapter 209: First Battle of Organ Refining (First Chapter)

"Xiao Qing, the martial foundation in Jiangnan Dao is still weak; I think you should go to Lord Lingxiao City or even the capital."

Chu Xi walked beside Jiang Qing, her tone brimming with superiority.

Jiang Qing didn't even turn her head—she truly had no desire to respond to Chu Xi.

The capital wasn't her home, and the lord of Lord Lingxiao City wasn't her father—what was there to be proud of?

Jiang Qing didn't understand why Chu Xi acted this way; she had never argued with her or offended her in any way.

……

……

The back garden.

Lin Chen sat alone in the pavilion; several delicate pastries were placed on the table, but he didn't dare to touch them.

Even though his mistress and future mother-in-law were admiring the flowers and hadn't noticed him, Lin Chen sat perfectly upright, not leaning against the railing.

Who knew if his mother-in-law was deliberately setting a trap—letting him relax his guard first, then assigning servants to watch him from some hidden corner, recording every move he made?

The possibility was small, but not nonexistent.

Suddenly!

Lin Chen's gaze turned to the entrance of the back garden, his eyes brightening.

Jiang Jie appeared, dressed in a simple green martial suit, her hair tied into a low ponytail, just as she had been in the martial academy.

Jiang Qing also spotted Lin Chen sitting in the pavilion; her eyes flickered, then she noticed her mother and another woman admiring the flowers nearby, and understood the situation.

Miss Shu had brought Lin Chen here to meet her mother.

Their eyes met; Jiang Qing walked straight toward the pavilion. Behind her, Chu Xi saw Lin Chen seated inside and her pupils contracted—this scene was identical to when Cheng Ge came to her house and her mother called her out to meet him.

So this boy in the pavilion was the future son-in-law Jiang Family had chosen?

Looking at him… he wasn't that impressive!

Chu Xi sniffed, feeling for the first time that she had bested Jiang Qing—Cheng Ge's aura and appearance far surpassed this boy's.

Jiang Qing stepped forward with a light gait, ignoring Chu Xi and Jiang Cheng behind her; she arrived before the pavilion, hands clasped behind her back, gazing brightly at Lin Chen: "Why are you here?"

"Your mistress brought me."

Seeing Jiang Qing, Lin Chen grinned, but before he could say more, the woman behind her spoke first: "Xiao Qing, which family is this young master from?"

"He's my junior brother—not any young master."

Jiang Qing caught Lin Chen's puzzled look and blinked her eyes, revealing a glint of mischief.

Lin Chen froze—what did that blink mean?

Junior brother?

Behind them, Chu Xi, upon hearing Lin Chen's title, studied him again; in families like theirs, future spouses were always stronger, and even before betrothal, they were called "senior brother."

"Junior brother" was reserved for those weaker than oneself.

Could it be that Jiang Family was looking for a son-in-law who would live with them?

Thinking of this, Chu Xi's face lit up with smugness—so what if Jiang Qing had once been more popular? Now she'd sunk so low as to choose a husband weaker than herself.

"What's your junior brother's name, Xiao Qing? You haven't even introduced him to us."

"His surname is Lin." Jiang Qing replied succinctly. Hearing her tone and seeing the man and woman behind her, Lin Chen guessed what was happening.

So this woman, who didn't get along with his sister, had come here to show off?

"So you're Lin Lin Shidi? Are you from Raozhou Prefecture?"

"Mm."

With his suspicions confirmed, Lin Chen understood Jiang Qing's intent and answered simply.

Native!

Chu Xi was now certain: Jiang Qing had indeed chosen a son-in-law who would live with her family.

Choosing a son-in-law who lived with them meant picking someone weaker—otherwise, he'd overpower her later.

"Xiao Qing has high standards—Lin Lin Shidi, if she chose you, your martial talent must be exceptional. What realm are you in now?"

"I just barely broke through to Organ Refining."

Chu Xi: …

Hearing Lin Chen had broken through to "Organ Refining," Chu Xi's smile froze.

Organ Refining was no low realm—she herself hadn't even reached it yet. But remembering that Cheng Ge had achieved it months ago, her sense of superiority returned.

"In a place like Raozhou Prefecture, breaking through to Organ Refining this quickly is quite impressive—after all, Raozhou can't compare to the capital. No wonder Xiao Qing took an interest in you."

Lin Chen stole a glance at his sister; seeing her mischievously stick out her pink tongue, he understood completely and went along: "You're right. The capital produces talents everywhere—it's nothing like Raozhou."

Hearing Lin Chen agree, Chu Xi didn't like him any better—she felt disdain. A son-in-law who lives with the family clearly had no pride.

If it were her own Cheng Ge, he'd have argued back immediately.

"Since you've reached Organ Refining, have you thought about which martial academy to join? Oh right, Xiao Qing probably mentioned the Four Great Academies to you."

Chu Xi feigned a slip of the tongue, covering her mouth as she looked at Jiang Qing: "Xiao Qing, I didn't mean to say that."

A son-in-law who lives with the family? Jiang Family might not even let him enter a martial academy.

"My sister mentioned the Four Great Academies to me." Lin Chen answered before Jiang Qing could speak.

"Good, I was afraid Xiao Qing hadn't told you. Don't misunderstand—I didn't mean anything by it."

Watching Chu Xi pat her chest as if relieved, Lin Chen was puzzled—did his sister know such a manipulative woman?

The tea energy was practically overflowing.

"Since you know about the Four Great Academies, which one are you planning to take the entrance exam for? Cheng Ge has already been accepted by Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan—if you choose Lord Lingxiao too, he can speak a few good words for you with the instructors."

"No thanks. I've already decided on Canglan Wu Yuan."

Lin Chen rubbed his nose, slightly exasperated—was she really this eager to show off?

"Canglan Wu Yuan? Though it's not as prestigious as Lord Lingxiao, its entrance exam is easier—choosing Canglan is acceptable."

Upon hearing Lin Chen chose Canglan, Chu Xi's first thought was: Jiang Qing's junior brother knew he'd stand no chance against fierce competition at Lord Lingxiao or the capital academy, so he picked Canglan because fewer people applied there.

"Xi'er!"

Jiang Cheng, who had been standing silently behind Chu Xi, suddenly interrupted her.

Chu Xi turned, puzzled: "Cheng Ge, what is it?"

Jiang Cheng didn't answer her. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Lin Chen: "Are you Lin Chen, Lin Lin Shidi?"

Having his identity guessed, Lin Chen could no longer pretend: "Mm."

Hearing Lin Chen confirm it, Jiang Cheng sighed inwardly at Chu Xi. Before coming, he'd already heard his fiancée say she'd always disliked Jiang Qing, and that this visit to Jiang's mansion was meant to show off her excellent fiancé.

He didn't oppose Chu Xi's blunt boasting—on his end, it proved she thought highly of him.

But as he listened to her conversation with Lin Lin Shidi, something felt increasingly off.

Surname Lin… and heading to Canglan Wu Yuan.

That reminded him of someone—a prodigy who'd become famous across the Opening and Organ Refining circles recently.

His fame in Organ Refining came from rumors that all Four Great Academies had sent recruiters—even vice-deans had come. As a soon-to-be student of Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan, Jiang Cheng naturally kept tabs on academy news.

Inquiries revealed that a genius had emerged in Jiangnan Dao, compared to Senior Pei, and had chosen Canglan Wu Yuan.

Add to that the recent official notice from the Wuzheng Force, and Lin Chen's name had become widely known among the younger generation.

Chu Xi didn't know about him because she'd been in seclusion, breaking through to Organ Refining, when the notice was issued. By the time she emerged, the buzz had faded—she'd only heard a genius had appeared in Jiangnan Dao, but didn't know his name.

"Lin Lin Shidi, you've reached Organ Refining so quickly—if word gets out, it'll cause another uproar."

Jiang Cheng stared at Lin Chen. This wasn't praise—the Wuzheng Force's notice had been issued only days ago, when Lin Chen had just left his name on twenty-four spots on Mount Dengwudao. Normally, it took one or two months to advance from twenty-four openings to Organ Refining—even with exceptional talent, it would take at least a month.

To go from twenty-four openings to Organ Refining in just a few days? Even Senior Pei hadn't done that.

"Cheng Ge?"

Chu Xi looked at Jiang Cheng, confused—why was he being so polite to Lin Chen?

Seeing his fiancée's puzzled gaze, Jiang Cheng sighed inwardly—her goal of showing off to her "sister" had failed. She'd stepped on a steel plate. He'd been accepted by Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan, but only as a student under a mere instructor—nothing compared to Lin Chen.

"Xi'er, on the way here, your father mentioned a prodigy from Jiangnan Dao, named a model martial student of Great Liang. It's this Lin Lin Shidi right here."

"Ah!"

Chu Xi's mouth hung open wide enough to swallow an egg; she stared at Lin Chen: "You… you're the one who left your name seven times on Mount Dengwudao?"

No wonder she was shocked—she'd spent nearly two months in seclusion trying to break through to Organ Refining, barely failing. She hadn't heard of this at all. Only on the journey to Raozhou had she heard her father and Cheng Ge mention a talented prodigy from Raozhou.

But she'd never connected that prodigy with this boy—she assumed such a genius would've left Raozhou long ago.

Most importantly, her subconscious refused to accept that Jiang Qing had once again outdone her in matters of romance.

Jiang Qing saw Chu Xi's gaping mouth and winked at Lin Chen—she didn't mock Chu Xi outright.

"Lin Lin Shidi, Xi'er speaks too bluntly—I apologize on her behalf."

Jiang Cheng's face carried regret. This was… Chu Xi handing her own face to be slapped.

But he had no choice—he was her fiancé, and he had to step forward now.

"What apology?"

Zhuang Min and Shu Shu Suwan happened to walk over at that moment.

"You're Chu Xi, right? Haven't seen you in years—you've grown so much."

"Xi'er greets Auntie."

"Junior Jiang Cheng greets Lady Jiang."

Zhuang Min's arrival eased the awkward tension. She smiled warmly, nodded, and caught her daughter's sly, fox-like glance—she knew this was Jiang Qing's trap for Chu Xi.

"A handsome young man and a beautiful girl—you father has chosen you a fine husband."

Zhuang Min offered polite praise, but in truth, she and Shu Shu Suwan had heard every word of Chu Xi and Lin Chen's exchange—and had deliberately waited until now to appear.

"Madam, you flatter me too much. Being with Sister Xi is my fortune."

Jiang Cheng looked at Chu Xi with affection. Though Sister Xi had come specifically to show off and ended up embarrassing herself, what could he do? She was his fiancée—he had to spoil her. Besides, her nature wasn't bad, and she wouldn't behave this way toward anyone else.

Hearing Jiang Cheng's words, Lin Chen raised his opinion of him slightly—he was a man of responsibility.

"Good."

Zhuang Min was also satisfied with Jiang Cheng's answer. She understood why Chu Xi had just shown off: when Qing'er first went to the Grand Courtyard, she stole Chu Xi's spotlight, and the little girl, resentful, had now found a fine fiancé and rushed to flaunt it.

Chu Xi's nature wasn't fundamentally bad, and besides, the Chu family and Jiang family had an unusual relationship.

"Your father and Qing'er's father were comrades-in-arms in the military—they were sworn brothers who had saved each other's lives."

No sooner had Zhuang Min finished speaking than a servant rushed over: "Madam, it's bad! Master and the guest have come to blows in the front courtyard!"

Zhuang Min: …

Front courtyard!

Jiang Jiang Duanchao and Chu Ming stood on the training ground, their qi surging higher and higher.

"You bastard, your mouth's so sharp. Back on the battlefield, I should've let the demon clan swallow you whole—you ungrateful wretch!"

"You saved me once, but I saved you three times. Who's the ungrateful one? Spell it out clearly."

"Fine, let's not talk about the battlefield. I came here with my daughter and son-in-law to pay you a visit, and this is how you treat guests? You're just jealous because I found a good son-in-law!"

"Jealous of you?" Jiang Jiang Duanchao sneered. "Go piss on a mirror and look at yourself. What's there to envy? If I wanted a son-in-law, I could pick any one I wanted. Just recently, that kid who's left his name on Mount Dengwudao seven times? He's been loitering outside my Jiang household every day, just hoping to catch a glimpse of my Qing'er."

"Hahahaha! Who'd believe you, Jiang Jiang Duanchao?" Chu Ming burst out laughing. "Qing'er is indeed outstanding, but if Lin Chen really loitered outside your gate every day, I, Chu Ming, will stand guard at your Jiang household for a whole month!"

"Father, don't!"

"Uncle, don't!"

Just as Chu Ming finished speaking, voices came from behind: Chu Xi and Jiang Cheng.

Lin Chen, walking behind the group, rubbed his nose. He hadn't been loitering outside the Jiang household every day.

"Your children are grown, yet you still spend your days fighting? Jiang Jiang Duanchao, Chu Ming—you've both become quite the paragons."

Zhuang Min's face turned cold. Jiang Jiang Duanchao immediately explained: "Madam, I didn't start it—it was Chu Ming who kept provoking me."

"You're full of shit," Chu Ming shot back, then turned to Zhuang Min. "Sister-in-law, you know how this man is. I came here with good intentions to pay a visit, and what does he do? He flies into a rage and wants to fight me over nothing."

"You didn't come to visit me—you came to show off. Do you really think I didn't see through that?"

"So what if I showed off? If you've got the ability, go find yourself a son-in-law and show off too."

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Duanchao glanced at Lin Chen, who stood behind Jiang Qing, and pointed: "You, hiding behind there—come out!"

"Uncle is calling me?"

Lin Chen pointed to himself. Jiang Jiang Duanchao snapped: "Who else would I be calling? Is there anyone else here?"

Confirming it was him, Lin Chen walked forward.

"Tell him your name."

"Your humble servant, Lin Chen, greets you, Zhuang Laozhang."

Sensing what his future father-in-law intended, Lin Chen cooperated fully.

"You're Lin Chen?"

Chu Ming sized Lin Chen up: "The Lin Chen—the model student of the Great Liang Mount Wudao Academy?"

"If there's no other model student of the Great Liang Mount Wudao Academy, then it's me."

Lin Chen felt slightly embarrassed—this kind of boasting felt too forced. But what could he do? His father-in-law demanded it, so he had to play along.

"Chu Ming, now you've got nothing to say. You'll guard my Jiang household for a month."

"Wait!"

Chu Ming fixed his gaze on Lin Chen: "Do you really loiter outside the Jiang household every day?"

Before Lin Chen could answer, Chu Ming added: "As a model student of the Great Liang Mount Wudao Academy, you must live up to that title—not grovel and beg for favor, spouting nonsense to please someone."

Lin Chen: …

This Uncle Chu reacted fast—he'd pinpointed the key issue in moments, and even slapped a high-minded label on him.

"Chu Ming, what do you mean by 'pleasing someone'?"

"Don't you understand what I mean? What kind of man is Jiang Jiang Duanchao? Do you think I don't know? I even know how many moles are on his ass."

Jiang Jiang Duanchao's temple twitched. Back on the battlefield, he'd fought a powerful demon clan warrior, his clothes torn apart—and Chu Ming had been standing right beside him, watching everything.

"Uncle, Uncle Jiang, I have a suggestion."

Jiang Cheng, seeing the two about to clash again, smiled and spoke: "I've heard of Lin Shi-di's name far and wide. Since Lin Shi-di has also entered Qi Refining, why not let me spar with him?"

At these words, Chu Ming's face broke into a smile. Jiang Cheng had entered Qi Refining two months ago; Lin Chen… by now, he'd only just entered it.

Jiang Jiang Duanchao understood this too, and frowned slightly. Though he deeply disapproved of Lin Chen trying to steal his precious daughter, his disapproval was his own—publicly, he couldn't let the boy be humiliated.

"I also agree with this suggestion from Jiang Lin Shixiong."

Lin Chen quickly accepted. But Jiang Jiang Duanchao frowned: "You've only just entered Qi Refining."

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I'm only sparring with Jiang Lin Shixiong—if I'm outmatched, losing won't be shameful."

"Jiang Jiang Duanchao, stop being so timid. Lin Chen has agreed, and Jiang Cheng isn't reckless—he won't hurt Lin Chen."

Chu Ming spoke again. His intent wasn't to show off his own son-in-law's strength this time—it was curiosity: could this genius, who'd left his name on Mount Dengwudao seven times, still maintain his invincibility after entering Qi Refining?

PS: First chapter, five thousand characters delivered.

(End of Chapter)