Chapter 328: The Dai Family

In the guest residence.

Kong Zhao Qifeng chatted with Lin Chen for nearly half an hour, asking him little about his martial cultivation, instead telling him about certain matters in Great Liang.

At the very moment they crossed from Yan State into Great Liang's territory, the Marquis of Northern Defense led one hundred thousand northern frontier troops in a final assault against the Northern Frontier Beast King's court.

The three hundred thousand troops stationed by Han State along the border ultimately chose to stand idly by.

"All reactionaries are paper tigers."

Lin Chen murmured softly, an old elder's words suddenly surfacing in his mind.

"Paper tigers? Why describe them that way? Don't underestimate Han State."

"My lord, I don't underestimate Han State. For a thousand years, Han State has been the top of the Nine States, its strength beyond doubt. But why has Han State maintained its top position? Because since its rise, it has walked the path of conspiracy—sowing discord among other states, exploiting chaos, seizing land and resources."

Lin Chen's face bore a sneer; Han State's modus operandi was strikingly similar to a nation he knew from his past life.

"The people of Han State have grown accustomed to this—accustomed to pulling strings from behind the scenes, manipulating the other eight states. Whenever any state rises and threatens them, they orchestrate others to suppress it. But when actual war looms, they become fearful and hesitant."

"They fear that after one battle, their own strength will be weakened, giving other states a chance to rise. In my homeland, there's a saying: porcelain doesn't clash with pottery. Han State is the exquisite porcelain; in their eyes, the other eight states are mere pottery—they lack the resolve to shatter."

Hearing Lin Chen's explanation, Kong Zhao Qifeng's aged eyes gleamed. For a youth of Lin Chen's background to possess such insight was rare indeed.

In fact, Great Liang's decision to launch its final strike against the Beast King's court came after careful analysis, concluding that Han State would not intervene in the short term.

Han State itself harbors several factions; by the time these factions compromise and decide to go to war, it will take at least several days, even dozens. Great Liang needed precisely that time lag.

But he had no intention of explaining these details to Lin Chen. Lin Chen's sole task now was cultivation—he need not be distracted by such matters.

He informed Lin Chen of Great Liang's current situation only so the youth would have a general understanding.

"Rest well today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the imperial palace."

"Understood."

Lin Chen took his leave of Lord Kong and stepped out of the guest residence.

"Lin Chen, Lord Kong has arranged a residence for you. Tonight, I'll take you to sample some of the capital's delicacies."

"Lord Chu…"

"Don't call me 'lord.' I'm a bit older than you—call me 'big brother' or 'senior brother,' like you do with Pei Pei Qingming. Or if you think I, Chu Chu Zining, am unworthy to be mentioned alongside Pei Pei Qingming, then call me 'lord.'"

Was this moral coercion?

Lin Chen's lip twitched. "Then I shall not refuse your kindness—I'll call you Lin Lin Shixiong Chu."

"Fine."

Though "big brother" was warmer than "senior brother," any other youth—even a prodigy from a noble family in the capital—would have immediately called him "big brother" to draw closer.

But Lin Chen had no need for such flattery. Lord Kong cared deeply for him; as for the court, several high officials had repeatedly sought to meet Lin Chen, even planning to visit Canglan Wu Yuan themselves—only to be stopped by Lord Kong.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Chu, I plan to visit Qingyun Wu Yuan to find Lin Lin Shixiong Kong Qing. He kept talking on the way back about taking me to see the capital's bustle."

Hearing that Kong Qing intended to show Lin Chen the capital's splendor, Chu Chu Zining no longer pressed. After all, he was a generation older; if he were Lin Chen, he too would prefer the company of peers—more relaxed, more natural.

"Alright. If you run into trouble, come find me at the Wuzheng Office."

"Thank you, Lin Lin Shixiong Chu. No need to see me off."

Refusing Chu Chu Zining's escort, Lin Chen walked out of the Wuzheng Office alone. The four martial artists guarding the entrance smiled as he emerged; Lin Chen gave them a slight nod in return.

"I never expected Lin Chen, Great Liang's number-one prodigy, to have no arrogance at all."

"We've seen plenty of prodigies here. Even those who try to hide it still radiate that aloofness. But I feel none of it from Lin Chen."

As gatekeepers of the Wuzheng Office, these four weren't even ranked martial artists—mere Qi Opening cultivators. No one dared cause trouble here, so their presence served only to uphold the Wuzheng Office's dignity.

Precisely because they weren't ranked, most prodigies never even glanced at them. But when Lin Chen stepped out, he still nodded to them—not treating them as beneath him just because they were only Qi Opening cultivators. "Lin Chen comes from an ordinary family, unlike those noble-born prodigies. I heard the younger generation of martial artists in Jiangnan all respect him. I thought it was exaggerated, but now it seems the rumors are true."

"A supreme prodigy who doesn't look down on others—anyone would respect him. Personally, I'm utterly convinced."

…

…

Lin Chen, far away now, naturally didn't know his polite nod had stirred such admiration among the gatekeepers. He wasn't putting on a show—he simply never developed that sense of superiority, thanks to his past-life mindset.

On his way from the Wuzheng Office to Qingyun Wu Yuan, Lin Chen paused again before the Dai Family Herbal Shop. The crowd had dispersed, but the shop remained eerily quiet.

After a moment's thought, Lin Chen stepped inside. Two pairs of eyes instantly fixed on him. He smiled. "I'm here to buy medicine."

"Buy medicine? Are you from the capital or elsewhere?"

"Do you need to know where someone's from to sell them medicine?"

Lin Chen frowned. Dai Dai Yuze was about to reply when a voice came from behind: "Younger brother, don't speak nonsense."

Dai Dai Yuxi stepped out from behind the curtain. Dai Dai Yuze muttered, "Sister, I'm not being foolish—what if this is another plant sent by the shadowy figure to cause trouble?"

"Enough. Go rest in the back."

Dai Dai Yuxi patted her brother's shoulder, but he didn't move. She sighed, then turned to Lin Chen. "What medicine are you looking for?"

"I'd like to know what you meant by 'capital resident' and 'outsider.'"

Though he suspected the meaning behind Dai Dai Yuze's words, he had come specifically to learn the truth—so he feigned ignorance.

"Some martial artists from outside the capital come here to buy medicine, then falsely claim our herbs are substandard, saying we only sell poor medicine to outsiders because they lack connections, while reserving good medicine for capital residents."

Dai Dai Yuze couldn't hold back—he now saw every customer as a plant sent by the shadowy figure, coming to buy medicine only to frame them.

"This has happened before?"

Lin Chen was surprised. "If your medicine is genuine, why not report it to the authorities?"

"What good would that do? The government office might haul them off and warn them not to return—but to others, it looks like we're using our influence in the capital's government to bully outsiders."

Dai Dai Yuze sneered. Lin Chen's eyes darkened with thought. If this Dai family heir spoke truthfully, the situation was indeed hard to prove innocent.

The government office officials would demand evidence from the accusers. If they couldn't produce any, they'd be scolded—but the damage to the Dai family's reputation was irreversible, since the Dai family couldn't prove the accusers' ailments weren't caused by their pills.

Moreover, from the Dai heir's tone, this had happened more than once. Repeated incidents would make the authorities suspect the Dai family truly sold inferior medicine.

Either the Dai family genuinely sold inferior medicine to outsiders while reserving good medicine for capital residents,

Or they'd angered someone who was orchestrating this campaign against them.

"So that's how it is. By the way, your accent suggests your ancestors came from Jiangnan?"

"If you want to buy, buy. Why ask so many questions?"

Dai Dai Yuxi immediately rebuked him: "Younger brother, go to the back courtyard."

"Sister, I—"

"Go."

Facing his sister's stern gaze, Dai Dai Yuze dared not argue. He turned and walked toward the back courtyard.

"Our ancestors did come from Jiangnan. You're not here to buy pills, are you?"

Dai Dai Yuxi fixed Lin Chen with a sharp gaze, scrutinizing him.

(End of chapter)