Chapter 369: Growth Before Departure (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

This night, Jiang Duanchao and Lin Chen talked for two hours.

Although Lin Chen suspected that his father-in-law was afraid of him climbing the wall, he was also very moved by some of the heartfelt teachings of his father-in-law.

Because his parents were ordinary fishermen, they didn't understand the situation in the Martial Way, so they didn't give him too many instructions every time he went out. They were afraid of saying the wrong thing and affecting him.

And now, the father-in-law made up for the diligent instructions of the elders when the younger generation went out, and some survival skills when going out.

The Yan Imperial Dynasty, to put it bluntly, is just an enlarged version of the Nine Nations.

Some truths are connected.

Don't show off your spirit for a moment.

When going out, try not to form grudges with others.

But if it really can't be avoided, then the action must be ruthless. Once the face is torn, don't be soft-hearted.

Enemies will never be grateful for your mercy.

The next day, dawn.

Lin Chen and Jiang Qing left the Jiang Mansion gate and headed to the Shu Mansion on another street.

At the Shu Mansion gate, seeing Yu Yu Jiaoxi and his wife standing in front of the gate, Lin Chen held Jiang Qing's hand and hurriedly stepped forward.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, is there a distinguished guest in the Shu Mansion today?"

Yu Yongnian looked at his disciple's puzzled expression and smiled: "You two are the distinguished guests, and your wife and I are waiting for you here."

It turned out that long before the two were ready to go out, the Jiang Mansion butler had already sent servants to the Shu Mansion to report the news.

"How can I let the instructor wait for the disciple."

Lin Chen smiled, but Yu Yongnian stroked his beard and said: "The instructor doesn't need to wait for the disciple, but for the one who turned the tide for our Daliang, as a citizen of Daliang, I should wait to welcome him."

Lin Chen:...

Shu Suwan, who was on the side, stepped forward and took Jiang Qing's hand: "Don't worry about the affairs of these two big men, follow the instructor's wife in."

Lin Chen visited the Shu Mansion, and besides Yu Yu Jiaoxi and his wife, there was no one else to receive him.

The Shu family knew about Lin Chen's arrival, but they had the sense not to disturb the reunion between the master and disciple.

If Lin Chen were still the same as before, just a young genius, the Shu family could step forward to build a rapport, but the current Lin Chen is no longer someone the Shu family can hope to climb up to.

Running in front of people only invites annoyance.

"I am only at the Ninth Rank now. Thanks to you, I might enter the Eighth Rank later. In the Martial Way path, there is nothing I can teach you."

Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen sat in the pavilion in the courtyard, while the instructor's wife Shu Suwan was chatting with Jiang Qing not far away. Lin Chen looked over and could occasionally see the blush on Jiang Qing's face.

"When are you preparing to set off for the Yan Imperial Dynasty?"

"Seven days later."

For his own instructor, Lin Chen didn't hide it.

"Seven days later..." Yu Yongnian pondered for a long while: "I won't see you off then."

Yu Yongnian could imagine that on the day Lin Chen left the Yan Imperial Dynasty, there would inevitably be many people seeing him off, including many big figures in the imperial court. He was just the instructor of Lin Chen in the Martial Hall, so he wouldn't join those big figures.

Unless he wanted to use Lin Chen to fight for many private interests for himself, deliberately showing his deep master-disciple relationship with Lin Chen in front of everyone, so that those big figures in Daliang would give him more resources.

"How dare I trouble the instructor to see me off? This time I am going to the Yan Imperial Dynasty, I don't intend to disturb too many people."

"Hmm."

Yu Yongnian nodded. He knew the situation of his disciple and was not the kind of person who loved to show off.

"However, I have

"Write a letter?"

"After you became the model for the Jiangnan Dao martial arts students, the 'Letter to the Junior Brothers of Jiangnan Dao' you wrote spread throughout the entire Liang Guo. My responsibility at the Martial Administration Office is to investigate the martial arts culture in various regions, and your letter had a great influence on the youths who came after."

The position the Martial Administration Office arranged for Yu Yongnian belongs to the type of leisurely official post, which is also what Yu Yongnian requested himself; he did not want to be some Director of a Martial Administration Station.

"It is no exaggeration to say that your letter made the martial arts aspirations of the youths in Jiangnan Dao several times firmer than the previous few generations. Now, the appearance of the Yan Imperial Dynasty both shows these youths of Liang Guo a broader martial arts world and brings them a sense of discouragement."

Lin Chen pondered; he had been able to feel what the instructor said not long ago when he was chatting with Lin Lin Shidi Lu and the others.

"This disciple will consider it."

"You are now the model in the hearts of all the youths in Liang Guo who are determined to learn martial arts; just consider it as inspiring them one last time."

Yu Yongnian nodded with a smile; he knew that Lin Chen saying "consider it" should mean he had agreed.

As for literary talent...

Someone who could write the "Letter to the Junior Brothers of Jiangnan Dao" would find writing an article to be nothing.

In the evening, Lin Chen and Jiang Qing finished dinner at the Shu residence and left the gate under the escort of Yu Yongnian and his wife.

Yu Yongnian waved his hand, and only after the youth's figure disappeared at the end of the street did he put his hand down.

"Seeing you are poor but firm in will, practicing diligently without fatigue, you are truly a noble child of a humble family, a rare treasure of the world."

"You should use this gold as an oar, breaking through the waves on the sea of the Martial Way, seeking the pearl, and achieving the extraordinary."

Yu Yongnian murmured softly; a few years ago, he used these two sentences to inspire Lin Chen, never expecting that in just a few short years, Lin Chen would have achieved it.

Shu Suwan looked at her husband. Although her husband did not want to take advantage of Liang Guo because of Lin Chen, and was unwilling to mention his interactions with Lin Chen to others, she knew that in her husband's heart, Lin Chen was his greatest pride.

And because of Lin Chen, many children of powerful families wanted to take her husband as their teacher, but they were all rejected by him.

Planting flowers by chance, not driven by profit, this is hard to replicate.

To recruit other disciples now would lack this pure heart.

Over the next few days, Lin Chen visited Kong Kong Guanzhu Kong of the Jing Shui Martial Hall. The original Kong Kong Guanzhu, Ceng Qingyao, had already stepped into the Innate Realm and left Poyang County; the current Kong Kong Guanzhu is the former Deputy Kong Kong Guanzhu, Kong Yinglei.

At the same time, Lin Chen also went to the Zhen Yue Martial Hall to visit Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai Rubai, and visited Kong Kong Guanzhu Zhao Qifeng of the Qing Feng Martial Hall... He met many old friends, and even made a trip to the Poyang Guard to see Fang Ze.

The current Fang Ze is already the Deputy Commander of the Poyang Guard, while the original Commander, when Liang Guo and the Northern Border demon race went to war, applied for a transfer to the Northern Border Army, but eventually died in the Northern Border ice plains, which made Lin Chen feel a bit wistful.

Quzhou.

Li Residence.

Decorated with lanterns and colored streamers.

Today is the eighty-ninth birthday of the Old Master of the Li Residence.

The entire Jiangnan Dao has a custom regarding the birthdays of the elderly: celebrate the nine, not the ten.

"Ten" has the meaning of "full," and "fullness leads to spilling over," implying that things turn into their opposites when they reach the extreme; while "nine" is a homophone for "long," symbolizing longevity and long life.

This is a folk custom, and the Li Residence, being a martial arts family, is no exception.

The Li family is a large family, and many guests arrived. Li An was greeting guests in the side hall inside the gate when he heard the doorman report: "Master, the Kong Kong Guanzhu of the Zhen Yue Martial Hall of Poyang County has arrived."

"The Kong Kong Guanzhu of the Zhen Yue Martial Hall?"

Li An's eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up to prepare to welcome him.

If it were in the past, the Kong Kong Guanzhu of the Zhen Yue Martial Hall would naturally not be held in his regard, but the situation is different now.

If it weren't for the fact that Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai Rubai of the Zhen Yue Martial Hall brought Lin Chen to the door, and his father personally chased Lin Chen under the moonlight and taught him the Zhen Yue Manual, the Li family would have no connection to Lin Chen.

Thinking of the achievements Lin Chen has attained now, Li An admires his father's vision to the point of prostration.

The only thing that makes him a bit depressed is that his father does not allow him to publicize the family's relationship with Lin Chen.

"Brother Tai..."

Li An just started to speak, but upon seeing the youth following at Tai Rubai's side, he was stunned.

"You... how did you come?"

After a long while, Li An's words were somewhat incoherent.

"Uncle Li, you say that; today is the Old Master's big birthday, how could I not come? If Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai hadn't informed me, I wouldn't have known about the Old Master's birthday today, and Uncle Li, you didn't send me an invitation."

Lin Chen smiled; he truly did not know it was Old Master Li's eighty-ninth birthday today; it was when he was visiting Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai that Tai Rubai informed him.

Since it is Old Master Li's birthday, he naturally has to attend now that he has free time.

Old Master Li is not just as simple as teaching him the Zhen Yue Manual; from his own teacher, he also learned that when he was competing with Li Zhe for the Jiangnan Dao martial arts student model, Old Master Li even ran to the Martial Administration Office and slammed the table.

The Old Master's concern and care for him are evident.

"Father said you have many things to do now, so he wouldn't disturb you with this small matter."

Li An hurriedly explained. His father had thought about sending an invitation to the Lin family for his big birthday, but was stopped by his father. "Lin Chen is now the number one person in the Nine Kingdoms, I'm afraid he has many things to do, and he still has to cultivate. I, an old man, am not dead; it's just a birthday, there's no need to disturb him."

"The Old Master is really..."

Lin Chen shook his head helplessly. Tai Rubai, who was to the side, laughed: "Lin Chen, why don't you go ask the Old Master yourself in a while why he didn't send an invitation."

"I wouldn't dare; I'm afraid the Old Master would point at my nose and scold me."

Li An listened to Lin Chen's joke and accompanied him with a laugh, then personally led Lin Chen to the back residence.

His father is eighty-nine years old. Although many guests came to hold this birthday, except for the family's relatives and elders and some elders who have an excellent relationship with the Li family, his father does not intend to see others privately, only waiting to appear when the birthday banquet begins.

Back residence.

Li Qi, who was accompanying her grandfather, saw her father bringing people in. When she saw the face of the person who entered clearly, her mouth opened slightly, her face full of disbelief.

"Old Master, I wish you the longevity of a pine and crane."

"How do you have time to come? Did An'er send you an invitation?"

Li Yueshan saw Lin Chen appear, and there was a smile on his old face, but then he immediately looked at his son with a straight face.

"Old Master, you are wronging Uncle Li; I learned it from Kong Kong Guanzhu Tai. You didn't treat me as a junior; you didn't even inform a junior of such a big event."

Lin Chen relieved Li An of the awkwardness, walked up and nodded to Li Qi, and took the Old Master's withered hand from Li Qi's hand.

"I, an old man, am not dead; it's just a birthday, not a big deal. How could I delay your time? Your time is precious now; I'm afraid you will go to the Yan Imperial Dynasty soon, right?"

"Yes, I'll leave in a few days."

Lin Chen nodded; he had nothing to hide from Old Master Li either.

"Before you go to the Yan Imperial Dynasty, you must have many things to arrange properly; how can you delay your time for an old man like me?"

"Old Master, you are wrong; if I want to arrange things properly, I must come to see you. Otherwise, it won't be proper no matter what, and I will be thinking about it even after I go to the Yan Imperial Dynasty."

Hearing Lin Chen's answer, Li Yueshan was stunned, and the hand held by Lin Chen tightened: "Just having this heart is enough."

Li Yueshan pulled Lin Chen to walk around the courtyard. Li An and Li Qi, father and daughter, did not follow, and neither did Tai Rubai, letting this old man and young man talk about some private matters.

"You don't need to take the Li family too much to heart; children and grandchildren have their own blessings. If the descendants of the Li family have ability and can truly go far in the Martial Way, you can help if you see it; if the martial arts talent of my Li family descendants is not good, don't force help on them. Relying on the accumulated wealth, they will have no worries about food and clothing for several generations. Sometimes it's quite good to be a leisurely rich man."

"Yes." Lin Chen agreed.

"Your current achievements have far exceeded mine. After going to the Yan Imperial Dynasty, I have nothing to urge you, just remember not to carry too heavy a burden. Liang Guo has Liang Guo's national destiny; don't treat Liang Guo as your burden. After going to the Yan Imperial Dynasty, just treat yourself as being alone."

"Yes, this junior accepts the teaching."

Half an hour later, the banquet began.

Old Master Li appeared, toasted a glass of wine to dozens of tables of guests, and then left.

Lin Chen did not appear in front of the guests; this was requested by Li Yueshan.

"My Li family has no talented descendants now. Letting outsiders know your relationship with my Li family would instead make some people who are good at maneuvering target my Li family."

Finally, Lin Chen, Tai Rubai, Huang Kun, the young master of the Huang family who came from Huangshan, and several close elders of the Li family set up a separate table in the back courtyard.

Three days later.

Linhu Village.

Lin Chen said goodbye to his parents, boarded a boat early in the morning, and headed to the Canglan Wu Yuan.

He and Hu Hu Zhishi Gao agreed to depart for the Yan Imperial Dynasty from the Canglan Wu Yuan.

For Gao Zeming, he was still very interested in the ruins left by the disciples of the Canglan Sect under the Canglan Wu Yuan of Liang Guo.

When Lin Chen arrived at the Canglan Wu Yuan, he saw the youth in front of him and was stunned for a moment; the next moment, the two stepped forward and hugged.

"Lin Lin Shidi Xiao."

"Senior Brother Lin."

Xiao Yaojin had also arrived at the Canglan Wu Yuan, and Fang Zhan stood to the side, watching this scene with a smile.

Canglan Wu Yuan.

Gao Zeming came out from the Canglan True Person's Mansion under Canglan Lake, with a look of emotion on his face.

"This Canglan True Person was a senior of the third stage of the Innate Realm of our Canglan Sect. After returning to the sect, I will report it to the sect. If this senior still has descendants, the sect will provide care."

Just because this senior left the Canglan Token for Lin Chen, allowing the Canglan Sect to receive a genius disciple, the sect should record a great merit for this senior.

Lin Chen, Qin Yan, and Gu Kong listened quietly.

Lin Chen didn't have much of a reaction, but Qin Yan and Gu Kong knew what the executive meant.

The Yan Imperial Dynasty is incredibly competitive.

In contrast, knowing the situation in Liang Guo these days, they actually envied the martial artists of Liang Guo.

Even if the martial artists of Liang Guo are not strong, as long as they enter the ranked tier, the family strength gradually improves. Even if no descendants with martial arts talent appear later, they can still maintain a life without worries about food and clothing.

But in the Yan Imperial Dynasty, it is a case of not advancing, then retreating.

The territory of the Canglan Domain is dozens of times larger than Liang Guo, but as long as the family regresses, they must give up the territory they originally possessed.

In the Yan Imperial Dynasty, there is an extremely strict hierarchy. Once the Innate martial artists of a family age or have an accident, leading to the family having no Innate martial artists, the family's territory will immediately shrink.

The existence of this rule leads some Innate powerhouses, when they discover that their descendants cannot take over, to choose to complete some tasks for the sect in order to protect their family interests, letting the sect help shelter their family.

A dignified third-stage Innate powerhouse going far overseas is a portrayal of the fierce competition in the Yan Imperial Dynasty.

"Lin Chen, these days I learned at the Canglan Wu Yuan that the disciples of the Canglan Wu Yuan have all absorbed and refined Canglan energy, which can also be said to have a thousand threads of connection with our Canglan Sect. After returning to the sect, I will suggest to the sect that we can give the Canglan Wu Yuan a disciple cultivation quota. At that time, the Canglan Wu Yuan can recommend genius disciples to go to the Canglan Sect to participate in the assessment."

Gao Zeming looked at Lin Chen with a smile. Lin Chen understood in his heart that this Hu Hu Zhishi Gao was doing him a favor.

"However, this matter still needs to be pushed by an elder; otherwise, my report alone is not enough to attract the sect's attention."

Gao Zeming gave Lin Chen the bottom line. If it were at other times, this matter would certainly not succeed, but Lin Chen's situation is special. Now there are several elders fighting to take Lin Chen as a disciple, and Lin Chen can take this opportunity to seek some benefits for the Canglan Wu Yuan.

Letting the Canglan Wu Yuan recommend genius disciples to participate in the assessment at the Canglan Sect is just a matter of a word for those elders.

Lin Chen understood; this Hu Hu Zhishi Gao was reminding him that when he arrives at the sect and chooses which elder to take as his teacher, he can incidentally strive for some benefits for the Canglan Wu Yuan.

One day later.

A figure entered the Canglan Wu Yuan.

Lin Chen looked at Su Qin in front of him and the delicate handwriting in the letter in her hand, and finally nodded.

The sky was dim.

An inn in Canglan Prefecture.

When Lin Chen arrived on time for the appointment, pushed open the room door, and stepped in, he was stunned the next moment.

Inside the room.

The young girl had just finished bathing, her long hair hanging to her waist, and the black dress on her body slowly slipped off, revealing the exquisite boudoir clothing worn inside, showing her beauty in front of Lin Chen.

A pair of soft hands like white jade slowly closed the door.

"I don't ask for anything, just to give myself to you before you leave."

The young girl breathed like an orchid, pressed Lin Chen against the door, grabbed Lin Chen's hand, and lightly picked the ribbon on her fragrant shoulder like white fat jade...

Spring cold bestows a bath in the Huaqing Pool, the hot spring water is smooth, washing the congealed fat.

The young girl was extremely domineering, charging in the posture of a knight, killing seven in and seven out. However, after a fierce battle for a while, she was ultimately unable to keep up, was captured by the enemy, and had to surrender and submit, letting him take command.

In the entire inn, there were no other guests on this floor today, and Su Qin personally guarded the front of the inn.

A young girl can be reckless with herself.

This night, Lin Chen's thoughts were agile, thinking about what article to rewrite, and his inspiration was like a gushing spring.

The young girl was grinding ink on the side, adding fragrance to her sleeves...

PS: Brothers, it's really not that I don't give you meat to eat. Remember when Lin Chen was at the Canglan True Person's Mansion, Jiudeng only described a little bit of the plot where the junior sister seduced the extra, and as a result, the chapter was warned and banned. I'm really fed up with it.

Some people write more than me and are fine, but as soon as I write, there's a problem. Could it be that there are upright gentlemen among the book friends?

Even if they are upright gentlemen, they shouldn't be eunuchs.

Yin and Yang harmony is a common principle of humanity.

Brother, show mercy. We are already clear soup and light water; it can't really be a monk's text.

(End of this chapter)