Chapter 39

"Jiang Jiang Shijie!"

In the martial hall cafeteria, for the first time, Lin Chen did not return directly to the dormitory after eating; instead, he waited for a while, and when he saw Jiang Qing walk out of the cafeteria, he walked up with a smile.

"Lin Lin Shidi... is something the matter?"

Seeing Lin Chen, Jiang Qing, who was not the cold type, did not hide the look of surprise on her face.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie, I haven't used the quota for Grade-A student treatment given to me by the martial hall yet. I don't know if Jiang Jiang Shijie is interested; if you are interested, this junior brother can purchase resources on your behalf."

Lin Chen didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his intention; if this Jiang Jiang Shijie didn't want it, he would go find other senior sisters, and if that really didn't work, selling it to those junior sisters would also be fine.

Her beautiful eyes blinked a few times, and Jiang Qing did not give a reply.

"If Jiang Jiang Shijie doesn't need it, then forget it; sorry to bother you."

Seeing the other party unmoved, Lin Chen didn't dawdle and prepared to find the next target.

"You can."

Just as Lin Chen was about to turn around, Jiang Qing's crisp voice came; Lin Chen turned his head, looking stunned.

"Then I'll trouble Lin Lin Shidi to help me order ten catties of Grey-Winged Gull meat from the cafeteria."

Grey-Winged Gull?

Lin Chen remembered the book written by that wealthy senior sister he saw in the Martial Arts Pavilion; it mentioned the Grey-Winged Gull, which is a relatively precious poultry meat, priced at five taels per catty in the martial hall.

However, according to what that senior sister said, the cost-effectiveness of the Grey-Winged Gull is not as good as the Belly-Brocade Chicken; before ten acupoints, taking the Belly-Brocade Chicken is much more cost-effective than the Grey-Winged Gull.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie, why not buy the Belly-Brocade Chicken? It seems the Belly-Brocade Chicken would be more cost-effective." Lin Chen kindly reminded her.

"After eating the Belly-Brocade Chicken, there will be fat on the abdomen, and I don't like that."

Jiang Qing answered very crisply; Lin Chen's mouth twitched. This reason was too powerful—so powerful that he couldn't even refute it.

Jiang Jiang Shijie is a woman after all; if there were fat on her abdomen, it would indeed not look good.

A wealthy woman, she doesn't care about spending a little more money at all.

"This junior brother understands; Jiang Jiang Shijie, please wait a moment."

Lin Chen turned and entered the cafeteria, showing his martial hall identity badge; the top left corner of the Grade-A disciple identity badge was engraved with the character "Jia" (Grade A).

After paying twenty taels in silver notes and five taels in silver, he got the meat ticket for ten catties of Grey-Winged Gull.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie, this is the meat ticket for the Grey-Winged Gull."

Lin Chen handed over the meat ticket, and a silver note also appeared in Jiang Qing's hand.

A silver note with a denomination of fifty taels.

A green ticket face—this was the first time Lin Chen had seen a silver note of such a large denomination.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie?"

After seeing the denomination clearly, Lin Chen didn't reach out to take it, but was somewhat puzzled; Jiang Jiang Shijie gave him a fifty-tael silver note—wouldn't that mean she didn't save any money at all?

He had originally thought that Jiang Jiang Shijie could just give him twenty taels; Jiang Jiang Shijie would save five taels, and he would earn twenty taels.

"For me, a few taels of silver doesn't matter."

Seeming to see Lin Chen's confusion, Jiang Qing explained very directly.

Lin Chen understood; this Jiang Jiang Shijie saying this wasn't showing off her wealth, and certainly wasn't looking down on him, but was just stating a fact.

He wouldn't have a fragile heart; since Jiang Jiang Shijie is so rich, there's no need to be polite with a wealthy woman.

"Thank you, Jiang Jiang Shijie."

Taking the silver note, Lin Chen said thank you.

"Hmm, you can come find me next month too."

Throwing down this sentence, Jiang Qing left very gracefully.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie is a good person; may good people have peace for a lifetime. This junior brother wishes Jiang Jiang Shijie a smooth path in martial arts."

Lin Chen looked at Jiang Qing's departing back and silently sent his blessings.

With Jiang Jiang Shijie's words, it meant he would have twenty-five taels of silver coming in every month; a bottle of Aperture-Nourishing Pills costs thirty taels, so as long as he finds a way to earn five taels of silver every month, he can maintain his martial arts progress.

Although he is at the tail end, at least he won't be completely left behind.

Putting away the silver note, Lin Chen did not return to the dormitory this time, but walked toward the outside of the martial hall.

During the first lunar month, he had made an appointment with Zhao Jingchuan and the other two; after the four of them entered the martial hall, they would gather in the city once a month.

Yesterday, Zhao Jingchuan had the gatekeeper pass a message; everyone had agreed to meet today.

……

……

Cloud Hidden Martial Hall!

Before Lin Chen had even walked to the martial hall gate, a voice came from the front left: "Senior Lin Lin Shidi, over here!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, in front of the Cloud Hidden Martial Hall, at a tea stall leaning against the corner, Zhao Jingchuan and the other two were sitting there.

"Sorry, I came a bit late."

"Senior Lin Lin Shidi is too polite; I also just arrived." Cheng Ying replied with a chuckle; he had joined the Seven Stars Martial Hall, which was the furthest from the Cloud Hidden Martial Hall, spanning almost half the city district.

"Since Senior Lin Lin Shidi has arrived, let's change to another place to talk; I know a good place for us martial artists in the county town."

"Is the place Lin Lin Shidi Zhao is talking about the Wu Yuan?" Lu Yongfeng guessed.

"Yes, it's the Wu Yuan."

Zhao Jingchuan nodded; although Lin Chen was somewhat puzzled, seeing the excitement in the eyes of Lu Yongfeng and Cheng Ying also made him curious about this Wu Yuan.

……

……

"We're here; this is the Wu Yuan."

In the northern region of Poyang County, passing through a quiet path planted with lush trees, the four of them arrived in front of a garden gate.

"Is this the Wu Yuan?"

Looking at the entrance of the Wu Yuan in front of him, Lin Chen was somewhat surprised; the gate of this Wu Yuan was even more imposing than the gates of the major martial halls.

In front of the gate, a pair of stone lions carved with dragons and phoenixes stood majestically, their eyes bright and spirited, making ordinary people feel awe-struck.

Above the lintel, a black-lacquered, gold-edged plaque hung high, with the two characters "Wu Yuan" engraved on it; the handwriting was vigorous and powerful, revealing an unspoken majesty and solemnity.

On the way here, Lin Chen had already learned from Zhao Jingchuan what kind of place the Wu Yuan was.

A place for all martial artists in Poyang County to communicate.

But not just any person learning martial arts could enter the Wu Yuan; to enter the Wu Yuan, the minimum requirement is the Aperture-Opening Stage.

In the Wu Yuan, martial artists can exchange martial arts insights and also conduct resource transactions.

The Wu Yuan gate had no guards, because no one with eyes would dare to enter at will.

Zhao Jingchuan led the way in front, guiding Lin Chen and the other two into the Wu Yuan; after passing through a path paved with bluestone, they finally appeared in a small courtyard.

Although the courtyard was small, it had rockeries and flowing water, as well as a small martial arts field, with all kinds of weapons—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—all available.

"Young Master Zhao."

In the courtyard, a young woman walked over gracefully, bowing deeply in front of everyone, her white silk gauze half-covering the blessings on her chest.

"Miss Wan'er, I don't need anyone to serve me here." Zhao Jingchuan said with a smile.

"Alright, then I will notify the servants; without the Young Master's summons, they are not to come in and disturb you." The woman spoke gently and softly, and after retreating a few steps, she turned and left.

"Lin Lin Shixiong Zhao, you're quite something; to be able to get a courtyard in the Wu Yuan—I heard from a senior brother in the martial hall that only those at the Organ Cultivation Stage are qualified to possess a courtyard in the Wu Yuan."

Once the woman's figure disappeared, Cheng Ying looked at Zhao Jingchuan in shock.

"How could I possibly get a courtyard? To tell you the truth, this belongs to an elder in my family. After I signed up for the martial hall, my father took me to visit him, and this elder met me here at that time. That elder is going to leave the county town for a period of time and allowed me to use this courtyard."

Zhao Jingchuan explained simply, and Lin Chen and the others didn't pursue who that elder was.

Who doesn't have a powerful relative?

Everyone has their own secrets and their own connections, which does not conflict with the four of them huddling together to learn martial arts.

"Let's do as before; the four of us will spar first."

Lu Yongfeng looked at Lin Chen, his eyes burning; for him, defeating Lin Chen was already an important motivation for him to move forward on the path of martial arts.

Not jealousy, not hatred, but purely a belief in competition and not admitting defeat.

"It seems Lin Lin Shixiong Lu is very confident; then come on."

Lin Chen smiled slightly; the four of them were all at the Two-Acupuncture Stage, and the gap in strength was not large.

If one wants to open an acupoint within a month in the martial hall, it requires at least two bottles of Aperture-Nourishing Pills; the family backgrounds of Lu Yongfeng and the other three, while decent in the town, are somewhat unrealistic if they want to spend more than seventy taels every month.

One bottle of Aperture-Nourishing Pills a month is the support their families can give them; if they want more resources, they can only rely on themselves to seek them.

"Senior Lin Lin Shidi, be careful!"

Lu Yongfeng had confidence in his eyes; after greeting, his footsteps moved, and with just one step, he was already in front of Lin Chen.

The flexibility of the Seven Stars Fist is not just in the moves, but also in the coordination of footwork.

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly; Lu Yongfeng's progress was very fast, and the Seven Stars Fist should have reached the proficient stage; it seems that in these twenty-plus days, Lu Yongfeng had also been practicing bitterly every day.

It's just that he met him.

Striking out with his right hand, Lin Chen used his speed to strike after the opponent, his palm striking the back of Lu Yongfeng's fist with extreme precision.

Slap!

The crisp sound of the palm made Lu Yongfeng stunned; his right hand hung low, and he didn't strike again, standing blankly on the spot.

"What's wrong with Lin Lin Shixiong Lu?"

Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying were puzzled; even if the first move was at a disadvantage, Lin Lin Shixiong Lu shouldn't stop there, right?

On the spot, only Lu Yongfeng knew clearly in his heart why he had stopped.

Lin Chen's palm strike on the back of his hand was not only extremely precise in position, but the force within the palm surged into his fist like water waves, forcing back the energy he had gathered on the surface of his fist.

The energy was cut off; if it were a life-and-death struggle, it would mean he had lost the initiative and had already been defeated long ago.

"Senior Lin Lin Shidi, has your Breeze Palm reached mastery?"

After three breaths, Lu Yongfeng asked the guess he couldn't quite believe.

Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying on the side widened their eyes even more; what is going on?

What nonsense is Lin Lin Shixiong Lu talking about?

Senior Lin Lin Shidi's Breeze Palm reached mastery?

They would rather believe that Senior Lin Lin Shidi had already opened four acupoints than believe this.

"Not yet." Lin Chen answered faintly.

"I concede."

Lu Yongfeng looked deeply at Lin Chen; he understood in his heart that Senior Lin Lin Shidi said it hadn't reached it, but he was afraid it wasn't far off.

PS: Brothers, today the recommendation traffic didn't come, and it's quite dangerous to compete for next week's Sanjiang. If you have monthly tickets, can you cast one for Jiudeng? We can only rely on the new book list to strive for exposure to increase readers coming in and increase follow-readings.

If it's too far off, Jiudeng won't care and will just wait, but the editor said that we are only one or two hundred paid readers' follow-readings away from the requirement. Let's fight for it; I beg you!

(End of chapter)