[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback":3,"chapter-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising from Obscurity: My Martial Path Comeback",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265890,4424,"Chapter 55: Strength Can","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>Linhu Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire village was in an uproar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen defeated Zhou Fei from Liuzhuang; the news spread rapidly through the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was even beginning to spread to neighboring villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Lin Chen is truly formidable—Zhou Fei trained at the martial arts academy for two years, yet Lin Chen knocked him down in two strikes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—he’s the top student of the Martial Hall. What’s Zhou Fei? He only cultivated Qi after two years; they’re not even on the same level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our village chief is truly shrewd. When he asked everyone to pool money, some grumbled behind their backs—but now they see how much benefit Lin Chen brings to our village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu, as the elder village chief, held great prestige and could command villagers to act, but when it came to asking them to contribute money, a small group still harbored reluctance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after today, none of those villagers dared complain anymore!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers of Linhu were exhilarated, discussing the matter—and as they talked, someone suddenly brought up a new topic, and the conversation returned to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Chaoyang, what a fool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lin family ancestral home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the family split, the ancestral home had lost its former bustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun, his age spots clearly visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the start of the year to now, his physical decline was plainly obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Older brother, what’s going on in the village? I just heard a commotion outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai, his eldest son, chuckled in reply: “Father, people from Liuzhuang clashed with our village. Zhou Fei, the grandson of their chief, trained at the academy for a year and thought himself a martial artist—he dared attack our village, but Lin Chen knocked him down in two strikes. It was so satisfying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai had been present at the scene and now vividly recounted the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Zhou Fei was always bragged about as some genius—no comparison to Little Chen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Chen? You accept him as your nephew, but he may not accept you as his uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Lin Hai’s wife snorted, and instantly, both Lin Chaoyang and Lin Hai’s expressions turned awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about, woman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai, seeing his father’s silence, glared at his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not lying—the whole village is saying it. Everyone says Father is foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wife no longer showed the respect she once had for Lin Chaoyang. Lin Chaoyang looked at his eldest daughter-in-law and understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past years, she had diligently served him, constantly speaking sweet words, because she saw value in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the family had split and the land was gone, he, an old man with no money, had lost his worth—and she no longer bothered to pretend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His third son’s family came to the ancestral home only during festivals, bringing a little food. His second son, though never forced to split like the third, had long resented him as a father. Lin Xi and Lin Hui rarely visited either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t anyone else’s fault—it was his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had truly been an old fool, mistaking the Lin family’s prodigy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you just keep quiet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will keeping quiet help? Do you still expect Lin Chen to recognize you as his uncle or acknowledge you as his grandfather? Our only hope now is Ming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m telling you, woman—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang’s gaze grew distant; he no longer wished to listen to his son and daughter-in-law’s quarrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linhu Village, ancestral hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Chief Zhao Canghu brought Lin Chen again to offer sacrifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen didn’t know what to say—defeating a martial artist from a neighboring village felt like a general winning a war against a foreign kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fighting a neighboring village is no different from a general leading an expedition—first, pay respects to our ancestors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder chief knew what Lin Chen was thinking. He lit an incense stick and handed it to Lin Chen. After Lin Chen bowed, he placed the incense in the censer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief, will this incident have any aftermath?” Lin Chen asked after the ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t stay in the village long—he feared Liuzhuang might seek revenge later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No aftermath. You’ve established your authority today; those people from Liuzhuang are terrified—they won’t dare trouble our village again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu squinted his old eyes: “Instead, our village can expand our fishing grounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You and the villagers decide on this matter—I fully support it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen was pleased with the chief’s handling of affairs—it was exactly right. Liuzhuang struck first, but that didn’t mean they could just walk away unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you dare provoke, you must pay the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll handle village affairs. Don’t worry—Liuzhuang won’t dare touch your family. But for safety, when your father and elder brother go fishing, have others from the village accompany them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu looked at Lin Chen with concern: “But what about the county martial arts academy? Will they cause you trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial artists ultimately rely on strength. Zhou Fei had opened three Qi points; I opened four—I defeated him. The Mantis Martial Academy won’t defend Zhou Fei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mantis Martial Academy can’t afford the shame!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suspect that once our village takes over Liuzhuang’s fishing grounds, Old Zhou Quan will go to town to file a complaint. But we’re in the right—they struck first. We have nothing to fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the town affairs are your burden, Chief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t speak of burden—without you, our village would’ve suffered. Train hard. If you run into trouble, write back. This old bone still has ways to help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu patted Lin Chen’s shoulder. Lin Chen understood—the chief would find a way to raise more money if he needed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Quan paid twenty-one taels. For the seven injured men, make each pay one tael—the remaining two taels are yours. Take them to the academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief, won’t this seem unfair?” Lin Chen hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without your intervention, they wouldn’t have gotten a single tael. I checked—their injuries weren’t serious; ten days’ rest will heal them. One tael is already a profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu smiled: “I’ve already settled it with them. Everyone agrees. Let’s proceed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll follow your orders, Chief.” Lin Chen smiled faintly and no longer refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liuzhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, Lin Chen struck too hard. The physician says Fei won’t be able to get out of bed for three months. We must report this to the Mantis Martial Academy’s instructor—he’ll avenge Fei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Quan glared at his son: “Lin Chen joined the academy this year. Fei trained there for a year—and still lost? Do you think the Mantis Academy will defend Fei? If word gets out, the instructor will only blame Fei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we just let it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else do you want to do?” Zhou Quan glared. “Go confront Lin Chen yourself—I won’t stop you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Quan’s son looked crestfallen—he dared not confront Lin Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Zhao Canghu isn’t easy to deal with. Now that Linhu has the upper hand, I fear they’ll seize some of our fishing waters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What should we do then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only the town magistrate can resolve this. Get him to persuade Old Zhao Canghu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Quan’s face twisted with pain—bribing the magistrate meant spending more money. But if they didn’t pay, and Linhu seized their fishing grounds, the villagers would blame the Zhou family, resent them, and make it impossible for his eldest and second sons to remain village chiefs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still that pine forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Chen was no longer darting through the trees—he stood atop the treetops, swift as a swallow, stepping lightly on the pine branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his perch, Lin Chen caught sight of the chief approaching. He lightly tapped his right foot, executed a swallow’s return, and landed gracefully on the ground, waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Chen, done training?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew you were coming—I waited for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu chuckled: “Stop flattery. I’ve got good news—Old Zhou Quan really went to the town magistrate, accusing our village of encroaching on Liuzhuang’s fishing grounds. The magistrate threw him out—right in front of his door, even before he could set down his gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen was surprised. Logically, even if the magistrate disapproved of Liuzhuang’s provocation, he wouldn’t have expelled Zhou Quan so harshly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he warning Zhou Quan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I inquired. The news of our village’s incident reached town the same day. Several prominent families voiced their opinion: Liuzhuang brought this on itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The proprietor of Cheng’s Cloth Shop, Zhao’s Tavern, Lu’s Pharmacy… even Xu’s and Yan’s families…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Chen instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fellow apprentices’ families had backed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His martial network in Kehetown was already formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Fei couldn’t match him in strength—and his connections were even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1457,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8ab8d58fbc742f9f43cfd1d437936439bc5dc155d1c77005e52ec504b84eb259","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-56","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-54",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]