[{"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-91":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},2265926,4424,"Chapter 91: The Joy of Youth Lies in the Future","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-91",91,"\u003Cp>Below the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd dispersed, leaving only the villagers of Linhu Village behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ancestral worship—return to the village for ancestral worship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu was deeply moved; he slapped Gu Fei on the shoulder: “Xiao Fei, go back and tell the villagers to clean the ancestral hall—Lin Chen will return to the village for ancestral worship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For major events, ancestral worship is required.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei’s lips twitched; seeing Lin Chen approaching, he wanted to say a few words to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Village Chief, can’t you send someone else back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a martial cultivator too—your legs are swift. If not you, then who? Go back right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei couldn’t think of a rebuttal and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Lin, please go ahead. When you find the letter, be sure to let me know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua’er saw the villagers of Linhu Village staring at Lin Chen and realized she shouldn’t interrupt his celebration with family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Hua, don’t worry—the letter won’t be lost,” Lin Chen reassured her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, I believe Young Master Lin can recover it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua’er now understood clearly: the letter in her bosom had been stolen, but now that Young Master Lin had won first place, the government office officials would surely help retrieve it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hua’er depart, Lin Chen walked toward his parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did A-Fei leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving before the villagers, having accepted their praise along the way, Lin Chen approached the Village Chief and his parents, curiously asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I sent Gu Fei back to deliver the good news. You won first place—that’s a major event for Linhu Village. We must perform ancestral worship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ancestral worship?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen fell silent. The Village Chief seemed especially devoted to ancestral worship—he’d led it twice already this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do we need to return to the martial academy? If you’re busy, there’s no rush—we can postpone it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Chen’s silence, Zhao Canghu assumed Lin Chen was occupied and might have to return to the academy; he immediately offered him an out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need to return to the academy today—I can return to the village for ancestral worship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen ultimately agreed. He understood why the Village Chief was so eager for ancestral worship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he hoped Lin Chen would feel more belonging to the village, since the ancestral hall also held the Lin family’s ancestors. Second, he wanted to set an example for the village youths. Third… perhaps it was just the Village Chief’s personal habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, then let’s return to the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu waved his hand, preparing to lead the villagers back, when Lin Chen called out to stop him—he saw Lin Xiuyong approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Lin, the letter has been found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Found?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… but I heard someone picked up two letters and turned them in to the Wuzheng Office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the letter had reached the Wuzheng Office, Lin Chen was surprised but relieved—if it was in their hands, it was as good as recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the claim that someone had merely “picked it up,” Lin Chen didn’t believe it for a second. The most likely scenario was that the thief had read the letter’s contents, saw Lin Chen’s performance on the arena, realized the letter was dangerous, dared not destroy it, and dared not hand it to him directly—so he turned it over to the Wuzheng Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Brother Lin. I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Lin, you’re too kind. I won’t disturb you further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiuyong was perceptive and took his leave, but Lin Chen thought for a moment and said: “Brother Lin, if you don’t mind, come with us to the village for a drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the Village Chief’s style, Lin Chen could predict that after ancestral worship, there would be a feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiuyong was merely a government office runner—in modern terms, a temporary worker—but from the incident with Qianqian, it was clear such runners were most helpful to the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his current strength and demonstrated potential, even securing the favor of a Constable wouldn’t be hard—but those Constables might respect him, yet wouldn’t respect the villagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For small matters, people like Lin Xiuyong were the most effective at resolving issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he devoted himself to martial cultivation, the Village Chief couldn’t possibly come to him for every minor village problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiuyong froze—he hadn’t expected Lin Chen to invite him to Linhu Village for a drink. The feast wine would be coarse, but was that what he cared about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Young Master Lin invites me, then I’ll boldly beg for a cup of your humble wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu, seeing Lin Chen invite Lin Xiuyong, wore a look of quiet satisfaction—Lin Chen hadn’t forgotten his roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, Mother, let’s return to the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, back to the village,” Lin Mu gripped her son’s arm, overflowing with pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linhu Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei, who had returned ahead, shouted as soon as he entered the village: “Good news! Lin Chen won first place in the academy competition—he’s returning to the village for ancestral worship!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aunt Li, bring your tables and benches to the ancestral hall entrance—today we’re holding a feast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Gen, stop standing there—go clean the ancestral hall!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you ordering around? Why don’t you clean it yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know the rules! Only Uncle Gen here cleans the ancestral hall best—those four corners, three lines, two verticals…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s ‘four corners, three lords.’ Never mind—you wouldn’t understand anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Gen grumbled as he fetched a broom from his house, pride on his face. Youngsters didn’t understand the rules—cleaning the ancestral hall wasn’t simple. You had to start from the four corners, in proper order, so as not to disturb the ancestors…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei, back in the village, shouted at the top of his lungs, going door to door—almost everyone in the village now knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most villagers left behind were women and children. The children didn’t understand what “first place in the competition” meant, but they understood “feast,” and each one beamed as they ran toward the ancestral hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lin family homestead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang’s face was heavily spotted with age marks, his temples snow-white; he lay in the courtyard basking in the sun. The commotion outside stirred him—he opened his clouded eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Da, what’s going on outside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, I just heard Gu Fei shout—Lin Chen won first place in this year’s academy competition. The Village Chief will bring him back for ancestral worship, and we’re holding a feast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai stepped out from the courtyard and answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Chen won first place in the academy competition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai’s wife stepped out from the inner room, a flicker of jealousy on her face—quickly masked: “This is wonderful news! You didn’t go to the spring ancestral worship—this time you absolutely must go. After all, Lin Chen is your grandson, isn’t he? I’ve heard the Wuzheng Office has strict rules—if a student disrespects elders or lacks filial piety, they’re punished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense are you spouting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai glared at his wife: “Father, if you don’t want to go, then don’t go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai himself knew his father carried a grudge—and if he went to the ancestral hall, the villagers might mock him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the Wuzheng Office really have such a rule?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang thought deeper. These days, he’d come to understand much—he had been wrong back then. He no longer resented his grandson for refusing to acknowledge him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he worried: if Lin Chen were labeled “filialless,” would it harm him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, would I lie to you? If you go to the ancestral hall, Lin Chen will have to personally support you. His status has changed—he can’t act as recklessly as before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang paused, then said: “Fine, I’ll go. Da, bring me the clothes from inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, you really shouldn’t go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lin Hai turned to fetch the clothes, Lin Hai’s second wife entered the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second daughter-in-law, what do you mean? If Father doesn’t go, how will people view Lin Chen? He returns to the village for ancestral worship and doesn’t even meet his grandfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai’s wife was furious, but the second wife snorted: “Some things the Village Chief has covered up for the sake of Chen’er’s reputation—but if you want to keep secrets, you must never do them. Do you, as his mother, not know what Lin Ming did?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second wife didn’t care about her mother-in-law’s anger—she’d come specifically to prevent the old man from going to the ancestral hall, as the Village Chief had instructed her before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Village Chief’s eyes, Lin Chen standing on the arena was already a great joy—regardless of his final rank, he would bring Lin Chen back for ancestral worship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Lin Ming’s incident, no one would have stopped the old man from going—it would have meant he’d made peace, willing to lower his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did Lin Ming do? Lin Ming…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang suddenly barked, his old eyes gaining authority for the first time, cutting off his wife’s words—he turned to the second wife: “Second daughter-in-law, explain clearly—what did Lin Ming do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, not long ago, Qianqian from our village was abducted—and the same day, Lin Ming also left the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second daughter-in-law, what does Qianqian’s abduction have to do with Ming’er? Besides, Qianqian was found—proof she had nothing to do with Ming’er. The villagers have already stopped gossiping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. That’s only because the Village Chief cared about Chen’er’s reputation and the Lin family’s name. Qianqian was found by Chen’er. The city guards confirmed: when Qianqian entered the city, she was accompanied by a man who looked exactly like Lin Ming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second wife looked at Lin Chaoyang and Lin Hai: “Father, Brother, you didn’t know because the Village Chief kept it quiet—including why Qianqian’s mother took her to stay with distant relatives—it was to prevent the child, being young, from blurting out Lin Ming’s name if questioned by villagers. If that happened, the Lin family’s reputation would be ruined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang and Lin Hai, father and son, stared in stunned shock—one at the grandson he’d once favored, the other at his own son, who had committed such an unspeakable act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Linhu Village’s rules, their entire family would be expelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First daughter-in-law, did you know about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang’s bony hand gripped the armrest of his rattan chair tightly, his old eyes fixed on his first wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked panicked, eyes dropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course she knew—the Village Chief told her after returning. He didn’t tell you because you’re old, and he feared you’d fall ill from anger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second wife cut in. She now understood clearly: Lin Chen was the Lin family’s future pillar, while Lin Ming was its poison. This eldest nephew had drained the family’s wealth, achieved nothing in cultivation, and now committed this crime—if they didn’t speak up now, the entire Lin family would be dragged down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could Lin Hai give birth to such a beast of a son?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Hai was furious; the next moment he fell to his knees before Lin Chaoyang: “Father, I am useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slammed three loud kowtows, then rose and turned toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, I’ll go bring back that beast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang didn’t stop his son. Seeing his first wife open her mouth, he barked: “Shut up. Lin Ming reached this point because you, as his mother, and I, as his grandfather, are both to blame. From today on, you won’t wander the village again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother-in-law was dissatisfied and opened her mouth to retort, but Lin Chaoyang gave her no chance: “If you think I, as your father-in-law, have done wrong, you may leave the Lin family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leave the Lin family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother-in-law quickly shook her head. Though Lin Chen had quarreled with her family and even denied his grandfather, this matter was known only to villagers—the village chief had long warned everyone not to spread it outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her own son had made no name for himself in martial arts, so when she returned to her natal home, she had no pride. But since Lin Chen entered the martial academy, her relatives there treated her warmly; even the village chief came out politely to greet her when she returned to the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the village chief returns, tell him I’d like him to come over tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chaoyang instructed the second wife, who nodded in agreement. She had already fulfilled the village chief’s request and had no desire to linger here—she too was headed to the ancestral hall for the commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, Linhu Village was bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lin Chen completed the ancestral rites, his duties were done; the villagers busied themselves preparing the feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meat was bought from town; fish were caught by villagers hauling nets into the lake—this season, vegetables were plentiful in the fields, and every household picked enough from their own plots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rural feasts didn't emphasize refined dishes; they focused on quantity and fullness—as long as there was meat, it was sufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Chen, your three junior brothers have arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before the feast began, a villager shouted loudly. Lin Chen saw Lu Yongfeng, Zhao Jingchuan, and Cheng Ying enter the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three had agreed to meet after returning to the academy, then taken a boat from the dock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Lin, you’ve truly stunned everyone this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Lin, you don’t know—now all eight martial academies are spreading your deeds; even senior brothers of higher realms can’t sit still.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying spoke with smiles; Lu Yongfeng remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Junior Brother Lu, what are you thinking?” Lin Chen asked, curious at his silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Lin, back at the academy, you said your opponent’s strength was equal to yours—was that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jingchuan smiled faintly and replied: “On the way here, Senior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Cheng and I discussed this. Didn’t you exaggerate your humility back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t humility—I hadn’t reached my current level then. I owe this achievement to the help of the three of you. Without your loans, I could never have achieved this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Lin Chen pulled out banknotes from his robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Lin, consider this money our gift for showing up uninvited to drink with you,” Zhao Jingchuan refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen’s expression turned serious. “I welcome you three with all my heart. But you must take this money. If I refuse, others will think I’m greedy for silver. Do you three want to cast me as a petty, avaricious man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three exchanged glances. They had planned before coming that the money Lin Senior Brother borrowed should count as their drinking gift, absolving him of repayment—but they hadn’t considered this angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Lin is right. We’ll take the money,” Lu Yongfeng said first, then Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying followed suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them accept the money, Lin Chen’s face lit up again with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he need money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a gentleman seeks wealth by righteous means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tonight, you three must drink plenty. I’ll introduce you to a guest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiuyong, seeing Lin Chen approach with Zhao Jingchuan and the others, broke off his conversation with villagers and hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Lin, these are my three junior brothers from the martial hall—they’re now academy students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew well: anyone who could call themselves brother to Lin the Young Master was likely a Qi-awakened cultivator. His own role as a constable paled before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the feast began. Lin Chen and the five others sat at the same table as the two Qi-awakened cultivators from Linhu Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cups clinked, wine flowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was most enjoyable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet ended; night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen returned home but did not rest immediately—he continued practicing in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Clear Wind Palm was perfected, the Water Cloud Palm was not yet mastered. The martial path is long; one must not slacken because of temporary achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2649,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2e863bb39d51b7bf65745f69766626267d580a159337ca53c1012f5679b82636","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-92","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-90",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]