Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 193 Dignity lies only in the edge of the sword
Close to the river town.

Zhang Dingfeng has been accompanying Luo Wen and the other two these days. As the deputy director of the Military Affairs Department, he shouldn't have done this, but knowing that Lord Kong was coming, he simply waited in Kaohe Town.

Compared to Zhang Dingfeng's leisure, Luo Wen and the other two were in great pain at the moment.

When he returned to Linhu Village, he was stopped outside the village entrance and didn't even see Lin Chen.

As admissions instructors at the martial arts academy, they had never been ignored like this before.

If it were any other students, they would have walked away long ago.

The martial arts academy is not short of a talented young man.

But Zhang Dingfeng's words made them unable to vent their anger.

"It seems that when Pei Qingming was around, your martial arts academy also waited outside the Pei Mansion for several months."

If Lin Chen had only left his name on the Martial Arts Mountain three times, they would have refuted that Lin Chen had no way to compare with Pei Qingming. However, Lin Chen left his name on the Martial Arts Mountain three times, and defeated Pei Qingming in the last time, which was a speechless rebuttal.

"Master Zhang, who are you today?"

Luo Wen saw that Zhang Dingfeng did not call them for tea as usual today. After seeing the visitor, he walked towards the town entrance. He could not help but ask.

"Lord Kong is coming to Kaohe Town in person. As the deputy director of the Jiangnan Dao Military Administration Department, I have to go and greet him."

"Master Kong? Which Master Kong?"

Zhang Dingfeng said unhappily, "Which Lord Kong is there in Daliang that I can go and greet?"

Hearing Zhang Dingfeng's words, Luo Wen was stunned, his pupils suddenly shrank: "Minister Kong of the Military Affairs Department?"

Zhang Dingfeng ignored Luo Wen and walked towards the entrance of Kaohe Town. Now he understood that Luo Wen and others were not qualified to recruit Lin Chen. The Martial Academy must at least send a vice president to come in person. Even if Jiangnan Dao wanted to negotiate some conditions with the Martial Academy, it could talk to the vice president.

What's more, Senior Brother Shao has already made arrangements, so there is no need for him to accompany these three guys here to drink tea every day.

Seeing Zhang Dingfeng leaving, Luo Wen could no longer sit still. Ye Yuan and Song Zhixue learned from Luo Wen that it was Lord Kong who had arrived. After knowing the situation, they also decided to go to the town entrance to greet him.

"The three junior brothers should stay in the yard and continue drinking tea."

Seeing Luo Wen and the other two following behind, Zhang Dingfeng stopped, looked at the three people with puzzled eyes, and continued: "This is Lord Kong's request."

Lord Kong?
Luo Wen and the other two did not expect that Lord Kong would not allow them to greet them, and their faces looked a little ugly.

His ugly expression was not because he had any resentment towards Lord Kong, but because he was a little nervous.

Although the Martial Arts Academy is not under the jurisdiction of Lord Kong, Lord Kong's status is different. This is a first-rank warrior. If he does not allow them to go to greet him, this would be a big deal.

The three of them looked at each other and understood where the problem lay.

I'm afraid that their joint efforts to put pressure on Lin Chen will make Lord Kong unhappy.

Zhang Dingfeng didn't care about the expressions of these three people. Although the Martial Arts Academy was not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Military Affairs, it was also for cultivating martial arts talents for Daliang. However, these three people joined forces to put pressure on Lin Chen. After all, many years had passed, and some people in the Martial Arts Academy had changed their minds. They really regarded themselves as the Martial Arts Academy of the Nine Countries.

……

……

The entrance of the village by the lake.

Lin Chen soon saw a team and noticed the white-haired old man at the front of the team.

"Student Jia Nanzhu greets Master Kong."

Hearing the teacher's words, Lin Chen was stunned. Is the teacher the disciple of this Lord Kong?
If that's the case, then I am the disciple's grandson?
So, how should I address myself?
"Disciple Lin Chen greets Master."

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Chen spoke. No matter whether he understood it right or not, children always speak without restraint.

At my age, in the eyes of these strong men, I am just a young boy, so it doesn't matter even if I say something wrong.

Everyone at the scene suddenly became silent because of Lin Chen's words.

Kong Qifeng, who was sitting on the horse, twitched his face for a moment, and after a while he said, "You called me the wrong name. Your teacher and I are not master and disciple."

"what!"

Lin Chen looked at his teacher in surprise. There was no master-disciple relationship, so the teacher called himself a student?

"Ahem, when I first became a mid-level warrior, I listened to Master Kong's lectures and benefited a lot from them."

Jia Nanzhu did not expect that his disciple would do such a thing. He was even more shameless than herself. She shamelessly called herself a student, and he dared to call himself a disciple's grandson.

It's really a good example of climbing up the ladder.

Don't anger Lord Kong, thinking that he was the one who secretly told Lin Chen to say this.

"The one who teaches, educates and resolves doubts is a teacher. It is reasonable for a teacher to call him a student. As a disciple, it is not wrong to call Master Kong a disciple."

"What a great saying. A teacher can teach, impart knowledge and answer questions. He is quite eloquent."

Kong Qifeng burst into laughter. When he laughed, everyone at the scene breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Lord Kong was not angry.

Su Lingchuan, who was standing behind the crowd, also breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Chen was really bold in saying that. Lord Kong was of such a high status.

"Lin Chen, take me around your Linhu Village. Others... don't go in and disturb the villagers."

Kong Qifeng got off the horse and looked back at Shao Jingshan. Shao Jingshan nodded, knowing that Lord Kong had something to say to Lin Chen in private.

"Yes!"

Lin Chen was not stage-frightened. He responded softly and took the old man into the village. As for the others, they stood at the entrance of the village waiting.

The villagers of Linhu Village didn't know that an important person was coming today. They just looked at Lin Chen and the old man with curiosity, but did not ask any questions.

"You work from sunrise to sunset and rest from sunset to sunrise. Your Linhu Village is a leisurely place."

Hearing what Lord Kong said, Lin Chen just smiled. He understood Lord Kong's mentality, just like many city people in his previous life yearned for life in the countryside.

But what they yearn for is the beautiful scenery of the countryside, the fields of golden rapeseed flowers, and the lush green rows of rice seedlings, but they have not seen the hard work of the farmers carrying hoes and going out early and coming back late.

"Since you think highly of Linhu Village, you might as well stay in the village for a few more days."

"Why, do you mean that I just came here in a hurry and will leave soon?"

Kong Qifeng looked at Lin Chen, and Lin Chen explained: "I just feel that with your status and position, Master Kong, you are so busy that you don't have much time to rest."

"You... don't look like a fisherman's son."

Kong Qifeng stared at Lin Chen with his old eyes. Lin Chen felt as if he was being seen through. The look in this Lord Kong's eyes did not have that kind of sharp oppressive feeling, but the depth in his pupils seemed to be able to see through everything in the world.

"When I was young, I liked reading books and listening to storytellers. The storytellers told the most stories about the rich and powerful. I understood them after listening to them many times. However, some storytellers themselves had never seen how the rich and powerful lived. The stories sounded interesting at first, but once I understood them a little better, I found that they were full of loopholes."

"Oh, tell me."

"There was once a storyteller who told a story about a nobleman who celebrated his 60th birthday. This gentleman had obviously never seen a nobleman celebrate his birthday. In the story, he said that the table was full of meat dishes, including pork, beef, mutton, chicken, duck and goose... When I heard it at the time, I thought that this nobleman's birthday banquet was extraordinary. But after I learned martial arts and joined a martial arts school, I realized that in addition to poultry, there are many other precious poultry meats, not to mention monster meat..."

Lin Chen raised the corner of his mouth: "The storyteller was talking about that powerful nobleman, who was the mayor of a prefecture. Thinking back on it now, it's a bit funny. Poor people really can't make up stories, especially stories about powerful people." Kong Qifeng also showed a smile on his face. This story is interesting.

"In the final analysis, it's because Poyang County is too poor, and ordinary people don't have much knowledge. I heard from my teacher that even ordinary people in other walks of life know about poultry meat, but I didn't know that the meat of rare birds can replenish qi and blood until I entered the martial arts hall at the age of sixteen."

Lin Chen stole a glance at Lord Kong's expression, and seeing that Lord Kong's expression did not change, he continued, "Teacher told me about the past of Jiangnan Road. Jiangnan Road was once a rich and prosperous place with many martial artists. However, due to some reasons, it gradually declined and has now fallen to the bottom of the list of major roads. If it weren't for the Ministry of Martial Arts to take care of Jiangnan Road, I'm afraid that within a hundred years, the martial arts of Jiangnan Road would have completely disappeared."

Crying poor!

Can't cry openly.

You need to have certain verbal skills.

After getting the teacher's attention, Lin Chen thought about how to complain to Mr. Kong.

If this problem arises, it is definitely not Lord Kong’s fault. Who is to blame?
Is it the predecessors who are wrong?
Kong Qifeng's expression remained unchanged, his mind was clear as a mirror. Guys like Shao Jingshan didn't dare to cry poor in front of him. Even if he let Lin Chen, the little guy, speak to him, he couldn't be angry with a junior as he was a first-class warrior.

"As for the matter at the Martial Academy this time, disciples..."

"I know all of this. Since they have been wronged in the martial arts academy, just leave them alone."

Kong Qifeng still interrupted Lin Chen's words. This little guy had a good eloquence. If he continued, he might talk for half an hour. He really didn't have much time to stay in Linhu Village. This time he came to see Lin Chen in person, more because he needed to come to Jiangnan Road and had something important to announce.

"Since your teacher told you that Jiangnan Road used to be a rich and prosperous place with a flourishing martial arts, do you know why Jiangnan Road is at the bottom now?"

"The teacher never told his disciples the reason." Lin Chen shook his head.

"That's because Jiangnan Dao experienced a great war with the demons. In order to completely wipe out the demons, Daliang drove all the demons into the deep mountains and lakes of Jiangnan Dao. From this perspective, the other Daos of Daliang are indeed ashamed of you Jiangnan Dao."

"The demon race is fighting in Jiangnan Road?"

Lin Chen was stunned, he really had not thought that this would happen. The people of Jiangnan Road made great sacrifices for the entire Daliang.

"Since you have been to the special training ground, you should have known about the monster race. I think you should also know why the people of Daliang are unaware of the existence of the monster race."

"Ah."

Kong Qifeng looked at Lin Chen and said, "Recently, the court has been arguing over whether to inform the people about the demon tribe. Tell me what you think."

"My opinion?" Lin Chen pointed at himself and said helplessly, "Sir, you think too highly of me. I am just a young boy and I don't know much about state affairs, so I won't make any comments."

"You can say whatever you want. I'm the only one here. Are you afraid that I'll sell you out? You're so young and hesitant, just like those old-timers, without any energy."

Kong Qifeng's face was stern, and he suddenly scolded. Lin Chen was unmoved, and just clasped his fists and said: "You are right, sir. I am indeed cautious and careful in doing things. I also want to point out the world and inspire words...but I can't do it."

"My family is poor. My father is just a fisherman in the village, and my mother is just a woman in the village. If I am not careful and say something wrong, I may offend the powerful. The wrath of any rank warrior is beyond my ability to bear. I can say that I have been walking on thin ice all the way, and I dare not make any mistakes."

Looking at Lin Chen's stubborn look, Kong Qifeng's eyes were also moved. It is indeed not easy for a child from a poor family.

"This time I came to Jiangnan Dao, in addition to seeing you, there is another thing, which is to pay tribute to the martyrs who died in the battle between Jiangnan Dao and the demon clan."

Kong Qifeng did not make things difficult for Lin Chen. When Lin Chen heard this, his eyes narrowed and he instantly understood the meaning of Mr. Kong's words.

The Minister of Military Affairs, a first-class strong man, personally went to Jiangnan Road to pay tribute to the predecessors who died in the battle with the demon clan. It seems that the Daliang court has already made a decision to inform the people of Daliang about the existence of the demon clan.

"Your Excellency is wise!"

Lin Chen immediately agreed loudly. This was a good thing for Jiangnan Dao.

"There is no objection in the court regarding the announcement of the demon clan. The only thing that has not been decided yet is how to make the announcement. Some people suggest that we just announce the demon clan, without mentioning the harm that the demon clan has caused to the people of Daliang, so as not to cause panic. What do you think about this?"

"I feel it is inappropriate."

Now that Lord Kong has said this, Lin Chen knows that he can no longer refuse.

"What's wrong?"

"This is extremely unfair to our predecessors who sacrificed their lives in the battle against the demons in Jiangnan Dao and Daliang. Only by letting the people know the damage that the demons once caused to Daliang can we make them admire the predecessors who sacrificed their lives in the battle against the demons."

Lin Chen's eyes sparkled. This time, without waiting for Master Kong to continue asking, he continued, "As for whether it will cause panic? I don't think there is any need to worry. Take me for example. When I first heard about the monsters, I was a little shocked, but I didn't feel any fear. After learning from some elders about the harm the monsters had caused to Daliang, I only felt deep hatred in my heart. When I met the monsters, I wanted to skin them alive."

"Well, I heard that you also killed a snake demon."

Before Kong Qifeng came, he had already read all the information about Lin Chen and also knew about Lin Chen killing the snake demon.

"But have you ever thought about this? Daliang shares borders with several other countries, and Zheng and Zhuang have demon tribes. If we publicize the harm done by the demon tribes to Daliang, will it hurt the relationship with our neighboring countries?"

Hearing this, Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh. Damn the neighboring country sentiments.

In my previous life, I met some fools who always told us to let go of our hatred and look forward.

"I believe that there is no such thing as affection between countries. There is only a difference between strong and weak. If Daliang is strong, what can it do even if the neighboring countries are dissatisfied? If Daliang is weak, even if we do nothing, will the neighboring countries live in peace with Daliang?"

"Peace between two countries is definitely not based on feelings or official contracts. There is only one reason for peaceful coexistence: the two sides are equally powerful, or one side is afraid to act rashly for other reasons."

Kong Qifeng's pupils shrank, and his old eyes stared at Lin Chen: "Who told you this?"

"No one has ever told me this. If anything, it's probably because I read a lot of books and came to the conclusion myself. The battle between countries doesn't rely on reason. Reason is only in the fist, and dignity is only on the sword."

Lin Chen faced it calmly. Although he had only been in this strange world for a year, he did feel a sense of belonging to Daliang. Daliang was stable and provided him with an environment for martial arts advancement. In a year, he had a family, brothers and sisters, instructors, and teachers...

If possible, he naturally hopes that Daliang will continue to prosper.

"Reason lies in the fist, and dignity lies on the sword..."

Kong Qifeng savored Lin Chen's words, his eyes sparkling, and after a while he said, "Just let me know what you said, if you are not close to me, don't mention it to others."

"Disciple understands. I'm just reminding you of this. If I'm wrong, just treat it as childish talk." Lin Chen chuckled.

"It's not that a child should say anything without restraint, but it's not appropriate to say that now, especially since you are still going to the martial arts academy. If your words get out, I'm afraid your trip to the academy will be ruined."

After all, the Martial Academy is a place where nine countries jointly allocate training resources. If Lin Chen's remarks were known by the other eight countries, they would definitely put pressure on the Martial Academy not to recruit Lin Chen.

"Thank you for the reminder, Master. I'll make a note of it."

Lin Chen nodded heavily. Seeing that Lin Chen understood what he meant, Kong Qifeng did not continue the conversation. Instead, he said, "Since you have left your name on Wudao Mountain four times, you must have obtained the Wudao Seal. Therefore, I will not give you the Wudao Mountain Jade Pendant. The Wudao Seal is much better than the jade pendant."

The jade pendant is issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs to geniuses who have left their names on the Wudao Mountain. These geniuses have only left their names on the Wudao Mountain once, but as long as they leave their names twice, the Wudao Mountain will issue a martial arts seal.

"Sir, what is the use of this martial arts seal? What are the martial arts points?"

At the beginning, Lord Shao only mentioned "Military Luck" to him, and he seemed to be very secretive. Now that Lord Kong is here, Lin Chen will not miss the opportunity to clarify his doubts.

"Keeping the martial arts seal close to your body will be beneficial to your cultivation, but how much benefit it will bring will vary from person to person. According to what Emperor Taizu said, it involves the concept of martial luck, but martial luck is too illusory. Except for Emperor Taizu, none of us have been able to comprehend it."

"As for the martial arts points, they are used for the next two steps when you climb the Martial Arts Mountain. The second step of the Martial Arts Mountain is also known as the Martial Arts Performance Stage. On the Martial Arts Performance Stage, your comprehension will be improved, which will be of great benefit to your comprehension of martial arts, including breaking through the bottleneck of your realm."

Hearing what Lord Kong said, Lin Chen blinked. Isn't that an amplified version of his own title [Black to the End]?

"You can only experience the mysteries of Wudao Mountain in the future. I heard that you created a set of palm techniques. Show it to me."

(End of this chapter)