Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 327 Dingnan Gongfang returns to the south
Boom boom boom!
When the people of the capital of Daliang heard the twelve bells ring out, their expressions became solemn.

The twelve bells only resound when the Great Liang Dynasty faces a life-or-death crisis.

Several months ago, many people, especially the younger generation, did not know what the twelve bells represented until recently when all twelve bells rang.

The twelve bells rang out because the Great Liang was engaged in a full-scale war with the demon race in the northern border region.

Why is it playing now?

At this moment, several riders galloped in through the gates of Kyoto.

Good news!

"Great news!"

"The Zhenbei Army will completely wipe out the demon race in the northern frontier, ensuring the eternal stability of the northern frontier of our Great Liang!"

"The Zhenbei Army will completely wipe out the demon race in the northern frontier, ensuring the eternal stability of the northern frontier of our Great Liang!"

Upon hearing the shouts, the city gate guards immediately made way, and the civilians who were about to enter the city also made way, allowing the cavalrymen to gallop into the city while shouting.

"The demon race of the Northern Frontier has been wiped out?"

"Heaven blesses my Great Liang. The demons of the Northern Frontier have plagued my Great Liang for hundreds of years, but now they have finally been destroyed."

Many people were stunned when they heard the sound of cavalry, but then they became extremely excited. Even though most of them had never been to the Northern Frontier, it did not diminish their hatred for the demons of the Northern Frontier.

From the Great Liang Dynasty and even the previous dynasty... the demon race of the Northern Frontier has always harassed the border and harmed the people.

Now, the Great Liang has finally eliminated this hidden danger.

Many martial artists also had expressions of reminiscence on their faces. They had all been to the Northern Frontier. Even if they hadn't been there themselves, some of their fellow disciples had, and many of their relatives and friends had even perished there.

Now, these dead people can finally rest in peace.

On this day, Kyoto went completely mad.

In restaurants, groups of strangers could sit together, and in many mansions, incense smoke rose.

Remember to tell your grandfather at the family ancestral sacrifice!
……

……

At the same time, the news began to spread to other parts of Daliang.

Straight Road, Xichuan Road, Jiangnan Road...

The common people rejoiced upon hearing this, and the martial artists were greatly encouraged.

Linhu Village.

Zhao Zanghu, who was lying on the rattan chair with his eyes half-closed, immediately said, "Ancestral worship, arrange the ancestral worship."

"Village chief, this matter has nothing to do with our village, so why do we still need to perform ancestral rites?"

"You don't know anything! Our village also belongs to Daliang, and we are all people of Daliang. Daliang destroyed the Northern Frontier Demon Clan. Isn't this a great joyous occasion? Shouldn't we inform our ancestors and offer sacrifices to their spirits in heaven?"

The villagers curled their lip upon hearing this. The ancestors of Linhu Village, going back five generations, were all fishermen, and at that time, they didn't even know that there was such a thing as a demon race in the northern frontier.

"You just go because I tell you to? Do you think I can't command you?"

"No, we'll go right away."

Watching the young men from the village run away dejectedly, Zhao Zanghu snorted. Such a joyous occasion as ancestor worship was not a problem in itself. Besides... recently, the children in the village who were in the martial arts hall were all about to break through to the Qi Refining stage, which was the time to spend money. If they didn't worship their ancestors, how could they invite those wealthy families to come? How could they sell the village's cemetery plots?
"I wonder when Lin Chen will come back. Once he returns, the cemetery plots will be easier to sell..."

……

……

Southern part of Daliang.

Leave the fire path.

This is the southernmost road in Daliang.

A carriage arrived at Xingdao Prefecture, which is located on the Huodao Road: Nanli Prefecture.

At the city gate, a middle-aged man looked at the sign on the carriage in front of him, smiled, and walked quickly over.

"Is it Young Master Lin?"

"It is indeed this junior." The carriage curtain was pushed open, and Lin Chen stepped out.

"Young Master Lin, the Duke is already waiting at his residence and has specially sent me to greet you."

"How could I, a junior, be worthy of Lord Dingnan's waiting?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen immediately jumped off the carriage. He had come to Li Huo Dao because His Majesty had told him that Li Huo Dao of Daliang possessed fire attribute energy from innate energy sources.

That's why he traveled directly from Kyoto to Rikado, a journey that took seven days.

"Young Master Lin, there's no need to dismount. The Duke is very protective of you younger generation. Just get in the carriage and follow me. Not long ago, a group of young martial artists came to Li Huo Dao, and the Duke personally received them."

The middle-aged man explained with a smile that both a Marquis and a Duke in Beixiao and Nanfang valued the younger generation of Daliang highly. The Duke had said more than once that the future of Daliang depended on the young people.

All he can do is support these young people for a few more years and protect them from the storms of life.

Like the old Marquis of Zhenbei, the Duke was wholeheartedly devoted to the Great Liang and never had any selfish motives.

Unless there is a particularly urgent military situation that requires the Duke's attention, he will always meet with any young martial artist who comes to Li Huo Dao to offer encouragement.

Lin Chen, needless to say, is number one on the Hidden Dragon List and the Heavenly List, making him the undisputed number one among the younger generation of Liang. After receiving the message from the capital, the Duke specially took time to stay at the mansion these past few days.

Lin Chen ultimately did not mount his horse, but followed the middle-aged man on foot into the city, heading towards the Duke's mansion.

Currently, there is only one Duke in the entire Liang Dynasty, namely the Duke of Dingnan. It's not that the old Marquis of Zhenbei didn't have enough achievements, but when the court wanted to confer the title of Duke on the old Marquis of Zhenbei, he refused.

How can one serve the public good without exterminating the demon race?

The old Marquis of Zhenbei rejected the offer with just this one sentence: "If the descendants of my Xiao family want to be granted the title of Duke, they must first wipe out the demon race in the northern border. Otherwise, no matter how great their achievements are, it won't be enough."

This was an encouragement from the old Marquis of Zhenbei to his descendants, so that they would not rest on their laurels and lose their unwavering resolve to fight for the Northern Frontier demons.

The Duke of Fangguo's Mansion.

Before the gate bearing the imperial plaque, Lin Chen followed the middle-aged man into the mansion and headed straight for the main hall.

Before Lin Chen could even enter the lobby, an elderly man appeared at the entrance, looking at him with a kind smile.

"Indeed, he is a young prodigy of our Great Liang."

"Junior Lin Chen greets Lord Fang!"

Lin Chen bowed respectfully, and Fang Funan stepped forward and grasped Lin Chen's hand: "No need for formalities, come in with me."

Feeling the old man's warm, large hand, Lin Chen truly felt the care and concern that Master Fang had for them, the younger generation.

Given Lord Fang's status, he could have easily sat in the main hall and waited for me to enter. There was no need for him to wait at the entrance of the main hall. Instead, he took the initiative to shake my hand, just like a family elder.

"When you became a model martial arts student in Jiangnan Dao, you wrote that letter, 'Words to My Junior Brother in Jiangnan Dao,' which I read immediately. It was well written. Although the language was not fancy, it was sincere and heartfelt. You have a pure heart for martial arts, which is truly rare."

Fang Funan held Lin Chen's hand with satisfaction in his eyes. Like Brother Xiao, he hoped to see a great number of talented martial artists emerge in the younger generation of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Unfortunately, Brother Xiao left a step too early.

If Brother Xiao could see Pei Qingming reach the upper rank, see Lin Chen take first place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and see the Great Liang annihilate the Northern Frontier Demon Clan, he would truly have no regrets.

A hint of sadness flashed in Fang Funan's eyes, but he immediately smiled again and said, "Back then, you won the title of Model Martial Arts Student of Daliang and left your name on Martial Arts Mountain seven times. My grandson was a little unconvinced when he saw me praising you every day, and he kept wanting to have a match with you."

Hearing this, Lin Chen smiled. The old Duke must be referring to Fang Zhan.

"Junior Brother Fang is quite strong."

"You don't need to say such polite things to me."

Fang Funan patted Lin Chen's hand: "My grandson is quite strong among his peers, but he is still far behind you. I did this on purpose, praising you in front of him to arouse his competitive spirit and make him choose to go to Canglan Martial Academy so that he can see what a real genius is."

Lin Chen smiled. He finally understood why Junior Brother Fang had come to Canglan Martial Academy. It turned out that this old man was behind the scenes.

“My grandson came back during the Chinese New Year and he spoke highly of you. You are the first person his age to receive such praise from him. What you say to him now is probably more effective than what I, as his grandfather, have to say.”

"You flatter me too much, my lord. Junior Brother Fang is just showing me respect as his senior brother."

"Haha, he might disagree with what his grandfather says, but he'll definitely listen to what you, his senior brother, say."

Fang Funan let out a hearty laugh, not continuing the topic, but changing the subject: "The purpose of your visit has already been told to me in Kyoto, but the location of that underground fire is not good. I will personally escort you there tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)