Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 471 The Regretful Sheng Family

Quzhou Prefectural Government Office.

Quzhou Military Administration Office.

The two officers, accompanied by a large number of subordinates, hurriedly headed towards a certain street.

Finally, the two sides met at the street corner where the Li family lived.

"Lord Zhao."

"Master Fang."

The prefect of Quzhou and the director of the Military Administration exchanged glances and nodded to each other. Without saying anything more, they walked together toward the Li family.

Both of them saw regret in each other's eyes. If they had known that the Li family was related to Lin Chen, they would have come to pay their respects at Old Master Li's funeral no matter what.

As the prefect and the director of the Military Affairs Department, they did not err in not coming to pay their respects to Lord Li. There was no rule in the court that required them to pay their respects when a military officer who had served as the director of the Military Affairs Department passed away.

If someone is willing to personally attend the funeral, it's out of respect for the Li family; if they don't, it's simply a matter of official business.

The problem is... they encountered Lin Chen.

This is someone who can change the rules with just a word. If Lin Chen has any dissatisfaction with them, he doesn't even need to express it. As long as he shows the slightest expression, the news will reach the ears of the Dao Lord and the Director. What awaits them will inevitably be a promotion in name only, or a demotion in reality, or a transfer to some nominal position.

A quarter of an hour later.

When the two arrived at the Li residence, they found that the entire front hall was already packed with people. Families from all over Quzhou Prefecture, whether they were prominent or not, had sent people to the residence.

The two men's gazes fell on an elderly man at the head of the table, and they quickly stepped forward.

"Greetings, Director Qiu."

Qiu Rufeng, the deputy director of the Jiannan Circuit Military Administration, and the two had met a few times before.

Qiu Rufeng looked at the two men and said calmly, "You two are here to pay your respects to Elder Li. Please wait here for a moment. Lin Chen is currently paying his respects to Elder Li in the mourning hall."

The two nodded, not daring to have any objections. Qiu Rufeng looked at the two standing aside with somewhat absent-minded expressions and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. These two had been transferred from other departments to Jiangnan.

Jiangnan Circuit is a key area of ​​focus for the Great Liang Dynasty. To be able to serve in Jiangnan Circuit, especially as a high-ranking official, one must not only have strong personal abilities but also a powerful family network.

Li Laoda was only a sixth-rank official during his lifetime, and his descendants were also disappointing. If most people were in the positions of these two, they would make the same decision.

But some things in this world are illogical, and it can only be said that these two were unlucky.

"Back then... when Jiangnan Province was selecting martial arts students, I recommended Lin Chen. In addition to me, the Quzhou Prefecture Martial Affairs Department also recommended Lin Chen. The reason why the Quzhou Prefecture Martial Affairs Department recommended Lin Chen was because of Lord Li. Later, when he learned that Lin Chen was competing with another recommended student, Lord Li felt that this was unfair to Lin Chen, so he went to the Martial Affairs Hall and slammed his fist on the table in front of Director Shao."

Qiu Rufeng decided to give these two a few words of advice, and also to say them to everyone else present.

This time, Lin Chen didn't offer condolences to Old Master Li in private. Instead, he made a big show of it to announce to everyone that although Old Master Li had passed away, with him around, no one could mess with the Li family. Lin Chen was there to support the Li family.

Upon hearing Qiu Rufeng's words, many people at the scene suddenly realized, "So that's how it is..."

"I did hear this rumor a few years ago, but the Li family never said it to anyone, so the rumor was never spread again."

"Yes, I've heard that rumor too. There was also another rumor that Lin Chen went to the Li family to learn martial arts, but was looked down upon by the Li family and left in anger. These two rumors are completely opposite, so I didn't take them seriously."

Many martial artists in Quzhou also realized that the rumors about the relationship were true. Just based on the fact that Elder Li went to the Martial Affairs Hall and slammed the table for Lin Chen back then, no one in the Li family could touch him.

Several men who had harbored thoughts of seizing the Li family's business were now filled with lingering fear. Thankfully... thankfully they hadn't started taking action yet. If they had, their families might have been wiped out.

Qiu Rufeng took in the expressions of everyone present. There was something more important he hadn't said about Lord Li and Lin Chen.

Besides helping Lin Chen become a model martial arts student, Elder Li also had the kindness of passing on his skills.

If Li An had lived up to expectations, the old master Li would not have concealed his relationship with Lin Chen, and the court would have taken care of the Li family. However, the old master Li refused, precisely because his descendants were not up to par.

Even with Lin Chen protecting him, Li An is not ambitious enough. The more resources his family has, the more likely he is to be envied and schemed against.

These people wouldn't dare to openly target the Li family, but it's not impossible that they would secretly plot against them. Lin Chen is far away in the Yan Dynasty and can't keep an eye on the Li family's situation all the time.

Lord Li understood this point, which is why he chose to conceal the Li family's connections from the outside world and refuse any favors from the imperial court. The Li family's current business is not so much that it would cause a fight among the major families, and the small families in Quzhou Prefecture simply don't have the guts to do so.

With Lin Chen as their backer, the Li family enjoys a superior status and will not attract the jealousy or secret schemes of those powerful families. Smaller families will not dare to target the Li family, and Li An will be able to protect the Li family.

"If Miss Li proposes to dissolve the engagement at this time, how will the Sheng family react?"

Someone suddenly spoke up, and these words caused many guests to have strange expressions. This time, the Sheng family... has probably missed out on a tremendous fortune.

Li Qi, the only granddaughter of Old Master Li.

If he were to become the son-in-law of the Li family, given his relationship with the Li family, his rise to prominence would be imminent.

Since Canglan Island made contact with the Yan Dynasty, many martial artists in Daliang have realized that the martial arts realm below the Innate Realm is not actually that difficult. From the Ninth Rank to the First Rank, the Yan Dynasty has pills to improve the realm. As long as there are enough pills and one's talent is not completely terrible, one can reach the First Rank by taking pills.

The martial arts resources required for a martial artist to advance from the ninth rank to the upper rank are a terrifying number for them, but for a Xiantian expert, it should be nothing to Lin Chen.

Unfortunately, the Sheng family failed to seize this opportunity to soar to great heights.

……

……

In front of the mourning hall.

Lin Chen stood quietly in front of Old Master Li's coffin, with Li An and his daughter Li Qi behind him.

Compared to Li Qi's excitement, Li An, as a father, had a more complicated expression. His gaze towards Lin Chen was a mixture of excitement and embarrassment, with a hint of awe in his eyes.

Looking at the peaceful old man lying in the coffin, Lin Chen's mind was filled with memories of the past. He had come to the Li residence to cultivate the Iron Bone Technique, only to be looked down upon by Li Qi and Li An. In a fit of anger, he left, and the old master Li chased after him all night.

"Lin Chen, I have failed to discipline you properly. I apologize to you with this tea."

"Your future will surpass mine. As long as you remember my kindness, you don't need to have too much contact with the descendants of my Li family."

"If your maximum rank is only seventh or even sixth, then getting to know my descendant would be mutually beneficial. Although my son is useless, I have accumulated a lot of connections over the years, which may be able to help you in the future."

"But I see that you have a firm heart for martial arts and your talent goes without saying. Your future achievements will surpass mine. Getting too close to my Li family is not a good thing for the Li family, especially my good-for-nothing son. I'm afraid he will exhaust the favor I left behind for him sooner or later."

The old man instructed me in martial arts cultivation, and although he had selfish motives, he was completely open and honest.

Later, during the competition for the title of model martial arts student in Jiangnan Province, when Hongdu Prefecture nominated Li Zhe, the Martial Arts Administration set the rules for the competition. The old man, despite his advanced age, went to Hongdu Prefecture and argued for himself in front of so many adults.

Later, he became the model student of Jiangnan Road and the model student of Daliang, becoming the number one in the nine kingdoms. However, the old man did not take advantage of his kindness, and even... he did not choose to disturb him before he passed away peacefully.

The old man was a benefactor in my martial arts journey and a respectable elder.

"May you rest in peace, sir."

Lin Chen bowed three times, then raised his head but did not turn around, and asked, "Did the old master leave any instructions before he left?"

"No...no, Father passed away peacefully. He said he had nothing to worry about."

Li An quickly replied, and Lin Chen turned to look at Li An: "Why didn't you go to Linhu Village to inform me of the old man's passing?"

"Brother Lin, it was Grandfather who forbade us to inform him."

Seeing that her father seemed a little nervous, Li Qi spoke up to explain.

Hearing that the elder brother forbade him to be notified, Lin Chen's expression did not change. He had already guessed that even if Li An was afraid of him, he should know to use his name to suppress those who had designs on the Li family.

Before he went to the Yan Dynasty, he attended the old master's birthday banquet. The old master did not allow him to appear in front of the guests, for fear that his relationship with the Li family would be exposed and the Li family would be targeted.

Although he was in the mourning hall, he was fully aware of every movement of the entire Li family, including the two chief officials of Quzhou Prefecture who rushed over.

The old man was using his passing to help Ang Lee and his daughter, Chi Li, see through the ways of the world and the realities of life, so that they could grow up quickly.

What's going on with the Sheng family?

Lin Chen looked at Li Qi; he had overheard the guests talking about the annulment of the engagement.

“Brother Lin, this is what my grandfather told me. I was ignorant and blinded by my own judgment. I made a mistake and fell for Sheng Han from the Sheng family. Although my grandfather didn’t agree, he felt sorry for me, so he agreed to my marriage with Sheng Han. We got engaged half a year ago…”

Li Qi recounted in detail his affair with Sheng Han and his grandfather's dying words. Li An, who was standing to the side, was furious after listening. He wasn't stupid; he had just been sheltered by his father and hadn't experienced much hardship, so he lacked shrewdness.

After hearing her father's words to his daughter, Li An understood that Sheng Han's grandfather was not actually sick; he was deliberately not attending her father's funeral in order to sever ties with the Li family. Even without her daughter's outburst, the Sheng family would have found a way to annul the engagement.

The father gave his daughter these instructions precisely because he realized that the Sheng family was unreliable.

A hint of coldness flashed in Lin Chen's eyes, but he didn't mention the Sheng family again. Instead, he looked at Li Qi and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

"Brother Lin, I want to continue my martial arts training."

Having experienced the grief of her grandfather's passing and the betrayal of her beloved, Li Qi matured considerably in an instant. She knew very well that Brother Lin could not stay in Daliang forever, and this might even be the last time the two of them met. If she wanted to revitalize the Li family, she could only rely on herself.

"I will write a letter of recommendation, and you can take this letter to Canglan Martial Arts Academy to enroll."

"Thank you very much, Brother Lin."

Upon hearing that he could enter Canglan Martial Academy, Li Qi nodded excitedly. Li An, who was standing next to him, was also delighted. Among the four major martial academies of Daliang, Canglan Martial Academy was now firmly in first place. This also led to Canglan Martial Academy having extremely high requirements for recruiting disciples. Moreover, Canglan Martial Academy not only recruited geniuses from Daliang, but also geniuses from other countries, making the competition for places extremely fierce.

The reason why Canglan Martial Academy has left the other three major martial academies far behind is not only because of Lin Chen. Now, the martial artists of Canglan Island also know that there is a super sect in Yanhuang Dynasty called Canglan Sect. If they can absorb and refine the Canglan energy of Canglan Martial Academy, they will have the opportunity to join Canglan Sect.

……

In the lobby, the quiet conversation that had been taking place instantly fell silent upon seeing the figure appear in the corridor.

"Lord Qiu has also arrived."

Among the many martial artists present, Lin Chen only recognized Qiu Rufeng.

Back when he was at the martial arts school in Poyang County, Qiu Rufeng was the director of the Military Affairs Department of Raozhou Prefecture, and he took good care of him.

"I have had several encounters with Lord Li. We even exchanged letters because of the exemplary students of Jiangnan Province. I came here to see Lord Li off after receiving this news."

Qiu Rufeng stroked his beard and explained with a smile that his interaction with Lord Li was due to Lin Chen.

In order to make Lin Chen a role model for Jiangnan Dao students, he specifically discussed with Elder Li how to proceed. In particular, after Hongdu Prefecture promoted Li Zhe, Elder Li went to the Martial Arts Hall and slammed his fist on the table, saying that Lin Chen, who came from a poor family, was more qualified to be a role model for martial arts students and could better inspire the students of Jiangnan Dao. He learned this information from the letter he wrote.

Lin Chen didn't stay in the front hall for long. He greeted Qiu Rufeng and chatted for a while before heading to the Li family's guest house with Qiu Rufeng and the other former directors of the Jiangnan Circuit's Military and Political Affairs Department. As for the two officials from Quzhou Prefecture, they didn't have a chance to speak to him at all.

On the day of Lord Li's funeral, Lin Chen appeared again.

After the funeral of Old Master Li was over, Lin Chen wrote a letter and gave it to Li Qi before leaving the Li family.

As for the Sheng family...

Lin Chen believed that he didn't need to say anything; once they knew what had happened at the Li family today, the two officials of Quzhou Prefecture and the other families would know what to do.

With his current status, he could bring the Sheng family to ruin with just a single word.

However, Lin Chen ultimately did not do so. In the end, the Sheng family originally wanted to curry favor with the Li family, but after realizing that the Li family might decline after the death of the old master Li, they chose to withdraw, which was not a capital offense.

However, the Sheng family will face a difficult future, as they will be ostracized by other families in Quzhou Prefecture. No family will dare to form a marriage alliance with the Sheng family again, let alone partner with them in business; instead, they will take the opportunity to kick them while they are down.

(End of this chapter)