The Might of a Young Man, Surpassing a Fierce Tiger

The moment Lin Chen said that, the scene erupted in an uproar.

Training for three years and producing Essence Energy is nothing?

"Lin Chen, do you know what you're saying? Since you've learned martial arts, you should know how difficult it is to produce Essence Energy. I think you're just jealous of your older brother."

First Aunt's face was full of anger. She couldn't allow anyone to belittle her son.

Grandfather Lin Chaoyang's face was also ashen. In the past, he would have already reprimanded Lin Chen.

Other villagers were also pointing and whispering about Lin Chen.

In their eyes, producing Essence Energy in three years was already very impressive.

Over the years in the village, besides Scholar Jiang, there had been a few people who had produced Essence Energy. They all left the village and went into the city to become guards for wealthy families, occasionally returning once in a while.

Even then, every time they returned, they were well-respected.

"Chen'er."

Mother Lin looked at her son with some worry. After Grandfather mentioned that Lin Ming had produced Essence Energy, she was a bit hesitant, wondering if she should just gather the money to pay off the debt first.

It wasn't that she wanted to curry favor with Lin Ming, but since Lin Ming had produced Essence Energy and her son was also learning martial arts, she thought Lin Ming could guide Chen'er later.

"First Aunt, I really don't think producing Essence Energy is that difficult, because I've also produced Essence Energy."

Lin Chen's mouth curved upwards. He had held this back for a long time, and now he could finally let it out.

Although, saying it himself felt a bit awkward, the face-slapping was stiff, and it even seemed a little childish.

But wasn't he exactly this age?

Could someone who had lived two lives truly endure hardships that others couldn't and discard their pride?

A sharp sword is forged through grinding, and plum blossoms are fragrant after enduring bitter cold.

It was merely a form of self-comfort born from being forced by circumstances.

"What?"

"I didn't mishear, did I? The Lin Family kid said he produced Essence Energy?"

"I remember Lin Chen went to the Martial Arts Hall this year. If he produced Essence Energy, wouldn't that be in less than a year?"

The villagers looked at Lin Chen with disbelief. After a moment of愣了一下, First Aunt suddenly sneered, "Lin Chen, you haven't gone crazy from learning martial arts, have you? You're talking nonsense. Do you think anyone would believe that?"

"Enough, don't embarrass yourself in front of so many people."

Grandfather Lin Chaoyang also spoke heavily. His most valued grandson spent so much money and took three years to produce Essence Energy. It was impossible to imagine this young grandson producing Essence Energy in less than a year.

"Chen'er, is that true?" Only Mother Lin stared at her son with hope.

"Mom, it's true. Didn't Gu Fei tell you? I was in special training at the Martial Arts Hall this month because the Instructor thought I could produce Essence Energy. I came home this time because I produced Essence Energy, to bring you the good news."

Hearing Lin Chen confirm it again, Mother Lin suddenly turned sharply, "My Chen'er said he produced Essence Energy, so he did!"

"Youngest Son, aren't you going to do something? Are you just going to let them make a fool of themselves?"

Grandfather Lin Chaoyang looked displeased, but Father Lin ignored him and instead looked excited, "As expected of my son, well done!"

Mother Lin believed her son, and Father Lin was the same.

His son really produced Essence Energy within a year!

"Little Uncle, why are you also..."

Father Lin interrupted First Aunt and questioned her, "Could it be that you, Sister-in-law, don't want my Chen'er to produce Essence Energy?"

First Aunt's expression was a bit stiff. Accepting that Lin Chen had produced Essence Energy was more difficult for her than handing over the land deed.

Didn't this mean her Ming'er was inferior to Lin Chen?

Just as First Aunt was speechless, the sound of a gong echoed from the village entrance, and several figures walked towards them.

"It's the Village Chief!"

"The Village Chief is here too! With the gongs and drums, is there some great happy event in our village?"

A sharp-eyed villager recognized the Village Chief among the group.

The Village Chief of Lakeside Village was an old man who usually walked slowly, but at this moment, he was walking briskly, showing no signs of his age past sixty.

"Everyone already knows!"

Looking at the villagers gathered in front of the Lin Family ancestral home, the Village Chief shouted loudly from several yards away, "It seems Lin Chen has returned to the village to tell everyone the good news."

As soon as the Village Chief said that, the expressions of many villagers present changed as they looked at Lin Chen.

They connected it to Lin Chen's earlier words.

"I came back from town today and ran into the Martial Arts Hall's celebratory procession. Only then did I learn that our village has produced a genius! Not only did Lin Chen produce Essence Energy within a year, but he's also the first person at the Martial Arts Hall to produce Essence Energy!"

Whoosh!

As soon as the Village Chief said that, all the villagers present erupted in excitement again.

"I knew Lin Chen could do it! I saw he was a martial arts prodigy when he was a child."

"Producing Essence Energy within a year, and being the first, that's incredible! The Lin Family has produced a Qilin Child!"

"Lin Chen has cultivated Essence Energy! Add Lin Ming, and the Lin Family will have two Martial Artists! The Lin Family's ancestral graves must be smoking green!"

"That old fellow Lin Chaoyang must be overjoyed now."

"That's not necessarily true."

The single phrase "not necessarily true" instantly made the atmosphere strange again.

The inside story of the Lin Family brothers splitting up, thanks to Gu Fei's spreading, was practically known to everyone in the village. However, since the involved parties hadn't admitted it, the villagers weren't entirely convinced. But what they had just witnessed was undeniable.

Lin Chaoyang, as the grandfather, didn't believe his own young grandson had cultivated Essence Energy. That certainly aligned with the rumors of him being excessively biased.

As for why they themselves hadn't believed it just now, they subconsciously ignored that fact.

It wasn't important.

They were outsiders; it was normal for them not to believe. But Lin Chen was Lin Chaoyang's grandson. For him, as the grandfather, not to believe was the problem.

"Thinking about it now, those rumors were all true. If my grandson said he cultivated Essence Energy, I definitely wouldn't say he was making a fool of himself and talking nonsense."

"Lin Chaoyang kept saying his Qilin Child was Lin Ming?"

"Lin Ming is nothing! It took him three years to cultivate Essence Energy. Lin Chaoyang is blind; he identified the wrong Qilin Child."

Listening to the villagers' discussions, the Village Chief also knew the inside story of the Lin Family's split. However, he wouldn't speak of it now. Seeing the somewhat stunned Lin Chaoyang, he let out a soft sigh in his heart.

Lin Chaoyang, as the grandfather, had truly misjudged this time.

"Lin Chen, congratulations! The team bringing the good news is about to arrive. How about going to greet them?"

"Thank you for the reminder, Village Chief."

Lin Chen bowed towards the Village Chief. At this moment, the burly men who had come to collect the debt were also a bit stunned.

The Martial Arts Hall reporting good news, cultivating Essence Energy within a year, and even being first place.

This news truly shocked him.

He could disregard Lin Ming, but anyone who cultivated Essence Energy within a year was someone he couldn't afford to offend, let alone the first place in the Martial Arts Hall.

Soon, that person would be a bonafide expert in the Aperture Opening Realm.

"Since your village has a happy occasion, we'll discuss the debt in a few days." The burly man wanted to leave.

"Stop."

Lin Chen called out to the other party. He could clearly feel the burly man's body tremble the moment he called out.

"Young Master Lin, I... our boss is also an Aperture Opening Realm expert." The burly man lacked confidence and could only bring up his boss.

Earlier, he had only felt that the young man's eyes were sharp, unlike ordinary villagers. Now, he didn't even dare to meet the other party's gaze.

"It's only right to pay back debts. Whoever owes the debt, you find them. I won't stop you. My Second Uncle's family doesn't owe you money. You shouldn't have injured my cousin. We need to settle this account."

The burly man's expression was a bit odd when he heard Lin Chen's words. However, he had just heard the conversation between Lin Chen and his grandfather, Lin Chaoyang, so he understood the situation.

So, this grandfather and grandson are at odds. If that's the case, it's easy to handle.

"I can compensate for injuring Young Master Lin's cousin."

"Five taels!" Lin Chen said coldly.

"Five taels! Why don't you just rob us?" The burly man was anxious.

"If you don't want to give it, that's fine. However many times you hit my cousin, let me hit you that many times, and we'll consider it even."

Seeing Lin Chen's playful smile, the burly man shivered. Letting a Martial Artist who had cultivated Essence Energy hit him a few times? He'd have to be out of his mind to agree. A Martial Artist who had cultivated Essence Energy had at least seven hundred jin of strength. A few punches could take half his life.

"Then let's deduct the five taels Young Master Lin mentioned. Now you only need to pay back ten taels." The burly man conceded.

Lin Chen's face turned cold. He took a step forward, and the burly men retreated three steps in perfect sync.

"Didn't I make myself clear earlier? Whoever owes you money, you find them. My Second Uncle's family doesn't owe you money. You need to take out these five taels!"

When they saw Lin Chen take a step forward and force the burly men to retreat together, and finally obediently take out five taels of silver, many young men in the village deeply etched this scene into their minds.

Was this the power of learning martial arts?

The might of a youth, even more fierce than a tiger!

Many villagers who had given up on the idea of having their children learn martial arts, seeing this scene, once again felt their desire for their descendants to learn martial arts rekindle.

Although learning martial arts was expensive, once one succeeded, look at Lin Chen. With just a few words, he made someone obediently hand over five taels of silver.

Many villagers looked at Lin Hui, who was being hugged by Second Aunt, their eyes filled with envy.

Lin Hui had profited from this!

Although he had been hit a few times, at most, he would just need to take some medicine and rest for a few days. The New Year was approaching, and there wasn't much work anyway. This money was essentially picked up for free.

The old Village Chief narrowed his eyes as he watched this scene. He thought of the young man who had left the village ten years ago, fourteen years ago. Although he had also brought benefits to the villagers, he had never displayed the might of a Martial Artist in front of them.

"Second Aunt, take this money."

Lin Chen handed the five taels of silver to Second Aunt. Second Aunt, holding the five taels of silver in one hand and hugging Lin Hui with the other, suddenly couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Mother, don't cry."

Lin Xi, who was huddled next to Second Aunt, saw her mother crying loudly. She suddenly stood up and rushed towards the burly man. The burly man originally wanted to dodge, but under Lin Chen's sharp gaze, he could only stand there obediently.

Lin Xi wrapped her arms around the burly man's leg and bit down directly. The burly man grimaced in pain but didn't dare to shake her off. He was afraid that as soon as he shook her off, the next moment the large fist in front of him would land on him.

After biting hard, Lin Xi was very clever and ran back behind Lin Chen. Lin Chen smiled and rubbed his cousin's head.

The burly man gritted his teeth. To be honest, he didn't want to pay the five taels of silver. If his employer were here, he could completely protect him, but his employer wasn't here. If he didn't pay, he was afraid he would have to be carried out of the village.

Afterward, as long as the Lin Family repaid the money, the employer wouldn't possibly offend a young martial artist who was about to enter the Aperture Opening Realm just for this matter.

"Young Master Lin, the compensation for the injury has been paid, and you've vented your anger. Can we collect the debt now? Of course, if Young Master Lin speaks up, it's also possible to delay for a few days."

"Suit yourself."

Lin Chen pulled Lin Xi to the side.

"Chen'er, how can you be like this? You're capable now. It's something that can be solved with just one sentence. Are you going to watch our Lin Family's ancestral land fall into the hands of outsiders?"

When First Aunt saw Lin Chen actually stepping aside, she quickly spoke, her words filled with resentment.

Lin Chen stopped and looked at First Aunt. First Aunt, stared at by his gaze, uncomfortably shifted her eyes away. It was only at this moment that she realized this nephew, whom she had never paid attention to before, actually had such sharp eyes.