Investment Before Rising to Prominence

The dormitory's rear courtyard!

Lin Chen began to ponder whether he should cultivate Water Cloud Palm first or Flying Swallow Art first.

The advantage of cultivating Water Cloud Palm was that the more proficient he became in it, the more favorable it would be for him in the martial hall's internal matches at the beginning of the month.

Those senior sisters had all used Water Cloud Palm. If he understood Water Cloud Palm, he would be able to deal with them more effectively.

The advantages of cultivating Flying Swallow Art were also obvious. With a set of movement and lightness skills bolstering him, he could bring out the ethereal qualities of Clear Wind Palm to their fullest.

The two each had their own benefits.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Chen still decided to cultivate Flying Swallow Art.

Raising his practical combat ability as quickly as possible was his most pressing task at the moment.

"Besides cultivating Flying Swallow Art, I also need to break through to the Third Aperture as soon as possible. Given Senior Sister Li and the others' progress, they may well open their Fourth Apertures by the beginning of the month."

The martial hall had only five Grade A Student spots. After estimating the situation, Lin Chen figured that Senior Sister Jiang Qing stood in a tier of her own, and he had no chance of taking her spot. Fu Jingya, Gu Qingqing, and Kong Lingyun stood in the second tier, and competing with those three senior sisters for a spot would also be extremely difficult.

His competitors were Senior Sister Li Xue and the other senior sisters who had opened their Third Apertures when they first entered the martial hall. Three days ago, Senior Sister Li and the others had already opened their Fourth Apertures. They might not necessarily break through to the Fifth Aperture within the remaining fifteen days—that was his opportunity.

The honor roll outside the cafeteria had given Lin Chen a chance to learn about the realms of those senior sisters.

"I still have to go see Hall Master Kong again."

In the courtyard, when Kong Yinglei saw Lin Chen return, she was at a loss for what to say.

"You're planning to leave the martial hall?"

"This disciple is cultivating Flying Swallow Art, and there isn't enough room to practice it in the dormitory courtyard. So I would like to request permission to leave the martial hall for a while and return at the beginning of the month."

After hearing Lin Chen's reason for coming, Kong Yinglei pondered for a moment. According to the martial hall's rules, new students were not allowed to leave the martial hall for an extended period during their first six months.

But considering Lin Chen's special circumstances, and understanding that he was cultivating Flying Swallow Art to prepare for the martial hall's internal competition at the beginning of the month, she relented.

"Since you've chosen to return to the village to cultivate Flying Swallow Art, don't wander around outside. Focus on practicing martial arts in the village."

Lin Chen readily agreed. After bidding farewell to Hall Master Kong, he returned to his dormitory and packed two sets of clothes. Judging that he had enough Nourishing Aperture Pills, he did not buy any supplies and left the martial hall directly.

After leaving the martial hall, Lin Chen did not hurry home. Instead, he went to Cloud Concealment Martial Arts Hall and asked the gatekeeper to pass a message to Zhao Jingchuan.

He had made an arrangement to gather with Zhao Jingchuan and the other three. Since he was returning to the village, he had to let the three of them know.

Soon, Zhao Jingchuan's figure appeared at the martial hall's entrance.

"Senior Brother Lin, what is this?"

Seeing the bundle in Lin Chen's hand, Zhao Jingchuan looked puzzled.

"I'm returning to the village for ten-odd days. I came to tell Junior Brother Zhao that I won't be able to gather with you this month. When the time comes, please pass the message on to Junior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Cheng."

Zhao Jingchuan furrowed his brows, stepped closer, and lowered his voice. "Senior Brother Lin, did something happen? If there's anything I can help with, just say the word."

Seeing the concern on Zhao Jingchuan's face, Lin Chen pondered for a while before saying, "I'm now an official disciple of Still Water Martial Arts Academy."

"Still Water Martial Arts Academy? Senior Brother Lin, aren't you a disciple of Clearwind Martial Arts Hall?"

When they had been in Lakeside Village, Lin Chen had told the three of them, so it would be easier for Zhao Jingchuan and the others to contact him, that although he was a disciple of Clearwind Martial Arts Hall, he had temporarily been assigned to Still Water Martial Arts Academy.

"It's complicated, and I can't explain it in just a few words. Junior Brother Zhao only needs to know that I'm now a disciple of Still Water Martial Arts Academy."

Lin Chen had no intention of announcing why he had gone from being a disciple of Clearwind Martial Arts Hall to a disciple of Still Water Martial Arts Academy. After all, it was not something to be proud of.

A thoughtful look appeared on Zhao Jingchuan's face. After a long while, he said, "If you temporarily need money, Senior Brother still has some here. I imagine Senior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Cheng can chip in as well."

In Zhao Jingchuan's heart, compared with those prominent disciples of the martial hall, the only thing Senior Brother Lin lacked was that his family background was merely ordinary.

So it was very likely that the truth behind this had something to do with money as well.

Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart at Zhao Jingchuan's words. In the end, he patted Zhao Jingchuan on the shoulder and smiled. "If it really comes to the point where I'm short of money, I won't stand on ceremony with you, Junior Brother Zhao."

One helped those in urgent need, not those in chronic poverty!

Lin Chen understood this very well. If he was desperately short of money, he could ask Junior Brother Zhao and Junior Brother Lu to lend him a few taels to tide him over, but he could only borrow once in an emergency. The path of martial cultivation required a great deal of money, and with the three junior brothers' family circumstances, they could barely maintain one Nourishing Aperture Pill a month at the martial hall.

"Mm. Since Senior Brother Lin is returning to the village, why not go to the town? I'll write a letter to my father and trouble Senior Brother Lin to take it back for me."

"Sure."

"Then please wait a moment, Senior Brother Lin."

Zhao Jingchuan returned to the martial hall. After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, he came back out and handed the envelope to Lin Chen.

"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother."

"Go inside, Junior Brother Zhao. You don't need to see me off. I'm only returning to the village to practice martial arts, not leaving the county forever."

Seeing that Zhao Jingchuan intended to see him off, Lin Chen smiled and waved for him to go back. He himself turned and left.

Riverbend Town!

Lin Chen rode to the town, returned the horse to the horse rental shop, and then headed to Zhao Family Restaurant.

"Little brother, is your proprietor here?"

"Who is looking for Zhao?"

Lin Chen had just entered the restaurant and begun asking when the curtain leading to the inner hall was lifted, revealing Zhao Dongyang.

"Nephew Lin?"

When Zhao Dongyang saw Lin Chen, he paused for a moment. Then, beaming with enthusiasm, he came forward. "Nephew Lin, weren't you at the county's martial hall?"

"Uncle Zhao, I'm returning home for a while. After Junior Brother Zhao learned of it, he asked me to bring you a letter."

When Zhao Dongyang saw the envelope Lin Chen took from his robes, a trace of doubt appeared in his eyes. Jingchuan had written home six days ago, so why had he sent another letter so soon?

But as a businessman, Zhao Dongyang naturally did not show his doubts. He smiled as he accepted the letter and said, "Sorry for the trouble, Nephew Lin. Judging by the sun, you probably haven't eaten yet..."

With that, Zhao Dongyang instructed the waiter beside him, "Have the kitchen fry up several of our signature dishes."

"Uncle, there's no need to trouble yourself. I can still make it home if I leave now."

"That won't do!" Zhao Dongyang's attitude was very firm. "You'll have lunch here at your uncle's today. Could it be that you find the dishes at your uncle's restaurant unappetizing?"

"The dishes at your restaurant left me savoring them for days after I ate here last time."

"Then that's settled. Eat before you leave. There's no need to rush. Besides, you came back on such short notice and probably didn't notify your family. It's the busy farming season now, so your family may not have prepared any food."

During the spring plowing season, Zhao Dongyang knew very well that the villagers in the surrounding villages were all busy farming. Most of the time, the entire family would be working in the fields, and at noon, the women of the household would cook and carry the food out to them.

"Then I'll accept your kindness."

Lin Chen did not put up much of a fuss either. It was indeed more convenient to have lunch in town before going home.

"Nephew Lin, don't speak so formally. My Jingchuan told me that among all his fellow disciples in the Martial Hall, the one he admired most was you."

As Zhao Dongyang said this, he felt somewhat moved as well. According to what Jingchuan had told him privately, it was not only Jingchuan—even the Young Masters of the Lu and Chen families greatly admired Lin Chen.

For the son of a fisherman to accomplish this much was enough to prove how extraordinary he was.

As long as nothing unexpected happened in the future, someone like him would certainly achieve something in the martial path.

Seeing Zhao Dongyang lead him toward a private room, Lin Chen stopped and advised, "Uncle, I'm alone. I can eat in the main hall. There's no need to go to a private room."

Zhao Dongyang pondered for a moment. Seeing that Lin Chen was not merely being polite, he knew as a businessman that excessive enthusiasm could instead make someone uncomfortable.

"All right, then sit here, Nephew. I'll first have the kitchen prepare some cold dishes to go with your wine. I'll join you for a few cups in a moment."

There were quite a few guests in the restaurant's main hall. Seeing Zhao Dongyang treat Lin Chen so warmly, they all turned their gazes toward Lin Chen, curiosity in their eyes.

They were curious about the origins of this youth who could make Zhao Dongyang so enthusiastic.

There were only a few wealthy families in the city, and they had seen the young masters of those families before. Yet the youth before them was a complete stranger.

Lin Chen paid no attention to the inquisitive gazes around him. His attention was drawn to the man carrying baskets at the entrance.

"Big Brother!"

When he saw his elder brother enter the restaurant carrying two baskets of fish, Lin Chen initially wondered whether his eyes were playing tricks on him. But as a martial artist, his eyesight was certainly reliable. The man who had entered was indeed his elder brother.

"Chen?"

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Lin Liang instinctively turned his head. When he saw his little brother sitting at the table, he was equally excited.

"Big Brother, what are you doing here?"

Lin Chen stepped forward to ask, though he had already guessed the answer.

"Chen, on the second day after you went to the martial hall, Manager Zhao came to our house. He said that from now on, we could bring the fish we caught to the restaurant, and he would pay more than the fish shops."

Lin Liang answered with a hearty smile, then lowered his voice. "Father was worried at first, wondering why Manager Zhao was treating our family so well. But Mother saw through it and said Manager Zhao was looking after us because of you, Chen. Is Manager Zhao's son that Young Master Zhao you practice martial arts with?"

"Mm. Junior Brother Zhao is indeed Uncle Zhao's son. And Uncle Zhao isn't merely the restaurant's manager—he's also its proprietor."

Lin Chen explained this to his elder brother. Many proprietors liked to hire managers, but Uncle Zhao personally ran the restaurant. Lin Chen guessed it was not because Uncle Zhao could not afford a manager, but because he simply enjoyed the lively bustle of welcoming and seeing off customers.

"Little Brother Lin, they say it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early."

Zhao Jingchuan came out of the kitchen carrying two plates of cold dishes. When he saw Lin Liang and Lin Chen standing together, he gave the waiter beside him a look. The waiter immediately understood and hurried over to take Lin Liang's shoulder pole.

"Brother Lin, let me help you."

"No, no, no, there's no need. I can do it myself."

Seeing that his elder brother was somewhat flustered, Lin Chen pressed down on his hand. "Big Brother, let him carry the fish inside for you. I haven't been home in several months, and I've been missing Father and Mother. Sit down and tell me what has happened at home recently."