The Unspoken Troubles at Home, A New Menace

"Father, aren't those two pieces of good news? What is the second one?" Lin Xiuwen asked curiously.

Lin Hua smiled, pulled a money pouch from his sleeve, and set it on the table. "We have some silver left over from renovating the restaurant—twenty taels in total. I intend to send Yi to a martial arts school."

Back when he was rescued from the massacre that destroyed his family, his benefactor had given him three tasks.

First, to raise Lin Yi.

Second, to pass that cultivation technique on to Lin Yi.

Third, to ensure Lin Yi learned the Martial Way.

Now, only this final task remained.

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xu stood up abruptly, her eyes reddening as she demanded, "Why send Yi to learn martial arts and not Xiuwen?"

Lin Hua's brow furrowed into a deep frown. "I took Yi to the martial arts school to test his bone structure a while ago. He is Grade B-, a genius among a hundred.

"Besides, Xiuwen is still too young; his bones haven't fully developed yet. How could he practice martial arts?"

As the mainstream method of refining Qi, the Martial Way's greatest characteristic was its relatively low barrier to entry.

One only needed to be at least fifteen years old to have their bone structure tested, categorized into four grades: A, B, C, and D. Anyone at Grade C or above could begin training.

Other paths for entering the Qi realm had much harsher requirements.

The Gu Path tested for poison resistance; one slight mistake meant death by poisoning.

The Sword Path tested for aptitude in the way of the sword.

As for the Corpse Puppet Path...

Lin Yi himself couldn't quite explain what it tested, but he knew his aptitude was sufficient; he had only glanced at that technique twice before entering the Qi realm as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Chen Xu frowned, her eyes rimmed with red. "The restaurant just opened, and there are so many places that need money. If we spend all twenty taels on Yi's tuition, how will we cover future expenses?"

"I've heard that for the Li family's son to practice martial arts, the meat alone costs ten taels of silver every month. Our family is finally starting to see some improvement; why must you be so urgent? Can't we wait a while?"

She grew more agitated as she spoke. "You're just biased toward Yi because you feel sorry for him losing his parents at such a young age."

"When he was nine, you found him a master to temper his bones and bought him expensive blood-refining herbs every month."

"I've always turned a blind eye, but now..."

"I can't stand it anymore. Xiuwen is your child too. Haven't the two of us sacrificed enough for this family?"

"Insolent!" Lin Hua roared in a fit of rage. "What would a woman like you know? I'll say this once: Yi practicing martial arts is the most important thing for our family right now. Everything else must take a backseat!"

He took a breath, his tone dropping. "Taxes have been getting heavier in recent years. In the provinces near the border, the age for military conscription has already dropped below fourteen."

"Do you think that situation is far from our Jiaqing County? Yi has the talent for martial arts and the potential to become a Martial Artist. Only by becoming a Martial Artist can he exempt our family from forced labor. Do you understand? Or do you want to watch as Xiuwen and I are dragged off to the border battlefield?"

Lin Hua was usually a plain-looking, quiet, and honest man. Even when Chen was being sharp-tongued, he would usually only offer a simple rebuke.

This was the first time he had ever scolded her with such harshness.

Stung by his shout, Chen turned her face away, her eyes red as she began to sob quietly.

Lin Xiuwen hung his head, not daring to make a sound, and simply buried his face in his bowl of rice.

He didn't understand why his parents were arguing so fiercely. To him, there was nothing wrong with his older brother learning martial arts.

He didn't like practicing martial arts himself, but he had heard that A-Ye from next door had a brother who practiced, and none of the older kids in the neighborhood dared to bully him.

If he had a brother who practiced martial arts, it would surely be a prestigious thing to have outside.

"Auntie." A crisp, calm voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked toward Lin Yi. He sighed softly in his heart and stood up.

Every family has its own difficult scriptures to read; deep rifts often begin from these seemingly small cracks.

Lin Yi was usually a man of few words, always maintaining a calm expression. Despite his youth, he possessed an inexplicable air that made people trust him. He walked over to Chen and bowed deeply.

"Auntie, give me three months."

Twenty taels of silver was only enough for three months of tuition at the martial arts school. If he wanted to continue afterward, he would need to pay another ten taels every month.

"Three months. If I succeed, I will go to the county as soon as possible to secure a martial position, earn silver, and bring Xiuwen into the school as well."

"If I cannot succeed, I will return home, find work in the county to save money, and support Xiuwen's training with everything I have." He straightened up and bowed to each of the three of them in turn.

"Xiuwen, Auntie, please give me three months."

The Lin Clan had struggled for years, and they had only just begun to see a glimmer of hope. If his own affairs caused a rift in the family, it would be Lin Yi's sin.

Chen sniffled, her eyes still red, and cast a sidelong glance at Lin Hua.

"It's not like I'm some sharp-tongued, unreasonable person. Martial arts is a big deal, but you didn't discuss it beforehand and just slammed your hand on the table to decide. Anyone would feel unhappy about that..."

Chen looked at Lin Yi again and pulled him to the side.

Lin Hua tried to follow, but Chen stopped him with a look.

Holding Lin Yi's hand, Chen said softly:

"I watched you grow up. How could I not treat you as my own child..."

"Your uncle favors you, so naturally, I must lean toward Xiuwen to ensure your brother doesn't harbor any resentment..."

"You have a steady temperament, and I trust you... Since you've said as much, then go. Once at the martial arts academy, do not stir up trouble, but do not slack off either."

Lin Yi's eyes stung, and a sharp, aching sensation welled up in his heart.

After saying this, Chen took Lin Yi's hand and led him back to the table.

"Enough, let's not talk about it anymore, let's eat." Lin Hua took the opportunity to pick up the money pouch from the table and shoved it into Lin Yi's arms. "Keep this money safe; go report to the martial arts academy either today or tomorrow."

"Understood." Lin Yi took it with a heavy voice.

After this commotion, the atmosphere at the dining table grew quiet, and the rift that had stretched between them quietly began to mend.

Lin Yi returned to his seat and buried his head in his bowl, though his expression remained grim, as if he still had a heavy burden on his mind.

[Know Heavenly Fate]

[Recent Fortune: Ominous]

[Hu Ma, the long-lost biological son of the Jiaqing County Magistrate, was recently found, but he is currently a hall master of the Black Wind Gang. Because this identity is dishonorable, the Magistrate has not only kept it from the public but has also suppressed the news.]

[There is another adopted son in the family who often makes things difficult for and frames Hu Ma. Coupled with the fact that Hu Ma has spent years in the underworld and picked up many bad habits, the Magistrate and his wife do not care for him. To gain the approval of his biological parents, Hu Ma intends to offer a heavy gift.]

[He discovered that sixteen years ago, a Precious Meteorite Iron fell, landing exactly beneath the Lin Family Restaurant, and was cast into the foundation by workers when the restaurant was built.]

[To obtain the meteorite iron, the restaurant must be demolished. Since stealing it in secret is not feasible, Hu Ma decided to buy the restaurant first and plan from there. However, after several attempts, the owner of the restaurant, Lin Hua, has steadfastly refused to sell.]

[Hu Ma is known in the gang for his ruthless methods and perverse actions, having even wiped out entire families in the past. To seize the meteorite iron, he is prepared to use any means necessary...]

[Please survive this crisis.]

[Reward: 10,000 Destiny Talisman Coins]

His uncle had dreamed of opening a restaurant, having spent the better part of his life working toward it.

Getting him to give it up would be incredibly difficult.

Lin Yi was truly at his wit's end.

How could there be a drama involving real and fake Young Masters?

And why, of all things, did this life-threatening mess have to land on his head!

Just as Lin Yi was agonizing over how to break this deadlock:

BOOM—

With a deafening crash, the courtyard gate was violently kicked open.