Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 380 - 121: Su Tong Seeks Martial Arts

Lin Chen knew that the Mantis Martial Arts Hall had given Gu Fei a slot for the Opening Acupoints Pill merely out of respect for him, as it typically took Gu Fei more than a year to succeed in Qi Cultivation, which did not meet the requirements for the pill.

Nevertheless, Gu Fei did not take away the quota for the Opening Acupoints Pill from anyone else. With Lin Chen becoming the exemplary martial arts student of Liang, the resources allocated for Martial Arts Cultivation in Poyang County would increase several-fold. Therefore, the Opening Acupoints Pills would naturally be more abundant than before. It wouldn’t be excessive even if Lin Chen asked for ten pills, let alone giving one to Gu Fei.

"This is beneficial, but refrain from publicizing it."

"I understand. The martial arts hall granted me the Opening Acupoints Pill because of their respect for you," Gu Fei nodded in agreement.

Lin Chen and Gu Fei had not talked for long when He Ruyun and Su Lingchuan came together, accompanied by most of the dignitaries from Poyang County, leaving Lin Chen with no spare time. He stood in for the old village head to welcome these guests.

The honor granted by the Military Affairs Department and the archway arranged by the Military Affairs Hall could not be completed quickly, taking at least several days. Lord Su and others would need to visit again by then.

Once Lin Chen arranged seats for Su Lingchuan and others, people from the martial arts halls also arrived at just the right time.

The Hall Masters of the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls came, and even the halls unfamiliar with Lin Chen brought their disciples, not to mention those who were familiar with him.

This banquet lasted for over a two-hour span until the lights were on, and everyone gradually departed.

...

...

After seeing Lord Su and others off, Lin Chen intended to go home and inform his parents about the rewards from the Imperial Court. But just ten zhang away from home, he stopped and looked towards the shadow to the left: "Come out."

A thin boy stepped out from the darkness, skinny as a reed, revealing a wheat-colored wrist from under his coarse linen shorts. The patched pants were still stained with the mud from the lakeshore.

Perhaps from staying in the dark for too long, visible welts from mosquito bites covered the boy’s exposed skin.

"Lin... Young Master Lin."

The boy’s voice was a bit stammered, and he felt bewildered facing Lin Chen’s gaze. The words he had rehearsed hundreds of times became stuck in his throat.

Pa!

The next moment, the boy knelt on the bluestone slab with a thud, clutching a piece of rice paper in his right hand, his bony shoulder blades jutting out under his thin shirt: "I... I want to learn martial arts."

Lin Chen abruptly fixated on the boy, speaking after a while: "Are you asking to become my disciple?"

"No... no."

The boy hurriedly shook his head; he never considered becoming Young Master Lin’s disciple. How could someone like him have the right to have Young Master Lin as a master?

"Stand up."

Upon hearing that the boy wasn’t asking to become his disciple, Lin Chen’s expression softened somewhat. It wasn’t that he was overthinking, but if the boy had wanted to become his disciple, it might have indicated someone else’s guidance behind it.

Assuming his own humble origins, seeing the boy’s modest attire, one might expect an elicited sympathy.

"What’s your name?"

"Su... Su Tong, my father’s from Lotus Village... my mother’s name is..."

"What are you holding in your hand?"

Seeing the boy’s incoherence, Lin Chen interrupted his words.

"This is the article you wrote, Young Master Lin. I... I can already recite it. In my youth, my family was poor, with only five mu of barren land and a fishing boat, four cousins; I was the youngest. By the age of tying one’s hair and practicing martial arts, my eldest cousin had already been studying martial arts for several years in the Martial Hall, and the family’s silver coins were already barely sufficient..."

When Su Tong recited the article, he was no longer panicked and appeared calm and fluent, obviously having memorized it thoroughly.

[Starry light exists within the worn and leaking abode.]

[The iron will of a low-class family echoes throughout the universe.]

"I never aspired to learn martial arts until I read this article written by you, Young Master Lin."

By the end, the boy’s initial timidity vanished, and his gaze towards Lin Chen grew immensely bright, resembling those eternal lamps in the ancestral hall, steadfastly sparking in the damp breeze of Ye Feng.

"Are you the only son in your family?"

"I... I have a younger sister, my father has already passed away, and my mother is ill, bedridden all year round..."

As he finished speaking, Su Tong’s voice waned again. Although Young Master Lin’s family was poor, they at least had enough to eat, but his own family...

"Do you know how costly learning martial arts is? Even if the Martial Hall doesn’t charge you tuition, what about your mother and sister back home?"

Lin Chen looked at Su Tong. Despite his frail build and twelve to thirteen-year-old appearance, Lin Chen knew this boy should be around fourteen, and given his family situation, he likely bore the burden of providing for the family from an early age.

"I... I know that when you entered the Martial Arts Hall, Young Master Lin, you went... to sell fish at the market outside. I can do that too; I can take on extra work besides martial arts training."

Lin Chen twitched his lips slightly, realizing that Su Tong knew even about his past selling fish at the market, indicating a thorough understanding of his past.

"Boys from Linhu Village can enter the Martial Arts Hall for free. If your family elders agree, you can come to Linhu Village and train with the village boys, preparing to enter Kaohe Town’s Martial Hall next year."

"Thank you, Young Master Lin!"

Su Tong was stunned, then his face broke into a look of ecstatic joy, almost about to kneel again. Lin Chen struck out with a palm wind, lifting the boy up.

"No need for that," Lin Chen gestured with a hand, "It’s already late today. Go find the village head and stay in the village. Head back to the city tomorrow."

"No... there’s no need. I can go back today."

Su Tong quickly declined, while Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, "Did you come to see me without informing your family elders?"

"No... no, I didn’t."

Su Tong answered truthfully. He wasn’t sure if Young Master Lin would help him, so he hadn’t told his family. He heard in the city about a banquet being held in Linhu Village today and snuck out.

Nobody in the village would notice an extra child, so he kept hiding, eating the buns he brought from the city when hungry.

"Then you must head back. Find the village head and ask someone named Gu Fei to escort you back to the city so your family elders won’t worry."

Lin Chen regarded Su Tong with newfound respect. The fact that he dared to come alone without consulting his elders showed his genuine passion and determination to learn martial arts.

"I..."

Su Tong wanted to refuse again, but Lin Chen had already turned away: "Remember, accepting a bit of help during hard times is fine, just repay it doubly in the future."