Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 183 - 48: Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves

"Since you know Standard Bearer Fang, I shall take you to meet the Standard Bearer."

Lv Tongzhi gritted his teeth. The ownership of this snake monster’s corpse should be decided by Standard Bearer Fang.

"Sir, may I go home first to inform my parents? Leaving so suddenly might make the elders at home worried."

"You may."

According to military regulations, anyone who comes into contact with the Demon Race must be taken back to the military camp for isolation immediately. However, Lin Chen knew Standard Bearer Fang and had also learned about the Demon Race from him, so he was not isolated and did not need to adhere to these regulations.

What should be said and what should not be said, Lin Chen should have a clear idea in mind.

Lv Tongzhi and his group did not enter the village but waited at the village entrance, watching Lin Chen’s back as he entered. One of the soldiers behind Lv Tongzhi couldn’t help but remark, "Chief, that is the corpse of a Grade-Entering snake monster. With that snake monster’s corpse, our brothers’ strength could significantly improve."

In the military, the rule is whoever kills the demon beast, the corpse belongs to them.

The snake monster was not slain by them, but if they could take it from Lin Chen, it would be theirs.

"You idiots, you’ve really grown backwards with age. It was that young man who killed the snake monster, do you really think it’s okay to snatch the corpse from him?"

Lv Tongzhi turned back to glare at his subordinate, who was not the least bit afraid and retorted directly, "Just now, you had the same thought. If this young man wasn’t called Lin Chen, would you not want that snake monster?"

"That’s why I say you’re foolish, growing backwards with age." Lv Tongzhi glanced at his other three subordinates and sighed, "If it were an ordinary young person, we could have taken the snake monster’s corpse, but this one has caught Standard Bearer Fang’s eye. Can such a person be an ordinary martial artist?"

"Think logically. They must be a martial arts prodigy. If you bully a martial arts prodigy, do you really think the Martial Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Department behind them will just stand by?"

"What’s the big deal? We’ve come across such situations before; the higher-ups can go argue with the Prefecture Government Office and the Military Affairs Department." The subordinate still seemed unconvinced.

"That’s because those were ordinary martial artists. They wouldn’t come to the military camp, or even if they did, they wouldn’t have any power over us. But Standard Bearer Fang clearly wants to bring Lin Chen into the military camp, and he might even make us surrender the snake monster’s corpse to gain Lin Chen’s favor."

The military regulations state that whoever slays the demon beast, the corpse belongs to them, and even superiors don’t have the right to demand the handover of a demon beast’s corpse; at most, it can be exchanged for military merit.

However, the key issue is that the snake monster was not slain by them.

Standard Bearer Fang intends to do Lin Chen a favor, and if the word gets out, it would be embarrassing. Lv Tongzhi, having followed Standard Bearer Fang for years, knew well how he would decide.

A quarter of an hour later.

Lin Chen returned, and after bidding farewell to his parents, he left Linhu Village with Lv Tongzhi and his group. Just as they left, a figure emerged from the village, heading towards the town, aiming for the county town under the cover of night.

Feeling their eager eyes on the snake monster’s corpse he held, Lin Chen was cautious. Aside from informing his parents about the urgent matter needing him in the city, he also awakened Gu Fei, instructing him to go to the Martial Affairs Office to find Lord Su.

The gates of Poyang County are closed at night, but a small gate remains guarded by soldiers. As long as Gu Fei mentioned he was headed to the Martial Affairs Office and gave his name, the soldiers would open the gates for him.

The county magistrate’s decree was issued today; the city residents might not all be aware, but the soldiers guarding the gates surely knew, as the procession announced the good news had left prominently through the city gates.

...

...

Two hours later.

At a mountain on the border of Poyang County and Yongfeng County, Lin Chen was instructed to wait outside a courtyard. Seeing the heavily guarded soldiers coming and going, he did not expect that there was a hidden military camp in the mountains.

After a short wait, Lv Tongzhi exited the courtyard gate, "Go in. The lords are all waiting for you."

The lords?

With curiosity, Lin Chen entered the courtyard. Upon seeing those present, he was taken aback.

In the courtyard were not only Standard Bearer Fang, whom he had met at the government office, but also Lord Su and Lord He, along with three other officials he did not recognize.

All six lords were smiling at him.

"Disciple greets Lord Su, greets the County Magistrate, greets all the lords."

"How did it feel facing the Demon Race for the first time?" Su Lingchuan was the first to inquire.

"The Demon Race’s methods are extremely cunning."

Upon hearing Lin Chen’s reply, Su Lingchuan and the others shared a knowing smile. He Ruyun continued to ask, "How do you rate the strength of this snake monster?"

"Its strength is considerable. Had I not initiated a sneak attack, I fear I wouldn’t have been a match for this snake monster."

"Considerable strength, sneak attack..." Fang Ze commented in a low voice, "This snake monster’s strength is equivalent to a Grade-Entering martial artist."

Lin Chen’s eyes widened in shock. Could he have killed a snake monster equivalent to a Grade-Entering martial artist?

Impossible!

Was Standard Bearer Fang joking with him? That was Lin Chen’s first thought.

But on second thought, there was no need for Standard Bearer Fang to make such a joke. Recalling the soldiers’ quick appearance at Poyang Lake earlier, Lin Chen suddenly realized, "Was this snake monster injured?"

"Precisely, quick thinking. No wonder Lord Su and Lord He have always praised you highly. I’ve witnessed it today," remarked an unfamiliar official in uniform, stroking his beard. "This snake monster escaped from the Lian Family, sacrificing much to flee, with its strength less than one-tenth remaining. Even so, it was comparable to a Viscera-Refining Martial Artist in power. For you to defeat it is truly not easy."