Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 351 - 111: Jiangnan Dao Needs an Explanation (Part 2)
Poyang County City Gate.
At this moment, the city gate was wide open, and the people entering the city today were surprised to find that the gate soldiers were not urging them on. Seeing them walking slowly and their carts heavy with goods, the soldiers even helped push.
It’s unheard of!
It’s not that the city gate soldiers of Poyang County liked to make things difficult for the citizens entering the city. If they were too lenient, at most only two hundred people could enter in a two-hour period.
Sometimes, only fierce attitudes could make the people’s actions more efficient.
Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun stood waiting inside the gate, accompanied by members from both the County Government Office and the Martial Affairs Office, in a stone room usually used on rainy days for gate soldiers to rest.
"Here they come!"
The person assigned to watch whispered, and Su Lingchuan and He Ruyun exchanged a glance, both seeing the excitement in each other’s eyes.
It was unimaginable for them that Minister Kong from the Military Affairs Department would personally come to Poyang County.
Five days ago, they had been notified by the Prefecture Government Office and the Military Affairs Department of an important person visiting Poyang County. They had guessed that this person was coming for Lin Chen.
They imagined it might be someone from the Military Affairs Hall or even the Military Affairs Department, but they didn’t dare to think it would be Minister Kong himself.
The foremost figure of the Military Affairs Department, a First-Grade Powerhouse of Liang, personally coming to Poyang County for Lin Chen!
It was truly unbelievable.
Not far from Poyang County’s city gate, a procession was approaching, but it stopped a mile away from the gate.
He Ruyun and Su Lingchuan exchanged a glance and walked towards the procession.
"Sir, take us with you."
"Yes, we also want to see Lord Kong."
He Ruyun looked at the crowd behind him with some annoyance: "Get lost, look at who’s coming. It’s Lord Governor and Director. What are you people here for?"
Su Lingchuan looked back at the hopeful faces of those from the Martial Affairs Office system, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Hall Master Zeng, Hall Master Tai, and Hall Master Zhao, follow behind me."
Since Lord Kong was here for Lin Chen, and Lin Chen was a disciple of these three martial arts halls, it was appropriate to have these three accompany him to welcome Lord Kong. Perhaps Lord Kong would ask them about Lin Chen’s situation in the martial arts halls.
Upon hearing this, the others looked enviously at Zeng Qingyao and the other two.
Being able to meet Lord Kong, at the very least, fulfilled their dream of seeing a First-Grade Powerhouse.
"Ah, if Lin Chen were still in the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, this... this..."
The Hall Master of Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall felt quite depressed. But after he said this, the other martial arts hall masters patted his shoulder: "Old Liang, don’t be upset. If Lin Chen were in the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, would the position of Hall Master fall to you?"
Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall Master: ...
What a valid point, he had no words to refute.
...
...
A mile outside the city gate, Kong Qifeng was not riding a horse carriage, so He Ruyun and the others immediately recognized this First-Grade Martial Artist of Liang and quickly lowered their heads.
"He Ruyun of Poyang County..."
"Su Lingchuan of Poyang County Martial Affairs Office..."
"Hall Master of Jingshui Martial Arts Hall..."
As He Ruyun and the others introduced themselves, Kong Qifeng nodded slightly: "I came here to see Lin Chen. Since Lin Chen is in Linhu Village, I will not enter the city, to avoid disrupting the normal business of the citizens."
Hearing Lord Kong’s words, He Ruyun and the others naturally did not dare express any dissent. Just as they were about to silently retreat to the back of the procession, Kong Qifeng suddenly asked: "Hall Master Zeng, Lin Chen first joined Jingshui Martial Arts Hall. I understand your martial arts hall doesn’t accept male disciples. Why make an exception for Lin Chen?"
With that question from Kong Qifeng, the scene fell silent instantly, and Zeng Qingyao, who was about to return to the procession, trembled. The best answer would be that the martial arts hall recognized Lin Chen’s potential and was willing to give him a chance.
But facing Lord Kong, Zeng Qingyao didn’t dare lie, so she truthfully said: "The decision to accept Lin Chen was made by Junior Sister Kong. Firstly, because Junior Sister Shu had put in a word, and secondly, because the martial arts hall had an extra slot for an Opening Acupoints Pill." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
"So, if Junior Sister Shu hadn’t put in a word, Lin Chen might not have received the Opening Acupoints Pill."
Kong Qifeng’s voice was calm, but everyone present felt their breath become heavy. Zeng Qingyao replied with gritted teeth: "It... It seems like that."
"My Lord, it was my fault."
Su Lingchuan immediately spoke up, and Bu Wenbin, the Director of the Military Affairs Department, was also preparing to speak. Although Lin Chen joined the martial arts hall before he was the Director of the Military Affairs Department in Raozhou Prefecture, in officialdom, he needed to express a stance since he held the position now.
"It’s alright, I’m not here to hold anyone accountable. You were following the rules, what fault is there in that? If your Jingshui Martial Arts Hall hadn’t made an exception to give Lin Chen an Opening Acupoints Pill, Liang would have lost a martial arts prodigy."
Kong Qifeng sighed: "You not only did nothing wrong, but you also did a good deed. The fault lies not with you, but with Liang’s lack of resources, unable to benefit every young person."
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
What Lord Kong said was the truth. Although Liang was much better compared to its founding days, true rise only happened in the past hundred years. In the first hundred years, they fought against the forces various countries left in Liang, cutting off the foreign hands reaching into Liang, and in the latter hundred years, they battled against demon fiends. True stability has only been achieved in the past hundred years.
"The vow of the Grand Ancestor that every citizen of Liang will rise like dragons still has a long way to go. I will work with everyone to strive towards this, hoping everyone will help train more martial arts prodigies for Liang."
