Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 353 - 112: Dignity Lies Only Upon the Sword’s Edge
Kaohe Town.
Zhang Difeng had been accompanying Luo Wen and the other two for the past few days. Given his position as the deputy hall chief of the Military Affairs Hall, this was quite unusual for him. However, knowing that Lord Kong was going to be visiting, he simply waited in Kaohe Town.
Compared to Zhang Difeng’s leisure, Luo Wen and his companions were quite uneasy at this moment.
Upon returning to Linhu Village, they were stopped at the village entrance and never even got to meet Lin Chen.
As admission instructors of the Martial Arts Academy, they had never been ignored like this before.
If it had been other students, they would have left already.
The Martial Arts Academy doesn’t lack a young genius.
However, a single sentence from Zhang Difeng left them with no room to vent their frustration.
"It seems, back in the day with Pei Qingming, your academy also waited outside the Pei Mansion for several months, didn’t it?"
If Lin Chen had only left his name on the Martial Arts Mountain three times, they might argue about how Lin Chen compared to Pei Qingming. But since Lin Chen had left his name three times, and in the final attempt defeated Pei Qingming, they had no grounds for rebuttal.
"Lord Zhang, what brings you here today?"
Luo Wen noticed Zhang Difeng wasn’t acting like usual; instead of inviting them for tea, he headed towards the town entrance, prompting Luo Wen to ask.
"Lord Kong is personally coming to Kaohe Town. As the deputy hall chief of the Jiangnan Dao Military Affairs Hall, it’s my duty to welcome him."
"Lord Kong? Which Lord Kong?"
Zhang Difeng replied in an irritated tone, "Is there any other Lord Kong in our Liang who would warrant me welcoming?"
Listening to Zhang Difeng, Luo Wen was stunned, his pupils constricting: "The Minister of Military Affairs, Minister Kong?"
Zhang Difeng didn’t bother responding to Luo Wen and continued towards the entrance of Kaohe Town. By now, he understood that to recruit Lin Chen, Luo Wen and his companions weren’t sufficient. The academy needed to send at least a vice president personally. Even if Jiangnan Dao wanted to negotiate some conditions with the academy, it should be with a vice president.
What’s more, Senior Brother Shao had already arranged the plan, so he had no reason to hang around with these three and have tea every day.
Watching Zhang Difeng leave, Luo Wen could no longer sit still. Upon learning from Luo Wen’s words that Lord Kong was arriving, Ye Yuan and Song Zhixue also decided to head to the town entrance to welcome him.
"The three junior brothers should stay in the courtyard and continue drinking tea."
Seeing Luo Wen and the other two following him, Zhang Difeng paused, turned to their confused gazes, and continued, "This is a directive from Lord Kong."
Lord Kong?
Luo Wen and the others were taken aback, not anticipating that Lord Kong would not allow their attendance. Their faces grew somewhat grave.
Their grim faces weren’t out of resentment towards Lord Kong but rather a sense of unease.
Although the academy doesn’t come under Lord Kong’s jurisdiction, Lord Kong’s status is unique. He’s a First-Grade Martial Artist, and not allowing them to welcome him was a significant matter.
The three exchanged glances, fully understanding where the issue lay.
They suspected their collective pressure on Lin Chen had displeased Lord Kong.
Zhang Difeng, however, paid no heed to their expressions. While the academy isn’t under the Military Affairs Department, its purpose is still to cultivate martial talents for Liang. Yet these three pressured Lin Chen together; it seemed like after so many years, some at the academy had changed their mindset, treating themselves as part of the Nine Kingdoms’ academy.
...
...
At the entrance of Linhu Village.
Lin Chen soon saw a group approaching, and noticed the elderly white-haired figure leading the troupe.
"Student Jia Nanzhu greets Lord Kong."
Hearing his teacher’s words nearby, Lin Chen was taken aback. Was his teacher a disciple of this Lord Kong?
In that case, wouldn’t that make him a grand-disciple?
So, how should he address him?
"Grand-disciple Lin Chen greets Grandmaster."
After a brief hesitation, Lin Chen spoke up. Whether his comprehension was accurate or not, in any case, a child’s tongue wags freely.
In the eyes of these elders, he’s just a youngster. Even if he misspoke, it wouldn’t matter much.
The scene fell silent the moment Lin Chen uttered those words.
Seated on horseback, Kong Qifeng’s expression twitched slightly before he finally spoke, "You’ve misspoken. The old me has no teacher-disciple relation with your teacher."
"Ah!"
Lin Chen looked at his teacher in surprise. No formal teacher-disciple relation, yet his teacher claims to be a student?
"Ahem, back when I became a Middle Grade Martial Artist, I attended a lecture by Lord Kong, which greatly enriched me."
Jia Nanzhu hadn’t anticipated his disciple making such a remark, and seemed even bolder than himself. While he dared to thick-skinnedly call himself a student, Lin Chen even called himself a grand-disciple.
A true example of climbing the ranks.
He just hoped not to anger Lord Kong, or make him think he had secretly instructed Lin Chen to say such things.
"To guide, teach, and resolve doubts defines being a teacher. Since the teacher calls himself a student, the disciple, as the teacher’s student, is not wrong in addressing Lord Kong as Grandmaster." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"Well said, a teacher is one who imparts knowledge and resolves confusion. Quite eloquent indeed."
Kong Qifeng burst into laughter. With this laugh, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Lord Kong wasn’t upset.
Standing at the back of the crowd, Su Lingchuan also sighed in relief. Lin Chen clearly had the boldness to say such things, given Lord Kong’s esteemed status.
"Lin Chen, accompany me around your Linhu Village. As for the rest... let’s not disturb the villagers inside."
Kong Qifeng dismounted and glanced back at Shao Jingshan. Shao Jingshan nodded, understanding that Lord Kong had things to discuss privately with Lin Chen.
"Yes!"
Lin Chen replied softly without losing composure and led the elder into the village, while the others remained at the entrance waiting.
The villagers of Linhu Village were unaware of the impending arrival of such an illustrious figure. They simply observed Lin Chen with an elder in tow, stealing curious glances without initiating any questions.
