Chapter 1: Tang Lin!

  Kampong Cham Province, Kampong Siem District.

  The scorching sun blazed down on the earth, burning all living things. The slanting sunlight flashed across the eaves and shone into the thatched hut of the Bamboo Fragrance Academy.

  "Below, I will announce the results of the last 'Book of History' exam." A white-haired old man in the hall looked down at the platform below, sternly saying, "Those who did not pass must copy the first ten chapters of the 'Book of History' twice as punishment!"

  Under the thatched roof, twenty or thirty children, all six or seven years old, sat packed tightly together. When they heard this severe punishment, their young faces were filled with anxiety and tension.

  "This time there were only ten questions, but only one person got them all correct."

  "Who is this, so fierce."

  The children gazed around with wide, shiny black eyes, full of curiosity and admiration.

  "It's Tang Lin." The old man's stern face cracked a smile as he looked towards a corner of the thatched cottage.

  All the children turned their heads and looked over.

  In the last row of seats in the thatched cottage, a boy of eleven or twelve years old sat with clear and elegant eyebrows and eyes, wearing a light gray long shirt, his black hair fluttering down, and on top of his head was a white scholar's hat, matching his thin and weak body, emitting a strong book fragrance.

  "So it was Brother Tang Lin!"

  "This time three questions are from 'Wu Dian', his family runs a martial arts school, no wonder he got them all correct."

  These children's eyes shone with admiration, and some of them pouted with a hint of discontent.

  The old man's face sank, and he said, "Although Tang Lin's family runs a martial arts school, he didn't start learning until he was ten years old. His time in the academy is not as long as yours, you must strive to surpass him, do you understand?"

  "Got it!" The children responded in unison.

  "Alright." The old man nodded slightly, "Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, the academy is closed for holiday, everyone go back early."

  "On holiday?"

  "Too good!"

  As soon as they heard about the holiday, a group of children immediately cheered up, quickly packed up their books and rushed out in a line with their school bags on their backs.

  "Mid-Autumn Festival..." Tang Lin's eyes flashed with a hint of light, "I wonder if my elder brother and second sister who went to the capital to compete at Shenwu Gate will come back this year."

  He quickly gathered his things and left the academy, rushing straight home.

  Tang Lin's home was north of Longxiang City, the environment was relatively secluded, and walking straight along the small path outside the academy for half an hour would get you there.

  In the distance, an old building stands at the edge of a desolate street, surrounded by many maple trees. The entrance is filled with fallen leaves due to lack of cleaning. The place is sparsely populated, and in front of the spacious mansion, there are two stone lions. The gate is wide open, with no one guarding it.

  Four large golden characters on the door: Chunyang Wuguan!

  Walking along the main gate, a straight bluestone path leads directly to the main hall. Tang Lin excitedly ran to the outside of the main hall and hadn't entered yet when he heard an unfamiliar middle-aged man's voice from inside, "Tang Tian, your fief's land rent has been in arrears for nine months now, are you going to give me a deadline?"

  "Brother Lantian, to be honest, I'm really tight on cash lately. Although we've opened a martial arts school, you also know that there are countless schools in the city and the competition is fierce. Our Pure Yang Martial Arts School is at most just a third-rate school, with meager income. For now, it's really hard for me to come up with so much money." A loud voice said awkwardly.

  Tang Lin heard that this was his father's voice, and he was a little puzzled. He secretly walked to the stone pillar outside the main hall and looked over. Only to see a middle-aged man standing in the hall, with a wide body and a slightly raised belly, wearing purple brocade full of dignity, who should be the "Blue Field Brother" mentioned by his father.

  His father stood on the other side, wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt, with muscles as hard as steel outside, and his sturdy body stood in front of the middle-aged man, but seemed to be shorter than him. The smile squeezed out on his face was somewhat awkward and unsightly.

  "No money?" Blue Field's eyebrows rose, "I recall that your Pure Yang Martial Arts Institute was once the number one martial arts institute in Dragon Elephant City. Although it declined later on, the stored funds shouldn't be little, right?"

  The First Great Martial Hall? Tang Lin was taken aback for a moment after eavesdropping.

  In Tang Lin's view, his family was just a third-rate martial arts school, barely managing to survive, how could it have been the number one martial arts school in Longxiang City?

  These words seem like something Father has never said before.

  Tang Tian sighed, "That was my father's generation, later the martial arts hall had a lot of problems, all the funds were spent, our whole family reduced expenses and tightened our belts, where would we have gotten the money?"

  Lan Tian sneered, "Don't pretend anymore. The other day, the Tianlong Martial Arts Hall came to acquire this mansion and was willing to pay three times the price for you to transfer it to them, but you refused stubbornly. If you were really in such a desperate situation, you would have sold it long ago. You yourself said that now the Chunyang Martial Arts Hall is just a third-rate small martial arts hall, occupying such a large piece of land, completely wasting resources."

  "This estate has been in our family since my grandfather's generation, the foundation of the Tang family is here, I will never transfer it to anyone!" Tang Tian looked up and stared at Lan Tian, "As long as you give me two more months, I'll definitely come up with the money for you."

  "Two months?" Lan Tian sneered with a smile, "With this little time, what can you make up for?"

  Tang Tian let out a breath, a smile appearing on his face. "Last year my son and daughter went to the capital's Shenwu Gate for the selection. Within two months there will be news coming back. As long as they join Shenwu Gate, it's possible for them to become warriors in the future. Taking out this rent money is still quite simple."

  "You think you're a three-year-old kid?" Lan Tian glanced at him with a mocking tone, "Who doesn't know that your son is a born weakling, unable to cultivate martial arts, and can only go to school to read books? What kind of future will he have?"

  Tang Tian's face suddenly sank, and he said in a cold voice: "Lan Tian, you're going too far! I'm talking about my eldest son and daughter, they're both under 18 this year, and they've already become high-level martial artists. In the future, as long as they work hard, there's still hope for them to become warriors! And my youngest son, although he was weak in body since childhood, is now a top student at the academy. If he passes the imperial examination and becomes a jinshi or juren, he can still have a good life in the officialdom, and won't be a useless person!"

  His face, filled with anger, emitted a cold aura, and in an instant, he stood before Lantian like a giant.

  Tang Lin's heart skipped a beat as a surge of warmth burst forth from his chest.

  "Father..." His eyes became slightly moist.

  Since he was six years old and started practicing martial arts, his father discovered that he had congenital blood deficiency. He has been taken by his father to visit famous doctors every day, eating a large amount of medicinal materials to nourish his body, but there is no improvement. After the age of ten, the best period for bone development has passed, and it is already very difficult to achieve anything in martial arts. Under duress, he switched to literature.

  He had known since he was a child that his family's financial situation was not good, and the martial arts school expenses were high, so he always felt guilty and self-reproachful. In order to save tuition fees, he even planned to drop out of school to find work and support his family. He never thought that his father would place such high hopes on him.

  Lan Tian's face changed color due to the aura on Tang Tian's body, and he coldly said: "I don't care about you that much, the God Martial Gate in the capital is not so easy to enter. I'll give you another month's deadline, if you still haven't handed it over, I'll report to the authorities and accuse you of breach of contract!"

  Tang Tian's fists were clenched, staring at Lan Tian like a furious lion, his body trembling with rage, unable to speak.

  Lan Tian had some apprehensions in his heart, although there were imperial officials and laws, but the person in front of him was after all a high-ranking martial artist who could tear himself apart in an instant. He let out a cold snort, intending to turn around and leave, when suddenly he thought of something and sneered at Tang Tian.

  "As an old friend, I'll let you in on a secret: the Tianlong Martial Arts Hall seems to be interested in the Wolongchi behind your mansion. Although it used to be a treasure trove of feng shui, it's been over-developed for too long and has fallen into disrepair. You should sell it while it still has some value left; you can still get a few coins for it."

  Having finished speaking, he didn't go look at Tang Tian's gloomy face, and instead turned around calmly and left.

  "Boom!"

  A palm slammed onto the table, and the wooden table shattered into fragments.

  Tang Tian watched as Lan Tian disappeared at the gate of the mansion, his eyes almost spewing fire.

  Seeing his father's angry look, Tang Lin gritted his teeth in his heart. "Tang Lin, although you can't practice martial arts, as long as you study hard, you still have a chance to make a name for yourself in the future. If you pass the provincial imperial examination two years later, you can become a scholar and receive grain from the court every month. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the county exam. If you pass the county exam, you can serve as an official in the imperial court and receive a salary. Although the salary is not high, it's enough to pay the rent."

  In the Cheonhye Kingdom, civil officials are far inferior to military officers, but this is currently Tanglin's only way out.

  He took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

  "Who?" came a low voice from inside the house, Father's voice.

  Tang Lin secretly exclaimed, unexpectedly his father was so sharp, with such strength, according to the records of the "Martial Classics", it should be within three feet, where a falling needle could be heard.

  No wonder he's an advanced martial artist!

  He quietly admired and walked in, respectfully calling out, "Father, it's me."

  "Ling'er, why are you back so early today?" Seeing that it was Tang Lin, the gloom on Tang Tian's face dissipated, revealing a doting smile. He walked over and picked up the heavy book basket on Tang Lin's body, "You must be tired, go rest quickly, tonight I'll get Song Baba to make something delicious for you."

  "Father, did that man just say we used to be the number one martial arts school in the city? Is it true?" Tang Lin looked up curiously at his tall father.

  Tang Tian was stunned for a moment, looking at him, "When did you come back."

  "It was just now." Tang Lin said honestly.

  Tang Tian's expression was somewhat complex, these things he originally didn't want Tang Lin to know, although Tang Lin was sensible, but after all still too young. "Didn't think you heard everything, it seems I really am old, didn't even notice someone outside..." his voice carried a hint of bitterness.

  Tang Lin's heart ached, and she hastily stretched out her pale small hand to grab her father's rough large hand, feeling the old calluses left from his martial arts training. Her heart ached even more, and in a soft voice, she said, "Father, you're not old yet. The books say that people reach their prime at forty, and you just didn't notice mine because you were too focused."

  Tang Tian's heart warmed, rubbing his son's black hair on the forehead, "You're the most sensible one. I, Tang Tian, can have a son like you, this life is worth it. That person was right, in your grandfather's generation, our martial arts school was once the largest in the city, no one didn't know about it, even the city master would get off his carriage and stop his horse when he came to my house. It's just that later on, some things happened, and the martial arts school started to decline." His voice was filled with sadness and sighs.

  "What's going on?" Tang Lin was even more curious.

  Tang Tian no longer concealed anything, holding Tang Lin in his lap and sitting on the withered wooden chair, slowly saying: "The most important thing about opening a martial arts school is the secret manual of kung fu, the method of cultivation, and resources. Our Pure Yang Martial Arts School originally had a book called 'Pure Yang Wu Jing', but when your grandfather passed it down to me, the 'Pure Yang Wu Jing' was nowhere to be found, no matter how hard I looked."

  "At first, I was worried about being stolen, so I didn't copy a spare. At that time, I was still young, and the Pure Yang Martial Arts had eight levels in total. I only practiced three levels, so after the martial arts were lost, the martial arts hall did not have this set of martial arts as the core practice method, but relied on several other mediocre techniques to practice. The students' progress was extremely slow, and as a result, fewer and fewer people came to sign up for martial arts training. It wasn't until then that our Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall fell from its peak."

  "Since 'Pure Yang Martial Classics' is so precious, why didn't you keep it well?" Tang Lin asked in puzzlement.

  Tang Tian shook his head, "The martial arts scripture was kept very secretly, only your grandfather and I knew about it, but later on, it somehow disappeared. I suspect that it was stolen by another powerful person. Unfortunately, at the time, I didn't memorize the incantation for the last five layers, otherwise, with your older brother and sister's qualifications, they would have definitely been able to cultivate up to the seventh layer before the age of 25 and become a strong and noble warrior. That way, our martial arts school wouldn't have declined in at least two hundred years."

  "Will it not decline in two hundred years?" Tang Lin looked at him with doubt.

  "Yes." Tang Tian smiled and stroked his son's hair, "Martial artists have a broad and profound understanding, with the lowest lifespan being at least 200 years. Even if there aren't any outstanding individuals among their descendants in the next few generations, as long as there is a martial artist presiding over it, the martial arts hall will continue to prosper."

  "How formidable!" Tang Lin exclaimed.

  The lifespan of ordinary people is at most eighty years old, and it's extremely rare to live up to one hundred years old, let alone two hundred years!

  "Right." Tang Lin suddenly became curious and said, "Earlier that person told you to sell the Wò Lóng Pool in the backyard, why didn't you sell it? Now there aren't even any fish that can be raised in that pool, keeping it is useless, selling it could still make some money."

  Tang Tian laughed and said, "If I were to sell that, your grandfather would be so angry he'd jump out of his coffin."

  "What?" Tang Lin's mouth opened wide.

  "In the early days of our martial arts hall, there were two treasures that held it together. One was the Pure Yang Martial Classics, and the other was this Wò Lóng Chí (Reclining Dragon Pool). Tang Tian smiled slightly, 'Don't underestimate this Reclining Dragon Pool, although it's abandoned now, but back in the day, the water inside was incredibly precious, capable of washing one's marrow, even if someone was over ten years old, as long as they soaked in it, they could re-mold their bones and start practicing martial arts again.'"

  "How amazing!" Tang Lin was stunned.

  "This is the foundation of our martial arts hall, even if it's abandoned, it can't be discarded, do you understand?" Tang Tian said with a serious tone in his smile.

  Tang Lin nodded heavily, "Mm, I know!"

  ……

  Mid-Autumn, moon full.

  In the courtyard, a stone table was set up. Tang Lin and his father sat beside it eating their meal. An old woman walked over carrying a large bowl of soup and said with a smile: "Come come come, Little Lin, this is your favorite bamboo shoot soup."

  "Thanks, Grandma Song." Tang Lin exclaimed, hastily scooping a large spoonful into his bowl and taking a sip, "Wow, it's scalding hot."

  "Slow down, child, you're always in such a hurry." Grandma Song said with a warm smile.

  "The students in the martial arts hall have all gone home." Tang Tian looked at Song Nainai warmly, "You also sit down and eat."

  Song's grandmother smiled and nodded, she was already used to this life, lightly sat beside Tang Lin, scooped a spoonful of tangyuan for him, blew on it gently, "Hot, eat slowly."

  "You eat too." Tang Lin used his small hand to push, turned his head to look at his father, but saw him staring at the night sky in a daze, with a few hints of sadness and desolation on his face. This large courtyard was empty without the usual laughter of students, it seemed somewhat deserted.

  Tang Lin felt a pang in his heart, knowing that he was thinking about what happened during the day again. For a moment, he didn't know how to comfort him and could only resent himself for being useless.

  Just at this time ——

  "Ha, coming early is not as good as coming at the right time!" A clear and bright voice came from outside the courtyard gate, filled with joyful tone.

  Tang Lin's eyes lit up, "It's Big Brother who has returned!" He hastily put down his bowl and stood up to run over. Under the moonlight, a slender young man with a carefree and proud demeanor slowly walked in from outside the door. His black long hair fluttered in the wind, his sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards, and his starry eyes shone brightly.

  "Big Brother!" Tang Lin exclaimed excitedly.

  "Little bookworm, do you miss your big brother?" The young man laughed and walked over, hugging Tang Lin in his arms and ruffling his hair. "It's been a few days and you've grown taller again."

  "Of course I think about it, I think about it every day!" Tang Lin's emotions were surging, he looked back and exclaimed: "Where is my sister? Why isn't she here?"

  "Your sister is still in the capital, I have some good news to tell you, she was accepted into the Seven Star Martial Arts Academy and has become an official disciple. She won't be able to come back this year." The young man smiled slightly, looked up at his father on the stone table, and walked over with a respectful glint in his eyes: "Father, I'm back."

  Tang Tian saw his eldest son Tang Long, and his heart was filled with joy and surprise. His worries and troubles were swept away, and a smile spread across his face. "Good, good, it's great that you're back! Come sit down and have some tangyuan."

  "Hmm!" Tang Long casually sat down, greeted Song Nainai beside him, and looked at Tang Lin beside him, with a doting smile flickering in his eyes. "Little bookworm, have you been studying hard lately?"

  "Of course." Tang Lin said excitedly: "Today, the teacher announced the exam results. Ten questions, I was the only one in the academy who got them all correct!"

  Tang Long smiled and said: "I knew your grades wouldn't be bad, you bookworm. Since you've worked so hard, I'll reward you with something fun."

  "Huh?" Tang Tian and Tang Lin both looked over.

  Only then did Tang Long pull out a piece of jade pendant from his clothes, which emitted a vibrant vitality under the moonlight. "This was bought for you by me and your sister when we were strolling around the capital, do you like it?" He smiled as he handed it over to Tang Lin.

  Tang Lin's eyes were completely absorbed by the green light on the jade pendant, and he suddenly woke up, shaking his head: "No way, this is too valuable, what if I lose it?"

  Tang Long smiled and said: "If it's lost, just buy another one. Take it, big brother gave you something, don't refuse!"

  Tang Lin knew his personality and added that he liked it in his heart, so he only lightly accepted it. He found that the jade pendant was extremely delicate, like a piece of emerald-colored gemstone.

  Tang Tian glanced at the jade pendant, a smile in his eyes, and then turned to look at Tang Long, asking: "You just said that Xiaofeng was admitted to the Seven Star Martial Arts Academy in the capital?" His voice was filled with tension and anticipation.

  Facing his father's inquiry, Tang Long was very respectful and nodded: "Yes, when we went to the capital, my younger sister and I first went to Shenwu Gate for assessment. However, the assessment at Shenwu Gate was really too strict, no wonder it is the number one martial arts school in the capital. This time, only eight people were admitted, all of whom are the peak of high-level martial artists, just one step away from reaching the realm of martial arts. We were eliminated."

  Then my little sister and I went to the Qī Xīng Wǔ Guǎn, although it is inferior to Shén Wǔ Mén, but in the capital city it is also the second largest martial arts school. After repeated tests, my little sister was admitted, as for me, during the test I performed poorly and my own level was not enough, so I didn't get in... My eyes felt a bit dim.

  Tang Lin smiled and said: "Big brother, you and second sister practiced martial arts together, but you're actually not as good as her. Are you slacking off every day?"

  Hearing his teasing voice, Tang Long couldn't help but laugh and scold: "You little bookworm, how dare you make fun of me? Just wait and see if I don't scratch you." He made a gesture as if to scratch him.

  Two people laughing together, Grandma Song watched with a smile in her eyes.

  Tang Tian's heart was racing wildly.

  Heaven!

  Her own daughter actually got into the Seven Stars Martial Arts Academy!

  He had originally let Tang Long and Xiao Feng go to Shenwu Gate for assessment, he didn't have much hope. As the person in charge of the martial arts hall, he deeply understood the strictness of Shenwu Gate's assessment. This ancient large martial arts hall has stood for countless years, when he was young and went to take the assessment himself, he wasn't selected, his son and daughter were eliminated, he wasn't too surprised.

  He never thought that his own daughter could actually enter the Seven Stars Martial Arts Academy!

  In the Cangxue Dynasty, there are two major martial arts schools that are the most powerful forces, with branches all over the world. They are the Shenwu Gate and the Qixing Martial Arts School. In terms of actual strength, the Shenwu Gate is slightly stronger than the Qixing Martial Arts School. Among the top ten marshals in the empire, six of them came from the Shenwu Gate. However, the Qixing Martial Arts School should not be underestimated either, as it has a vast number of skilled martial artists and is said to be home to legendary martial gods.

  In a grand martial arts hall like this, if one's own daughter enters it, her future achievements can be imagined; as long as she works hard and perseveres, becoming a great warrior is not out of the question!

  For a medium-sized city like Longxiang City, which is relatively remote from the imperial court, the governor would bow to martial artists, showing their nobility!

  "Daughter..." A gleam of excitement flashed in Tang Tian's eyes.

  Late at night.

  After dinner, Big Brother was called away by Father, and Tang Lin returned to the house alone, lit the oil lamp, looked at the empty house, and felt a sense of emptiness in his heart that he couldn't express.

  "Now that Big Brother has lost, he will definitely stay at home to take care of the martial arts hall and inherit his father's position as the hall master in the future. As for Second Sister, she will surely become a powerful warrior in the Seven Stars Martial Arts Hall and return home in triumph." Tang Lin sat on the chair, his thoughts drifting away.

  "What can I do in the future?"

  "Could it be that Heaven has destined me, Tang Lin, to never cultivate martial arts?"

  Tang Lin clenched his fist slightly, this question had been asked countless times in his heart, but in the face of cruel reality, it was gradually erased by the calm years. At this moment, he thought of it again, and a surge of heat rose up in his heart.

  "I refuse to believe it, I can only be a scholar in this life, I'm not reconciled!"

  Tang Lin suddenly stood up from his chair, a resolute glint in his eyes, and left the house, walking towards the empty space outside. The cold moonlight shone on him, like a chilly winter frost.

  "Rise of the mighty dragon!"

  Tang Lin recalled a powerful fist technique that his father had once practiced with the martial arts students, and the hot blood in his body seemed to be gradually stirred up. He slowly sank his waist and abdomen, as if his father's words were echoing in his ears: "Kanglong Fist can make the 360 bones and muscles of the whole body as hard as steel, with a strong and fierce force, the power is transmitted to both legs, the fist is like a sharp arrow, one punch on the tree trunk, all the leaves on the top of the tree will burst!"

  ……

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