44: Chapter 44: Clan Martial Arts Trial, the Shock of a First-Class Merit!

When Su Han followed Su Nuan to the ancestral hall, the atmosphere inside was even more solemn than before.

Several clan elders sat upright on grandmaster chairs, their expressions stern.

Su Bowen sat in the center, while the other elders stood to the side, hands behind their backs, staring at Su Han with burning gazes.

Su Han took a deep breath and stepped inside.

"Greetings, uncles," he said, bowing respectfully.

Although he was the elder with the highest seniority in the Su Family, he still maintained basic etiquette when facing the elders who had raised him since childhood.

This was somewhat similar to how he addressed Zhou Haitao.

You address me your way, and I address you mine.

Your address for me, an elder, cannot change in the face of clan rules.

But because I am much younger than you, I cannot lose the etiquette of a junior either.

Therefore, after searching the memories of the original body's owner, Su Han knew how he should address these clan elders within the clan.

Of course, besides those who were much older than him, he would also call those who were a dozen years older older brother or older sister.

Only those with an age gap of a few years, or those whose ages were similar, would be addressed by their names.

It was just like at home; if someone is many years older, you would call them brother or sister.

If they are only three or four years older and you grew up playing together, people usually just use names; one wouldn't really want to use titles like brother or sister.

Logically speaking, since Su Lingxue was much older than him, and Su Lingxue called him Third Grandpa, he should have called Su Lingxue sister, but at the time, Su Han had just transmigrated and knew nothing of this.

Furthermore, the relationships within the clan were complex, and even the original body's owner often got confused when addressing people in the clan.

In the end, he simply decided to address anyone more than a cycle older than him as uncle.

Those who were a few years or about a decade older were all called brother and sister.

Those with a small age gap or of the same generation were addressed by name.

Those younger than him were called younger brother or younger sister.

This way, it wouldn't be confusing, and he wouldn't be lacking in etiquette.

"Third Uncle, sit down." Su Bowen pointed to a chair nearby, his tone steady.

Su Han nodded and sat down properly.

The ancestral hall was filled with swirling incense smoke, and the candlelight flickered slightly, casting light on the faces of the elders and making the atmosphere appear exceptionally solemn.

"Third Uncle, you were too casual during the 'betrothal gift' ceremony just now," Su Bowen said, frowning. "The betrothal gifts were incomplete. According to the rules, we should have chosen another day to redo it. How could you make such a decision on your own?"

Su Han gave a wry smile: "Big Uncle, Zhou Haitao is from a military family after all, and they aren't very familiar with our customs. Besides, they didn't do it on purpose..."

"Rules are rules!" Su Bowen said in a deep voice, tapping his finger heavily on the table. "Third Uncle, you are the elder with the highest seniority in our Su Family, so you must act even more cautiously!"

"At the ceremony, we juniors couldn't make you lose face, but in the future, you are not allowed to be so lacking in etiquette!"

Su Han felt helpless and could only lower his head to admit his fault: "Yes, I will pay attention next time."

Su Bowen sighed, his tone softening a bit: "Third Uncle, how are you doing in the military? Have you made any mistakes?"

Su Han shook his head: "No, I have been performing very well in the military."

"Really?" Su Bowen looked at him suspiciously. "You used to be the most afraid of hardship and wouldn't even practice our Su Family basic skills. Now that you've joined the military, can you handle it?"

Su Han smiled, took a medal out of his pocket, and placed it gently on the table: "I earned a merit in the military."

The ancestral hall went silent instantly.

The eyes of the several elders fell simultaneously on that medal—First-Class Merit!

"This... is this a First-Class Merit?!" Su Bowen stood up abruptly, his voice trembling slightly.

The several elders leaned in even closer, carefully holding the medal with both hands and examining it closely: "It really is... a First-Class Merit?!"

Su Han nodded: "Yes, I took first place in the army group competition."

"Army group competition?!" Su Zhenguo looked at him in shock. "How long have you been in the military? And you were able to take first place in an army group competition?!"

Su Han laughed: "After I joined the military, I started seriously practicing our Su Family martial arts."

"What?!" the several elders exclaimed in unison.

Su Bowen was so excited that his beard was shaking: "Third Uncle, you... you really practiced it?!"

Su Han nodded: "I have practiced the Tortoise Breathing Technique, Iron Cloth Shirt, Su Family Boxing, and Iron Leg Technique."

"Impossible!" Su Bowen slammed the table. "You used to complain about hardship even when just practicing horse stance!"

Su Han felt helpless and could only stand up and walk to the open space in the center of the ancestral hall.

"Uncles, why don't you... test me?"

Su Bowen was stunned, then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He turned his head and shouted outside the ancestral hall: "Su Wu! Come in!"

Soon, a burly man with bulging muscles walked in.

Su Wu, Su Bowen's eldest son, Su Lingxue's brother, and the master of a well-known martial arts gym in the city, had once won a provincial Sanda championship, with strength comparable to a professional boxer!

"Dad, what's wrong?" Su Wu asked.

Su Bowen pointed at Su Han: "Your Third Grandpa says he has now practiced our Su Family martial arts, so you test him."

Su Wu was stunned. He looked at Su Han, somewhat hesitant: "This... Third Grandpa is only 18, and before he wasn't..."

"I told you to test him, so do it!" Su Bowen glared.

Su Wu felt helpless and could only cup his hands towards Su Han: "Third Grandpa, excuse me."

Su Han smiled slightly: "Big Brother, come on."

Su Han walked to the open space in the center of the ancestral hall, placed his feet shoulder-width apart, and assumed a standard fighting stance.

His stance was steady and powerful, his center of gravity slightly lowered, making him look like a completely different person from the youth who couldn't even hold a horse stance steadily before.

Su Wu stood opposite him, standing one meter eighty-five tall with bulging muscles.

He loosened his shoulders and said somewhat hesitantly: "Third Grandpa, how about we stop once we touch?"

"Don't hold back." Su Han smiled slightly. "Let me see our true Su Family martial arts."

Su Bowen sat on the grandmaster chair, stroking his beard, and said: "Su Wu, since your Third Grandpa has said so, exchange a few moves seriously."

Su Wu nodded, his eyes suddenly becoming focused.

He lunged forward, his right fist aiming directly for Su Han's face; it was a standard straight punch that was both fast and fierce.

Su Han was unhurried. While blocking with his left arm, he tilted his body slightly, his right hand forming a palm and cutting directly at Su Wu's throat.

Su Wu hurriedly leaned back to dodge, but he saw that Su Han's right leg had already silently swept towards his supporting leg.

"Beautiful!" Su Bowen couldn't help but slap the table in admiration. "The timing of that sweep was perfect!"

Su Wu was indeed worthy of being a provincial Sanda champion; the moment he lost his balance, he supported himself with one hand on the ground and did a backward roll to put some distance between them.

He panted and said: "Third Grandpa, your skills..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Han had already closed in on him.

The two traded punches and kicks, and in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over a dozen moves.

Every punch and kick from Su Han was clean and crisp, with no wasted movements; it was a style completely honed through actual combat.

"This boxing style of Third Uncle..." Su Bowen's eyes lit up. "Although the foundation is our Su Family Boxing, it clearly incorporates the characteristics of Military Boxing."

Su Wu gradually fell into a disadvantage.

After trading punches, he seized an opportunity to use his signature move—a powerful and heavy right hook.

Su Han, however, did not retreat but advanced instead, his left hand precisely catching Su Wu's wrist, while his right hand formed a fist and struck directly at the opponent's chest.

"Bang!"

The force of this punch was controlled perfectly, and Su Wu had to retreat three steps before steadying himself.

He rubbed his aching chest and gave a wry smile: "Third Grandpa, I admit defeat. With skills like yours, you must be one of the best in the military."