11: Chapter 11 Martial Arts School Invitation

Until Lin Dashan was the first to react, laughing towards the sky:

"Hahaha! Village Head Wang Laosuan, this duel, can we count it as a win for our Lin Family Village?"

The laughter was loud and resonant, making people's eardrums tremble.

On the side of Wang Family Village, there was dead silence.

Village Head Wang Laosuan's old face turned from iron blue to pale, and then from pale to the color of pig liver.

He stared fixedly at Lin Tian, then looked at the short-haired youth struggling to climb up from the ground, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

He had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet.

He had gone to great lengths to invite an expert from the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and set a trap, thinking victory was assured.

Who could have imagined that a youth from Lin Family Village, who was considered a waste just a few months ago, would have such strength?

"You... you..." Village Head Wang Laosuan pointed at Lin Dashan, his finger trembling.

"What? Do you want to go back on your word?" Lin Dashan's smile faded, his gaze cold, "The rules just now were set by you personally. Hundreds of people from both villages heard it."

Village Head Wang Laosuan's chest heaved violently. After a long while, he squeezed three words through his teeth:

"Fine... you win!"

He turned abruptly and shouted to his clansmen behind him:

"Let's go!"

The people of Wang Family Village felt as if they had received a pardon and left in dismay.

Before leaving, the short-haired youth took a deep look at Lin Tian, his eyes complex—containing shock, unwillingness, and a trace of an indescribable meaning.

Until the people of Wang Family Village disappeared at the end of their line of sight, the Lin Family Village side erupted in earth-shaking cheers.

"We won! We won!"

"The water source is saved!"

"Lin Tian! Well done!"

The crowd surged forward, surrounding Lin Tian.

The young members of the Martial Arts Team patted his shoulders, the older generation of men had red eyes, and the women wiped away tears.

Lin Dashan walked over and heavily patted Lin Tian's shoulder, with such force that Lin Tian stumbled.

"Kid, you did well!"

He paused, his voice slightly choked with emotion:

"You've... brought honor to our Lin Family Village!"

On the way back to the village, the atmosphere was unprecedentedly lively.

On the ox cart, the young members of the Martial Arts Team surrounded Lin Tian, asking questions one after another.

"Lin Tian, how did you practice that Mountain-Opening Fist? You reached Minor Achievement in three months?"

"Is there some secret recipe?"

"Teach us!"

Lin Tian just smiled and shook his head: "I just practiced every day, and after practicing for a while, I learned it."

This was said lightly, but it added to the mystery. Lin Hu sat in the corner, his expression changing unpredictably.

He remembered that three months ago, he was still mocking Lin Tian for "not being cut out for this." Now, the other party had left him far behind.

Lin Jing sat in another cart, looking at Lin Tian from afar, her eyes complex.

That night, Lin Family Village held a banquet.

More than a dozen large pots were set up on the threshing floor, boiling pork and mutton bought from the city during the day.

Jars of wheat wine were brought out, and the aroma of wine mixed with the scent of meat, permeating the entire village.

Lin Tian was arranged at the main table, sitting between Lin Dashan and Village Head Lin Tieshan.

This was the highest honor in the village, which in the past was only reserved for distinguished guests or those who had made great contributions.

Zhao Shi and Lin Xiaohe were also invited and sat at the table for women. Zhao Shi was at a loss, while Lin Xiaohe was holding a large meat bone, gnawing on it until her face was covered in grease.

"Lin Dashan, your family has produced a good son!" An old man came over with a wine bowl to offer a toast.

"That's right, the lad Tian has won great glory for our village this time!"

"In the future, the Martial Arts Team will rely on him to hold up our reputation!"

Lin Dashan was flushed from drinking, only grinning, unable to say a word.

Zhao Shi wiped away tears on the side, but they were tears of joy.

Lin Tian held his wine bowl and toasted table by table. His alcohol tolerance was average; after a few bowls, he felt a bit dizzy, but his mind was exceptionally clear.

This was just the beginning.

The Mountain-Opening Fist at Minor Achievement, with three hundred catties of strength, might make him a figure in Lin Family Village.

But in the wider world, it was far from enough.

He wanted to become stronger, much stronger.

Wang Family Village, ancestral hall.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it could wring out water. Village Head Wang Laosuan sat in the main seat, his face gloomy. Below him stood seven or eight clan elders, all sighing one after another.

"Village Head, this time... this time we lost heavily." A Tall Thin Man clan elder said in a low voice, "Not only did we fail to seize the water source, but we also wasted the silver used to hire the expert from the Martial Arts Hall."

"Exactly! That kid took the money but didn't get the job done!"

"The people from the Martial Arts Hall are also unreliable..."

Before the words fell, the door of the ancestral hall was pushed open.

The short-haired youth stood at the doorway, his face icy. Behind him followed a middle-aged man in his forties, lean, wearing a cyan martial outfit, with a sword at his waist.

"You... are talking about me?" The short-haired youth walked into the ancestral hall, his voice indifferent.

Village Head Wang Laosuan's face changed, and he quickly stood up: "Young Master Wang, you have misunderstood, we..."

"No need to explain." The short-haired youth interrupted him, walked to the main seat, and sat down on his own, "I heard it. What, you lost the competition and are blaming it on me?"

There was dead silence in the ancestral hall.

Cold sweat oozed from Village Head Wang Laosuan's forehead.

The person before him was a formal Disciple of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall. Although he had lost the competition, crushing Wang Family Village to death would be about the same as crushing an ant.

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare!" Village Head Wang Laosuan quickly apologized with a smile, "Young Master Wang's strength is high, it is we who..."

"Enough." The short-haired youth waved his hand, "Where is the silver that should be given?"

"Here, here!" Village Head Wang Laosuan took out a small cloth bag from his bosom and offered it with both hands, "Four taels of silver, please count it."

The short-haired youth took it, weighed it, and stuffed it into his bosom. He stood up, walked to the door, then stopped, turned back to look at Village Head Wang Laosuan:

"That Lin Tian... is a bit interesting."

Having said that, he pushed the door open and went out. The middle-aged man followed him out, having not said a word from beginning to end.

Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, backyard.

The short-haired youth Wang Chong stood outside a quiet room and said respectfully: "Master, this Disciple has something to report."

"Come in."

Pushing the door and entering, the room was simple, with only one table, one chair, and one couch. An old man in his fifties sat cross-legged on the couch, closing his eyes to rest.

He wore a gray cloth robe, his hair was gray, but his complexion was rosy, and his breath was long.

He was the instructor of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, Instructor Liu Changfeng.

"Master." Wang Chong bowed and saluted.

"What is it?" Instructor Liu Changfeng opened his eyes, his gaze like lightning.

Wang Chong recounted the events of today in detail, especially describing how Lin Tian broke his Qingfeng Palm with one punch, and how he defeated him with the Mountain-Opening Fist at the Minor Achievement Realm.

Instructor Liu Changfeng finished listening, his eyebrows slightly raised:

"Three months, Mountain-Opening Fist at Minor Achievement? Are you sure?"

"This Disciple saw it with his own eyes, there is absolutely no falsehood." Wang Chong lowered his head and said, "And... that kid had never practiced martial arts before; he only started practicing in the last two or three months."

The quiet room fell silent.

Instructor Liu Changfeng tapped his fingers on his knees, light flashing in his eyes.

Three months, starting from zero, Mountain-Opening Fist at Minor Achievement.

What kind of talent is this?

He had lived for over fifty years and had seen many a Genius. The fastest, from entry to Minor Achievement, still took one year.

Three months... unheard of.

"Master, this Disciple has shamed you." Wang Chong said in a low voice.

"No." Instructor Liu Changfeng shook his head, "You did the right thing. Such a Genius must not be buried in the countryside."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Disciples practicing martial arts in the courtyard:

"Follow me to see the Hall Master."

The Hall Master of Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, Li Qingfeng, was in his sixties, a Rank 3 Martial Artist, and was a top-tier expert in Heishan City.

After hearing Instructor Liu Changfeng's report, he was silent for a long time, then suddenly slapped the table and stood up:

"Good! A good Lin Tian!"

"Three months to reach Minor Achievement in Mountain-Opening Fist, such talent is rare in a hundred years! Instructor Liu, you immediately take people to Lin Family Village and bring that Lin Tian over. Whatever conditions he wants, agree to them!"

He paused, then said in a deep voice:

"Remember, you must get there before other martial arts halls find out. Such a Genius must not fall into the hands of others!"

"Yes!" Instructor Liu Changfeng clasped his fists.

That afternoon, Instructor Liu Changfeng took Wang Chong and left the martial arts hall, heading straight for Lin Family Village.

Lin Family Village, threshing floor.

Several young members of the Martial Arts Team were practicing punches when they suddenly saw dust flying in the distance, and two horses galloping over.

The people on the horses were none other than Wang Chong and a strange middle-aged man.

"Enemy attack!"

Someone exclaimed.

Soon, the whole village was alarmed.

Lin Dashan, Village Head Lin Tieshan, Lin Bao, and others rushed to the threshing floor, followed by dozens of men, all holding weapons in their hands.

"Are the people from Wang Family Village here again?"

"No... it's that martial arts hall Disciple!"

"He still dares to come?"

Lin Dashan's face was gloomy.

The people from the martial arts hall returning must not be for anything good. Could it be to take revenge for what happened during the day?

When the horses reached them, Wang Chong and Instructor Liu Changfeng dismounted.

"I don't know what you two have come for?" Lin Dashan stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.

He gripped the woodcutter's knife in his hand, and behind him, Village Head Lin Tieshan and Lin Bao also stepped forward, the three of them standing in a triangular formation.

Wang Chong looked at their appearance of facing a great enemy and curled his lips:

"I'm here to find that Lin Tian."

Lin Dashan's heart tightened.

Sure enough!

He suppressed his anger and gritted his teeth: "Young Master Wang, in the duel during the day, although Lin Tian won, it was won according to the rules. If your martial arts hall is looking for trouble with him because of this, isn't it too lacking in Dao?"

"Who said I was looking for trouble with him?" Wang Chong rolled his eyes.

Lin Dashan was stunned.

Not looking for trouble? Then what are they here for?

Wang Chong couldn't be bothered to explain, just saying: "You'll know when you call him over."

The people of Lin Family Village looked at each other.

"Village Head, what should we do?" Village Head Lin Tieshan asked in a low voice.

Lin Dashan's expression changed.

They could not afford to offend the people from the martial arts hall. If they really fought, the entire village combined would not be a match for one formal Disciple of a martial arts hall.

"Go, call Lin Tian." Lin Dashan gritted his teeth, "If the people from the martial arts hall really want to fight... we must protect him even if it costs us our lives!"

Lin Tian was practicing punches at home.

When he heard the news, his heart sank.

The people from the martial arts hall are here? Is it that short-haired youth from the day?

Revenge?

"Tian'er, don't go!" Zhao Shi held onto him tightly, tears streaming down her face, "They must be here for revenge!"

His sister also said anxiously: "Let's run!"

Lin Tian shook his head.

Run? Where to run? The power of the martial arts hall is not something that farm families like them can contend with.

"Father, Mother, you wait at home." Lin Tian took a deep breath, "I'll go and see. If something really happens... don't worry about me."

"No!" Zhao Shi cried out.

Lin Dashan also had red eyes: "If we go, we go together! Our family, even in death, must be together!"

In the end, the family of three walked towards the threshing floor.

Along the way, the clansmen in the village followed one after another, all holding weapons in their hands.

Although afraid, no one backed down.

On the threshing floor, the atmosphere was tense.

Lin Tian walked through the crowd, went to the very front, and looked at Wang Chong:

"If you want revenge, come at me alone."

Wang Chong looked at him and suddenly smiled:

"Kid, you are quite courageous. But I said it before, I'm not here to take revenge on you."

Not revenge?

Lin Tian frowned: "Then what are you here for?"

Wang Chong didn't answer, just stepped aside.

The middle-aged man behind him walked forward, his gaze sweeping over Lin Tian, nodding slightly:

"Not bad, the Qi and blood are vigorous, and the muscles and bones are solid."

He paused, his voice gentle:

"I am the instructor of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, you can call me Instructor Liu. Coming here today, it is under the order of the Hall Master—"

His gaze fell on Lin Tian's face, word by word:

"To invite you to join the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall."

Silence.

A deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned.

Lin Dashan's mouth was open, and the woodcutter's knife in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang".

Zhao Shi covered her mouth, tears gushing out again, but this time it was tears of joy. Lin Hu and others were dumbfounded, as if they had heard a fantasy.

Invitation... to join the martial arts hall?

That is the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall! One of the three major martial arts halls in Heishan City!

For a child of a farm family to be able to enter a martial arts hall to practice martial arts, that is a matter of the ancestral grave emitting green smoke!

Village Head Lin Tieshan also went to the martial arts hall for assessment back then, but was eliminated in the first round.

And now, the martial arts hall instructor came to his door personally, inviting Lin Tian to join?

Lin Tian himself was also stunned.

He had anticipated many possibilities—revenge, extortion, even being silenced.

But he never thought that the other party came to invite him.

Joining the martial arts hall...

This means better Cultivation Technique, more resources, and a faster improvement speed.

But it also means leaving Lin Family Village and entering a completely unfamiliar environment.

"Little guy." Instructor Liu Changfeng looked at him and smiled, "Are you willing to join our Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall?"

Everyone's gaze was focused on Lin Tian.

Lin Dashan's lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end, he just patted his son's shoulder:

"Tian'er, you decide for yourself."

Zhao Shi also wiped away her tears and nodded vigorously.

Lin Tian looked at Instructor Liu Changfeng, then at Wang Chong, and finally at the familiar faces of the clansmen behind him.

He took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth:

"I..."