High-Martial World: System Arrives 30 Years Late-Chapter 146 - 133: Lofty and Overbearing Lin Family

Chapter 146: Chapter 133: Lofty and Overbearing Lin Family

Walking behind Vice President Lin, Su Mu once again activated the Eye of Insight. He confirmed that he hadn’t seen incorrectly; he could indeed see the red lines emanating from Vice President Lin.

And it wasn’t just one line.

It wasn’t even semi-transparent, meaning he indeed had the capability and opportunity to inflict some injury, or even serious harm, on this Grandmaster-level martial artist.

"As expected, the red lines observed by the Eye of Insight are related to the user’s own strength."

The two moved to a lounge.

"Su Mu, I am Lin Heng. You probably know me as the Vice President of the Guangshen Province Martial Arts Association, but that’s not the capacity in which I sought you today. Do you know about martial arts aristocratic families?"

Su Mu nodded.

"Since you are aware, I won’t beat around the bush. Right now, I, Lin Heng, do not represent the Provincial Martial Arts Association’s stance but rather the Lin Family of Guangshen Province."

"I’ve looked through your file, Su Mu. The Chairman’s words are true: ’Originating from humble beginnings is not disgraceful.’ I see potential in you, especially your potential to surpass your current realm in Qi Blood cultivation. Our Lin family wants to nurture you."

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Moreover, Su Mu doesn’t hold a favorable impression of the Lin Family, but he knows not to offend someone being polite.

"Vice President Lin, if I want to receive the Lin Family’s cultivation, what must I give in return?"

"The martial arts aristocratic families have endured for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Our Lin Family’s ancestors made their mark at the inception of martial arts. As one of these aristocratic families, we have witnessed the flourishing of martial arts."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu’s heart skipped a beat. A family that witnessed the flourishing of martial arts truly possesses formidable heritage, and he had underestimated the foundation of martial arts aristocratic families.

Every martial arts aristocratic family is a colossal entity, akin to the millennium-old families of feudal dynasties, enduring through dynastic changes.

"The benefits of receiving cultivation from our Lin Family are beyond your imagination: becoming a martial arts grandmaster will be within reach, and you can even envision becoming a great grandmaster." Lin Heng spoke of his family with pride and an air of superiority.

Yet perhaps, Lin Heng was unaware that Su Mu quietly listened to Lin Heng’s promises.

"But there’s no gain without pain. Our Lin Family also has three minor requests of you, two of which aren’t truly demands."

"First, you need to join the Lin Family and, when necessary, act for the family, although our Lin Family has stood for a millennium, so this point is mostly unnecessary."

"Second, Su Mu, you can cultivate nearly ten thousand kilocalories of Qi Blood at the peak of the Fourth Level. You have a fine talent in Qi Blood cultivation, and in the future, you can engage in more exchanges with family members."

"Third, you will marry a daughter of our Lin Family."

After speaking, Lin Heng was filled with confidence, waiting for Su Mu to be grateful. He believed these three points must seem like manna from heaven for someone from a smaller place like Su Mu and a large gift at that.

What’s more, what Su Mu has to offer is merely the secret of his Qi Blood cultivation.

Especially the third point — how many people wish to marry a Lin Family woman but cannot, how many consider it an honor to marry a Lin Family woman, even within the Provincial Martial Arts Association, many share this sentiment, as it is the path to prosperity.

To Lin Heng’s view, Su Mu would be no exception; he couldn’t possibly refuse.

Yet, the next second, Lin Heng’s expression froze.

Su Mu shook his head, calmly rejecting the offer.

"Vice President Lin, I refuse because what you ask of me is something I cannot do."

"What did you say? Do you know what you’re saying?"

Lin Heng’s face was suddenly filled with disbelief and a hint of humiliation, as if a superior found his ’merciful generosity’ rejected by someone he regarded as an ant.

"I said I refuse." Su Mu repeated.

...

At this moment, Su Mu couldn’t help but recall a historical anecdote.

On Blue Star, during Emperor Gaozong of Tang’s time, the Prime Minister, Xue Yuanchao, who reached the pinnacle of his career and married a daughter of the Li Tang royal family, had three regrets in his life, one of which was not being able to marry a woman from the Five Surnames.

The Five Surnames’ women were daughters of the prominent families of Cui, Li, Lu, Zheng, and Wang.

Those times were exactly like this moment.

Martial arts aristocratic families are like the millennium-old families of feudal dynasties.

But Su Mu’s sentiments were different from this Prime Minister Xue; he didn’t consider marrying a Lin Family daughter a matter of pride, as he deeply loved Xiaoyue and Miaomiao.

He would never abandon his wife and daughter for the cultivation of the Lin Family or to join the Lin Family. Su Mu couldn’t do it, so he refused without hesitation at this moment.

"Su Mu, do you know what you’re saying? You’re rejecting the Lin Family?!"

"Don’t you want to become a grandmaster, or even a great grandmaster?"

"Or is it that you don’t want to marry a Lin Family daughter and are questioning my Lin Family?!"

Sitting on the sofa, Lin Heng coldly asked three times, exuding the imposing pressure of a grandmaster, dominant and unquestionable.

Responding to the grandmaster’s pressure was an even more domineering blade momentum; Su Mu’s blade momentum couldn’t compete with the grandmaster’s pressure head-on, but by gathering it around him, he could hold his ground for a moment, like a rock in a storm.

Also, the two forms of dominance were different: Lin Heng’s was condescending, whereas Su Mu’s came from within.

In the instant the grandmaster’s pressure and blade momentum clashed.

Crack.

The teacups on the tea table shattered entirely, with shards flying out like bullets, and the table itself crumbled in the unseen collision.

"Minor Success Blade Momentum?!" Lin Heng’s expression changed slightly; Su Mu’s information had never mentioned this point, and he had indeed underestimated this man Su Mu.

"Su Mu, you have surprised me once more." Lin Heng withdrew his grandmaster’s pressure, revealing another amiable smile, with a demeanor of having everything under control, as if the previous attempt of imposing dominance had never occurred.

Seeing this, Su Mu felt an intensified aversion towards the Lin Family. From fellow martial arts aristocratic family members like Huangfu Xue and Tantai Yan, he had never sensed such condescension.

Only, for now, he was too weak to directly and utterly offend the colossal entity that is the Lin Family. He still needed time to become stronger.

At that moment, Su Mu took a deep breath, suppressing his pent-up anger, and spoke calmly.

"Vice President Lin, both you and Chairman Zhong have mentioned my humble origins, so I am not accustomed to constraints."

"Regarding martial arts grandmaster, great grandmaster, these are the pursuits of my martial path. From the beginning, my martial path hasn’t been smooth; it’s been slow and bumpy, but step by step, I’ve reached this point."

"I’m very aware of what I’m doing, Vice President Lin. If there’s nothing else, I’d like to leave first."

Su Mu spoke without arrogance nor humility, and as he stood to leave.

On the sofa, Lin Heng’s expression grew gloomy, and he coldly snorted.

"Su Mu, you have your notions, but you’re too naive."

"Your refusal of my Lin Family today will surely lead to regret. I can still give you another chance now; if you regret, it’s still not too late." His tone remained lofty.

"No need."

Su Mu outright denied, though unwilling in his heart, the Lin Family’s conduct was overly aggressive, and he had indeed offended the Lin Family. After today, he might find it hard to set foot anywhere in Guangshen Province or even the South China Region.

But he had no regrets.

Thus, Su Mu’s steps did not halt as he exited.

...

Clap, clap, clap!

Applause suddenly came from the doorway, and unknown to what moment, two men in military uniforms stood at the entrance. Among them was Captain Shi Hao, whom Su Mu recognized.

At present, he stood beside another man, approximately sixty years old, robust and large. The man wasn’t overly muscular, yet emitted a fierce aura, and his eyes were sharp like an eagle’s.

"You were speaking so loudly earlier that I inadvertently overheard a few words as I passed by. Vice President Lin, you won’t hold it against me, right? Anyway, I think this kid speaks quite well and fits my taste."

"Su Mu, this is Major General Hong Lie from the South China Military Region," Shi Hao promptly introduced.

"Major General Hong, hello."

"Sergeant Su Mu, are you interested in joining our South China Military Region?"