Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 153 - 37: Unexpected Turn in the Contest, Dissatisfaction from All Sides

Chapter 153: Chapter 37: Unexpected Turn in the Contest, Dissatisfaction from All Sides

Yushan County Martial Arts Hall.

The Prefecture Examination results are as stable as those of Poyang County.

However, Yushan County consistently ranks around fifth or sixth, unlike Poyang County, which is always at the bottom.

When the students from both counties arrived simultaneously at Raozhou Prefecture, Su Lingchuan naturally had to wait for a moment.

But during this wait, another team appeared.

Lin Chen sensed the commotion among the other students around him and shifted his gaze toward another direction at the city gate.

Upon clearly seeing two figures in that team, he understood why there was such a stir.

The people from Yanshan County had also arrived.

He saw Wu Ming and Zhu Tao.

The convergence of the three counties at the city gate also attracted the attention of people entering and leaving the gate.

According to the rules of Raozhou Prefecture, gatherings and noise are not allowed at the city gate. But at this moment, the soldiers guarding the gate seemed to ignore the gathering of the three martial arts halls, especially Poyang County, which had stopped to wait.

The rules apply to ordinary people, and these gate soldiers still have some discernment.

Having arrived first, Su Lingchuan was smiling and conversing with the Director of the Yushan County Martial Affairs Office, while the students from the two counties exchanged glances.

However, the students from Yushan County gazed at those from Poyang County with a tinge of disdain.

Neither side’s students had any intention of interacting.

However, with the students from Yanshan County arriving, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

The students from Yanshan County stared intently at those from Poyang County, particularly Wu Ming, whose gaze at Lin Chen was filled with undisguised resentment.

The students from Yanshan County didn’t know Lin Chen, but following Wu Ming’s gaze, they too locked onto Lin Chen.

For Lin Chen, his expression remained unchanged under the gaze of the Yanshan County students.

"Senior Brother Lin, the two people standing at the front are Zhang Qi and Shen Ge from Yanshan County."

The students from Yanshan County observed Lin Chen, and similarly, the students from Poyang County focused their gaze on the two students standing at the front of the Yanshan County lineup.

Lin Chen also looked at Zhang Qi and Shen Ge, and as their six eyes met, Lin Chen smiled and nodded slightly.

This action caused Zhang Qi to hesitate for a moment before turning away without responding; Shen Ge, however, after a moment of surprise, returned a polite smile.

For Lin Chen, representing Poyang County, there would naturally be no mercy in martial contests, but that didn’t mean he needed to create enmity with each martial artist from Yanshan County.

Competition first, friendship second.

This was Lin Chen’s viewpoint. Of course, if the other party didn’t want friendship, he wouldn’t insist on forging a relationship.

"Lin Chen, I heard you defeated Junior Brother Wu. I hope on the day of the contest, you won’t let me down."

Zhang Qi seemed to realize that turning away weakened his own prestige, so he spoke up to Lin Chen afterward.

With these words, all the students from Yanshan County became excited, watching Lin Chen intently.

"I shouldn’t disappoint you."

A smile crept onto Lin Chen’s lips; although he wasn’t adept with words, he wasn’t a person of few words.

"I hope so."

Seeing Zhang Qi end his words there, the students from Yanshan County looked a bit disappointed. In their view, Senior Brother Zhang should have exchanged harsh words. During the contest in March back then, Senior Brother Zhang... no, it was Senior Brother Shen, whose words came in wave after wave, truly aiming to unnerve.

Why is Senior Brother Shen so silent this time?

The students from Yushan County, who were watching the excitement, appeared unamused to see the conversation between Poyang County and Yanshan County end so quickly.

Shouldn’t it have turned into insults and exchanged harsh words?

Ending the conversation at this point, aren’t they still youths?

Especially Yanshan County, where did your tradition of verbal sparring before battles go?

The reputation of Yanshan County’s martial artists’ verbal skills was well-known across Raozhou Prefecture’s counties. It was said that it was a combat style created by a strong person from Yanshan County long ago, where they would first verbally attack before a fight to anger and unbalance their opponents.

Without any excitement to watch, the students from the three counties each entered the city.

Entering the city, they went into the Military Affairs Department, where the department led Lin Chen and his group to a courtyard.

Lin Chen, Gu Shan, and Fu Ang were housed in a courtyard together.

"This contest is likely to be a fierce battle."

Tai Rubai hurried into the courtyard and looked at the three of them: "Given the tradition of Yanshan County students, they usually verbally spar before the battle, yet this time at the city gate, they said almost nothing. There’s only one possibility..."

Gu Shan and Fu Ang looked at their Hall Master, while Lin Chen pondered briefly before instinctively responding, "Barking dogs don’t bite; biting dogs don’t bark."

"Exactly, that’s precisely it. Lin Chen, you described it very aptly."

Tai Rubai clapped his hands. Lin Chen’s description, although a bit crude, was indeed fitting.

Yanshan County avoided verbal sparring because they were confident of winning this contest without any issue and didn’t need to verbally spar.

"Today, Lord Su will report your Martial Path Realm to the Military Affairs Department, and Yanshan County will inevitably learn that you used the Acupoint Opening Pill."

Tai Rubai was worried that upon discovering Lin Chen had used the Acupoint Opening Pill, Yanshan County would also follow suit. By then, Zhang Qi would have opened sixteen acupoints, and Shen Ge, who was the first in Yanshan County’s March contest, still had two Acupoint Opening Pills. Once used, he would break through to seventeen acupoints.

"Senior Brother Lin, did you use the Acupoint Opening Pill?"

Upon hearing Director Tai’s words, Fu Ang looked surprised. Wasn’t it a waste to use the Acupoint Opening Pill at this time?

Gu Shan also felt that Senior Brother Lin’s move was somewhat inappropriate. Although the ten of them all had the Acupoint Opening Pill, Yanshan County had them too. This county contest only rewarded the top three, but if using the Acupoint Opening Pill would secure the reward, it was worth it. The key issue was that using them themselves would lead the opponents to use them too.