Chapter 671 - 154: Growth Before Departure
Chapter 671: Chapter 154: Growth Before Departure
Occasionally planting flowers, not driven by profit, such moments are hard to replicate.
Accepting other disciples would lose this purity of heart.
...
In the following days, Lin Chen visited Hall Master Kong of Jingshui Martial Arts Hall. The former Hall Master, Zeng Qingyao, had already stepped into the Innate realm and left Poyang County. The current Hall Master is the former Vice Hall Master, Kong Yinglei.
At the same time, Lin Chen also visited Hall Master Tai Rubai of the Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall and Hall Master Zhao Qifeng of the Gale Martial Arts Hall... meeting many old acquaintances, and even went on a trip to Poyang Guard to see Fang Ze.
Fang Ze is now the Vice Marshal of Poyang Guard, and the original Marshal, during the war between Liang and the Northern Border Demon Race, applied to be transferred to the Northern Garrison Army, but ultimately died in the icy plains of the Northern Border, which made Lin Chen sigh with emotion.
...
Quzhou.
Li Mansion.
Festive decorations.
Today is the 89th birthday of the elder lord of the Li Mansion.
The entire Jiangnan Dao pays particular attention to elderly birthdays, aligning with "celebrating nine but not ten."
"Ten" signifies "fullness," and "fullness brings overflow," implying things reaching extremes will reverse; while "nine" sounds like "long-lasting," symbolizing endurance and longevity.
This is a folk custom, and the Li Family, being a martial arts clan, is no exception.
The Li family is a large family, with many guests arriving. Li An welcomed the guests in the side hall inside the gate, and the next moment, he heard the gatekeeper report: "Master, the Hall Master of Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall from Poyang County has arrived."
"The Hall Master of Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall?"
Li An’s eyes lit up, and he immediately got up to prepare to greet him.
In the past, the Hall Master of Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall wouldn’t have caught his attention, but now things are different.
If not for Hall Master Tai Rubai of Mountain Suppressing Martial Arts Hall bringing Lin Chen to the door, his father personally chasing Lin Chen under the moon, and passing on the Mountain Suppressing Chart, the Li family wouldn’t have any connection with Lin Chen.
Thinking of Lin Chen’s current achievements, Li An had infinite admiration for his father’s foresight.
The only thing that made him a bit depressed was that his father didn’t allow him to publicize the family’s relationship with Lin Chen to the outside world.
"Brother Tai..."
Li An just opened his mouth but was stunned when he saw the young man beside Tai Rubai.
"You... Why are you here?"
After a while, Li An was almost tongue-tied.
"Uncle Li, what are you saying? Today is the elder lord’s grand birthday. How could I not come? If Hall Master Tai hadn’t informed me, I wouldn’t have known the elder lord’s birthday today. Uncle Li, you didn’t send me an invitation."
Lin Chen smiled wryly. He truly didn’t know it was the elder lord’s 89th birthday today. Hall Master Tai Rubai told him during a visit.
With free time now, Lin Chen naturally wanted to attend the elder lord’s birthday.
Elder Lord not only conveyed the Mountain Suppressing Chart to him; from what his mentor told him, when he and Li Zhe competed for the Jiangnan Dao Martial Path student model, the elder lord went to the Military Affairs Hall to bang the table.
The elder lord’s concern and care for him were evident without words.
"Father said you are busy now, and this small matter shouldn’t bother you."
Li An hurriedly explained that the family elder’s birthday that invited guests, Li An considered sending an invitation to the Lin family, but his father stopped him.
"Lin Chen is now the top person of the Nine Kingdoms, likely with many matters to handle and still needs to cultivate. I’m still alive, after all, just reaching a birthday, no need to disturb him."
"Elder Lord really is..."
Lin Chen shook his head helplessly, and Tai Rubai next to him laughed, saying, "Lin Chen, perhaps you should ask the elder lord personally later why he didn’t send the invitation."
"I wouldn’t dare. I fear the elder lord might scold me right then."
Listening to Lin Chen’s joking words, Li An also followed with a smile, then personally led Lin Chen to the back residence.
Although his father was 89 years old and many guests attended the birthday, except for family and some elders with excellent ties with the Li family, his father didn’t plan to meet privately with others until appearing when the banquet started.
Back residence.
Li Qi, accompanying her grandfather, saw her father bringing someone in, and when she recognized who it was, she was astonished, with disbelief written on her face.
"Elder Lord, wishing you enduring longevity like pine and crane."
"What brings you here? Did An’Er send you an invitation?"
Seeing Lin Chen appear, Li Yueshan also smiled on his old face, but quickly turned sternly towards his son.
"Elder Lord, you are wronging Uncle Li. I learned about it from Hall Master Tai. You didn’t see me as a junior; otherwise, such an important event wouldn’t go unreported."
Lin Chen came forward to smooth the situation, nodding to Li Qi and gently holding the elder lord’s withered hand.
"I’m just an old man, still alive and not dead, just having a birthday, not a big deal, shouldn’t take up your valuable time, which, surely, you will soon head to the Flame Dynasty."
"Yes, I’ll leave in a few days."
Lin Chen nodded and had no reservations in front of the elder lord.
"Before heading to the Flame Dynasty, surely there are many tasks to arrange, no need to waste time on an old man like me."
"Elder Lord, this is incorrect. Arranging matters includes visiting you; otherwise, it cannot be truly settled, and even if I reach the Flame Dynasty, I’d still be preoccupied."
Upon hearing Lin Chen’s response, Li Yueshan was stunned, and the hand held by Lin Chen tightened: "Just having this thought is enough."
Li Yueshan walked with Lin Chen in the courtyard; Li An and Li Qi did not follow, nor did Tai Rubai, letting the elder and the young speak their quiet words.
"You don’t need to place too much concern on the Li family. Descendants have their own fortunes. If the descendants of the Li family are capable and can truly excel in the Martial Path, help them if you can; if my descendants lack martial talent, don’t force assistance. With the accumulated wealth, they have enough for generations to come. Sometimes being a leisurely rich person is good too."