touchnovel Chapter 14 Benefits
Chapter 14 Benefits
The news that Chen Hongzhi had advanced to the rank of Martial Artist and mastered the Skin Refining Technique spread throughout the entire Chen family mansion in no time.
Master Chen Dingkun was away from home, but he sent a message back that day by carrier pigeon, encouraging Chen Hongzhi to work hard in his cultivation.
Chen Hongyu, the eldest son who hadn't been seen for three or five days, rushed home before finishing his business.
Even the brothers Chen Hongjie and Chen Hongming, who usually stayed at their maternal grandfather's house to cultivate, made an unprecedented trip back.
Madam Zheng rallied the entire household to celebrate Chen Hongzhi's success, hosting a grand banquet and giving each servant a red envelope.
Lu Lin, who served as Chen Hongzhi's sparring partner, received ten taels of silver.
Celebrating at home isn't enough.
Chen Hongzhi's old cronies also came to his door after hearing the news, inviting him to drink together that night.
"Lu Lin!"
The banquet ended, and Chen Hongyu came and went in a hurry.
However, the Chen brothers, Hongming and Hongjie, did not leave.
While Chen Hongjie was chatting with his mother, Zheng, Chen Hongming called out to Lu Lin.
"Second Young Master."
Although Lu Lin was not a servant of the Chen family, he still maintained basic respect for the young masters of the Chen family, provided that they did not provoke him.
After some time apart, Chen Hongming's physique had become even more robust, standing in front of Lu Lin like a wall.
"Lu Lin, I heard you've been sparring with people at Mr. Hou's martial arts school lately?"
"yes!"
"I heard you've even sparred with martial artists at the Skin Refining level?"
"yes!"
"I heard that a martial artist at the gym, who hadn't advanced in rank for many years, advanced to the rank of Martial Artist under your sparring partner?"
When Chen Hongming said this, Lu Lin understood what he meant.
"Young Master is joking. Advancing to the level of a martial artist is everyone's own destiny, and it has nothing to do with me."
"But the fourth brother started cultivating half a year later than us, and he rarely has any nourishing foods. Why was he able to advance to the Martial Warrior level before me?"
"This... is due to the Fourth Young Master's diligent practice, the reward of hard work, and the culmination of years of accumulation..."
Lu Lin recited all the idioms he could think of, but Chen Hongming interrupted him.
"Ha, from today onwards, you will be my sparring partner, and you will spar with me for at least two hours every day."
"Oh? Well, Second Young Master, I have to go see Mr. Hou this afternoon."
Lu Lin's suggestion to go to the martial arts school for sparring is not wrong.
However, his more important purpose was to have a chat with Mr. Hou.
Last night, he asked his senior brother at the martial arts school to pass on a message to Mr. Hou, arranging to meet this afternoon. If he didn't show up... no, it's impossible for him to break his promise.
"It's alright. I'll wait for you at the training ground when you come back from Mr. Hou's place tonight."
Seeing that Lu Lin was about to refuse, Chen Hongming said, "Don't say anything. I'll give you something in return. You'll find out when you come tonight."
benefit?
Lu Lin secretly curled his lip. He currently had sixty taels of silver, which was not much, but it was enough to support himself and Shi Tou for three or four years.
He didn't even care about such a small benefit.
……
Martial arts school.
During Lu Lin's sparring session, he frequently looked back, which displeased his senior brother on the other side.
Everyone treated Lu Lin like a mascot, and although they were unhappy about it, no one said anything.
When the third senior brother finished his performance, Lu Lin finally saw the slender figure at the door.
"Please wait a moment, senior brother. I need to say a few words to Mr. Hou."
Before his senior could respond, Lu Lin strode up to Mr. Hou.
Seeing that Lu Lin didn't speak, Mr. Hou lifted the curtain and went into the room, with Lu Lin following closely behind.
"Mr. Hou, please have some tea."
Lu Lin picked up the tea that had been prepared in advance and poured a cup for Mr. Hou.
Mr. Hou took it and drank a sip.
"Mr. Hou, please have some pastries."
Lu Lin opened the lid, revealing the pastries on the plate.
He had previously observed at the martial arts school that Mr. Hou liked to eat two pieces of pastry while drinking tea, and the pastries had to be the kind that were sickeningly sweet.
This time, Lu Lin needed Mr. Hou's help, so he made a special trip to most of Jinshan Prefecture to find the sweetest and richest pastries.
Mr. Hou did not refuse and took a bite of the pastry.
Mr. Hou's eyes lit up the moment he entered the room.
Upon seeing this, Lu Lin immediately took out two more small packets of the same pastries from the cabinet.
"Mr. Hou, knowing you love this store's pastries, I specially bought two extra packs."
Mr. Hou shifted his gaze, looking Lu Lin up and down. "You want something from me?"
"And it's about condensing qi and blood to advance to the Skin Refining stage?"
Lu Lin nodded.
He always felt that Mr. Hou had the ability to foresee the future, and now it's been confirmed.
But Mr. Hou shook his head.
"Let's talk about it when your Golden Bell Shield is fully perfected."
Lu Lin immediately became anxious, "Mr. Hou, my Golden Bell Shield will soon be fully perfected."
"It's not easy for me to see you even once, so why don't you go to the trouble of passing on my method for condensing qi and blood?"
"Is it almost perfect?"
Mr. Hou suddenly stood up, grabbed Lu Lin's wrist, and was shocked to feel the powerful blood and energy in Lu Lin's body.
"I remember the last time I saw you was less than two months ago."
"Mr. Hou has a good memory; it's only seven or eight days away from two months."
"Alright, then let me ask you, how long do you expect it will take to reach the pinnacle of your cultivation?"
"It will take at least three days, and at most five days."
Lu Lin glanced at the panel. His proficiency with the Golden Bell Shield had reached over 48,000. With a little effort, it wouldn't be too difficult to max out the remaining 1,000 points in three days.
"Okay, then I'll wait for you for three days."
Mr. Hou grabbed two bags of pastries, got up, and left.
Lu Lin was full of energy.
He could tell that Mr. Hou valued him highly.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have specifically invited Lu Lin to be their sparring partner after Lu Lin refused to become their disciple twice.
Moreover, Mr. Hou is a master of the five internal organs and has traveled to most parts of Daliang. He is knowledgeable and experienced and will definitely be able to help Lu Lin.
……
at night.
Lu Lin returned to the Chen residence.
On the training ground, only Chen Hongming was present.
"Come on, let's practice!"
Chen Hongming shouted, and Lu Lin, who was only lacking in practice, charged forward without hesitation.
He was a sparring partner, but he wasn't used to being beaten all the time.
Although he didn't know any fighting techniques, over such a long period of time, Lu Lin was able to identify the vulnerable spots on the human body and knew what conditions would allow his opponent to only watch helplessly as he was attacked.
Four months ago, Lu Lin had just mastered the Golden Bell Shield technique, and he hadn't forgotten how Chen Hongming had "tested" him.
In contrast, consider Chen Hongming.
After being punched by Lu Lin, he initially gritted his teeth and endured the pain, but the more he was hit, the more unbearable the pain became.
"Okay, stop, stop, stop."
"Let's take a break."
Chen Hongming rubbed the spot where he had been hit, his originally cold expression turning into one of pain.
He always felt that Lu Lin's fists were harder and more ruthless than his and Lao San's, who had eaten the flesh of demonic beasts.
"Oh, right, this is a bonus for you. This month, there's only this small amount."
Chen Hongming took something wrapped in brocade from his pocket and handed it to Lu Lin.
It's so fussy, and it's wrapped in a handkerchief, what good could it possibly be?
Lu Lin muttered to himself, but when he opened the brocade cloth and saw the dried meat inside, and smelled the aroma that penetrated straight to the soul, he immediately felt it was all worth it.
"Thank you, thank you, Second Young Master."
Lu Lin wished he could bow to Chen Hongming.