Chapter 28: Wind Listening Tavern
The year’s end was approaching, and Yangzhou City had become lively. Many disciples who had been cultivating in various sects were returning home to reunite with their families.
Moreover, every year at this time, from great nations and cities down to small clans, there would be various gatherings. In a world where martial arts reigned supreme, these gatherings naturally revolved around the word “martial arts.”
The major clans of Yangzhou City held their own internal annual meetings each year to assess the progress of their younger disciples. Occasionally, joint gatherings of the various families would take place across the entire city to test who was stronger and who was weaker.
At the Wind Listening Tavern, some of the outstanding younger disciples from Yangzhou City’s families had gathered, drinking wine and engaging in spirited discussions.
“I heard that Lin Qian of the Lin Clan underwent her natal awakening of her martial soul, stepping into the Spirit Martial Realm and becoming an inner disciple of the Hao Yue Sect. Brother Lin Yu, is this true or false?” A man holding a folding fan gently waved it as he asked Lin Yu of the Lin Clan. The crowd’s gazes immediately turned to Lin Yu, all seemingly curious about the matter.
“This matter is naturally true. After my Lin Clan’s Lin Qian advanced to the Spirit Martial Realm, her strength increased greatly. If the City Lord decides to hold a family martial competition, I believe my Lin Clan will surely shine brilliantly.”
Lin Yu spoke with a smile. As the son of an elder of the Lin Clan, he naturally spoke from the clan’s standpoint.
“Heh heh, just stepping into the Spirit Martial Realm, that’s all. My Gu Clan’s Gu Yan has already been in the Spirit Martial Realm for half a year. No one from your Lin Clan can match him.” The young man in yellow robes sitting across from Lin Yu sneered coldly. The Gu Clan and the Lin Clan of Yangzhou City had never been on good terms, so how could he allow the Lin Clan to boast?
“The time it takes to enter the Spirit Martial Realm doesn’t mean anything. My Wen Clan’s Wen Jiang has already reached the Second Layer of the Spirit Martial Realm. Except for the City Lord’s daughter, Nalan Feng, who can contend with him?”
The Wen Clan member did not back down either.
Upon hearing the other party not forgetting to praise his own City Lord’s Mansion, the young man with the folding fan couldn’t help but reveal a hint of a smile: “Brother Wen Jiang has already reached the Second Layer of the Spirit Martial Realm. Your talent is truly extraordinary.”
“Did you invite me here just to listen to you say these boring things?” A discordant, cold voice interrupted everyone’s words. The speaker was a young girl, extremely beautiful.
“Of course not. The reason I invited you all here this time is to tell you some news. The day after the year’s end this year, my City Lord’s Mansion will hold a martial competition. Besides the disciples of my City Lord’s Mansion and the three major families of Yangzhou City, other outstanding young people can also sign up to participate. Qiu Lan, you should understand my meaning.”
Nalan Hai said with a gentle smile. Everyone immediately understood. In the past, Yangzhou City had also held martial competitions, but they were limited to the younger generation of the four great families, including the City Lord’s Mansion. They hadn’t expected that this time, others could participate as well. It seemed the City Lord wanted to use the competition to recruit talented young people from Yangzhou City.
Qiu Lan was said to be an orphan, but she had a considerable reputation in Yangzhou City. One reason was her beautiful appearance and cold temperament, and the other was her outstanding talent.
Qiu Lan nodded slightly. She also wanted to see what kind of strength the outstanding youths of the four great families possessed.
“Heh heh, compared to this, the upcoming martial competition will surely be extremely exciting. I heard that the waste of the Lin Clan seems to have improved a bit and even injured Lin Yun. I think that waste of the Lin Clan should also participate in this competition, right?” The young man in yellow robes from the Gu Clan suddenly said with a faint smile, his tone particularly harsh.
“Gu Song, what do you mean? My Lin Clan has outstanding disciples emerging in succession. Why would we need a waste to participate in the competition?” Lin Yu naturally understood who the other party was talking about. Mentioning that Lin Feng would participate in the competition was clearly a mockery that the Lin Clan’s younger generation had no one.
“Heh heh, calling your own young master like that doesn’t seem quite appropriate, does it?” Gu Song said indifferently.
“A waste is a waste. What’s inappropriate about it? Besides, the position of my Lin Clan’s family head will sooner or later…” Lin Yu suddenly paused mid-sentence, snorted coldly, and said no more.
Just at that moment, the “waste” they were talking about was riding a Thousand Mile Snow, entering Yangzhou City.
Having traveled for over ten days, Lin Feng’s face carried a slight trace of travel dust. The Thousand Mile Snow beneath him was somewhat tired, but Lin Feng’s gaze was exceptionally spirited, without the slightest hint of laziness.
Returning to Yangzhou City, compared to his former self, the lines on Lin Feng’s face were now clearer. His sharply defined contours faintly revealed a hint of toughness, and his clear gaze carried a touch of steadiness.
Carrying an ancient sword on his back, a silver-banded belt around his waist, and riding a Thousand Mile Snow, Lin Feng attracted quite a bit of attention. Seeing Lin Feng’s outfit and appearance, people thought to themselves, “What a spirited young man. He must be from some major family returning from training outside.”
“Let’s go.” Lin Feng clamped his legs against the horse’s flanks, and the Thousand Mile Snow began to trot slowly along the main road of Yangzhou City.
“Eh.” As Lin Feng passed by a tavern, a faint sound came from the rooftop. Although it was very subtle, Lin Feng’s hearing was now extremely sharp. He looked up and saw a gaze fixed on him.
“Heh heh, I was wondering who it was. Isn’t this the Lin Clan’s young master, Young Master Lin Feng? What a coincidence.”
The man’s eyes held a mocking expression. A moment later, several faces appeared at the second-floor window. Among them, one face was actually quite familiar to Lin Feng, but at this moment, that face was very gloomy.
“Lin Yu.” Lin Feng said softly. This Lin Yu was the son of an elder of the Lin Clan, at the Eighth Layer of the Qi Martial Realm, with decent talent.
“Hmph.” Lin Yu showed little respect for Lin Feng, his young master, glaring at him with a cold expression. He hadn’t expected to run into Lin Feng here. These people would probably mock him again.
“Lin Feng, we, the members of the several major families, are just having a gathering here. Since we’ve run into you, come on up and sit with us.” Sure enough, Gu Song immediately extended an invitation to Lin Feng, clearly with ill intentions.
“Lin Feng, you’ve traveled such a long way. Go back to the clan and rest first.” Lin Yu said reluctantly.
Lin Feng sneered inwardly. His status was that of the Lin Clan’s young master. At the very least, Lin Yu should have greeted him. But not only did Lin Yu not do so, he even glared at him coldly and even tried to interfere with what he did.
“Do I need to look to you for permission to do things?” Lin Feng thought to himself, then looked at Gu Song and said, “I’ll come up right away.”
“Wait.” Lin Yu’s voice turned slightly colder: “Lin Feng, this is not the place for you. Be a good boy and go home.”
“How dare you!” Lin Feng shouted coldly, raising his head to look directly at Lin Yu, his voice icy: “What is your status, and what is mine? How dare you speak to me like that?”
The Lin Feng of today was no longer the cowardly “Lin Feng” of the past. His father was the Lin Clan’s family head. How could Lin Feng tolerate Lin Yu acting wild and unruly in front of him? If he didn’t show some fire, they would really think they could bully their young master however they pleased.
Lin Yu was stunned by Lin Feng’s sudden rebuke. He clearly hadn’t expected Lin Feng to have completely changed, becoming so domineering.
His face flushed red, but Lin Yu didn’t know how to refute Lin Feng. In terms of status, Lin Feng was the Lin Clan’s young master. Although he was the son of an elder, he still had no right to act arrogantly toward Lin Feng. On the contrary, even if Lin Feng scolded him, he had no right to argue back.
“Heh heh, now this is the Lin Clan’s young master.” Gu Song, who seemed to thrive on chaos, said with a faint smile, making Lin Yu’s expression even darker.
By this time, Lin Feng had already dismounted, handed the Thousand Mile Snow over to the tavern’s steward, and then stepped into the private room on the second floor of the tavern that faced the street.
Seven or eight figures were seated at the wine table, all of them young disciples.
Seeing Lin Feng enter, not a single person spoke. They all remained in their seats, lifting their wine cups to take a light sip, completely ignoring Lin Feng. Even Gu Song, who had just invited him, sat there, a faint, mocking smile on his lips.
“Hmph, a waste asking for humiliation. Does he really think he’s the young master? What status?” Lin Yu didn’t even look at Lin Feng, seemingly talking to himself.
“The status of the Lin Clan’s young master. Lin Yu, don’t forget, this waste is your young master.” Gu Song reminded him. What he wanted to see most was this kind of situation—making the Lin Clan lose all face.
Lin Feng sneered, swept his gaze over the crowd, and then fixed his eyes on Gu Song. He stepped forward a few paces, coming to Gu Song’s side.
“May I sit here?”
“What do you think you are? What right do you have to sit?” Wen Shan of the Wen Clan said rudely. Yangzhou City had four great families. The City Lord’s Mansion was the strongest, while the other three were not on good terms, especially the Gu Clan and the Lin Clan. However, given the chance to strike at the Lin Clan, the Wen Clan naturally wouldn’t miss it.
“What do you think?” Lin Feng didn’t look at Wen Shan, only asking Gu Song.
“Can’t you understand? A waste, does he have the qualifications to sit with us?” Gu Song looked at Lin Feng out of the corner of his eye. This guy really had no self-awareness.
“So, you were just messing with me, right?” Lin Feng didn’t get angry either, still asking calmly.
“So what if I was? Get lost.” Gu Song scolded. He hadn’t expected Lin Feng to be so clueless.
PS: The book reviews are too quiet. It’s very boring to write alone. Brothers, if you have time, give a shout!