Chapter Seventy: Imminent Peril... You!!! Thief!!!

"Young Master Jiang."

"Hello, Madam Chen."

"This is a small token of appreciation. I hope Madam Chen will not find it lacking," Jiang Lin said as he lifted a small cloth bag and handed it over.

To be honest, Jiang Lin really hadn't wanted to come. If possible, he would prefer to avoid Madam Chen altogether in the future. But Chen Jia had already spoken with her mother about the final shaping, and, shockingly, Madam Chen had agreed. She told Chen Jia to bring Jiang Lin over the very next day, leaving him with no choice.

Jiang Lin had considered refusing, but sensed that if he did, Madam Chen herself might come to visit Shuangzhufeng...

And so, Jiang Lin and Chen Jia arrived at the grand Chen family estate. As for Xiao Niannian and his master, the latter said she’d take Xiao Niannian up the mountain for some fun, and the little one was so delighted that she didn’t come along.

Perhaps they were off to raid a beehive...

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang," Madam Chen said, accepting the cloth bag. She opened it out of courtesy, then paused. "Hm? Soil?"

"Ah... those are Five-Colored Earths. I came across them by chance in the Labyrinthine Secret Realm. Used for firing porcelain or brewing tea, they can prolong life. If hungry, you can chew them raw—they taste quite nice, actually." Jiang Lin smiled as he explained.

"Then I thank you, Young Master Jiang. But why are your legs trembling so much?"

"Oh, I overdid my practice last night. They're a bit sore, just sore."

"If that's the case, Jia, why don't you support Young Master Jiang inside?"

"No need, no need to trouble yourself. It’s just a bit of trembling."

"Well, since Young Master Jiang insists, so be it." Madam Chen called softly to the maid beside her, "Take Young Master Jiang to the training ground."

"Yes, madam." The maid bowed. "This way, Young Master Jiang."

"Thank you, miss."

Jiang Lin nodded and followed the girl away.

As the gates of the Chen residence closed behind them, Madam Chen looked at her daughter. Chen Jia stood blushing, head bowed, gaze fixed on her small feet, the tips of her shoes rubbing together.

"Oh, you..." Madam Chen reached out and tapped her daughter's forehead, momentarily at a loss for words. How had her daughter inherited her temperament so completely?

...

Jiang Lin walked with the maid, Xiaohua, toward the training ground, passing through the rear courtyard. By the fish pond, he caught sight of a man wrapped head to toe like a mummy, reclining in a chair sunbathing, a fishing rod gripped in his tightly bandaged hands.

Whenever a fish bit the hook, his hand would twitch up and down, and the fish would drag the rod along the edge of the pond as he struggled to sit up but couldn’t manage it.

Though Jiang Lin couldn’t see his face, the figure seemed oddly familiar...

A man, present in the Chen household. Relaxed enough to fish by the pond. And recently injured...

Wait a minute! Isn’t that Chen Jia’s father—Chen Huo?

An old acquaintance!

Yet... Jiang Lin looked at the mummy-like Chen Huo—he seemed so pitiful. This wasn’t just a few broken bones; it was as if half his body was paralyzed...

"Is something wrong, Young Master Jiang?" Xiaohua asked, noticing Jiang Lin had stopped.

She was a graceful, upright young woman—clearly a martial artist herself. For some reason, Jiang Lin now felt a natural sense of dread whenever he encountered straightforward martial women...

"Oh, it’s nothing. The courtyard is just so beautiful, I got a little lost in it. Please, lead the way, Miss Xiaohua," he replied with a smile, eager to move on without having to greet Chen Huo. After all, though he hadn’t exactly betrayed Chen Huo, he had more or less threatened him into a deal...

If he hadn’t recognized and coerced Chen Huo back then, the man would’ve long since fled with the evidence and not left behind such a damning item.

Still, keeping such evidence in his study was hardly his fault—what difference was there between that and reading forbidden books in class and getting caught? Both were courting disaster...

Just then, the mummy-like Chen Huo, struggling with his fishing rod, turned and caught sight of Jiang Lin. His eyes reddened at once, and he gestured frantically, "Mmm! Mmm!! J-Jiang Lin... you... scoundrel!!!"

"Does Young Master Jiang know the family head?" Xiaohua asked, noticing the agitation.

"Oh, no, I don’t. So this is the head of the Chen family? Truly, his bearing is remarkable—one can sense his distinguished presence, even through the bandages!"

"You are too kind, Young Master. Please, this way."

"Of course."

As Jiang Lin and Xiaohua walked further away, Chen Huo slumped face-first onto his chair with a thud, his bandaged hands pointing after Jiang Lin:

"Sc... scoundrel... stay... away... from my... daughter... argh..."

With a careless twist, Chen Huo tumbled from the chair, landing painfully on the floor.

By then, Jiang Lin and his guide had disappeared into the distance.

...

The Chen Family Training Ground.

It was a wide, single-story hall, the floor covered with sandalwood planks, imparting the atmosphere of a proper dojo.

At the front of the hall, a massive golden fist was embedded in the wall, right through the character for "Divine," looking imposing and powerful.

"I'll take my leave, Young Master Jiang. Please, take your time to get used to the space," Xiaohua said, bowing out with a smile.

What did it even mean to "get used to the space"?

Never mind—since she said so.

Jiang Lin took off his shoes and stepped onto the sandalwood floor. As soon as he took a step—

Thunk!

He dropped to his knees!

A tremendous pressure suddenly bore down on his shoulders—far more intense than anything Madam Chen had unleashed before. Jiang Lin broke out in a cold sweat, his legs went weak, and a primal fear welled up within him.

This wasn’t like a husky meeting Godzilla—it was more like Afanti’s little donkey encountering Thanos!

With great effort, he raised his head.

At that instant, his mouth fell open, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, "What the—?!"

Was he hallucinating?

Above his head stood statues of gods, and in a daze, the training ground transformed before his eyes into an ancient battlefield of deities.

Before him, elegant scholars in blue robes and women with skirts tied up floated in the air, hands behind their backs, facing enormous gods. Though they were mere mortals, their gazes toward the divine brimmed with disdain.

If only there was a soundtrack—something explosive or epic—it would be incredibly stirring!

Jiang Lin even felt a surge of heroic spirit, as if he alone could defy the world.

But at that moment, he felt less like a hero and more like a husky who’d wandered into a pride of lions...

He wanted to howl—but feared his howl would be so grating that the others would slap him dead on the spot...

...

[Thank you, everyone, for your generous support. All accumulated bonus chapters from your rewards have been noted. Since this book was recommended rather late, the editor advised me to keep the word count under control—otherwise, there might be fewer recommendations. So, I’ll make up the owed chapters after the book goes on sale. I’ll pay them back as soon as possible! (・｀ω´・) Also, please vote for recommendations, everyone—recommendations, please! ~ヾ(ｏ・ω・)ノ]