Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist-Chapter 242 - 70: Night Return to Linhu Village (Part 3)
The second point is that death is of the utmost importance.
When a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out, and all grudges dissipate.
This is a simple belief held by many in Liang, by both common people and martial artists.
No matter how one’s grandfather treated him, most people believe that once the grandfather is dead, all grudges are gone.
Without Lin Chaoyang, there would be no me.
With this sense of gratitude for giving me life, it is only right to offer incense at his memorial after his death.
"Many thanks, my lord, for your kindness."
"Go, I’ve already arranged for Jiang Kui to escort you out."
...
...
Outside the Thousand-Step Mist at the Special Training Ground.
Lin Chen met Jiang Kui once again. Compared to the last time, Jiang Kui was much more enthusiastic this time. Upon seeing Lin Chen appear, he took the initiative to pat him on the shoulder: "My condolences."
"Grandfather was already in his seventies; for an ordinary person to live to such an age, it could be considered a joyous passing."
Lin Chen returned Jiang Kui with a smile, feeling no sadness in his heart; this trip back was merely for show.
"Birth, aging, illness, and death are common occurrences for people; it’s the same for us martial artists. I’m relieved you can think this way."
Jiang Kui took Lin Chen’s smile as forced but knew that such things are not for outsiders to comment on. With that, he escorted Lin Chen onto the boat heading towards Poyang County.
As the boat moved through the mist on the water, Lin Chen didn’t enter the cabin but stood on the deck. After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Kui decided not to say anything.
According to the rules, students are not supposed to know the address of the Special Training Ground. Whether coming or going, they are to stay inside the cabin.
But recalling Lin Chen’s impressive performance at the Training Ground, even though he was just responsible for transporting students, he had his sources of information and knew how outstanding Lin Chen was.
Lin Chen had limitless potential, so disregarding the rule this once was acceptable.
Standing on the ship’s deck, Lin Chen noticed the green hills along the shore and had a suspicion that the Special Training Ground must be deep within Poyang Lake.
The vast Poyang Lake stretched on; it was unknown exactly which area the Special Training Ground was located in.
One hour later, the boat finally left the misty area. Much to Lin Chen’s surprise, they did not encounter any soldiers this time.
When he first arrived, he had heard that there were Poyang Guards patrolling the lake, and had hoped that if he met Lord Fang or his subordinate Lord Lv, he could convey his gratitude to Lord Fang.
The bundle Lord Fang sent him contained only two sets of clothes and a token engraved with the character "Guard."
He did not know the token’s purpose, but it was due to Lord Fang’s words at the time that Lord Jiang’s attitude towards him improved somewhat.
Four hours later, as the sky gradually darkened, Lin Chen felt excitement building as he looked at the familiar waters of Poyang Lake and the distant silhouette of Poyang County.
Though he had been away from Poyang County for less than a month, this was the longest time he had been away from the county in his sixteen years, including in his previous life.
"Lin Chen, I won’t be going to Poyang County. I’ll drop you at Linhu Village; wait for me here at 7 a.m., the day after tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lord Jiang."
Lin Chen knew this was a favor from Lord Jiang. Otherwise, docking at Poyang County’s pier would have been closer, but now they were heading further downstream from the county’s pier to reach Linhu Village.
Half an hour later, the boat halted by the shores of Linhu Village. Lin Chen bid farewell to Jiang Kui and disembarked with his bundle.
On the shores of Linhu Village, several villagers holding fishing nets looked in surprise at Lin Chen disembarking from the boat.
"Chen is back?"
It was a moment before the villagers greeted him, though their expressions were somewhat peculiar.
Lin Chen thought the villagers’ strange looks were because they remembered the grievances between him and his now-deceased grandfather and didn’t know whether to offer condolences or say something else.
But as he entered the village and encountered more villagers with similarly odd expressions, Lin Chen frowned—could it be there was more to Lin Chaoyang’s death?
The Lin Family Ancestral Residence.
A dried bamboo branch holding a white banner was stuck in front of the gate. As Lin Chen arrived at the entrance, his eldest brother Lin Liang, seemingly informed, came out from inside.
"Brother Chen, grandfather is gone."
Seeing his elder brother in mourning attire and referring to him as "grandfather," Lin Chen frowned. He, like his elder brother, harbored resentment towards Lin Chaoyang, yet his brother referred to him as "grandfather." If it were in front of outsiders, it might be to keep up appearances, but now it was just the two brothers.
"Brother, what exactly happened? How did he... just pass away like that?"
Lin Chaoyang had always been robust, and although he had seldom been around the village since Chen became promising on the Martial Path, his health had been good.
"That beast Lin Ming..."
Upon hearing his younger sibling, Lin Liang gritted his teeth and recounted the events.
"The night before last, grandfather held my hand and said that the person he felt guiltiest towards was you. He wasn’t trying to make you acknowledge him as your grandfather but was clearing the Lin Family’s reputation. From now on, he entrusted the Lin Family to you."
...
...
The Lin Family Ancestral Residence.
Lin Chen stood silently alone in the mourning hall. Lin Chaoyang lay peacefully on the spirit bed, covered by a white cloth.
Outside under the eaves in the courtyard, Father Lin, Mother Lin, the second uncle and aunt, along with Lin Liang, Lin Hui, and Xi’Er, who had cried her eyes swollen in recent days, all stood.
"Chen’Er has been standing in the mourning hall for a long time," worried Mrs. Lin.
"Let him be."
Zhao Canghe’s figure walked in from the courtyard gate, glancing at the upright figure inside the mourning hall, and shook his head.
"Village Chief."
Seeing Zhao Canghe enter, Father Lin and the others hurriedly greeted him.
"It’s good Lin Chen has returned. Tomorrow, Chaoyang should be buried."
After a long while, Lin Chen finally moved in the mourning hall. He picked up three sticks of incense, lit them but did not pay respects, instead directly placing them in the incense burner.
Seeing Lin Chen light the incense, Father Lin, standing outside the courtyard gate, felt a trace of happiness, thinking that even if Chen’Er didn’t acknowledge his grandfather, at least he no longer hated him.
"Once a person is dead, hating them is pointless. I had thought that every time I achieved something on the Martial Path, with the Village Chief’s temperament, he would surely hold a banquet, making you feel regret each time."
Lin Chen glanced at Lin Chaoyang’s face, a self-mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Father, Mother, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, you all go rest; I’ll keep vigil here tonight."
"Alright."
Father Lin did not refuse. Chen’Er, being a martial artist, was physically stronger, and with the recent upheaval in the Lin Family, he was indeed somewhat exhausted, having barely slept in two days.
"Big Brother, Brother Hui, you both should rest too."
"No, it’s the last night; I also want to stay here with grandfather."
Lin Hui spoke up, while Second Aunt tugged at Lin Hui’s sleeve, but Lin Hui was unmoved.
Lin Chen understood why Second Aunt tugged at Lin Hui’s sleeve, fearing that he bore resentment towards their grandfather and that Lin Hui’s actions might upset him.
"Alright, then the three of us brothers will stay."
Glancing at his older brother’s expression, Lin Chen knew that his brother wouldn’t go to sleep tonight either.
"Village Chief, sorry to trouble you at this late hour."
Lin Chen looked to the old village chief, Zhao Canghe, who was not surprised. Having heard from the villagers about Lin Chen’s return, he knew Lin Chen would want to discuss matters with him tonight.
Although the entire village witnessed the incident at the village entrance, the Lin family was unaware of the details, and Zhao had gathered some information over the past two days. Although not much, it might help Lin Chen understand.
