Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist
Chapter 447 - 19: You Are Not Murong Shuang, You Are Murong Fu (Part 3)
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Eight Directions City dock.
Lin Chen left his horse at a stable not far from the dock, then proceeded to the ship mooring area.
The fastest way to travel from Canglan Martial Arts Academy to Lingxiao City was by taking a ship northward. This time, when heading to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy, the academy didn’t arrange an instructor to accompany him.
"Boatman..."
Just as Lin Chen was about to charter a boat, the boatman from a nearby pleasure boat suddenly spoke up, "Is that Young Master Lin?"
Lin Chen looked in the direction of the voice to see a boatman on the deck of a two-story pleasure boat gazing at him.
"My master invites Young Master Lin onboard for a gathering."
Hearing this, Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. Only a few people at the academy knew about his departure to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy, so how could this person know he was coming here?
Nevertheless, Lin Chen decided to see who was on the boat.
This was Eight Directions City, so he wasn’t afraid of any schemes. In fact, not understanding their background would make the journey to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy even more cautious and guarded.
With a light tap of his toes, Lin Chen leaped gracefully like a sparrow onto the boat’s deck. Glancing at the middle-aged man on deck, he headed towards the cabin.
Inside the cabin, a handsome young master with crimson lips and white teeth leaned casually against a carved wood window. Clad in a moon-white robe with dark cloud patterns, his body appeared tall and straight. A green jade belt with dragon patterns cinched his waist, giving his figure an air of grace, while a tea set obscured his lower waist area.
His dark hair was tied high with a silver-thread crown, with a few loose strands swaying gently beside his porcelain-white neck as the river breeze blew.
He held an ivory-bone fan with gold speckles, tapping rhythmically against his palm, his eyes smiling as he looked at Lin Chen, "Brother Lin, I am Murong Shuang."
"Murong Shuang?"
Lin Chen looked at the cross-dressed Murong Yan. He had to admit that this Junior Sister Murong was incredibly captivating in women’s clothing, yet now in men’s attire, she held a different kind of beauty.
Such an elegant noble young man, one could hardly resist wanting to peel off the disguise...
"This is our first meeting, Brother Lin, but my sister mentioned you several times. My sister is Murong Yan; Brother Lin should have an impression."
"Indeed I remember. She keeps winking all the time, makes one wonder if she has an eye disease. Brother Murong, you should find a doctor for your sister when you have time."
Murong Yan’s smile froze, biting her crimson lips lightly. This person... is truly irritating!
"Murong Shuang, I think your name isn’t quite fitting."
Lin Chen smirked, causing Murong Yan’s heart to tighten. Could it be she’s been recognized? She feared being recognized, which is why she pretended to be her brother. It’s normal for siblings to resemble each other a bit.
"What does Brother Lin mean?"
"You should be called Murong Fu."
Murong Yan: ...
"Just joking with Brother Murong. How did Brother Murong know I would come to Eight Directions City?"
Since Murong Yan wanted to play the role-playing game, Lin Chen didn’t expose her. Instead, he was more curious about how Murong Yan knew he would come to Eight Directions City and take a boat.
"When people from the Xiang Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom martial academies were arriving, I happened to know a bit too, and coincidentally, I’m also heading to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy."
Murong Yan fanned herself lightly, her hair fluttering as she smiled at Lin Chen.
"Brother Murong is also heading to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy?"
Lin Chen believed Murong Yan wasn’t lying, but he was going as an exchange student. Why was Murong Yan going to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy?
"To be honest, like Brother Lin, I’m also going to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy as an exchange student. As for which academy I originally belong to, please excuse me for not telling Brother Lin."
Hearing this, Lin Chen found it quite amusing—can’t say, huh? Isn’t it just Canglan Martial Arts Academy?
He didn’t expect Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy to invite Murong Yan besides himself. Could it be that Murong Yan’s ability was strong too?
Lin Chen shook his head, dismissing the thought. If Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy had invited Murong Yan, the headmaster wouldn’t have kept it from him. At the very least, they would have let them travel together.
Recalling what Junior Brother Xiao and Junior Brother Fang had said earlier, that Murong Yan came from another country, Lin Chen understood.
Murong Yan’s status was high enough to freely travel to Canglan Martial Arts Academy and Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy.
"Since we’re both heading to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy, Brother Lin, why don’t we go together?"
Lin Chen pondered for a moment, not immediately agreeing. He always had the feeling that Murong Yan had ulterior motives towards him, not just a man’s intuition.
"Brother Lin, I have some knowledge about the people from the Xiang Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom at this time. If Brother Lin needs it, I can share their backgrounds with you."
Hearing this, Lin Chen smiled and stepped forward, giving Murong Yan a friendly slap on the shoulder, which caused her to stagger slightly and let out a soft gasp.
Lin Chen: ...
He merely wanted to play a prank but didn’t expect Junior Sister Murong to be so sensitive.
Murong Yan’s cheeks were flushed, red-faced, avoiding Lin Chen’s gaze, and she said bashfully, "Brother Lin, my frail body can’t handle your palm force."
This person truly doesn’t know how to cherish the fairer sex.
"Brother Murong, your frail body is too weak, like a woman. A man should be stout and robust."
Imagining himself as burly and robust, Murong Yan felt a chill in her heart.
"Most of the Murong Family are slender and thin."
"I see."
Lin Chen didn’t expose her, instead, he sat across from Murong Yan. "Since Brother Murong knows about the visitors from Zheng Kingdom and Xiang Kingdom this time, why not enlighten me?"
"No rush, Brother Lin. The journey to Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy takes several days, no need to hurry. I’ve already brewed tea; this tea is picked from Zhao Kingdom’s Cloud Cauldron, a rare and fine tea."
Seeing Lin Chen’s indifferent expression, sitting there unmoved, Murong Yan realized that given Lin Chen’s family background, he probably didn’t know what Zhao Kingdom’s Cloud Cauldron tea symbolized.
"Brother Lin, Zhao Kingdom’s Cloud Cauldron tea aids in cultivating Martial Path Will, the price is..."
Before Murong Yan could finish speaking, Lin Chen picked up the teacup and drank it all in one go, "Great tea!"
Murong Yan: ...