As the year-end approaches, the city of Yangzhou becomes lively, with many disciples returning home from their sects to reunite with their families.
Every year during the year-end season, from the national level down to the families, there are various celebrations, and in the world where martial arts reign supreme, these events naturally revolve around the essence of martial arts.
The major families in Yangzhou hold internal annual gatherings every year to observe the progress of their junior disciples' cultivation. Additionally, occasional joint gatherings of the major families in Yangzhou are held to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
At the Listen to the Wind Tavern, outstanding disciples from various families in Yangzhou gather to drink and discuss.
"I heard that Lin Qian of the Lin family has undergone his Awakening of Martial Soul, stepping into the realm of Spirit Martial, and has become an inner disciple of the Bright Moon Sect. Brother Lin Yu, can you confirm whether this is true or not?" A person holding a folding fan lightly shakes it, asking Lin Yu of the Lin family, and everyone's gaze immediately turns to Lin Yu, seemingly curious about this matter.
"Naturally, it is true. After Lin Qian of our Lin family advanced to the Spirit Martial realm, his strength increased significantly. If the city lord were to hold a family martial arts assembly, I believe our Lin family would shine brightly."
Lin Yu smiles. He is the son of an elder of the Lin family and naturally speaks from the standpoint of the Lin family.
"Heh, just stepping into the Spirit Martial realm. It has been half a year since Gu Yan of the Gu family entered this realm. Whoever from your Lin family is no match for him," scoffs a young man in yellow opposite Lin Yu. The Gu family and the Lin family in Yangzhou have always been at odds, so he couldn't let the Lin family boast unchecked.
"The time of entering the Spirit Martial realm does not necessarily signify much. Even our Wen family's Wen Jiang has already reached the Spirit Martial realm twice. Apart from the princess of the city lord's family, Nalan Feng, who can contend?" The people from the Wen family do not back down.
Upon hearing the other party elevate their city lord's family, a hint of a smile appears on the face of the fan-wielding youth. "So, Brother Wen Jiang has indeed reached the Spirit Martial realm twice. Truly extraordinary talent."
"You invited us here just to hear these boring conversations?" An untimely indifferent voice interrupts the crowd. It's a young woman, exceptionally beautiful.
"Of course not. I invited everyone here to tell you some news. One day after this year's year-end, my city lord's mansion will hold a martial arts assembly. In addition to the descendants of my city lord's mansion and the three major families of Yangzhou, other outstanding youths can also sign up to participate. Qiulan, you should understand what I mean," says Nalan Hai with a gentle smile. Immediately, everyone understands that in the past, Yangzhou would hold martial arts assemblies limited to the descendants of the four major families, including the city lord's mansion. Unexpectedly, this time, others can also participate, indicating that the city lord intends to recruit talented youths from Yangzhou through this martial arts assembly.
It is said that Qiulan is an orphan, but she has quite a reputation in Yangzhou, partly because of her beautiful appearance and cold temperament, and partly because of her outstanding talent.
Qiulan nods slightly. She also wants to see the strength of the outstanding youths from the four major families.
"Heh heh, compared to this martial arts assembly, it will surely be exciting. I heard that the waste from the Lin family seems to have made some progress, even injuring Lin Yun. I believe that the waste from the Lin family will also participate in this martial arts assembly," suddenly remarks the young man in yellow from the Gu family, his tone particularly mocking.
"Gu Song, what do you mean? The outstanding disciples of my Lin family emerge in endlessly. We don't need a waste to participate in the martial arts assembly," Lin Yu understands whom the other party is referring to. Moreover, by saying that Lin Feng will participate in the martial arts assembly, he is obviously mocking that there are no worthy successors in the Lin family.
"Heh heh, you address your young master in such a way, which seems inappropriate," Gu Song says lightly.
"A waste is a waste. What's inappropriate about it? Besides, the position of the head of my Lin family will sooner or later..." Lin Yu pauses suddenly, snorts, and says no more.
At this moment, the waste they mentioned is riding a thousand-mile snow and entering Yangzhou.
After a journey of about ten days, Lin Feng's face shows a hint of dust, and sitting down on the thousand-mile snow, he looks somewhat tired. However, Lin Feng's eyes seem particularly spirited, showing no trace of laziness.
Compared to before, Lin Feng's facial features are now sharper, with distinct contours that hint at a bit of toughness. His clean gaze carries a hint of calmness.
With a ancient sword on his back, a silver belt around his waist, and stepping on the thousand-mile snow, Lin Feng attracts quite a bit of attention. Seeing Lin Feng's appearance and demeanor, a few people think that he must be a young disciple from one of the major families who has returned from cultivation outside.
"Let's go." Lin Feng urges the thousand-mile snow to slowly run along the main road of Yangzhou.
"Hmm?" When Lin Feng passes by a tavern, a faint voice comes from the rooftop. Although it's very subtle, Lin Feng's hearing is exceptionally keen now. He looks up and sees a pair of eyes staring at him.
"Heh heh, who do we have here? Isn't this the young master Lin Feng of the Lin family? What a coincidence."
The person's eyes are filled with mockery, and after a while, several faces appear at the window on the second floor of the tavern. Among them, Lin Feng surprisingly recognizes one face, but this face looks particularly grim at the moment.
"Lin Yu." Lin Feng whispers. This Lin Yu is the son of an elder of the Lin family, with a cultivation base at the eighth level of the Martial Qi realm, and his talent is decent.
"Hmph." Lin Yu doesn't give Lin Feng any face at all, looking at him coldly. He didn't expect to encounter Lin Feng here. These people would probably ridicule him again.
"Lin Feng, several of us from the major families happen to be gathering here. Since we've bumped into each other, why don't you come up and join us?" Indeed, Gu Song immediately extends an invitation to Lin Feng, obviously not with good intentions.
"Lin Feng, after such a long journey, you should go back to the family to rest first," Lin Yu said, clearly unwilling.
Lin Feng sneers inwardly. As the young master of the Lin family, Lin Yu should at least greet him when he sees him. But not only does Lin Yu not do that, he even looks at him coldly and wants to interfere with his actions.
"Do I have to consider your feelings in what I do?" Lin Feng mutters to himself and then looks at Gu Song, "I'll come up."
"Wait." Lin Yu's voice becomes slightly colder, "Lin Feng, this is not where you should be. Just go back home and stay there."
"You dare to speak to me like that." Lin Feng's voice is cold. He looks directly at Lin Yu, saying, "What is your status, and what is mine? How dare you speak to me like this?"
Lin Feng is no longer the weak "Lin Feng" of the past. With his father as the head of the Lin family, how could he tolerate Lin Yu's domineering behavior towards him? If he doesn't show some fire, they will think they can bully him however they want.
Lin Yu is stunned by Lin Feng's sudden reprimand. He obviously did not expect Lin Feng to change so much, so domineering.
His face turning red, Lin Yu doesn't know how to retort to Lin Feng. In terms of status, Lin Feng is the young master of the Lin family, and although he is the son of an elder, he still doesn't have the qualification to be arrogant towards Lin Feng. Moreover, even if Lin Feng scolds him, he still doesn't have the qualification to retort.
"Heh heh, this is the young master of the Lin family." Gu Song chuckles, making Lin Yu's face even darker.
At this point, Lin Feng has dismounted and handed the thousand-mile snow over to the tavern's steward, then stepped onto the second floor of the tavern.
There are seven or eight figures sitting at the table, all young disciples.
Seeing Lin Feng enter, not a single person speaks. They all sit quietly in their seats, lifting their wine glasses to drink lightly, completely ignoring Lin Feng. Even Gu Song, who had just invited Lin Feng, is now sitting there, his mouth curled in a mocking smile.
"Hmph, a waste who brings trouble upon himself, really thinks he's a young master, what status?" Lin Yu doesn't look at Lin Feng, seeming to mutter to himself.
"The status of the young master of the Lin family, Lin Yu, you must not forget. This waste is your young master," Gu Song reminds him. He most wants to see this situation, which humiliates the Lin family.
Lin Feng sneers, sweeping his gaze over the crowd and then focusing on Gu Song. He takes a few steps forward and stands beside Gu Song.
"May I sit down?"
"Who do you think you are? What qualifications do you have to sit with us?" Wen Shan from the Wen family is not polite. The four major families of Yangzhou, with the city lord's mansion having the strongest influence, the other three families are not particularly harmonious, especially the Gu family and the Lin family. Given the opportunity to strike at the Lin family, the people from the Wen family naturally wouldn't miss it.
"What do you mean?" Lin Feng doesn't look at Wen Shan, just asking Gu Song.
"Can't you understand? Even a waste like you is qualified to sit with us." Gu Song looks at Lin Feng askew, this guy really has no self-awareness.
"So, you were playing with me just now?" Lin Feng remains calm, asking.
"And if I was? Get lost." Gu Song scolds, not expecting Lin Feng to be so ignorant.
"This means you were trying to make a fool of me." Lin Feng still doesn't get angry, calmly asking.
"So what? Get lost." Gu Song scolds again, not expecting Lin Feng to be so ignorant.