89: Chapter 86: Rising Leaves 89: Chapter 86: Rising Leaves PS, I’ll insert a note here to clarify: Zhou Liangchen’s original surname is Zhou, mentioned in the first seventy-five chapters.
In the early morning, Zhou Liangchen returned to the Zhou Mansion in Linhai County.
His face was pale, and his eyes were dull and lifeless, his whole demeanor confused and disoriented.
Several housekeepers and servants had already come to greet him, expressing their concern.
Zhou Liangchen ignored them all and continued to stumble forward.
However, as he rounded the screen wall, his eyes flickered slightly.
The large and grand Zhou Family Hall in front of him was filled with people.
His father, ‘Three Finger Divine’ Zhou Xiongba, sat at the center of the hall, facing south, dominating the room.
The people seated on either side were either elders and key figures of the Zhou family or prominent retainers.
There were more than twenty experts of the Seventh Rank present.
His uncle, Cloud Sword Manor Master Du Yunlai, was also among them.
They seemed to be discussing something but all turned their gazes toward the hall’s entrance where Zhou Liangchen stood.
Zhou Liangchen exchanged a glance with them expressionlessly, then continued to shuffle toward the Eastern Courtyard.
“Liangchen, stop right there!”
At this moment, a middle-aged woman with delicate features and an elegant demeanor emerged from the doorway.
She frowned at Zhou Liangchen, looking him up and down: “Liangchen, what happened to you, why do you look so despondent?”
Zhou Liangchen didn’t stop for a second, nor did he show any interest in a conversation as he continued toward the Eastern Courtyard.
The middle-aged woman’s face immediately showed a look of helplessness.
Ever since he started using the name Zhou Liangchen to fight in the Life and Death Arena, the boy had become increasingly difficult for her to manage.
Du Yunlai, however, chuckled and raised his teacup: “You found Chu Xisheng, didn’t you?
Judging by your appearance, you lost to him?”
Seeing Zhou Liangchen continue walking toward the Eastern Courtyard without responding, Du Yunlai shook his head and blew on the tea leaves in his cup: “What’s wrong?
Can’t you even muster the courage to answer about the result?”
Zhou Liangchen finally stopped, raised his head, and glanced into the hall, his eyes slightly dim: “As guessed by Uncle, I wasn’t a match for Chu Xisheng.
I fought him fairly but couldn’t even draw my sword before I was defeated in one move.”
There was an immediate uproar in the hall.
Once again, they all looked at Zhou Liangchen with disbelief, unable to accept that this famous young prodigy could be defeated within a single move.
Du Yunlai’s hand trembled, and his expression changed with disbelief.
He had expected Zhou Liangchen might suffer a small loss when looking for that Chu kid.
Chu Xisheng’s ‘Vengeance’ Sword Intent could reflect any Sword or Blade Intent, naturally restraining Zhou Liangchen’s Sword Dao.
But as long as his nephew didn’t fight Chu Xisheng near the Ancient Market, he could hold out for fifty or sixty moves.
Defeated in one move, how could that be possible?
The middle-aged woman chuckled lightly: “For us martial artists, losing a match or two is quite ordinary.
Except for that Dominating Martial King, who can win every time?
Your current Primordial Skill is only at the upper ninth rank.
Losing to someone with higher cultivation is normal.
Your Sword Intent is already perfected, your True Yuan will soon improve too, then you can win against him—”
Zhou Liangchen gave a self-deprecating smile, interrupting the middle-aged woman: “Mother, that person’s Primordial Skill cultivation is the same as mine, both at the upper ninth rank.”
The hall fell completely silent, not a sound stirred for a long while.
After a prolonged silence, Zhou Xiongba’s tiger eyes opened slightly: “Yunlai!
Explain what happened?”
Du Yunlai sighed bitterly: “Two days ago a young man who mastered the ‘Vengeance’ Sword Intent rose to prominence in the South Street Temple Market, killing Zhuang Hongfei in the Life and Death Arena.
His next opponent was Liangchen.
I thought Liangchen wouldn’t be a match for him, so I drugged him before the battle and brought him back to Linhai County.
However, this kid refused to accept defeat and went back.
But I didn’t expect him to lose in a single move.”
He summarized the situation clearly in a few words.
The people in the hall changed their expressions again.
A thousand years ago, the Blood Vengeance Blade Lord had nearly wiped out the Zhou Family in Linhai, so the Zhou family was particularly sensitive to the ‘Vengeance’ Sword Intent.
Zhou Xiongba closed his eyes and pondered, then asked: “Liangchen, how does that kid compare to the two young tigers of our Linhai County?”
The middle-aged woman at the door reacted slightly with surprise, glancing at Zhou Xiongba: “Husband, are you considering asking this kid to help us contend for the ninth-grade Secret Realm—”
Zhou Xiongba gestured for her to stop talking and continued asking Zhou Liangchen with a solemn expression: “Answer truthfully, could this person surpass those two in combat?”
Zhou Liangchen was taken aback, not understanding Zhou Xiongba’s intention, but from his father’s serious expression, he knew this was important.
With a solemn expression, he responded: “Father, that person’s blade is like light, like electricity.
Also like the wind in the sky or the clouds, unpredictable.
I couldn’t comprehend the depth of his strength.”
Recalling the slash from Chu Xisheng at the Fire Bone Cave Town, Zhou Liangchen’s face grew complex, still showing fear: “The two young tigers of our Linhai County might be stronger than me, but they definitely can’t surpass him!”
Zhou Xiongba’s eyes narrowed with interest: “What’s that kid’s name and where is he from?”
”Chu Xisheng!” Zhou Liangchen replied with a bitter smile: “He is Chu Xisheng, an Inner Sect Disciple of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall!”
Around the same time, Chu Xisheng, standing in front of the Library, was in a daze.
In his view, a large firework suddenly exploded, almost filling the whole screen.
The Martial Arts Points on the screen rapidly increased, climbing to 55 points.
His reputation level also changed to ‘Lower Eighth Rank (Super)’.
Chu Xisheng was shocked, looking around in confusion.
He couldn’t figure out where these Martial Arts Points had come from.
This was strange, considering there was still more than half a month until the new issue of “Debating Martial Arts” was released.
Could it be residual fame from his two ‘Life and Death Arena’ matches at the Ancient Market?
Chu Xisheng stopped trying to figure it out and continued walking with his fellow disciples.
Today, the Library officially opened, and Hall Master Lei Yuan fulfilled his promise, compensating this session’s Inner Sect Disciples.
Originally there were two days of free reading, which were now extended to three.
When it was Chu Xisheng’s turn to enter, he presented his token and bowed to the side toward Ye Zhiqiu.
“Instructor, I wish to advance my leaves!”
In that instant, many senior and junior brothers around him were in an uproar, turning to look at Chu Xisheng.
To advance leaves naturally meant to increase the bamboo leaves on the disciple’s token.
But they quickly calmed down.
Chu Xisheng’s life-and-death battles at the Ancient Market had already spread through the martial hall by word of the Hu brothers.
Able to kill Zhuang Hongfei and repel Zhou Liangchen, he certainly qualified for leaf advancement.
Ye Zhiqiu sized him up with a bright glint in his eyes: “You’ve progressed swiftly.
Your Nourishing Essence Skill is indeed cultivated to the third level.
How many leaves do you wish to advance?”
Chu Xisheng smiled slightly and cupped his hands: “Please advance me by three leaves!”
Since you achieved first place in practical exams, you qualify for a direct three-leaf advancement.”
Ye Zhiqiu nodded slightly and then questioned: “Have you thought this through?”
Three Leaves Inner Sect gave the right to participate in the year-end True Inheritor Examination.
Chu Xisheng was already in the spotlight, and joining the True Inheritor contest would bring even more trouble.
The True Inheritor spots at Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall were coveted by aristocratic families of Xiushui County, and they rarely allowed outsiders to interfere.
For commoner disciples to stand out was exceedingly difficult and perilous.
Seeing the determined look in Chu Xisheng’s eyes, Ye Zhiqiu did not ask further and simply inscribed two additional bamboo leaves on Chu Xisheng’s token.
He then fetched a register: “If you want to go to the Library’s seventh floor, you must sign here.”
Ye Zhiqiu could see through Chu Xisheng’s intent.
This fellow evidently wanted to seize the opportunity to visit the Library’s seventh floor.
Chu Xisheng signed and stamped the register as instructed, then noticed something unusual.
Ye Zhiqiu seemingly forgot to account for the three free days he had already spent in the Library.
Meaning, after this three-day access, Chu Xisheng still had six days for unrestricted reading on the Library’s seventh floor.