Rise from a Poor Family: My Martial Arts Counterattack

Chapter 266 The Battle of the Four Great Families
Linhai County.

Crowded.

As the closest prefecture to the sea, Linhai Prefecture attracts many martial artists to search for treasures in the sea.

After entering the city, even while in the carriage, Lin Chen could feel the sound of air being cut through overhead, indicating that martial artists were entering the city directly from above.

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. When he read the introductory books about other countries, he learned that almost all the martial artists in the other eight countries, except for the Great Liang, had a special privilege: they could fly into the city.

The only difference is that, like a country's capital or an important city, there will be requirements regarding the rank of martial artists.

However, in Daliang, except in emergencies, no martial artist can fly directly into the city; they can only enter on foot through the city gates.

As the carriage traveled down the street, pedestrians on both sides made way for it.

Half an hour later, the carriage drove in through a side gate of a mansion.

"Young Master Gu, we've arrived."

"Sorry to trouble you, senior."

Lin Chen got off the carriage and expressed his gratitude to the old man.

"Young Master Gu, please rest in the courtyard. I will go and inform Miss."

The old man smiled and nodded, then turned and walked out of the courtyard.

After a short while, footsteps were heard at the courtyard gate. However, when Lin Chen saw the several figures appearing at the gate, his pupils contracted slightly.

"grown ups!"

At the doorway, the moment Yu Qing saw Lin Chen, tears instantly streamed down her face.

"Miss Dan, what does this mean?"

Lin Chen looked at Dan Muqing with a sullen face. Dan Muqing sighed and said, "Brother Gu, the Zhuang family found out that you helped the Yu family. They rushed to the clinic and arrested Yu Shan. I was a step too late and only managed to bring back Yu Qing and her brother."

"My help to the Yu family was just something I did on a whim."

"For you, Brother Gu, it was just a matter of convenience, but the bookmakers don't see it that way."

Dan Muqing had already learned from Yu Qing how Lin Chen and Yu Qing, the siblings, became involved, and she felt a bit more favorably toward Lin Chen.

In the Zhao Kingdom, very few martial artists of high rank would care about the life or death of a lowly fisherman. If they happened to encounter him, they would at most rescue him. If they had any compassion, they would at most give him some silver, but they would never take him to a clinic.

However, Dan Muqing also had doubts. She originally thought that Gu Fei had encountered a family crisis and was short of money. But if he was short of money, why would he give ten gold coins to Yu Qing's family, whom he did not know?
Giving away ten gold coins so casually is not a sign of being short of money at all.

But if he weren't short of money, why would he put the Azure Pearl out to sell?

Unless, Gu Fei has many Azure Pearls and doesn't care about having one more or one less.

But Dan Muqing immediately dismissed the idea, since even the clan's treasury only had thirty Azure Pearls.

It's not that the clan is short of money, but rather that the number of Azure Pearls they eliminate is insufficient to meet the needs of martial artists. Although they sell for 100 gold coins in shops, they are often out of stock.

Lin Chen was unaware that the ten gold coins he had given Yu Qing had caused Dan Muqing a great deal of confusion. At this moment, he felt angry, especially when he saw the tear stains on Yu Qing's face.

He saved Yu Shan, but because of him, Yu Shan was also plunged into trouble.

"Feel sorry!"

Lin Chen looked at Yu Qing, who quickly wiped away her tears upon hearing this: "Lord Gu, I don't blame you. If it weren't for your help, my brother would have been dead long ago."

Yu Qing didn't blame Lin Chen. She knew very well that if it weren't for this Lord Gu, her elder brother would have died at the hands of the fish demon long ago, not to mention that Lord Gu had given the family so much money.

She hates... she hates the Zhuang family.

"You look a bit tired, go and rest for a while."

Seeing Yu Qing wiping away her tears and shaking her head, Lin Chen remained silent for a long time before speaking.

“Miss Yu, your family has suffered a misfortune, and I’m afraid your younger brother can’t live without you.”

Dan Muqing chimed in, knowing that Gu Fei had something to discuss with her privately.

Yu Qing nodded and left the courtyard under the guidance of the maid. Lin Chen watched Yu Qing's departing figure and looked at Dan Muqing: "How is Yu Shan now?"

"died!"

Lin Chen's pupils shrank suddenly. The Zhuang family kidnapped Yu Shan because they thought he was related to the Yu family and wanted to use Yu Shan to lure him out. Why would they kill Yu Shan before they could lure him out?
"The Zhuang family doesn't think you'll show up because of Yu Shan. They just kidnapped Yu Shan to vent their anger. Besides, Yu Shan was already injured and died not long after the Zhuang family took him away."

Dan Muqing sighed softly, and Lin Chen suddenly realized...

The dealer's analysis was correct. Regardless of whether he had any connection with the Yu family, he would not walk into a trap because of Yu Shan.

"Miss Dan, could you please elaborate on the four-race competition you mentioned earlier?"

Lin Chen originally had no intention of getting involved in the feuds and conflicts among the various families of Zhao, and only wanted to return to Daliang as soon as possible. However, the matter of Yu Shan made him change his mind.

"Brother Gu, if you know this, I will tell you everything I know."

Upon hearing Lin Chen mention the Four Clans Grand Competition, a hint of joy appeared in Dan Muqing's beautiful eyes. It seemed that the Zhuang family's actions had thoroughly enraged Gu Fei.

"In Linhai County, my Dan family, Zhuang family and two other families are collectively known as the four great families. This is not only because the four families are the strongest, but also because our ancestors once belonged to the same sect."

As Dan Muqing's red sandalwood door opened and closed, Lin Chen finally understood what the competition between the four major families was all about.

Unlike Daliang, the royal family of Zhao did not directly govern the various prefectures.

The royal family only established one tax office in each prefecture, and each prefecture only needed to hand over the tax revenue and resources to the royal family on time.

As for which faction was in Tongzhi County, the royal family did not care.

The ancestors of the four major families in Linhai County were all fellow disciples in the same sect hundreds of years ago. However, the sect later disbanded due to unforeseen circumstances, and these four disciples settled in Linhai County and each created their own family.

Because they came from the same school, the four families initially united to deal with other forces. In less than a few decades, the four families became the four strongest forces in Linhai County.

Originally, there were other forces in Linhai County, and the four major families were able to work together. However, as the other forces were either destroyed or subdued, Linhai County fell into the hands of the four major families, and conflicts of interest arose among them.

However, the four major families did not choose to wage a full-scale war to determine the hegemon of Linhai County. Firstly, they were afraid that if they fought amongst themselves, forces from other counties would take advantage of the situation. Secondly, the four families were evenly matched, and none of them had the strength to annex the others.

After discussion, the four parties decided to adopt another method for distributing the profits.

A duel!

The four major families hold a competition every ten years, with members under the age of twenty participating. The resources of Linhai County are then divided according to their rankings.

Initially, the competition among the four major families was only allowed to be contested by members of each family. However, because of this rule, members of each family, especially the talented ones, were often assassinated before the competition even began.

Although everyone knew it must have been the work of the other three, they could only keep quiet because they couldn't be sure which one it was.

Moreover, if everyone does it, no one is truly clean.

In the first few rounds of the competition, the talented young masters of the four great families fell very quickly. If this continued, the four great families themselves would decline.

Therefore, the four major families eventually changed the rules of the competition, allowing each family to invite young geniuses from other families to participate in the competition.

Each family has a total of ten competition slots, but only a maximum of five geniuses from other clans are allowed.

"How will the contest of magic take place?"

"Go to the ancestral land, which is the site of the sect where our four ancestors lived. There are many demonic beasts in the site. Whoever kills the most demonic beasts and obtains the most and most valuable demon cores will have a higher score. The final ranking will be based on the score."

Slay the demonic beast?

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly; he had originally thought the competition would be something like a ring match.

“Brother Gu, it’s not that I’m boasting, but every time our four major families compete, many martial artists want to get this spot. The monsters in the ruins are much weaker than those in the outside world, and there are no mid-grade monsters. As long as you don’t go deep into the heart of the area, you will mostly encounter lone ninth-grade monsters.”

"No matter how many demonic beasts foreign warriors kill and obtain demon cores from the ruins, our four great families will not take them back."

Dan Muqing looked at Lin Chen, and Lin Chen nodded. If what Dan Muqing said was true, then this ruin would indeed attract many martial artists.

Most of the demonic beasts in the Nine Kingdoms live in groups, dwelling in the mountains. Many are guarded by mid-grade or even high-grade demonic experts. Trying to kill a demonic beast to obtain its demon core is like playing with fire; a slight mistake could cost you your life.

In the ancestral lands of the four major families, the monsters are all alone, and there are no mid-grade monsters. Even if they encounter a strong monster, they can escape even if they cannot kill it.

It's simply a natural and wonderful place for adventure.

“Miss Dan, based on what you’ve said, it shouldn’t be difficult for your Dan family to find five genius disciples from other races.”

"It's not difficult for ordinary disciples from other races."

Dan Muqing shook his head: "But the ancestral site is sealed, and only martial artists under the age of twenty are allowed to enter. Those over the age of twenty cannot enter. That is why I asked Brother Gu about his age earlier."

"If Brother Gu is willing to represent my Dan family in this competition, please feel free to name your conditions."

Dan Muqing's eyes were filled with anticipation. If she had only thought that Gu Fei was qualified, after the Zhuang brothers were killed, she was now certain that Gu Fei was definitely qualified to take a spot.

"When does the competition begin?" Lin Chen didn't rush to answer, but continued to ask, "Since the organizers have issued a warrant for my arrest, what will happen if my identity is exposed once I participate in the competition?"

"The competition will begin in five days. Brother Gu need not worry about the bookmaker. With the Dan family protecting you, the bookmaker cannot do anything to you."

"I need a guarantee."

“I can swear in the name of the Dan family ancestors.”

Dan Muqing raised her hand and, without any hesitation, solemnly swore an oath in front of Lin Chen.

After Dan Muqing finished making her vow, Lin Chen nodded: "I can participate in this competition."

(End of this chapter)