Starting from a peasant family, he mastered the profound art of martial arts.

Chapter 43 Meeting Guests

"I can't guess." Meng Chen was actually guessing the Yan family, because if they were acquaintances, there would be no need to send an invitation. If it were one of the three major surnames, Du Ren probably wouldn't be laughing so strangely.

"Guess! Guess now!" The more Du Ren didn't guess, the more itchy he became.

"Is it Miss Ye?" Meng Chen whispered.

"You..." Du Ren was stunned. "What are you thinking? You little rascal, you're up to no good! Let me tell you, no way! Our big brother's been busy picking a brother-in-law lately!"

Huh? Ye Jinhuan is getting married?

"Is that the Zhang and Wang families? Or is it Young Master Zhu from Ping An Pharmacy?" These were the families that Meng Chen had been taken to beg for food by Du Ren before.

"They've sent an invitation, but we're not going! Last time we went, they made us drink some rotten tea leaves and we were so full of pee! If they invite us again, forget it!" Du Ren said, hands on his hips, looking very domineering.

"Won't I offend them?" Ever since what happened with Gao Yuan, Meng Chen has become an honest man, afraid of accidentally offending others.

"What do you mean by offending or not offending? In Qingshui County, there's no one I wouldn't dare offend! Besides, they invited us to dinner because they think highly of your future and want to make some connections. At most, they'll give you thirty or fifty taels of silver afterward. Do you think we're beggars?" Du Ren questioned sharply.

Last time you went to ask for help, didn't you look like a beggar? Meng Chen shook his head and said, "No."

"That's right. We're not in a rush to go now. When you reach the second realm, they'll definitely invite you again. When you go then, they'll be even more courteous and offer more money!"

Du Ren was very serious. "We need to learn from the prostitutes at the brothel, play hard to get, let you see their asses but not let them touch them, that's how we raise our prices!"

What is all this nonsense? Can you sell something with your butt exposed for a good price? Meng Chen was speechless for a moment.

Du Ren took out a note and smiled, "It's from Yan Zhao."

Meng Chen took the document and saw that it was indeed signed by Yan Long's eldest son, Yan Zhao, who said that a banquet would be held at Feiyun Tower the next day at noon and invited him to attend.

"Our Qingshui County isn't a big place, and everyone says the Zhang, Wang, and Zhao families are powerful clans. But that's just old-fashioned talk, nothing more than a few centipedes, all talk and no action. If we're talking about real talent, Yan Long is the best. Your family is only separated from the Yan family by Laolongtan, so you're from the same hometown! If you can get to know Yan Long, there will definitely be some connections later on," Du Ren said earnestly.

These are invaluable words of advice, and Meng Chen does indeed have a deep connection with the Yan family, so it is certainly appropriate for them to keep in touch. Since he cannot refuse now, he might as well meet the son of the number one martial artist in Qingshui County.

"Then let's go take a look," Meng Chen agreed, adding, "I'll go home after lunch."

After a good night's sleep, Du Ren took Meng Chen out the door after warming up for morning exercise the next day.

The two went to have breakfast first. Du Ren thought Meng Chen's clothes were too worn out, so he took Meng Chen to a tailor shop and picked out two clothes to try on.

"Make two sets of clothes for him later. Add a jade pendant, a bell, and a sword, and he'll be a dashing young master!" Du Ren carefully examined Meng Chen in his new clothes and was quite satisfied. "If he were a little fairer and spoke more politely, the women at the brothel would definitely let him sleep with them for free!"

Seeing that Du Ren was always intentionally or unintentionally encouraging him to sell, Meng Chen simply pretended not to understand. "Senior brother, I want to get a sword; it'll make me look more imposing!"

The swords from the martial arts school cannot be brought out.

Now that he's mastered the Gale Blade Technique, Meng Chen finds the blade more appealing than any woman, and he wishes he could sleep with it every day. Besides, he still has to trim the hooves of Qingyu's donkey when he gets home today.

"No need to buy one!" Du Ren seemed to remember something. "I have a knife that I don't usually need, so I'll just give it to you!"

Meng Chen quickly declined, "How could I possibly accept this?"

"Just a knife!" Du Ren led Meng Chen, and after many twists and turns, they arrived at a house.

This house is just across the street from Longwei Escort Agency, and not far from Li Xiangsheng's house.

He unlocked the door; the house hadn't been lived in for a long time and was covered in dust. Du Ren climbed over the wall and ransacked the place, finding a knife.

The scabbard was covered in dust, but when the sword was drawn, it gleamed with a chilling light.

This knife is a bit longer, over three feet long, with a handle about four inches long, and weighs around seven pounds.

"This was given to me by Uncle Ye when I got engaged. It's a bit heavy, but you're strong, so feel free to use it." Du Ren gently stroked the blade and then handed it to Meng Chen.

"Was this a gift from the head of the Longwei Escort Agency?" Meng Chen took it and asked, "And what about my sister-in-law?"

"She went out to play during the great flood a couple of years ago and drowned." Du Ren's tone was tinged with sadness, then he smiled, "It's all in the past!"

Meng Chen didn't dare to ask any more questions.

After leaving the house, the two realized it was getting late and headed towards Feiyun Tower together.

Flying Cloud Tower is a property of the Nine Absolutes Sect, located in the northern part of the city. Given its name, it is naturally quite tall, with seven floors in total.

The fifth, sixth, and seventh floors are the most elegant and quiet, with only railings on all sides. They offer a panoramic view of the entire Qingshui County and a distant view of the waterways outside the city, making them a great place to visit in Qingshui County.

Upon arriving at Feiyun Tower, they were greeted by someone waiting at the door. This person was Yan Zhao's personal attendant, named Sun Jiulang.

Sun Jiulang was a servant born into Yan Zhao's mother's household. Du Ren knew him, but judging from Sun Jiulang's appearance, he seemed somewhat annoyed that Meng and Du had arrived late.

Upon reaching the seventh floor, Yan Zhao was already waiting, along with a young man and a young woman. Judging from their demeanor and bearing, they were also martial arts practitioners.

"Young Master Yan!" Du Ren greeted him with a smile and a cupped-hand salute.

"Brother Du, you are as charming as ever! I have long wanted to visit your residence, but I have been busy." Yan Zhao said politely, looking at Meng Chen.

The boy and girl also stood up, but remained silent.

"This is my junior brother, Meng Chen. Speaking of which, he and Young Master Yan are from the same hometown, their families are separated only by the Old Dragon Pool!" Du Ren said with a smile.

Yan Zhao was a social person, and immediately started chatting with Meng Chen about their hometown customs and even their ages. They were the same age, except that Meng Chen was a little younger.

Yan Zhao then introduced the young man and woman, revealing that they were from the Zhengxin Boxing School.

The boy's name was Shi Xingzhi, and the girl's name was Bu Shengyan; both had already knocked on the door three times. Moreover, judging from their names, it was clear they were not from poor families.

"I've heard so much about you!" Meng Chen clasped his hands in greeting, though he had never actually heard of these two people.

"My apologies!" Shi Xingzhi and Bu Shengyan returned the greeting with smiles, but they had already heard about Meng Chen yesterday.

After the pleasantries were exchanged and everyone took their seats, the waiters began serving the food and drinks in a continuous stream.

Yan Zhao toasted everyone and then casually chatted with Du Ren about the martial arts school.

Then Yan Zhao asked about the studies of Meng Chen and the other two, but that was irrelevant.

After chatting for a while, Bu Shengyan suddenly asked, "Has the real culprit who killed Gao Yuan been found?"

"No." Yan Zhao shook his head slightly, not particularly concerned.

"I heard that he initially had the upper hand, but was frightened by someone exchanging injuries for injuries?" Bu Shengyan asked again.

"I've heard that's how it is." Yan Zhao nodded and asked, "Are you acquainted with Junior Brother Gao, Junior Sister?"

"Acquainted?" Bu Shengyan sneered. "I don't associate with good-for-nothings." She looked at Meng Chen and asked, "I heard that Junior Brother Meng had a grudge against Gao Yuan?"

"That's all in the past," Meng Chen sighed, quite sentimental.

"I had no idea about this." Yan Zhao looked at Meng Chen and said earnestly, "If I had known about this earlier, I would have definitely intervened to smooth things over. I must not let our brotherhood be damaged."

These are just polite words. If Meng Chen hadn't knocked on Yan Zhao's door so early, even if he ran right up to Yan Zhao, Yan Zhao wouldn't have noticed him.

After a few more drinks, Yan Zhao started talking about what he had seen and heard outside. Meng Chen, Shi Xingzhi, and Bu Shengyan didn't say much, but Du Ren would occasionally chime in with a few words, which kept Yan Zhao talking non-stop.

After rambling on for an hour, Du Ren noticed that Yan Zhao seemed distracted, so he made an excuse that he couldn't hold his liquor.

Yan Zhao indeed said that they would talk another day, and then politely saw everyone downstairs.

"Brother, you're from Niujia Village, which is very close to my home. When you have time, please visit my home more often so we can get to know each other better." After seeing Shi Xingzhi and Bu Shengyan off, Yan Zhao smiled and said a few polite words to Meng Chen.

"Speaking of which, I have some connection with Brother Yan's family," Meng Chen said with a smile.

"Oh?" Yan Zhao asked curiously.

"After I knocked on the door twice, your aunt gave me some money, which relieved my urgent need." Meng Chen thought that he couldn't hide his affair with Madam Di, so he might as well tell her now.

"I see." Yan Zhao nodded slightly. "How much did she help you?"

"Twenty taels," Meng Chen said.

"Twenty taels?" Yan Zhao chuckled, pointing to the signboard of Feiyun Tower, and said disdainfully, "Today's drinks alone are worth several twenty taels."

Twenty taels of silver is a small amount for some, but a large amount for others. Meng Chen genuinely appreciated Di's kindness and didn't find this particularly funny.

"By the way, Brother Yan, I heard your aunt mention that some hooligans have been harassing her family's cloth shop. The county government isn't doing anything about it, and she even wants me to help, but I haven't finished my apprenticeship yet and don't know any influential people, so I can't help. Does Brother Yan know anything about this?" Meng Chen took the opportunity to inquire, wanting to find out what Yan Zhao was up to so he could give Madam Di an explanation.

Yan Zhao's smile faded. Seeing that Du Ren had remained silent, he pulled Meng Chen down the steps and whispered, "Don't worry about this."

Curious and puzzled, Meng Chen asked, "Why is that?"

Yan Zhao, perhaps having drunk too much, chuckled nonchalantly, "Brother, you don't understand. My two uncles are gone, and my grandfather is bedridden. I also have a younger brother, but he didn't come back this time."

Meng Chen understood: Yan Hu and Yan Bao had died, and there was no one left to guard their old home.

Yan Long clearly intends to establish a branch of his family in the prefectural city, and the ancestral property and graves of Laolongtan need someone to manage them, which naturally falls to Yan Long's son. Hearing Yan Zhao say this, one wonders whether he or his brother will be responsible for guarding the old home.

Regardless of who guards the house, your Yan family has forcibly bought so much land and amassed so much wealth in Dazexiang. Isn't that enough? Why do you have to seize a widow's property?

Meng Chen finally understood that Madam Yan and her son Yan Zhao were not trying to prevent Di Shi from remarrying, but rather to take advantage of Di Shi completely!

"They're supposed to be nobles from the capital, yet they act so dirty and unscrupulous? At least leave them some leeway!" Meng Chen thought about it and realized that this was indeed the Yan family's usual practice.

Before, they robbed him of his own flesh; now they've robbed him of a widow's flesh. He might risk his life to kill Yan Bao, but who will stand up for the Di family?

It was already afternoon when Yan Zhao saw the white-robed cultivator leading his horse over. He gently patted Meng Chen's shoulder and whispered, "Don't associate with the Di family anymore. She knows nothing and can't be of any help to you. It's me who will broaden your horizons!"

His words sounded more like a warning than an admonition, completely lacking the humility and gentleness he had shown upstairs.

Of course, Yan Zhao certainly had the right to be arrogant. At such a young age, he was already a martial artist of the second realm, truly a case of like father, like son.

After speaking, Yan Zhao greeted the scholar in white and hurriedly rode away.

Du Ren, who had been feigning drunkenness, stood up straight and said sarcastically, "No wonder I can't get rich, it's because I'm too damn soft-hearted!"