Rise in the Martial Chaos: Starting From a Martial Arts School

Be that as it may, a wave of warmth still washed over her as she heard Yang Jing unhesitatingly stand up for her. The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned upward, her heart filled with joy, and even most of her earlier frustration dissipated.

The two chatted as they walked, and soon they arrived at the docks on the edge of Fushan Island.

A few ferry boats were moored at the docks. As night deepened, several lanterns hung on the shore, their warm yellow glow spilling onto the water’s surface and creating a delicate, shimmering reflection.

The two boarded a ferry, and a boatman pushed off from the bank with a pole. The boat glided slowly across the calm lake, and before long, it reached the western shore of Hidden Dragon Lake.

By now, the sky had completely darkened. The small town on the shore was brightly lit as lanterns from every household lit up one after another, their warm glows weaving together.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, and the air was filled with the rising and falling cries of vendors and the clamor of the crowd, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.

The two walked a little further down the street and found a tavern that looked to be doing good business, deciding to have their celebratory meal there.

Upon entering the Ma Family Tavern, they found the main hall already packed with diners. The air was a cacophony of voices, and delicious aromas filled their nostrils.

Yang Jing stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute to the man behind the counter, and asked, "Shopkeeper, are there any private rooms available?"

The shopkeeper quickly replied with a smile, "My sincerest apologies, esteemed guests. We have too many customers today, and the private rooms were all booked long ago. I’m afraid we simply can’t free one up."

Just as Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang were preparing to leave, the shopkeeper’s gaze happened to sweep over their clothes.

The white robes Yang Jing wore were of fine quality, with the faint embroidery of a sect’s insignia on the collar. And while Sun Ningxiang’s cyan robes were plain, they still bore the characteristic design of a Xuanzhen Sect disciple’s uniform.

The shopkeeper’s heart skipped a beat as he instantly realized what this meant. ’These two are most likely disciples from the Xuanzhen Sect. And the young man in white robes... he might even be an Inner Sect Disciple.’

This small town was adjacent to Fushan Island and had frequent dealings with the Xuanzhen Sect. Having run the tavern here for decades, the shopkeeper had seen countless Xuanzhen Sect disciples and was extremely familiar with their attire and bearing. He could spot them in a single glance.

After guessing their identities, the shopkeeper’s expression immediately became much more enthusiastic. He said hurriedly, "Esteemed guests, please wait just a moment! My sincerest apologies, I didn’t recognize who you were just now. I’ll go give the order to have a private room cleared out and cleaned up for you. I guarantee it will be quiet."

The Xuanzhen Sect’s prestige was immense, so the shopkeeper naturally didn’t dare to slight its disciples. He only wanted to provide them with the best possible hospitality.

Seeing this, Yang Jing quickly waved a hand to stop him. "There’s no need to trouble yourself, Shopkeeper," he said with a smile. "You don’t need to go out of your way to free up a private room."

He turned to Sun Ningxiang and asked softly, "Senior Sister, how about we just eat in the main hall? It’s so lively out here; that’s nice too."

Sun Ningxiang quickly nodded in agreement. "Okay! I also think it’s more interesting out here where it’s lively."

Neither of them liked being too formal; in fact, they found the lively, down-to-earth atmosphere of the main hall more comforting.

Since the two were insistent, the shopkeeper didn’t press the issue and smilingly led them to an open table.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang found an empty table in a corner of the main hall and sat down. The table was spotless, and their view was clear; they could see what was happening in the center of the hall without being overwhelmed by the noise.

They picked up the menu and ordered several house specialties: a delicious fish from the lake, a tender poultry dish, and two refreshing vegetable dishes. All were signature items of the tavern.

While they were ordering, they overheard the diners at the next table talking in low voices. They were saying that the Ma Family Tavern hosted fun little activities every night to liven up the atmosphere and attract customers.

Yang Jing found this interesting. ’We came here to relax tonight, so the more cheerful and lively, the better.’

Before long, the six dishes were brought out one by one. Their vibrant colors and rich aromas were enough to make one’s mouth water.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang picked up their chopsticks and began to eat. The fish was fresh, tender, and boneless, and the other dishes were rich and flavorful. They ate with great contentment, occasionally exchanging a few quiet words in the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Just then, the shopkeeper walked to the center of the main hall, raised his hands, and clapped, drawing the attention of all the diners. "Thank you all for gracing our humble establishment tonight!" he announced loudly with a smile. "As is tradition, we have another little activity for you. Tonight, it’s a riddle game! For every riddle you solve correctly, the house will treat you to a complimentary specialty dish. The more you solve, the more you win! We encourage all our esteemed guests to participate enthusiastically!"

As his voice fell, a cheer erupted in the main hall, and the diners applauded in approval.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a resonant voice walked into the center of the hall. He was clearly someone the tavern had hired to host the event. Holding a stack of paper slips with riddles written on them, he cleared his throat and began loudly reciting the riddles, inviting the diners at each table to shout out their answers.

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang put down their chopsticks and looked toward the center of the hall, their eyes filled with curiosity. They both found the activity to be quite novel and interesting.

Sun Ningxiang rested her cheek on her hand, a beaming smile on her face as she watched Yang Jing. The warm yellow light of the lanterns fell upon his face, outlining his gentle features.

Surrounded by the lively clamor of voices and the fragrant aroma of food, she found this peaceful and pleasant atmosphere filled her heart with joy.

She thought quietly to herself, ’If only every day could be like this, just spending time so comfortably with my junior brother... how wonderful would that be? But I know Yang Jing has always been focused on his cultivation. He’s calm and steady, single-mindedly devoted to improving his strength. He definitely won’t take time out like this to be with me very often. Moments like these are a rare treasure.’

Yang Jing, on the other hand, wasn’t thinking so deeply. He simply found the riddle game fascinating, his attention completely fixed on the riddles being read by the middle-aged man.