Chapter 12: Astonishing Skill Shocks the Countryside

  Lin Heng's defeat of Wan Wan in the martial arts arena, where he unleashed his ultimate technique "Eight Snakes Coiling Around a Rock", quickly spread like wildfire. Within half a day, everyone in Qili Gou knew about it. However, as expected, no one believed that Lin Heng had entered the world of martial artists and possessed the strength to defeat Wan Wan.

  Everyone thinks that Yuwen and Lin Heng are singing a duet, the two of them secretly plotting against Da Gou'er. It's unheard of for an ordinary person to defeat a martial artist, it's too shocking, no one will believe it! The village is discussing and speculating not about how powerful Lin Heng is, but when he and Yuwen will secretly get together? To what extent? Some people even sighed in regret, lamenting that such a perfect daughter-in-law candidate like Yuwen actually fell for a useless person who has failed five times.

  In their hearts, since Yuanyuan could pretend to be hurt for Lin Hang's sake and even tarnish Wu Zhe's reputation to help Lin Hang, she must have a deep affection that cannot be shaken.

  As such rumors spread, those who had intended to propose marriage to the Niu family immediately gave up. After all, every family likes a clean and white daughter-in-law. The scandal between Wanwan and Lin Lang was well-known to everyone, who knows if they had done anything? Even if nothing happened, marrying her back home would still be bad for their reputation.

  The sandalwood table was carved with exquisite patterns, and several vigorous calligraphies were hung on both sides of the hall, looking elegant and luxurious. The overall layout of the hall was vastly different from the simple and dilapidated style of a mountain village.

  "Lin Heng defeated Wan Wan? The Lin Heng you're referring to, is it the one who failed five times in the Imperial Examination? Lin Yao's son?" asked Huo Tianzhao, the clan leader of Qili Gou.

  He is the head of the Qi Li Gou clan, and the head here refers to the leader of the clan alliance, which also means village chief, who is in charge of major decisions in the village. Under him are the old men of several large clans, known as elders. Ordinary things in the village are usually decided by these big shots. The mountainous countryside is sparsely populated, and even villages have mixed populations, plus some clan members live in towns, leaving their hometown but not their clan. The head of the clan is the largest power controller between the village and each clan. To highlight cohesion and authority, he is often referred to as the head of the clan, rather than the village chief.

  Huò Tiān Zhào clearly saw Wǎn Wǎn's outstanding strength among her peers. If Lín Háng really defeated Wǎn Wǎn, who had reached the extreme limits of "Eight Snakes Coiling Around a Rock", it would mean one thing: Lín Háng had reached the realm of a first-rate warrior. A first-rate warrior, especially one like Lín Háng who was not yet eighteen years old, would be an earth-shattering event not just in Qīlǐ Gōu, but also in the entire Qīng Niú Town. A young warrior under the age of eighteen represented a boundless and brilliant future. If Qīlǐ Gōu had another seventeen-year-old warrior who was making rapid progress and had great potential, it would greatly elevate Qīlǐ Gōu's status and suppress other villages in competition.

  Manghu Mountain has fifteen villages scattered around it. In terms of strength, Qili Gou is currently ranked around eighth. If a 17-year-old young martial artist were to join, although the village's strength would not immediately increase significantly, in three or four years, and even decades later, Qili Gou will inevitably enter the top three in the strength rankings.

  The village's struggle is rooted in human competition, and those with superior strength have the right to speak in all aspects. It is precisely because of this well-known point that all villages consistently regard the cultivation of young people as the top priority of the village. In order to cultivate excellent young warriors, they spare no effort and no cost.

  It can be seen that if Lin Heng defeats Wan Wan, the Qili Gou will add a major chip to the competition that has never been seen before.

  "It's just a rumor, but I asked several people on the scene and they said that maybe Yuwen secretly helped Lin Keng, so he deliberately created such an absurd play." An elderly tribesman next to him said.

  "I told you, how is this possible? An ordinary person who failed five times in a row actually defeated a martial artist. Not to mention us, even those ancient monsters haven't seen such a strange thing." Huo Tianzhao narrowed his eyes and said: "So, it seems that Yuwen and Lin Heng are secretly together?"

  He had always wanted to make Wenwen his daughter-in-law, but suddenly hearing this news made him feel a little disappointed. Such an excellent and outstanding girl should have been his own daughter-in-law, but she was snatched away by Lin Heng, a useless waste, which is really a pity.

  "In my opinion, their relationship should be very close, otherwise Yuwen wouldn't have been so biased towards him."

  At this time, another elder of the clan inserted a sentence full of doubts: "You say, will Lin really quietly become a first-class martial artist and defeat Wan?"

  *****

  "Are you saying he really beat you and you didn't fake it at all? How is that possible? He can't even pass the Warrior's Certification, how could he defeat you?" Uncle Niu was shocked, as far as he knew his daughter, Yuanyuan wouldn't lie.

  Wan Wan shook her head, full of confusion: "I don't know about this either, but judging from Lin's punch just now, his strength is far above mine."

  "Over you?" He took a deep breath of cold air. He had been teaching his daughter for two years and was more aware of her strength than anyone else, so what did she mean by this? It meant that Lin Huan might be infinitely close to a first-rate warrior, or even already a first-rate warrior.

  It's impossible to know that Lin Heng is only seventeen years old. For decades, no one in Qili Gou has been able to enter the first-class warrior before the age of eighteen. Moreover, Lin Heng has repeatedly verified his failure and is still an ordinary person today.

  "This I can attest to. Although his moves were unclear to me, but at the moment Lin Huan released his fist intent, I clearly felt a strong surge of power, that surge of power far exceeded mine." said Niu Dagang from the side.

  He is known for his honesty and integrity, so what he says must be true.

  Uncle Niu fell into deep thought, Lin Heng was so strange that he lost all his common sense of judgment.

  Originally as an ordinary person, having experienced five failures is extremely rare. Logically speaking, this person's innate talent should be completely useless, but inexplicably, he suddenly possesses the ability to defeat veteran warriors like Wanwan, and what Da Gang said is true - Lin Yang can unleash a powerful force that only warriors can possess! It's really unbelievable.

  "This matter should be kept secret for now, let's just go along with what others say." said Uncle Niu slowly.

  "But... but those people outside are talking nonsense..." Yuwen was somewhat anxious, now that rumors were spreading everywhere about her and Lin Heng being in a good relationship, she intentionally leaned towards him. As a young woman from a respectable family, if she didn't clarify things, wouldn't her reputation be ruined?

  "It's just the gossip of women, they are born with a sharp tongue, even if you go to clarify, they won't believe it, and instead think that you're trying to cover up your own thievery." He glanced at Wanwan with a smile: "Lin Yang himself is not a bad person, and he doesn't look bad either. If he's really such a strong person, then he'd be a good match for you."

  Wanwan was taken aback for a moment, and then a flush of red jumped onto her face, as she scolded: "Father..."

  Her father's meaning was unmistakable, and he obviously had a mind to go with the flow.

  It's no wonder, Lin Huan is only seventeen years old. If he really has this kind of ability, it's possible that he may become the youngest top martial artist in Qili Gou history, with a bright future ahead. Uncle Niu would naturally not let such a talented person slip away. In fact, he had more to say, but didn't speak out loud - if Lin Huan's true abilities were to be revealed to the world, then perhaps many famous families' daughters would rush to his door, and by that time, there wouldn't be any opportunity left. So he let Wanwan take a wait-and-see approach, responding to public opinion in a perfunctory manner - this is called taking the initiative to gain an advantage. Moreover, this was just a cautious attitude; whether Wanwan and Lin Huan could be together would have to wait until after the Dragon Festival martial arts competition to be confirmed.