Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 564 Bad News

Chen Xiner raised her head and looked at Youlan, her eyes full of gratitude. She shook her head slightly and said modestly: "Thank you for the compliment, Sister Youlan, but compared with Lin Feng and the others, I am still far behind." As she spoke, a hint of dimness flashed in her eyes, as if she was frustrated by the gap between herself and Lin Feng.

Youlan patted Chen Xiner's shoulder gently and comforted her, "Sister Xiner, don't compare yourself with those monsters." There was a hint of ridicule in her tone, trying to make Chen Xiner feel better.

However, just as she finished her words, a familiar voice rang out, "Who are you calling a monster?" Lin Feng and Su Yu approached, laughing. Lin Feng, dressed in a black suit, stood tall and handsome. He had a bright smile on his face, and the sunlight shone on him, outlining his muscular figure.

When Chen Xiner heard Lin Feng's voice, her eyes suddenly lit up. Like a happy little deer, she hurried forward, pointed at Lin Feng, and said angrily, "I'm talking about you. You have reached the Grand Master level now." There was a hint of envy and a bit of coquettishness in her tone.

Looking at Chen Xiner's cute appearance, Lin Feng couldn't help but reached out and touched her head, saying lovingly: "How can I protect you without such strength?" His voice was low and gentle, like the warm sun in spring, warming Chen Xiner's heart.

Chen Xiner's face turned red instantly. She lowered her head and said shyly, "You are the only one who talks nonsense." The corners of her mouth rose slightly, revealing a sweet smile. Her hands unconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes, making her look particularly shy.

Seeing Chen Xiner like this, Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh out loud, a hearty and sweet laugh. His eyes were full of love, staring at Chen Xiner closely, as if the whole world only had the two of them.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the warm atmosphere. Zisu and Chen Yu hurried over, their steps frantic and their expressions anxious. Zisu, in particular, had beads of sweat on her forehead and her hair was a bit messy, clearly having trotted all the way here.

As soon as Zi Su arrived here, she said breathlessly: "Everyone, Master invites you, Senior Brother Su Yu and Senior Sister Youlan to go as well." There was a hint of nervousness and eagerness in her voice, making people feel as if something important was happening.

When everyone heard Zi Su's words, the smiles on their faces instantly disappeared, replaced by seriousness and concentration. They looked at each other, their eyes conveying tacit understanding and concern. Lin Feng frowned slightly, wondering in his heart, why did the master suddenly summon him at this time?

"Okay, we'll be there right away." Su Yu responded first. His voice was steady and firm, showing the calmness and decisiveness of a senior brother.

Youlan nodded, her expression calm, but a hint of doubt flashed through her eyes. Chen Xiner clutched Lin Feng's arm tightly, as if seeking comfort and support. Lin Feng patted her hand gently and gave her a reassuring look.

So, led by Zi Su, they hurried towards where Taixuzi was. Along the way, everyone was silent, and the atmosphere was particularly solemn.

Lin Feng, Chen Xin'er, Chen Yu, Zi Su, Su Yu, and You Lan hurried to the meeting room. Entering, they saw Taixuzi seated at the main seat, his face solemn. Behind him stood two young disciples, their expressions solemn. On either side of Taixuzi sat six elders, all white-haired, their faces marked by the marks of time. Their brows were furrowed, their expressions worried.

Zi Su, Su Yu, and You Lan were the first to step forward, clasping their fists in unison and bowing. Their voices were loud and respectful: "Greetings, Master and the elders."

Taixuzi nodded slightly, and the six elders also nodded slightly, responding to their greeting. Lin Feng and the others saw this and quickly followed suit, bowing.

Taixuzi's gaze slowly swept across the crowd, finally landing on Lin Feng. His eyes revealed deep worry and helplessness. He sighed and said, "Now I have some bad news to tell you."

Lin Feng took a step forward, his expression calm, and said in a steady tone: "Please speak frankly, senior." Although he remained calm on the surface, he had a vague sense of foreboding in his heart.

Taixuzi sighed again and spoke in a heavy voice, "The situation in the empire is extremely serious right now. The Taiping Empire has already occupied Jinyan City and is now camped outside Xixuan City. To the east, the Xuanling Empire has also attacked and has already occupied the two main cities to the east."

As soon as these words were spoken, the conference room fell into a dead silence. Lin Feng and the others stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with shock and disbelief. In just a few months, the situation had deteriorated to such an extent; it was truly beyond everyone's expectations.

Chen Xin'er and Chen Yu's faces turned pale. With Jinyan City occupied, what would become of the Chen family? Where were Chen Xin'er's grandfather, Chen Shanchang, and her father, Chen Hongtao? How safe were they? Chen Xin'er's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up in them. She eagerly took a step forward, her voice trembling with pleading, "Senior, what about the other families in Jinyan City? How's the Chen family...?"

Taixuzi slowly shook his head, a helpless look on his face: "I don't have any news about other families in Jinyan City."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiner felt her vision go dark, her body swaying, and she almost lost her balance. Chen Yu clenched his fists tightly, his joints turning white from the force. His breathing became rapid and heavy, and his eyes were filled with anxiety and anger.

"I want to go back to Jinyan City!" Chen Yu suddenly said loudly, with a desperate determination in his voice, "I want to go back and see what happened to the Chen family." Although Chen Yu is not a biological member of the Chen family, the Chen family raised him. Chen Hongtao treated him as his own son, and Chen Shanchang treated him as his own grandson. This kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai. Now that the Chen family's life and death are uncertain, how can he sit still?

Seeing this, Chen Xiner suppressed her inner grief and worry, reached out and grabbed Chen Yu's arm, and persuaded him, "Chen Yu, calm down. We can't be impulsive right now." Her voice was choked with sobs, but she tried to remain calm. "If we go back rashly like this, not only will we fail to save the Chen family, but we might also get ourselves into trouble. We need to calm down and find a solution."

Chen Yu turned his head and looked at Chen Xiner, his eyes full of pain and struggle: "But...how can I be at ease? The Chen family has been so kind to me, I can't just watch them get into trouble." His voice was a little hoarse, and he was so emotional that he could hardly control himself.

Chen Xiner bit her lip, and the tears in her eyes finally burst out and slid down her cheeks: "I know, I am worried too, but now we have to stay calm." She held Chen Yu's hand tightly, as if this could give him strength.

At this moment, an elder spoke. His voice was old but steady: "Don't worry, everyone. We have sent people to inquire. If we have any news, we will tell you as soon as possible." His eyes revealed concern and comfort, trying to calm everyone down.

Chen Xiner bowed slightly and saluted to the elders. Her voice was soft but full of gratitude: "Thank you all, elders. I have been in Taixu Valley for some time. Thank you for your care." She raised her head, with a hint of sadness still in her eyes. The changes in Jinyan City were like a haze, always shrouding her heart.

Taixuzi sat at the main seat, looking at everyone in the hall with concern. His eyes swept over each face one by one, finally landing on Lin Feng, his eyes full of expectation: "The world is in chaos now, and the empire is in a precarious situation. Taixu Valley will not force you to stay or leave. However, Lin Feng, you have a mission and are the one who can change the world. Your decision concerns the lives of all people. I hope you will consider it carefully."