Chapter 270: Always on Lin Xiao’s Side

The old master sighed deeply, his expression heavy, and turned to Chen Lingxin. “How is your father doing?”

“My dad… he…” Lingxin’s face was filled with sorrow. She tried to speak but choked up and couldn’t continue.

Seeing her like this, the old master’s eyes dimmed with sadness. Without saying another word, he walked out of the main hall and quickly spotted Chen Tianxing lying on the ground.

“Old Master,” Lin Xiao began, worried that the sight might be too much for him.

“No need to worry. I’m fine,” the old master said, waving a hand to reassure him.

He turned to Lingxin and Tianli. “Help me over to your father. I need to see him up close.”

Tianli hesitated, his lips trembling as though he wanted to say something, but Lingxin pulled on his sleeve.

“Understood, Grandpa,” she said obediently.

With their help, the old master moved to Chen Tianxing’s side. He knelt with difficulty and placed two fingers on his son’s wrist. After a few moments of silence, he removed his hand and began examining the injuries.

The old master’s lips quivered, and a deep sorrow shone in his eyes. Then, without warning, he raised his hand and delivered a firm strike to Tianxing’s chest.

Tianxing’s body jolted. His eyes suddenly flew open as he coughed up a mouthful of dark, clotted blood.

When Chen Tianxing saw Lin Xiao, the dullness in his eyes vanished, and his tense body finally relaxed.

Seeing Lin Xiao standing there unharmed told him everything he needed to know. The crisis threatening the Chen Martial Hall had been resolved once again.

“Tianxing, how are you feeling?” the old master asked.

Tianxing slowly shook his head, his gaze drifting to his injured arm. His expression darkened. “I’m fine, Father. How are the students?”

“Thanks to Lin Xiao, they’re all okay. They’ve already been sent to the hospital, and the Golden Claw Sect has been dealt with,” the old master said, giving Tianxing’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “In the martial world, things are rarely in your control. Even though your talents might not be the best, you’ve stayed true to yourself and refused to bow to evildoers. Well done. You’ve made me proud.”

“But my arm…” Tianxing shut his eyes in pain, unable to finish the sentence.

“If your arm is gone, then so be it. What matters most is that you’re alive,” the old master said, his tone firm but comforting.

Chen Lingxin chimed in softly, “Dad, it’s okay. You still have us.”

Tianxing smiled bitterly, shaking his head without a word.

At that moment, the sound of ambulance sirens echoed from outside the hall.

Hearing the sirens, Lin Xiao and the others rushed to the entrance.

Soon, two paramedics got out of the ambulance with a stretcher. After a quick examination of Tianxing’s injuries, they carefully lifted him onto the stretcher with Lingxin and Tianli’s help and carried him into the ambulance.

The old master and Lin Xiao were about to accompany them to the hospital, but Lingxin stopped them.

“Grandpa, we’ll handle it. You should stay home and rest.”

The old master hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.” He knew his own condition. Going along would only create more trouble.

Once he agreed, Lingxin turned to Lin Xiao. “Master, the hall is a mess right now. With Tianli and me at the hospital, there’s no one to watch over it. Could you stay here and keep an eye on things until we get back?”

“Got it,” Lin Xiao replied.

With everything settled, Chen Lingxin and Chen Tianli waved goodbye to Lin Xiao and the old master before climbing into the ambulance.

The door slammed shut with a solid bang, and the ambulance sped off without delay.

Once they were gone, the old master’s face suddenly turned pale, and his previously upright posture slumped as though a great weight had settled on his shoulders. He nearly fell, but Lin Xiao quickly caught him.

“I’m getting old, so old. What a sorry sight I must be,” the old master said with a bitter smile after taking a moment to steady himself.

Though he’d weathered countless storms in his lifetime, today’s ordeal had been almost too much. A single misstep could’ve destroyed the Chen Martial Hall and left his family in ruins. Add to that the toll of his lost martial skills and weakened body, and it was a wonder he’d held out this long.

Earlier, he’d forced himself to stay composed, showing no sign of exhaustion to keep Lingxin and Tianli from worrying. But now, with the two gone, he could no longer keep up the act.

“Don’t say that, sir,” Lin Xiao said, his tone firm yet respectful.

The old master sighed deeply. “Even though I’ve said it many times already, I still have to say it again. Thank you, Lin Xiao. Without you, the Chen Martial Hall would be gone, and even our family might not have survived this.”

As he spoke, the old master’s gaze grew distant, recalling the day he first met Lin Xiao in the park. Back then, his martial skills were still intact, and he’d only approached Lin Xiao because he recognized him as a fellow martial artist with decent skills. On a whim, he’d handed Lin Xiao his business card.

Then came the disaster. Jiang Linfeng’s attack, the mishap that left him crippled, and the constant anxiety that even the friends he’d called for help wouldn’t be enough to handle someone of Jiang Linfeng’s caliber.

When Lin Xiao arrived, it had been a faint glimmer of hope, nothing more. At the time, he only prayed that Lin Xiao could barely hold his own against Jiang Linfeng. Yet, Lin Xiao had exceeded every expectation, delivering results beyond his wildest dreams.

And today, Lin Xiao had saved the Chen Martial Hall from certain destruction once again.

Thinking about it, the old master sighed inwardly. Giving Lin Xiao that business card might have been the best decision he’d ever made.

“Master Chen, you’re too kind,” Lin Xiao said with a calm smile. “The Chen Martial Hall has helped me a lot as well. And for us martial artists, growth only comes through challenges and battles.”

Without Chen’s Martial Arts Hall, Lin Xiao knew it would’ve taken him far longer to connect with the ancient martial arts world. His breakthrough to the Flowing Force stage was also closely tied to the hall, particularly to the writings of the Chen family’s ancestors, which had inspired his epiphany.

This connection left Lin Xiao deeply grateful to Chen’s Martial Arts Hall.

Not to mention, the old master had personally taught him the Chen family’s martial techniques. Through the challenges he faced because of the Chen Martial Hall, Lin Xiao had fought numerous powerful opponents, learning from their skills and improving his own. His combat strength had grown immensely because of it.

“Well said, well said! I was the one being shortsighted.”

The old master chuckled heartily, looking at Lin Xiao with admiration.

To win without arrogance, to work hard without claiming credit—combined with his extraordinary strength, the old master couldn’t even imagine the heights Lin Xiao might reach in the future.

Right then, the old master made up his mind. No matter what happened, the Chen Martial Arts Hall would always stand by Lin Xiao’s side.