Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 17, Sister-in-law 4, your lightness skill is not as good as mine!

The next morning, at the training ground.

When Lin Chen arrived, his fourth sister-in-law, Xiao Yulou, was already waiting there.

Today she changed into a black outfit, with a leather belt around her waist, thin-soled boots, and her hair tied up in a high ponytail, exuding a heroic aura.

The morning light shone on her, outlining her slender and graceful figure.

"You're here?" Xiao Yulou crossed his arms and looked Lin Chen up and down.

"I heard you want me to train your guards?"

Lin Chen said with a grin, "It's my honor that Fourth Sister-in-law is willing to help."

"Don't flatter me," Xiao Yulou sneered.

"My sister-in-law said you know martial arts and are quite skilled. But anyone who wants me to teach you will have to get past me first."

"How does Fourth Sister-in-law plan to take the exam?" Lin Chen asked with great interest.

Xiao Yulou pointed to the area around the martial arts arena:

"See those eight flagpoles? Let's have a contest of lightness skills. Starting from this one, circle all eight flagpoles and return to the starting point. Whoever is fastest wins."

Lin Chen looked up.

The eight flagpoles are about three zhang tall, spaced about ten zhang apart, and the total distance for a complete circle is about eighty zhang.

It's not close for ordinary people, but for martial artists, it tests their agility and speed.

"What about the rules?"

"Don't knock down the flagpole, and don't use the landing for leverage." A sly glint flashed in Xiao Yulou's eyes. "You can interfere with the other side midway, but you can't hurt anyone."

Lin Chen laughed: "Fourth Sister-in-law is trying to intimidate me."

"Scared?" Xiao Yulou raised an eyebrow.

"Afraid?" Lin Chen flexed his wrists. "I'm afraid that if Fourth Sister-in-law loses, she'll lose face."

"Arrogant!" Xiao Yulou raised an eyebrow. "Then let's go!"

The two stood at the starting line.

A large crowd had already gathered around.

Hearing that the Fourth Madam was going to compete with the Eighth Young Master in lightness skills, all the idle people in the mansion came to watch the excitement.

Liu Ruyan, Qin Shuyan, and Wen Ruoxi also arrived and stood on the sidelines.

"Third Sister, do you think Eighth Brother can win?" Liu Ruyan asked in a low voice.

Qin Shuyan shook her head:

"You know about Fourth Sister's lightness skill; it's top-notch even among those at the first-grade level."

Although my eighth brother knows martial arts, lightness skill emphasizes movement and technique; high skill level doesn't necessarily mean speed.

Wen Ruoxi was quite interested: "I bet Eighth Brother will win, I bet ten taels of silver!"

"I bet on Fourth Sister!" Liu Ruyan said.

"Then I'll be the referee," Qin Shuyan said with a smile.

In the arena, Xiao Yulou glanced at Lin Chen: "Ready?"

"Anytime is fine."

"start!"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Yulou had already shot out like an arrow!

She moved with lightness, her toes barely touching the bluestone ground before she floated three zhang away.

Then, using the flagpole as leverage, he stepped off and changed direction with ghostly speed.

"So fast!" the onlookers exclaimed.

Xiao Yulou's lightness skill was indeed remarkable. His black-clad figure darted among the flagpoles like a swallow skimming the water, fluid and natural.

In the time it takes to breathe, four flagpoles have passed.

Then look at Lin Chen—he was still standing there without moving!

"What's wrong with Eighth Master? Is he scared out of his wits?"

"They haven't given up, have they?"

Xiao Yulou also noticed it, glanced back, and sneered inwardly: He really is just a pretty face!

However, in that moment of distraction, Lin Chen moved.

Without a running start or any preparation, he simply took a step.

Then, he disappeared completely.

No, it didn't disappear, it just happened too fast!

The onlookers only saw a blurry blue shadow flash by, and could not even make out the specific movements.

The small flag on the flagpole swayed slightly, indicating that someone had passed by, but there wasn't even time for the wind to make a sound.

Just as Xiao Yulou rounded the sixth flagpole, he caught a glimpse of a green shadow flashing past him out of the corner of his eye.

She was startled and quickly sped up.

But it was too late.

Lin Chen was like a wisp of smoke, lightly circling all eight flagpoles before lightly returning to the starting point.

The whole process was smooth and effortless, even more so than when Xiao Yulou started.

When Xiao Yulou landed, Lin Chen was already standing with his arms crossed, looking at her with a smile.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, you flatter me."

The sidelines were deathly silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it.

Xiao Yulou, a master of lightness skills with the strength of a first-class expert, actually lost?

And they lost so decisively?

Xiao Yulou's face flushed red and then paled. He stared at Lin Chen for a long time before suddenly saying:

"What movement technique did you use?"

"Just a little trick," Lin Chen said modestly.

"Don't give me that!" Xiao Yulou approached, lowering his voice. "That movement technique you just used was at least high-grade Earth level! Where did you learn it?"

Lin Chen blinked: "Fourth Sister-in-law wants to know? Teach me the bodyguard's lightness skill, and I'll tell you."

"You!" Xiao Yulou was speechless with anger, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. "Fine! I'll teach you! But you have to teach me this movement technique too!"

"Deal." Lin Chen readily agreed.

Xiao Yulou's expression improved slightly.

She was a woman of the martial arts world who admired the strong.

Lin Chen's demonstrated strength has earned her respect.

"But Eighth Brother," she suddenly grinned mischievously, "it seems you fouled in the competition just now."

"Oh? Where did I foul?"

"I said you can't use landing for leverage," Xiao Yulou pointed to the ground, "but you didn't even land just now, did you?"

Everyone then realized that Lin Chen's feet had never touched the ground from beginning to end.

He completed all his movements entirely in mid-air!

What exquisite lightness skill and profound internal strength this requires?

Lin Chen touched his nose: "Fourth Sister-in-law has a good eye."

However, the rules only state that you can't use leverage to get off the ground, but they didn't say you can't stay on the ground indefinitely, right?

"That's just sophistry!" Xiao Yulou said, but his eyes were full of admiration.

"Alright, I give up. I'll teach you, guard. But... you have to teach me that movement technique first."

"No problem," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"But Fourth Sister-in-law, before you teach the guards, could you do me a favor first?"

"What kind of help?"

"Regarding the Drunken Moon Pavilion," Lin Chen said solemnly.

"The Second Prince's men are pressing too hard. I'm afraid Boss Zhao won't be able to hold on. I'd like to ask Fourth Sister-in-law to accompany me."

Xiao Yulou frowned: "You want to interfere with Zuiyue Pavilion? That's the territory that the Second Prince has his eye on."

"If I've set my sights on something, it's mine." Lin Chen's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

Xiao Yulou looked at him and suddenly smiled:

"Alright, I'll go with you. But Eighth Brother, have you thought this through? Offending the Second Prince has serious consequences."

"Even if we don't offend him, he won't let the Lin family off the hook." Lin Chen said calmly, "Since we're bound to clash sooner or later, we might as well do it sooner."

"That's impressive." Xiao Yulou patted him on the shoulder. "Call me when the time comes."

After saying that, he turned and left with light steps.

Liu Ruyan and the other two walked over.

"Eighth Brother, your lightness skill..." Liu Ruyan hesitated before speaking.

"I knew an older brother who taught me," Lin Chen skillfully shifted the blame.

"Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law has agreed to the guard training. We'll need your help to coordinate it from now on."

"Don't worry." Liu Ruyan nodded. "But Eighth Brother, are you really going to Zuiyue Pavilion? Should we bring more people with us?"

"No need, too many people would only alert them," Lin Chen said. "With Fourth Sister-in-law's help, that's enough."

Qin Shuyan said worriedly:

"It's best to be careful. I've heard that the Second Prince has recently recruited many martial arts masters, some of whom may be grandmasters."

"I know what I'm doing," Lin Chen reassured her. "By the way, Third Sister-in-law, have the arrangements been made for Lin Fu's 'retirement'?"

"It's all arranged," Qin Shuyan said in a low voice.

"We told the outside world that he had suddenly fallen seriously ill and needed to return to his hometown to recuperate. As for the accounting department, I recommended a reliable old accountant to take over."

"Make it cleaner."

"clear."

Wen Ruoxi interjected:

"Eighth Brother, I've inquired about Zuiyuexuan. Boss Zhao's gambling debt was originally only three thousand taels, but it ballooned to ten thousand taels with compound interest. The lender is 'Jubao Money House,' a property of the Cui family."

"It's the Cui family again." Lin Chen's eyes turned slightly cold.

"It seems the Cui family also wants a piece of the pie, Zuiyuexuan."

"Not only that," Wen Ruoxi said. "I suspect that the Second Prince wants Zuiyuexuan not for the restaurant itself, but for what's underneath it."

"under?"

"Zuiyue Pavilion is built by the lake, and there is a natural waterway underground that is said to lead directly to the 'Jade Dragon River' outside the city." Wen Ruoxi lowered her voice, "That is an excellent route for smuggling."

Lin Chen suddenly realized: "I see. No wonder the Second Prince and the Cui family have their eyes on this."

He thought for a moment and said:

"Fifth Sister-in-law, prepare 50,000 taels of silver notes. I'll help Boss Zhao pay off his debts. I'll take the restaurant."

"Fifty thousand taels?" Wen Ruoxi's eyes widened. "Eighth Brother, what do we do now..."

"Money is not a problem," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"Those things we 'borrowed' from the Wang family before have come in handy."

Liu Ruyan frowned: "Eighth Brother, aren't you being a bit too conspicuous?"

"That's exactly what I want—to be flashy." A glint of light flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.

"I want everyone in the capital to know that the Lin family has not fallen yet, and that I, Lin Chen, am not a pushover to be easily manipulated."

The three women exchanged glances, each seeing the complexity in the other's eyes.

This eighth brother has really changed.

Become strong, become confident, become... reassuring.