My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Afterward, Liang Cheng brought Lady Ning back to his residence.

However, news of Liang Cheng’s return and his promotion to a True Inheritor of the Martial Arts Academy had already spread throughout the town. In no time, an endless stream of carriages and horses arrived outside the Liang Family’s small courtyard, which was now bustling with people.

The town’s wealthy and influential gentry, and even prominent figures from neighboring towns, all flocked over with extravagant gifts, hoping to pay their respects to Liang Zhenchuan.

"Liang Zhenchuan is so young and accomplished! He is truly the pride of our Linhai Town!"

"This is just a small token of our respect. We hope the True Inheritor will deign to accept it!"

"This old man has a young daughter, just sixteen years of age, who greatly admires the True Inheritor’s grace..."

The sounds of fawning and flattery were endless.

Liang Cheng simply had Zhao Yuan turn them all away. "Senior Brother Liang is weary from his journey and needs to accompany his mother. He is not seeing outside guests. Everyone, please return."

Although the crowd was disappointed, no one dared to complain. They could only leave their gifts behind and depart resentfully.

The gifts piled up like a mountain. Liang Cheng didn’t even glance at them, simply telling Zhao Yuan to send them to the Martial Arts Hall for Yang Wei to handle.

After dismissing these people, Liang Cheng said to Lady Ning, "Mother, let’s go pay our respects to Father and visit San Ya. After that, we’ll head to Lin Wu City."

Lady Ning was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Okay, I’ll go and get things ready."

Liang Cheng accompanied his mother to his father’s cenotaph. A gentle sea breeze rustled by, and fresh green grass had sprouted on the grave mound. He stood there quietly, thinking, ’Father, your son is now capable of protecting Mother. You can rest in peace.’

Lady Ning wiped the corners of her eyes, arranged the offerings, and murmured softly.

After paying respects to his father with his mother, Liang Cheng went to San Ya’s home in the small alley. It was still humble, but tidied up and spotless.

San Ya was in the courtyard washing clothes. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and froze when she saw Liang Cheng. The wooden basin in her hands fell to the ground with a CLATTER.

"Brother Liang?"

Her voice trembled. San Ya stared blankly at the young man before her, dressed in black robes with a jade belt. The image of the silent, resilient boy from the Fisherman’s Family in her memory suddenly blurred. An intangible sense of distance made her subconsciously take half a step back.

"San Ya, it’s me."

Liang Cheng nodded, his tone gentle.

"I came back this time to bring my mother to the Martial Arts Academy. There are openings for Servant Disciples on True Inheritance Peak. The work isn’t strenuous, and it’s safer and quieter than here."

Hearing this, San Ya’s parents’ eyes lit up. This was incredible news! Following Liang Cheng, even as a servant, was far better than living in fear in this small place!

San Ya’s eyes instantly reddened. She lowered her head, twisting the corner of her clothes with her fingers. After a long while, she said in a small voice, "Brother Liang, thank you for still thinking of me. But... I’m already engaged. It’s to the second son of the Li Family, the blacksmith on West Street. He’s a very honest man."

Liang Cheng was silent for a moment before saying, "Being engaged is no issue. If he’s willing, I can take him along as well and find a post for him at the Martial Arts Academy."

San Ya’s head shot up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Her parents, forgetting all else, exclaimed, "I’ll go find Tieniu right now and tell him the good news!"

Liang Cheng had already made inquiries. That Li Tieniu was indeed a simple, honest man who worked hard. He was also respectful to San Ya’s parents. Although business at the blacksmith shop was slow, their family was harmonious.

When Tieniu stood to the side with a simple smile, bowing somewhat awkwardly, both his parents and San Ya’s parents watched with gratified expressions as their children left with Liang Cheng.

As long as the children were well, all was well.

When San Ya’s parents returned home, they found a cloth pouch left by Liang Cheng containing a hundred taels in silver banknotes. They quickly took it and hid it away, not daring to make a sound.

’That boy from the Liang Family... he’s a decent one.’

Liang Cheng arrived at the entrance of the Chen Mansion on the west side of town. He saw that the vermilion gates were shut tight, the door knockers were rusted, and the stone lions were covered in dust. The former scene of endless carriages and horses was long gone.

The old gatekeeper peered out a side window at the visitor, rubbing his weary old eyes. When he got a clear look at the figure in black, he shuddered and tremblingly pulled the door open a crack. "Liang Keqing?"

He immediately turned and staggered toward the Inner Courtyard, his hoarse voice echoing through the empty front yard:

"Young Master! Liang Keqing is here! The Chen Family is saved!"

After Chen Bainian’s death, the Chen Mansion had become a desolate place. Although a few loyal servants struggled to maintain it, the wolves and tigers outside who coveted the Chen Family’s fortune were already itching to make their move.

If not for their lingering fear of Liang Cheng, which deterred many, the Chen Family would have likely lost everything long ago. But during the period of Liang Cheng’s disappearance, every day had felt like a year for the Chen Family.

Chen Bainian’s only son, Chen Zian, a youth of seventeen or eighteen, rushed out in a panic upon hearing the news. His eyes were red, and he was about to kneel in respect.

Liang Cheng quickly helped him up. "Landlord Chen was a benefactor to me. I have etched his kindness in my heart. Young Master, there is no need for such ceremony."

Although Liang Cheng held him up, Chen Zian insisted on bowing deeply, his voice choked with emotion. "Liang Keqing, before my father passed away, he said your word is your bond, and that I should treat you with the respect due to an elder."

Liang Cheng entered the main hall to pay his respects to Chen Bainian, his heart filled with complex emotions. One could say that Chen Bainian’s death was indirectly caused by him. Afterward, Liang Cheng asked about the Chen Family’s situation.

Chen Zian, looking haggard, explained everything honestly. "The Chen Family is in a difficult position now. Three days ago, men from Tonghui Bank came to demand payment. They said that before my father died, he mortgaged thirty percent of the business’s shares. If we don’t pay back the principal and interest within ten days, they will seize our ancestral home and the warehouse at the docks!"

Liang Cheng frowned. Chen Bainian had always been a cautious man. How could he have so easily mortgaged the shares?

"Is there any proof?"

Chen Zian took a yellowed contract from his robes, his fingers trembling. "Yes, but I recognize my father’s handwriting. This mortgage agreement must be a forgery. But the men from the bank were vicious, and I’m powerless to resist them..."

Liang Cheng took the contract and glanced at it, already forming a judgment in his mind. He looked up at Chen Zian. "I will handle this matter. You can rest easy. Outsiders will not take the Chen Family’s property."

He then turned to a Steward Disciple behind him and said, "Go to the Town Protection Station and ask Steward Liu to come here. Tell him Liang Cheng requests his presence as a witness."