<h4>Chapter 1145: Chapter 1152: Martial Arts Association (1)</h4>


    "Girl, do you even need to guess?" Ling Chenughed as he pried apart those delicate hands, turned around to look at Tang Shiyun, and asked, "It’s already sote, why haven’t you slept yet? Aren’t you going on a business trip tomorrow?"


    "I couldn’t sleep. I just heard noises in the living room, so I came over to check." Saying this, Tang Shiyun circled around the sofa and sat beside Ling Chen, holding his arm and said, "Ling, I’m not disturbing you, am I?"


    "Of course not, why suddenly ask this?"


    Tang Shiyun chuckled, "Nothing, since I’m not disturbing you, does that mean I can continue to stay here?"


    Uh... Ling Chen was stunned for a moment, thenughed softly, "As long as you’re happy, how long you stay doesn’t matter."


    Ling Chen also found it strange that Old K was no longer a threat, yet Nanrong Wanqing and Zhu Xiaozhu had no intention of going back to live. Since they hadn’t asked to leave, he certainly couldn’t proactively make them go back. Also, for some reason, they had made his mom very happytely, and the women seemed to get along quite well, calling each other sisters all the time. If someone unfamiliar came across them, they might think he was the outsider.


    "By the way! Girl, has your mome to find youtely?"


    "No. She hasn’t contacted me in a long time; I don’t know what she’s been busy with. Hong says my mom’s be very honest, only asking for a fixed monthly living expense, never asking me for money again."


    Ling Chen nodded and said, "That’s for the best."


    Nobody knew better than Ling Chen about Yao Li’s change. Initially, Yao Li spent extravagantly and mingled in major casinos, racking up quite a bit of gambling debt, asking Tang Shiyun for money every month. If Tang Shiyun refused, she’d hire some young punks to stage debt collection ys, exploiting the mother-daughter rtionship to deceive Tang Shiyun.


    Later, Ling Chen got Jiang Hao to lend Yao Li some money, but when signing the loan contract, Ling Chen swapped the contract without her knowing. ording to the agreement in that contract, if Yao Li couldn’t repay the loan within the specified time, Jiang Hao had the right to repossess her house and car to offset the debt. Moreover, as the interestpounded, Yao Li’s millions of debt grew into astronomical figures, and her assets couldn’t cover it at all.


    Even if Yao Li turned to Tang Shiyun for help, she might still not be able to repay the debt.


    Afterward, Ling Chen instructed Jiang Hao to stir things up a bit, which left Yao Li terrified and no longer daring to show any temper, which was why she’d be so honest, not daring to disturb Tang Shiyun again.


    "Girl, do you have any free time in theing days? My Martial Arts Academy is opening soon, and I’d like to invite you toe out and give me some support, help me draw some attention. How about it?"


    "Sure!" Tang Shiyun agreed immediately without even thinking. Whenever Ling Chen asked her for help, she was willing to do anything.


    Two dayster, just as the news reported, Tong Zhentian arrived in East Sea City.


    That evening, Ling Chen took the opportunity to visit the hotel where Tong Zhentian was staying. Upon arriving at Tong Zhentian’s floor, he saw the corridor filled with people, including martial artists and some martial arts enthusiasts.


    Ling Chen cut through the crowd, heading straight to Tong Zhentian’s guest room. However, a few men in suits surrounded the entrance, seemingly to prevent anyone from disturbing a distinguished guest.


    "Hello!" Ling Chen politely said, "Could you please pass my message to Elder Tong, saying that Ling Chen is here with an important matter?"


    The men in suits remained unmoved but cast a nce at a young man leaning against the wall. That young man had a cigarette hanging from his mouth and was ying with his phone, seemingpletely out of ce amidst the lively surroundings.


    Seeing the actions of those men in suits, Ling Chen immediately understood that the young man was the one in charge.


    So, Ling Chen stepped forward towards the young man and with a smile said, "Hello, my name is Ling Chen. I’m here to see Elder Tong. Could you please help ry the message?"


    The young man seemed oblivious to Ling Chen’s words, continuously looking at his phone.


    After waiting for a while and seeing no response from the young man, Ling Chen couldn’t help but speak again, "Hey, friend, I have something important to discuss with Elder Tong, could you..."


    "Are you done talking?" The young man impatiently interrupted Ling Chen, "I’ve seen many people like you. Do you think Elder Tong is someone you can meet just because you want to? Look in the mirror, see what kind of person you are. Get lost! Stop bothering me."


    "I..." Ling Chen opened his mouth, preparing to argue a bit with the man. But before he could speak, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and pulled Ling Chen’s arm, dragging him backward.


    Turning around, he saw a young man of unfamiliar appearance pulling him. Ling Chen was puzzled; he didn’t seem to know this person.


    "Friend, what are you doing?" Ling Chen asked curiously.


    "Buddy, I’m just trying to help you so you won’t suffer," the young man said. "It’s pointless to plead with Ren Chong, a pure waste of time and breath. That guy looks down on people like us and acts like he’s superior. Hmph! Besides having a good Master, what makes him better than us?"


    After hearing the young man’s words, Ling Chen was utterly confused, lost in bewilderment, not understanding a bit of it.


    Seeing the bewildered look on Ling Chen’s face, the young man pped his forehead and with a smile said, "Sorry, I’ve said so much without introducing myself. My name is Tian Hanzhong. How about you?"


    "Ling Chen."


    Tian Hanzhong grinned, "You seem younger than me, so how about I call you Ling?"


    Ling Chen didn’t mind the nickname much, he asked, "Tian, what are you all doing here?"


    "Oh, don’t you know the reason? Then why are you here?" Tian Hanzhong paused, then without waiting for Ling Chen to answer, said, "Well, today the Martial Arts Association is holding a meeting here with the theme of promoting Huaxia martial arts and passing on its essence to future generations. Elder Tong, as an honorary president of the Martial Arts Association, announced on-site his intent to recruit five young disciples nationwide as registered disciples. Once this announcement was made, many people like me came hoping to be Elder Tong’s disciple. Even as a registered disciple, Elder Tong is a master in the martial arts realm; just learning a bit from him is already enough."


    So that’s why!


    After hearing Tian Hanzhong’s exnation, Ling Chen finally understood why there were so many people gathered in the corridor.


    "Tian, what’s going on with that guy?" Ling Chen pointed at the young man who spoke rudely earlier and asked.


    "He’s Liu Tianming, the son of the Martial Arts Association’s Vice President, also a martial artist. And because of his father’s influence, he’s considered the first predetermined registered disciple of Elder Tong. As you can see, he doesn’t allow anyone to meet Elder Tong, just so no one else bes a registered disciple of Elder Tong. If he’s the only one, he’ll have a chance to be promoted from registered disciple to direct disciple."