"Junior Brother Li, this... this."
Yu Xiangyang had clearly not expected him to donate so much silver.
For a moment, he stared dumbfounded at the two money pouches before him, containing nearly a thousand taels of silver.
But after Li Xijun tossed the silver into his hands,
this young man, who had become a Viscera Refinement Martial Warrior at such a young age, took a deep breath, accepted it, and nodded heavily.
"Junior Brother, since you do not care about such hollow fame, I guarantee I will keep my mouth shut. I will not say a word even if I die!"
"There is no need to be so dramatic. I merely seek peace of mind. Even if petty people covet me because of this later, it will only mean a fight."
After saying this, Li Xijun felt as though a rope that had been binding him had suddenly loosened, leaving him much more relaxed.
At the same time, a notification popped up in his vision.
Your "Spirit-Refining Detailed Explanation: Orifice-Sensing Method" increased from 49% to 69%. Your Spirit-Refining System: Aperture Opening Realm increased from 89% to Proficient 91%.
Li Xijun immediately felt his thoughts turning more smoothly, while a trace of coolness lingered in his mind.
Even the soul perception manifestation within his Sea of Consciousness, which had progressed slowly and seemed stuck at a bottleneck, suddenly advanced noticeably.
A natural instinct arose within him that his Spirit-Refining progress would proceed exceptionally smoothly from here on.
This left Li Xijun deeply excited, even filled with a sense of joy.
Spirit refinement, spirit refinement.
At times, it truly was mysterious and unreasonable.
In high spirits, Li Xijun waved his hand and asked directly,
"By the way, Senior Brother, do you know whether Jinmen has any nourishing meals for strengthening the body?"
"Oh, as for Medicinal Cuisine, the major restaurants in Jinmen all have it. Our martial hall also receives some mountain delicacies and demon beasts every day to prepare a few dishes, though they must be reserved several days in advance and are all sold to wealthy and powerful people."
Yu Xiangyang continued,
"The Medicinal Cuisine is indeed quite effective at nourishing the body, but it costs over ten taels of silver at a time. When you calculate it all out, it is actually not as worthwhile as buying Medicinal Baths and—"
He had been about to advise him out of habit, but then he remembered just how wealthy this junior brother before him was and promptly changed his tune.
"That Medicinal Cuisine is also in the cafeteria, next to our martial hall's pharmacy. Today, I happen to be treating the disaster victims in the city, so let me treat junior brother to our martial hall's Medicinal Cuisine."
With that, he enthusiastically grabbed Li Xijun's arm and led him outside.
The two first collected this month's Medicinal Bath packets and qi-blood medicine. After walking only a few steps, they indeed saw a large cafeteria nearby.
Following Yu Xiangyang inside, Li Xijun silently took in the scene before him.
The first-floor hall of the cafeteria was packed with wooden tables and benches. The Outer Disciples who came here lined up one after another, each carrying a large bowl. They went before the cafeteria workers and received a large scoop of staple food mixed from coarse rice and white rice, then took a few more steps to receive a large scoop of braised pork belly with medicinal herbs.
The scene gave him the feeling of returning to a school cafeteria.
Yu Xiangyang, meanwhile, directly pulled Li Xijun toward the staircase to one side.
As the two thudded up to the second floor, the loud creaking and swaying of the wooden stairs drew envious looks from the Outer Disciples below, all dressed in rough linen clothes.
For some reason, this gave Li Xijun a strong sense of déjà vu.
Especially after they reached the second floor, where Yu Xiangyang directly pulled him into a private room, ordered dishes, and poured tea.
The familiar feeling nearly made him lose his composure.
Who would have thought that I, who used to eat hundred-yuan energy gel sets in the cafeteria, would come to the Da Sheng World and be able to eat Medicinal Cuisine on the second floor of the cafeteria every day from now on?
However,
the Nourishment Meal Sets on the second floor of the school cafeteria cost thousands or even tens of thousands at a time. Even Elite Class students generally could not eat them every day.
But a meal of Medicinal Cuisine at the Life-Slaying Martial Hall only cost a dozen or so taels, and he could come eat it whenever he found the time.
With this, in terms of nourishment resources, he could be considered superior to all of Yan'an No. 7 High School, and even the vast majority of students throughout Great Yan.
In high spirits, Li Xijun and Yu Xiangyang dug in and ate their fill.
Just as they were nearing the end of their meal, someone knocked on the private room door.
Yu Xiangyang answered and told them to come in.
The first person to enter wore a Western-style suit, with short-cropped hair slicked down with pomade. He looked like a Young Master from a well-to-do family of this era, though the palm-sized peachwood sword hanging from his waist seemed rather out of place.
Behind him was a young man about Yu Xiangyang's age, dressed in a black fitted outfit with two shocking scars across his face.
Yu Xiangyang frowned slightly upon seeing the two of them.
The scar-faced man in black, however, immediately greeted them with a warm and friendly smile as soon as he entered.
"I heard the martial hall is purchasing grain to distribute to the people. Young Master Su and I have scraped together fifty taels of silver and would like to donate it to the martial hall."
"Mm. Junior Brother Deng, Junior Brother Su, that is very thoughtful of you."
Yu Xiangyang's expression softened somewhat after hearing their purpose.
"However, I still have teaching duties today. Please go directly to Eldest Senior Brother to register it."
"Yes, yes, yes. Then we shall not disturb Senior Brother any longer."
The scar-faced Deng repeatedly agreed with a flattering smile. Before leaving, he stepped forward and casually shut the door.
The Young Master in the suit did not say a word from beginning to end. He merely smiled and nodded. After glancing at Li Xijun, he cupped his hands in salute and left. He appeared refined and courteous throughout.
Once the door had closed, Yu Xiangyang spoke before Li Xijun could ask.
"That Young Master is Su Qiuzhen, the son of the vice president of the Jinmen Merchant Guild. Do not be fooled by his refined appearance. His family runs brokerages, and it is said that everyone secretly selling opium in Jinmen works for his family. They are also connected to the Eternal Life Taoist Temple. Not only is he full of wicked schemes, but he is also a Spirit-Refining Cultivator who has completed Aperture Opening."
"As for that scar-faced man, his name is Deng Gao. I heard he used to be a gang leader who tyrannized the countryside. Later, a chivalrous martial artist nearly chopped him to death, after which he claimed to turn over a new leaf and devote himself to martial arts. Although there has indeed been no word of him committing evil these past years, his martial arts resources have never run dry. He has now reached Greater Bone and Tendon Refinement. Hah! Every time I come to the second floor, I see those two bastards."
Yu Xiangyang clearly disliked the two of them.
Li Xijun silently remembered their names but could not help asking,
"How did those two get into the Life-Slaying Martial Hall?"
"Alas." Yu Xiangyang sighed upon hearing this. "Master is already advanced in years and rarely involves himself in the martial hall's affairs. Besides me, there are four other senior brothers among the martial hall's true disciples. At times, they cannot avoid being burdened by worldly favors and relationships."
"Though the two of them both have bad reputations outside, they know how to behave within the martial hall and have kept everyone above and below them on good terms. I may dislike them, but there is nothing I can do."
"Junior Brother, you must be careful. Do not let those two kind-faced, black-hearted men deceive you."
Li Xijun nodded slightly without saying much.
Elsewhere,
when Su Qiuzhen reached a secluded path within the martial hall, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Deng Gao, who had silently fallen a step behind.
"Young Master Su, have you thought of something you need me to do?" Deng Gao hurried forward, his body unconsciously hunching a little lower.
"It is nothing much. I simply felt that this newly arrived Inner Disciple seemed quite agreeable."
Su Qiuzhen unconsciously tapped the peachwood sword at his waist with his fingers.
"Come to think of it, Senior Brother Yu had seemed worried over the money for distributing porridge and selling grain earlier. Yet not long afterward, he was eating quite happily on the second floor."
"He is a Viscera Refinement Martial Warrior, after all. Some years ago, men like him would have gone out as Martial Graduates. He can put on an act normally, but would he truly delay eating Medicinal Cuisine over the lives of a few lowly commoners?"
When Yu Xiangyang was mentioned, Deng Gao, who had always been looked down upon by him, spoke with obvious disdain.
He had already reached Greater Bone and Tendon Refinement and long qualified to undergo Viscera Refining. He simply could not afford the eight hundred taels fee. Otherwise, he believed he would have entered the Viscera Refinement Realm long ago and become a Martial Graduate.
"Senior Brother Yu may be a little simple and honest, but he is not that sort of person. Perhaps... someone gave him a hand."
"Young Master, you mean that—"
Su Qiuzhen smiled faintly and said nothing more, turning toward the donation registration office.
Deng Gao alone remained standing there, stunned and thoughtful.
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