Life-Slaying Martial Hall
That night
In a room within the main residence,
the young man, usually dressed in short martial attire, and the Braided-Hair Girl stood obediently in the center of the hall.
Seated in the grand tutor's chair at the head of the room was an old man with snowy white hair and beard, a bushy white mustache, and a still-tall, imposing frame.
At that moment, he held the register of today's donated silver, carefully checking the figures and names recorded within.
"Little Meng and Little Han, give every disciple who voluntarily donated money three extra packs of Medicinal Bath supplies and one Qi and Blood Great Pill next month. Those who bought additional Medicinal Bath packs should receive one extra as well."
"Yes, Master."
The young man named Meng Qifeng stepped forward and answered.
The Braided-Hair Girl named Meng Zi nodded and made a note.
"Also, don't do this sort of thing again. Most disciples of the martial hall do not have much money. Even if you only call upon those with the means to contribute, once some donate money and buy extra medicine, what about those who cannot afford it? Should they follow along or not? If they do not, will they be criticized or excluded?"
"This sort of thing can most easily turn good intentions into mistakes. Our martial hall need only do what it can. Remember this well!"
Seeing their master's tone grow increasingly stern, the brother and sister broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly agreed.
Fortunately, Zhang Fuhu, Martial Sage Zhang, did not pursue the matter further and merely continued reading the list.
Just as it seemed the matter had passed,
the siblings heard him murmur, "Hm?" Then they saw their master suddenly sit upright, his tiger-like eyes fixed on one part of the register as he asked,
"Why is there a five-hundred-tael donation under Little Yu's name? That is more than everyone else combined. What happened? Could he have done something crooked in his haste?"
"Reporting to Master, Junior Brother Yu has been teaching at the martial hall these past few days and has never gone out. As for the five hundred taels, he said someone suddenly threw the silver into his room last night."
Meng Qifeng hurriedly answered.
Old Master Zhang narrowed his eyes, but revealed nothing and merely said, "Oh."
"Looks like that boy had good luck and encountered some chivalrous person who sought no fame."
Behind the cover of the register, however, the old man's eyes brightened considerably as they continuously swept over the names.
At the same time, he casually asked,
"Oh, right. Little Yu has only just graduated from training. How has he been teaching disciples lately? His personality is too simple and honest; do not let him stir up any trouble."
"A few days ago, a wealthy young master who had returned from studying abroad came to learn martial arts. Since Junior Brother taught him personally, I heard that young master was exceptionally talented, even comparable to Eldest Senior Brother, and entered the discipline very quickly."
"After hearing about the martial hall distributing porridge today, he also voluntarily bought a month's worth of Medicinal Bath supplies and Qi and Blood Great Pills. His name was... Li Xijun."
The moment Meng Qifeng finished speaking, Zhang Fuhu swiftly located that name in the register.
This Martial Saint, old and shrewd as a demon, instantly guessed roughly what had happened.
Outwardly, he showed nothing. He merely tossed the register to the siblings, told them to go back and sleep early, and instructed them to buy grain and distribute porridge the next day.
But inwardly, he had already formed a plan:
Li Xijun, a wealthy young master returned from studying abroad to learn martial arts.
Heh, what a ridiculous lie Little Yu came up with.
If someone could sneak into my Life-Slaying Martial Hall in the middle of the night and toss in silver, then wouldn't all my training as a Martial Saint have been for nothing?
Still, that boy is quite lucky to have encountered such a kindhearted person, and his martial talent is not bad either.
Those foreigners in the Western Continent have been stirring restlessly lately. I shall observe him for a few more days.
If he truly is a fine piece of jade, a martial arts genius, then this old man would be willing to help Dasheng produce another Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster—or even a Blood-Exchange Martial Sage.
The next day
Your Martial Arts System · Skin and Flesh Realm has increased from 15% to 19%. Your "Subduing Tiger Bone Refining Method" proficiency has increased from Skilled 14% to Skilled 17%. Your "Spirit-Refining Detailed Explanation Orifice-Sensing Method" proficiency has increased from 69% to 70%.
Having begun waking up at five in the morning, Li Xijun happily reviewed the results of yesterday's training.
With Medicinal Cuisine, Medicinal Baths, and Qi and Blood Great Pills, he had trained to his heart's content.
Especially after his spirit-refining cultivation had made a breakthrough, he only needed two hours of rest before feeling fully refreshed. He arrived at school early to practice the basic cultivation method.
This time, Ye Liuyun had also arrived at school early. Only after seeing that Li Xijun was not the type to obsessively devote himself to martial techniques did he feel at ease enough to push open the door and begin training as well.
Yet his gaze could not help drifting toward Li Xijun from time to time.
I had never heard that this classmate Li Xijun arrived early before.
I have heard about his family circumstances as well.
He was not like Zhou Yibai, who had suddenly received help from his family and could attend advanced Meditation Classes to aid his rest.
And during that previous practical combat class, the precise control he showed when he easily evaded Zhou Yibai's attacks...
His Psychic Power talent is most likely in the early stages of awakening.
A trace of envy appeared in Ye Liuyun's eyes.
The normally steady Flowing Water Wave-Stacking Method, like a stream with a constant flow, wavered slightly. He had no choice but to stop and rest at the side, readjusting his state of mind.
Ye Liuyun, Ye Liuyun, have you forgotten those words?
Flowing water does not compete to be first; it competes to flow without end. No matter what others do, I must follow my own pace and steadily become an Exterior Scenery!
Besides, encountering a classmate with such talent is also my good fortune.
It would be best if I could befriend him. Even if we remain ordinary classmates, that is fine. At the very least, I cannot foolishly offend him like Zhou Yibai.
Ye Liuyun adjusted himself inwardly and reflected on his thoughts.
Li Xijun had just completed a cycle of circulating his qi and blood. Seeing Ye Liuyun move to the side to rest, he took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"Classmate Ye, I heard someone in your family works for the Prevention Bureau."
"As it happens, I have recently been planning to buy a standard-issue Electromagnetic Handgun for self-defense. I wanted to ask how likely it is for an application to be approved now."
After revealing his wealth in Dasheng, Li Xijun knew that money could tempt others. To be safe, he intended to ask this classmate first. If it would not work, he would simply ask Zhang Haifeng for help or go to the black market.
"Apply to purchase a standard-issue Electromagnetic Handgun?" Ye Liuyun confirmed.
"Yes. What happened with the Mythic Rift disturbance before made me want to buy one for protection."
With the previous incident as an excuse, Li Xijun spoke with complete confidence.
"Mm, that makes sense. I heard that some members of the Blood God Cult still have not been captured."
Ye Liuyun's heart stirred, and he took the initiative to say,
"Classmate Li, if you do not mind, open the purchase application program now."
"I will help you apply. There is a guarantor ID field on it. If you put mine down, there should not be any problem."
Li Xijun was somewhat surprised by such help.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Classmate Ye."
"It is nothing, but I do have a small request."
Although he disliked the stiff, forced way Zhou Shenghao tried to make friends, Ye Liuyun, whose father was a deputy director within the system, still knew how to build connections with people.
"Classmate Li, your martial techniques are outstanding, especially your movement in actual combat. If you have time in the future, how about we spar more often?"
"To spar with Classmate Ye, who ranks first in our class and near the top of the grade, is naturally something I would be delighted to do."
Li Xijun naturally agreed without hesitation.
Before you continue