Sponsorship

Zhou Liang also walked over and patted Chen Qing on the shoulder. "Not bad. Keep up the good work."

Chen Qing quickly cupped his fists. "Yes, Master."

It had been a long time since he had spoken with his master alone.

Zhou Liang said a few simple words, then turned and left.

After all, taking more than two months to reach Bright Strength meant his future potential was truly limited.

The other disciples soon dispersed as well.

Sun Shun smiled and asked, "Junior Brother Chen, how does it feel?"

"Not bad." Chen Qing nodded. After breaking through to Bright Strength, he felt his blood and vitality flowing freely throughout his body, while his strength and vitality had increased considerably.

Sun Shun smiled. "Over the next few days, I'll spar with you a little and help you get familiar with using Internal Force as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Sun." Chen Qing pondered for a moment before asking, "Senior Brother Sun, regarding this part-time appointment and escort work..."

Sun Shun immediately understood. For a disciple from a family like Chen Qing's, once he broke through to Bright Strength, the first priority was finding a faction where he could take a part-time appointment. Only then would he have money to keep paying tuition.

He hesitated. "Major forces like the Weapon Forging Shop, Wangyuan Escort Agency, and Renhe Hall have fairly high thresholds for part-time appointments, so they may be troublesome. But some other places aren't difficult. I'll keep an eye out for you over the next few days."

The Weapon Forging Shop and Wangyuan Escort Agency were old-established businesses in Gaolin County. They had experts in abundance and imposed extremely strict requirements on part-time appointees, usually accepting only elite disciples from martial academies or under martial masters.

Chen Qing cupped his fists again. "Then I'll have to trouble Senior Brother to put some thought into it."

Sun Shun hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Junior Brother Chen, if you're willing, you might spend more time with those senior and junior brothers from well-off families. Perhaps... you could receive some sponsorship."

Confusion flickered in Chen Qing's eyes. "Sponsorship?"

Sun Shun slowly explained, "Three parts training, seven parts eating. In truth, the most important things in martial arts are meat and medicinal supplements. The Blood Vitality Powder Junior Sister Zhou gave you earlier can increase your training speed by thirty percent if taken daily. And there are even more precious Blood Vitality Pills. For someone like me, medicinal supplements alone cost five taels of silver every month. How could the small stipend from a part-time appointment and escort work possibly be enough?"

Seeing Chen Qing fall silent, Sun Shun continued, "Now that you've reached Bright Strength, you have a chance to take the Martial Arts Examination. You can already be called a bamboo shoot breaking through the soil. Perhaps some wealthy household may wish to invest in you, providing meat and medicinal supplements. Just a little leaking through the cracks of those wealthy families' fingers would cover half a year of your tuition."

At this, Chen Qing immediately understood.

He had long heard that some wealthy households and great clans within Gaolin County sponsored martial artists, spending money and effort to help them take the Martial Arts Examination, all to forge a good connection.

They sponsored dozens of people. So long as one of them passed with high marks, they would profit. Besides, even if none passed, those martial artists would still owe them this favor. It expanded their network of connections and left behind a good reputation.

Sun Shun patiently said, "Look at Junior Sister Luo and Junior Brother Zheng. Both come from wealthy families. Another purpose behind their martial arts training is to scout for promising talent."

"The Luo Family, to which Junior Sister Luo belongs, is one of the Five Great Clans of the Inner City. Their financial resources are abundant, and their sponsorship amounts far exceed those of ordinary wealthy households. But her standards are quite high. Junior Brother Qin received sponsorship from the Luo Family, so he hardly needs to worry about meat or medicinal supplements. Junior Brother Zheng comes from the Zheng Family, and his family background is no less impressive."

"As for me, I've always relied on sponsorship from Guo's. It has never stopped."

Chen Qing looked in the direction Sun Shun indicated.

Luo Qian and Zheng Ziqiao were both wealthy disciples in the academy. It was obvious from their daily martial arts practice—there was always a crowd gathered around them.

"Forget it."

Chen Qing shook his head.

When he had broken through earlier, neither of them had even given him a proper glance. Clearly, they thought little of his aptitude.

Even if he shamelessly went over to ingratiate himself, he feared he would receive no kind face.

Sun Shun was about to persuade him further, but Chen Qing had already said solemnly, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother. I'd rather first find a solid part-time appointment and escort job."

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Sun Shun could only sigh and pat him on the shoulder.

That day, Chen Qing did not do any extra training. He headed home early.

After passing through narrow alleys thick with the smell of fish and wet wood, the familiar outline of Yazi Bay's Lian Boats came into view.

"Search! Search every house for me!"

Several vicious-looking Golden River Gang members were interrogating fishermen near the dock. The leader had a face pitted with bumps and sores, while his triangular eyes darted from side to side.

This man was the gang leader's confidant, Liu Laizi.

Calling it a search was merely an excuse to make another vicious haul.

Without changing expression, Chen Qing lowered his head and quickly skirted around them along the shadows, returning to his family's dilapidated Lian Boat.

Pushing open the creaking cabin door, he found his mother, Madam Han, anxiously rubbing her hands in the dim light.

"Mother, I'm back."

Chen Qing kept his voice as even as possible. "What are the Golden River Gang people doing?"

Madam Han sighed and lowered her voice. "What else could they be doing? They keep questioning people over and over, saying they want to catch Qian Biao's murderer. What a cursed life this is."

Chen Qing nodded calmly on the surface, but ripples rose within his heart.

I personally finished off Qian Biao. I believe I kept my hands and feet clean and erased every trace thoroughly. For these gang lackeys to uncover even the slightest clue should be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

But what if? In this world, how could there be anything absolutely seamless?

Liu Laizi is leading such a grand search through Yazi Bay. Could he be coming for me?

The feeling left him as though needles were pricking his back. Chen Qing never placed his hopes on luck in anything.

He always planned for the worst.

"Why did you come back so early today?"

Madam Han set down the shuttle in her hand and looked Chen Qing over. Her voice trembled. "A Qing. Your complexion looks different somehow. Could it be..."

Bright Strength was markedly different from ordinary people. Surging blood and vitality made one's skin rosy and lustrous, one's gaze bright and sharp. Ordinary people scarcely dared meet such a person's eyes.

Chen Qing stepped forward, took Madam Han's rough hand, and nodded. "Mother, I did it. My first attempt at breaking through the barrier succeeded."

"It succeeded?! It really, truly succeeded?!"

Madam Han's lips trembled as she asked again and again. "Heaven has opened its eyes! The ancestors have blessed us! My son—my son has made something of himself!"

Chen Qing smiled. "From now on, I can keep studying martial arts under Master."

"Wonderful, this is truly wonderful."

Madam Han's hands shook with excitement. "Then... then you can take the Martial Arts Examination?"

The Martial Arts Examination was the easiest path for ordinary people who studied martial arts to change their fate.

Once one passed with high marks, one's status would immediately undergo a heaven-and-earth overturning change.

Even a Martial Scholar could receive exemptions from many taxes, easing the immense pressures of daily life.

If one passed further and became a Provincial Graduate, one could not only hold any official post in High Forest, but also receive an imperial salary. Even upon seeing the county magistrate, one would be exempt from kneeling.

For ordinary commoners, it was simply unimaginable.

And Old Master Chen's greatest wish had been for Chen Heng to pass with high marks and let him enjoy some peace and comfort.

Chen Qing waved his hand. "Mother, with my current strength, taking the Martial Arts Examination would still be too much of a stretch..."

Among the dozens who had reached Bright Strength at Zhou Academy, only a handful dared attempt the Martial Arts Examination.

From this alone, one could tell how difficult it was to pass with high marks.

Still, he would need to begin preparing for the Martial Arts Examination. Only by making a name for himself there could he truly rise above the rest.

Madam Han's spirits quickly dimmed. She slowly sat back down on her low stool and lowered her head, unable to stop a trace of guilt from rising in her heart. "It's good that you succeeded. It's Mother who is useless—I can't help you."

She could not continue. Her shoulders trembled faintly.

For three months, she had watched Chen Qing train desperately. It hurt her heart to see it.

Now, a sliver of light seemed to have appeared in her son's future, yet she could do nothing to help him.

Chen Qing comforted her, "Mother, now that I've reached Bright Strength, I can take a part-time appointment. You don't need to worry about any of this."

"A part-time appointment can earn money?"

Madam Han murmured, a spark of hope rekindling in her eyes.

Chen Qing nodded.

Madam Han wiped at the corners of her eyes and pulled out a blue cloth bundle from beneath the cabinet. "Today is a happy day. We should celebrate."

Chen Qing nodded. If he could eat more meat and take things like Blood Vitality Powder, it really could speed up his progress.

Before long, Madam Han returned with three small fish strung together on a thin grass cord.

The fish were not large, and their tails still quivered faintly. They had clearly just been caught and were fresh indeed.

Madam Han sat on the deck planks and, by the weak light, scraped the scales from the fish and removed their entrails.

She carefully set the fish bladders and a little fish roe aside in a small bowl, unwilling to throw away even the fish heads.

"Take one fish to your grandfather's house, and tell him the good news while you're there."

Madam Han took out a washed fish and said, "Mother will stew fish soup for you at home."

Chen Qing frowned slightly. "Mother, forget it."

"Silly child, you don't understand."

Madam Han brooked no argument as she stuffed the fish into Chen Qing's hands, lowering her voice. "If your grandfather learns that you succeeded on your first attempt at breaking through the barrier, perhaps he'll be so pleased that he'll value you a little more in the future. We don't fight or scramble for things, but if we don't even try, could pies possibly fall from the sky?"

Chen Qing knew he could not argue with her. He could only wrap the fish layer upon layer in lotus leaves before getting off the boat.

When he neared the Chen Family Old Residence, however, Chen Qing slowed his steps.

He recalled his grandfather's cold words about him learning martial arts, as well as Second Aunt's calculating manner.

Madam Han's intentions were good, but this fish... if he gave it to them, they might not appreciate it.

Looking at the fish tightly wrapped in lotus leaves, an idea suddenly struck him. After checking that no one was nearby, he swiftly hid the parcel in a gap among the dense roots of an Old Scholar Tree beside the Old Residence, then loosely covered it with several stones.

Only after doing this did he head toward the weathered wooden door empty-handed, drawing a deep breath.

Before long, he arrived at the Chen Family Old Residence.

Knock, knock!

The weathered wooden door of the Old Residence gave a dull sound.

"Who is it?"

Old Master Chen's hoarse voice came from within.

"Grandfather, it's me!"

The door opened with a creak. Old Master Chen narrowed his clouded eyes, and after recognizing the visitor, his expression darkened. "What made you think to come today?"

Ever since learning that Chen Qing had gone to study martial arts, the old man had been holding in a breath of anger.

In his view, such a major matter had not even been reported to him, clearly showing that Chen Qing did not "respect" him.

Chen Qing entered empty-handed. "Grandfather."

"Come in."

Seeing that his hands were empty, Old Master Chen's face darkened further, and his tone grew colder.

Second Aunt was busy in the kitchen, but Second Uncle was nowhere to be seen. He was surely hiding in his room and lazing about again.

Old Master Chen tapped his brass tobacco pipe and asked as if casually, "I heard you took an Old Escort as your master?"

Chen Qing nodded. "Master escorted shipments in his early years. Now he has retired and teaches disciples at home."

Old Master Chen's brows knotted tightly.

A retired escort was either wounded or old and frail. What could such a man possibly teach?

He took a deep drag from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "To practice martial arts, you need meat at every meal, and silver flows away like water."

His meaning was obvious: he wanted to persuade Chen Qing to give up martial arts.

After all, if martial arts training failed, all the money spent beforehand would be thrown into the water.

Giving up now would mean stopping the losses in time.

Chen Qing nodded. "I will work hard."

Old Master Chen frowned slightly. "With bones and talent like yours, martial arts are destined to offer little future. Better to honestly be like your father..."

His tone turned somewhat stern.

Chen Qing said earnestly, "Thank you for Grandfather's instruction. Your grandson has already made up his mind."

"Fine!"

Hearing this, Old Master Chen immediately grew angry. "Your father was such an honest man, and you are determined to anger me to death."

Second Aunt came out wearing her apron, looking as though she were grieved beyond measure. "A Qing, your grandfather is doing this for your own good."

In her eyes, Chen Qing was simply wasting silver.

Chen Qing did not hide anything. "Grandfather, Second Aunt, I have now reached Bright Strength."

"What did you say?!"

Old Master Chen's hand froze, and a look of astonishment appeared in his aged eyes.

Bright Strength?!

Naturally, he knew what Bright Strength meant. It represented truly stepping onto the path of martial arts. Not only could one take the Martial Arts Examination, but one would no longer need to worry about food and drink.

This disappointing grandson of his had actually reached Bright Strength?

Chen Qing repeated himself. "Grandfather, I have reached Bright Strength and am qualified to take next year's Martial Arts Examination."

Second Aunt was stunned as well.

Could this foolish boy Chen Qing truly have the good fortune of a fool? Had he luckily succeeded on his first attempt at breaking through the barrier?!

"Good! Good! Wonderful!"

Old Master Chen suddenly burst into hearty laughter, and even the wrinkles on his face unfolded.

He shakily rose to his feet and vigorously patted Chen Qing on the shoulder. "This grandfather was blind with age! I never expected another promising child to emerge from my Chen Family!"

His displeasure at Chen Qing's empty-handed visit seemed to vanish like smoke in an instant.

Chen Qing said, "Grandfather praises me too highly."

Second Aunt's eyes shifted as she asked with feigned concern, "When did A Qing break through to Bright Strength?"

Chen Qing calmly replied, "I only reached Bright Strength today."

At those words, Second Aunt's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.

Judging by how long Chen Qing had studied martial arts, he had taken nearly three months to reach Bright Strength. According to what Chen Heng had said, it would basically be very difficult for him to break through the barrier a second time and reach Hidden Strength.

Old Master Chen's smile did not fade, but his eyes were no longer as fervent as before.

After that, Chen Qing chatted idly with Old Master Chen.

Old Master Chen's attitude had changed enormously, and his words were laced with concern.

Checking the time, Chen Qing said, "Grandfather, it's getting late. I'll head back first."

"Look at this muddleheaded old man."

Old Master Chen patted his own head. "Hurry home. It'll be troublesome once it gets dark."

In times like these, few ordinary commoners dared travel at night.

Chen Qing left the Old Residence.

Old Master Chen watched Chen Qing's retreating back, deep in thought.

Studying martial arts and taking the Martial Arts Examination were no easy matter. They required silver.

Though he had saved up quite a bit over the years, supporting Chen Heng's martial training had already stretched him thin. He simply could not afford to support Chen Qing as well.

"Father, Heng'er said that the later one makes their first breakthrough, the better."

Second Aunt said calmly from the side, "If he is lucky, succeeding in his first breakthrough would still be normal."

"I know."

Old Master Chen cut her off, his voice hoarse.

How could he not understand? Compared with Chen Heng, Chen Qing's aptitude clearly fell far short. Even his first breakthrough was a great struggle, and the chances of him advancing any further in the future were slim.

Chen Heng, meanwhile, had a better chance at a second breakthrough and a better chance of earning scholarly honors.

Right now, he should have devoted all his resources to Chen Heng.

"What a pity."

Old Master Chen looked in the direction Chen Qing had left and shook his head slightly.