Rejection

The two of them unknowingly made their way back to the docks.

Cheng Ming suddenly remembered something and turned to ask, "A Qing, you still haven't received any sponsorship, have you?"

"Not yet."

Chen Qing shook his head.

Over the past few days, he had realized that not every Bright Strength disciple could receive sponsorship.

Those wealthy merchants and great families were shrewd as ghosts, only willing to place their bets on young geniuses.

Someone like Qin Lie could not only take a part-time appointment at Wang Firm, but also win the favor of great clans such as the Luo Family. Meat and medicinal supplements never ceased each day, so his cultivation naturally advanced by leaps and bounds.

Disciples of average aptitude like Chen Qing, meanwhile, were mostly ignored.

In the end, they stopped there. If they were lucky, they might break through their bottleneck and reach Hidden Strength.

"My Cheng Family is willing to sponsor you," Cheng Ming suddenly said. "Ten jin of meat and one tael of Blood Vitality Powder each month. It isn't much, but are you willing?"

During their time together, Cheng Ming had come to admire Chen Qing for two things above all else: his diligence and hard work, and his deep filial devotion.

Though his natural talent was somewhat lacking and his family was poor, such character was truly rare.

The Cheng Family was not a great clan, but the two brothers controlled a family business that supported more than twenty people, operating two merchant ships and a hundred mu of meager farmland.

To Chen Qing, that was already no small tree to lean on.

Cheng Ming worked at the River Bureau, and his purpose there had always been to look after the merchant ships.

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Cheng Ming raised a brow. "What, think it's too little?"

"How could I dare? Thank you, Boss, for your support!"

Chen Qing drew a deep breath and solemnly clasped his fists.

Cheng Ming waved a hand. "I'll have the things delivered to your home tomorrow. You just focus on practicing martial arts."

After Chen Qing left, a Patrol Guard beside him stepped forward. "Boss, are you really going to sponsor Chen Qing?"

After spending this time together, everyone had learned Chen Qing's background.

Chen Qing's aptitude at Zhou Academy was merely below average. It had taken him several months to temper Bright Strength, and anyone with eyes could see that his potential had already run dry.

Though the Cheng Family possessed some assets, every coin had to be spent where it counted.

Cheng Ming watched Chen Qing's retreating back and let out a soft sigh. "That child is about the same age as my son, yet he lost his father early and had to hold up his household alone."

He rubbed the saber at his waist. "Call it fate, then."

As twilight gradually spread, Chen Qing returned to Zhou Academy beneath the mottled shadows of the trees.

"Junior Brother Chen, you haven't been arriving as early as usual these past few days." He Yan was wiping down a stone lock. When he saw Chen Qing, he greeted him with a smile.

This old disciple had trained at Zhou Academy for seven or eight years. His cultivation had remained stuck at Bright Strength, yet he had become the academy's model of diligence.

Since Chen Qing broke through to Bright Strength, the two had often trained extra together, sparred and exchanged insights. Their relationship was fairly good.

"Trivial matters have tied me down and delayed me." Chen Qing loosened his muscles and bones, the dust-scent of the guardhouse still clinging to his clothes.

"When you're not here, the place feels much quieter." He Yan put the stone lock back in place. "After our stance training, let's properly trade a few moves."

Chen Qing stretched his muscles and bones, preparing to begin his stance training.

On the other side of the courtyard.

Qin Lie was speaking quietly with Luo Qian, his gaze drifting toward the backyard from time to time.

Zheng Ziqiao was exchanging moves with several fellow disciples. His fist wind surged and his force spilled outward, driving several ordinary disciples acting as sparring partners back again and again in miserable disarray.

"Junior Brother Qin, Junior Sister Luo, Junior Brother Zheng."

Zhou Yu's voice rang out like a clear spring. She approached together with Sun Shun, immediately drawing the gazes of the surrounding disciples.

When Qin Lie saw Zhou Yu, his eyes brightened. "Senior Sister Zhou, is something the matter?"

"The Martial Arts Examination is near. Several nearby academies wish to hold a small sparring gathering, with seven spots for each academy." Zhou Yu smiled softly. "Senior Brother Liu Ze of Mantis Fist and Senior Sister Liu Xue of Seven Star Palm have both agreed to attend. They have both reached the peak of Hidden Strength. If you hit it off with them, the connection may continue in the future."

At this, Luo Qian's fingertips twitched slightly.

The peak of Hidden Strength was only one step away from Transformation Force. If she could form ties with them, it would greatly benefit her standing within the Luo Family.

The Luo Family's branches and leaves were luxuriant. Her father had six sons and three daughters. Without exceptional skill, how could she win herself a place within the clan?

"I'll go." Zheng Ziqiao answered without hesitation.

Liu Academy's Mantis Fist was renowned far and wide. It was said to have produced several formidable practitioners, and having the chance to make their acquaintance would be a good thing.

Qin Lie calculated silently. Though his qi and blood were abundant, he lacked actual combat experience. Such an occasion would both broaden his horizons and build connections. It was precisely the opportunity for a disciple of humble origins to leap like a carp through the Dragon Gate.

"Counting Senior Brother Liu and Senior Brother Qi, there are still two spots left." Zhou Yu counted on her fingers. "Do you have any suitable candidates?"

Qin Lie remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the Bright Strength disciples in the courtyard with an innate air of scrutiny and detachment. He had never formed close ties with such "mediocre" people.

Sun Shun looked at Chen Qing's back as he silently practiced his stance alone in the corner. After pondering for a moment, he finally spoke, though his voice carried a hint of barely noticeable uncertainty. "Junior Brother Wu Lin... and Junior Brother Chen Qing. What do you think?"

"Junior Brother Wu has reached the peak of Bright Strength and has attempted a breakthrough into Hidden Strength once, so he barely qualifies." Zheng Ziqiao took over, his tone fairly mild.

Then his brows immediately knotted together as he looked toward Chen Qing in the corner, his voice filled with incredulous doubt. "Junior Brother Chen Qing? How long has he even been in Bright Strength? His foundation may not even be stable yet! Senior Brother Sun, this gathering represents the face of our Zhou Academy! You want to bring him?"

Clearly, he believed Chen Qing was unqualified to attend the gathering.

Zhou Academy had over thirty disciples in total, and more than ten had reached Bright Strength.

Chen Qing was utterly unremarkable among them. He had neither a prominent family background nor stunning talent. His future in martial arts was easy to imagine.

Luo Qian also spoke up. "Senior Brother Sun, this gathering represents Zhou Academy's honor. It concerns serious matters of exchange with the other martial arts academies! This isn't a charity hall!"

There were barbs in her words. Clearly, she was dissatisfied with Sun Shun's favoritism.

Sun Shun's face burned as he hurriedly said, "Junior Brother Chen trains very diligently."

"How about this."

Zhou Yu spoke at the right moment, her voice still gentle. "We are all fellow disciples. Junior Brother Chen has not been in the academy long, so there is no harm in treating this as a chance for him to broaden his horizons. In future gatherings, we can rotate the candidates. Everyone will have equal opportunities."

Her words gave Sun Shun a way out and also stopped Luo Qian's mouth.

Since Zhou Yu had spoken, Zheng Ziqiao held back his dissatisfaction and said no more.

Luo Qian shrugged, tacitly accepting it.

Sun Shun broke into a grin. "All right, I'll go speak to Junior Brother Chen now."

With that, he strode quickly toward Chen Qing.

"A small sparring gathering?"

Chen Qing finished his stance and regulated his breathing, the sweat on his forehead not yet dry.

Sun Shun said eagerly, "Liu Zhang of Mantis Fist and Liu Xue of Seven Star Palm will both be there. Everyone will spar and exchange insights together."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then refused. "Senior Brother Sun, I'd better not attend this gathering."

Whether this so-called sparring and exchange would be good or bad was still unknown.

He carried the Heaven Rewards Diligence destiny. So long as he practiced diligently and trained hard, that was enough.

Sun Shun froze slightly. "Junior Brother Chen, th-this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Sun."

Chen Qing shook his head. "It's only that I know my cultivation is still shallow and my foundation unsteady. Rather than join in that bustle, I would rather settle down and make my foundation more solid."

Sun Shun earnestly tried to persuade him for a while longer, but in the end, seeing Chen Qing insist, he gave up.

When Zhou Yu saw Sun Shun return, she asked, "Is it settled?"

Sun Shun gave a bitter smile. "Junior Brother Chen politely declined."

The others were all somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

They had not expected Chen Qing to give up such a good opportunity.

Zheng Ziqiao raised a brow. "He's probably afraid of making a fool of himself and losing face, so he doesn't dare go."

In his view, that was the only explanation.

Qin Lie looked at the figure sweating like rain and shook his head. "He truly can't be saved. He doesn't even know how to cherish such a good opportunity. What use is burying his head in hard training?"

In his view, someone from a poor family like Chen Qing should seize every opportunity he could grasp.

Practicing martial arts was not merely about bitter cultivation.

Though Luo Qian said nothing, she had already branded Chen Qing in her heart as someone "unfit for important tasks."

She had to keep her eyes open. She absolutely could not sponsor someone like him.

A trace of disappointment flashed through Zhou Yu's eyes before she quickly returned to calm.

To her, it merely meant one fewer disciple to fill a spot. It made no difference who went in his place.

There were quite a few Bright Strength disciples in the academy. Someone would always be willing to seize this opportunity.