Bandit Suppression

The day He Yan left Zhou Academy, fallen leaves lay silent in the courtyard.

Zhou Academy remained as it always had. Every month, new faces arrived full of hope, while others, knowing their road ahead had been cut off, departed in gloom.

The departure of a Bright Strength disciple was like a withered leaf drifting down in autumn, unable to stir even the slightest ripple.

Those who could truly put down roots in Zhou Academy were always the core disciples who had reached Hidden Strength.

After He Yan left, Chen Qing trained even more diligently.

Every day, he was the first to arrive at Zhou Academy and the last to leave.

He wanted to complete his progress as soon as possible and reach Hidden Strength early.

"I heard it's because of He Yan."

"He could barely break through Bright Strength. What good will killing himself training do?"

The academy disciples secretly shook their heads when they saw this.

Chen Qing paid no heed to the gazes of Zhou Academy's disciples and continued burying himself in practice.

That day, after making a round of inspections through the academy, Zhou Liang hurried away.

"Hah!"

Chen Qing practiced his stance once more. He only felt his Qi and Blood brimming, while his mind became clear and ethereal.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, and achievement is certain]

[Tongbei Stance Practice, Minor Accomplishment (951/1000)]

Looking at his palms, he thought to himself, My Qi and Blood are full now, at their peak. In a few days, I'll be able to break through the barrier for the second time.

Every time he broke through the barrier, his strength would undergo an earth-shaking transformation.

As the sun sank in the west, Zhou Liang returned to the Martial Arts Academy, dragging his exhausted body behind him. He immediately summoned Zhou Yu, Sun Shun, and the others inside to discuss matters.

Before long, Sun Shun hurried out and gathered all the Bright Strength disciples in the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Sun, did something happen?" one disciple could not help asking.

Sun Shun swept his gaze over the crowd and said gravely, "River Bandits have been running rampant at Bailang Bay lately. The Commandant intends to leave the city to suppress them and is recruiting skilled fighters from across the county. Bright Strength martial artists will receive five taels of silver, along with five portions of Blood Vitality Powder. Hidden Strength experts will receive twenty taels of silver and three Blood Vitality Pills."

"The Commandant will lead this bandit suppression personally. The Five Great Clans have also dispatched three Transformation Force experts."

"Do any of you have thoughts on this?"

The entire courtyard erupted in uproar.

An ordinary Bright Strength martial artist earned only two or three taels of silver a month from a Part-time Appointment, not to mention the precious cultivation resources included.

Moreover, the Commandant himself would lead the operation, with three Transformation Force experts dispatched by the Five Great Clans holding the line. It could be called foolproof.

At once, quite a few disciples grew restless with anticipation.

After some discussion, disciples quickly began signing up.

"Senior Brother Sun, I'll go too."

At that moment, Qin Lie spoke.

Naturally, he did not want to suppress bandits for the silver, but for actual combat.

Sun Shun was slightly taken aback. "Junior Brother Qin, you really want to go?"

"Training in martial arts has never been about bitter cultivation alone. Combat techniques cannot be learned simply by striking wooden dummies."

Qin Lie declared loudly, "To train in martial arts, one must dare to go all out!"

Zhou Yu looked at Qin Lie with her beautiful eyes, a hint of surprise in them.

Then many disciples responded one after another.

Sun Shun asked, "What about you, Junior Brother Chen?"

Chen Qing cupped his hands in salute. "This junior's strength is meager, so I won't join in this excitement."

Suppressing bandits?!

Blades and swords had no eyes. Who knew whether some hidden expert might suddenly emerge? It was safer to practice at the academy.

Sun Shun did not force him and nodded. "Those who wish to go can come register with me later."

The Chen Family Old Residence.

Old Master Chen sat hunched over on the steps. The tobacco in his brass pipe flickered brightly and dimly, wisps of Green Smoke rising into the dusk.

"Creak—!"

The courtyard gate was pushed open. Chen Heng stepped over the threshold, drenched in sweat, with a large patch on the back of his training clothes already soaked through.

The old master hurriedly set down his pipe, his wrinkles full of concern. "Training so late again? Hurry and rest your feet."

"Grandpa, I'm not tired. What does this little hardship count for?"

Chen Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead, then said, "There's something I want to talk to you about."

The old master took a puff from his pipe and knocked the ash against the steps. "What is it? Go on."

Chen Heng glanced at the old master and said, "My Qi and Blood have accumulated to about the right point now. I need to break through to Hidden Strength. My senior brothers all say I need Blood Vitality Pills as supplements to break through."

The old master asked instinctively, "How much does a Blood Vitality Pill cost?"

He remembered that Blood Vitality Powder cost one tael of silver a packet. Wouldn't Blood Vitality Pills be even more expensive?

Chen Heng hesitated inwardly for a moment, but still gathered his courage. "Five taels of silver per pill."

"What!?"

The old master's hand trembled, and his pipe nearly fell to the ground.

Five taels of silver! That was enough for their Old Chen Family of four to live on for half a year!

"Grandpa, don't panic."

Seeing the old master's reaction, Chen Heng hurriedly said, "I can get them through connections for three taels each. Six taels can buy two pills, enough to last for two months."

The old master's brows twisted into a knot.

Even three taels of silver was no small sum!

Over the years, they had tightened their belts and pinched every penny. Everything that could be pawned had been pawned, and every person they could borrow from had been borrowed from. They had not even repaid all the favors owed to their neighbors.

Second Aunt hurried out of the kitchen. "Father, Little Heng is at a crucial juncture. We can't save money on this!"

"But the family..."

The old master let out a heavy sigh. "We truly can't scrape together that much money."

Chen Heng said softly from the side, "Grandpa, all my brothers at the martial arts school use this. If I don't..."

He stopped halfway through, then let out a heavy sigh.

That sigh was like a stone pressing down on the old master's heart.

Old Master Chen took a deep drag from his pipe, a trace of weariness in his clouded eyes.

How could he not want his grandson to succeed?

"Little Heng." The old master drew a deep breath and sighed. "This is all the family has left. How about waiting a little longer? Or perhaps borrow from your brothers at the martial arts school? Didn't you say they..."

"Grandpa!"

Chen Heng grew anxious, his voice rising involuntarily. "My senior brothers need supplements for their own training too. How could they have spare money to lend me? Besides, at such a critical moment, wait? Can I afford to wait?"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, as though his future truly had its throat clamped tight by these few taels of silver.

Seeing this, Second Aunt immediately stood and walked to the old master's side, lowering her voice. "Father, Little Heng has worked hard to amount to something. We can't hold him back."

Her eyes shifted as she leaned closer. "What about... Eldest Sister's family? And... Eldest Brother's household?"

Old Master Chen's hand holding the pipe suddenly shook, ash rustling down.

He abruptly raised his head, his clouded eyes filled with shock and resistance. "Ask them? You... how can you expect me to open my mouth and ask?!"

"Why can't you?"

Second Aunt's tone was urgent with righteous certainty. "Little Heng contributed greatly in that Blackwater Gang matter... Besides, our Little Heng is going to take the Martial Scholar exam. Once he earns official rank in the future, won't they benefit too? Helping us now is sending charcoal in the snow! As for Eldest Brother's household..."

Second Aunt paused. "They should have some savings, shouldn't they? That widow and her child are saving money for A Qing anyway. But with A Qing's aptitude... how could he compare to our Little Heng's prospects? Lending the money to Little Heng and spending it on Little Heng would be putting it to use on the blade's edge! It would be far better than throwing it into the water on A Qing!"

Old Master Chen hesitated. "They're a widow and child. Their lives are difficult enough already."

"Grandpa!"

Chen Heng could not help cutting in as well, his voice choked with tears. "Can you bear to watch all my previous efforts come to nothing? If I fail to break through the barrier, our Chen Family will truly have no hope left! Think about it—once I pass as a Martial Scholar and our taxes are reduced or exempted, won't the family's life become easier? We can repay them then. We can even repay them double!"

Repay them double!?

Old Master Chen gave a bitter laugh. His wrinkled face twisted together in pain.

In the end, it was as if the old master had been drained of his last shred of strength. He slumped back against his chair. "Fine. You two, mother and son, go to Eldest Aunt's house and speak politely..."

"As for Eldest Brother's household... I'll go myself..."

A smile immediately spread across Second Aunt's face. "Yes! Don't worry, Father. I know my limits! Little Heng, hurry and get yourself ready. We're going to your Eldest Aunt's house right now!"

She gave Chen Heng a push, her eyes gleaming with determination.