The End

The second round of the Martial Arts Examination ended, and the candidates filed out one after another.

Some rejoiced, some worried. Everyone already had their own measure of their strength and performance.

Chen Qing, Luo Qian, Zheng Ziqiao, and the others hurried back to Zhou Academy.

The moment they stepped through the gates, a heavy, oppressive feeling rushed over them. The air seemed frozen solid.

"Where is Junior Brother Qin?"

Luo Qian's willow brows drew tightly together as she was the first to ask, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the courtyard. "How is he now?"

It was not just Luo Qian. The other disciples who had returned from the Martial Arts Examination also turned questioning looks toward them.

Qi Wenhan looked grave and shook his head. "Junior Brother Qin ran into Gao Sheng of Songfeng Martial Arts School in the first round. He was beaten so badly that he is still unconscious. Junior Sister Zhou is looking after him. Master has invited Doctor Fu from Renhe Hall, and several renowned physicians, including Doctor Tang from Jiuhua Hall, are inside."

"What?!"

Luo Qian cried out, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

Every disciple in the courtyard sucked in a sharp breath, especially the newer ones, who were utterly shocked.

Who was Qin Lie? He was Zhou Academy's most dazzling genius, Master Zhou Liang's Closed-Door Disciple, the heir to whom he had devoted his heart and soul.

Less than a year after entering the school, he had already stepped into the realm of Hidden Strength. His future was boundless.

Yet someone like him had been severely injured on the Martial Arts Examination grounds?

He had lost—and lost miserably.

That meant his evaluation in the Martial Arts Examination would inevitably be abysmal. It practically declared that any hope of earning honors this time was gone.

More distressing still, how could he recover from such grave injuries in a short time? Had his chance to break through to Transformation Force been ruined forever?

A new disciple could not help asking in a low voice, "Then... who exactly is this Gao Sheng?"

To cripple Qin Lie, what kind of person did he have to be?

This was simply too unexpected!

Qi Wenhan let out a long sigh. "That boy is a genius too. He has trained in martial arts for barely a year, yet he has already reached the peak of Hidden Strength. He had been training hard at Songfeng Martial Arts School all this time, kept under wraps by them, so his reputation never spread."

Sun Shun pondered for a moment, his tone grave. "Shi Wenshan, the master of Songfeng Martial Arts School, has deep grudges against Master. Gao Sheng's talent is likely half a notch greater than Junior Brother Qin's. His heavy-handed attack this time was no accident. He was definitely coming for Zhou Academy!"

"Stronger than Senior Brother Qin?"

"H-How is that possible?"

"Senior Brother Qin really suffered a calamity out of nowhere!"

"Why did he have to run into someone from Songfeng Martial Arts School...?"

"The grudge between Shi Wenshan and Master... now this..."

The disciples whispered among themselves. Beyond their shock, their worries only deepened.

There was always a higher mountain beyond the mountain, and beyond every genius stood an even greater genius.

Chen Qing's brows were tightly furrowed as thoughts raced through his mind.

Gao Sheng's actions had saved him some trouble.

But could things really be such a coincidence? Gao Sheng had drawn lots, so why had he happened to face Qin Lie? Others might call it luck, but Chen Qing sensed something off.

In past years, the Martial Arts Examination had been overseen by the Commandant. This year, however, it had been handed over to the county magistrate.

And this county magistrate was closely connected to the Zhu Clan and the Luo Family among the Five Great Clans.

It seems the Commandant's towering tree drew too much wind. Qin Lie... ultimately could not withstand the gale.

In a flash, an even deeper thought crossed Chen Qing's mind: what if Gao Sheng had been coming for him?

The instant that thought arose, alarm bells blared in Chen Qing's heart.

Though he had now stepped into Hidden Strength and brought Tongbei Fist to great mastery, the higher he climbed, the more eyes watched from the shadows.

One wrong step, and he would be smashed to pieces, reduced to a stepping stone beneath someone else's feet.

I must build up my strength without delay. My Trump Cards... must be kept just a tiny, tiny bit more. Stay steady. I have to stay steady!

Chen Qing warned himself inwardly. He would never allow himself to follow in Qin Lie's footsteps.

Luo Qian's expression shifted uncertainly as she pressed her lips together in silence.

The disciples of Zhou Academy wore different expressions. Some took pleasure in his misfortune, while others shook their heads and sighed. Hearts were in turmoil.

Zheng Ziqiao, who had been watching coldly all along, now folded his arms. The corners of his mouth kept twitching upward. He tried hard to force out a little sympathy, but the delight deep in his eyes could not be hidden.

If he had not been in the courtyard, he would almost have laughed aloud.

That mud-legged Qin Lie had made him lose all face. At last, he had gotten what was coming to him!

"Junior Brother Zheng..." Sun Shun frowned, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Zheng Ziqiao glanced toward the Backyard, his voice carrying a trace of barely detectable schadenfreude. "As Master's Closed-Door Disciple, Junior Brother Qin naturally ought to suffer hardship in Master's place and take the blows for him. Losing to Gao Sheng, in the end, simply means his skills were inferior."

He paused, then continued in a "worried" tone, "Master is probably furious this time. So much painstaking effort, all... heh-heh. I'm afraid our days ahead will not be easy."

The moment those words fell, they were like a massive boulder dropped into stagnant water, instantly stirring even deeper panic and hushed discussion among the disciples.

Just then, Zhou Liang appeared at the doorway leading to the Backyard.

Like startled birds, the disciples hurriedly scattered. They lowered their heads and pretended to practice, not daring even to breathe loudly.

Zhou Liang forced an exceedingly strained smile onto his face. "The Martial Arts Examination... is over?"

"Yes," Chen Qing and the others replied quietly.

"Good, good... It will still be some time before the results are posted. Just wait with peace of mind."

Zhou Liang nodded faintly. He seemed to want to say something, but in the end it became only a deep, heavy sigh. Then he turned and disappeared back into the Backyard.

In only a short time, he seemed to have aged ten years. Every step carried an indescribable exhaustion and utter dejection.

The disciple in whom he had placed such high hopes had suffered such a devastating blow—and at the hands of his sworn enemy. The blow was simply too great.

Before long, fierce arguing could faintly be heard from the Backyard. It was Zhou Liang and Master's Wife.

The argument centered on Zhou Liang's insistence that the heavily injured Qin Lie be brought into the Backyard so he could be cared for attentively.

The disciples in the courtyard absentmindedly went through their forms, and the atmosphere was even more stifling and grave than usual.

Chen Qing silently composed himself, found an open patch of ground, lowered his stance, and began throwing punches and kicks once more.

He shut out all distractions. Only one thought remained: break through to Transformation Force as soon as possible! Only greater strength would allow him to truly stand firm amid these storms.

After the Martial Arts Examination, the atmosphere at Zhou Academy changed completely.

Though Qin Lie had awakened, he seemed like a different person.

His face was gloomy, and he spoke little. He was unwilling to say much to anyone, and nothing remained in his eyes but cold, pent-up resentment.

Luo Qian did not show herself for several days in a row, nor did she visit Qin Lie, as though she had vanished from the face of the earth.

Zheng Ziqiao, on the other hand, became a regular at the martial arts school. He often gathered with several lackeys, and their words inevitably included mocking ridicule of Qin Lie, which they treated as entertainment.

Zhou Yu remained gentle and composed. On one hand, she tended to ordinary disciples injured during training; on the other, she took on the responsibility of caring for Qin Lie.

As for Chen Qing, he became the most unusual presence in the academy. Every disciple's attitude toward him quietly underwent a heaven-turning change.

In the first round of the examination, Chen Qing had drawn a ten-stone bow to its full moon curve, its string cracking like thunder. He had already shocked the entire field.

His performance in the second round had been equally outstanding. Becoming a Martial Scholar was practically a certainty.

A Martial Scholar!

In the eyes of ordinary people, that was a true great figure.

Even in the eyes of Gaolin County's major clans and powerful factions, such a person was enough to become a backbone of their forces.

Everything had become different.

Whenever Chen Qing entered the inner courtyard, the disciples training there would stop in unspoken unison, respectfully greet him as "Senior Brother Chen," and voluntarily give him the widest spot with the best light.

Whenever he practiced his fists, someone would always quickly offer him water or a sweat towel. Even when he needed a washbasin, someone would eagerly rush to bring one over.

When you were weak, not liking to speak meant you were dull and wooden. Your bad temper meant you lacked social awareness. Your irreverence meant you had no upbringing.

But when you were strong, not liking to speak meant you were profound. Your bad temper meant you had character. Your irreverence meant you were easygoing.

That was human nature. When you were strong, everyone around you was a good person.