The Threshold Arrives

The atmosphere in the living room was somewhat strange.

Shen Qian sat on the sofa, with Shen Liang and Wang Xiaojuan seated across the coffee table from him.

After confirming that Shen Qian had not developed some kind of mental problem, Shen Liang and Wang Xiaojuan finally managed to think rationally again.

Wang Xiaojuan stared nervously at Shen Liang as he turned the badge representing a Beginner Martial Artist's identity over and over in his hands, studying it.

"There really is a magnetic card inside, just like they said online..."

"This material isn't ordinary copper either, and there are these specific patterns. It'd be hard to forge..."

"Most importantly, Xiaoqian carried me on one shoulder just now, so his strength really is considerable."

"Mm, this badge should be genuine."

After a round of rigorous scientific deduction, Shen Liang reached his conclusion.

Wang Xiaojuan let out a heavy sigh of relief, indescribable surprise and excitement rising in her heart.

Shen Liang was not a martial artist, but he was still a proper university graduate from a science and engineering college. He had seen more of the world than she had, so he was probably right.

"Xiaoqian, how... how did you do it?" Once she had calmed down, Wang Xiaojuan impatiently asked, "I remember that during your physical test last year, you were still very far from the Beginner Martial Artist threshold!"

Shen Liang also fixed his gaze on Shen Qian, waiting for his answer.

"Actually, I'm not entirely sure either. Over the past few months, I suddenly noticed that my Qi and Strength had been increasing quickly, as if something had clicked."

Shen Qian pondered for a moment. "I asked Teacher Liu about it too. She said some people are simply late bloomers. Maybe my body's potential has begun to awaken. It isn't common, but it isn't exactly rare either."

There were actually many holes in Shen Qian's explanation, but he knew his parents would not dig deeper. All they needed was a reason that would put their minds at ease.

For one thing, they were not professionals in the martial arts field. For another, what parents would think their own child was useless? They were far more willing than anyone else to accept their child's sudden excellence, perhaps even feeling that it was only natural.

That was also why Shen Qian had been able to come clean to his parents without much psychological burden.

Sure enough, Shen Liang and Wang Xiaojuan both wore complicated expressions, but relief and joy outweighed everything else. They did not press him for details.

"Right, Xiaoqian, you said just now that you can receive ten thousand yuan every month?" Wang Xiaojuan quickly remembered what Shen Qian had said earlier.

"That's right. This month's payment has already arrived. It's in this card... From now on, the money will be transferred to this card on the first of every month. Mom, keep it safe. The password is your birthday."

Shen Qian handed Wang Xiaojuan his bank card ending in 0404.

As for himself, he planned to use another card ending in 1024 from now on. There was still nearly ten thousand yuan left from the money Old Wang had given him, and he had transferred it all to that card.

Seeing Wang Xiaojuan's relieved expression, Shen Liang was happy as well. But then he suddenly felt that something was off, and his face stiffened.

"Honey, that ten thousand yuan I just gave you..."

"What, you want it back?" Wang Xiaojuan raised her brows.

"Not exactly. It's just that I don't have any money left on me either, so, you know..." Shen Liang rubbed his hands together and coughed, hinting wildly.

"Oh."

Wang Xiaojuan understood. Under Shen Liang's hopeful gaze, she took out the envelope again, then pulled out two bills and stuffed them into Shen Liang's hand.

Looking at the two hundred yuan in his hand, Shen Liang once again sank into prolonged silence.

Shen Qian could not bear to watch any longer, afraid that he would laugh out loud. He quickly changed the subject. "Mom, go cook already. I'm hungry."

Wang Xiaojuan nodded. Catching sight of the fruit on the table, she could not help lecturing him again. "Xiaoqian, I can't use that much money anyway. I'll give you part of it every month from now on, but you can't keep spending recklessly. If you want fruit, just tell me and I'll buy it... Understand?"

Shen Qian nodded repeatedly and promised that he would maintain a frugal lifestyle from now on. Only then did Wang Xiaojuan let him off.

In the bedroom, Shen Qian sprawled across his bed. His wristband glowed, projecting a girl with a smooth forehead, an oval face, and thin lips above it.

Ding Yi had probably just finished showering. For once, her hair was not tied into a ponytail. Still damp, it draped over her shoulders, softening her usual cool and detached aura.

"What are you laughing at?" Ding Yi asked doubtfully.

"Nothing, nothing..." Shen Qian reined in his wandering thoughts.

Mostly because, after the family had finished a warm dinner, Shen Liang had sneaked over to borrow money from him while putting on an overly stern, serious face. Shen Qian could barely hold it together whenever he thought about it.

Still, like father, like son. Shen Liang had seen through him at a glance and known that Shen Qian definitely had a private stash, which left Shen Qian with nothing but admiration.

Ding Yi thought Shen Qian was laughing at her, so she quickly hid half her face, leaving only her eyes facing him.

That made Shen Qian somewhat regretful, because Ding Yi was wearing loose pajamas, and the view had been excellent when she leaned forward just now.

"Shen Qian, I heard about it."

"What?"

"It's about you..." Ding Yi hesitated.

Shen Qian froze. Could she have heard that I got my Beginner Martial Artist badge too?

That makes no sense!

But Ding Yi's next words made Shen Qian realize that he had misunderstood.

"Xiaoqian told me that you've been working very hard lately and often ask them questions." Ding Yi bit her lip. "So... are you planning to focus on academics instead?"

For a moment, Shen Qian did not know how to answer. Recently, he had been immersed in the sea of books during class, and his apparent turnaround had indeed surprised quite a few classmates.

Even Liu Simin had publicly praised Shen Qian more than once for "knowing when to advance and when to retreat, and knowing his limits," using him to warn Zhou Xu and "certain other students" who still harbored ambitions despite lacking the talent.

"I'm not blaming you."

Seeing that Shen Qian was silent, Ding Yi hurriedly added, "I... I am a little disappointed that you can't attend a Martial Arts University with me, but it's okay. A regular university is fine too."

"So if you become a Shan Hai powerhouse someday, while I'm just an ordinary guy wasting away day after day, you still wouldn't look down on me?" Shen Qian asked with a smile.

Ding Yi did not speak.

Shen Qian also realized that his words had sounded a little too ambiguous. Although Ding Yi had seemed quite bold on the day they said goodbye, that was limited to that day. Their daily calls afterward had both been rather restrained.

Just as Shen Qian was about to change the subject, Ding Yi spoke. Her voice was soft, but it came through the signal with unwavering resolve. "I'll still help you in the future."

"Don't listen to their nonsense. How could I possibly study academics? I'm going to Northern Martial University to sleep with you!" Shen Qian chuckled.

"Pah! You never say anything serious, you stinking pervert! I'm not talking to you anymore!" Ding Yi rarely blushed. She hurriedly hung up.

As for Shen Qian's claim that he was going to Northern Martial University, she clearly did not believe a single word of it.

After savoring their conversation and grinning foolishly for a while, Shen Qian went up to the rooftop, activated AFK mode, and began his daily weight training.

Two hours later, after regaining consciousness, Shen Qian looked at the AFK Record and frowned slightly.

The efficiency of his training was dropping sharply...

It had been especially obvious over the past few days.

Shen Qian had already guessed the reason. It meant that he was extremely close to that threshold.

The threshold of a Quasi-Martial Artist!

What a dilemma...

Should he pursue his true limit and become an Extraordinary Quasi-Martial Artist, which sounded impressively badass?