Birds of a Feather

It was on the night Wang Rui ambushed Bi Kai, Zhuang Jin intervened to save Bi Kai, and Wang Rui was beaten to death.

Hou Yong's backer, Guo Jun, was on duty at the Internal Affairs Department of the Law Enforcement Division this month, assigned to the Outer Courtyard. Such a major incident had occurred in Room Wu Zi No. 2—someone had died, the corpse needed handling, and so on—so naturally, he had been alerted as well. After learning what had happened, he deliberately asked for the names of the two newly advanced Formal Martial Artists involved. One of them was called Zhuang Jin.

That kid... made it?! Guo Jun's wrist trembled when he heard the news, and an inexplicable thread of fear rose in his heart.

Zhuang Jin had only just become a Formal Martial Artist, merely a One Meridian Martial Artist, while Guo Jun was already a Two-Meridian Martial Artist. Logically, he should not have reacted so strongly, but things could not be calculated that way.

Before the Shen Family began recruiting Martial Students from outside, they naturally had a demand for Martial Artists as well. Yet with no Martial Student Recruitment at the time, how did they obtain them? Through recommendations from the Shen Family's original Household Retainers, servants, and the like. Naturally, those recommended were related to them in one way or another. The quality of Martial Students brought in through such internal channels was easy to imagine—there were basically none too outstanding, and those with excellent martial talent were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

Back then, the Shen Family did not care. As long as someone could break through and become a Formal Martial Artist, that was enough. There was no need to recruit externally, sift through candidates, and cultivate those with outstanding aptitude.

Times had changed.

Now, under pressure from the Medicine King Gang, the Shen Family had begun recruiting Martial Students from outside. By panning for gold in great waves of sand, they could select true geniuses. Xiang Qichen, who had become a Formal Martial Artist in fourteen days, was one example. Xiong Lei, who had done so in sixteen days, was another. Zhuang Jin, who had broken through in seventeen days, naturally counted as one too.

Guo Jun knew very well that he was a product of the old era. His talent was merely average. It had taken him nearly thirty days to enter the Qi Condensation Realm and become a Formal Martial Artist; he had only barely stepped onto the Martial Way path. Otherwise, how could he be in his thirties or forties already and still only be a Two-Meridian Martial Artist?

But Zhuang Jin was different. Today was only the seventeenth day since this batch of Martial Students had entered! The Martial Way path depended heavily on aptitude. When those with poor aptitude encountered a Martial Practitioner Bottleneck, they could be stuck there just like that, unable to advance a single inch for the rest of their lives. But someone with excellent aptitude like Zhuang Jin might very well enter the Two Meridian Realm while studying martial techniques over the next month after becoming a Formal Martial Artist, becoming a Two-Striped Servant just like him!

Better provoke a white-haired old man than mock a poor youth! An inexplicable sense of urgency rose within Guo Jun. I need to find a way to dissolve the grudge we formed when I brought Hou Yong there that day. The sooner, the better!

Once he made his decision, he acted immediately. He sought out a colleague to help him request leave, then went out in the middle of the night to find Hou Yong. He found him at home—Hou Yong was cautious too. Though he kept saying the odds of Zhuang Jin becoming a Formal Martial Artist were slim, he had still been holding himself back while waiting for news these past days. He had not even gone out at night to visit the Half-Veiled Gate.

Hou Yong was roused from sleep. The moment he heard the news Guo Jun had brought, the last remnants of drowsiness were shocked out of him. His face was full of disbelief as he muttered blankly, "How could that be? Don't I know how difficult it is to become a Formal Martial Artist? How could that kid have such fortune? He really made it? Something isn't right here!"

Seeing Hou Yong's pathetic appearance, Guo Jun rebuked him. "Who cares how he got such fortune? He made it, and that's that! What you need to think about now is how to face Zhuang Jin and settle this matter!"

Hou Yong came back to himself after being scolded. He knew it was useless no matter how unwilling he was to believe it; this was already reality. Once he accepted that fact, his expression turned exceedingly ugly. In the past, he had treated Zhuang Jin... well, he had not actually had time to do anything to Zhuang Jin. When Zhuang Jin's seizure of tribute money had come to light, he had intended to settle accounts with him, but he had not been able to find him, had he?

Still, he had later used Guo Jun's connections to go to the Shen Family Outer Courtyard and make a scene. He had offended Zhuang Jin badly enough. Now that Zhuang Jin had truly grown wings and turned his life around in a single day, it was Hou Yong's turn to live in fear.

Hou Yong pleaded desperately, "Master Guo, save me!"

He knew what Martial Artists were capable of. He knew that if he faced the current Zhuang Jin alone, he would truly die!

"You spineless thing, what are you panicking for? First, answer me one question. You must tell me the truth!" Guo Jun's expression was grave as he stared into Hou Yong's eyes. "How did you treat Zhuang Jin before? Just how badly did you offend him?"

"How badly?" Hou Yong suppressed the panic in his heart and thought carefully. "If I really had to say, it does not seem too serious. I only collected three or four months of tribute money from Little Mute... no, from Zhuang Jin. And then there was the time we went looking for him. Other than that, there was nothing."

Back then, Zhuang Jin had not stood out among the little Beggars, and he had been rather sensible. Besides, it had only been three or four months. Hou Yong had not even found an excuse to beat or scold him. Afterward? As he had said before, Zhuang Jin had violated a taboo by seizing tribute money, and Hou Yong had originally planned to punish him severely, but had he not failed to do so?

"That is good." Guo Jun studied Hou Yong's expression and confirmed that he was not lying. Only then did he let out a slight breath. What he feared was that Hou Yong had humiliated Zhuang Jin too viciously, forging a deep enmity that could end only in death... If it was truly as Hou Yong said, not too severe, then it would be much easier to handle.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Just as we planned before, now that Zhuang Jin has made it, he is absolutely no longer one of your Beggars. Remember that clearly. Also, carefully prepare a gift and apologize for the offense that day. The sooner this is done, the better. Ideally, we will clear up this misunderstanding tomorrow."

"Master Guo is right." Hou Yong felt somewhat relieved after hearing this, but he was still uneasy. He carefully asked, "Master Guo, I mean, just in case... what if Zhuang Jin refuses to reconcile?"

Zhuang Jin had now flown up onto a branch and become a phoenix, becoming a Formal Martial Artist. Perhaps he was feeling proud right now. Hou Yong had seen people who rose suddenly, changed completely, and became arrogant and contemptuous of everyone. What if Zhuang Jin was that sort of person?

"He probably will not. After all, you did not cause him any real harm, and we are taking the initiative to lower our heads... Besides, I have some connections in the Shen Family Outer Courtyard. I will invite an intermediary with sufficient standing. With all that, Zhuang Jin will likely not refuse to give us face."

If he truly refuses to give us face... A gloomy glint flashed through Guo Jun's eyes. If Zhuang Jin truly refused, then he could only abandon Hou Yong!

Yes, that was right. Not confront Zhuang Jin head-on, but abandon Hou Yong.

As said before, Zhuang Jin had already become a Formal Martial Artist and could join the Shen Family tomorrow. Guo Jun could not possibly snuff him out. With Zhuang Jin's aptitude, he would grow quickly. Under such circumstances, though Hou Yong was fairly capable and worry-free, and though Guo Jun would be reluctant and unhappy to lose him, if the price was making Zhuang Jin bear a grudge against him, then abandoning Hou Yong was the better choice! Guo Jun could still tell which was lighter and which was heavier!

That was reality: only interests, only value. It was impossible to act like those brainless villains in storybooks, who would fight to the death over the slightest conflict for the sake of subordinates or pride, throwing themselves in one after another like Calabash Brothers rescuing Grandfather, until they dragged themselves and their entire backing into the grave.

Guo Jun glanced at Hou Yong from the corner of his eye and thought, If it really comes to that worst-case scenario, do not blame me. Blame yourself for being blind enough to offend Zhuang Jin!

"Thank you, Master Guo! Thank you, Master Guo!" Hou Yong failed to notice Guo Jun's thoughts. Hearing this, he let out a long breath of relief and thanked him repeatedly. Then he began considering what gift he should carefully prepare.

Zhuang Jin paid me three or four months of tribute money, only two or three hundred coins. To apologize, I need to show him sincerity. I will return it tenfold—three taels of silver should do!

Though Hou Yong's heart ached terribly at the thought, he gritted his teeth and decided he had to spend the money. Even then, he feared Zhuang Jin would not be satisfied. Thinking of Tan San and Little Ears, who had conflicts with Zhuang Jin, he secretly calculated, I will deal with those two as well, and throw them in as an extra.

Tan San's hand had been stabbed by Zhuang Jin's Dog-Beating Stick, and the tip of Zhuang Jin's Dog-Beating Stick had been soaked in feces and urine, effectively enchanted with "tetanus." Hou Yong had heard these past two days that Tan San's wound was festering. Little Ears, meanwhile, had had a leg broken by Tan San and was practically half-crippled. He had heard that Little Ears had not managed to beg much money these past days either.

Tan San, Little Ears, you two pieces of trash were going to die anyway. Better to use you while you still have some use and earn me a favor... When you reach the underworld, do not blame me. Blame yourselves for offending Zhuang Jin!

It could only be said that Guo Jun and Hou Yong truly were birds of a feather. When faced with Zhuang Jin's sudden rise, both had conceived the same thought: Better a fellow cultivator die than I.

The next day, after breakfast, Zhuang Jin arrived at the Martial Arts Practice Field and once again felt the unusual looks from those around him. Yet unlike during the previous Beggar incident, the strangeness in their eyes this time was admiration and awe.

Naturally, this was because the news had spread that he had become a Formal Martial Artist last night and saved Bi Kai from Wang Rui with a single palm strike. The Martial Students of Room Wu Zi No. 2 had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep because of Zhuang Jin. Today, thinking they could not be the only ones left shocked, they had all told others about last night's events during breakfast. Sure enough, Martial Students from the other dormitories were full of amazement and shock. Those reactions, in turn, made the students from the same dormitory even more animated, exaggerating the tale with great relish. By now, no one knew how many versions had been spun.

The Martial Students at the Yellow Rank Number One Training Field all knew Zhuang Jin. On the first day, he had voluntarily gone onstage and received Ping Yongfeng's guidance. From the first day onward, he had added extra training morning and night. Then there had been the Beggar incident... Now that they had heard Zhuang Jin had become a Formal Martial Artist, compared to Xiang Qichen and Xiong Lei, they felt far less jealousy and far more admiration.

Just as Zhuang Jin had expected, because of his self-discipline and diligence from the very first day, even after this news suddenly came out today, everyone merely assumed he had been keeping a low profile all along.

As Zhuang Jin listened to the discussions and exclamations around the Training Ground, feeling the admiring gazes upon him, his face remained as calm as it had after the Beggar incident, when facing the gossip and rumors. Toward the Martial Students who came over to congratulate him and seek his acquaintance, he was equally indifferent. He was neither arrogant nor warm.

His heart truly was as still as water. He was not intoxicated in the slightest by the praise of others, because he knew that compared to these Martial Students, he had indeed stepped into a different world. Yet on the Martial Way path, his current One Meridian Realm was only a starting point.

Qian Wende came over as well. When this fellow wanted to curry favor with someone, his words really were pleasant to hear.

One did not strike a smiling face. Zhuang Jin did not treat him differently, merely maintaining the same polite, courteous distance.

It was not until Ping Yongfeng arrived and the other Martial Students all looked toward Zhuang Jin that he raised his hand. "Master Ping, I have become a Formal Martial Artist."

With that, he went onstage to demonstrate.

"Oh?" Ping Yongfeng looked at the clear palm print Zhuang Jin had left on the wooden board. His face was full of surprise, which then turned into delight. Another five qian of silver in hand!

In fact, compared to Xiang Qichen and Xiong Lei, this joy was even stronger. Those two had told him after grasping their blood qi, so he had been mentally prepared. Zhuang Jin, however, was a wholly unexpected delight.

This kid did not breathe a word after grasping his blood qi. Perhaps he saw how Xiang Qichen and Xiong Lei drew everyone's jealousy after publicizing it? Such caution, such low-key conduct, such meticulous thought!

Also, I felt Zhuang Jin's bones before. His body has some deficiencies, which should have hindered him in the first step of grasping blood qi. Yet he only became a Formal Martial Artist two or three days later than those two.

Ping Yongfeng's heart stirred. He likely grasped blood qi later than the two of them. That means he spent very little time breaking through the Martial Practitioner Bottleneck. In other words, if the effects of his bodily deficiencies are set aside, Zhuang Jin may actually have been the first to become a Formal Martial Artist. His true aptitude might even surpass Xiang Qichen's!

With such aptitude and such temperament, barring unforeseen circumstances, he will surely become someone important in the future!

At that thought, the smile on his face grew more cordial. Under the envious gazes of the other Martial Students, he led Zhuang Jin away from the Training Ground to help move his bedding.

The last person to receive such treatment had been Xiang Qichen. Even Xiong Lei had not received it!

When they reached the dormitory, Ping Yongfeng wanted to help Zhuang Jin carry his bedding. Naturally, Zhuang Jin would not simply stand by. He rushed ahead and picked up the bedding himself, and when they left, he insisted that Ping Yongfeng walk first. Such respectful conduct made Ping Yongfeng feel comfortable and pleased, while also filling him with emotion.

He had met plenty of people, so he could naturally tell that everything Zhuang Jin did came from the heart, without the slightest falsehood. Zhuang Jin truly respected him.

Compared to him, Xiang Qichen falls a little short. Back when Ping Yongfeng had helped Xiang Qichen carry his bedding out, Xiang Qichen had also made a show of reaching for it. Yet after Ping Yongfeng said a single sentence, he had not insisted. Ping Yongfeng could tell that though Xiang Qichen still appeared respectful on the surface, he carried some pride in his heart and perhaps even did not think much of Ping Yongfeng. Perhaps he believed he would soon become a Two-Meridian Martial Artist as well? In any case, the respect had not been entirely sincere.

Zhuang Jin, on the other hand, had been scolded until he was drenched in dog's blood on the first day he went onstage, yet his expression had not changed. Later, Ping Yongfeng had heard that Zhuang Jin had remained unaffected by the discussions among certain Beggars at the Training Ground... Now, after bottoming out and rebounding to become a Formal Martial Artist in a great rise, he had not become swollen with pride either. He had maintained his original heart. That was truly rare and precious.

With such temperament and such talent, even if he lacks a background, his future is beyond measure! At least as far as Ping Yongfeng was concerned, when faced with someone like Zhuang Jin, he was very willing to form a good connection. If not for the fact that he truly lacked further connections and resources, he would have wanted to invest even more.

That was what it meant for one who followed the Way to gain abundant aid!

Why had Ping Yongfeng not treated him this way before?

Naturally, it was because Zhuang Jin had not previously displayed martial talent.

In this supernatural world, talent determined one's upper limit. Without martial talent, one's upper limit was locked in place. No matter how one struggled, one could only sigh helplessly at fate. Yet even in this supernatural world, one's temperament and way of dealing with people determined one's lower limit. With such temperament, at the very least, one would not live too poorly.

And if one possessed both talent and temperament? Then one was a Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, and upon encountering wind and clouds, would become a Flying Dragon in the Sky!

This chapter was difficult to split, so it was combined into one.