Making Up for Clumsiness

Hearing this, the Martial Students reacted differently. Those from well-off families remained composed, discussing what the self-paid meals might include. Those whose pockets were not exactly deep, but who could still afford the monthly plan, hesitated and wrestled with whether to grit their teeth and buy self-paid meals by the serving for a few days to see the results. As for those who had come here to learn martial arts only after selling the pots and breaking the iron at home, with no spare money from their families, unable to afford even one or two days of meals by the serving, they lowered their heads in shame.

Zhuang Jin took in everyone's reactions and thought to himself, Master Ping really knew how to talk. He linked self-paid meals to Grasping Blood Qi and becoming a Formal Martial Artist. Anyone with a bit of money on hand would definitely grit their teeth and eat the self-paid meals, even if only by the serving... As for the rest who still could not afford them, they truly could not afford them.

What a fine advertisement Master Ping had made. Wonder if the cafeteria gave him any benefits... Still, even if Master Ping took something from the cafeteria in private, there must be some truth to what he said.

Zhuang Jin counted his remaining Copper Coins and broken silver. He had roughly over six hundred and forty coins. After paying six hundred coins for the monthly plan, I'll still have more than forty coins left to get by. Not bad!

Though this would nearly drain his savings in one stroke, he did not hesitate. He instantly decided to spend the money—he was not a miser. He had saved before only to keep his money for the blade's edge. Now was precisely such a moment, so naturally he did not lack the bold spirit of "Though a thousand gold be scattered, it shall return again."

Mm, thanks again for Tan San and the others' generous gifts.

"Jinzi, if you're short on money, I can scrape together some for you." Xiong Lei's face ached at the thought, but he still spoke up.

He had begrudged even the five-coin gratuity for collecting bedding before. The only reason he offered to lend money now was because it was Zhuang Jin—if it were anyone else, they could forget it. After all, when they collected their bedding, Zhuang Jin had helped him avoid potential trouble, and this morning's Stance Training guidance had helped as well. He considered himself someone who repaid kindness!

"Thanks, Brother Xiong." Zhuang Jin politely declined. "But there's no need. If I truly need it, I won't stand on ceremony."

When they arrived at the cafeteria, the free meals and self-paid meals were separate. On the free-meal side were vegetables, turnips, and coarse rice soup. The self-paid meals, however, consisted of turnip stir-fried with meat, steaming bowls of fine white rice, and big bone soup. Chunks of fatty meat glistened with oil among the turnip stir-fry, steam rose from the fine white rice, and oil droplets floated atop the big bone soup, where chopped scallions and cilantro spread freely. It was utterly enticing.

There was a reason self-paid meals cost money. Their appearance alone was worlds apart.

Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei went over to line up. They paid and registered on the self-paid side, where they were somewhat surprised to see that Qian Wende, who loved petty advantages and had shamelessly tried to take extra Qi Channel Opening Soup, was actually willing to pay for a monthly plan of self-paid meals.

Besides that, another Martial Student from their dormitory made a deep impression on them. He paid for two people's monthly meal plans and ate two portions of self-paid meals all by himself. Because of this astonishing act, Zhuang Jin remembered his name: Bi Kai.

After paying for the monthly meals and receiving their food, Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei found a table and sat down.

Xiong Lei had long been starving, and he wolfed down his food.

Zhuang Jin also took a deep breath of the fragrance. To him, once a Beggar, this self-paid meal was already a feast of rare delicacies. He picked up a piece of turnip, chewed, and swallowed. It was as though he could feel the rich oil slowly soaking into his stomach and intestines, nourishing his Four Limbs and Hundreds of Meridians. The exhaustion brought by practicing the Black Fiend Stake Stance all morning seemed to melt away amid this brief, small happiness and satisfaction.

After the meal, most of the other Martial Students returned to their dormitories. They had eaten their fill, and it was the warmest time of the day in the afternoon, so drowsiness was unavoidable. Coupled with the fatigue from practicing Stance Training that morning, they went back to rest.

Afternoon martial arts lessons would begin at the hour of Wei, at one in the afternoon.

Zhuang Jin did not return to the dormitory. Instead, he went to the Martial Arts Practice Field to practice the Black Fiend Stake Stance. Naturally, he too was tired and sleepy, but he could resist such inertia through self-reflection and discipline. Compared with the bustle of the practice field that morning, there was hardly anyone there now, making it peaceful. He found a corner and practiced by himself, sensing the flow of his Blood Qi and trying to condense that tiny strand of purest Inner Breath.

It was worth mentioning that Xiong Lei had not come with him. He said he was going to the dormitory to rest for a while. The other man was not Zhuang Jin's follower, someone who had to trail after him in everything, and Zhuang Jin was even less the sort of person who needed company for everything he did, even going to the latrine. It did not affect him in the slightest as he focused on practicing alone.

After he had gone through the Stance Training three times, it was nearly the hour of Wei. Martial Students gradually began arriving, and Xiong Lei came over as well. He leaned close and said mysteriously, "Jinzi, do you remember those two Martial Students who tried to stuff money to Master Ping this morning, hoping to receive some guidance?"

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. He had found it strange at the time. If Ping Yongfeng was truly upright and incorruptible, not someone who took money to give private lessons, then his reaction had been rather excessive. There was surely another reason behind it.

"I heard it from Dezi too..."

"Wait, Dezi?"

"That's Qian Wende." Xiong Lei said awkwardly.

Zhuang Jin gave him an odd look. That morning, Xiong Lei had still been disgusted that "this person had the nerve to come over," yet now he was calling him "Dezi" so fondly. Was that not too fast a change?

"Ahem. When all's said and done, Dezi and we didn't have any major grudge, nothing we couldn't get past."

After explaining himself, Xiong Lei continued, "According to what Dezi found out, during the last Martial Student recruitment, one Martial Arts Instructor did not teach seriously. He deliberately held things back, keeping a trick up his sleeve, and would only teach the Martial Students the real stuff if they paid him privately. He made such an ugly mess of it. Later, when it came to light, that Martial Arts Instructor had his meridians severed and his martial arts crippled."

"So this morning, when Master Ping saw those two Martial Students trying to give him money, he was so frightened that he left immediately." He chuckled twice.

"So that was it." Zhuang Jin nodded. The previous batch of Martial Students had stepped on the mine, and they had benefited from it.

However, another point interested him more. Qian Wende is rather interesting!

Qian Wende had just suffered a huge loss over information that morning and had nearly been thrown out. He had likely realized how important information was, which was why he had changed.

With Qian Wende's thick skin, he could come practice with Xiong Lei and me despite having a grudge with us, and after being rejected, he could still grin cheerfully. With that sort of personality, gathering information truly would not be difficult for him.

As for his easing relationship with Xiong Lei, that was easy enough to understand. They were both only in their teens or twenties, and Xiong Lei was not a narrow-minded man. If Qian Wende put aside his pride to flatter him a little and shared some tidbits of inside information he had gathered, it was no surprise that Xiong Lei's opinion of him would change.

And Qian Wende had taken the initiative to approach them and improve their relationship... Zhuang Jin had his own guess. Nothing more than seeing Xiong Lei and me demonstrate on stage, seeing potential in our little group, and wanting to befriend us—or perhaps he wants to practice Stance Training with us? There's nothing to blame him for. All under heaven bustle and clamor for profit; all under heaven rush and jostle for gain.

"After what happened last time, the Martial Arts Instructors simply stopped holding things back. I heard their pay is split into two parts: one is the basic Monthly Stipend, while the other is for additional duties. Teaching us does not pay much at all—only one tael of silver a month. For that bit of money, it's impossible to expect the Martial Arts Instructors to teach every one of us like their own sons."

Xiong Lei added, "We're already doing fairly well. Master Ping at least chose three people this morning to guide. I heard that at the other three Training Grounds, the Martial Arts Instructors at two of them simply led everyone through a few practice rounds, then left as soon as the mandatory minimum teaching time of one incense stick was up."

"Oh, right. I also heard that Martial Arts Instructors have requirements. Out of the thirty people they teach each month, they have to produce at least one Formal Martial Artist, or their pay gets docked."

Zhuang Jin nodded at this. Thinking of the other two people Ping Yongfeng had chosen that morning besides himself, including Xiong Lei, both had looked tall and sturdy. This is probably for meeting the quota—choosing those with talent to guide.

Then he thought of more. The original owner starved and froze to death. This body must have deficiencies. I wonder whether that will affect martial arts training?

It probably will.

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly, but did not wallow in self-pity. Reality was already what it was. He could not change it, and complaining was useless. He could only find ways to make up for it. If my body's deficiencies mean that my Stance Training and Grasping Blood Qi are less effective than others', then I'll make up for it with repetition. The result of practicing twice must match an ordinary person practicing once. Diligence can make up for clumsiness. And the self-paid meals are more nutritious, so hopefully they can nourish my body and replenish some Vital Energy.