Redistribution of Quotas

He watched helplessly as Wang Guanjia—the class monitor he had clung to, the man who had never suffered a loss since arriving in Class Eight—had his spear shaft shattered by Jiang Qiu before everyone's eyes.

Qian Cheng's mouth gradually began twitching out of his control. Even the wooden spear shaft in his hand trembled slightly, while his heart thudded uneasily.

How could Wang Guanjia lose?

His father had received a spearhead at school before. An Outstanding Student with profound spear mastery, he had given Wang Guanjia the chance to study the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique more than two years early!

His father was now even a teacher in the school's Resource Department. Perhaps he could obtain official martial arts resources to temper Wang Guanjia's body—resources whose effects were more than a hundred times better than the medicinal baths on the market!

His talent was excellent too. He could originally have entered Class One directly and been selected as an Outstanding Student, yet he had come to Class Eight and remained number one all along!

And his relationship with Teacher Wu was so good, so very, very good.

So why had he lost?

Two footsteps suddenly landed against his chest, shattering the thoughts in his mind. When he turned, he saw a short-haired girl with an imposing presence carry her spear before Director Zhao. She cupped her fists and took Jiang Qiu's place. "Director Zhao, Liu Zili of Class Eight requests to challenge Qian Cheng, third on the qualification list!"

"Someone else wishes to challenge a student on the list?" Zhao Gongzheng cast a meaningful glance at Wu Shan, who only gave an awkward smile without speaking, then turned back. "Who is Qian Cheng? Step forward and accept the challenge. The winner receives a spearhead; the loser remains in Class Eight!"

Thump, thump, thump.

Under that piercing gaze, Qian Cheng gripped his spear shaft tight, clenched his teeth, and hunched his shoulders. Hot blood surged through his body with every heartbeat, his adrenaline soaring. "Director Zhao, I am Qian Cheng!"

The moment he stepped onto the field with his spear, his body burned so fiercely that it trembled. He viciously glanced back at Jiang Qiu, and an uncontrollable flicker of killing intent burst from his eyes!

For the chance to receive a spearhead, his family had bought Medicinal Bath Resources and gone over two hundred thousand into debt for precious bone-healing medicine. Even their home in the Commoner District was about to be used to pay off the debt!

I have to defend this quota today. Even if I die, I have to defend it!

"Ah."

Jiang Qiu softly exhaled a breath of stale air. After a moment of silence, spear shadows were already whirling across the field, the wind howling. Neither fighter gave an inch, their spearpoints meeting needle against needle!

Liu Zili was also one of the five boys and two girls. Though she, like him, had been born in the Slum Area, her Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique was indeed far superior to Qian Cheng's.

Rip—

A gust of wind suddenly tossed Jiang Qiu's hair. In the blink of an eye, Zhao Gongzheng was already standing between Qian Cheng and Liu Zili, his hands clamped like iron pincers around the humming, trembling spear shafts. On one side, the spearpoint had failed to pierce Liu Zili's shoulder; on the other, the spearpoint had fortunately not completely stabbed through Qian Cheng's chest.

"The outcome is decided. Liu Zili obtains a quota to receive a spearhead!"

Zhao Gongzheng casually pulled the spear shafts from their palms and flung them into the corner with two sharp slaps. He fixed Wu Shan with a cold stare. "Wu Shan, I believe we need to have a proper discussion about how martial arts instruction should be carried out."

"Yes."

Wu Shan snorted twice through his nostrils, cold light sinking into his one right eye.

"Does anyone else wish to challenge?!"

Even his thick lenses could no longer hide the blade-like chill in Zhao Gongzheng's eyes. His deep, heavy voice drowned out everyone's breathing on the field.

After seriously sweeping his gaze around the room, he took the qualification list from Wu Shan's hand. "Since no one remains unconvinced, I declare the Proficiency Test concluded. The Class Eight students eligible to receive spearheads are Jiang Qiu, Wang Guanjia, Hu Yeye, and Liu Zili!"

"The selected students will be certified as Outstanding Students before noon. This afternoon, await notification and go to the Elite Training Hall to receive your spearheads. Dismissed!"

Step, step, step.

The heavy footsteps gradually faded away. Jiang Qiu watched Wu Shan leave with the Inspection Team led by Zhao Gongzheng, while discussions around him rose like great waves.

"Director Zhao of the Martial Inspection Department has always hated school staff neglecting their duties. With Wu Shan ignoring everything like that, he'll probably be stripped of his position at the very least!"

"It's hard to say. Wu Shan probably hasn't only treated our year this way, and he's also a martial artist who once achieved illustrious battle merits. Removing him would be a loss for the school."

"What do battle merits matter? Which martial artist hasn't earned merits! Has Director Zhao personally disciplined only a few? Wu Shan may have covered the sky with one hand in his classes before, but now Jiang Qiu has brought the issue into the open. Director Zhao has to deal with it!"

Wu Shan, the one-eyed martial artist.

As he watched more students leave the Training Hall, Jiang Qiu fell silent.

Compared with those martial artists who had fought their way back from the battlefield, his former self had been worlds apart. He had always feared disaster's arrival and never dared meet their eyes.

But now, he could continuously grow stronger through martial arts practice. His potential was limitless!

He had to let Director Zhao know, let the school know, just how much his future was worth—how much care and protection he deserved!

With that thought, Jiang Qiu lifted the corners of his mouth in a soft chuckle. Bright Sight flickered in his eyes, revealing an even more resilient gleam.

"Jiang Qiu, congratulations on getting the quota. You truly deserved it."

Before leaving the Training Hall with the other students, Li Xueming smiled faintly as he looked at the boy standing tall with his chest out, his heart filled with a sigh.

They had sparred for a whole day. He had thought he already understood Jiang Qiu's strength, yet he had still underestimated him.

Hehe, there was such a genius in our class, and I never knew. From now on, though, we'll be worlds apart.

"Thank you." Jiang Qiu smiled faintly at him as well, making him pause in surprise before silently smiling and leaving.

Clack.

As Jiang Qiu set his wooden spear onto the rack, he turned back to find Wang Guanjia looking at him. Their gazes met in midair—one side deep water without dust, the other a fish stranded on the shallows.

It lasted only a glance. Wang Guanjia's back slumped, and he shuffled out through the main doors, his lips opening and closing as though muttering something unknown.

When Jiang Qiu turned toward the corner again, Qian Cheng lay on his back there. His bloodshot eyes were soaked with tears, his teeth chattering, and a tear in the school uniform across his chest was stained with a blotch of red.

"Hngh... sob... hngh."

The sound of sobbing filled the entire Training Hall, thick with lifeless gloom.

Everyone had their own road. If one could not walk it through, this was what became of them.

Jiang Qiu withdrew his gaze just as a capable figure leaped into view, her voice like a sparrow begging for food. "Jiang Qiu, thank you."

Liu Zili stood before him, her short hair framing an oval face. She clutched the corner of her clothes, shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks, white teeth visible between her lips.

The collar of her yellow-stained school uniform, before her left shoulder and elbow, was torn open as well, soaked through with a fist-sized bloodstain. Her left arm trembled slightly, and crystalline tears squeezed into her crescent-shaped eyes. "C-can I treat you to a meal?"

"No need. We'll both be Outstanding Students from now on, and meals in the cafeteria are free, so there's no need to waste money." Jiang Qiu waved his hand and smiled. "Besides, you relied on your own effort and determination. There's no need to feel indebted to me or burden yourself with gratitude. Keep working hard from now on. Farewell."

The moment the boy's figure crossed through the doors, the tears filling Liu Zili's eyes finally spilled free.

I won. My name really is on the list now.

Director Zhao said I'll receive a spearhead. I'll become an Outstanding Student from now on.

Dad, Mom, I was scared before. I didn't dare. Even though the quotas on the list had already been decided behind closed doors, I only wanted to come and try.

Her choking emotions could no longer be contained. They surged into her nose like a well erupting, bringing a wave of bitter soreness.

She clenched her fists and stared at the place where Jiang Qiu's back had disappeared, as though she could see the sun rising from the eastern mountains, dawn already at hand. "I'm suited for martial arts. Now I have a chance to take the college entrance examination. I'll definitely get into Northwest Martial Arts University!

Jiang Qiu, thank you for taking the lead and challenging Wang Guanjia!"