Dividing the Courtyard, Mutual Aid Society

"How is it? Are you all alright?" Seeing the three of them finish their testing, Chen Qinglin leaned over and asked.

"Sigh, you three have it better. I'm the only one with mid-to-low grade talent," Zhong Qing sighed.

"Brother Zhong, why sigh? We all have mid-grade aptitude; it's not like anyone is significantly stronger than the rest."

"Aptitude doesn't determine everything."

"Sooner or later, I will catch up to those people with superior aptitude," Xin Shuming said, his face full of confidence.

"Let's work hard together." Qi Hanwen looked cold, but he still walked over to say this.

"Many thanks. It's just that this is the first time I've seen so many people more outstanding than myself, so I was feeling a bit sentimental. I'll treat you all to drinks another day."

"That sounds great! Hey, when we get our housing assignments later, let's choose rooms that are close to each other."

"We all came from the same county, so staying together means we can look out for one another and avoid being bullied. We can also hang out on regular days."

Ever since Xin Shuming had gotten familiar with the group, he had become the most talkative of the four.

"That works too. While we have no intention of bullying others, we must still guard against being bullied ourselves." Hearing Xin Shuming put it that way, Zhong Qing also felt it was a better idea.

"The available courtyards are all here. Go ahead and choose." The group arrived at the housing assignment office, which was packed with many waiting disciples.

"Let's go with this one! Although it's a bit remote, the area in front of the courtyard is quite spacious. We just need to tidy it up a bit." After Chen Qinglin and the others discussed it, Zhong Qing pointed to a spot on the map.

"Very well, Yunqing Courtyard, Unit 414." The official took out the keys and registered them.

When the group arrived at the actual location, they saw it was a remote little courtyard with no other dwellings nearby.

Inside the courtyard were four rooms, and in front, there was a relatively large open space, convenient for the four of them to practice martial arts, chat, and discuss their life goals and such.

It was a place that quite satisfied the requirements of the four.

After moving in and cleaning the place from top to bottom, they sat in front of the small courtyard to chat.

"I heard that several more people with superior aptitude have emerged recently. They were taken in by elders of various peaks and became Inner Disciples directly."

"Unlike us, who have to reach the Inner Qi Realm to become Inner Disciples. It's just so unfair!" Xin Shuming said to Zhong Qing, filled with indignation.

"Be content. It's good enough that they didn't make us start as Servant Disciples. Those Servant Disciples don't have the luxury of training all the time like we do, nor do they get a bottle of Body Tempering Pill every month."

"They have all sorts of chores to do every day. Although the sect gives them a glimmer of hope for promotion—allowing them to shed their status as Servant Disciples once they reach the Body Tempering Fourth Level—"

"With their daily chores being so busy, having no resources, and no one to teach them martial arts, it's difficult!" Zhong Qing sighed with a hint of sympathy.

"It's nothing more than unwillingness to accept reality," Qi Hanwen said coldly, leaning against a large tree nearby.

"Instead of talking about that, you'd be better off cutting these weeds in the open space and clearing this place out so it actually looks like a courtyard." The three looked over to see Chen Qinglin dragging a massive boulder.

"Huh? Qinglin, where did you haul that rock back from? What are you planning to do? Don't tell me you're planning to smash me with it because you don't like the look of me."

"If I've done something wrong, just tell me and I can change. Can you put the rock down first, please?"

Rolling his eyes at Xin Shuming, he replied, "Stop nagging and get to work, or be careful—I might actually crack your skull open."

"Yes, yes, Big Brother. I'll get right on it, you just take a rest," Xin Shuming replied with a grin.

Zhong Qing watched from the side, covering his face in speechlessness. He turned to look at Qi Hanwen and found that the lad had already drawn his blade and started sweeping across the clearing.

Seeing this, Xin Shuming followed suit, drawing his sword and shouting, "Wielding the sword to slash the grass, sweeping across the four directions, scattered and messy, raising the tray to eyebrow level..."

"..." Saying nothing, Zhong Qing joined in as well.

It must be said, it was as if they had discovered a new world; the group worked with quite a bit of enthusiasm.

In no time at all, they had cleared a large, clean open space.

Chen Qinglin set the boulder down and drew his sharp sword to shave off some of the jagged edges, making it barely passable as a stone table.

After clearing the space in front of the small courtyard, the group headed to the cafeteria together.

The food on the first floor of the cafeteria was exquisite and the portions were generous. It was all ordinary food and was free to serve.

The food on the second floor was different; it offered Spirit Rice and Exotic Beast Meat, though it was not provided for free.

The Spirit Rice contained traces of spiritual energy that could increase the speed of blood-qi accumulation, while the Exotic Beast Meat was rich in energy, capable of replenishing the consumption from martial arts training and boosting blood-qi.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, it was filled with a cacophony of noise.

Disciples from all corners of the land were gathered together, chatting. The group got their food, found some empty seats, and sat down to eat.

"The food on the second floor is way too expensive! It actually requires Spirit Stones to purchase! They must be crazy. You have to realize that one Spirit Stone is worth a hundred taels of gold or ten thousand taels of silver."

"Brother Shi, watch your tongue. This Spirit Rice and Exotic Beast Meat are grown and raised within the sect. You can't buy them outside; it's considered a benefit provided to the disciples of the sect."

"Brother He, we are all from Yunzhou. Why not join us and keep each other warm?"

"The Cloud Dragon Society was organized by the Young Prince. The Young Prince is already at the Body Tempering Ninth Level; I'm afraid it won't be long before he breaks through to Internal Energy and enters the Inner Sect."

"Besides that, the Cloud Dragon Society has two other experts at the Body Tempering Ninth Level holding the fort. If you join now, the Young Prince won't treat us poorly. Don't let this opportunity slip by, Brother He."

"Ahem, actually, I have long admired the Young Prince. Since the Young Prince thinks highly of me, I shall respectfully accept."

"Good brother! Now we can fight side by side again."

"Brothers, would you mind if we sat here?" Chen Qinglin, who had been busy eating and watching the drama, looked up.

The person who had approached was dressed in a green silk brocade robe embroidered with clouds and pine trees, with an exquisite jade pendant hanging from his waist.

"Feel free, Young Master. This is a place where everyone eats."

"Ah, well, there is always a first come, first served, isn't there?"

"I forgot to introduce myself. I am Ning Jingyuan, from the Ning Clan of Cangwu County, Cangzhou. I apologize for the intrusion, brothers." As he spoke, he bowed to the group.

"It's no intrusion at all; this is hardly a major matter."

"Indeed, indeed. Please sit, Young Master Ning. You are far too polite." Seeing him bow, Chen Qinglin and the other three stood up to return the gesture.

"We are also from Cangzhou, though we come from an obscure little county in Changyang County. We aren't from any prominent or noble families, so we cannot accept such a grand ceremony from you."

"Ah, brother, that is where you are mistaken. Since we have arrived here, we are all disciples of Qingfeng Mountain alike. How could there be any distinction of status?"

Ning Jingyuan chatted enthusiastically with Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing, while Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen focused on their meal.

Though he didn't know what this so-called Young Master Ning was here for, Chen Qinglin didn't bother to think about it.

As for Qi Hanwen, he was cold by nature and hadn't said a single word.

"I wonder if Brother Zhong and your companions have joined any organizations?" After chatting for a while and seeing that Chen Qinglin and his companion were almost finished with their meal, Ning Jingyuan dropped the previous topic and asked Zhong Qing.

His gaze, however, was fixed on Qi Hanwen and Chen Qinglin.

Throughout the afternoon, he had been gathering information on this batch of Qingfeng Mountain disciples.

He knew who among them possessed above-average aptitude, and this time, he had come specifically for Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen.

As for Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing, it would be fine to recruit them while he was at it.

"No, Young Master Ning. We spent the whole afternoon busy cleaning the courtyard. What are these organizations you speak of?" Xin Shuming answered without any guard.

"It is like this: I have organized a Mutual Aid Society to recruit brothers from Cangzhou so that we may help one another and advance or retreat together."

"I wonder if you brothers would be willing to join?"

Although they were bumpkins from a small place, he didn't mind; he was currently in need of people.

They should be kowtowing in gratitude to join!

Ning Jingyuan couldn't think of a reason for these people to refuse. They lacked experience, so once they joined the society, wouldn't they be at his mercy?

At this moment, Qi Hanwen had finished his meal.

"I'm heading back."

He stood up and left without a second thought for Ning Jingyuan, leaving the scene momentarily quiet.

"Hanwen is just like that, Young Master Ning. Please, don't take it to heart."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Although Ning Jingyuan was seething with resentment that Qi Hanwen had refused to give him face, he put on a magnanimous front.

"Young Master Ning, the four of us have just arrived here and aren't quite familiar with the situation yet. We still need to go back and consider it. Our apologies." Seeing that Qi Hanwen had walked away, Chen Qinglin said to Ning Jingyuan.

"It was my lack of consideration. Please, brothers, take your time to think it over. There is no rush to give me an answer. I won't disturb your meal any further." After saying this, Ning Jingyuan stood up and walked off to another area.

"Qinglin, we..." Xin Shuming was about to speak.

Chen Qinglin stopped him, saying, "Eat first. We'll talk when we get back."

"Alright."

He glanced at Zhong Qing and saw that he seemed moved; it was clear that he was tempted by the proposal from that Young Master Ning earlier.

He hadn't responded on the spot, likely because he still didn't know the background of that Young Master Ning.

He ate his meal without changing his expression. He wouldn't concern himself with these matters; at the end of the day, they hadn't known each other for very long, and he would not influence how others made their choices.

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