Conflict

The sky was leaden, pressing heavily overhead and shrouding Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy in a windless, suffocating silence.

The air still seemed to reek of lingering gunpowder, along with something more oppressive: fear of an unknown calamity.

The disciples sat or stood scattered across the courtyard, none of them speaking loudly.

Even the occasional whisper was quickly swallowed by silence. Every face still bore the shock and bewilderment they had brought back from the docks.

Xu Ren and Liu Yan stood beneath the eaves, exchanging scraps of news, their brows knotted tight.

Xiao Li stood alone before a row of cold stone locks, his back to the others.

Xu Dian stood beneath the moon gate leading to the rear courtyard, his figure almost blending into the shadows of the archway.

His hands were clasped behind his back, his knuckles faintly white with tension, his brows furrowed into a deep crease.

"Father," Xu Liqing's voice pulled Xu Dian from his tangled thoughts. "Everyone's here except for the two junior disciples still out escorting a convoy."

Xu Dian slowly exhaled, as if expelling the oppression and chill in his chest along with his breath.

He nodded and walked to the bluestone paving at the center of the front courtyard.

Without a word, the disciples seemed drawn together by invisible strings. They quickly gathered and formed ranks.

Xu Dian's gaze slowly passed over every young and mature face. It paused on Xiao Li's straight back, then swept over Gao Feng, Halan Sheng, Sun Cheng, and the other Clear Force disciples in the front row.

At last, whether by design or not, his deep gaze lingered for a moment on Cui Hao, who stood in the last row with his head slightly lowered.

"You all saw and heard what happened today with your own eyes and ears." Xu Dian's voice was not loud, yet each word rang clear, like cold iron striking the flagstones. It carried the pressure of a storm about to break. "Commander Pang was blown to pieces in full view of the crowd."

Though they had been braced for it, hearing their master confirm it still drew a collective gasp from the group.

Several of the younger disciples turned deathly pale.

"You may not have seen Lord Pang in person, but you should all know what sort of man he was," Xu Dian continued. His voice was measured, yet held astonishing force. "He was the pillar that held Qingyuan City upright."

"Anyone capable of planning and carrying out an assassination like this is no ordinary person, and this was no impulsive act. The waters behind this run deep, and danger lurks everywhere."

Suddenly, Xu Dian's gaze sharpened like a blade as it locked onto the core disciples in the front row. His voice hardened, almost stern. "From this day onward, remember this: keep your doors shut and your words and actions in check! Hear nothing, ask nothing, discuss nothing, and spread nothing! Above all, do not let yourselves be entangled with unknown people or unknown affairs, no matter what temptations they offer!"

"Report any unusual movement at once! In Qingyuan City right now, one misstep means plunging into an abyss. You could be killed and your families wiped out in the blink of an eye! Is that clear?!"

"Yes! We will obey your instructions!" The disciples answered in unison, their hearts shaken, their voices quivering with barely contained fear.

"Yet fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and opportunity can be found amid danger." Xu Dian shifted his focus, forcibly drawing their attention away from the crisis outside and back to themselves. "No matter how fierce the storm beyond these walls, a martial artist's foundation is ultimately their own cultivation!"

"The preliminary examination is drawing near. It is the proper path for you to obtain cultivation resources and reach for higher martial arts! Amid this upheaval, it is also what will give you the strength to protect yourselves and even shield your families!"

The words "preliminary examination" were like a shot of tonic, rekindling a spark in many disciples' eyes. It was their only way to obtain resources from the authorities.

"Gao Feng," Xu Dian said, looking somewhat weary. "You explain the details."

"Yes!" Gao Feng stepped forward and began a solemn, detailed explanation of the preliminary examination, which would be overseen by officials sent from the prefectural government: its rules, entry requirements, combat format, and rewards.

Only those who had reached the peak of ordinary martial arts were eligible to take the examination, though they might face opponents who had reached the pinnacle.

Those at Clear Force would compete against others at the same level.

The rewards included not only silver, but also precious Qi and Blood Powder and Qi and Blood Pills.

Gao Feng's explanation was clear and well organized, but it also weighed heavily on many disciples who had not cultivated enough.

Xu Dian listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over his students.

Xiao Li was naturally the one in whom he placed the greatest hopes.

A few of the Clear Force disciples might also have a chance.

As for the other ordinary martial arts disciples... His gaze passed over Cui Hao again, and his heart remained unmoved. The path of martial arts was cruel, after all. Resources would always flow toward the most gifted prodigies and the martial artists who had already proven their worth.

When Gao Feng finished, Xu Dian gave the entire group one final look and said solemnly, "I've said all that needs saying. The situation is treacherous, and the city may undergo drastic changes in the coming days."

"The academy will be closed for today. Go home, and don't leave unless absolutely necessary. Focus on your cultivation and prepare for anything. You're dismissed."

"Yes!" The disciples answered and dispersed, their feelings complicated, heading to the changing room to change out of their training clothes.

"Brother Hao," Lin Da said consolingly, "don't lose heart. You're only one step away from reaching the peak. You'll definitely make it in time for the preliminary examination."

"I'm not discouraged." Cui Hao gave Lin Da a faint smile. "I've already reached the peak of ordinary martial arts."

"Oh... What?!"

Sun Cheng, passing by, looked delighted. "Junior Brother Cui, you've reached the peak?"

"I was lucky," Cui Hao said, clasping his hands. "I broke through just last night."

When Cui Hao confirmed it himself, the others began murmuring among themselves.

"Wasn't he only at the minor stage not long ago?"

"That's... a pretty fast pace."

"..."

In the oppressive atmosphere of the day, any personal good news unrelated to the crisis seemed all the more jarring—and all the more noticeable.

Even Xu Dian, who had already reached the corridor, stopped and turned around to look.

He remembered Cui Hao: hardworking, quiet, from an ordinary family, with unremarkable talent.

Hearing that he had quietly broken through to the peak, Xu Dian gave him another look.

But it was only a glance. He gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, then turned and left.

A sincere smile bloomed on Xu Liqing's face as she walked over. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Cui. You earned this through your own hard work. You should be proud."

As she spoke, she took two packets of Qi and Blood Powder from her sleeve. "Here, a little congratulatory gift from your senior sister. I hope you reach the pinnacle soon and make a good showing in the preliminary examination."

Cui Hao hurriedly accepted them with both hands and thanked her earnestly. "Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Sister!"

Zhou Hua, who was walking beside Xu Liqing, flashed a complicated look. She had joined the academy earlier and had enjoyed better resources, yet she had been stuck at the pinnacle of ordinary martial arts for two years.

Now Cui Hao was catching up, and the head senior sister had personally given him medicine. Zhou Hua's feelings were hard to put into words.

Liu Yan also came over with a cheerful grin to congratulate him.

Tu Yan merely glanced over from afar, her gaze indifferent, as though she had seen something that had nothing to do with her. Then she left the academy gate at an unhurried pace with her maid.

A breakthrough by an ordinary martial arts disciple could not stir even the slightest ripple in her heart.

At some point, Xiao Li had changed into his everyday clothes and was standing not far away.

Cui Hao's breakthrough brought the faintest flicker of surprise to his eyes, but it soon faded. A trace of disdain even glinted there.

He was just an ordinary disciple who had barely managed to keep up with the rest. He was still beneath Xiao Li's notice.

Cui Hao could feel those gazes on him—surprised, envious, curious, and indifferent.

Without saying much to anyone, he clasped his hands once more to Sun Cheng, Xu Liqing, and the others, then turned and strode out of the academy.