Instructor's Approval, A Chance to See Miss Again

Li Bufan arrived at the familiar side gate of Lin Manor. After announcing himself, he was quickly led to the training grounds in the West Courtyard where the guards drilled. It was early morning, the chill still lingering, and many guards were already on the field, shouting as they practiced punches and sparred, their breath forming a white mist.

Coach Qin stood like an iron tower at the center of the grounds, his gaze sweeping over everyone like lightning, occasionally barking out rough reprimands or pointers. When he saw Li Bufan approaching—especially the conspicuous cloth bundle on his back and the smaller package in his hand—a faint, barely noticeable smile crossed his rugged face.

"Coach," Li Bufan said, stepping forward and bowing respectfully.

"Hmph, back, are you? You look to be in good spirits—didn't end up as wolf feed in the mountains." Coach Qin looked him up and down, his tone still gruff but lacking real reproach. "How was the haul?"

Li Bufan untied the cloth bundle from his back and opened it, revealing three ordinary snow fox pelts and two rare ones with silver-tipped fur on their foreheads. He also set down a quiver holding twenty imitation armor-piercing arrows.

"I did not disgrace my mission," Li Bufan said solemnly. "I hunted three snow foxes and two Silver-Crowned Snow Foxes. As for the armor-piercing arrows you lent me, Coach... I encountered fierce beasts in the mountains and lost many. I couldn't bring them all back. Feeling uneasy about causing you trouble, I went to a blacksmith and had twenty replicas made. Please inspect them."

His words were half-truth, half-fiction—explaining both his gains and the arrow issue with apparent sincerity.

Coach Qin's gaze swept over the five high-quality pelts, lingering briefly on the two Silver-Crowned Snow Fox ones, a flicker of surprise and satisfaction in his eyes. He casually picked up one of the imitation arrows, weighed it in his hand, examined the arrowhead's craftsmanship, and nodded.

"Hmph, at least you've got some sense." Coach Qin tossed the arrow back into the quiver and waved a hand dismissively. "This little matter—don't dwell on it. Guards training and practicing archery wear down weapons and arrows all the time. The manor has its quotas; no one's going to make a fuss over twenty arrows. Besides..."

He shifted the topic, his gaze returning to the Silver-Crowned Snow Fox pelts with a hint of amusement. "For you to bag Silver-Crowned Snow Foxes—two of them—that's not just luck. And you had spare coin to replicate those costly armor-piercing arrows... Seems like your trip into the mountains yielded more than just these pelts."

Li Bufan's heart tightened slightly. He knew he couldn't fool this seasoned coach, so he hedged vaguely, "It was indeed luck. I also obtained some materials from fierce beasts and traded them for a little silver."

Coach Qin laughed heartily and didn't press further. Everyone had their own opportunities and secrets. He pushed the pelts aside, then his eyes sharpened. The lazy air around him shifted abruptly, like a sleeping lion awakening, and an invisible pressure bore down on Li Bufan.

"Enough chatter! Let me see how much you've grown after rolling around in those mountains!" Coach Qin's voice boomed like a bell. He took a sudden step forward and barked, "Come on, throw a punch! Hit me with all your strength!"

Li Bufan was startled and quickly said, "I wouldn't dare fight you, Coach!"

"Stop your damn nonsense! Quit acting like a girl! I said hit me, so hit me! If you keep yapping, I'll beat you first!" Coach Qin glared, his impatience plain, his fierce aura fully unleashed.

Li Bufan realized the coach was testing him and didn't refuse again. He took a deep breath, his focus sharpening instantly. Qi and blood stirred within him, the power of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique spreading through his limbs and bones.

"Then... forgive my impertinence!"

Before the words faded, Li Bufan's feet moved with the Spirit Monkey Three Leaps footwork, his body shooting forward like an arrow from a bow. His right fist clenched, bones cracking faintly, qi and blood surging and gathering at his knuckles! He didn't use the flashy Nameless Fist Technique—just the simplest, most direct Mighty Ox Fist thrust. But the power behind it far surpassed what he'd had half a month ago!

The punch whistled through the air, kicking up dust from the ground, showcasing its overwhelming force! Li Bufan held back two parts of his strength, using only eight, but he was confident that even an ordinary Initial Muscle Tempering warrior wouldn't dare take it head-on.

Yet, facing this fierce, swift punch, Coach Qin didn't dodge or evade. Instead, a gleam of delighted surprise lit up his eyes. Just as Li Bufan's fist was about to land, his massive, fan-like hand reached out and grabbed—seemingly casually!

The movement was so fast Li Bufan couldn't even track it!

Thud!

A dull impact! Li Bufan felt as if his fist had struck an unbreakable anvil. All his surging power vanished like a mud ox sinking into the sea, gone without a trace! His wrist was clamped in a grip of immense yet gentle strength, unable to advance or retreat!

Coach Qin felt the solid, dense force in his palm—far beyond the Skin Tempering Realm. He paused in slight surprise, then his face lit up with disbelief, quickly turning into immense joy. He released his grip and burst into thunderous laughter:

"Hahaha! Good! Good! What a lad!"

The laughter echoed across the training grounds, drawing the curious glances of the guards practicing nearby.

Coach Qin slapped Li Bufan's shoulder hard, making his whole body sway. If not for his breakthrough, he might have been knocked apart. His face was full of praise: "Damn, how long has it been? You actually crossed that threshold and broke into the Muscle Tempering Realm! And your foundation—so solid! Your qi and blood are vigorous, your strength fierce! Good! Damn good!"

He was genuinely pleased. As a coach, seeing a promising talent with such drive and perseverance rise from under his watch was gratifying. And the fact that Li Bufan had achieved this breakthrough during a hunting trip that wasn't even a formal mission only validated his judgment.

Li Bufan felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and quickly humbled himself: "You flatter me, Coach. I just got lucky with a breakthrough. My foundation is still shallow; I need to train harder."

"Lucky? There's not that much luck on the martial path!" Coach Qin waved a hand, cutting off his modesty. "Strength is strength! Breaking through in the mountains—that's your skill and fortune! Hmm... Muscle Tempering Realm, not bad, really not bad..."

He stroked his chin, sizing up Li Bufan, his eyes flickering as if calculating something.

"Since you've entered Muscle Tempering, you're no ordinary rookie anymore." Coach Qin pondered for a moment, then said, "These Silver-Crowned Snow Fox pelts are valuable. Turning them over to the manor will earn you a merit. According to manor rules, merits deserve rewards. And with your cultivation now sufficient... how about this? I'll report to the higher-ups and see if we can make an exception to promote you directly to Second-Class Guard, skipping the assessment. What do you think?"

Second-Class Guard!

Li Bufan's heart stirred. That meant a higher monthly stipend, more stable resources, and access to higher-level martial arts of the Lin family! It was exactly what he urgently needed.

He immediately clasped his fists and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your guidance, Coach!"

"Don't thank me yet. It still depends on the higher-ups' decision." Coach Qin said this, but confidence showed on his face. "But it shouldn't be a problem. Stay home for a few days and wait for news. Once there's good word, I'll send someone to inform you."

"Yes! I'll follow your orders!" Li Bufan suppressed his excitement.

After a few more instructions, Li Bufan took his leave.

After Li Bufan left, Coach Qin picked up the heavy bundle of pelts and walked steadily through the layers of Lin Manor's courtyards, arriving at a study called Tingxue Pavilion in the inner residence. This was where Young Miss Lin Zhiyan handled family affairs. With Master Lin away on a long journey, most matters of the Huaiyuan Lin Family were decided by this young but capable young lady.

After a maid announced him, Coach Qin was led inside. The study was elegantly furnished, with a warm stove dispelling the winter chill but not the faint, cool atmosphere. Lin Zhiyan sat behind the desk, her eyes lowered as she reviewed an account book, her slender fingers occasionally flicking across an abacus with dizzying speed.

"Young Miss," Coach Qin said, standing still and bowing respectfully.

Lin Zhiyan didn't look up immediately, only giving a soft "Mm." The crisp clatter of abacus beads was especially clear in the silent study. After a moment, she closed the ledger and turned her clear, cool eyes to Coach Qin, her gaze naturally falling on the conspicuous bundle in his hands.

"Coach Qin, what brings you here at this hour?" Her voice was steady, revealing no emotion.

Coach Qin stepped forward, placed the bundle on a low table beside the desk, and carefully opened it, revealing the five well-preserved fox pelts. The two Silver-Crowned Snow Fox pelts, shimmering with a silvery luster, looked even more precious and striking under the study's soft light.

"Reporting to you, Young Miss, I'm here to submit the results of the new guard Li Bufan's hunting trip into the mountains. This is his haul." Coach Qin's tone carried a hint of barely concealed approval.

Lin Zhiyan's gaze swept over the pelts. When she saw the Silver-Crowned Snow Fox ones, her eyes paused for a fraction of a second, and her long lashes fluttered—a clear sign of surprise. She set down her brush, rose, and stepped closer, reaching out a fingertip to touch the silver fur. It was cool and smooth to the touch, unmistakably genuine.

"Silver-Crowned Snow Foxes... and two of them." She murmured to herself, a note of scrutiny in her voice. "Did Li Bufan hunt all of these alone?"

"Absolutely, Young Miss," Coach Qin affirmed. "He reported directly to me upon his return, and the pelts are all here. Moreover..." He paused, raising his voice slightly, clearly emphasizing the merit, "Not only did he bag these pelts, but during his trip, by a stroke of fortune, he successfully broke through to the Muscle Tempering Realm!"

"Muscle Tempering Realm?" A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Zhiyan's delicate face. She turned fully to face Coach Qin. "Are you certain? Is this the same new guard who held my horse during the Winter Hunt a month ago and later hunted a snow fox? I recall he was only at Minor Success in Skin Refining at the time."

She had a strong impression of Li Bufan. Not just because of his standout performance and rare sharpness during the Winter Hunt, but also because of his choice then—giving up the chance to exchange for more practical cultivation resources and instead asking her for a copy of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique. That choice had seemed overly ambitious at the time, but it had shown her a hint of uncommon ambition.

"The Young Miss has a good memory. It's indeed that boy!" Unexpectedly, in just over a month, he had not only broken through to Muscle Tempering but also brought back these pelts. The dangers involved were easy to imagine. This boy's tenacity and talent are truly rare!"

Lin Zhiyan listened quietly, her gaze flickering as she quickly calculated in her mind. Over a month, from the peak of Minor Success in Skin Refining straight to Muscle Tempering—that speed was decent. And to hunt a Silver-Crowned Snow Fox in the mountains was no mere stroke of luck.

She sat back down behind the desk, her fingertips tapping lightly on the smooth surface, producing a steady rhythm. The study fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, she lifted her eyes to Coach Qin, and her cool voice rang out again: "Coach Qin, have him come here. I want to see him now."

Coach Qin didn't immediately comply. Instead, he cupped his hands and said, "Young Miss, I've already sent him home. At the time, I gave him a one-month deadline to hunt three snow fox pelts. Not only did he return early, but he exceeded it with five, two of which are the more valuable Silver-Crowned Snow Foxes. I saw he was exhausted from the journey and seemed to have some injuries, so I let him go rest first. What do you think..."

Lin Zhiyan was slightly taken aback, not expecting Coach Qin to be so considerate. She pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I see. You did well. He should indeed rest and recover first."

After a brief deliberation, she made her decision. "Then let it be this way. When he comes to the manor in three days to report, collect his reward, and receive his new post, you bring him directly to me."

"Yes! Understood!" Coach Qin's heart lifted, knowing the Young Miss had truly taken an interest in Li Bufan. He quickly replied, "And the matter of promoting him to Second-Class Guard..."

"We'll discuss that after I've seen him." Lin Zhiyan's tone returned to its usual calm, but the implication was clear—once she confirmed it in person, the matter was as good as settled.

"I obey!" Coach Qin bowed respectfully, his mind at ease. He knew that this time, Li Bufan was truly about to leap over the dragon's gate. With the Young Miss's favor, his future in Lin Manor would be bright.

"Log these pelts into the manor's inventory as per the rules, and record the merit for him." Lin Zhiyan gave one final instruction before picking up her account book again, as if this were nothing more than a trivial aside.

"Yes!" Coach Qin carefully wrapped the pelts, bowed once more, and withdrew from the study.

Outside, the cold wind hit him, and Coach Qin felt a surge of elation. He glanced back at the elegant Tingxue Pavilion, a smile tugging at his lips. Li Bufan, Li Bufan, I've gone and gotten you a golden opportunity. The rest is up to you now!