10 p.m.
After finishing his training at Teacher Luo's home, Meng Chuan couldn't help telling his master as he was saying goodbye:
"Teacher Luo, I took the martial arts exam for the second-year students at school today, and I came in first."
"Oh? Not bad. How strong were your opponents?"
"I beat someone who practiced Tiger Form in the end. His blood qi was about the same as mine."
Luo Guanyun nodded.
"Good, but don't get cocky. This is only the most basic kind of competition."
Meng Chuan nodded in agreement.
Luo Guanyun then asked about some of the details of the fights. Meng Chuan answered each question, and Luo Guanyun pointed out what he needed to improve.
It was already late, so Luo Guanyun finally let Meng Chuan go home.
After digesting Teacher Luo's advice, Meng Chuan got up to say goodbye. The Huayun Mansion car was still waiting for him downstairs.
Sitting in the back seat, Meng Chuan closed his eyes and thought.
Early the next morning.
Meng Chuan had just finished his training and come down from the rooftop, ready to head to school, when he received a bank transfer.
[100,000 yuan deposited into bank account]
The wallet he'd emptied shopping at the mall a few days ago was full again.
He was still a little excited. The anti-demon bounty he'd collected at the police station last time had been an unexpected windfall.
This 100,000 yuan was the first pot of gold in his Martial Dao career.
Meng Chuan went downstairs and ate while he thought. He turned it over and over in his mind, but still couldn't figure out what had gotten into the principal.
"What's the principal thinking?"
"It's just a school final exam. Why give me so much money?"
After wolfing down two or three mouthfuls of red bean porridge, Meng Chuan decided to go to school and get an explanation. Otherwise, he wouldn't feel right keeping the money.
Ping'an High School.
Meng Chuan was reading a manual on fist techniques in the classroom while his classmates excitedly discussed the previous day's exam.
"There are so many people whose names I still don't know, and now we're going to split up."
Winter break would start tomorrow. Once it was over, he'd be taking classes with the second-year students.
He lowered his head and glanced at his desk. Right, he didn't have a single textbook for his academic subjects.
Then he looked up at the classmates he'd spent the past six months with.
He silently wished them well.
Everyone had their own road to walk. His goal was to climb to the peak of the mountain called Martial Dao.
As for everything along the way, it was all scenery and passersby.
Meng Chuan decided to find Old Wang. He'd be taking classes with the second-year students next semester, so it seemed best to let his homeroom teacher know.
In the teachers' office.
He hadn't dared ask how Meng Chuan had done yesterday.
After hearing Meng Chuan's rambling, he scratched his head in confusion and asked again and again:
"You're sure you beat Qi Fei, the top student in the second-year division exam, and kicked the new prodigy Zong Ping from Class One in the first year's ass, and then came in first?"
Meng Chuan nodded seriously.
"You're not pulling my leg?"
Meng Chuan nodded again.
"What's your blood qi at now?"
"7.47 when I got tested yesterday."
Only then did his homeroom teacher believe him. The moment it sank in, he was secretly thrilled.
"Li Min, Li Min, you son of a bitch. You still want to be grade director? Keep dreaming."
Teacher Wang grinned so widely his mouth looked ready to split. Only after Meng Chuan quietly reminded him did he manage to rein himself in.
"Uh, Meng Chuan, I knew you had it in you from the start."
"When you go study with the second-year students, be sure to show off the good spirit of our Grade 1 Class 3."
Meng Chuan nodded in agreement, privately wondering what spirit his class supposedly had.
After leaving the office, Meng Chuan headed to the principal's office, still puzzled.
When the principal saw him, he hurriedly brought out the Dragon-Phoenix Tea Cup Meng Chuan had given him and personally poured him a full cup.
"The money came through, right, Xiao Meng?"
Meng Chuan hadn't expected the principal to pour his tea himself, and was even more confused.
The man's eagerness felt unfamiliar.
"It came through. Um, Principal, it was just a final exam. Why give me such a big bonus?"
Principal Zong had already prepared his explanation and was about to speak.
Meng Chuan saw it coming and cut him off:
"Don't try to fool me. The second-year students have two final exams every year. Are you some kind of god of wealth?"
The principal gave a wry smile.
"Meng Chuan, I'll tell you the truth. This time, because we're preparing for the Joint Examination, the school had already set aside internal funds for the competition prizes."
"But you guessed right. The original bonus was only half as much as what you got. I paid out of my own pocket to double the rewards for you and Zong Ping."
"I know you're wondering why I'd pay out of my own pocket. You already know about Zong Ping—he's my nephew."
"As for you, to be honest, I'm worried Ping'an Middle School's shallow waters can't raise a true dragon. But I don't want you to leave, so all I can do is give you more support."
Principal Zong embarrassedly rubbed his nose and went on slowly:
"I've taught students for over thirty years. You're the most talented student I've had so far."
"Zong Ping alone isn't enough. If you also stay at Ping'an Middle School through your college entrance exams and eventually get into a Special Grade Martial University, your results will bring a tremendous amount of resources to the school."
"And aren't you improving Guoyi Fist? If the certificate comes through, the Department of Education will give our school some additional resources, too."
"I'm not after the money. I just... want to equip our school's Martial Arts Arena with some blood qi testing machines for the students to use."
Even a basic blood qi testing machine cost over a million yuan. Machines made by some famous manufacturers could cost more than ten million.
And it wasn't just the initial price. The machines were delicate and expensive to maintain.
The school also had to spend a fortune hiring specialists to perform regular maintenance and tune-ups, and to calibrate the data. Over time, that added up to a considerable expense.
"You might not know this, but before your year arrived, our school didn't even have a decent Martial Arts Arena."
"I know this might seem selfish to you. If you went to a proper Martial Arts School, or went even further and joined the Elite Martial University Preparatory Class, your future might be much brighter."
"But I... sigh."
The principal's voice grew quieter and quieter. His eyes dimmed, and his face flushed with embarrassment.
After hearing the principal speak from the heart, Meng Chuan felt a little embarrassed, too.
After all, sincerity was the ultimate weapon.
After a moment of silence, Meng Chuan weighed the pros and cons, then answered directly:
"I'll stay at Ping'an Middle School."
A spark returned to the principal's eyes.
After hearing Meng Chuan's answer, the principal suddenly felt as though he'd been putting him on a pedestal and pressuring him. He hurriedly added:
"Xiao Meng, do you want to think it over again? You really are incredibly talented. I suspect you might have some kind of exceptional Martial Dao quality, too. I'm worried... Ping'an Middle School might hold you back."
The strongest person in the entire school, and the best at teaching the Martial Dao, was its principal, who had passed the Nine Blood Qi Barriers.
At a typical Martial Arts School, the principal was a martial artist who had broken through the First Great Limit.
The school would also have many teachers skilled in different fist techniques, including experts who had reached the upper three blood qi barriers.
On top of that, they had all sorts of equipment and instruments related to martial arts, as well as abundant Martial Dao resources.
So whether you looked at its teaching staff or its financial resources, Ping'an Middle School couldn't hold a candle to one.
"I've made up my mind. It's fine, Principal. I'm willing to help build up Ping'an Middle School in the future."
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