Special Spectators

Lin Feng said solemnly, "Our martial arts school has a treasure: Wine Crystals formed from century-old Monkey Wine. They have the miraculous effects of cleansing the marrow, regulating the flow of qi and blood, and strengthening one's foundation."

"That's why I've told you again and again, Junior Brother: it's not too late to turn back now."

"Give up those miscellaneous studies and focus on what the school's master teaches. With the Wine Crystals to help you, you can build the strongest foundation possible. With your insight, you may yet overcome the limitations of your constitution."

"Don't be so stubborn that you throw away such a bright future."

After hearing Li He's words,

Lin Feng's gaze grew complicated.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I understand your good intentions."

He didn't explain further. He picked up his glass of water and drained it in one go.

Lin Feng opened his mouth, as if he still had something to say. But when he saw that Li He hadn't wavered in the slightest, all his words became one long sigh.

Smoke from the barbecue stall curled through the air, mingling with the din of conversation, but their table in the corner had fallen into an unusual silence. Lin Feng ate quietly, his unfocused eyes fixed on the candlelight flickering across the table, as if lost in memory.

Li He's heart stirred. "Senior Brother, may I ask you something? Why do you care so much about me?"

Lin Feng was silent for a long time.

"Because I'm a Fifth-Rank Constitution too."

Li He was stunned.

As the senior disciple, Lin Feng was a Second-Rank Martial Artist. He was also so young that anyone who saw him would think he had a brilliant future ahead of him.

He never would have guessed that Lin Feng had the same Fifth-Rank Constitution as him!

According to current Federation records, only one martial artist with a Fifth-Rank Constitution had ever reached the Third Rank, and he had died on the Abyss Frontline.

Senior Brother Lin Feng had already surpassed most people simply by becoming a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

Lin Feng opened another bottle of wine and filled his glass. "I was an orphan. Master took me in when I was young, and I grew up at the school. A Fifth-Rank Constitution... Do you know what that means? It means you have to work a hundred, even a thousand times harder than other people just to keep up with them."

"Don't be fooled by the fact that I'm a Second-Rank Martial Artist and, at such a young age, already a full-fledged martial master. You needn't ask how much effort Master and I have put in behind the scenes."

"So when I saw you, with the same Fifth-Rank Constitution but incredible insight and that fierce refusal to give up, it was like looking at another version of myself."

He gazed at Li He intently. "That's why I'm urging you to turn back, Junior Brother. I've seen your potential, and it far surpasses mine. I don't want you to lose your way."

Li He listened quietly. At last, he understood why Senior Brother Lin Feng had been so persistent, and why he'd seemed to care about him a little too much.

This bond between them weighed as heavily as a mountain.

"Senior Brother, I understand your intentions and what you've been through. I'll always remember this kindness."

"...You're a stubborn one, all right. But then, if you weren't stubborn, maybe you wouldn't have ended up at Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall. You might've faded into the crowd long ago. Ah, well! Come on, let's drink. I wish you the best of luck in tomorrow's examination."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

The two glasses clinked in midair, and they each drained their drink.

The day of the examination.

Li He strode steadily into the grounds and noticed that there were many unfamiliar faces at the school today.

On the temporary platform, alongside the school's master, Yuan Shan, and Senior Brother Lin Feng, sat several other distinguished-looking guests.

At the edge of the grounds, a few unfamiliar figures were warming up. Their auras were composed, their eyes sharp, and they had the practiced air of people who'd traveled far and wide.

"Oh, Li He! You're here?" Yuan Lingling's voice came from beside him.

She'd clearly noticed where he was looking, and asked first, "Are you wondering who those gentlemen are? Good timing—I'll introduce them. See that gentleman by the stone platform, the one in the expensive suit with the friendly smile?"

Li He followed her gaze.

The man was a plump, fair-skinned middle-aged gentleman who looked almost exactly like Jin Yongsheng. A smooth jade thumb ring adorned one finger, and his face wore the polished, welcoming smile of a wealthy merchant accustomed to the finer things in life.

At that moment, he was smiling as he patted Jin Yongsheng on the shoulder, apparently offering him some words of encouragement.

"That's Jin Yongsheng's father, Mr. Jin Wancai, chairman of Wancai Electric."

As if sensing their gaze, Jin Wancai turned around just then.

His eyes swept over Li He, and his smile broadened. He walked over, bringing Jin Yongsheng with him.

"Haha! You must be my young friend Li He. I'm Jin Wancai. A pleasure to meet you!" He extended his hand warmly, the gesture smooth and natural.

Li He was a little surprised, but shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Mr. Jin."

"My son has told me all about you. He says you have incredible insight and are one of the most outstanding new disciples at the school. Now that I've met you, I can see you're every bit as composed and impressive as he said."

"You're too kind, Mr. Jin."

"Come now, there's no need to be modest. I hope you'll look after Yongsheng from now on. You young people should learn from one another and improve together." He cupped his hands in a polite salute. "You two carry on. I won't keep you."

With that, he turned and left with Jin Yongsheng, seeming exceedingly amiable.

After Jin Wancai and his son had left, Yuan Lingling pointed to the other side of the stone platform.

There stood a stern-faced middle-aged man in an expensive suit, speaking quietly with Sun Ao.

Sun Ao looked uncomfortable, even a little nervous.

"That's Sun Ao's uncle, Mr. Sun Zhenhai," Yuan Lingling explained. "He heads Zhenhai Catering Group, which specializes in making martial-artist nutrition meals from exotic-beast ingredients. He's quite influential in the industry."

"Now look at the young man beside him. That's Sun Jiaoyang, Sun Zhenhai's son. He'll be taking part in our examination too!"

"Hm?" Li He was a little surprised. "He isn't a disciple of Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall. Why is he taking part in our examination?"

Yuan Lingling giggled, looking as if she'd been waiting for him to ask.

She pointed to several unfamiliar faces on the platform.

"See those people up there? That's Senior Brother Wang Meng, Senior Sister Zhao Xue, and Senior Brother Chen Lei. They've been traveling around for a long time."

"They didn't come back just to watch the examination." She pointed to the young men warming up below. "They also brought back the disciples they took on during their travels."

Li He's gaze sharpened.

Every one of those young men looked tough and battle-hardened. Their eyes were sharp, and there was a faint murderous air about them. They'd clearly been through real combat and were no ordinary disciples.

"As for Sun Jiaoyang... he's a special case. He became a disciple of Master Yuan Shan six months ago, but he's been training at his family home this whole time. He's been with the school for less than a year, so he's eligible to take part in our examination too."

The news immediately sent the ordinary disciples into a panic.

"What? We really do have senior brothers and sisters traveling around? I thought that was just a rumor!"

"We're doomed! Look at those guys. They all look terrifying. You can tell they're not easy to deal with!"

"Ugh, I thought we only had to make the top five out of nine. If we put in a little effort, we might've managed it. Now there are so many more people—how are we supposed to compete?"