Is it sweet, or is it salty?

Before Jin Fan came to Lingnan No.1 High School, Li Yuan had many opportunities, all snatched away by Yin Yi.

Some of these training opportunities were supposed to be arranged by the school leadership themselves.

Even if he worked hard, if the school leaders didn't give him those chances, Li Yuan could accept it.

But among them, quite a few opportunities were earned through his own efforts.

The old Li Yuan was naive.

A few words of guidance from the leaders—telling him to look further ahead, to have vision—and he'd obediently give up his claim.

Looking back now, did Yin Yi ever acknowledge that debt?

When he showed off his strength in front of others, he wanted to prove that those opportunities were rightfully his.

That Li Yuan lacked the talent and strength to meet the requirements.

That it wasn't Li Yuan giving them up for him, let alone him snatching them through connections or backdoor deals.

Li Yuan stopped walking, stood before Yin Yi, and looked at him calmly.

"Whether you stole my opportunities, Teacher Yin Yi, I know it in my heart.

I think by now, you should know it too.

This spar—you saw who won and who lost.

Teacher Yin Yi, tell me yourself—if those opportunities had been given to me, could I have seized them?"

His tone carried no mockery or sarcasm; it was just a calm question.

And Yin Yi, who was asked, had a face ashen, the corners of his mouth even twitching faintly.

He had originally wanted to use this chance to clear his own name.

At the same time, he meant to back up the school leaders.

If Li Yuan lost this spar, they could pin a label on him of blaming others for his misfortunes.

First blaming Jin Fan, then blaming him, Yin Yi—completely ruining Li Yuan's reputation.

But in this spar, Li Yuan won.

Gu Yu had no suspense in beating him, and then Li Yuan beat Gu Yu.

This fact only proved that he was far inferior to Li Yuan.

Seeing this, anyone with even a little sense would already think of some shady dealings.

Someone who could beat Gu Yu—why would they have to give up opportunities to Yin Yi?

Yin Yi, being questioned, was completely speechless.

He hadn't anticipated that this matter would end like this.

Gu Yu losing was something he dared not even imagine.

Among teachers under forty at Lingshan No.1 High School, Yin Yi only admitted he was inferior to Jin Fan.

Before Jin Fan came, Yin Yi truly believed he was the most talented martial arts teacher in the school.

Back then, he genuinely thought he deserved those training qualifications.

"Teacher Yin Yi, I'm thirty years old this year.

I woke up a bit slow, but I'm no longer that reckless kid I used to be.

What's mine, I will fight for."

Seeing Yin Yi's face dark, unable to utter a single word, Li Yuan left him with those two sentences and couldn't be bothered to say more.

Stepping past Yin Yi, Li Yuan walked over to Chen Yong and told him to book a celebration banquet.

They would drink and celebrate together at noon.

There was still some time before noon, and Li Yuan had things to handle.

He had to force Principal Yin and the others to submit his name.

Those people were far from honest.

Only by seeing it with his own eyes, confirming that his registration was successful, could Li Yuan rest easy.

Meanwhile, the school leaders of Lingshan No.1 High School had already left from behind the podium.

From the moment Gu Yu lost, staying any longer would only embarrass them.

Especially with Yin Yi butting in, leaving Principal Yin and the others completely at a loss for words.

So many opportunities given to Yin Yi—before, they could say Li Yuan lacked ability or potential.

Now, how would they explain it?

The credibility of the school leaders had already developed a massive crack.

On the training ground, the crowd of onlookers was still talking, discussing today's sparring match.

By now Li Yuan had already left, chasing after the administrative building to demand the submission of the roster.

After arriving at the administrative building, Li Yuan didn't see Principal Yin, but he did see Director Ma.

Probably unable to save face, Principal Yin refused to show himself.

Under Li Yuan's urging, Director Ma completed the personnel recommendation.

Li Yuan watched him finish this step, then logged into his own account.

After triple-checking that there were no errors, he agreed to use his merit points to exchange for this Youth Martial Tournament qualification.

At thirty years old, fighting like this to finally obtain a training opportunity that truly belonged to him.

In that moment, Li Yuan's heart felt a little hollow.

He had originally thought that when he got the Youth Martial Tournament qualification, he would be ecstatic, triumphant.

He never expected that when he actually obtained this qualification, it would feel like this.

What others could normally get in their early twenties, he only got for the first time at thirty, when people called him a middle-aged man.

Li Yuan remembered the snack commercials he watched as a child.

By middle age, he still didn't know what they tasted like.

Were they sweet, or salty?

Hesitating, a helpless smile crept onto Li Yuan's face.

After the smile faded, his expression became even more resolute.

From now on, whatever should belong to him, he would fight for!

After handling these matters, Li Yuan turned and walked out of the school.

Today was Saturday, and aside from this sparring match, there was nothing else.

He arrived at the food street next to the school, a street packed with all kinds of eateries.

Restaurants next to a school were usually more affordable.

Relatively speaking, the quality and freshness of the ingredients might be a bit lacking.

Li Yuan and Chen Yong didn't mind that; as long as the taste was good.

Entering the grilled fish place they frequented, Chen Yong was already waiting there.

The grilled fish he had ordered was already cooked and brought to the table.

The two sat at the same table, having a few drinks to celebrate today's results.

Chen Yong had always felt that Li Yuan had some martial arts talent, and had thought so for a long time.

Sometimes, Chen Yong even thought it was just a friend's bias, overrating Li Yuan.

He just never expected that he had actually underestimated him.

"You didn't see Principal Yin's face back then, it was like he'd been smeared with coal ash.

If I hadn't seen him today, I never would have thought a person's face could get that dark."

Hearing this, Li Yuan chuckled along.

There were no outsiders here, so it was fine to tease those school leaders.

After plenty of jokes, Chen Yong thought of some serious matters and his expression turned slightly stern.

"You got the Youth Martial Tournament qualification, but the trouble isn't over yet.

The Youth Martial Tournament represents our Lingshan City in the competition, and there will be a city ranking in the end.

If the ranking isn't ideal, the school leaders will probably make a big fuss about it."

Li Yuan nodded; he had already thought about this.

The Youth Martial Tournament ranks cities as units, making a collective ranking.

The contributions of all the martial artists Lingshan City sends to compete are added together for this ranking.

If Lingshan City's results aren't good this year, the school leaders would likely pin the blame on him.

At the same time, Principal Yin and the others would have another excuse.

They'd say it was for the honor of Lingshan City that they strongly pushed Jin Fan to participate in the big competition.

But Li Yuan, thinking too highly of himself, insisted on fighting for this qualification, ultimately dragging down the entire city's performance.

Li Yuan believed the school leaders would definitely pull this trick.

They lost face today, damaged their authority as leaders—how could they not retaliate?

"I have a plan. Besides, look at me now—I'm not that bad.

If I can get some results in the Youth Martial Tournament, there are cultivation resource rewards too."

Chen Yong nodded; that was true.

At a time like this, there was no way he could back down.

In terms of martial arts strength, if he could beat Gu Yu, how bad could Li Yuan be?

Even if the Youth Martial Tournament had experts from various cities, it wouldn't be that much worse.