Before Jin Fan came to Lingnan No.1 High School, Li Yuan had many opportunities snatched away by Yin Yi.
Some of those training opportunities should have been arranged by the school leadership in the first place.
Even if he worked hard, Li Yuan could accept it if the school leaders refused to give him those opportunities.
But quite a few of those opportunities were earned by Li Yuan himself.
The old Li Yuan had been foolishly naive.
After the leaders gave him a few words of advice about looking further ahead and having a broader perspective, he would obediently give up his spot.
Looking back now, had Yin Yi ever acknowledged that favor?
He showed off his strength in front of others, wanting to tell everyone that he deserved those opportunities.
That Li Yuan's Talents and strength were insufficient, that he did not meet the requirements.
It was not because Li Yuan had yielded them to him, much less because he had stolen them through connections and backdoor dealings.
Li Yuan stopped and stood before Yin Yi, looking at him calmly.
"Did you steal my opportunities, Teacher Yin Yi? I know the answer in my heart.
I think you should know it now as well.
You saw the outcome of this match.
Teacher Yin Yi, tell me yourself: if those opportunities had gone to me, could I have seized them?"
There was no mockery or sarcasm in his tone. He was merely asking calmly.
Yin Yi's face turned ashen, and the corners of his mouth even twitched faintly.
He had originally wanted to use this opportunity to clear his own name.
At the same time, he had intended to back up the school leadership.
After Li Yuan lost this match, they could label him as someone who blamed everyone but himself.
First, he would blame Jin Fan, then Yin Yi, completely ruining Li Yuan's reputation.
But Li Yuan had won this match.
Gu Yu had defeated Yin Yi without suspense, and Li Yuan had defeated Gu Yu.
That fact only proved that Yin Yi was far inferior to Li Yuan.
Anyone with even a little sense who saw this scene would have already suspected something shady.
Why should someone capable of defeating Gu Yu give his opportunities to Yin Yi?
Yin Yi, who had been questioned, could not say a single word.
He had never expected things to end this way.
Gu Yu losing was something he had never even dared imagine.
Among the teachers under forty at Lingshan No.1 High School, Yin Yi only admitted that he was inferior to Jin Fan.
Before Jin Fan arrived, Yin Yi had truly believed himself to be the teacher with the greatest Martial Dao talent at First High School.
He had once genuinely believed that obtaining those training slots was only natural.
"Teacher Yin Yi, I'm thirty this year.
I may have woken up a little late, but I'm no longer the reckless fool I used to be.
What belongs to me, I will fight for."
Yin Yi stood there with a livid face, unable to say a word.
Having given him those two remarks, Li Yuan could not be bothered to speak with him any further.
Walking past Yin Yi, Li Yuan went to Chen Yong and told him to reserve a table for a celebratory feast.
The two would drink and celebrate together at noon.
There was still some time before noon, and Li Yuan had matters to handle.
He needed to force Principal Yin and the others to submit his name.
Those people were far from honest.
Only after seeing it with his own eyes and confirming that the registration had succeeded could Li Yuan feel at ease.
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 have embarrassed them.
Especially after Yin Yi had jumped in, leaving Principal Yin and the others completely unable to say anything.
So many opportunities had been given to Yin Yi. Before, they could claim that Li Yuan lacked ability and potential.
How could they explain it now?
A massive crack had appeared in the credibility of the school leadership.
On the field, the watching crowd was still discussing today's match.
Li Yuan had already left and gone after the school leaders to the office building, demanding that the list be submitted.
After arriving at the office building, Li Yuan did not see Principal Yin, but he did see Director Ma.
Perhaps 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 that step, then logged into his own account.
After repeatedly confirming that there were no errors, he agreed to use his Grade Points to exchange for this Youth Martial Tournament qualification.
At thirty, having to fight like this just to obtain a training opportunity that truly belonged to him.
At that moment, Li Yuan felt a little hollow inside.
He had thought that when he obtained the Youth Martial Tournament qualification, he would be ecstatic and proud.
He had not expected to feel this way when he truly obtained it.
Others could normally obtain it in their early twenties, while he had only gotten it for the first time at thirty, after being called middle-aged.
Li Yuan recalled those snack advertisements he had watched as a child.
By the time someone reached middle age, they still did not know what they tasted like.
Were they sweet, or salty?
After a moment of hesitation, a helpless smile appeared on Li Yuan's face.
After smiling, his expression became even more resolute.
From now on, whatever belonged to him, he would fight for it!
After dealing with all that, Li Yuan turned and walked out of the school.
Today was Saturday, and aside from this match, there was nothing else to do.
He arrived at the street of restaurants beside the school, which was lined with all kinds of eateries.
Restaurants near schools were usually quite affordable.
Relatively speaking, the quality and freshness of the ingredients might be a little lacking.
Li Yuan and Chen Yong did not mind that. As long as it tasted good, that was enough.
When he entered the grilled fish restaurant they often visited, Chen Yong was already waiting there.
The grilled fish Chen Yong had ordered had already been cooked and served.
The two sat at a table and drank a few cups in celebration of today's results.
Chen Yong had always believed that Li Yuan had some Martial Dao talent. He had thought so long ago.
Sometimes, Chen Yong had wondered whether friendship was making him overestimate Li Yuan.
He had not expected that he had actually underestimated him.
"You should've seen Principal Yin's face then. It was like he'd smeared coal ash all over it.
If I hadn't seen him today, I never would've imagined a person's face could turn that dark."
Hearing that, Li Yuan smiled as well.
There were no outsiders here, so it did not matter if they teased those school leaders.
After exchanging plenty of teasing remarks, Chen Yong thought of something serious, and his expression grew slightly solemn.
"You've obtained the Youth Martial Tournament qualification, but the trouble isn't over yet.
The Youth Martial Tournament represents Lingshan City in competition, and there will ultimately be a city ranking.
If the ranking isn't good, the school leaders will probably make a huge issue out of it again."
Li Yuan nodded. He had considered that point himself.
The Youth Martial Tournament used cities as units for a collective ranking.
The contributions earned by the martial artists sent by Lingshan City would be added together and used to determine the ranking.
If Lingshan City's results were poor this year, the school leaders would probably pin the blame on him.
At the same time, Principal Yin and the others would have another excuse.
They would say that, for Lingshan City's honor, they had strongly recommended Jin Fan for the major competition.
Yet Li Yuan had overestimated himself and insisted on fighting for this qualification, ultimately causing all of Lingshan City to lose its results.
Li Yuan believed the school leaders would definitely play that card.
They had lost face today and damaged their authority as leaders. How could they possibly refrain from retaliating?
"I know what I'm doing. Besides, look at me now—I'm not that bad.
If I can achieve something in the Youth Martial Tournament, there will also be cultivation resource rewards."
Chen Yong nodded. That was true as well.
At a time like this, there was no way they could retreat.
In terms of Martial Dao strength, Li Yuan had defeated Gu Yu. How bad could he be?
Even if the Youth Martial Tournament had experts from every city, he would not be too far behind.
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