Departure, Youth Martial Tournament!

After dinner, Li Yuan brought Chen Yong to the empty lot where he usually trained to continue practicing and drilling.

Chen Yong really didn't put much heart into martial arts.

In less than an hour, he was already clamoring to go back and rest.

Saying he was too tired from class during the day, and he had to work tomorrow, so he needed to sleep early.

Li Yuan knew he couldn't persuade him, so the two returned to the room together.

They watched some TV, and Li Yuan took the chance to offer him some pointers and explanations.

He had to prepare for the Youth Martial Tournament himself, and Chen Yong also had to prepare for the provincial Open Class.

Tonight, the two of them would squeeze together and sleep in this rented room.

While watching TV, Chen Yong suddenly thought of something and spoke up to remind him again.

"At school now, a lot of parents are complaining about you.

It's fine for the first years, but the parents of the second and third years have a big problem with you."

"I don't even teach the second or third years, what are they complaining to me about?" Li Yuan didn't quite understand; he had no dealings with those parents.

"Saying you stole Jin Fan's spot, affecting Lingshan City's ranking in the Youth Martial Tournament, and holding back the city's development.

But the Education Bureau helped suppress it, so the complaints aren't having any effect for now."

Chen Yong actually wanted to say something good, but after thinking it over, he just couldn't find anything.

"This year's Youth Martial Tournament has real-time score rankings online too.

Even though everyone can't see the actual matches, they can all see how many points you've earned so far..."

This was an innovation for this year's Youth Martial Tournament, and there might even be live broadcasts in the future.

For the participating contestants, having the score rankings update in real time was another layer of pressure.

Just thinking about so many people watching your results would wrap you up in stress.

"I actually feel fine about it. Ever since I fought for this Youth Martial Tournament spot, those rumors and gossip haven't stopped.

The real-time score rankings have even less of an effect on me; I can't hear them when I'm competing anyway."

The two chatted casually until around ten o'clock.

Li Yuan originally planned to give Chen Yong some more lessons and help him sort out the problems he might encounter in the Open Class.

But then Chen Yong said he was sleepy.

At seven in the morning, Li Yuan got up and went to school with Chen Yong.

Even though it was still during the holiday, Li Yuan planned to go back and take a look.

The two took a bus to the school, and the ride felt way too long in Chen Yong's opinion.

But Chen Yong also understood Li Yuan's current financial situation.

Renting a place closer was something he couldn't afford; it would only make things tighter.

He kept those thoughts bottled up inside and didn't bring them up.

When they arrived at Lingshan No.1 High School, Li Yuan went straight to Class Nine and Class Fourteen for a visit.

He told the students in both classes that he would be sitting in the school today until quitting time.

If they had any questions, they could come ask him directly.

On this trip, Li Yuan also took the chance to see if there were any experience points to pick up.

This time, he only picked up three from both classes combined.

It seemed that being far away really did affect the drop rate of experience points.

Back in the office, he sat down, and the surrounding teachers nodded politely in greeting.

Between adults, they wouldn't easily burn bridges.

Even if they had issues with Li Yuan, thinking he had snatched the spot and affected Lingshan City's prospects, they kept their complaints behind his back and wouldn't bring them up to cause unpleasantness.

He hadn't been sitting in the office long when the intern assigned to follow him, Gu Yu, arrived.

This intern of his hadn't taught a single internship class yet.

In all his time at Lingshan No.1 High School, he had only focused on his own cultivation.

Walking into the office, Gu Yu came straight toward Li Yuan.

He was carrying a bag in his hand, which looked like it was meant for Li Yuan.

"The Youth Martial Tournament starts this Friday, right?

This is a set of inner armor I use for protection. It's not the best, but its defensive effect is still decent.

Take it and use it, Teacher Li Yuan. To be honest, I'm really worried you'll get hurt."

The mentor made it clear—I have to formally defeat you, completely dismantle your Cloud Extreme Fist before I can go back.

If you get hurt, it'll make things hard for me..."

When Gu Yu said this, the worry in his eyes seemed genuine enough.

The other teachers nearby heard this and lowered their heads to murmur among themselves.

Li Yuan, not one to be awkward, stepped forward to take the bag and even pulled out the inner armor to examine it.

"Thank you for your kindness, Teacher Gu Yu. I'll do my best to achieve a good result in the Youth Martial Tournament."

Li Yuan replied with a polite courtesy.

Hearing this, Gu Yu let out a helpless smile.

"I'd rather you not go all out in the Youth Martial Tournament.

Otherwise, when we face each other, you'll lose your spirit and have no strength left in your moves.

My mentor's standards are very strict.

Even if I win, he won't acknowledge it..."

Gu Yu's words carried full confidence.

After a moment's hesitation, Gu Yu pulled out the question he'd asked before and tossed it back to Li Yuan.

"Teacher Li Yuan, look again now—how long until I can beat you?

Still two months?"

Hearing this question, Li Yuan glanced at the inner armor in his hands.

Having accepted someone's favor, he couldn't speak as boldly anymore.

"Probably... not two months anymore. Fifty days?"

This answer clearly still didn't satisfy Gu Yu.

"I've seen through the core of Cloud Extreme Fist completely.

After you come back from the Youth Martial Tournament, about a month from now, let's see if I can beat you then."

With that, Gu Yu didn't waste any more time and turned to leave.

Li Yuan stayed at Lingshan No.1 High School until school let out, with many students coming to ask him questions in between.

He took the chance to reinforce their training once more.

The other teachers around saw Li Yuan's work ethic and dedication.

To be honest, their earlier disapproval had all been swallowed back.

Director Ma also witnessed this scene.

The regret he'd felt in his heart seemed to dissipate.

Helping Li Yuan was the right call.

Why shouldn't a hardworking, dedicated teacher like this be given a chance to improve?

Pulling that trick of driving out good with bad would only make teachers less willing to put their hearts into teaching.

Of course, Director Ma could only think about it now.

Most of his work had been handed over to Director Liu.

His related management position still existed, but the actual authority was gone.

Any position adjustments at Lingshan No.1 High School required approval from the Education Bureau.

If not for that, Principal Yin would probably have demoted him even further.

Over the remaining two days, Li Yuan calmed his mind and made some more improvements.

On Saturday morning, he arrived at the provincial sports center at the scheduled time.

The martial artists from Lingshan City participating in the Youth Martial Tournament would gather here today and then set off together.

Arriving at the provincial sports center, Deputy Director Zeng Chang was already waiting there.

This year's Youth Martial Tournament, he was the lead team leader.

At first, he'd had some drive and ambition.

If he did well this time, it could bring credit to the Education Bureau.

The position of director wasn't out of his reach.

But now, he was sure he had no chance.

As the deputy director leading the team this time, Zeng Chang only hoped there wouldn't be any major trouble.

Once the new director took office, being able to transfer sideways to a cushy idle post would be good enough.

Seeing Deputy Director Zeng Chang, Li Yuan immediately went over to greet him.

Deputy Director Zeng Chang smiled. He was quite composed, not wearing a gloomy face.

He then chatted with Li Yuan about this upcoming training experience.