"Yes! This disciple... thanks Master for your generous gift!"
Yu Kan stiffened at his master's sharp rebuke. His hesitation vanished in an instant, and he hurriedly bowed, his hands trembling slightly as he accepted the weighty ingot of three hundred taels of silver.
The silver felt cold in his hands, but warmth surged through his heart. He was filled with both anticipation at the thought of breaking through and gratitude for his master's consideration.
"Mm."
Zhou Jingfeng's expression softened a little. His gaze shifted to Ma Jun, who was watching eagerly from the side, and his tone remained direct. "Ma Jun, your talent is a little lacking, so you must work even harder. You still haven't even reached the threshold of the Skin Refining Realm. You're making far too little progress.
"Take these hundred taels. Don't squander them. Spend it all on medicinal herbs and tonics to temper your body and nourish your qi and blood. You must sense your qi and blood soon and enter the Skin Refining Realm! If you slack off again, don't blame me for punishing you!"
"Huh? I... I get some too?" Ma Jun had only been watching enviously. He'd never imagined that his master would give him another hundred taels as well!
His face flushed with excitement. He hurried to his feet and bowed deeply to Zhou Jingfeng, his voice trembling. "This disciple thanks Master! I'll study hard day and night, and I absolutely won't let you down or waste a single cent!"
After dividing the shares for Yu Kan and Ma Jun, Zhou Jingfeng smiled again and turned to Chen Yue. In an unquestionable tone, he said, "Chen Yue, since you think a thousand taels is too much and insist on refusing, then I'll respect your wishes.
"But you must also understand that