Those words had been spoken, and suddenly even the word "recruit" seemed to gleam.
Every month, fifty taels. The figure made Hong Ming fall briefly silent.
His mind began turning over the question of how he would spend such a monthly stipend.
How much more efficiently could he train in martial arts?
Zhou Min watched Hong Ming sink into thought, the corners of her mouth lifting into a faint smile.
Though it pained her to offer so much, she was convinced that Hong Ming, born into poverty, could never resist such temptation.
Fifty taels of silver might be a goal he could never reach in his entire life.
Hong Ming would have to have been kicked in the head by a donkey to irrationally give up this hard-won opportunity.
Zhou Min was certain she had the upper hand, and even Chen Yao doubted that Hong Ming would refuse.
"What's Zhou Min doing trying to recruit Hong Ming out of nowhere? Is she planning to humiliate you with him again?"
Seeing Zhou Min's determined refusal to leave without getting what she wanted, Wen Xin's pretty face changed.
There was precedent. Zhou Min had once deliberately poached a Water Soldier whom Chen Yao had sponsored by offering him a high price.
She had no other reason for stealing him away; she simply wanted to lead him around and flaunt her victory in front of Chen Yao.
Wen Xin had suffered too, feeling sick of it for nearly half a month.
Given how familiar Chen Yao and Hong Ming had grown lately, and their "teacher-student" bond, it was entirely possible Zhou Min meant to pull the same trick again.
"Don't tell me that kid's going to accept?"
Wen Xin couldn't help worrying.
She didn't dare imagine how long Zhou Min would swagger around showing off Hong Ming if she really got her way.
Thinking of how much effort Chen Yao had recently put into Hong Ming's appointment letter, even asking around to find a way to secure one for him, only for him to switch over to someone else in the blink of an eye, made Wen Xin's blood boil.
It would be a slap in the face to all of Chen Yao's kindness!
With the inexplicable feeling that she'd been betrayed too, Wen Xin gritted her teeth and snapped, "Hmph, what an ungrateful wretch!"
Chen Yao said nothing. Her expression remained calm; she understood.
People naturally climbed toward higher ground. It was only human nature.
"Let's go."
She cut Wen Xin off, her voice even, with a hint of resignation.
If Hong Ming accepted Zhou Min's offer, there would be no need for her to worry about his appointment letter.
Wen Xin noticed Chen Yao seemed a little down and wanted to comfort her, but then saw her step away.
She shook her head and hurried after her.
Just then, Hong Ming's words of refusal reached her ears, and she stopped short.
"He refused?"
Wen Xin hadn't caught everything he'd said, but she'd heard the key words.
Unsure, she turned back slowly and quietly, wanting to see for herself.
She was about to call Chen Yao back when she realized the other woman had already stopped.
Wen Xin asked softly, "Chen Yao, did you hear what Hong Ming said? Did he refuse Zhou Min?"
"Mm." Chen Yao nodded curtly.
He really had refused!
Wen Xin raised her brows. That kid had some backbone after all!
Refused again?
Zhou Min watched Hong Ming's retreating figure, unable to accept what had happened.
Her eyes widened in surprise. What gave Hong Ming the nerve to refuse fifty taels?
Unwilling to give up, she considered raising her offer again.
The words reached her throat, but she swallowed them back down.
Remembering Hong Ming's circumstances, she came to her senses and gave up.
Fifty taels was the most she was willing to offer to recruit him. Any more would not be worth it.
She gave a cold snort and turned away.
"Miss Chen, Miss Wen, what are you doing here?"
As soon as Hong Ming stepped out into the courtyard, he spotted Chen Yao and Wen Xin standing by the archway. He couldn't help feeling surprised.
The two women were even more startled. They were suddenly struck by the awkward panic of being caught on the spot.
Chen Yao's gaze darted away. Embarrassed, she couldn't look Hong Ming in the eye and stammered.
Wen Xin reacted quickly. Her manner was far gentler than usual as she smiled and said, "We came to see you."
"Me?" Hong Ming looked confused.
Wen Xin said nothing, only signaling to Chen Yao and handing her the floor.
Earlier, she'd thought Chen Yao was meddling, but now she had no reservations.
As though coming back to herself, Chen Yao stammered, "N-no, it's nothing. We just happened to be passing by."
She changed her mind at the last moment and said nothing about the way to get an appointment letter.
It wasn't that she was unwilling to tell him. She simply felt it would be inappropriate.
When Hong Ming had answered Zhou Min earlier, his firm words had made his position clear.
He wasn't the sort of mercenary person she had originally sponsored. He had principles and wouldn't agree to this lightly.
Besides, Hong Ming's refusal of Zhou Min had given her other ideas.
Ignoring Hong Ming, who was left utterly bewildered, Chen Yao finished speaking and tugged the bemused Wen Xin away.
The matter was a trivial interlude and had little effect on Hong Ming.
He quickly put it out of his mind and focused on training.
The last of the night faded, and dawn broke.
As usual, Hong Ming trained in the schoolyard, pouring himself into his practice, until a figure interrupted him.
Wang Heng arrived with a booklet in hand. He flipped through it with a frown and asked, "Hong Ming, you still haven't received an appointment letter?"
"No. Why?" Hong Ming replied, glancing at Zhou Min, who stood a short distance behind Wang Heng.
"Do you know you'll have been in the Preparatory Camp for a month soon? If you still haven't received an appointment letter, you won't be able to claim a Force-Nourishing Pill."
Wang Heng spoke loudly, as if he meant for everyone to hear.
Sure enough, his words hit like a boulder tossed into a still lake, sending ripples through the crowd.
The many Water Soldiers who hadn't been paying attention turned to look and began talking among themselves.
"There's a Water Soldier who still hasn't gotten an appointment letter after all this time?"
"Then he's in an even worse spot than I was."
"The longest anyone in our Preparatory Camp had to wait for an appointment letter, as I recall, was only half a month. He's already waited longer than that."
"Without an appointment letter, he can't get a Force-Nourishing Pill and will have to buy one himself. That's no small matter!"
"Force-Nourishing Pills are essential resources for martial artists who train their internal force. Even missing half a pill can delay your cultivation. If you fall behind even a little, others will leave you far behind."
"..."
The Water Soldiers knew how important Force-Nourishing Pills were. At these words, each wore a different expression.
Listening to the murmurs, Qin Hao was taken aback. He hadn't realized Hong Ming still hadn't received an appointment letter.
Nothing like this seemed to have ever happened to anyone in the Preparatory Camp.
Zhong Shaoying was surprised too, but he thought further and wondered if Hong Ming had offended someone.
Suddenly, he noticed Qin Hao looking at him questioningly. He shook his head slightly, indicating he didn't know either.
"Archery Battalion appointment letter!"
A shout came from outside the schoolyard.
A new appointment letter had arrived!
"Whose is it?"
Everyone turned toward the voice, puzzled.
Someone immediately guessed, "Could it be Wang Heng's?"
It was quite possible!
Wang Heng had been in the limelight lately, receiving far more appointment letters than most.
And since he hadn't yet received an appointment letter from the Archery Battalion, there was nothing strange about one arriving now.
"My appointment letter?"
Wang Heng hadn't thought anything of it, but the tide of speculation was hard to ignore.
His face froze for a moment, then returned to normal. He was already used to this sort of thing.
Though he'd never considered an appointment letter from the Archery Battalion, he was happy to accept it. It could only add to his prestige.
Straightening his clothes and lifting his chest slightly, he turned toward the clerk who'd brought the letter, ready to receive it.
Then the clerk spoke, and his words came down like an invisible hand, pinning all his movements in place:
"Which one of you is Hong Ming? Your appointment letter is here!"
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