What?
I'm a Second-rate Martial Artist?
Li Jinshui froze, then turned to look at the chart of Qi-Blood values posted on the tester.
[Below 100: None]
[101–300: Quasi-Martial Artist]
[301–500: Third-Rate Martial Artist]
[501–1000: Second-rate Martial Artist]
[Above 1001: First-rate Martial Artist]
"Ah, at this value, I really do count as a Second-rate Martial Artist."
Li Jinshui grinned as he looked at the result.
But compared to this test result, he trusted the rating on his own panel more.
Besides, it was common knowledge in martial arts that mastering Stake Standing was the hallmark of a Second-rate Martial Artist. He was still a long way from that.
"Still, according to this chart, when an ordinary martial artist first reaches minor mastery in Stake Standing, their Qi-Blood value is usually only just above the passing mark of 301."
Li Jinshui's lips curled. "But when I reached minor mastery in Stake Standing, my Qi-Blood value was already crushing the Third-Rate level, on par with someone just entering the Second-Rate level."
"Pretty reasonable, pretty basic. Just an ordinary protagonist template."
He shrugged, unfazed. If he couldn't defeat stronger opponents, how could he count as the protagonist?
But now, everything was in place. All he needed was the final push.
Once he got Basic Lightness Skill down, he could not only enter the Delivery Youth Training Camp, but also gain the most reliable way to save his own skin.
So training in martial skills couldn't wait. First, he'd grab a bite!
Li Jinshui turned and walked out of the training room.
After paying cash at the front desk for a standard boxed meal, he ducked into the public showers and enjoyed a refreshing wash, even washing all his clothes while he was at it.
By the time he came out, his meal was ready.
Li Jinshui changed into the martial arts gym's free training clothes, picked up his meal, and wandered through the main hall as he ate.
His goal was clear. He deliberately went near the edge of the ring, hoping to feel the pressure of a dangerous environment.
Unfortunately, nothing came of it. The two people sparring in the ring were too weak, just ordinary Third-Rate Martial Artists. They couldn't trigger the danger feedback from Heaven Rewards Diligence at all.
"Ding!"
Just then, his phone rang in his pocket.
Li Jinshui immediately pulled it out to check. Yao Xiaona had finally replied.
"Li Jinshui! Don't be afraid. You absolutely cannot give in to evil! This is the perfect real combat opportunity to test your martial arts spirit! Fight back! Remember, danger is the best whetstone for a martial artist! Don't let me down!"
Li Jinshui squinted at the message, unable to look straight at it. It was so painfully cringe.
What a lunatic. Real combat? A whetstone? But when it came to sending money, she had nothing to say?
Li Jinshui rolled his eyes and couldn't be bothered to say anything more to her. He might as well just block her.
But then an idea struck him. His eyes shifted as he rapidly typed out another message.
"Class Monitor, I'm sorry. I let you down. I've always remembered your advice, so I just charged in and fought them!
"Unfortunately, there were ten Third-Rate Martial Artists and five Second-rate Martial Artists. I couldn't turn things around. They've already broken three of my ribs, and I can't stop coughing up blood.
"They said they'll cripple me if they don't see the money within a minute! Class Monitor, maybe this is the last time we'll ever speak. Take care! [Crying][Crying][Bleeding]"
Li Jinshui carefully chose his words and sent the message.
Then he put his phone down and went back to eating.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
A moment later, his phone started chiming nonstop as several messages flooded in one after another.
"Well, look at that. She's replying pretty fast this time."
Li Jinshui cheerfully picked up his phone and opened the messages.
"Your bank card ending in 89757 has received 10,000.00 yuan..."
Yao Xiaona: "Li Jinshui, why didn't you tell me sooner you were up against that kind of lineup? If you'd told me, I could've worked out a strategy for you first. Also, my parents found out I wanted to transfer money to you and froze my bank card. I'm furious! I used the Deputy Class Monitor's card to send this, but he's so poor he only had ten thousand yuan. Hang in there for now. I'll think of something else."
Deputy Class Monitor: "Li Jinshui, you bastard, give me my money back! That ten thousand yuan was my entire living allowance for next month, damn it!"
What? There was another sucker?
Li Jinshui abruptly sat up straight, eyes wide.
He'd hit the jackpot again!
Since when had making money become so easy?
This was completely beyond Li Jinshui's expectations. He hadn't even hoped to get more money out of Yao Xiaona. Surely even the most gullible person wouldn't get tricked twice in a row?
But Yao Xiaona had thoroughly proven him wrong.
She really was... I'm moved to tears!
Li Jinshui was deeply touched. First he blocked the unfamiliar scam message from someone called "Deputy Class Monitor," then he replied to Yao Xiaona, saying roughly that the vagrants didn't think ten thousand was enough and had started cutting off his fingers, so she needed to send more.
Then he opened the Doudou Secondhand app to see if anyone was selling a half bottle of D-Grade Supplement Potion.
He scrolled through the listings, but there wasn't even a full bottle of secondhand potion, let alone half a bottle. Anything listed sold instantly. He couldn't get one at all!
"Maybe I could try sparring with a martial artist..."
Li Jinshui looked up at the price list on the wall.
He could ignore Third-Rate and Second-rate Martial Artists. They were ants; they couldn't trigger danger feedback from Heaven Rewards Diligence.
A First-rate Martial Artist might be just strong enough!
But it cost three thousand yuan per hour.
"Not worth it..."
Li Jinshui frowned. In a dangerous environment, the rate at which his proficiency increased was nowhere near as good as getting nutrients from food or potions.
At those sparring prices, the value for money was far too low.
"Ding!"
His phone rang again. Another message from Yao Xiaona.
"I can't take it anymore, Li Jinshui. The other students in class have disappointed me so much. They keep saying I'm being scammed, but they're just stingy and don't want to lend me money! Thank you. You've helped me see what they're really like, and I finally understand how cold and cruel the world is, how little people care about each other. Oh, and I've thought of a way. Send me your location, and I'll send my bodyguards to rescue you."
She was thanking me!
"No need. I don't want money from someone who isn't sincere about saving me. I trusted you so much and thought you were the last light in my life. I never expected you to brush off my life and death by sending a few bodyguards. Thank you for helping me understand how cold and cruel the world is, how little people care about each other. I'm about to die. Maybe we'll meet again in the next life. [Broken Heart]"
After sending the message, Li Jinshui got up and went to the front desk to ask for a refund.
Since he couldn't get any more money out of her, he'd have to save it somewhere else and scrape together twenty thousand yuan as quickly as possible.
The main thing was, this breakthrough had been much faster than he'd expected—far quicker than when he ate Exotic Beast Meat that morning. The whole process had taken only a few minutes.
So the eight hours he'd prepaid for the training room had been a complete waste.
In the end, after arguing his case, he successfully got a refund for seven hours.
When he walked out of the martial arts gym's apartment building, the sun was shining brightly. It was only around three in the afternoon.
"While it's still light out, I'll find somewhere to start a fire and train my lightness skill."
Li Jinshui changed back into his dried clothes. He also swiped a towel from the gym and draped it around his neck like a scarf to cover half his face.
He'd already decided where to start the fire: Captain Liu's home.
He knew Liu Daqiang had a run-down apartment in a village in the outer city, where he usually lived alone. He only occasionally went back to sleep there at night.
"The old bastard must still be on duty at Green Osmanthus Garden. If I go over there... Damn, is he that easy to summon?"
Li Jinshui suddenly leaped back in a quick retreat, ducking inside the apartment building entrance. He peeked out with just half his head and looked across the street.
A familiar figure stood there. It was Liu Daqiang!
He hadn't gone to work, and he wasn't wearing his security guard uniform. Several young men with unfriendly expressions followed behind him. They strode confidently over and easily vaulted the roadside barrier with one hand.