Borrowing Money

"Kong Yu has only been practicing martial arts for a month and a half, and he's already succeeded in gathering Qi!"

As news of Kong Yu's successful Qi gathering spread, many people wore expressions of irrepressible shock; a month and a half was a terrifying speed.

Most of them had taken over two and a half months to succeed, and some had even taken three.

"Such talent is simply frightening!"

"Gale Wind Hall has struck gold."

"In our Wei Yuan Hall, who can stand against Kong Yu?"

Following the shock came anxiety. Wei Yuan Hall and Gale Wind Hall were at odds, and incidents of challenging each other's halls occurred frequently.

Once Kong Yu grew a bit more, he would likely be able to sweep through Wei Yuan Hall.

"With a Grade A-minus root bone, it actually took him a month and a half to gather Qi? This Kong Yu is nothing special."

Lu Ren looked indifferent and said confidently, "As a disciple of Ji Yun, he likely has unlimited resources at his disposal. Even with that, it took him a month and a half. There's no need for everyone to act like we're facing a mortal enemy."

It had taken him two months to gather Qi, and he was confident that if he had sufficient resources, he could have done it in a month and a half as well.

"Junior Brother Lu is right!"

"A month and a half isn't unbeatable."

"If it took him a month and a half to gather Qi, he definitely won't be able to undergo marrow cleansing by the time of the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent."

"Good root bones, but I suppose his comprehension is lacking."

Lu Ren's words immediately won the approval of Gu Fang, Jiang Ping, and the others, who all let out sighs of relief.

"Senior Brother Lu Ren, it didn't actually take Kong Yu a month and a half. The information I received is that he gathered his Qi ten days ago, but the people at Gale Wind Hall deliberately hid the news," the disciple whispered.

In an instant, everyone who had been discussing the matter looked as if someone had grabbed them by the throat; the words they were about to say died in their mouths.

Lu Ren's expression shifted rapidly from indifference and confidence to shock.

He had actually gathered his Qi ten days ago!

This speed finally made even him feel a sense of dread.

"Is this true?"

Lin Cheng appeared out of nowhere, his sharp gaze fixed on the disciple who had delivered the news.

Seeing that it was Lin Cheng, the man hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to Master, this is the information I gathered. I cannot guarantee with one hundred percent certainty whether it is true."

Despite this, everyone understood that for someone with Grade A-minus root bones, gathering Qi in just over a month was not difficult at all; it was highly likely to be true.

"A Grade A-minus root bone isn't enough to turn the world upside down. Everyone, get back to practicing your punches." Lin Cheng turned and left.

Seeing him act this way, the disciples felt much more at ease. If the sky were to fall, their master would still be there to hold it up.

"Grade A-minus root bones..." Xu Yang's expression remained calm.

As long as he kept a low profile, by the time of the Martial Exam Dragon Ascent, his own root bones and comprehension should reach that level as well.

"Senior Brother Xu, aren't you worried?"

Qiu Wenjie, standing beside him, couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, seeing that Xu Yang had remained as still as an ancient well throughout the entire ordeal.

"Worried about what?"

Xu Yang smiled. "The martial arts hall belongs to my family. Should I worry about the hall being swept, or should I worry about Kong Yu coming to challenge me?"

Once these words were spoken, many people around them looked relieved.

This matter was indeed not for them to worry about. The hall being swept would have no impact on them as disciples; they didn't even have the standing to care about the future of the hall.

Even if Kong Yu did come to challenge Wei Yuan Hall, his targets would be geniuses like Lu Ren, Sun Tao, Jiang Ping, and Zhao Zhi-fei. Their own names weren't even worth Kong Yu remembering.

They were better off just sticking to their own business.

"Bad luck!"

Bao Gang cursed as he walked out of the Gambling House, his expression grim.

He had lost all the money he had on him and had even borrowed two taels from the house.

Initially, he had only wanted to win some money for his cultivation, but he had fallen deeper and deeper. Recently, every cent he had went into the Gambling House, and now he was penniless.

At least the monthly stipend is being paid out today, Bao Gang thought.

By the time he paid back the Gambling House and covered his apprenticeship fees... there wouldn't be a cent left.

Thinking of this, he felt frustrated. Forget about cultivation resources for this month; he didn't even have enough for basic expenses.

"I'll borrow some from them tomorrow."

Braving the wind and snow, Bao Gang hurried to the Liu Mansion.

Outside the accounting office, Xu Yang, Wu Yongfeng, Wang Yun, and the others were already waiting.

"Who should I borrow from?"

Bao Gang's gaze swept over each of them, pondering who would be easiest to borrow money from, until his eyes finally locked onto Xu Yang and Wu Yongfeng.

He had already borrowed from everyone else, and none of them had been repaid yet; these two were the only ones he hadn't approached.

"How much did you get?"

Wang Yun was the first to enter the accounting room, and as soon as he returned, everyone rushed to ask him.

Although the monthly stipend provided by the Liu Mansion was only five taels, it often amounted to more. When protecting the masters on outings, if they dealt with petty thieves or the like, there were rewards, and there was also "overtime pay" for extra duties.

"Five taels and five mace. I didn't perform any meritorious deeds last month."

Wang Yun smiled as he looked at Xu Yang. "You dealt with thieves twice for the Master last month and guarded the Mistress during her seven-day stay at her maiden home. I'm afraid you'll get seven taels."

Xu Yang didn't know how much he would receive either. He had reported his cultivation breakthrough yesterday, and he wasn't sure what level of cultivation the accounting room would use to calculate his monthly salary.

"Retainer Xu Yang, please come in."

Soon, the accounting room called Xu Yang's name. He pushed the door open and walked in, seeing several gleaming silver ingots on the table.

"It's twelve taels!"

With a single glance, he knew how much he had been paid. The accounting room had indeed issued his monthly stipend based on his Qi Gathering Minor Completion cultivation.

"Retainer Xu, please sign and press your thumbprint here."

After scribbling his name, Xu Yang walked out of the accounting room. Wu Yongfeng and the others came up to ask, but he only said he received seven taels, having no intention of revealing that he had reached Qi Gathering Minor Completion.

There was no need to show off; if the Liu Family's enemies found out, it wouldn't be a good thing.

Naturally, the Liu Family wouldn't go around broadcasting such matters either.

"Brother Xu, could you lend me two taels of silver? I'll pay you back by next month at the latest," Bao Gang squeezed over and said.

Xu Yang had received seven taels, so asking for only two should be a reasonable request.

Xu Yang glanced at him and said, "Sorry, I don't have enough for myself. I have to go to the Tiger Roar Martial Hall to pay my tuition fees in a while."

Not to mention that he wasn't very close with Bao Gang, he wouldn't lend him money even if they were friends. Besides, he knew Bao Gang had borrowed from many others and hadn't paid a single one back.

Furthermore, to be asking for money the moment the stipends were issued meant his debts were likely quite deep.

With the lessons learned from those before him, he would have to be brainless to lend him anything.

Having said that, he didn't give Bao Gang a chance to pester him further and strode toward the Retainer Courtyard.

Wu Yongfeng, Wang Yun, and the others, fearing that Bao Gang would ask them for money, immediately followed him and left in a hurry.

"Damn it, how dare he snub me!"

Bao Gang watched Xu Yang's retreating back, his expression turning ugly.

He had thought that since Xu Yang was usually easygoing, he would surely lend him the money, and he could then take the opportunity to borrow some from Wu Yongfeng to go to the Gambling House and win back his losses.

Now that Xu Yang had refused, he feared Wu Yongfeng wouldn't lend him anything either.

All morning, the atmosphere in the Retainer Courtyard was strange. Everyone was worried about Bao Gang borrowing money, so they all practiced like their lives depended on it, giving him no chance to open his mouth.

After lunch, they all vanished in a flash.

"You bunch of snobbish dogs."

Bao Gang cursed loudly before heading to the Gambling House. He first repaid the two taels he had borrowed earlier. He had intended to use the remaining money to pay the apprenticeship fee at the Tiger Roar Martial Hall, but his hands grew itchy, and he couldn't resist playing a few rounds.

In less than half an hour, not only was the three-plus taels of silver he had on him completely lost, but he had also borrowed another two.

Emerging from the Gambling House, Bao Gang's face was deathly pale.