After finishing his meal in the Dining Hall, Chen Yuan went looking for Zhang Shi, whom he got along with fairly well.
Seeing him, Zhang Shi broke into a simplehearted smile. "Junior Brother Chen, here to spar?"
Chen Yuan waved a hand lightly and asked in a serious tone, "Senior Brother Zhang, how much do you know about going to another Martial Hall and challenging them to a match?"
There was a risk of being investigated if he acted in secret, and Chen Yuan didn't want to take that chance.
But a word once spoken could not be taken back. If he wanted to deal with the scourge that was the Chen Family, he had to strike hard.
At this, Zhang Shi's expression grew more solemn.
"Martial Halls and Martial Academies do have rules for issuing challenges at their doors.
"First, you can't challenge someone weaker than yourself.
"Second, you have to show proper courtesy. You mustn't do anything insulting.
"Third, anyone who issues a challenge has to fight three full matches before leaving the arena. There's a quarter-hour break between matches, and fists and feet have no eyes. Any injuries or deaths are your own responsibility."
He gave Chen Yuan a deep look and warned him, "Junior Brother Chen, though challenging another hall is within the rules, people don't usually challenge others without some sort of conflict.
"For one thing, fighting three matches in a row carries a high risk of injury, and the people you challenge won't hold back. For another, it can stir up trouble. If you're going to challenge them, you'd best tell Master Huo."
"Thank you for letting me know, Senior Brother." Learning that he could go all out, Chen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and headed toward Senior Brother Tao Ping.
After Chen Yuan explained why he had come, Tao Ping was quite surprised. He hadn't expected his usually hardworking and steady junior brother to suggest issuing a challenge at another hall—a move so unlike him.
"I'll take you to see Master."
Knowing he couldn't make the decision himself, he led Chen Yuan toward the Inner Court.
Beneath the night sky, the Inner Court was quiet and still. Master Huo sat in the pavilion, leisurely sipping tea.
In the courtyard, Xu Heng practiced his boxing beneath the moonlight, his movements flowing smoothly. Each punch sent a gust of wind whistling through the air.
Chen Yuan watched quietly from the side.
Breaking through the Skin Realm really did make a world of difference. Xu Heng's progress in Six Harmonies Mind Boxing was also a good deal faster than his own.
He reckoned that in another half a month, Xu Heng would comprehend Clear Force and raise his combat strength once more, reaching the standard expected of an entry-level martial artist.
According to Senior Brother Zhang Shi, only entry-level martial artists who had reached the Skin Realm and mastered Clear Force were eligible to take posts with other factions and earn a monthly stipend.
"Hmm? What brings you here?" Master Huo asked blandly, taking a sip of tea.
Tao Ping cupped his hands. "Master, Junior Brother Chen has something to discuss with you."
Huo Lin glanced at Chen Yuan. Compared to when he'd first arrived, he had grown quite a bit stronger.
Huo Lin's impression of Chen Yuan was fairly good. His talent was ordinary, but he worked hard, had made decent progress in stance training, and had learned Six Harmonies Mind Boxing at the same time as Xu Heng.
Still, in just a month and a half, Xu Heng had opened up quite a gap between them.
"Go on. What do you need?" Huo Lin asked calmly.
With Xu Heng as his personal disciple, he'd been in a good mood lately. Just yesterday, Xu Heng had made a breakthrough.
Chen Yuan cupped his fists. "Master Huo, I intend to issue a challenge at Kaishan Martial Hall. May I?"
Huo Lin paused, then raised an eyebrow.
This kid had surprised him. He hadn't even mastered the basics yet, and already he was thinking of issuing a challenge.
"Do you know the rules? It's not without risk."
Chen Yuan nodded. "I understand the general idea."
"Are you set on going?" Huo Lin asked again.
Chen Yuan replied seriously, "I could stay away, but going would set my mind at ease."
Huo Lin suddenly laughed. "Well said. If you've made up your mind, then go. But I'll make this clear first: if you're beaten to death or crippled, I won't step in to avenge you."
Chen Yuan cupped his fists. "Of course. Thank you for granting permission, Master Huo."
Huo Lin gave a faint nod.
Though he now only wanted to focus on training Xu Heng and avoid complications, Chen Yuan hadn't even broken through the Skin Realm. He couldn't stir up much trouble.
It was only a minor scuffle.
Besides, Huo Lin's own philosophy put practical combat first. Issuing a challenge at another hall was nothing like sparring with fellow disciples. It was a real fight, and bloodshed and injuries were commonplace.
A few matches might well prove immensely beneficial.
He turned to Tao Ping and instructed him, "Take Chen Yuan to Kaishan Martial Hall tomorrow. Make sure you follow the rules."
That would be the safer way to handle it.
Tao Ping nodded and left with Chen Yuan.
In the courtyard, Xu Heng finished a set of Six Harmonies Mind Boxing and came over to Huo Lin, cupping his hands.
"Master, when can I issue a challenge at another hall?"
Clearly, he'd heard the whole conversation. Young and restless, he was already itching to try his hand at a match.
Huo Lin smiled and shook his head. "Focus on your training for now. For you, the Bone Realm and Muscle Realm in your blood and qi, and Dark Force in your technique, shouldn't be too difficult. Only once you've mastered them all should you go challenge someone."
Xu Heng still wasn't satisfied. "Master, I still want to try. Sparring with skilled fighters my own age might help me improve faster!"
Huo Lin gave a wry smile and sighed.
"Xu Heng, you're different. You're my personal disciple. You issuing a challenge is nothing like Chen Yuan going out to challenge someone.
"Besides, your master has plenty of old enemies out there. They won't show any mercy when they strike from the shadows."
Thinking of old grudges and feuds, his expression turned grave and complicated.
Under the moonlight's scattered fragments, Chen Yuan returned to his aunt's home. From her, he learned that Li had come by at dusk to demand money.
His aunt was indignant. "Shameless woman! She dares come asking for money? She asked for ten taels right off the bat... Hmph, I'm the one who ought to go give her trouble."
Naturally, the two women had ended up arguing bitterly, parting on bad terms.
It seemed Li's behavior had angered his aunt badly.
Chen Yuan listened in silence, then said softly, "Auntie, I'm sorry for the trouble. I'll take care of it."
"Don't worry about it. She won't get the better of me. Just focus on your training and don't let yourself get distracted. Once you've got some real skill, they won't dare carry on like this," his aunt reassured him.
Chen Yuan didn't argue. He nodded and went to bed.
Indeed, if he waited another month or two, those people probably wouldn't have the nerve to show their faces in front of him.
That was the safest way to resolve things.
But he wasn't a turtle. Since he had the ability to act now, taking a little risk was worth it.
He didn't want his aunt and uncle to keep suffering the Chen couple's harassment and provocation just because he held back.
As the poem went: "I'd buy sweet osmanthus and sail with wine, but it would never be the same as roaming free in youth."
Even if this act were judged to go against the principles of the Dao of Survival, Chen Yuan wouldn't regret it.
His principles as a person came before the system's! He was the one using the system, not a slave to its panel.
The next day, this evaluation appeared on the panel:
[Congratulations, host. You didn't lose sight of what matters. You didn't practice caution for its own sake. The true meaning of the Dao of Survival is to stay alive so you can realize the meaning of your life. When the two conflict, the Dao of Survival must make way for what matters more to you. Dao of Survival Points +50.]
A smile spread across Chen Yuan's face.
This system was pretty humane. It had generously given him 50 points, the equivalent of half a month's accumulation.
Without hesitation, he put all of them, along with the 6 Dao of Survival Points left over from yesterday, into Six Harmonies Mind Boxing!
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