At a table in a deserted corner of the Dining Hall, the two took their seats.
"Senior Brother, are you looking to sponsor me?" Chen Yuan asked.
He knew that some major lineages sent their younger members to various Martial Halls and Martial Academies, where they sponsored promising individuals while they were still obscure, winning their loyalty in the process.
Song Qiao was an obvious example.
Fang Minghai smiled faintly. "Junior Brother Chen, you became a novice martial artist in just over two months. You really put me to shame. I have high hopes for you."
He had two reasons for choosing Chen Yuan. The first, naturally, was Chen Yuan's potential. His rate of progress already rivaled that of someone with Grade C-Upper Bone Structure.
The second was that Fang Minghai had been watching everyone in the academy. Chen Yuan had trained diligently from beginning to end, which was a rare quality.
He then formally explained the details of the sponsorship:
"Junior Brother Chen, my Fang Family is in the Inner City too, but we can't compare with a major lineage like the Song Family. Within my means, I can give you three taels of silver, thirty jin of beef, and three Blood Qi Pills each month. Would you accept?"
Chen Yuan's gaze shifted.
Thirty jin of beef and three Blood Qi Pills were worth almost two taels, bringing the total value to around five taels—on par with what the Gu Family had sponsored him with last month.
He didn't dare accept right away. After careful consideration, he asked, "I'm honored that you think so highly of me, Senior Brother. Is there anything you'll need me to do?"
Fang Minghai smiled.
"Don't worry. Think of it as an investment. A novice martial artist can't do much for me yet.
"Your job now is to grow stronger as quickly as you can. Once you break through the second or third realm, or grasp Dark Force, I may come to you for help. I hope you'll be willing to lend me a hand then."
Damn, was there really such a good deal?
Chen Yuan was overjoyed. It was practically like taking out a loan to fund his training, except what he owed was a favor.
He could even keep his other position and happily train on two incomes.
He nodded emphatically. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. I'll never forget what you've done for me today."
Fang Minghai smiled with satisfaction, pulled a money pouch from his robes, and handed it to Chen Yuan.
"These are your three taels of silver for this month. I'll speak to the Dining Hall staff about the beef and Blood Qi Pills in a moment. You can register and collect them whenever you need them. Any unused portion this month can carry over to next month."
Chen Yuan took it, feeling the pouch's weight, and relaxed a little. A deep sense of security welled up inside him.
Whether in his past life or this one, money always gave him that feeling.
"Thank you, Senior Brother." He truly was grateful. This was help in his hour of need, and it had eased his immediate troubles.
His circumstances now could only be described as luxurious. For the rest of the month, he would still have the benefits of the Gu Family's sponsorship, on top of Senior Brother Fang's support. With both added together, he wouldn't even be able to finish all the beef!
In one thought, hell; in the next, heaven.
Fang Minghai seemed to read his mind and smiled.
"Train hard. Don't slack off, and don't get complacent.
"It's perfectly normal for those lineage disciples to spend dozens of taels a month on martial arts—medicinal baths, precious medicines, treasured fish, exotic beast meat, and the like.
"You can only make up some of the difference through hard work and perseverance."
Only then did Chen Yuan's excitement settle a little. He rubbed his nose, somewhat embarrassed.
It seemed he really had been narrow-minded. The way rich people trained was beyond his comprehension.
He cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Fang, I'll go practice my boxing now."
Then he turned and left.
Watching his straight-backed figure, Fang Minghai had a vague feeling that this junior brother with Grade D-Upper Bone Structure would achieve great things.
That afternoon.
Another two-odd hours passed. Under Master Huo's instruction, Chen Yuan finally learned the basic fighting techniques of Twelve Forms Boxing. All that remained was to practice them over and over.
Practice a hundred times, and the intent will reveal itself.
He would also hone his ability to adapt in sparring and build up experience.
Huo Lin said coolly, "All right, go practice on your own. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."
Teaching him had been somewhat exhausting.
Huo Lin was also certain that Chen Yuan couldn't keep advancing his Six Harmonies Mind Boxing to a high level and grasping Dark Force at a pace that defied his comprehension. That was impossible.
It would take at least a few years.
After all, Dark Force demanded even greater comprehension. Hard work alone couldn't make up for it.
Chen Yuan had noticed that too. He glanced at his status panel:
[Six Harmonies Mind Boxing (Minor Accomplishment): 3/1000]
After training hard all day, his progress bar had only gone up by two points. If he didn't improve his comprehension soon, he had no idea how long it would take to break through to Dark Force through sheer practice.
Back in the Outer Court, he stopped stubbornly grinding away at Six Harmonies Mind Boxing and instead practiced his stance training.
If his comprehension wasn't up to the task, he would make use of his bone structure and first build up his vital energy, striving to break through the Bone Realm as soon as possible.
Once his comprehension improved, he could return to Six Harmonies Mind Boxing and spend his time where it would count.
The plan was clear and sensible, yet Chen Yuan frowned slightly.
It seemed he still hadn't practiced properly. His head wasn't pointed enough.
The wine flags slanted in the dusky haze; evening lights glimmered.
After a few rounds of stance practice, the Dining Hall bell rang.
After filling his stomach, Chen Yuan collected another jin of beef to take home and improve his aunt's family's meals.
But first, he headed in the direction of the Gu Family, intending to tell Senior Brother Huang that he had become a novice martial artist.
With Senior Brothers Huang and Tao both looking for a position for him, there was bound to be one that suited him.
After asking someone to announce his arrival, Chen Yuan met Huang Yan in a side room.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Huang Yan asked, "What brings you to see me today, Junior Brother Chen?"
Had he come to borrow money? Or had he already broken through the Skin Realm?
Chen Yuan didn't waste time and got straight to the point.
"Senior Brother Huang, I broke through the Skin Realm today. I grasped Clear Force yesterday, so I'm now a novice martial artist. I was hoping you could keep an eye out for any position that might suit me."
Huang Yan's hand froze as he lifted his teacup. His voice turned grave. "You grasped Clear Force yesterday? Come, let me see you throw a punch."
Chen Yuan did as he was told, throwing a punch that made his muscles and bones crackle in unison.
A peculiar look flashed through Huang Yan's eyes.
That meant Chen Yuan had grasped Clear Force only a day or two after Yu Yan. He might have lagged behind by more than half a month in breaking through the Skin Realm, but there was a clear gap between their bone structures.
One was Grade B-Lower, while the other was only Grade D-Upper.
Huang Yan's gaze narrowed slightly. "Junior Brother Chen, would you mind if I felt your bones again?"
He wondered if he had made a mistake the last time.
Chen Yuan gave a dry laugh. "Best not, Senior Brother. You already checked twice. I only have Grade D-Upper Bone Structure."
He didn't dare let Huang Yan examine him. His bone structure had gone from Grade D-Upper to Grade C-Upper—that wasn't something he could explain away with a few words.
Huang Yan studied Chen Yuan for a long moment, then stopped pressing him.
He said slowly, "Tomorrow, I'll visit a few of my friends. If I hear of anything, I'll send someone to let you know."
"Thank you, Senior Brother." Chen Yuan cupped his hands in a fist salute.
"Mm. Off you go." Huang Yan waved him away.
Chen Yuan turned to leave. Huang Yan watched him go, his thoughts unsettled.
How would the family head feel if he learned that Chen Yuan had become a novice martial artist the day after the Gu Family gave up on him?
Perhaps he would regret it a little.
But once certain decisions had been made, there was no turning back.
Chen Yuan had just reached the courtyard gate with the beef when he saw his cousin, Cheng Xiaoyu, looking dusty and tired, apparently just off work.
"Brother Yuan! What are you doing here?" Cheng Xiaoyu asked in delight. It was the first time she had run into Chen Yuan at the Gu Family. "Did the Gu Family change their minds?"
Chen Yuan smiled. "No, I came to see Senior Brother Huang."
"Lord Huang?" Cheng Xiaoyu's face fell. She clearly hoped her cousin could regain the Gu Family's sponsorship.
Chen Yuan chuckled and reassured her.
"Don't worry. I've already found a sponsor. I came to see Senior Brother Huang about that, too."
After a pause, he added, "By the way, if you run into trouble at the estate someday and can't resolve it, and there isn't time to come find me, you can ask Senior Brother Huang for help."
Cheng Xiaoyu smiled and agreed. "All right, Brother Yuan. I'll remember."
Still, she didn't think she would run into any trouble. Her young miss treated her very well.
She couldn't help asking, "Brother Yuan, who's willing to sponsor you? How much silver will you get each month? Will it be enough?"
Clearly, that was what interested her more.
Chen Yuan ruffled her hair and smiled. "The terms are good. I'll tell you as we walk."
Before you continue