A Bushel of Kindness, a Peck of Resentment

"When I left that day, I said I owed Brother Lin a fish. I finally caught one yesterday, so I came to repay you as soon as I could."

Lin Yi froze for a moment, his gaze resting quietly on the Three-Tailed Black Snakehead inside the porcelain jar.

The snakehead was pitch-black, gliding gently through the still water in the jar.

Lin Yi hadn't expected Jiang Er to take his casual, polite remark seriously.

It would have been a lie to say he wasn't touched.

For a moment, Lin Yi was at a loss for words.

Seeing Lin Yi stare blankly, Jiang Er nudged the jar toward him and said shyly, "Brother Lin, I still don't have the knack for identifying Treasure Fish. This fish just looked unusual, and it was much more ferocious than the other big fish when I was trying to catch it. I don't know if it's a Treasure Fish."

Lin Yi nodded. "It is. It's a very precious Three-Tailed Black Snakehead, even better than the Three-Eyed River Goby you brought me before."

The Three-Tailed Black Snakehead was an excellent Treasure Fish, far better even than the Three-Eyed River Goby Lin Yi had come across before. It would be a great boon to a Martial Artist's cultivation.

Jiang Er smiled and nodded. "That's good, then. I'm glad it's a Treasure Fish..."

Jiang Er gave a simple, honest smile.

Then he stood up, rubbed the back of his head with an awkward grin, and said, "Brother Lin, I still have to go fishing today, so I'd better get going..."

With that, Jiang Er started to leave.

"Wait." Lin Yi got to his feet and called after him.

"Brother Lin?" Jiang Er glanced back, puzzled.

Lin Yi asked earnestly, "Would you be willing to learn martial arts?"

Jiang Er's pupils shrank, and he waved his hands frantically. "L-learn martial arts...?"

Lin Yi nodded. "That's right. Learn martial arts. I can vouch for you."

Once you became a Martial Artist, you became a martial hall disciple and gained the right to vouch for someone else.

You could recommend one person to enter the inner courtyard directly and study there for six months.

No matter their bone structure or aptitude, they could enjoy the inner courtyard's resources in advance and begin martial arts training.

The whole process of learning martial arts would go more smoothly than apprenticing in the outer courtyard.

Liu Lie had also lacked the right to vouch for someone, which was why he had resorted to a little trick and taken Lin Yi straight to Master Yuan to secure him a chance to train.

Jiang Er was overwhelmed. He swallowed hard.

A flicker of struggle passed through Jiang Er's eyes, but he still asked earnestly,

"Brother Lin, is this because you feel burdened by the Treasure Fish and want to compensate me somehow...?"

"Brother Lin, you really don't have to. This fish was something I owed you in the first place... If I took any more payment from you, I'd be the one lacking backbone..."

"Brother Lin, if you consider me a friend, then please accept it without reservations."

"As for martial arts... I'd better pass. I have no desire to learn..."

A bitter ache filled Jiang Er's heart as he said those last words.

He felt as if his heart had shattered.

Learning martial arts.

This was a chance to change his fate.

Did Jiang Er want to learn martial arts?

Of course he did. He'd dreamed of it.

But he knew what his family's situation was like.

His father had been injured and had only just become able to walk again.

His younger sister was nearing marriageable age, and the local landlords had recently been trying every trick in the book to take her as a concubine.

He was the family's only pillar.

He couldn't—and had no way to—learn martial arts.

Jiang Er turned away, feeling his body grow heavier, but he didn't dare look back as he left.

Just then, Lin Yi's voice sounded behind him again.

"Brother Jiang, you've misunderstood."

"I recommended that you learn martial arts because I think you have the talent and grit for it. If you train, you'll surely accomplish something. As for my vouching for you, it's simply an investment in someone brimming with talent and ability."

"If you change your mind later, Brother Jiang, just come find me here in the courtyard!"

Jiang Er's body trembled. He gave a muffled "Mm," then hurried away.

Lin Yi stared blankly at the Three-Tailed Black Snakehead in the jar before him.

At that moment, in the inner courtyard of Rainbow Martial Hall.

The martial hall was divided into three areas: the outer courtyard, the inner courtyard, and the private courtyard.

They corresponded to the areas where the martial hall's apprentices, disciples, and personal disciples trained.

At that moment, in the private courtyard.

In Master Yuan's room.

Xiao Dong came before Master Yuan and cupped his hands respectfully. "Master, you wanted to see me."

The timid, meek look Xiao Dong had worn when he first arrived at the martial hall was long gone.

He was now brimming with confidence and vigor.

Master Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Over the past few days, quite a few forces in the city have come to curry favor with you."

"Among them, the most generous has been Ning Manor."

"You can probably guess what the Ning Family Patriarch has in mind. He wants you to marry a young lady from Ning Manor."

"Since ancient times, marriage has been arranged by the parents and matchmakers. I know your father passed away when you were young, so the Ning Family Patriarch's relatives and matchmakers have already come to me many times."

"You're also at a suitable age to marry."

"I'd like to know what you think, so I can give Ning Manor an answer."

Xiao Dong bowed his head. "Master, give me two more days..."

Master Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You still can't forget that childhood sweetheart of yours?"

Xiao Dong said nothing, which amounted to an admission.

Master Yuan frowned. "She's got some nerve, refusing you."

"If she doesn't agree, then she isn't fated to have that good fortune. But you're my disciple. Don't let your thoughts be entirely consumed by a woman. I've looked into the Ning Family, too. They used some less-than-savory methods to build their fortune in the early days, but they're gradually cleaning up their act now."

"In this world, who builds a fortune without getting blood on their hands?"

"Becoming their son-in-law will help you greatly in the future."

"So think it over carefully."

Xiao Dong nodded. "Yes, Master."

Master Yuan continued, "Judging by your qi and blood, they should be nearing full strength. You'll probably break through to Martial Artist in the next day or two. After that, devote yourself to martial skills next month. I've reserved a spot for you in the Seven Halls Martial Arts Tournament, so you'll need to train hard during this period."

Xiao Dong nodded. "Yes, Master."

Master Yuan waved a hand. "Go."

Xiao Dong nodded. His expression shifted between light and shadow as Baleful Intent surged through him.

It made his emotions more and more unstable.

Once again, he remembered going to Blacksmith Wang's home half a month ago to ask Wang Yan'er to marry him.

"Xiao Dong, I don't like you. I only think of you as Brother Yi's friend!"

"I don't want to marry you."

"I don't like you. No matter what you become, I'll never like you!"

"That's right, I like Brother Yi. So what? I'm not marrying you!"

He also remembered returning home after awakening his Destiny, riding a white horse amid a crowd of admirers, full of pride and vigor, and seeing his mother's reaction.

His mother had first been surprised and overjoyed, then had hugged him and wept.

Then she brought up that name he loathed.

"By the way, Xiao Yi knows you awakened your Destiny at the martial hall, right? Where is he? Why didn't he come with you?"

"Xiao Yi once saved your life. Things are going well for you now, so you mustn't forget what you owe him, understand?"

"Xiao Yi's family is struggling. He's helped the two of us so much over the years. When you have extra cultivation resources, you should set some aside for him..."

"You two grew up together. Get along with him at the martial hall. Next time you come home, bring Xiao Yi along for dinner..."

Lin Yi...

Lin Yi...

"What's so great about him!"

"Why does everyone keep bringing him up!"

"In bone structure, aptitude, Destiny!"

"He's clearly inferior to me in every way!"

"Just because he saved me from drowning all those years ago, do I have to spend my whole life being grateful to him, bowing my head to him!"

"I never asked him to save me!"

"He was the one who stuck his nose in where it didn't belong..."

"If only he would disappear..."

Xiao Dong's veins bulged across his forehead, and his qi and blood surged through him like a great river in flood.