Clearing Doubts

"No. 7 Middle School," Xiao Wang replied.

"No wonder. Haven't you learned any combat techniques?"

"What are combat techniques?" Xiao Wang asked Wei Zhongxing in confusion.

"What the hell kind of students are they teaching? Someone preparing to take the martial arts academy entrance exam doesn't even know what combat techniques are?" After hearing Xiao Wang's words, Wei Zhongxing could no longer hold back his cursing. "Just because firearms are being used more and more doesn't mean martial arts have declined!"

Wei Zhongxing continued, "Did you learn everything on your own, kid?"

"The school has martial arts teachers."

"They don't even teach combat techniques? Then they might as well not exist. You've got decent talent, kid. You can come learn here."

The moment Xiao Wang heard that, he immediately dropped to his knees before Wei Zhongxing. "This disciple greets Master."

"Get up already. I never said I'd take you as my disciple. I only said you could come learn here. But you can't be short a single cent on tuition."

"Tuition won't be a problem, but why...?"

"Why? Do you still want to get into Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy or not?"

"This disciple understands." Xiao Wang guessed it was still related to Wei Zhongxing being expelled from Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy, so he did not press further.

"Master, how much is the tuition?"

"Ten thousand Federation dollars a month."

The instant Xiao Wang heard that, his teeth ached. Zhou Zhengxiong only earned five thousand Federation dollars a month despite taking just two days off.

"Master, could you give me a discount?"

"If you think it's too expensive, get the hell out. I'm worth that price."

"Fine. I'll pay for one month first, starting today." As Xiao Wang spoke, he immediately took out a ten-thousand-denomination Federation bill he had received from testing medicine and handed it over.

Wei Zhongxing accepted it, glanced at Xiao Wang, and groaned inwardly, Damn it, he pulled out ten thousand Federation dollars that easily. I set the price too low.

By then, the sky had already darkened.

After putting away the money, Wei Zhongxing instructed Cheng Hu, "Is dinner ready?"

"Almost. Once I stir-fry the edamame, we can eat."

"Eat here. I'll introduce you to your two senior brothers too," Wei Zhongxing said to Xiao Wang.

"Thank you, Master."

"No need to thank me. You paid for it."

"Master, do you have a phone? I need to call home and let them know."

"Inside." Wei Zhongxing pointed toward the main room.

Xiao Wang went inside, picked up the phone, called home, and briefly explained the situation to Qin Fengying.

"Be careful on your way back," Qin Fengying reminded him before hanging up.

After finishing the call, Xiao Wang went to the kitchen to help Cheng Hu.

Meanwhile, Wei Zhongxing and Linghu Ke were discussing something in the main room.

As he helped out, Xiao Wang quietly asked Cheng Hu, "Senior Brother Cheng, how much is your tuition?"

As Cheng Hu stir-fried the food, he replied, "Ask Master."

Xiao Wang: ???

"Senior Brother Cheng, look, we're fellow disciples now. I'm just asking. Besides, I've already paid, right? Even if you told me, I couldn't get a refund anyway."

As Cheng Hu scooped the food from the wok, he replied, "I don't have to pay."

"Huh?"

Before Xiao Wang could ask why, Cheng Hu continued, "Master raised me."

The moment Xiao Wang heard that, he immediately understood.

"I understand."

"You don't understand." Cheng Hu rarely contradicted anyone, but he did not explain further.

"I'm an adopted orphan too. I understand."

"No, you don't understand." Cheng Hu contradicted him again.

Nor did Cheng Hu show the slightest surprise at learning that Xiao Wang was an adopted orphan.

Xiao Wang did not know what Cheng Hu meant, but he did not press the matter. Everyone had their own story. If Cheng Hu did not want to talk about it, asking would be pointless.

The meal was soon ready. The master and three disciples sat around a table in the main room. Wei Zhongxing sat at the head, Cheng Hu and Linghu Ke sat on either side, and Xiao Wang sat at the lowest seat.

"Go get a bottle of liquor. We've got a new member today, so we should have a drink," Wei Zhongxing said.

Cheng Hu immediately got up, brought out a bottle of Fengyang Spring, and poured each of them a cup.

Wei Zhongxing raised the cup before him and introduced them to Xiao Wang one by one. "This is your eldest senior brother, Cheng Hu. This is your second senior brother, Linghu Ke. My name is Wei Zhongxing. You're Xiao Wang, right?"

"Yes."

"Come on, welcome to Zhongxing Martial Arts Hall."

After saying that, Wei Zhongxing tipped back his head and drained the cup in one gulp.

"Thank you, Master and Senior Brothers." Xiao Wang followed suit and emptied his cup as well.

"Our Zhongxing Martial Arts Hall doesn't have many rigid rules. Sometimes we take on commercial jobs or something like that. Just lend a hand when you can."

"This disciple will certainly do his utmost."

The meal was quite enjoyable. Cheng Hu's cooking was fairly good too; one could tell at a bite that he cooked often.

After dinner, they sat at the entrance to the main room.

The searchlights atop the inner city wall occasionally swept across the roof, casting everything in bright light.

Watching them, Xiao Wang asked Wei Zhongxing, "Master, you said before that absolute muscle control wasn't important. Then why does Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy test for it?"

"When did I say it wasn't important? I only said it wasn't important before the First Limit. But what kind of place is Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy? It's the highest martial arts institution in the outer district of all Mount Yuan City. Their goal in training people is naturally different from ours. If you want to break through the limits of martial arts, absolute muscle control is extremely important.

"For example, your Senior Brother Cheng Hu. You got a taste of his abilities earlier. Who do you think has greater combat power?"

"Of course Senior Brother does," Xiao Wang answered.

"Then do you think you have more muscles under absolute control, or does he?"

"I haven't been tested, so I don't know."

"Right now, he has slightly more. But in the long run, you'll definitely have more. With his build, he probably won't be able to break through the First Limit in his lifetime. That's determined by physical conditions. That's what people call martial arts talent. Even if you can break through the First Limit in the future, you may not be his match before then. Even if the number of muscles you absolutely control eventually far surpasses his, you still may not be, because his strength far exceeds yours.

"But when the number of muscles you absolutely control approaches the First Limit infinitely closely, your speed, reactions, agility, eyesight, and so on will all far surpass his. If you face an enemy then, you'll be able to win easily. That's the effect of talent. When your ceiling is high, there will always come a time when you overtake and defeat your enemies.

"Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy trains people, of course, not merely to produce disciples who remain within the First Limit. Understand?"

Xiao Wang nodded. "I understand."

"Today counts as your first day, so I'll teach you one more thing—the most important thing in martial arts. Do you know what that is?"

Xiao Wang shook his head. "I don't."

"The most important thing in martial arts is this: when facing an enemy, don't talk about martial morality."

Xiao Wang: ???

"When fighting an enemy with martial arts, aside from the determination to stand above all others, the rest is not getting hung up on what methods you use. Victory and staying alive are your ultimate goals. Understand?"

"I understand." Although Xiao Wang agreed aloud, he thought, Maybe Master wasn't wronged at all when Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy expelled him as a teacher.

"Alright, head back. Next time you come, I'll teach you combat techniques. Taking the martial arts academy entrance exam without even knowing combat techniques—what trash."