Disappointment

Everyone turned to Zhao Feng in unison, their gazes strange. Chu Fan's words were unmistakably aimed at him; he had all but pointed at Zhao Feng's nose and said his poor root bone made giving him this opportunity a waste.

"I'm only doing this for the school, for the bigger picture."

"If the Patrol Squad performs brilliantly this time, it might win the favor of more factions, or even the County Magistrate, and receive more funding. That would be a tremendous help in breaking through to hidden force. We really shouldn't waste it on disciples with poor root bone. Senior Brother Zhao, I'm not targeting you. I'm thinking wholeheartedly of the entire school and our other junior brothers," Chu Fan continued.

"Junior Brother Chu is right. He's thinking of the bigger picture." Wang Yu and Zhou Xue nodded repeatedly.

Seeing them use the so-called bigger picture to pressure others, Wei Yuan felt a little helpless.

Just then, Zhao Feng spoke.

"Senior Brother Wei, thank you for recommending me, but give this opportunity to another junior brother." His expression was calm, his gaze clear.

In fact, the moment he had heard about that announcement to the whole county, he had already abandoned the idea. He had too many secrets and needed to keep a low profile, at least until he grew stronger. He would leave the limelight to others.

He also had his doubts. The County Magistrate had always neglected his duties. He barely concerned himself with the roaming bandits plaguing his jurisdiction or the gangs fighting and killing people in the streets of the Outer City. Why had he suddenly changed his ways? Something about this was strange.

Most importantly, Zhao Feng was at the crucial stage of building up his progress to break through to hidden force. Night patrols, catching bandits and outlaws-all of that would only waste his time and energy. Practicing the Cloak Saber Technique and Archery in his courtyard at night would be far more worthwhile.

Hearing this, Wei Yuan could only nod and give up.

Huo Shan, who had been watching coolly from the sidelines, showed a trace of disappointment. Zhao Feng was extremely diligent and possessed extraordinary perseverance. Huo Shan had even instructed him a few days earlier and found his comprehension quite good. Yet he shrank back when faced with a challenge, so easily giving up an opportunity already within reach. In the end, he was not someone who could shoulder a heavy burden. Opportunities had to be fought for. The path of the Martial Dao was all about striving.

Afterward, Wang Yu, Chu Fan, and Wang Xue selected another veteran bright strength disciple, finalized the list, and handed it to Huo Shan for review. Huo Shan had no objections.

Wei Yuan, Wang Yu, Zhou Xue, and Chu Fan returned to the rear courtyard. "At least he has enough self-awareness to know his own weight. Otherwise, if he went out on patrol and failed to catch the bandits-or even got hurt by them-he'd make a complete fool of himself. Our school's reputation would suffer too." Zhou Xue sneered.

Her impression of Zhao Feng was mediocre. He was a mud-legged country bumpkin who trained late every day, like some shameless show-off. Who was he trying to impress? His root bone was so poor, yet he had neither self-awareness nor the sense to read the room. The other junior brothers all fawned on her as their senior sister, eager to become her followers. Only he kept her politely at arm's length.

"I told you long ago that he's mud that won't stick to a wall. He only broke through to bright strength by luck. He backs down when things happen and has no ambition. Someone like that isn't worth the effort of helping him rise, Second Senior Brother. You should sponsor someone else," Chu Fan told Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan said nothing. He, too, felt a flicker of disappointment in Zhao Feng. With such a fine chance to make a name for himself, had he not even dared to fight for it? His enthusiasm for arranging more marriage introductions for Zhao Feng faded as well.

By late afternoon, at the hour of the Rooster, the eight disciples had changed into the Patrol Squad uniforms issued by the County Yamen and headed out on patrol, full of vigor.

"These eight senior brothers are all the elite of our Huo Family Martial Arts School."

"What are you talking about? Did you forget Senior Sister Zhou Xue?"

"Ah, right, right. These eight senior brothers and sisters are dragons and phoenixes among people."

"I'm so jealous of them. Now they can make names for themselves and bring glory to their ancestors."

The school's other disciples watched their retreating figures with envy, whispering among themselves.

Zhao Feng paid little attention. He withdrew his gaze, leaped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes, and resumed his stance training.

[Eight Extremes Stake Skill, minor mastery (940/1000)]

His final push to break through the gate to hidden force would come within the next few days. For three days straight, aside from consuming large quantities of ferocious beast meat, treasure medicine, and Vitality Pills, he did nothing but train his stances like a madman.

"Senior Brother Zhao has a fire bottled up inside him."

"Right. He wasn't chosen for the Patrol Squad last time. He must feel bitter about it."

"It's just a shame..."

Seeing him practice his stances and fists so frantically, the disciples whispered among themselves.

Meanwhile, the disciples who had joined the Patrol Squad caught several bandits and roaming outlaws during their patrols over the past few days. The County Magistrate rewarded them all with silver and commendations.

Although most of them came from established families or wealthy households and cared little about the silver, it still represented recognition from the authorities and brought honor to their respective lineages.

They became even more motivated. They also sparred with martial artists from other schools and wandering martial artists, gaining a great deal. Chu Fan, in particular, stole much of the limelight. After winning several sparring matches with ease, he became widely known as Big Stone County's youngest hidden force expert, earning admiration and praise from many accomplished fighters.

Mud that won't stick to a wall. No amount of effort will help, Chu Fan thought as he watched Zhao Feng practice his stances from afar, now brimming with satisfaction.

Hurry up and leave the school. Out of sight, out of mind. They had entered the school together, cleaned the stables and fed the pigs together, and done filthy, exhausting chores together. Zhao Feng had seen him at his most wretched and disgraceful. The thought alone left Chu Fan irritated and uncomfortable. You have no sense. Staying here, being an eyesore!

Wei Yuan also stood to one side, watching Zhao Feng train frantically, a jumble of emotions in his heart.

He had neither spoken nor sparred with Zhao Feng these past few days. He still resented how easily Zhao Feng had given up the opportunity he had fought to secure for him. Had he truly misjudged him? Was Junior Brother Zhao someone with no ambition, content merely to scrape by?

At home, his elder sister Wei Ping had urged him more than once to stop sponsoring Zhao Feng or reduce his benefits. She believed that giving him ten taels of silver, ferocious beast meat, and Treasure Fish every month was simply throwing money into the water. Any bright strength martial artist could escort shipments, and escort jobs did not come up often. Most of the time, the work was fairly idle, so seven or eight taels at most would suffice. There was no need to provide Treasure Fish or ferocious beast meat.

But he did not know how to broach the subject with Junior Brother Zhao.

At the Three Harmonies Gang's headquarters in Treasure Mountain Ward, in the Outer City. Bang! Bang!

Two muffled clashes exploded through the air. The shock of hidden force sent stabbing pain through the surrounding gang members' eardrums, forcing them to retreat.

A young man wearing a bamboo hat slid back several steps, his iron-claw-like hands trembling slightly. He raised his head and stared in shock at the middle-aged Martial Master who had just driven him back with a single palm strike.

"You're... Smiling Tiger Cao Yuan!" The young man instantly recognized his opponent by the distinctive black mole on his face.

"So your Three Harmonies Gang really has thrown in with Black Cloud Stronghold!" The young man's heart sank. Cao Yuan's vicious reputation preceded him. He was Black Cloud Stronghold's third chief, with countless bloody crimes on his hands. More importantly, his opponent was a veteran hidden force expert, while he had only recently entered hidden force. He was no match for him. How could he avenge his elder brother now?

"Feng Second Tiger!" Only then did Bald Zhang, leader of the Three Harmonies Gang, poke his head out from behind a corner.

"I already told you, we didn't kill your elder brother!"

"Bald Zhang, stop your sophistry! You wiped out the Black Tiger Gang. How could you not be the ones who killed him?" Feng Second Tiger demanded furiously.

"Every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor. If we killed him, with Third Chief Cao here now, what would I have to fear from admitting it? But we didn't kill him, and I won't carry that black pot of blame!" Bald Zhang shouted.

"The night your elder brother died, all our brothers were enjoying themselves at the brothel. You can go check!"