Disappointment

Everyone turned to Zhao Feng with strange looks. Chu Fan's words were clearly aimed at him—he might as well have pointed at Zhao Feng's nose and said his natural aptitude was poor and that giving him this opportunity would be a waste.

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

"If the patrol unit performs well this time, it may win the favor of more factions and even the county magistrate, gaining more funding. That would be tremendously helpful for breaking through to Dark Force. It really shouldn't be wasted on disciples with poorer natural aptitude. Senior Brother Zhao, I'm not targeting you. I'm thinking wholeheartedly for the sake of the entire martial arts school and our other junior brothers," Chu Fan continued.

"Junior Brother Chu is right. He's considering the bigger picture," Wang Yu and Zhou Xue quickly agreed.

The moment Wei Yuan saw them using the so-called bigger picture to pressure him, he felt somewhat helpless.

Then Zhao Feng spoke.

"Senior Brother Wei, thank you for recommending me. Give this opportunity to another junior brother instead," he said calmly, his gaze clear.

In truth, the moment he heard about the county-wide proclamation, he had already given up on the idea. He had too many secrets and needed to keep a low profile. At least while his strength was still insufficient, he had to remain that way. Let someone else have the chance to stand out.

Moreover, he had his doubts. The county magistrate had always been indolent. He barely cared even when bandits ran rampant in his territory or when gangs in the outer city fought in the streets and killed people. Why had he suddenly changed his ways? Something about this seemed strange.

Most importantly, he was currently at a crucial stage of piling up progress points to break through to Dark Force. Night patrols, catching bandits and vagrants—those things were nothing but a waste of time and energy to him. He might as well spend more nights in the courtyard practicing the Cloak Saber Technique and archery.

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

Huo Shan, who had been watching coldly from the side, revealed a hint of disappointment. Zhao Feng was extremely diligent and possessed remarkable perseverance. Huo Shan had even guided him a few days ago and felt that his comprehension was quite good. Yet he shrank back when faced with matters and gave up an opportunity already before him so easily. In the end, he was not someone capable of shouldering great responsibilities. Opportunities had to be fought for. The path of martial arts was one of struggle.

Afterward, Wang Yu, Chu Fan, and Zhou Xue selected another veteran Bright Force disciple. They finalized the list and submitted 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 limits. Otherwise, if he went out on patrol, failed to catch the bandits, and even got injured by them, that would be utterly humiliating. Our martial arts school's reputation would suffer too," Zhou Xue said with a cold laugh.

Her impression of Zhao Feng was only average. He was a mud-legged country bumpkin who trained hard until late every day, flaunting himself like some show-off. Who was he trying to impress? His natural aptitude was so poor, yet he had neither self-awareness nor tact. All the other junior brothers fawned over her, their senior sister, practically wishing they could become her followers. Only he kept a distant, polite attitude toward her.

"I said long ago that he was a hopeless case. He only broke through to Bright Force by sheer luck. He shrinks back whenever something happens and has no ambition. He isn't worth your effort in supporting him, Second Senior Brother. You should find someone else to sponsor," Chu Fan said to Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan said nothing. He, too, felt a trace of disappointment in Zhao Feng. Such a fine chance to make a name for himself, yet Zhao Feng did not even dare to fight for it? Even Wei Yuan's desire to continue arranging blind dates for him faded.

At five in the afternoon, the eight disciples changed into the patrol uniforms issued by the county yamen and went out on patrol in high spirits.

"These eight senior brothers are all the elites 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 outstanding among men."

"I really envy them. They can make a name for themselves and bring glory to their ancestors."

The other disciples of the martial arts school watched the group's retreating backs enviously and whispered among themselves.

Zhao Feng paid them little attention. He withdrew his gaze, leaped onto the plum blossom stakes, and continued his stance training.

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

His push to break through to Dark Force would come within these next few days. For the following three days, aside from consuming large amounts of beast meat, precious medicine, and Vitality Pills to replenish himself, he trained his stance skills like mad.

"Senior Brother Zhao is holding in a lot of frustration."

"Yeah. He wasn't chosen for the patrol unit last time, so he must be unwilling to accept it."

"What a pity..."

Seeing him train his stances and practice his fists with such frenzy, the disciples in the martial arts school whispered quietly among themselves.

Meanwhile, the disciples who had joined the patrol unit caught several bandits and vagrants during their patrols over the past few days. The county magistrate rewarded and commended them all.

Most of them came from prominent families and wealthy households, so they did not care much about the silver. But this represented official recognition, and it brought honor to their respective families.

They became even more motivated. They also sparred with martial artists from other martial arts schools and wandering martial artists, gaining quite a bit from the exchanges. Chu Fan in particular drew plenty of attention. He won several matches with ease, and the youngest Dark Force expert in Big Stone County became widely known. Many experts sighed in admiration and praised him.

"A hopeless case. No matter how hard he works, it's pointless," the now smug and self-satisfied Chu Fan thought as he watched Zhao Feng practicing his stance from afar.

Hurry up and leave the martial arts school. Out of sight, out of mind. They had entered the martial arts school together, cleaned the stables together, fed the pigs together, and done all the dirty, exhausting chores. Zhao Feng had seen him at his most miserable and pathetic. The thought made Chu Fan feel irritated and uncomfortable. How clueless. Standing here and making an eyesore of himself!

Wei Yuan also stood to the side watching Zhao Feng train madly, his feelings conflicted.

Over the past few days, he had not spoken or sparred with Zhao Feng. He still resented how Zhao Feng had so readily given up the opportunity Wei Yuan had fought to secure for him. Had he really misjudged him? Was Junior Brother Zhao truly someone without ambition, content to drift through life?

At home, his older sister Wei Ping had urged him more than once to stop sponsoring Zhao Feng or reduce his support. She believed that the ten taels of silver, beast meat, and Treasure Fish he gave each month were simply money thrown into the water. Any Bright Force martial artist could handle escort work, and escort assignments did not come often. Most of the time was relatively idle, so seven or eight taels at most would be enough. There was no need to provide Treasure Fish or beast meat at all.

But he did not know how to bring it up with Junior Brother Zhao.

Treasure Mountain Ward in the outer city, the Three Harmonies Gang's headquarters. Bang! Bang!

Two dull impacts exploded through the air. The force of Dark Force collisions made the eardrums of the surrounding Three Harmonies Gang members ache, and they all retreated.

A young man wearing a conical hat slid back several steps. His iron-claw-like palms trembled slightly as he raised his head and stared in shock at the middle-aged martial instructor who had just driven him back with a single palm strike.

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

"So your Three Harmonies Gang really has pledged allegiance to Black Cloud Stronghold!" The young man's heart sank. Cao Yuan was infamous; he was the third chief of Black Cloud Stronghold and had countless bloody crimes on his hands. More importantly, his opponent was a veteran Dark Force expert, while he himself had only recently entered Dark 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 the corner.

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

"Bald Zhang, stop trying to deny it! The Black Tiger Gang was wiped out by you people. How could you not have killed him?" Feng Second Tiger roared.

"Every grievance has its source, every debt has its owner. If we had killed him, with Third Chief Cao here, what would I have to fear from admitting it? But we clearly didn't kill him, and I won't take the blame for this!" Bald Zhang shouted.

"On the night your elder brother died, all of us brothers were enjoying ourselves at the brothel. You can investigate it!"