Gift Giving

"Though the threshold for joining the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School is not high—so long as you pay—the number who can pass this old man's assessment and cultivate Bright Force within a month is vanishingly small, less than one in a thousand."

Du Cangying continued, "Therefore, among the entire Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, there are only three hundred and twenty-eight official students."

"Now, with you and Ye Langtian added, that makes three hundred and thirty."

"Among these three hundred and thirty, only eighty-nine, including you, have caught this old man's eye and been accepted as my disciples."

"This..."

Xu Qing opened his mouth, still deeply shaken.

"As for true disciples..."

Du Cangying spoke evenly and slowly. "There are only six. Your Senior Disciple Brother Huo Yi and your Second Senior Sister Du Luan are both among them."

"This disciple has learned much."

Xu Qing took a deep breath.

"One more thing."

Du Cangying continued, "Stop working for that Patrol Team at the yamen. Before, this old man would not have interfered, but now you are an official student of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School—and my disciple besides. Your status is no longer what it once was. You represent the face of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded respectfully.

"Du Luan."

Du Cangying asked, "The Azure Hawk Martial Arts School has quite a few businesses under its name. Is there anything still lacking someone to manage it? Let Xu Qing handle it, so he does not end up without enough money to practice martial arts."

"...Mm."

Du Luan pondered for a moment before saying, "Father, I remember now. There is a brothel on Hongye Street, the Spring Breeze Pavilion. It belongs to us, and it seems no official student has been assigned to manage and oversee it yet."

"Hongye Street."

Du Cangying nodded. "That will do. Xu Qing happens to live on Hongye Street as well."

Clearly.

From the moment Xu Qing joined the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, the school had already investigated him.

They had learned of Xu Qing's identity and background.

They even knew where Xu Qing lived.

"Spring Breeze Pavilion."

Xu Qing froze for a moment. He could not help recalling his visit to the Spring Breeze Pavilion that night some time ago. Who would have thought that only a few days later, he would become its owner?

He truly had not expected it.

"Xu Qing, what do you think?"

Du Cangying asked.

"This disciple thanks Master for this reward."

Xu Qing answered swiftly.

"Mm."

Du Cangying nodded. "Next, your master will teach you the Azure Hawk Force."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Du Cangying rose to his feet.

"Thank you, Master."

Xu Qing spoke gratefully, but he still said, "Master, this disciple has a doubt in his heart. I do not know whether I should speak of it."

"Speak."

Du Cangying said.

"It is like this."

Xu Qing said, "This disciple has encountered corpse ghouls several times on Hongye Street. There was even a Black-haired Zombie. Since this disciple lives on Hongye Street, I am somewhat worried..."

"What are you worried about?"

Du Cangying waved a hand. "Some people are already old, with their days nearly at an end, yet they still refuse to go into the earth quietly. They insist on stirring up some trouble."

"Enough."

"Do not concern yourself with it. You are now an official disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Even if you lent them the courage, they would not dare do anything to you."

"Just practice your martial arts properly. If your performance is passable and you can step into the level of Transforming Force within three years, your master may consider accepting you as a true disciple."

"Yes, Master."

Xu Qing nodded respectfully.

After that.

Within the Main Courtyard.

"Now I will show you what a complete Azure Hawk Force truly is."

Boom!

The moment he spoke, Du Cangying shot into the air. Like a mighty eagle soaring through the heavens with wings outspread, an aura of superiority rushed straight at him—domineering, sharp, savage...

"!!!"

Xu Qing's pupils contracted as he stared fixedly at Du Cangying.

Clearly.

Though Xu Qing had already cultivated Hidden Force, compared with Du Cangying, he was like a small witch before a great witch. They were not on the same level at all.

It could be said.

If Du Cangying truly made a move, he could crush Xu Qing to death with one hand.

Time flew by.

Before he knew it.

The sun had set.

At dusk.

"Enough."

Du Cangying withdrew his power and glanced at Xu Qing. "That is all for today. Do not come here tomorrow. Go straight to the inner courtyard instead."

Clearly.

Du Cangying's personal instruction lasted only this one day.

It had now ended.

"Yes, Master."

Xu Qing cupped his fists in salute.

"Go on, go on."

Du Cangying waved his hand.

"This disciple takes his leave."

Xu Qing turned and left.

With that.

Only Du Luan and Du Cangying remained in the courtyard.

"What do you think of that boy?"

Du Cangying asked.

"He is all right."

Du Luan pondered for a moment before saying, "I just did not expect that an orphaned beggar of unknown origins would possess such Martial Talent. It truly exceeded my expectations."

"He must have encountered some fortunate opportunity."

Du Cangying said, "Otherwise, he could not have achieved this much. We shall see how he performs from here on. If his Martial Talent truly proves sufficient, and he possesses the aptitude to enter the Aura Realm, this old man would not be unwilling to accept him as a true disciple."

"Father truly teaches without discrimination."

Du Luan flattered him.

"You!"

Du Cangying shook his head helplessly. "I remember you turned eighteen today, did you not? You should be a grown young lady by now, yet all you know is martial arts. Has not that young master of the Nangong Family been circling around you lately? What do you think? Have you taken a liking to him? If you have, your father thinks it could work."

"After all."

"The Nangong Family is one of Qingbei Town's three great lineages, and they have connections with the authorities."

"Not much to think."

Du Luan curled her lip and said disinterestedly, "That young master of the Nangong Family is nothing but trash. How could I possibly fancy him? The man I can fancy must certainly be a martial arts expert."

"Girl, this world does not contain only martial arts."

Du Cangying said.

The scene shifted.

After leaving the Main Courtyard, Xu Qing arrived at the inner courtyard and met Dan Mingge, one of the inner courtyard's instructors. There were only five instructors in the inner courtyard, and Dan Mingge was one of them.

"You are Xu Qing?"

Dan Mingge asked.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded and cupped his fists in salute. "This disciple Xu Qing greets Instructor Dan."

"No need for ceremony."

Dan Mingge smiled. He was a refined-looking middle-aged man. He took out the uniform of an official Azure Hawk Martial Arts School student, along with an official student identity token. "Xu Qing, these are your clothes and token. Only with this token are you qualified to enter the Martial Arts Pavilion in the inner courtyard."

"The Martial Arts Pavilion stores quite a few martial arts manuals, including fist techniques, leg techniques, sword techniques, saber techniques, and more. If there is anything you wish to practice, you may go take a look."

"Of course."

"If you want to learn other martial arts, you must pay. The Azure Hawk Martial Arts School only teaches you the most basic Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill. Once you become an official student, you will continue learning the middle volume of Azure Hawk Force. Other martial arts require payment."

"Besides that."

"There is also the Weapon Hall and the Resource Hall. The Weapon Hall has all kinds of weapons, while the Resource Hall has Secret Medicine, dietary supplements, Great Elixirs, and so on—but all of them cost money."

"..."

After hearing this, Xu Qing took a deep breath.

Clearly.

Inside the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, everything cost money. Nothing would be given to him for free. In truth, other martial arts schools were more or less the same.

Unless he was qualified to become a true disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, gained Du Cangying's complete recognition, and was regarded as his inheritor, would he possibly enjoy the school's provisions.

"Instructor Dan, may I ask whether there is a Secret Medicine called Spirit Cloud Powder?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Yes."

Dan Mingge nodded. "Go to the Resource Hall. They sell it there. One portion of Spirit Cloud Powder costs three hundred and eighty taels of silver. Fair prices, honest dealings for young and old alike."

"I understand."

Xu Qing said.

Then.

Xu Qing left.

"To cultivate the first volume of Azure Hawk Force in eleven days, he truly possesses considerable talent. In the entire Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, he is second only to Senior Disciple Brother Huo Yi and Second Senior Sister Du Luan."

Dan Mingge watched Xu Qing's departing figure and pondered inwardly. I wonder whether he will have the chance to become Master of the School's seventh true disciple.

Clearly.

News of Xu Qing had already gradually spread through the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Everyone knew that a genius had appeared in the school, someone who could cultivate the first volume of Azure Hawk Force in eleven days, with Martial Talent second only to Huo Yi and Du Luan.

It could be said.

Everyone was in an uproar.

They were utterly shocked.

At this moment.

Xu Qing had already left the inner courtyard and arrived at the outer courtyard. There, the numerous students of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School looked at Xu Qing with extreme reverence.

All of them lowered their heads, not daring to look at Xu Qing at all.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Xu! Congratulations, Senior Brother Xu!"

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Xu..."

"..."

All around him.

Quite a few students wore fawning, obsequious expressions.

Of course.

Xu Qing ignored them entirely. From the very beginning, he had never regarded these people as anything worth noting. Their words were mere wind passing by his ears, not worth his attention.

"Whew..."

"Thank goodness, thank goodness..."

"Senior Brother Xu is magnanimous and did not hold our previous words against us."

"Yes! Yes!"

"I even mocked Senior Brother Xu before!"

"That was terrifying!"

"..."

The many students were all trembling with fear.

At the entrance of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

"Xu Qing."

At that moment.

Xu Qing had only just walked out when he heard a familiar voice. Turning around, he saw Ye Langtian approaching with a smile on his face.

"It is you."

Xu Qing stopped. "What is it?"

"Cough, cough."

Ye Langtian coughed lightly. "Since I joined the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School a few days before you, I'll shamelessly call you Junior Brother Xu."

"It's like this."

"As your senior brother, I apologize for what I said before. I truly never expected Junior Brother's Martial Talent to be so astonishing—it makes me look rather ridiculous."

"Training in martial arts consumes a great deal. I imagine Junior Brother is already somewhat strapped for cash, so I have five hundred taels of silver here for Junior Brother Xu. Consider it an expression of my earlier apology. I hope Junior Brother won't take it to heart."