Martial Pavilion

After eating his fill, Chen Xu wiped his mouth and walked out of the restaurant under the stunned gazes of the buffet owner and the other diners.

This was the first time in nearly two years that he had truly eaten to his heart's content, replenishing the energy his body needed.

Before he had transmigrated, the previous owner of this body and the old director had always lived in rather straitened circumstances. The reason was simple: no one came to learn.

For a martial arts school, no disciples meant no income. Chen Martial Arts Academy had not had a single disciple for nearly two years.

Even the annual Martial Hall Exchange Tournament had stopped being attended due to Chen Zhenwu's growing frailty.

If he participated in the directors' battles in his elderly state, whether he could retain even the glory of his former top ten ranking was truly questionable.

If they even lost their former top ten title, no one would be willing to study martial arts at their down-and-out academy.

Without money, they could not purchase martial arts resources. Without resources, the director and instructors could not improve their strength. If the instructors and director lacked strength, no one would come to learn martial arts. If no one came to learn, there would be no income.

Most small martial arts schools lived through such days, caught in a vicious cycle day after day, until they were ultimately eliminated.

After counting his remaining Abyss Coins, Chen Xu raised a hand and hailed a taxi.

"Martial Pavilion," Chen Xu said indifferently, leaning against the back seat and closing his eyes to rest.

Upon hearing "Martial Pavilion," the driver instinctively glanced back at Chen Xu. Seeing that he was a teenager, he seemed to understand something.

"Sir, you're taking the self-study route, right? Are you going to apply for the martial arts apprentice assessment today?

"I heard that the director's disciple from Floating Light Martial Arts School is taking the Martial Artist assessment today. A Martial Artist under twenty—her talent is really impressive."

He waggled his brows at Chen Xu, revealing a grin every man understood. "I have relatives at Floating Light Martial Arts School. According to them, she's a great beauty."

Seeing that Chen Xu remained silent, the driver smiled awkwardly and said nothing more. He lightly pressed the accelerator and sped up.

About a quarter of an hour later, the taxi stopped by the roadside.

"Sir, we've arrived at the Martial Pavilion. Vehicles like mine can't go any farther ahead."

Chen Xu opened his eyes. An aura like that of the king of beasts flashed past in an instant, making the driver unconsciously shrink his neck. He instinctively scanned the surroundings, yet found nothing.

Pushing open the door, Chen Xu looked toward the towering building a thousand meters away. The two words "Martial Pavilion" atop it were vigorous and powerful, gleaming brightly.

A steady stream of people entered and exited. Of course, most were tourists carrying cameras and taking pictures everywhere.

Starting the year before last, Great Abyss had passed the Martial Arts Support Act, but changed the term "martial arts" into "martial arts performance," gradually transforming it from a method of combat and killing into a method of performance and entertainment.

With policy support, all manner of flashy performance martial arts schools had sprung up across Great Abyss like bamboo shoots after rain. Though they were also called martial arts schools, they were rejected by many established schools.

As he strode into the Martial Pavilion, a group of young people in uniform caught Chen Xu's attention. When he spotted the insignia on them, weren't they the Floating Light Martial Arts School apprentices the driver had mentioned?

This martial arts school was one of the new-style schools that had risen to prominence the year before last. In just four years, their income had already surpassed countless established schools, second only to Jinning's number one martial arts school, the century-old Nine Heavens Martial Arts School.

As if sensing Chen Xu's gaze, the man with the center-parted hair who had been facing away from him turned around and sized Chen Xu up. Seeing his shabby outfit, which probably did not even add up to a hundred Abyss Coins, a trace of emotion entered his eyes.

Even within the same city, the gap between rich and poor had grown to such an extent. Perhaps the money that young man's family earned over several years would not even cover two or three months of tuition at Floating Light Martial Arts School.

"Brother Lu, why did you suddenly stop talking?" The man beside him followed Lu Yi's gaze and looked over, his disdain entirely undisguised.

"Eh, why is he heading toward the VIP-only passage? Don't tell me he can't read?" The woman in high heels covered her mouth and chuckled. Before their senior sister arrived, watching this poor youth make a fool of himself would be a decent way to pass the time.

"Junior Brother Zheng, go bring him over here. Ask what business he's here for, then send him to the regular counter. If he wanders somewhere he shouldn't, the security inside won't show mercy."

"There aren't many people as kind and strong as Brother Lu. He's lucky to have run into you, Brother Lu." Junior Brother Zheng offered a neither-too-loud-nor-too-soft bit of flattery and walked toward Chen Xu.

"Hey." Junior Brother Zheng extended a hand, but just as he was about to pat Chen Xu, he seemed to think of something and withdrew it.

"Something wrong?" Chen Xu stopped walking, his voice calm.

Gulp.

Junior Brother Zheng's throat bobbed several times. He did not know whether it was an illusion, but he felt as though he was not speaking to a teenager, but to a fierce tiger feigning sleep.

Just as he was about to speak, a hearty laugh interrupted him. "Isn't this Director Chen? What happened at noon must have made you laugh at us."

A middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe and long gown slowly strolled over.

"Chang Wei, hurry up and apologize to Director Chen!"

Chang Wei unwillingly stepped out from Zhicheng Martial Arts Academy's group. Apologizing in public to a youth seven or eight years younger than him, with students he had taught for years right there—he was about to lose all face.

"Director Chen, I sincerely apologize. I caused you trouble at noon." He bowed deeply, concealing the hatred in his eyes. If not for Chen Xu, how could Chang Wei have been demoted to a junior instructor position again? He had even directly lost the next Refining Liquid benefit.

After straightening, he took an exquisite gift box from the bag he carried with him, held it carefully, and respectfully offered it to Chen Xu.

Seeing Chang Wei's expression, how could Chen Xu not know what he was really thinking? But he did not care. He was merely a minor instructor. He was no match for him now, and he would be even less capable of catching up to his footsteps in the future.

Casually hooking a finger around the ribbon on the gift box, Chen Xu said to Director Xu, "Thank you, Director Xu. You're welcome to visit my martial arts school anytime in the future."

With that, he lifted a foot and headed into the VIP area.

"Wait." Director Xu tucked both hands into his sleeves, a glint flashing through his eyes.

"Director Chen, have you forgotten something?"

"Oh? What do you mean?" Chen Xu paused slightly, the skin hidden beneath his clothes faintly taking on a bronze hue.

"You and I are both directors of martial arts schools. If I say it in public, wouldn't that make Director Chen lose face?"

Director Xu slowly spread his hands from within his sleeves.

"Director Chen, we have already paid our compensation. Now, shouldn't we discuss the matter of you looting Instructor Chang's personal belongings after defeating him?"

"That's right, Chen! You've gone too far in bullying others. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and return the Refining Liquid!" Seeing his own director backing him up, Chang Wei immediately found his courage and shouted.

"Since when did a dog have the right to interrupt when its master was speaking!"

An invisible aura spread outward. The bearing of the king of beasts instantly made Chang Wei shut his mouth and shrink to the back of the group.

After dealing with Chang Wei, Chen Xu played with the gift box. "As for the matter Director Xu mentioned, I have no recollection of it at all. Could it be that he slept himself muddled? Even something like failing to find an item he lost while walking down the road has to be pinned on me?"