Gaining Sponsorship

After they had gone some distance away, Zhang Feng instructed:

"This man is a Bright Force martial artist and is currently on patrol duty in the Inner City. Under no circumstances are you to provoke him. If he gives any orders in the future, make sure you answer his call at once."

The men behind him hurriedly acknowledged.

"Brother Heng? Are you all right? Were they here to collect incense money again?"

Li Qingwan stepped out of the courtyard, her face full of concern.

Hearing this, Cheng Heng replied with an easy expression:

"Don't worry. No one will dare collect our incense money again. Oh, and tell Uncle Zhang next door that if anyone from the River Tide Gang comes to collect money in the future, they only need to give my name."

Li Qingwan was delighted to hear this. "I understand, Brother Heng!"

After that, Cheng Heng said nothing more and headed to the martial academy to train.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month passed.

Apart from his patrol duties in the Inner City, Cheng Heng devoted himself wholeheartedly to training every day.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art, Minor Accomplishment (404/5000): Ten practices a day, major accomplishment in one year, perfection in three years]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique, Minor Accomplishment (401/5000): Ten practices a day, major accomplishment in one year, perfection in three years]

[Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique, Beginner (670/1000): Ten practices a day, minor accomplishment in one month, major accomplishment in five months, perfection in one year]

During this period, aside from practicing the stance art and fist technique, he also trained in the Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique manual.

However, the Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique was clearly only a low-grade martial art. Its power could not compare to the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique, but its progress was remarkably swift. Cheng Heng therefore did not abandon it and trained in both.

As his days gradually improved, with meat nourishing him every day and a Blood-Qi Pill every few days, Cheng Heng's physique grew increasingly robust. His training progress was much faster than before.

Yet in just over twenty days, Cheng Heng had already spent five taels of silver, leaving him with only eighteen taels.

Cheng Heng had calculated that with sufficient meat every day, he would need to spend around seven taels of silver a month. The money in his hands would not even last three months.

It seemed he still had to find a way to earn more money. Besides, he also wanted to buy a residence in the Inner City.

If he had sufficient funds, Cheng Heng was confident that he could break through to the Hidden Force realm within eight months.

That day, Cheng Heng patrolled the Inner City with Wang Ming as usual.

The two stopped by the Inner City wall and sighed as they looked at the utterly different scenes within the Outer City and Inner City.

"Those people in the Outer City live on the very edge of survival every day. The slightest lapse could see them starve to death, while the people of the Inner City drown themselves in wine and pleasure every day. Heaven truly is unfair."

Cheng Heng remained silent.

The Outer City had only scattered lights. The occasional pedestrian he spotted was mostly dressed in rags, with numb expressions.

The Inner City, on the other hand, was at its liveliest. Lanterns blazed brightly, restaurants and taverns bustled with heat and noise, business flourished, and everyone coming and going looked vigorous and spirited.

The current state of the world resembled the twilight years of those dynasties from his previous life.

A small number of people controlled ninety-nine percent of the wealth, while those at the bottom could only eat the scraps that trickled from between the fingers of the upper class.

Wang Ming continued:

"I never noticed before that despite not having studied martial arts for long, you have already reached the Bright Force realm. Work harder in the future, and you should be able to break through to Hidden Force!"

Cheng Heng nodded lightly. He would certainly break through to the Hidden Force realm.

"This time next year, the Martial Examination will begin. Do you intend to participate?"

Wang Ming asked.

"Yes. I'll definitely register for next year's Martial Examination. I'm even thinking of securing one of the top places!"

Cheng Heng's expression relaxed as he spoke with utter confidence.

Wang Ming was slightly stunned by this, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Do you know how many people from the Outer City place highly in the Martial Examination each year?"

Hearing this, Cheng Heng grew suspicious. "Please enlighten me, Constable Wang."

"The Bright Force realm merely qualifies one to participate in the Martial Examination. But if you want to place, you must be among the best of the Hidden Force realm to have any hope!"

"In past years, not a single person from the Outer City has made the top ten!"

What? The Martial Examination was actually this difficult?

As though he had seen through Cheng Heng's shock, Wang Ming slowly continued:

"Don't limit your sights to the Outer City. The true experts are all in the Inner City."

"In a tiny place like Gaoyang County alone, there are five great martial academies: Prosperity Martial Academy, Tiger Crane Martial Academy, Penetrating Arm Martial Academy, Rushing Thunder Martial Academy, and Startling Wind Martial Academy!"

"Besides that, there are the descendants of the four great families: the Li Family, Qian Family, Zhao Clan, and Huang Family!"

"Every year, the top ten places in the Martial Examination are monopolized by these powerful and influential households."

"Cheng Heng, if you want to make the top ten, it will be harder than climbing to the heavens!"

"Only by obtaining a top ten ranking can you enter the sights of the great sects in the prefectural cities and gain the chance to leap through the dragon gate like a fish!"

Hearing this, Cheng Heng immediately clenched his fists. Breaking through to Hidden Force in eight months was far from enough. Within one year, he had to become an expert of the Hidden Force realm!

The two fell silent for a moment before Wang Ming comforted Cheng Heng again:

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. With your current strength, it shouldn't be difficult for you to earn a living in Gaoyang County."

"If you save silver for a few more years, you might even be able to move into the Inner City!"

Cheng Heng shook his head upon hearing this and said nothing.

If he had not possessed the Heaven Rewards Diligence golden finger, perhaps he would have long accepted his fate and muddled through life in the Outer City.

But since he had been granted the aid of such a fate, if he did not contend with those people of the Inner City, would he not have lived this life in vain?

As they talked, they unknowingly arrived at the time to change shifts.

As the two were parting ways, Wang Ming suddenly spoke:

"Cheng Heng, you haven't received sponsorship before, have you?"

Some lineages had previously offered to sponsor Cheng Heng, but their conditions had been too harsh, so he had not agreed.

"Chief Wang, I do not currently have any sponsorship."

"How about this? My Wang Family has some foundation in the Inner City. I'll make the decision to sponsor you."

"Fifteen jin of good meat every month, plus two Blood-Qi Pills. Are you willing?"

Wang Ming had spent more than half a month with Cheng Heng. Over that time, he had found Cheng Heng to be low-key in character and exceptionally diligent in martial training.

Aside from having somewhat poor innate bones, he was a top-notch choice in every other respect.

Hearing this, a flicker of emotion rose in Cheng Heng's heart. After spending these days together, he had long regarded Wang Ming as an elder brother.

Seeing Cheng Heng remain silent, Wang Ming asked, "What is it? You're unwilling?"

Cheng Heng hurriedly cupped his hands.

"How could I dare let down Chief Wang's kind intentions? This junior is deeply honored. Many thanks to Chief Wang for your support!"

Wang Ming did not take it to heart.

"All right, all right. Stop with the formalities. Just focus on martial training from now on. And don't forget those bold words you just spoke. I want to see what rank you can achieve in next year's Martial Examination!"

Cheng Heng thanked Wang Ming once more before turning and returning to the Outer City.