Gaining Sponsorship

After they had gone some distance, Zhang Feng instructed:

"This man is a Bright Force martial artist and serves on patrol in the Inner City. Under no circumstances are you to provoke him. If he gives any orders in the future, you must answer his call without delay."

The men behind him hurriedly acknowledged.

"Brother Heng? Are you all right? Did they come to collect incense money again?"

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

Hearing this, Cheng Heng replied with ease:

"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's face lit up with delight. "Got it, Brother Heng!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, the Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique was clearly only a low-grade martial art. Its power was nowhere near that of the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique, but its progress was swift, so Cheng Heng 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 stronger and stronger. His cultivation progress was much faster than before.

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

Cheng Heng had calculated that, with sufficient meat every day, he would spend roughly seven taels of silver per month. The silver in his hands would last less than three months.

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

If he had enough money, Cheng Heng was confident 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 walls and sighed as they looked at the utterly different scenes of the Outer City and Inner City.

"The people of the Outer City live on the knife-edge between hunger and survival every day. A moment's slackness, and they may starve to death. Yet the people of the Inner City drown themselves in wine and pleasure every day. Heaven truly is unfair."

Cheng Heng remained silent.

Only scattered lights could be seen in the Outer City. The occasional passerby was mostly dressed in rags, their expressions numb.

The Inner City, meanwhile, was at its liveliest. Lights blazed everywhere, taverns and restaurants bustled with heat and activity, business flourished, and everyone passing by was full of vigor.

The state of the world now was no different from the twilight years of those dynasties in his previous life.

A handful of people held ninety-nine percent of the wealth, while those at the bottom could only eat the scraps that slipped through the fingers of the upper class.

Wang Ming continued:

"I hadn't noticed before, but you have not studied martial arts for long, and 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 plan to take part?"

Wang Ming asked.

"Yes. I will definitely register for next year's Martial Examination. I'm even hoping to place among the top few!"

Cheng Heng said with an open expression and abundant confidence.

Wang Ming was slightly taken aback, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Do you know how many people from the Outer City pass the Martial Examination with high marks every 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 earn a ranking, you must be among the finest in 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 if he had seen through Cheng Heng's astonishment, Wang Ming slowly continued:

"Do not limit your sight to the Outer City. The true experts are all in the Inner City."

"In little 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!"

"Beyond that, there are also the descendants of the four great lineages: the Li Family, Qian Family, Zhao Clan, and Huang Family!"

"The top ten places in the Martial Examination every year 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 earning a top ten ranking can you enter the sight of those great sects in the prefectural cities and gain the chance to leap through the dragon gate like a fish!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Heng clenched his fists tightly. Breaking through to Hidden Force in eight months was far from enough. Within a year, he had to become an expert in the Hidden Force realm!

After the two fell silent for a moment, Wang Ming consoled Cheng Heng:

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. With your current strength, making a living in Gaoyang County should not be difficult."

"If you save silver for a few more years, perhaps you can even move into the Inner City!"

Cheng Heng shook his head without saying much.

If he had not possessed the Heaven Rewards Diligence cheat, he might have long since resigned himself to fate and muddled through life in the Outer City.

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

As they spoke, the time to change shifts arrived before they knew it.

As the two parted ways, Wang Ming suddenly spoke.

"Cheng Heng, you have not 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.

"Constable Wang, I do not have any sponsorship at present."

"How about this? My Wang Family has some means in the Inner City. I'll sponsor you on my authority."

"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 discovered that Cheng Heng was low-key by nature and exceptionally diligent in martial training.

Aside from his somewhat poor natural aptitude, he was an excellent choice in every other respect.

A trace of warmth rose in Cheng Heng's heart at Wang Ming's words. During these days together, he had already come to regard 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 fists.

"How could I dare disappoint Constable Wang's kind intentions? I am deeply honored. Thank you, Constable Wang, for your support!"

Wang Ming said indifferently:

"All right, all right, enough with the formalities. Just focus on martial training from now on. Don't forget those bold words you just spoke. I would like to see what ranking you can achieve in next year's Martial Examination!"

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