Spendthrift

Cheng Family Ancestral Residence.

At this moment, Cheng Heng's grandfather was leisurely basking in the sun in the courtyard, humming a little tune, utterly at ease.

Bang!

The sound of the gate being pushed open rang out. Cheng Qi had returned from the Thunderclap Martial Academy in the Inner City.

Cheng Heng's grandfather hurriedly rose to his feet and asked:

"Qi'er, you're back. How did your training go today?"

Cheng Qi's eyes rolled as he edged closer to Old Master Cheng and cautiously said:

"Grandfather, there's something I want to tell you!"

Old Master Cheng frowned and said:

"What is it? Go on."

"Well... well, lots of disciples at the martial academy buy Blood-Qi Pills to speed up their training. I want to buy a few too, to nourish my body."

Old Master Cheng's brows knitted tightly as he asked:

"How many taels of silver does one Blood-Qi Pill cost?"

Cheng Qi had to pay two taels of silver in tuition to the Thunderclap Martial Academy every month. He had been studying martial arts for four months now, already spending eight taels of silver. The retirement money he had painstakingly saved over the years was nearly gone!

Old Master Cheng had worked hard for most of his life and saved up only a little retirement money. Nearly all of it had been spent on the second uncle's family, while the eldest branch had not benefited in the slightest.

Cheng Qi paused before saying:

"One Blood-Qi Pill costs two taels of silver. I want to buy five!"

"How much?"

The moment Old Master Cheng heard the price of the Blood-Qi Pills, he was utterly shocked. Even if he pooled all the family's assets, he still would not be able to buy more than a few pills!

"Qi'er? Didn't you say that once you reached Bright Force, you could take up a post and earn an income?"

"How is that matter of taking up a post going?"

After calming himself, Old Master Cheng did not agree. Instead, he asked Cheng Qi about taking up a post.

Hearing this, Cheng Qi immediately frowned. "Grandfather, many of my senior brothers at the Thunderclap Martial Academy are supported by their families. They only need to focus on training. Who goes out and takes up a post?"

"If I went out and took up a post, people at the martial academy would look down on me!"

"And those Blood-Qi Pills—my senior brothers at the academy eat them like candy every day. I haven't even had more than a few so far. If this keeps up, my cultivation will be left behind by everyone else!"

"How am I supposed to take part in next year's Martial Examination then?"

Hearing Cheng Qi's words, Old Master Cheng remained silent for a long time!

Cheng Qi's participation in the Martial Examination was a major matter and could not be delayed in the slightest. The family had produced only this one person who studied martial arts. The Cheng Family was counting on Cheng Qi to pass the Martial Examination with flying colors, bringing honor to his ancestors!

Even if they had to tighten their belts, they still had to provide Qi'er with Blood-Qi Pills!

With that thought, Old Master Cheng shakily rose to his feet and walked into the main hall. After a while, he came out carrying a box wrapped in coarse cloth.

"Qi'er, there are ten taels of silver in here. This is the family's last savings. Take this money and buy Blood-Qi Pills. In next year's Martial Examination, you must bring back a ranking!"

Though Old Master Cheng was reluctant, he still gritted his teeth and said it.

"Thank you, Grandfather!"

"Just rest assured about next year's Martial Examination!"

Beaming with joy, Cheng Qi accepted the ten taels of silver and dashed back to the Inner City in a puff of smoke.

Once he arrived in the Inner City, Cheng Qi was just about to find a medicine shop and buy Blood-Qi Pills for cultivation.

At that moment, a teasing voice reached Cheng Qi's ears.

"Junior Brother Cheng, hold on!"

Cheng Qi turned around and saw a tall, imposing young man in brocade walking toward him, his face pale and four or five sturdy attendants following behind him.

Though this man was tall, he reeked of rouge. One look was enough to tell that wine and women had hollowed him out.

"So it's Senior Brother Qian. What do you need from me?"

The newcomer was named Qian Xu, a descendant of the Qian Family, one of the four great families of the Inner City. He studied martial arts alongside Cheng Qi at the Thunderclap Martial Academy.

Though Cheng Qi had no idea what the other man intended, he still asked.

"Hahaha, it's been a long time since I last had a chat with Junior Brother Cheng!"

Qian Xu laughed loudly and approached Cheng Qi with seeming warmth.

Then, with great enthusiasm, he draped an arm over Cheng Qi's shoulder and continued:

"Junior Brother Cheng, you and I are both disciples of the Thunderclap Martial Academy, and we happened to meet here today. As the junior brother, shouldn't you show a little sincerity?"

"Come, Junior Brother Cheng. Let's go to the Gathered Worthy Pavilion and celebrate!"

Without giving Cheng Qi a chance to refuse, he pulled him toward the Gathered Worthy Pavilion.

The Gathered Worthy Pavilion was one of Gaoyang County's finest restaurants, and its prices were exorbitant—far beyond what an Outer City man like Cheng Qi could afford!

Cheng Qi looked troubled and stammered:

"Senior Brother Qian, I came today to buy Blood-Qi Pills. Another day—another day, I'll definitely treat you to a proper drink!"

"Hm? Junior Brother Cheng, are you looking down on me? We're only having a small gathering at the Gathered Worthy Pavilion. It won't delay you for long. There are also senior brothers from many other great families joining us. I'll introduce you to them. You can't miss this opportunity!"

Qian Xu gave Cheng Qi no chance to refuse at all.

"Th-this..."

Though Cheng Qi hesitated aloud, he also wanted to seize this opportunity to form connections with important figures from the Inner City. In the end, he followed Qian Xu to the Gathered Worthy Pavilion.

A little over an hour later, Cheng Qi staggered drunkenly out of the Gathered Worthy Pavilion with a group of richly dressed youths.

When it came time to settle the bill, Cheng Qi had paid for it. One meal had cost him a full seven taels of silver!

Though his heart ached over the expense, he had finally gotten to know quite a few wealthy sons from the Inner City today, and he felt the money had been well spent!

Cheng Qi bid the group farewell at the restaurant entrance, then prepared to return to the medicine shop and use the few taels he had left to buy Blood-Qi Pills.

Before parting, the other four or five wealthy youths had called Cheng Qi brother after brother, appearing to truly regard him as one of their own.

After Cheng Qi left, a mocking smile appeared on Qian Xu's lips. Then, a similarly pale-faced youth beside him asked:

"Brother Qian, where did you drag up this country bumpkin? Just because he paid for one meal, he thinks he can become brothers with us? He should take a look at how much he weighs before dreaming so big!"

Qian Xu watched Cheng Qi's retreating figure vanish around the street corner, utterly unconcerned as he said:

"A country bumpkin from the Outer City, fighting desperately to climb upward. We give him the slightest opportunity, and look—doesn't he come crawling over to curry favor with us?"

"Hahahahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

The people around him burst into laughter at his words, then went their separate ways, scattering like birds and beasts.

Cheng Qi still believed he had forged ties with influential figures from the Inner City. Little did he know that in the eyes of these upper-class people, Outer City folk like him were no more than ants beneath their feet.

This was a farce whose ending had long since been written.

For those at the bottom to truly break through the barriers of class in this chaotic age, there was only one path: relying on their own strength!

If Bright Force was not enough, then Hidden Force. If Hidden Force was not enough, then Skill-Transforming Force!

Unfortunately, Cheng Qi did not understand this truth.

Rather than wasting himself on such meaningless socializing, he would be better off putting all his energy into martial cultivation. Only when his strength matched theirs would they open their eyes and truly look at him!