"Gangs carry some risks, just like the Night Patrol Bureau, so I wouldn't recommend going there either. It'd be best to take a nominal position with a First-Tier Noble House. Of course, the terms offered by these First-Tier Noble Houses might not be as generous as those of the Second-Tier Noble Houses, and your status there wouldn't be very high either. Still, the advantage is that it's stable. Although Second-Tier Noble Houses offer slightly more, they might also have more work for you to do, which could affect your cultivation. As for how to weigh the pros and cons, you'll have to make that decision yourself."
Zhou Chen nodded and committed everything to memory. Although Ma Ge wasn't a Martial Warrior, he had worked odd jobs here for many years and was smooth and tactful in all dealings. When it came to information about Martial Warriors, he actually knew far more than Zhou Chen, who had only just begun his Initiation.
Since Ma Ge had put it that way, Zhou Chen decided to rule out the Night Patrol Bureau and the gangs.
He had never planned to go to a First-Tier Noble House. The pay was too low, and the status wasn't high either. To put it bluntly, he would just be working as a house guard there.
Ma Ge said that Zhou Chen could consider the Lian Household first. Many disciples went there as soon as they completed their Initiation, and the Lian Household offered fairly decent pay.
"If that's the case, I'll go ask Senior Brother later. I might as well get a nominal position with him."
He mulled it over as he walked out the door.
By now, he had spent every last bit of his money and desperately needed silver to buy Black Meat. Naturally, he would go wherever offered the most money.
At the same time, in the courtyard outside, all the disciples had naturally heard Master Zheng's words. Their expressions varied: some were shocked, some depressed, and some jealous. Those who had painstakingly cultivated for a long time without completing their Initiation wore looks of envy and resentment. The scene was truly a spectacle.
The disciples who had deliberately kept their distance earlier in an attempt to curry favor with Ma Pengcheng were especially filled with regret!
When they thought of what they had said just now, they wished they could slap themselves!
No wonder he had been so fearless—he was already a First-Rank Martial Artist. He was worlds apart from them now.
The several stages of martial cultivation were each like a natural chasm. Once someone crossed one, they were utterly different from before.
After the initial delight, Du Song grew somewhat anxious.
He didn't know whether Zhou Chen would still deign to look at him now that he had become a Martial Warrior, especially since Du Song was about to pack up and leave.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhou!"
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhou! Please look after us in the future, Senior Brother!"
While Du Song was still anxious, several Registered Disciples had already rushed forward ahead of him. They clasped their hands and bowed, their faces wreathed in smiles, as though their deliberate coldness earlier had never happened.
Some of them were even the very people who had mocked him publicly and taken the initiative to distance themselves. Now they shamelessly crowded around to offer their congratulations without even blushing. Their thick skin was truly astonishing.
Zhou Chen smiled and nodded, accepting their courtesies.
Some even tried to ride the momentum and invite him to dinner that evening to build a relationship, but he naturally turned them down.
These people were more mercenary than the next. They might curry favor with him today, but if he fell into the mud tomorrow, they would probably be the first to rush over and stamp on him.
A mere nodding acquaintance was enough. There was no need to become close.
Seeing Zhou Chen greeting the other disciples without paying him any attention, a trace of gloom crossed Du Song's eyes, and he gave a self-mocking smile.
That was only natural. Their statuses were worlds apart now. He'd better not go over and invite humiliation.
After dealing with those people, Zhou Chen walked over to Du Song, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Du, what are you spacing out for? Come practice a few moves with me over there. I've only just become a Martial Warrior, so I'm not familiar with using my strength yet. You can feed me a few moves."
"Huh?"
Du Song was stunned. He hadn't expected Zhou Chen to come over and speak to him. Delighted, he hurriedly said, "I'm supposed to feed you moves? Chen—no, Junior Brother Zhou, that wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"
How could a rough man who hadn't even completed his Initiation possibly feed moves to Zhou Chen?
Seeing the sincere smile on Zhou Chen's face, he immediately understood. Zhou Chen had probably noticed his awkwardness and anxiety earlier, and had said this to tell him there was no barrier between them.
"All right, but take it easy. Just don't treat me like a punching bag."
Du Song rolled up his sleeves and laughed heartily. He suddenly felt inexplicably refreshed. After seeing so many people like Zhang Shaojiu, he had come to think that perhaps everyone in the world was more or less the same. But Chen was still Chen.
"How could I? I'll hold back. We can exchange a few moves, and perhaps improve together. Once I enter the inner courtyard to train tomorrow, we won't have a chance to spar anymore."
Zhou Chen chuckled.
If you wanted drinking-and-feasting friends, you could find them everywhere in this world. But true friends like Du Song, who sincerely treated you well, were rare.
After entering the martial path, the higher one climbed, the harder it would probably be to encounter someone who truly understood them. He ought to cherish such people all the more now.
Du Song, however, didn't look particularly disappointed. He smiled and said, "Improving is a good thing. Besides, I'll be leaving before long anyway. When that time comes, Senior Brother Zhou, don't forget to come by my family's shop for sesame cakes. I'll give you a few extra. Xiaocui will make the sesame cakes then, while I'll be in charge of hawking and selling them. Life like that would actually be pretty good."
As he spoke, a trace of yearning swept across his eyes. Since he had no fate with the martial path, he could honestly and properly live as an ordinary person. Life could still be colorful and fulfilling.
While Zhou Chen was sparring with Du Song, several senior brothers and sisters came out of the inner courtyard to congratulate him as well. However, they weren't nearly as enthusiastic as they had been when celebrating Zhang Shaojiu, nor did they give him gifts to curry favor.
After all, it had taken him nearly two months to break through to the First Grade, and he had done so with the help of a bowl of Qi-Blood Soup every day. His future achievements were truly limited.
One Senior Brother named Ye Lingtian, however, specially gave him a packet of Blood-Boiling Powder. The medicine could invigorate the blood, dispel stasis, and speed up cultivation. Many disciples from well-off families used it.
It was said that even one packet cost at least half a tael of silver. Zhou Chen was genuinely surprised and delighted. He had hardly interacted with Ye Lingtian at all.
Zhou Chen asked around and learned that Senior Brother Ye Lingtian was an orphan who usually kept a low profile and cultivated diligently. Although his own circumstances were difficult, whenever a disciple broke through, he would always give them a packet of Blood-Boiling Powder to form a good relationship.
That was why Senior Brother Ye had an excellent reputation in the academy. He was the second-most respected person after Lian Taoze, and few people had ever made an enemy of him.
Speaking of making enemies, there had been one incident, though.
Apparently, the young master of a minor family had once become enemies with Senior Brother Ye.
The matter had not been Ye Lingtian's fault, yet he still visited the young master several times to apologize and brought generous gifts as compensation, adopting an extremely humble posture. No one could find fault with him. But that young master had been spoiled by his arrogance and refused to accept the way out Ye offered him, repeatedly humiliating him.
He had even cursed at Ye several times: "You're nothing but a good-for-nothing with an inferior aptitude who only lucked your way into becoming a First-Rank Martial Artist! What do you take me for, bringing so little? Even my family's dog eats better than this!"
Perhaps Heaven had eyes. That Second-Tier Noble House, which had a Second-Rank Martial Artist protecting it, was suddenly wiped out to the last member by a mysterious expert. After learning of it, Senior Brother Ye was saddened for several days.
At that moment, Sun Yingying and Liu Fei also came over to greet him.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhou. Master Zheng has gained another First-Rank Martial Artist today. This is truly cause for celebration." Liu Fei lived up to her reputation for being tactful; there wasn't a single flaw to pick out in her words.
As for Sun Yingying, she merely nodded faintly and offered two words of congratulations, without saying anything else.
After the two had walked away, Liu Fei smiled and said, "If you had sponsored him a few days ago, wouldn't the Sun Household have gained another First-Rank Martial Artist today? But it isn't too late even now. Junior Sister Sun, would you consider sponsoring him?"
"He's merely a First-Rank Martial Artist. It's not as though our two households lack First-Rank Martial Artists holding nominal positions with them. Someone like him had to struggle desperately before barely becoming a First-Rank Martial Artist. His potential is exhausted. He has absolutely no hope of becoming a Second-Rank Martial Artist, so there's no point talking about whether to sponsor him."
Sun Yingying's face was cold. She was wholly unwilling to admit that she had misjudged him. "We might as well spend the next few days looking for other senior and junior brothers with excellent aptitudes. Investing in them is the proper path."
Sun Yingying smiled as well and said nothing more. She had only been teasing Liu Fei. If she were in Liu Fei's place, she wouldn't have sponsored Zhou Chen either. The First-Rank Martial Artists their families sponsored were all talented enough to have the potential to break through to the Second Rank.
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