No Point in Sponsoring Him!

"Gangs, like the Night Patrol Bureau, carried a certain amount of risk, so I wouldn't recommend them either. It would be best to take a position with one of the First-Tier Noble Houses. The terms they offered might not be any better than those of the Second-Tier Noble Houses, and your status there wouldn't be particularly high either. Still, it was steady work. Second-Tier Noble Houses paid a little more, but they might also demand more of you, perhaps affecting your own cultivation. How to weigh it all is something you'll have to decide for yourself."

Zhou Chen nodded and committed every word to memory. Though Ma Ge was not a Martial Warrior, he had been doing odd jobs here for many years and was adept at handling every kind of person. He knew far more about Martial Warriors than Zhou Chen, who had only just undergone Initiation.

Since even Ma Ge had said so, Zhou Chen would no longer consider the Night Patrol Bureau or gangs.

He had not planned to join a First-Tier Noble House either. The pay was too low and the status was not high; put bluntly, he would just be working as a guard.

Ma Ge said that the Lian Household could be his first choice among the Second-Tier Noble Houses. Many disciples went there as soon as they underwent Initiation, and the Lian Household's pay was fairly good.

"In that case, I'll ask Eldest Senior Brother later. I might as well find a position under him."

With that in mind, he walked out.

He had spent every last coin he had and urgently needed silver to buy Black Meat. Naturally, he would go wherever paid the most.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard outside, the disciples had naturally heard what Master Zheng had said. Their expressions were varied: some were shocked, some depressed, and some jealous. Those who had cultivated bitterly for a long time without undergoing Initiation showed envy and unwillingness alike. It was quite the spectacle.

Especially those disciples who had deliberately kept their distance from him earlier in an attempt to curry favor with Ma Pengcheng—they were now filled with regret.

When they recalled what they had just said, they wanted nothing more than to slap themselves across the face.

No wonder he had been so fearless. He was already a First-Rank Martial Artist, worlds apart from them like clouds and mud.

The martial path had several barriers, each one like a heavenly moat. Cross even one step beyond it, and you were no longer the same as before.

After his initial delight, Du Song became somewhat uneasy.

He did not know whether Zhou Chen, now that he had become a Martial Warrior, would still spare a glance for Senior Brother Du, who would soon have to roll up his bedding and leave.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhou!"

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhou! Please look after us more in the future, Senior Brother!"

While Du Song was feeling uneasy, several Registered Disciples beside him had already rushed forward first. They clasped their hands and bowed, smiles piled high across their faces, as though the deliberate distancing from earlier had never happened.

Among them were even several people who had publicly mocked him and taken the initiative to distance themselves earlier. Now, without blushing or skipping a beat, they came over to congratulate him with shamelessly thick skins, so thick it left one sighing in amazement.

Zhou Chen smiled and nodded, returning their greetings.

Some of them even tried to follow the snake up the pole, wanting to invite him to dinner that night to cultivate ties with him. Naturally, he refused.

Every one of these people was more snobbish than the last. They might fawn over him today, but if he fell into the mud tomorrow, they would likely be the first to rush over and stomp on him.

A nodding acquaintance was enough. There was no need for deep friendship.

Seeing Zhou Chen greeting the other disciples without acknowledging him, Du Song's eyes flashed with a trace of desolation. He gave a self-mocking smile.

That was only natural. Their statuses were now as far apart as heaven and earth. He had better not go up and greet him only to humiliate himself.

After dealing with those people, Zhou Chen walked over to Du Song, patted his shoulder, and smiled. "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 and still aren't familiar with using my strength. You can feed me some moves."

"Huh?"

Du Song froze. He had not expected Zhou Chen to come speak with him. Delighted, he hurriedly said, "I'll feed you moves? Ah Chen, no, Junior Brother Zhou, isn't that inappropriate?"

How could a rough man who had not even undergone Initiation possibly feed Zhou Chen moves?

Seeing the frank smile on Zhou Chen's face, he understood at once. Zhou Chen must have noticed his unease and fear earlier, and had said this to tell him that there was no barrier between them.

"Fine, but take it easy. Just don't use me as a punching bag."

Du Song rolled up his sleeves and laughed heartily, feeling inexplicably refreshed. Having seen so many people like Zhang Shaojiu, he had thought everyone in the world was probably the same. But Ah Chen was still the same Ah Chen.

"How could I? I'll hold back my strength. We can exchange a few moves and perhaps improve together. Once I enter the inner courtyard to train tomorrow, we won't have another chance to spar."

Zhou Chen chuckled.

If you wanted friends of wine and meat, they were everywhere. But true friends like Du Song, who sincerely cared for you, were few and far between.

After entering the martial path, the higher one climbed, the harder it would probably become to meet someone who truly understood them. That made it all the more important to cherish what he had now.

Du Song did not look particularly disappointed at those words. He smiled. "Improving is a good thing. Besides, I'll be leaving before long anyway. When the time comes, Senior Brother Zhou, don't forget to buy flatbreads from my family. I'll give you a few extra. By then, Xiaocui will make the flatbreads, and I'll be responsible for shouting and selling them. That kind of life isn't bad either."

As he spoke, a trace of longing passed through his eyes. Since he had no affinity with the martial path, he could still live a lively and colorful life as an honest ordinary man.

While Zhou Chen was sparring with Du Song, several senior brothers and sisters came out from the inner courtyard to congratulate him. However, they were nowhere near as enthusiastic as they had been when celebrating Zhang Shaojiu's breakthrough, much less offering gifts to curry favor.

After all, he had only broken through to the first rank after nearly two months, and that was with the help of a daily bowl of Qi-Blood Soup. His future achievements were truly limited.

Yet one senior brother named Ye Lingtian specifically gave him a packet of Blood-Boiling Powder. This medicine could invigorate the blood and disperse bruising, speeding up cultivation progress. Many disciples from wealthy families used it.

It was said that a single packet cost at least half a tael of silver. Zhou Chen was genuinely surprised and delighted. He had barely had any dealings with this man.

After asking around, Zhou Chen learned that Senior Brother Ye Lingtian was an orphan. He was usually very low-key and cultivated diligently. Though his own circumstances were difficult, whenever a disciple broke through, he would always give them a packet of Blood-Boiling Powder to forge a good connection.

That was why Senior Brother Ye had an excellent reputation in the academy. He was the second most respected person after Lian Taoze, and rarely had grudges with anyone.

But speaking of grudges, there had been one incident.

It was said that a young master from a small family had once formed a grudge with Senior Brother Ye.

The matter had not been Ye Lingtian's fault, yet he had still gone to apologize several times and prepared lavish gifts to make amends. He had lowered his posture to the utmost, leaving everyone unable to find fault with him. But that young master had long been used to being arrogant and overbearing. He stubbornly refused to accept the offered way out, repeatedly slighting him.

He even cursed at him again and again: "You're nothing but trash with inferior bone aptitude who got lucky and broke through to the first rank! Bringing such trifling gifts—what do you take me for?! Even my family's dogs eat better than this!"

Perhaps Heaven had opened its eyes. That Second-Tier Noble House, which had a Second-Rank Martial Artist stationed there, was suddenly exterminated by a mysterious expert. When Senior Brother Ye learned of it, he was even 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 under him today. It is truly a cause for celebration." Liu Fei was indeed skilled at handling every kind of person; there was not a single fault to pick in her words.

As for Sun Yingying, she merely nodded faintly and said the word congratulations, offering nothing more.

After the two had walked some distance away, Liu Fei smiled and said, "If you had sponsored him a few days ago, wouldn't your Sun Household have gained another First-Rank Martial Artist today? But it isn't too late even now. Junior Sister Sun, have you considered sponsoring him?"

"Just a First-Rank Martial Artist. It isn't as if our two households have no First-Rank Martial Artists working under them. Someone like him struggled through untold hardships just to barely become a First-Rank Martial Artist. His potential has already run dry. It is absolutely impossible for him to become a Second-Rank Martial Artist. There's no point in discussing whether to sponsor him or not."

Sun Yingying's face turned cold. She was completely unwilling to admit that she had misjudged him. "It would be better to spend the next few days looking for other senior brothers or junior brothers with excellent bone aptitude. Investing in them is the proper path."

Sun Yingying smiled as well and said nothing more. She had only been teasing. If it were her, she would not sponsor Zhou Chen either. The First-Rank Martial Artists sponsored by their families all possessed the potential and aptitude to challenge the second rank.