Selected

[Heaven helps those who help themselves; No Effort Is Wasted]

[Realm: Skin Refining Second Layer]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist: 73% (Grand Mastery)]

[Violet Palace Method: 31% (Minor Mastery)]

Deng Qing stared fixedly at the four words "Skin Refining Second Layer," and his heart immediately surged with emotion. Scene after scene from the past flowed before his eyes like flickering shadows.

Fighting for his life at North Warehouse, risking danger in Blackwind Ravine, tending the furnace for seven days, pot after pot of reeking offal, braving wind and snow to fetch Elder Wu...

"Focus your intent. Calm your heart."

Elder Wu's sharp shout suddenly rang out.

Deng Qing hurriedly reined in the monkey of his mind and subdued the horse of his will, continuing to refine the medicine into his body.

More than an hour later, the Medicinal Bath finally ended. After washing up and changing clothes, Deng Qing stepped out of the medicine room just as the second watch drum sounded.

Deng Qing's mind jolted. Braving the wind and snow, he raced straight for Fan Sheng's home.

When Deng Qing arrived, a brazier was burning in the front hall of Fan Sheng's house.

The whole family had already gone to sleep. Only Fan Sheng paced back and forth in the hall, unable to sit still.

Deng Qing had long since informed Fan Sheng that he would be breaking through tonight, telling him to wait no matter what and help him pull off an extreme maneuver.

So Fan Sheng had waited until now.

Suddenly, rustling footsteps sounded outside. Fan Sheng opened the door, and a cold wind laden with snow rushed in, nearly knocking him over.

When he looked again, Deng Qing was already standing outside, the medicinal scent still clinging to him, snowflakes covering his shoulders and lapels.

"Did you make it?"

Fan Sheng asked.

Deng Qing nodded.

Fan Sheng's furrowed brow immediately relaxed. Pointing at the brazier, he said, "Warm yourself first. I'll go find Senior Brother Zhang Yan right now."

Before Deng Qing could answer, Fan Sheng had already rushed out the door.

Deng Qing had given Fan Sheng advance notice, and Fan Sheng had in turn spoken with Zhang Yan beforehand.

Zhang Yan had been deeply impressed by Deng Qing. Naturally, he did not want such a capable fighter to be left outside because of a single rule, so he promised that if Deng Qing could break through, he would definitely report it to his master.

An hour later, Fan Sheng rushed back.

Deng Qing sprang to his feet. "Did it work?"

Fan Sheng nodded hard.

The two exchanged a look, then both burst into laughter.

Their laughter disturbed the side room, where a lamp suddenly lit up. Fan Sheng hurriedly signaled for him to keep quiet.

Deng Qing clasped his hands in salute and rushed out the door.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, at the first quarter of the hour of the Dragon, Celebration Hall's front courtyard.

Celebration Hall had many disciples at Skin Tempering First Layer, but only a little over twenty had gathered in the front courtyard to hear the results.

That was because everyone had their own scales in their hearts.

There were fourteen slots. Most people already knew whether one would fall to them.

Since they knew there was no hope, they might as well not come and suffer the embarrassment.

When Deng Qing arrived, Li Cheng, Wang Wei, and Zhou Tie were already there.

The three of them looked somewhat uncomfortable upon seeing him.

They had all learned the result already. They were definitely among those selected, while Deng Qing most likely was not.

Yet Deng Qing's contributions and abilities were right there for all to see.

Awkward as it was, the four still gathered and chatted for a while, doing their best to avoid the list that was about to be announced.

Li Cheng said he had found Deng Qing a position: guarding the Chen Family, a wealthy household in the city. It paid one tael of silver a month, with meat on every even-numbered day.

Wang Wei also suggested a place. Deng Qing could work at a blacksmith's shop, where the wages were decent enough.

Zhou Tie asked whether he would be willing to join the yamen. He could arrange an unofficial constable's post for him, following along to make arrests.

Deng Qing smiled and thanked them for their kind intentions. He said that when he truly could no longer afford food, even if he had to beg, their three places would be his first choices.

All three laughed.

Suddenly, the laughter and chatter in the courtyard ceased.

Everyone turned toward the sound. Zhang Yan stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, while Fan Sheng held the roster at his side.

Zhang Yan swept his gaze over the crowd and went straight to the point. "Today, we announce the list of Attendants."

As his words fell, the atmosphere in the courtyard sank. Fan Sheng unfolded the roster and began calling names.

Those selected looked slightly relieved, while those passed over wore faces as dark as water.

Sure enough, Li Cheng, Wang Wei, and Zhou Tie had all been selected. The three glanced at Deng Qing from the corners of their eyes and saw that he stood silently, without the slightest sign of dejection.

At last, Fan Sheng finished naming the fourteen people, yet called out one more. "Special circumstances. One additional selection: Deng Qing."

The courtyard fell deathly silent. Li Cheng, Wang Wei, and Zhou Tie all looked stunned.

Only half a cup of tea ago, they had been planning for Deng Qing to become a guard or work iron. In the blink of an eye, he had actually made the list.

Among the unsuccessful disciples, some flicked their sleeves and left, while others lowered their heads in silence.

Ding Yuan stepped forward and clasped his fists. "Senior Brother Zhang, I accept it when others are selected. But Deng Qing alone—I refuse to accept it."

The crowd's gazes turned into blades, stabbing toward Deng Qing in unison.

Ding Yuan declared loudly, "He did render service at Blackwind Ravine, but who here has not bled for the hall?

I entered the hall before him and took on more assignments than he did. Taking a slot based on one Blackwind Ravine incident alone will be hard to make everyone accept."

The entire courtyard immediately erupted in commotion. Deng Qing had the shallowest seniority, and relying on a single military merit to surpass everyone truly could not convince the crowd.

In truth, most of those selected had connections. No one could criticize others, so Deng Qing was the one they could criticize.

It was precisely because of this that Ding Yuan had singled out Deng Qing.

Wang Wei wanted to step forward and speak, but Zhou Tie quietly pulled him back. Li Cheng said under his breath, "We're already on the list. If Ding Yuan keeps questioning it, he's only asking for humiliation."

Sure enough, Zhang Yan said, "Deng Qing was selected not because of his contribution at Blackwind Ravine, but because he has already broken through to Skin Refining Second Layer.

Surely those at Skin Tempering First Layer can be selected while those at Skin Refining Second Layer cannot? There is no such logic under heaven."

The entire courtyard was in an uproar.

"Impossible!"

Ding Yuan cried out in shock, "How much meat and medicine does it take to break through Skin Tempering? He has no family background or backing. He only entered the first layer a few months ago. Where did he get the resources to break through again?"

Discussion broke out all around, and everyone stared at Deng Qing.

Zhang Yan could not be bothered to explain. He looked at Deng Qing. "Show them."

Deng Qing stepped forward, and the others moved aside.

Deng Qing assumed the stance of Tiger-Subduing Fist and leaped into the air. Wherever his fist wind reached, his blood and qi sank downward. The skin and flesh of both arms, his chest, abdomen, waist, and hips swelled at once. Before long, white vapor rose from his entire body as he struck.

Everyone present was an expert. One look at the display Deng Qing had produced was enough to confirm Skin Refining Second Layer beyond doubt.

Zhang Yan announced coldly, "You have all seen it. Deng Qing's skin strength connects into one whole, and his blood and qi course through his body. He is undeniably at Skin Refining Second Layer."

With his realm displayed before their eyes, seniority and contributions had to step aside.

Ding Yuan's face turned ashen. Without saying a word, he turned and left.

Someone in the crowd muttered, "I get it. Pig offal must have dropped in price again."

A few muffled laughs sounded, and the taut atmosphere suddenly eased.

As the crowd dispersed, Li Cheng and the other two surrounded Deng Qing, their eyes shining brightly.

Deng Qing raised his hands. "What are you three doing? If you're robbing me, you've picked the wrong target."

Wang Wei grinned. "Senior Brother Deng, that was too underhanded of you. You broke through and didn't even tell us, making us worry for nothing."

Zhou Tie snorted. "Well, that settles it. The title Offal Martial Saint is now firmly yours."

Li Cheng scoffed. "Are you two not heading in the wrong direction? Shouldn't he be punished?"

"Right, he should be punished. Punished by treating us."

Wang Wei and Zhou Tie spoke in unison.

Deng Qing raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll treat you."

The four laughed and joked, but the bitter and sweet in their hearts were known only to themselves.

At the very least, Li Cheng felt somewhat disappointed. He had always prided himself on his diligence, not to mention the resources supporting him.

He had thought he would leave everyone in the dust, but every time he believed he had thrown Deng Qing far behind, this man would silently catch up again.

Their relationship was quite good, but Deng Qing's step-by-step ascent still left a sour taste in Li Cheng's heart.