Promoted to One-Star Martial Artist

Jiang Baichuan spotted the concern in Lin Hao's eyes at a glance.

He quickly waved a hand and said with a smile, "I didn't think this through! Meridian talent testing generally only gives accurate results once your blood qi has stabilized above 3.0.

"Your blood qi is still growing rapidly, so testing now really would be a little premature. How about this? I'll keep this free testing slot reserved for you permanently.

"Whenever your blood qi reaches 3.0, come see me. I'll personally arrange the best tester for you."

"Sorry for the trouble, Director Jiang." Lin Hao nodded to Jiang Baichuan.

He knew full well that meridian talent was something people were born with, and ordinary people couldn't change it.

But he was different. He had a system.

As long as he could trigger the corresponding quest, there was a chance of improving his meridian talent.

Seeing him agree, Jiang Baichuan finally felt the stone hanging over his heart drop into place.

Three hundred thousand in exchange for a chance to befriend someone who would stand at the pinnacle of Jiang City's martial arts world-this deal was an absolute windfall.

He quickly waved his hand with a smile. "No trouble, no trouble at all! This is all part of our job! Come on, I'll take you to complete the One-Star Martial Artist paperwork right now."

Lin Hao nodded and left the practical assessment room with Jiang Baichuan.

At that moment, the assessment center's efficiency was pushed to its absolute limit.

The One-Star Martial Artist certification process normally required visiting two or three service windows and waiting several working days.

With Jiang Baichuan personally escorting Lin Hao, he got green lights all the way.

In less than half an hour, Lin Hao received his One-Star Martial Artist certificate and a box containing a One-Star Martial Artist badge.

The accountant in the finance office said directly, "Mr. Lin, your One-Star Martial Artist blood qi allowance for this month, fifty thousand yuan, has already been deposited into your account. You can check it."

Lin Hao had just glanced at the deposit notification on his phone when Jiang Baichuan handed him a set of keys with an access card hanging from the key ring.

"Mr. Lin, under Jiang City's regulations, local One-Star Martial Artists are eligible to be allocated a home of over 120 square meters with full ownership.

"We've specially arranged a home for you in River View Luxury Gardens in the city center. It's 220 square meters, fully fitted out, with brand-new appliances and furniture. You can move straight in with your bags."

Jiang Baichuan pressed the keys into Lin Hao's hand and said with a smile, "I've already sent someone to handle the property deed. It can be delivered to your home next week. You can move in with your family right now."

Lin Hao took the keys, somewhat surprised.

Jiang Baichuan explained further, "This is special treatment Jiang City provides for top talents. It's completely within regulations."

Lin Hao said no more, knowing that Jiang Baichuan wanted to befriend him.

But since it was within regulations, he nodded and said, "Thank you. Sorry for all the trouble today, Director Jiang."

Delighted, Jiang Baichuan hurriedly said, "You're welcome, you're welcome!"

With the complicated paperwork finished, Lin Hao walked out through the martial artist assessment center's main entrance.

The midday sunlight was so dazzling that it was hard to keep his eyes open.

Lin Hao took a deep breath and pulled out his phone, about to call his parents to let them know everything was fine.

The screen suddenly lit up. The caller ID showed Jiang Chao.

Lin Hao answered and said with a smile, "Not bad! You're really well-informed, huh? I just walked out of the assessment center, and you're already calling."

Yet Jiang Chao's voice on the other end was unusually dejected. "Haozi, about Zhao Man-I had my dad ask around. Her dad is the deputy director of the Equipment Division at the General Bureau. Her backing really is powerful. Our family can't intervene.

"But don't worry. My dad has already arranged a warehouse administrator job for you at our family's building materials business. Twenty thousand a month."

"A warehouse administrator? Twenty thousand a month?"

Lin Hao felt as though he had heard a joke.

Only then did he realize that Jiang Chao hadn't learned about his One-Star Martial Artist certification. He was still talking about the matter involving Lin Hao and his older female cousin.

"Yeah!" Afraid he would refuse, Jiang Chao hurriedly explained, "You won't have to move goods or take inventory. You'll take home twenty thousand, and we'll pay the five social insurances and housing fund too, just like a regular employee. I told my dad to promote you to warehouse supervisor in a couple of years."

Lin Hao couldn't help laughing. "Jiang Chao, whose warehouse administrator earns twenty thousand a month? My dad works his butt off at the mine all month and only makes a little over eight thousand."

"That's different," Jiang Chao hurriedly said. "Someone has to keep an eye on the warehouse. What if something goes missing? You're meticulous, so you're suited to this work. I've been assessing you for years. There's absolutely no problem!"

Lin Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Of course he knew Jiang Chao was finding a roundabout way to help him, afraid that after being expelled from school and losing the industrial park job, he would have no way to support himself.

He stopped beating around the bush with Jiang Chao, took a photo of his One-Star Martial Artist certificate and badge, and sent it over.

"All right, stop making things up," Lin Hao interrupted with a laugh. "When have you ever seen a One-Star Martial Artist work as someone else's warehouse administrator? Look at the photo I sent you."

The other end of the line suddenly fell silent.

After roughly five seconds, a deafening shout erupted from the earpiece.

Lin Hao quickly held the phone a little farther away.

"Holy shit! Haozi, you're awesome! So fucking awesome! A One-Star Martial Artist! You actually became a One-Star Martial Artist! I knew you were no mere fish confined to a pond!"

"All right, all right, stop shouting. You're practically deafening me." Smiling, Lin Hao brought the phone back to his ear. "Are you free tomorrow evening? Dinner's on me. Pick anywhere you like."

"No! My treat!" Jiang Chao hurriedly said. "Something this big calls for a celebration. I have to arrange it!"

"No, this one's on me." Lin Hao's tone was serious. "You've always treated me to meals all these years. Now I'm someone with a martial artist blood qi allowance. This meal has to be my treat."

Jiang Chao laughed. "Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony. Oh, right, I really want to see the looks on Zou Jianmin's and Shi Tie's faces right now!

"If they found out they'd actually expelled a One-Star Martial Artist and handed away Jiang City's future top scorer in the martial entrance exam for nothing! Just how ugly would their faces look!"

Lin Hao couldn't help laughing either. "All right, let's leave that for now. I need to call my parents. They're still worrying at home."

"Right, right! Hurry up and call! Don't keep your mom and dad worrying," Jiang Chao said quickly.

After hanging up on Jiang Chao, Lin Hao dialed his mother's number.

The call was answered after a single ring, and Li Xiulan's anxious voice immediately came through. "Xiao Hao? How did it go? Have you finished the test? Was your blood qi high enough?"

"Mom, don't worry. The test's done." Lin Hao smiled. "My blood qi was far above the industrial park's requirement of 0.9. Organizer Chen said right there that the matter with my cousin was completely cleared up. There are no problems at all."

"That's wonderful! Wonderful!" On the other end, Li Xiulan wept with joy. "I knew my son could do it! I'll go buy groceries right now and make your favorite braised pork tonight!"

"Mom, don't buy anything," Lin Hao hurriedly said. "I'll stop by the supermarket on the way and buy plenty of good food. We'll have a proper celebration tonight. I also have a big surprise to tell you in person."

"A surprise? What surprise?" Li Xiulan asked curiously.

"It's a secret." Lin Hao smiled and kept her in suspense. "You'll find out when I get home."

After hanging up, Lin Hao slipped his phone back into his pocket and looked up at the sky.

The midday sunlight spilled through the gaps between the plane tree leaves.

His twelve years of waiting and frustration.

His parents' twelve years of toil.

The outsiders' twelve years of cold looks.

Starting today, it was time for all of it to end.