Having entered the city,
Lin Chen curiously examined everything around him.
Bluestone streets three zhang wide, with a constant flow of pedestrians.
Shops lined both sides of the street, their signboards varied in style. Some were hung with red silk, bearing golden characters that gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight; others were simple wooden plaques, proclaiming the heritage of long-established shops.
Well-dressed merchants and wealthy men, street vendors hawking their wares.
The entire county city was completely different from Kaohe Town. Here, Lin Chen felt prosperity and vitality.
This was a sight the townsfolk did not possess.
The people of the town worked tirelessly just to secure their daily meals, while the city's residents—especially wealthy merchants and powerful elites—had long escaped the struggle for food, and their demeanor was naturally very different.
Clear Wind Martial Hall.
Yu Yongnian brought Lin Chen straight into the martial hall. Upon reaching the reception hall, a servant of the martial hall served fragrant tea.
"Junior Brother Yu has arrived!"
Before long, footsteps sounded from the side door behind a screen, and a man walked out.
"Senior Brother Zhao."
Yu Yongnian responded with a smile and pointed to Lin Chen standing to the side. "This is Lin Chen, whom I mentioned the day before yesterday—the first person from our Kaohe Martial Hall to cultivate essence energy."
"Disciple Lin Chen greets Instructor Zhao." Lin Chen hurriedly bowed.
"Mm, very good."
Zhao Ce swept his gaze over Lin Chen before withdrawing it, then sat down in the seat of honor. "Junior Brother Yu has traveled all the way from the town. Have some tea first."
The two drank tea and chatted about old times for a while, while Lin Chen listened quietly from the side.
The more he listened, the more something felt off.
This Instructor Zhao only reminisced with Instructor Yu and did not mention Lin Chen joining the martial hall at all.
Yu Yongnian also noticed that something was wrong. He set down his teacup and asked, "Senior Brother Zhao, have the procedures on the martial hall's side been completed?"
"Junior Brother Yu, I'm afraid this matter is somewhat difficult."
Zhao Ce suddenly sighed. "This year, the number of students from various martial halls who cultivated essence energy within a year is far higher than in previous years. I won't hide it from you—just in the past two days, I've already seen seven such students. The martial hall's slots are no longer sufficient."
"There are ten slots in total. Surely not a single one is left. Moreover, Lin Chen is ranked first. According to the rules, he should have one Aperture-Opening Pill slot."
Yu Yongnian's expression darkened slightly. Each of the eight major martial halls had ten slots for Aperture-Opening Pill disciples. If the number of students who cultivated essence energy within a year exceeded eighty, it was indeed possible that some would not receive a slot. However, no matter how many there were, the first-ranked student would always have a slot.
"Junior Brother Yu, don't get agitated. The day before yesterday, the martial hall indeed still had two remaining slots, but the matter of slots is not decided by me alone. The final two slots were given yesterday by the vice hall master to two other students. There is nothing I can do about it."
Zhao Ce sighed softly and looked at Lin Chen. "The martial hall's slots are indeed full. If Lin Chen is willing to join the martial hall, for your sake, Junior Brother, I can apply to the hall master to grant Lin Chen an annual subsidy of ten taels of silver."
"No need."
Yu Yongnian refused outright. He had brought Lin Chen to Clear Wind Martial Hall because he himself had come from this martial hall, and with that shared connection, he prioritized recommending Lin Chen here.
Secondly, it was because Lin Chen's situation was relatively suited to Clear Wind Martial Hall's martial arts. But that did not mean there were no other options at all.
"Since the martial hall's slots are full, then I won't trouble Senior Brother any further. We shall take our leave."
"Junior Brother Yu, don't act on impulse and delay Nephew Lin's future."
"No need for Senior Brother Zhao's concern. Lin Chen, let's go."
Yu Yongnian left with a dark expression. Lin Chen naturally followed. Having lived two lives, he was adept at reading people. This Instructor Zhao clearly looked down on him.
From the lofty, condescending expression Instructor Zhao had when offering ten taels of silver in aid, Lin Chen understood that in the other man's eyes, even ten taels a year was more than he was worth.
"Tch, the son of a fisherman dares to think about getting an Aperture-Opening Pill. Junior Brother Yu really has guts. And claiming he cultivated essence energy with less than twenty taels—who does he think he's fooling?"
Zhao Ce stood at the entrance of the main hall, watching Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen's departing figures, and spat.
If not for the promise he had made the day before yesterday, he would not have offered even ten taels of silver in aid.
Offering ten taels a year was already giving Yu Yongnian face. To refuse it outright—then just wait and hit walls at the other martial halls.
"To Praying Mantis Martial Hall."
After leaving Clear Wind Martial Hall, Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen. "Don't be discouraged. Historically, the first-ranked student of each martial hall can always obtain an Aperture-Opening Pill slot. If Clear Wind Martial Hall's slots are full, Praying Mantis Martial Hall should still have one."
"This disciple has caused Instructor trouble."
Lin Chen's gratitude toward Instructor Yu was sincere. Ever since he entered the martial hall, Instructor Yu had taken great care of him. Now, he had personally come to negotiate terms for him at the martial halls.
This was treatment one would expect for a direct disciple.
The two crossed more than half of the county city and arrived at Praying Mantis Martial Hall.
After Yu Yongnian reported his identity and purpose, a servant of the martial hall led the two into the reception room to wait. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a young instructor came out to receive them.
"I already know Junior Brother Yu's purpose. The Aperture-Opening Pill slots are gone, but our martial hall can provide Lin Chen with an annual subsidy of fifteen taels of silver."
Qian Yong spoke with a smiling face. The Martial Administration Office had sent over the materials of all students in the county who had cultivated essence energy early that morning. After reviewing Lin Chen's file, he had settled on a subsidy of fifteen taels.
"Senior Brother Qian, Lin Chen's total expenditure to cultivate essence energy was less than twenty taels. This is all recorded and verifiable in the martial hall's records. In terms of martial talent, Lin Chen is not inferior to those from great families."
"If that is the case, then why didn't Junior Brother Yu have Lin Chen join Clear Wind Martial Hall?"
Faced with Qian Yong's counterquestion, Yu Yongnian fell silent. Could he say that Clear Wind Martial Hall had rejected Lin Chen?
"Cultivating essence energy with just twenty taels—Junior Brother Yu came from Clear Wind Martial Hall. Surely Clear Wind Martial Hall wouldn't pass up such a disciple."
Yu Yongnian remained silent. He could not say that Clear Wind Martial Hall's slots were full. Regardless of whether Zhao Ce's words were true or false, coming to Praying Mantis Martial Hall only after Clear Wind Martial Hall's slots were full would make it seem like they were treating Praying Mantis Martial Hall as a backup, which would be awkward for both sides.
He did not believe Qian Yong couldn't guess this, yet Qian Yong still pressed the matter. His intent was already clear.
His attitude was also clear—Praying Mantis Martial Hall would not give Lin Chen an Aperture-Opening Pill slot.
"We have disturbed you."
Yu Yongnian clasped his fists and took his leave once more.
"I won't see you out, Junior Brother Yu."
After Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen left, Qian Yong snorted. "What nonsense. Clear Wind Martial Hall didn't want him, so he comes to our Praying Mantis Martial Hall to take advantage. What does he take us for? Cultivating essence energy with less than twenty taels—only a fool would believe that."
Outside the gate of Praying Mantis Martial Hall.
Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen. "Don't lose heart. If Clear Wind Martial Hall and Praying Mantis Martial Hall are unwilling to give you a slot, there are still other martial halls to choose from."
Lin Chen nodded, but a shadow had already fallen over his heart. Things were not that simple.
The fact that he had cultivated essence energy was undeniable. As long as one cultivated essence energy, a martial hall could grant an Aperture-Opening Pill slot. That these two martial halls refused him was partly because they didn't believe he had spent so little to cultivate essence energy, but more importantly, it was because of his family background.
Such things were not suitable to be stated openly, so they used the excuse that the slots were already full.
Cloud Conceal Martial Hall, Gale Martial Hall…
The next two martial halls were just as Lin Chen had expected—he was rejected again.
Walking out of the martial hall gates, Lin Chen looked at Instructor Yu, hesitating to speak.
From an emotional standpoint, he should persuade Instructor Yu to stop. Being rejected at every martial hall was also a form of injury to the instructor, like having his dignity rubbed against the ground each time.
But he truly did not want to give up the Aperture-Opening Pill. His family background was indeed poor, so he had to seize this opportunity even more firmly.
One step late meant every step late.
Only by obtaining the Aperture-Opening Pill and securing an advantage could he receive more rewards in the martial hall's monthly assessments.
After visiting four martial halls, it was already close to noon.
"Let's fill our stomachs first. There's a restaurant in the city with pretty good dishes."
Yu Yongnian took Lin Chen to a restaurant not far from Clear Wind Martial Hall, a smile returning to his face. "Back when I was studying martial arts at the martial hall, my fellow disciples and I often came to this place."
"Shopkeeper, bring a plate of Flying Phoenix Claws, and then add two more dishes as you see fit."
So-called Flying Dragon Claws were simply wild chicken claws, given a nicer-sounding name.
When the dishes were served, Lin Chen ate quietly. Yu Yongnian poured himself a cup of wine and sipped it slowly. Seeing that Lin Chen was not speaking, he comforted him, saying, "There are still four martial halls left. Don't be discouraged. The path of martial arts is long and arduous. Don't lose heart over these minor setbacks before your eyes. The setbacks you suffer today will become the driving force for your growth in martial arts tomorrow."
"The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold; the sharp edge of a sword is forged through grinding. This disciple understands this principle. Even if I fail to obtain an Aperture-Opening Pill slot, I will not abandon the path of martial arts."
There was a hint of surprise in Yu Yongnian's eyes. "I didn't expect you to be able to summarize such words. 'The sharp edge of a sword is forged through grinding'—that saying alone is worth a full drink. You cannot drink alcohol, so use soup instead of wine and drink a cup with me."
After finishing a cup of soup, Lin Chen continued, "Instructor Yu, when this disciple returned to the village, the village head told me of something. Back then, when Jiang Juren left the village, he told the village head that if any younger generation in the village achieved something in martial arts, he should be informed. May this disciple write a letter to inform Jiang Juren of my current predicament?"
Lin Chen raised his head and voiced the thought that had emerged in his heart.
If none of the major martial halls were willing to give him a slot, he could only write a letter to Jiang Juren.
"If Instructor feels it inappropriate, then this disciple will not write."
After hearing this, Yu Yongnian slapped the table. "Write it. Why not write it?"
Seeming to realize his shift in attitude was too abrupt, Yu Yongnian explained, "Though hardship can temper your will, being able to suffer less is naturally better."
"This disciple will follow Instructor's advice. Upon returning, this disciple will immediately write a letter to Jiang Juren."
"No need to rush back just yet. First, come with me to the Martial Administration Office."
Yu Yongnian waved his hand. Seeing Lin Chen's puzzled gaze, he said in a deep voice, "We're going to the Martial Administration Office to file a complaint."