Chapter 9: Even Treading a Muddy Pond, One Still Yearns for the Star Sea

Around Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School, several streets are packed with restaurants and hotels, and business is best there.

Lao Liang led Qin Shi out the school's back gate, turned into a nearby alley, and stopped at the doorway of a stall called "Li Ji Fast Food."

"Old Li's cooking is famous in this area. It's not mealtime yet; later on, you might not snag a seat."

Lao Liang was clearly a regular; he pulled out a plastic chair, sat down, and hailed the boss to order.

"The usual three: black bean spareribs, bitter melon stir-fried beef, liver and goji berry soup, plus a bottle of Hengzhou Laojiao."

"And bring a whole box of nutrient paste, five hundred grams, the Liangxiang Ji brand."

"Right away, Liang Laoshi. This is your student? He looks really delicate; one glance and you can tell his grades are good, way better than my Xiao Yuan!"

The boss said cheerfully, writing down the dish names and the nutrient paste brand with pen and paper.

He immediately handed the note to a half-grown kid of eight or nine standing nearby, sending him on the errand.

Few people were around at this hour; the food came fast, and not long after, steaming hot dishes were set on the table.

Lao Liang helped himself to a few chopsticks of each, tasting a couple bites of every dish, using them to wash down the wine.

He ate with relish, utterly unconcerned about Qin Shi, whose stomach was growling with hunger.

Only when a box of nutrient paste as big as a palm-leaf fan arrived did Lao Liang open his mouth to speak:

"Whether New Martial Arts or Old Martial Arts, there is one consensus. The Martial Artist's path of Life Force Development mainly stresses two points: Practice Method and Combat Method. Among them, Practice Method includes Body Cultivation and Spirit Cultivation."

"Body Cultivation is the foundation, and the priority. Cultivation and martial practice damage the body most — muscle tears, bone wear; accumulated day by day, month by month, they form hidden injuries. By the time you discover them, it's already difficult to nurse back."

"Back when Old Martial Arts flourished, many a Top Martial Artist stumbled on this very point."

Qin Shi took the square box printed with the three characters "Liangxiang Ji"; it felt fairly heavy in hand, looking like the individual canned rations of his past life.

Lao Liang wore an expectant expression, as if watching a good show:

"You've just Grasped Qi Sensation; your physical ability consumption is huge. Ordinary carbohydrates get absorbed the moment they go down, and before long you're hungry all over again."

"This nutrient paste — during the Great Expedition it served as Rations. Satiety is very strong, calories are high, it contains every component the human body needs. It's most suitable for Old Martial Arts people. Enjoy it to the fullest!"

Qin Shi lowered his head to look at the long strips inside the box, milky-white, toothpaste-like sticky substance, then glanced at the food before Lao Liang, complete in color, aroma, and flavor.

The difference in meal treatment is way too obvious!

"Liang Laoshi, this stuff is expensive, right?"

Qin Shi scooped a spoonful into his mouth; as expected, the texture was extremely bad, like sticky, gluey rotten rice porridge.

But in his past life he'd eaten worse in the park; he could barely tolerate it.

Stripping away taste, he buried his head and wolfed it down!

Forcing down the nausea surging in his stomach, Qin Shi swiftly demolished the Liangxiang Ji nutrient paste.

Lao Liang nodded silently, secretly pleased.

Meridian Opening, Grasping Qi Sensation, eating nutrient paste... all the tutoring class students have tried it.

But few perform as excellently as Qin Shi.

"Physique endures training, comprehension is excellent, Xinli is tenacious — every aspect is very balanced, very outstanding. A natural Old Martial Arts seedling!"

Lao Liang's mood improved further, and his tone softened:

"Liangxiang Ji is relatively cheap; other brands, like Jinmao, Fengchun, Dachang — those few are more expensive."

Qin Shi forced down the last mouthful of nutrient paste with difficulty, gulping water nonstop:

"Is Liangxiang Ji cheap because the taste is awful?"

Lao Liang laughed:

"Correct. This place used to supply the Expeditionary Force; they specialize in Portable Tubes for saturated Energy Supplement, but the taste is lousy. Unless it's an Eating Habit, probably no one likes eating it."

"Eighty-eight yuan a box, enough for a physical laborer to last two days without eating."

"At your training intensity, you'd probably need two boxes a day."

Qin Shi bared his teeth; he worked the front desk at a gym, twelve hundred a month, earning only forty yuan a day.

Add the Youth Palace assistant teacher gig and part-time jobs — the three salaries combined still aren't enough to buy nutrient paste!

"This realization of my own poverty just became instant, profound, and crystal clear."

Qin Shi gave a self-mocking smile:

"Liang Laoshi, I'm afraid I can't even afford the cheap Liangxiang Ji."

Lao Liang sipped the high-proof alcohol in his cup:

"I know. Few tutoring class students can afford nutrient paste."

"Registration fee four or five thousand, nutrition fee five or six thousand — a month throws in ten thousand or so."

"That's why Old Factory Street students, come graduation, can only go mining for physical labor or loiter on the streets."

"The Martial Arts Subject costs a fortune; electing Mechanical or Psychic Major not only burns huge money, but also depends on talent."

Qin Shi's face stayed calm; ever since he stepped into Xin Yi High School in the Taian Urban Circle, he knew just how cruel the reality-check wealth gap truly is.

Those elite class students who ride to school in luxury sedans, or whose food, clothing, and daily items are all big brands.

They actively participate in club activities, mount the stage to receive awards, give speeches — as if born brimming with confidence.

Because of superior family conditions, meticulous ability cultivation, the whole person seems to radiate brilliance.

By contrast, the worker children of Old Factory Street indeed feel somewhat ashamed and inferior, unable to muster any thought of comparison.

"Liang Laoshi, I read in a book. The road ahead is always walked out by people."

Streams of warmth gradually welled up inside Qin Shi's body; the nutrient paste was breaking down within him, slowly fusing into his torn and damaged muscles and bones.

"Poor kids stuck in a muddy pond have no reason not to gaze at the universe, to yearn for the Star Sea."

"Just because one is born on Old Factory Street, does that mean one is destined to be inferior to the Taian Urban Circle, Hengzhou Central City, or even the distant Imperial Capital light-years away?"

The smile on Lao Liang's face froze:

"You really think that way?"

Qin Shi's gaze was calm, without any intention of dodging:

"Purity arises from filth, brightness arises from darkness. The dung beetle buried in dust can also transform into a cicada, drinking dew in the autumn wind; how much more so for a human."

Lao Liang's face tightened, the wine in his cup sloshing:

"This was said by Shi Fo He Lanchan, one of the First Generation Ten Greats, when he won the Star Cup championship at thirty-six and was interviewed by Tomorrow Group.

He was of lowly origin, born in the Borderlands, and even suffered from a severe Gene Defect, yet he secured a place for himself in the vast Star Sea.

You want to learn from him?"

Qin Shi gave a light sound of agreement:

"Liang Laoshi, I know becoming a Martial Artist isn't easy, but for someone like me, no matter which path I take, it won't be easy.

How did that saying the older generation on Old Factory Street always repeat go? Before a fierce tiger there are no ditches; in a coward's heart everything is a barrier!"

Lao Liang let out a long breath, suddenly tilting his head back, the fifty-two-degree liquor entering his mouth, passing his throat, like a burning hot charcoal block, driving away the depression in his heart.

"Good. Xiao Qin, I'll speak plainly: you are a good seedling for practicing Old Martial Arts.

Durable, perceptive, solid foundation, and able to endure hardship.

In all these years running the Tutoring Class, students as outstanding as you are rare.

Your Registration Fee, I can waive. Let's set a period of half a month. If you can circulate Qi Sense five times in that time, complete the Small Heavenly Circuit, all the Nutrient Paste needed for cultivation will be supplied by me. How about it?"

Qin Shi was astonished, almost wanting to scratch his head; was this some kind of unlocked Verbal Achievement?

A few sentences and Liang Laoshi is paying out of pocket to develop my Qi Life Force for me?

He steadied his chaotic thoughts, probing carefully:

"Then, can it be swapped for another big brand? Eating Longxiang Ji's Nutrient Paste for half a month, my sense of taste might fail!"

Lao Liang said irritably:

"Dream on! I'm just a poor Sports School teacher, you really think I'm some big shot!"

Qin Shi chuckled; just now he was naturally joking.

No matter how bad the Nutrient Paste tastes, the price isn't cheap.

With his family's Condition, occasional consumption is fine, but wanting to use it continuously equals burning money.

"Liang Laoshi, many thanks."

The Stall gradually became lively, voices clamoring; Qin Shi slowly stood up, solemnly bowing to Lao Liang.

Whether in his past life or this life, to be fortunate enough to meet a benefactor who holds goodwill toward him and is willing to nurture him.

Those are all rare blessings, must be cherished well, and even more must strive to seize them!

"No need for thanks; we haven't reached the master-disciple bond of Old Martial Arts Inheritance. If you don't succeed, the money that should be paid, not a cent less.

The Tutoring Class isn't a charity hall; students with poor conditions on Old Factory Street are a dime a dozen, my ability is small, I can't save them all."

Lao Liang's mouth was cold and hard, but his heart was quite happy; cooped up in Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School for so many years, always hoping a good seedling would fall into his hands.

And here one was delivered to his doorstep!

"Hope this kid can cross the Old Martial Arts Threshold, don't let me waste my effort for nothing."

(Chapter End)