Chapter 22: A Sword

They entered the city.

Lin Chen regarded everything around him with curiosity.

A thirty-zhang-wide cobblestone street bustled with pedestrians.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their signs varied: some hung red silk banners with golden characters that shimmered in the sunlight; others were simple wooden plaques, signaling the depth of longstanding establishments.

Well-dressed merchants and wealthy traders walked the streets, while peddlers called out their wares.

The entire county town’s atmosphere was utterly different from He River Town; here, Lin Chen felt the vibrancy and prosperity.

This was a face the townsfolk had never known.

The townsfolk toiled hard just for three meals a day, while the city dwellers—especially wealthy merchants and nobles—had long escaped the struggle for food, and thus their spirit and demeanor were naturally vastly different.

Qingfeng Martial Hall.

Yu Yongnian led Lin Chen straight into the hall, to the reception chamber, where a hall attendant served them fragrant tea.

“Brother Yu is here!”

Soon, footsteps sounded behind the screen, and a man stepped out.

“Brother Zhao.”

Yu Yongnian smiled in reply and pointed to Lin Chen standing aside: “This is Lin Chen, whom I mentioned the other day—the first student from He River Martial Hall to cultivate essence.”

“Disciple Lin Chen bows to Instructor Zhao.” Lin Chen quickly bowed deeply.

“Hmm, very good.”

Zhao Ce glanced at Lin Chen once, then turned away, taking his seat at the head table: “Brother Yu, you’ve traveled far from the town—first, drink your tea.”

The two sipped tea and exchanged pleasantries for a while, while Lin Chen listened silently beside them.

The more he listened, the more something felt off.

Instructor Zhao spoke only with Yu Yongnian, never once mentioning Lin Chen’s admission to the hall.

Yu Yongnian also noticed the oddness. He set down his teacup and asked: “Brother Zhao, have the formalities for Lin Chen’s enrollment been completed?”

“Brother Yu, this matter may be difficult.”

Zhao Ce suddenly sighed: “This year, far more students from all martial halls have cultivated essence within a year than in past years. I won’t hide it from you—just these past two days, I’ve met seven such students. The hall’s quota is already full.”

“Ten slots—surely one can’t be left empty. And Lin Chen is first in his hall; by rule, he deserves one of the Opening Meridian Elixir slots.”

Yu Yongnian’s face darkened. Each of the Eight Martial Halls had ten slots for Opening Meridian Elixirs. If over eighty students cultivated essence in a year, some might miss out—but no matter how many there were, the top student always received a slot.

“Brother Yu, don’t be upset. Two slots were still open the other day, but I don’t decide these matters alone. The last two were given yesterday by the deputy head to two other students. I’m powerless to help.”

Zhao Ce sighed lightly, his gaze turning to Lin Chen: “The hall’s slots are truly full. But if Lin Chen wishes to join, out of respect for you, I can petition the head to grant him an annual stipend of ten taels of silver.”

“No thanks.”

Yu Yongnian refused outright. He brought Lin Chen to Qingfeng Martial Hall because he himself had graduated from it, and he hoped to leverage that old connection to recommend Lin Chen first.

Second, Lin Chen’s condition suited Qingfeng’s martial arts best—but that didn’t mean there were no other options.

“If the hall’s slots are full, I won’t trouble you further. We take our leave.”

“Brother Yu, don’t act on impulse—you’ll only delay Lin Chen’s future.”

“No need for you to worry, Lin Chen, let’s go.”

Yu Yongnian left with a dark face; Lin Chen followed without hesitation. Having lived two lives, he knew how to read people—Instructor Zhao looked down on him entirely.

From the condescending, patronizing expression Zhao had worn when offering ten taels a year, Lin Chen understood: in their eyes, even that paltry sum was too much to give him.

“Pah. A fisherman’s son wants an Opening Meridian Elixir? Brother Yu really has wild dreams. And he claims Lin Chen cultivated essence for less than twenty taels? Who’s he fooling?”

Zhao Ce stood at the hall’s entrance, watching Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen walk away, and spat.

Had he not promised the other day, he wouldn’t have offered even ten taels.

Offering ten taels a year was already giving Yu Yongnian face. To refuse it? Let him suffer rejections at other halls.

“To Tanglang Martial Hall.”

Outside Qingfeng Martial Hall’s gate, Yu Yongnian turned to Lin Chen: “Don’t lose heart. Historically, every first-place student from a martial hall receives an Opening Meridian Elixir slot. Qingfeng’s are full, but Tanglang should have one.”

“Disciple has caused you trouble, Instructor.”

Lin Chen sincerely appreciated Instructor Yu. Since entering the martial hall, Yu had treated him with special care, and now he’d personally come to the halls to negotiate on his behalf.

Even a direct disciple couldn’t expect more.

The two crossed half the county town and arrived at Tanglang Martial Hall.

After Yu Yongnian stated his identity and purpose, a hall servant led them to the reception chamber to wait. After a few minutes, a young instructor emerged to greet them.

“I know why you’ve come, Brother Yu. The Opening Meridian Elixir slots are gone. But our hall can offer Lin Chen fifteen taels annually.”

Qian Yong smiled warmly. The Wuzheng Office had sent full records of every student who cultivated essence in the county that morning. He’d checked Lin Chen’s file before setting the fifteen-tael offer.

“Brother Qian, Lin Chen spent less than twenty taels to cultivate essence—this is all recorded in the martial hall’s logs. In martial talent, he’s no weaker than those from noble families.”

“If so, why didn’t you send Lin Chen to Qingfeng Martial Hall?”

Faced with Qian Yong’s retort, Yu Yongnian fell silent. Could he say Qingfeng had rejected Lin Chen?

“Less than twenty taels to cultivate essence? Brother Yu, you graduated from Qingfeng—would they really let such a student slip away?”

Yu Yongnian stayed silent. He couldn’t say Qingfeng’s slots were full—whether Zhao Ce’s words were true or not, coming here after Qingfeng made Tanglang seem like a backup. Saying so would embarrass both sides.

He didn’t believe Qian Yong hadn’t guessed this—but still pressed the question. His intent was clear.

His stance was clear: Tanglang Martial Hall would not give Lin Chen an Opening Meridian Elixir slot.

“Thank you for your time.”

Yu Yongnian bowed and took his leave again.

“I won’t see you out, Brother Yu.”

Once Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen left, Qian Yong snorted: “What trash. Qingfeng turned him down, now he wants to sneak into ours? What do they think we are? Less than twenty taels to cultivate essence? Only a fool would believe that.”

At Tanglang Martial Hall’s gate.

Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen: “Don’t lose heart. Qingfeng and Tanglang won’t give you a slot—there are still other halls.”

Lin Chen nodded, but a shadow settled over his heart—this wasn’t simple.

He had cultivated essence—that was fact. Anyone who did deserved an Opening Meridian Elixir slot. Now these two halls refused him. Partly because they didn’t believe he’d done it for so little—but mostly because of his family background.

But they couldn’t say that outright, so they hid behind “slots are full.”

Yunyin Martial Hall, Kuangfeng Martial Hall…

The next two halls, as Lin Chen expected, also refused him.

Stepping out of the hall, he looked at Instructor Yu, wanting to speak but holding back.

Emotionally, he should urge Yu to stop—each rejection hurt the instructor, as if rubbing his face in the mud.

But he couldn’t give up the Opening Meridian Elixir. His family was poor—he had to seize this chance.

One step behind, and you fall further behind.

Only by securing the Elixir could he gain an advantage to earn more rewards in the hall’s monthly assessments.

After visiting four halls, it was nearly noon.

“Let’s get something to eat first. There’s a restaurant nearby with excellent dishes.”

Yu Yongnian took Lin Chen to a restaurant near Qingfeng Martial Hall, his face now smiling again: “When I trained at the hall, I often came here with my fellow students.”

“Shopkeeper, bring us a plate of Flying Phoenix Claws, and two more dishes as you see fit.”

“Flying Phoenix Claws” was simply wild chicken claws, given a fancier name.

The dishes arrived. Lin Chen ate quietly. Yu Yongnian poured himself a cup of wine and sipped it. Seeing Lin Chen silent, he comforted him: “Four halls remain. Don’t lose heart. The path of martial cultivation is long and hard. Don’t let these small setbacks discourage you. Today’s trials will become your strength tomorrow.”

“Plum blossoms bloom only after bitter cold; a sword’s edge is forged through grinding. I understand this. Even if I don’t get the Opening Meridian Elixir, I won’t abandon the martial path.”

Yu Yongnian looked at him in surprise: “I didn’t expect you to phrase it so well. ‘A sword’s edge is forged through grinding’—that alone deserves a full cup. You can’t drink, so I’ll use broth as wine. Let’s share a cup.”

After draining the broth, Lin Chen continued: “Instructor, when I returned to the village, the village chief told me something. When Jiang Ju Ren left the village, he once told the chief: if any villager’s descendant achieves something in martial cultivation, he should be informed. May I write to Jiang Ju Ren about my current situation?”

Lin Chen raised his head, voicing the thought that had come to him.

If none of the martial halls would give him the slot, he could only write to Jiang Ju Ren.

“If you think it’s inappropriate, I won’t write.”

Yu Yongnian slammed his hand on the table: “Write! Why not?”

Sensing his sudden shift in tone, Yu Yongnian explained: “Hardship may forge your will—but if you can avoid suffering, better to do so.”

“I’ll follow your advice, Instructor. I’ll write to Jiang Ju Ren as soon as I return.”

“Not yet. First, come with me to the Wuzheng Office?”

Yu Yongnian waved his hand. Seeing Lin Chen’s puzzled look, he said gravely: “We’re going to the Wuzheng Office to file a complaint!”

(End of Chapter)