Chapter 24: The Method of Flexible Adaptation

Two quarters of an hour later.

The Wuzhengsuo’s council hall.

Seven men and one woman sat on the hall’s chairs, exchanging glances, their eyes filled with confusion.

The eight of them were deputy directors of the eight martial arts academies, all familiar with one another.

Why had Inspector Shu summoned them now?

“Everyone is here, then?”

After a long pause, Shu Suwan emerged from behind the screen and sat directly in the main seat, no longer gentle as she had been in the courtyard—her entire presence radiated coldness.

Feeling Shu Suwan’s aura, the eight felt even more puzzled—who had angered Inspector Shu this time?

Though inspectors held lower status than the director and deputy directors, they controlled oversight and discipline, making them the one group every academy feared to offend.

“I’ve summoned you here because of one matter: the first student from He River Town’s martial hall to cultivate essence this year—I hear your academies refuse to grant him a Qiaokai Pill slot?”

At Shu Suwan’s words, four of those present looked puzzled, four suddenly understood.

The puzzled four didn’t know who Lin Chen was; the four deputy directors already knew, having been informed by their instructors.

But enrollment matters aren’t under Inspector Shu’s jurisdiction—why bring this up now?

“Inspector Shu, Lin Chen did come to our Qingfeng Martial Academy, but our quota is full.” The Qingfeng deputy director paused, then explained.

“Our Tanglang Martial Academy is the same.”

…

The deputy directors of Tanglang, Kuangfeng, and Yunyin academies rose one after another to explain their situations; the other four now recalled Lin Chen’s file from the Wuzhengsuo’s student records.

Any student who cultivates essence within a year must be reported by the martial hall to the Wuzhengsuo, which then distributes the names to the academies.

They had scanned Lin Chen’s name before, but paid it no mind—only now, hearing the four Qingfeng deputy directors mention him, did they vaguely recall such a student.

He was apparently the top student of some martial hall, but came from an ordinary family.

The other four deputy directors now remembered Lin Chen’s file—they understood perfectly why the four Qingfeng academies had refused him.

In past years, even an ordinary student who cultivated essence first in a town would have received a slot, since he represented the town’s top talent, and appearances had to be kept.

But this year is different: over eighty students cultivated essence within the year, and the director has instituted a new rule—the academies’ resource allocation will no longer depend on the top ten, but on the top fifty rankings.

Before entering the ranks, a student’s financial means largely reflect their potential.

Lin Chen’s family background likely won’t even place him in the top eighty, let alone the top fifty—no academy wants to waste a slot on him.

Shu Suwan wasn’t surprised by the academies’ excuses. “The He River Town martial hall’s records state Lin Chen cultivated essence spending less than twenty taels—he has considerable martial talent. Denying him a Qiaokai Pill slot makes no sense.”

The Tanglang deputy director hesitated, then spoke:

“Inspector Shu, only Lin Chen himself knows how much he actually spent to cultivate essence. If he secretly spent money, there’s no way to verify it—the rules of every town’s martial hall are lax.”

At the Tanglang deputy director’s words, the others nodded in agreement.

Academies never check how much a student spent to cultivate essence, because it’s impossible to prove.

If academies required proof of expenditure, students would have ample opportunity to cheat.

A cheating student could publicly spend little at the martial hall, then secretly take tonic herbs or eat meat to boost his blood and qi—the martial hall can’t follow students when they leave.

“Several months ago, I proposed to Director Su that we reward martial hall students with silver. Director Su approved it and submitted the proposal to the Raozhou Wuzheng Office. Today, the Wuzhengsuo’s summary shows only Lin Chen received the reward.”

Shu Suwan spoke casually, but the eight present all fell into thought—they now understood why Inspector Shu cared so much about Lin Chen.

Both Inspector Shu and Director Su are new to their posts; the student reward policy, in a way, represents their achievements.

Lin Chen is the only one who received silver—if he doesn’t get a Qiaokai Pill, won’t both Inspector Shu and Director Su lose face?

That’s the problem!

The hall fell silent.

“So Lin Chen truly deserves a Qiaokai Pill slot—but our academy’s ten slots are already filled.”

“Our Tanglang Academy is full too. This is indeed difficult.”

The deputy directors changed their tone, but the truth remained: their slots were already assigned. They couldn’t renege and force students to give up their slots.

Such a thing had never happened in all these years.

“Sister Kong, if I recall correctly, your academy still has an open slot.”

A man turned his gaze to the only female deputy director present.

“Our Jingshui Martial Academy only accepts female disciples. Even if we have extra slots, we can’t give one to Lin Chen.”

Kong Yinglei spread her hands—Jingshui Martial Academy had never admitted male disciples.

“Inspector Shu, colleagues, I have an idea.”

The man who had asked Kong Yinglei looked around, and after receiving Shu Suwan’s permission, said: “This year, over eighty students cultivated essence, but only eight are female—two slots remain vacant. Sister Kong, am I right?”

“As of today, only eight female students have cultivated essence and registered at academies,” Kong Yinglei nodded.

“Then it’s simple: Jingshui Martial Academy can grant Lin Chen a Qiaokai Pill slot.”

“Brother Zhang, our Jingshui Martial Academy doesn’t admit male disciples.” Kong Yinglei frowned—Jingshui hadn’t taken a male disciple in over a decade.

Zhang Songfan smiled slightly: “Lin Chen won’t be a Jingshui disciple—he’ll only be nominally registered under Jingshui. As long as another academy accepts him, it’s fine.”

At Zhang Songfan’s words, several instructors fell into thought, weighing the feasibility.

“Brother Zhang, while the Wuzheng Office hasn’t explicitly forbidden this, the unwritten rule is that a student who receives a Qiaokai Pill belongs to the granting academy. This could be seen as trading Qiaokai Pill slots—what will the Wuzheng Office say?”

Kong Yinglei suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

She glanced at Shu Suwan seated above—and suddenly understood.

If the academies did this among themselves, it would look like secret trading of Qiaokai Pill slots.

But if Inspector Shu approves it, it becomes a flexible solution for the benefit of Poyang County’s martial students.

Even if the Wuzheng Office knew, they wouldn’t object.

“As long as another academy accepts Lin Chen, he can be temporarily registered under Jingshui Martial Academy.”

Kong Yinglei didn’t waste words—Inspector Shu had gathered them all, and now a solution existed; she would give her face.

This arrangement isn’t without benefit to the academies: Jingshui now has two extra slots. One goes to Lin Chen, one remains.

Since Inspector Shu permits this method, the remaining slot can be transferred the same way—but other academies wanting it must offer something in return.

This is Inspector Shu’s gift to Jingshui Martial Academy—everyone understands without saying it.

“Inspector Shu, we originally refused Lin Chen because we had no Qiaokai Pill slots. We still hold great hope for him. Now that a solution exists, our Tanglang Academy is willing to accept him.”

“Lin Chen never came to Qixing Martial Academy, but we’re willing to take him too.”

“Why are you Qixing Academy butting in? Can Lin Chen afford secret medicines?”

“If Qixing can’t, then your Zhenyue Academy can—Lin Chen goes to you, can’t afford medicine for injuries, and he’ll be beaten to death.”

“Lin Chen suits our TieXue Martial Academy best. Don’t forget—he’s from Linhu Village. Master Jiang himself came from Linhu Village.”

“So what if he’s from Linhu Village? You TieXue Academy claims to favor Linhu students, yet since Master Jiang, you’ve taken not a single one.”

…

…

The seven deputy directors instantly began arguing—now that Lin Chen wouldn’t use their Qiaokai Pill slots, he became desirable.

If Lin Chen succeeded, the academy gained a talented student for free; if he failed, they lost nothing.

Shu Suwan listened to their bickering, knowing perfectly why they acted this way.

First, they wanted a free advantage—no Qiaokai Pill cost. Second, they wanted to save face, avoiding an awkward silence.

“Inspector Shu, Lin Chen’s first academy was Qingfeng Martial Academy—he clearly favored it. His instructor, Yu Yongnian, also graduated from Qingfeng. We Qingfeng Academy are willing to accept him, and we’ll cover his expenses at the martial hall during his temporary registration under Jingshui.”

Qi He, Qingfeng’s deputy director, after a moment’s thought, offered his terms.

He understood clearly: when the other academies spoke, Inspector Shu’s expression didn’t change—they weren’t the ones she believed Lin Chen should join.

Considering Lin Chen first came to Qingfeng, and his instructor Yu Yongnian was a Qingfeng graduate, it was obvious Inspector Shu thought Qingfeng best suited him.

If he didn’t speak now, he’d be disrespecting Inspector Shu.

After Qi He spoke, Shu Suwan smiled: “Good. Let Qingfeng and Jingshui academies negotiate the specifics.”

Shu Suwan’s decision was final—Qingfeng Martial Academy was indeed the best fit for Lin Chen. Whether Lin Chen would feel awkward returning to the academy that once rejected him was not her concern.

Those who cultivate martial arts need not have broad hearts—but those with narrow, stubborn minds will never go far.

(End of chapter)