Chapter 3: Difficult Passage

Yu family was poor; he entered the Martial Hall to begin learning martial arts.

All the students devoured meat, but I did not eat any.

Zhang Tao laughed at me and said: “Stingy.”

I smiled and forgot it.

I had been here five months; I feared my strength would be insufficient and I’d be eliminated.

I gritted my teeth and bought it; the flavor was exquisite, the bitterness in my heart, not to be spoken of to outsiders.

…

…

The first genuine bite of beef in the Martial Hall, Lin Chen couldn’t say what it tasted like—in that moment, his emotions drowned out his taste buds.

Even though he had lived two lives and grown indifferent to vanity and dignity, how could he truly let go?

In the future, he would write an essay about his studies; centuries later, a language teacher would assign it for reading comprehension: the author claims to have forgotten being mocked by classmates, yet why did he specifically name Zhang Tao?

What emotion does the appearance of the name Zhang Tao reveal in the author?

…

…

The first day eating beef, early morning.

The moment Lin Chen woke up, he checked his panel.

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Occupation: Martial Artist】

【Blood Qi: 812/3000】

【Destiny: [Water Finds Its Channel]: In the First Stage of Martial Path, perseverance, gradual progress, unstoppable momentum—no bottleneck troubles.】

Ten points!

Seeing his blood qi had increased by ten points in a single day, Lin Chen’s heart skipped half a beat.

This increase far exceeded his estimated value.

“Is it because I just started eating beef, so absorption is better? Will it weaken later?”

Lin Chen pulled out the notebook filled with Arabic numerals and recorded today’s value—whether this was true, he’d know in a few days.

The notebook was densely packed with Arabic numerals—all records of the strength gains from meat consumption by Gu Fei and other students.

The world’s script was nearly identical to the traditional characters of his past life, but Arabic numerals didn’t exist here; thus, this notebook, called “Heaven’s Script” by Gu Fei, could be understood only by Lin Chen himself.

In the following days, Lin Chen bought one jin of beef daily, and the initial commotion faded.

Buying one jin of beef wasn’t remarkable for Martial Hall students; the shock came only from the contrast with Lin Chen’s previously stingy image.

Now that the contrast was gone, no one paid attention anymore.

For five consecutive days, his blood qi increased by ten points daily—Lin Chen was now certain it wasn’t due to starting beef consumption.

So his strategy was correct: the later he waited, the less he’d spend.

…

…

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

End of the month.

Training ground.

Three instructors stood together before a two-hundred-jin stone weight.

The Martial Hall’s biannual assessment was mandated by the Wuzheng Office.

Cruel?

To Yu Yongnian, it was, in fact, the Wuzheng Office’s protection of the common people.

In early martial training, wealth determines strength; if one cannot reach two hundred jin in half a year, their family background simply isn’t suited to continue.

“Students whose names are called, step forward.”

Instructor Liu called out names; those called stepped forward to lift the stone.

Most students had already passed this hurdle last month; among all three classes, only about ten hadn’t met the standard—these ten were the focus.

“Cheng Ying!”

Instructor Liu called the name; a tall boy stepped forward, looked at the stone with disdain, and lifted it to his waist with one hand.

“Good.”

Instructor Liu smiled—Cheng Ying was his student; though not as strong as Lu Yongfeng, he was close behind and capable of reaching Essence Refinement within a year.

“Lifting two hundred jin with one hand—his two-handed strength must exceed four hundred jin.”

Gu Fei looked envious: “Can’t compete, absolutely can’t compete—no surprise, he’s the heir of Cheng’s Cloth Shop.”

Cheng’s Cloth Shop was the only place in town selling finished garments and fabric; the clothes Lin Chen wore were made by his mother from hemp bought at Cheng’s.

“Birth is a subject in itself.”

Lin Chen sighed; with Cheng Ying’s one-handed lift, other students began showing off their strength.

Though the stone was still two hundred jin, some lifted it to their chest, others to their head—but the real sensation came when Lu Yongfeng lifted it overhead with one hand.

The atmosphere exploded instantly.

“Next, Qiu Yuan.”

Instructor Liu called the next name; Lin Chen watched intently.

Qiu Yuan had measured one hundred eighty jin last month; he started eating beef in his third month, buying it every few days—but for the last month, he hadn’t bought any at all.

“Instructor, I withdraw.”

Qiu Yuan stepped out of the crowd but didn’t approach the stone; all eyes turned to him.

“I… my sister fell ill last month; all our money went to her treatment—we have none left.”

Qiu Yuan’s face flushed crimson; admitting “no money” before so many peers took immense courage.

The three instructors showed no change in expression—this happened often in the Martial Hall; every year, several students quit due to family hardship.

And the later it got, the more quit.

“After this, go to the mess hall—if there’s leftover food, ask them to return it to you.”

“Thank you, Instructor.”

Qiu Yuan didn’t stay on the training ground; he turned toward the dormitory. In the instant he turned, his right hand brushed his eye corner.

Another boy’s dream of martial arts shattered.

“Next, Lin Ze.”

Seeing Lin Ze step forward, Lin Chen knew his turn was coming soon.

Watching the other students go one by one, he realized the instructors had saved the weakest for last.

Lin Ze had lifted one hundred eighty jin in last month’s test.

Though he failed once, he succeeded on his second attempt.

After setting down the stone, Lin Ze watched Instructor Liu with tense anticipation.

“Passed. Next, Lin Chen.”

Hearing “passed,” Lin Ze exhaled in relief and walked back to his spot with light steps.

“Chenzi, don’t be nervous—you’ve got this!” Gu Fei whispered encouragement, his eyes showing no worry.

The stone weights were scattered across the training ground; students tested privately—he’d known yesterday that Lin Chen could lift two hundred jin.

Lin Chen nodded, then checked his panel one last time.

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Occupation: Martial Artist】

【Blood Qi: 1102/3000】

【Destiny: [Water Finds Its Channel]: In the First Stage of Martial Path, perseverance, gradual progress, unstoppable momentum—no bottleneck troubles.】

Ten days ago, his blood qi reached one thousand, allowing him to lift two hundred jin; now his strength was two hundred twenty jin.

As Lin Chen stepped forward, the crowd erupted in murmurs again.

“Here he comes—the most stingy student in Martial Hall history—can he even pass?”

“That was last month; he’s been eating beef daily this month—he’s not the stingiest anymore.”

“So what? He only started spending money last month—it’s too late. I think Lin Chen won’t pass.”

“I think he will. If he didn’t have confidence, that stingy bastard wouldn’t have spent the money.”

Instructor Liu noticed the whispers and looked at Lin Chen: “Begin.”

Two hundred jin was the minimum standard—usually unremarkable—but this student was an exception.

Granted permission, Lin Chen gripped the stone’s handles; slowly, it rose from the ground—and every eye fixed on his hands.

“I give up—Lin Chen lifting two hundred jin draws more attention than our four hundred jin lifts.”

Cheng Ying, sensing the atmosphere, felt baffled.

What’s so special about lifting two hundred jin?

“I think it’s normal. Lifting four hundred jin is expected of us; but Lin Chen lifting two hundred jin? That’s a comeback—naturally it draws attention.” Zhao Jingchuan watched with interest, curious whether Lin Chen would pass.

“Lifting two hundred jin? What comeback?” Xu Botao sneered.

After the test, students didn’t need to stay in place; Cheng Ying and the strongest students gathered together; others, knowing their place, kept their distance.

Lin Chen didn’t stall or slow down—lifting two hundred jin after six months wasn’t something to be proud of.

What Lin Chen hadn’t expected was that after he lifted the stone pedestal, a burst of cheers erupted from the crowd.

“Boring.” Lu Yongfeng turned away his gaze and murmured softly.

“Anyone who didn’t know would think he lifted a five-hundred-pound stone pedestal.” Xu Botao also looked displeased.

“Passed. Next, Wang Hao.”

Instructor Liu called out the next trainee, and Lin Chen quickly stepped down.

“Chenzi, I knew you could do it, haha!”

Gu Fei excitedly hugged Lin Chen, who rolled his eyes: “I remember half a month ago, someone was comforting me, saying I didn’t have to study martial arts—I could do other things and still find a way forward.”

“Hehe, I was just… just preparing for the worst.”

Gu Fei let go of him—he was genuinely happy for Lin Chen. They’d been close since childhood, the kind who played by pulling each other’s pants down.

“Now that you’ve passed the test, your grandfather should give you money.”

“Mm, I’ll go home today and tell my family this good news.”

Lin Chen’s face wore a look of joy—his first major hurdle on the path of martial cultivation had finally been overcome.

Though the goal he had strained so hard to reach was effortless for those trainees from wealthy families.

After a few minutes of tea, the test ended; three trainees were eliminated. Aside from Qiu Yuan, the other two had spent no less than Lin Chen, but they spent too early and couldn’t keep up, causing their blood and qi to stagnate.

I spent four hundred and fifty cash this month and have little left; to eat at least one catty of beef per meal from now on, I need to go home.

(End of Chapter)