Chapter 33: The One Standing Before You Is the Founder of Hard Work, Frugal Study

At the dock, Lin Chen waved to his elder brother, watching him depart before shouldering his pack and heading into town.

Today’s county town was far more bustling than when Lin Chen had last visited, with crowds thronging the streets.

Lanterns from yesterday’s Lantern Festival still hung beneath shop eaves, drawing many children to gather and stare.

Lin Chen did not dawdle; he headed straight for Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall.

Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, Wudao Pavilion.

“Brother, do you need something?”

A young man inside the Wudao Pavilion spotted Lin Chen entering and smiled as he came forward.

His qi and blood were tightly contained—he had already reached the Opening Meridians realm.

He knew all the Opening Meridians students from last year’s cohort; this one looked unfamiliar, so he must be a new student this year—and a new student entering already at Opening Meridians.

Without a doubt, he came from a wealthy family and got an Opening Meridians Elixir. He himself had opened his meridians too, but only after three months in the hall—no comparison.

With an empty purse, progress in martial cultivation could only be painfully endured.

Fortunately, this year the Wuzheng Office introduced a policy called “Hard Work, Frugal Study,” allowing students to earn some silver by doing chores around the hall—though little, it was better than nothing.

He thanked the official who proposed the “Hard Work, Frugal Study” policy—he was truly a benefactor to ordinary students.

“I’ve come to return the Qingfeng Palm manual.”

“Please show me your identity token,” Ma Hao said with great humility, showing no arrogance despite having opened four meridians—he knew this junior brother would surpass him in half a year.

All these students were future stars of the hall; even if he couldn’t befriend them, he mustn’t offend them.

Seeing Lin Chen’s token, Ma Hao was surprised: “Junior Brother Lin, in the hall we use the hall’s student token, not the government’s household registry token.”

“I haven’t gotten the student token yet.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s words, Ma Hao, though puzzled, still took the token and manual: “Wait a moment.”

Ma Hao entered the back courtyard of the Wudao Pavilion and respectfully asked Zhao Ce, who was sipping tea: “Master Zhao, is there a new junior brother named Lin Chen in this cohort?”

“Lin Chen?”

Zhao Ce set down his cup and nodded: “Yes, there is such a new student. What’s the matter?”

“Junior Brother Lin has come to return the Qingfeng Palm manual.”

“Hmm.” Zhao Ce gave a faint reply. Seeing no further instructions from the instructor, Ma Hao turned to leave.

“Ask him how many meridians he’s opened. If he’s opened two, let him in; if he hasn’t opened even two, let him leave.”

Hearing Master Zhao’s words, Ma Hao, though puzzled, complied and returned to the front pavilion.

“Junior Brother Lin, I’ve confirmed everything—the manual is fine. Please sign here,” Ma Hao pulled out a ledger from beneath the counter and handed it to Lin Chen; as Lin Chen signed, he feigned casualness: “How many meridians have you opened so far, Junior Brother Lin?”

“Embarrassing—I’ve only opened one.”

Lin Chen didn’t lie about this; the hall surely had ways to verify.

“No problem. With your talent, you’ll open your second meridian soon after joining the hall.”

Ma Hao didn’t look down on Lin Chen for still being at one meridian—again, they weren’t from the same class.

“Junior Brother Lin, is there anything else?”

“No, thank you, Senior Brother.”

Lin Chen had wanted to ask about Qingfeng Palm, but decided against it.

The Wudao Pavilion surely had instructors on duty; just now, this senior brother went inside to report him—since they didn’t want to see him, why invite rejection?

More importantly, he had the booklet given to him by Instructor Yu, which contained all of Instructor Yu’s personal insights on practicing Qingfeng Palm—he didn’t need guidance.

…

…

Jingshui Martial Arts Hall—Lin Chen returned for the second time.

Compared to its previous emptiness a year ago, the hall now buzzed with activity; many female students stood at the gate, each striking and spirited, and as he glanced at them, they were studying him in return.

Among these female students, Lin Chen, as a male student, drew even more attention.

Under the gaze of these female senior sisters, Lin Chen strode boldly through the hall’s main gate.

“Hey, we’ve got a male student? How unusual.”

“He must’ve gotten lost—how could he mistake Jingshui Martial Arts Hall? The sign’s right there, four big characters.”

“Could he be a girl with a masculine face?”

“His Adam’s apple is obvious—he’s definitely male.”

“A male student’s great—I haven’t seen a man in ages. If he’s really from this cohort, I’d love to reach out and feel him.”

“Which part would you feel, Sister Yu?”

“All of it—even the part with the thing.”

…

…

Having entered the Opening Meridians realm, Lin Chen’s senses had sharpened; hearing these female senior sisters’ crude remarks, he nearly stumbled—when women turned lewd, men had no chance.

In this world, women could cultivate martial arts too, and social norms weren’t so rigid.

Back in his village, when he helped his brother set traps, he’d often heard the women washing clothes by the river gossiping—those bawdy tales had truly opened his eyes.

As he walked toward the dormitory, just before passing the corridor corner,

In the corridor, Lin Chen heard voices around the corner and stopped to listen.

“Sister, congratulations on becoming a hall student. Today I’m treating you to celebrate.”

“How could I let Senior Sister Chen spend? It should be me treating you.”

…

…

This conversation sounded familiar.

The kind-hearted Senior Sister Chen.

Lin Chen sighed inwardly—if only he had money, he’d treat Senior Sister Chen to a meal.

Now, he could only avoid them, to spare both of them embarrassment.

At the dormitory, Lin Chen was pleased with the room assigned by the hall.

A private room with a small courtyard—this was the special treatment given to students who took the Opening Meridians Elixir.

Tuition free, meals free, lodging free.

The bed already had bedding laid out; Lin Chen touched it—new cotton quilts.

In the half-year since his reincarnation, this was his first time touching cotton quilts; at home, bedding was hemp cloth stuffed with straw—according to the original body’s memories, it offered no warmth in winter.

With his current qi and blood, warmth didn’t matter much, but cotton quilts were far more comfortable than straw and hemp.

On the dormitory table sat two sets of hall training robes, but Lin Chen didn’t change yet—he put his own clothes into the wardrobe, then took out all his silver.

One twenty-silver-tael note from Instructor Yu, one thirty-silver-tael note from his village (also converted to a note), and thirteen taels in silver from the Wutang—though now only seven taels remained.

Fifty-seven taels of silver—his entire fortune.

Instructor Yu had written in the booklet: the Opening Meridians realm has twenty-four meridians; the first ten require thirty taels per month to buy Meridian-Opening Elixirs, opening one meridian every one and a half months.

To accelerate progress, one must spend more.

Each bottle of Meridian-Opening Elixir costs thirty taels, contains ten pills, and one pill is taken every three days.

Wealthy students can buy two or even three bottles.

The hall offers discounts: the first bottle is thirty taels, but the second returns to the full price of forty taels, and the third costs fifty taels.

Noble students don’t care about these taels—they even take extra precious poultry meat beyond their three bottles monthly.

The money he had wasn’t enough for one month of their expenses.

Having experienced Qi Refining, Lin Chen understood the [Water Flows Naturally] destiny well.

The Opening Meridians realm has twenty-four meridians; before the first sixteen, his destiny offered no advantage—meaning he had no edge over other students in opening the first eight meridians.

In the early stage, he must endure.

If he couldn’t afford the monthly Meridian-Opening Elixirs, his progress would delay further.

Martial cultivation is so hard!

No wonder the hall looked down on him—where could someone with his background find so much silver?

With a quiet sigh, Lin Chen summoned his panel.

【Name: Lin Chen】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Realm: Opening Meridians (1/24)】

【Technique: Qingfeng Palm (Proficiency: 1/100)】

【Destiny: [Water Flows Naturally]: In one martial realm, ascend against the current, progress step by step, surge forward, cleave through thorns.】

【Martial Title: Black to the End】

Through sheer effort, Qingfeng Palm had finally reached Proficiency this morning.

Instructor Yu’s booklet mentioned that most students—even those from noble families—needed a full month to enter a ranked martial technique, three months to reach Proficiency, and beyond that, mastery depended on insight; achieving Mastery within half a year meant above-average insight.

That meant a student needed seven to eight months, or longer, to go from first contact to Mastery—achieving Mastery within a year was considered meeting the standard.

In the early stage, his destiny gave no advantage—his martial insight was his only edge.

Seek follow-reads; if you’re out of books, check out my old ones.

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(End of chapter)