Chapter 266 - 164: Reward (Part 2)
Later, Master Hei learned that Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family, acting as an elder of Chu Lingguang’s family, had hosted a banquet for Guo Wei to thank him for his guidance and support. He immediately realized that while Zhang Linghua might be Chu Lingguang’s cousin, she was as close to him as a sister.
Coupled with Chu Lingguang’s boundless future—he was likely to become the next Yang Shaorong—Master Hei personally took charge. He took several precious gifts that friends and family had given them after Hei Hu became a Martial Scholar and had them sent over to Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family.
Finally, under Master Hei’s watchful eye,
a very stiff-looking Hei Hu led Zhang Linghua toward the Wine Street Market, with her following about ten meters behind.
Chu Lingguang found it amusing to see the normally showy Hei Hu acting so shy and awkward around his cousin.
Afterward, Chu Lingguang took his two younger cousins and some gifts to visit Mr. Liu. Master Hei, meanwhile, stayed behind to discuss future plans with Zhang Da. When he learned that Zhang Da worked at his own brother’s tile factory, Master Hei wasn’t scornful at all. Instead, he laughingly chided his brother for being clueless and only making Zhang Da a foreman.
「...」
"A while back, Master Guo came to see me and asked about the Skin Shaft. I overlooked something at the time. I forgot to tell him that a friend of mine, a teacher, had also seen the Skin Shaft. He even offered to buy it from me several times, but I refused. Later, I found Jiatting in Baiyang County and haven’t seen him in all these years. I don’t know if he still remembers that Skin Shaft. Maybe he’s forgotten about it by now."
Mr. Liu volunteered these details upon seeing Chu Lingguang come to visit.
Chu Lingguang had a bad feeling. Guo Wei had already told him that the Mixed Element Skill was an Inner Power Heart Method cultivated by the Royal Family and Nobility. If Mr. Liu’s friend were to leak this information, it could lead to a fatal disaster.
"Where is that friend of yours now?"
Chu Lingguang asked.
"He should still be in Jin City. I haven’t been back since I found Jiatting, so I don’t know if he’s still there."
Mr. Liu said.
"Then does he know that you’re in Zhang Family Gully?"
Chu Lingguang asked again.
"No. I was constantly on the move looking for Jiatting, never staying in one place. We haven’t been in contact for years,"
Mr. Liu said with absolute certainty.
Hearing this, Chu Lingguang breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
After bidding Mr. Liu farewell, he ran into Zhang Jiatting and Landlord Zhang at the school’s entrance. They had come to deliver snacks and quickly congratulated Chu Lingguang.
Chu Lingguang exchanged pleasantries with them for a moment. He took the initiative to mention that he had gained a great deal from his fight with Samba, which made his prospects of becoming a Martial Arts Scholar even more promising. He assured them he would definitely be able to help them get exempted from taxes in the future.
Landlord Zhang, thoroughly humbled, insisted that paying taxes was their duty and that Chu Lingguang shouldn’t trouble himself with it.
Chu Lingguang knew that with his soaring reputation and boundless future, Landlord Zhang wouldn’t dare try to hold him to his old promise. ’But a promise is a promise.’ By bringing it up himself, Chu Lingguang wanted to assure Landlord Zhang that he hadn’t forgotten and would certainly make good on his word once he was successful.
They both understood. The sentiment was mutual and went unsaid.
Back at the Martial Arts Hall,
Chu Lingguang told Guo Wei everything Mr. Liu had said, down to the last detail.
Guo Wei’s expression turned grave. He thought for a moment before saying, "Don’t overthink it for now. Just focus on your training. The higher-ups are very pleased that you defeated Samba. I’ve already received word that the Court is going to give you a reward."
"A reward!"
Chu Lingguang gaped.
"Don’t get ahead of yourself. This reward from the Court isn’t going to make you a nobleman or a minister. It’s just to aid you in your training. Also, that matter you were concerned about—getting your Second Aunt’s family exempted from taxes—can be settled ahead of schedule. To put it simply, your fight with Samba wasn’t sanctioned by the Court. So, this reward only grants you the conveniences that come with the status of a Martial Arts Scholar, but no actual authority. If you want to officially become a Martial Arts Scholar, you still have to take the Provincial Martial Arts Examination."
Guo Wei explained, not wanting Chu Lingguang to get the wrong idea.
"Something is better than nothing."
Chu Lingguang said with a smile. He’d already received a Great Returning Pill from the Court, and now he could help his Second Aunt and Landlord Zhang with their taxes sooner than expected. It was all good news.
"The status of a Martial Arts Scholar is nothing. What’s most important are the training benefits the Court is providing you,"
Guo Wei reminded him.
"What kind of benefits?"
Chu Lingguang certainly hadn’t forgotten about that.
"If I’m not mistaken, the Court will give you an Inner Power Heart Method, dispatch a Royal Martial Artist to guide your training, and might even send you back to the academy to train for half a year."
Guo Wei said.
"That... That’s amazing."
Chu Lingguang was stunned.
He remembered how much just one month at the academy had transformed him. ’If I can train there for half a year, get an Inner Power Heart Method, and be guided by a Royal Martial Artist... how strong will I be in six months?’
"Lin Guang, no matter what, if you get that Inner Power Heart Method from the Court, you must seize the opportunity and train hard. If a Royal Martial Artist is assigned to guide you, ask questions boldly. Don’t you dare be too shy to speak up."
Guo Wei urged.
"Yes, I understand."
Chu Lingguang nodded.
「The next day at noon.」
Lord Xu’s men appeared at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall.
This time, he was accompanied by a man in a red robe.
The man handed a booklet to Guo Wei.
Guo Wei opened it and read it carefully. By the time he got to the end, his eyes had gone wide.
"Master, what is it?"
Chu Lingguang asked.
"The Court’s reward is even more generous than I imagined! You have two options. One is to train at the academy for six months and receive guidance from a Royal Martial Artist. The other is to go to the Trial Ground for three months and compete against the most talented people in the land!"
Guo Wei said, his voice filled with excitement.
"Huh?"
Chu Lingguang was baffled. ’The Trial Ground? What’s that?’
"You have Lord Du to thank for this. If he hadn’t recommended Chu Lingguang to the Court, there would be no second option,"
said the red-robed man, Zhuoyi.
"Lord Du... You mean Mr. Du?"
Guo Wei immediately thought of Du Juan. ’Du Juan is one of the Royal Family and Relatives, but she doesn’t have that kind of influence. It must be her father.’
"The Court didn’t think much of your fight with Samba, even though you won. However, you defeated him without taking a Great Returning Pill, while he had taken a Frenzy Pill. Lord Du believes that if you train in the Trial Ground, you can place in the top ten of the Provincial Martial Arts Examination nine months from now. He’s the one who fought to get you this opportunity, so don’t you let him down."
Zhuoyi said, looking at Chu Lingguang.
"This..."
Chu Lingguang instinctively looked to Guo Wei.
His participation in the Provincial Examination nine months from now depended on Guo Wei’s decision.
Guo Wei, however, was frowning.
Zhuoyi’s words made him realize what had happened. Mr. Du had pulled strings to get Chu Lingguang into the Trial Ground. He had likely paid a price, vouching that Chu Lingguang would place in the top ten of the Provincial Martial Arts Examination in exchange for this opportunity.
If Chu Lingguang failed, the favor they owed would be immense, and they might have to pay an even steeper price.
And even if he succeeded, the favor would still have to be repaid.
But the opportunity to train in the Trial Ground was incredibly precious, a value Guo Wei understood far better than Chu Lingguang.
At the same time, he also understood Zhuoyi’s—or rather, Mr. Du’s—subtext.
They wanted to know if Chu Lingguang was confident he could participate in the Provincial Martial Arts Examination in nine months and place in the top ten. If not, he shouldn’t accept the offer to train in the Trial Ground.
This put Guo Wei in a difficult position.
He was worried that if Chu Lingguang failed, Mr. Du would make trouble for him in the future. Furthermore, the Provincial Examination was leagues above the Daoist Examination. The top ten contestants were all monstrously talented prodigies. Moving up a single rank among them was harder than moving up ten ranks in the Daoist Examination.
But an opportunity like the Trial Ground was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Guo Wei was torn.
Seeing the conflict on Guo Wei’s face, Chu Lingguang, dense as he could be, understood how rare this opportunity was. He thought about how Guo Wei had always wanted to become a Grandmaster and go to Wolf Valley Pass to free someone. He couldn’t help but ask, "Master, if I place in the top ten of the Provincial Examination, will you be able to become a Grandmaster and fulfill your wish?"
"This..."
Guo Wei looked as if he’d been struck by lightning.