Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17. The Measure of One’s Temperament
“Reporting to the steward, it was I who acted.”
Xu Yuan stepped forward and gave a proper salute.
“Oh? Another Formal Martial Artist. Not bad.” Zhao Qiusheng turned to look at him, his expression easing slightly, showing no attempt to hide his favoritism.
At these words, the other servants around them suddenly raised their heads, their eyes filled with astonishment, as if they could hardly believe it.
After all, in their eyes, although Xu Yuan was diligent, his aptitude had always seemed mediocre. He had trained for so long without any visible progress.
He never revealed anything about his advancement, likely out of fear of embarrassment.
Yet who would have thought that this unassuming Xu Yuan had quietly become a Formal Martial Artist as well?
Thinking back carefully, they realized that from the very first day, Xu Yuan had been disciplined and hardworking, calm and steady. Even under the strange looks of others, he had never been affected in the slightest.
Such diligence and low-key conduct left them utterly speechless, filled with shame.
Xu Yuan’s gaze remained calm, unaffected by the complicated looks directed at him. He replied, “I was fortunate enough to break through tonight. I had planned to report it to Instructor Feng tomorrow.”
“Mm, your name is Xu Yuan, correct? Now is not the time to talk. When you move to the training compound tomorrow, go to the registration office and look for me. Just give my name—Zhao Qiusheng.”
With that, Zhao Qiusheng turned and left, not even sparing Tian Yang a glance.
“Brother Xu, I truly owe you this time!” Tian Yang, having finally recovered his breath, spoke with a face full of gratitude.
He was filled with regret. He had been on the verge of becoming a martial artist and changing his fate, yet because of his loose tongue, he had nearly lost his life and everything along with it!
Just last month, he had told his family that he would definitely become a martial artist. If he failed and instead sent back a corpse…
He did not even dare imagine that scene.
“It is good that you are safe.” Xu Yuan waved his hand. Seeing the complicated looks from the surrounding servants, who seemed to want to say something, he cleared his throat and spoke first:
“That is enough for tonight. We still have work tomorrow.”
With that, he returned to his bed, pulled up his blanket, and closed his eyes.
“Go sleep over there.”
Tian Yang moved his bedding and spoke quietly to the servant who had been sleeping beside Xu Yuan.
Tian Yang already held a high status in the dormitory, and now that he had become a martial artist, the servant naturally did not dare refuse.
Xu Yuan noticed this but did not care much.
After what had happened with Liu Hong and Wang Shun, he had already grown more cautious. Even if someone attempted to harm him, he would be able to react quickly.
Lying beside him, Tian Yang finally felt a bit of security, yet he did not fall asleep. His eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.
The incident had left a significant psychological shadow on him.
Most of the others did not sleep either. First, they had witnessed Liu Hong and Wang Shun attempt to kill Tian Yang, only to be executed on the spot. Then Xu Yuan—whom they had never taken seriously—had broken through to become a Formal Martial Artist.
Such a series of shocks left their minds in turmoil, making sleep impossible.
…
The next day.
Xu Yuan followed his usual routine, rising with the others, washing up, and eating breakfast.
Tian Yang, who had intended to sleep in, was inspired by Xu Yuan and got up as well.
In the courtyard, Xu Yuan noticed the frequent glances directed at him. Unlike before—when they carried mockery or amusement—these gazes were now filled with admiration and respect.
Naturally, word of last night’s events had spread throughout the courtyard. Everyone knew what had happened, and connecting everything together, they could not help but feel a sense of respect for Xu Yuan.
Some servants with poorer aptitude even began to regard him as a role model, becoming more diligent and low-key in their martial practice.
Xu Yuan paid no attention to any of this. He lowered his head and continued his chores, splitting a large log in half.
After witnessing Zhao Qiusheng’s strength, he had already discarded any trace of complacency. Though he had stepped into a new realm, the road ahead remained long.
At that moment, Chen Sanli also walked over. This man was older than most of the servants present and carried an unmistakable air of shrewd worldliness.
When he spoke flattering words, he could easily lift one’s spirits.
As the saying went, one does not strike a smiling face. Xu Yuan neither treated him differently nor deliberately distanced himself.
His attitude remained as always—polite, yet reserved.
By mid-morning,
Feng Xiao stepped in. Upon seeing him, the servants quickly finished their tasks and lined up of their own accord.
Then, their gazes immediately shifted toward Xu Yuan and Tian Yang.
“Instructor Feng, we have broken through.”
Xu Yuan and Tian Yang both raised their hands, then pressed their palms onto the wooden board before them as proof.
“Oh?”
Feng Xiao was both surprised and delighted. Two people had broken through to become Formal Martial Artists at the same time!
That meant a full one or two taels of silver directly in his pocket!
Moreover, compared to Wang Huan and Li Shan, Xu Yuan’s breakthrough was a completely unexpected delight.
As for Tian Yang—lazy and undisciplined—he could have broken through long ago but had dragged it out until now. There was no need to dwell on it.
Feng Xiao had also previously told them that the time it took to break through the first meridian would greatly affect how the family judged their aptitude.
Whether they had taken it to heart or not, he did not care.
After his initial joy, Feng Xiao suddenly realized that when he had entered earlier, Xu Yuan had still been silently chopping wood and doing chores.
“For a servant, breaking through to become a martial artist is no different from ascending to heaven in a single step. Yet this boy still maintains such caution and patience. His mind is truly meticulous!”
With that thought, he could not help but take a deeper look at Xu Yuan.
“Although his aptitude is somewhat lacking, with such temperament, he may achieve something in the future.”
After reflecting on this, the smile on Feng Xiao’s face grew even brighter—though, of course, the fact that two people had broken through played a large part in that.
Soon after, under the envious gazes of the servants, he once again went to the dormitory to help the two of them move their belongings.
…
Upon reaching the dormitory, Xu Yuan naturally would not truly let him do the packing. He gathered his belongings himself, and when it came time to leave, he even let Feng Xiao go ahead first.
Such respectful conduct clearly pleased Feng Xiao, who inwardly praised him for being grounded and tactful.
Tian Yang, having reflected for most of the night, recalled Xu Yuan’s behavior in detail and deeply admired his thoroughness and maturity.
At this moment, he even began to imitate him, showing careful respect toward Feng Xiao, without letting his newfound status go to his head in the slightest.
With Feng Xiao’s experience, he could naturally see the difference between the two. One was deliberately ingratiating himself, while the other acted from genuine sincerity, without the slightest hint of pretense—completely natural.
“In comparison, that Wang Huan falls far short.”
Back when Feng Xiao had helped Wang Huan move his belongings, Wang Huan had only pretended to assist. After Feng Xiao politely declined once, he had not insisted further.
Feng Xiao could tell that although Wang Huan appeared respectful on the surface, he was full of arrogance inside. Perhaps he believed he would soon break through to the second meridian?
In short, even his superficial manners were poorly executed, leaving others feeling uncomfortable.
By contrast, on Xu Yuan’s first day, even when he had been scolded harshly, he had remained unfazed. Now, after experiencing both highs and lows, he still maintained that same disposition—truly rare.
“Let us see how he performs at the second meridian stage.”
For someone like Xu Yuan, Feng Xiao was willing to offer some goodwill. But as for investing further, he would need to clearly assess his aptitude.
If his talent was lacking, it would be difficult to go far in the martial path. In this world, without strength, one ultimately lacked a voice—making everything else irrelevant.