Chapter 315 - 158: Inner Strength (Part 3)

However, Chen Cheng still had a plentiful supply of Iron Bone Crocodile Eel Essence Dried Meat on hand, so he had no reason to worry about running out anytime soon.

For the rest of the day, until evening, Chen Cheng alternated between training and eating.

He recovered the stamina and Heart Power he expended during the process by practicing a few sets of Health Tai Chi in between.

At dinnertime.

His mother was clearly distracted, her gaze constantly drifting toward the courtyard gate.

"Cheng, Zhuangyatu hasn’t visited in a while. Did you do something to upset her?"

"No."

Chen Cheng, having devoured most of the pot of Treasure Fish Soup, replied casually,

"Sister Zhuang has been living at the Martial Arts Hall recently. The Hall Master is personally teaching her a few special moves that might be useful at the Martial Selection in three days."

"Oh, I see... That’s good, then."

His mother had just picked up her bowl, but she set it down heavily again.

"Your Hall Master is too biased! If he has special moves to teach, it’s just as easy to teach two people as it is one. Why didn’t he include you?"

"...I have my own plans."

Chen Cheng responded casually and ladled another half-bowl of rice for himself.

"...Cheng."

His mother paused, suddenly realizing she might have said the wrong thing.

’There must be a reason the Hall Master isn’t teaching him. Perhaps my son doesn’t meet his requirements. He might not be qualified enough yet.’

She adjusted her tone and comforted him softly,

"Cheng, it’s okay... In my heart, you’ll always be the best. You’re more outstanding than any of them!"

"Even if things aren’t going smoothly right now, it’s only because you’re still young. Once you’re older, you’ll definitely surpass them!"

"...Mother."

Chen Cheng smiled.

"I’m not a kid anymore; I’ll be seventeen in a few months. And nothing is going poorly for me, so please don’t worry unnecessarily."

"One more thing. I’ve already left the Martial Arts Hall, so please don’t tell people I’m a disciple of Dragon Mountain Hall anymore. It could cause trouble."

"...Why would you leave the Martial Arts Hall all of a sudden?"

His mother’s brow furrowed, the worry in her eyes now plain to see.

"In three days, I will also be participating in the Martial Selection,"

Chen Cheng said calmly.

"Once I’ve earned Military Merit, it’s only natural to leave the Martial Arts Hall to become an official."

"But... what if..."

His mother hesitated for a moment before she couldn’t stop herself from asking,

"What if you don’t earn any merit in the Martial Selection? Won’t you be left with nothing?"

"Don’t worry. I have my own plans."

Chen Cheng put down his bowl, stood up, and walked out.

"I’m going to train. Don’t get lost in your thoughts; just go about your business."

"...Alright. Mother... I’ll listen to you."

His mother agreed, but she still couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

With the Martial Selection approaching, she had been hearing a lot from Lady Sun about how difficult it was—especially this year, as it was said to be much harder than in previous years.

Crucially, Lady Sun had also mentioned that with Chen Cheng’s strength of Six Pillars of Blood Qi, it was almost impossible for him to obtain Military Merit. He would only be participating to go through the motions and gain some experience.

Since Lady Sun’s words were all directly related to her son, his mother had naturally taken every one of them to heart.

Recalling them now, her worries burst forth like a flood, impossible to contain.

...

「Two days later, on the eve of the Martial Selection.」

Dragon Mountain Hall, inner courtyard.

Wan Qianshan’s complexion was still terrible as he slumped in his chair.

Cao Miao sat to the side, asking in a serious tone, "What are your thoughts on tomorrow’s Martial Selection, Hall Master?"

"...You’re asking a question you already know the answer to."

Wan Qianshan sighed, his somber gaze sweeping across the empty hall as he spoke slowly.

"Tianlai achieved the Entry Level of our Secret Inheritance nearly a year ago, so he has a great chance. Zhuang Zhen didn’t manage to enter the Secret Inheritance, but she seems to have trained in another Upper Grade Martial Art. With some luck, she could rank as well."

Wan Qianshan paused for a moment, his expression growing complex.

"But the one with the greatest chance has to be Kuang Yifeng... His talent is an exceptional match for the Secret Hidden Dragon Fist. Even though he only reached the Entry Level a few days ago, his rate of progress is astonishing..."

"...His progress is indeed absurd, but his character..."

Cao Miao paused, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Right now, both Tianlai and Zhuang Zhen are training in their respective courtyards. But Kuang Yifeng? He disappeared early this morning. He’s most likely with the Qin Family at this very moment."

"I’m not senile yet..."

Wan Qianshan waved his hand dismissively.

"That day, Kuang Yifeng told me a secret about Cloud Platform Hall. If I were to leak it, it would be enough to cost him his life. Holding that over him, I doubt he can stir up much trouble."

Wan Qianshan paused again, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.

"Besides, Han’Er has already sent word back. He’s returning to help me stabilize the situation. Kuang Yifeng doesn’t know this. If he dares to show any disloyalty, Han’Er will deal with him personally."

"...Xiang Han is coming back?"

Cao Miao’s eyes widened for a split second, and even his voice trembled.

"Excellent! Excellent! With your most prized chief disciple returning, I have absolutely nothing left to worry about!"

"If he can bring back some Treasure Medicine to heal your injuries, our Dragon Mountain Hall will be back on track in no time!"

...

The Qin Family Estate.

Qin Zhao was currently sparring with someone in the Martial Arts Arena.

His opponent was none other than Kuang Yifeng.

"Alright, that’s enough for today."

Qin Zhao waved his hand and added a casual word of praise.

"You’ve truly rendered a great service this time. I have completely mastered all the details and variations of the Secret Hidden Dragon Fist. As long as I face Zhao Tianlai tomorrow, I will be sure to cripple him on the stage."

"Young Master Zhao is a heaven-sent genius. I was merely doing my humble part."

Kuang Yifeng rubbed his hands together, his face plastered with a fawning smile.

"Once this is all over, I hope Young Master Zhao will fulfill his promise and recommend me to a major sect in the Prefecture City..."

"Of course."

Qin Zhao said indifferently.

"Not only will I recommend you, but I will also gift you a Holy Moon Muscle Regeneration Pill. It’s as I always say: anyone who serves me faithfully, I, Qin Zhao, will never treat poorly!"

"Thank you, Young Master Zhao! Thank you, Young Master Zhao..."

Kuang Yifeng repeatedly bowed with cupped fists, grinning from ear to ear.

But deep in his heart, another voice was sneering:

’Qin Zhao, Wan Qianshan... A bunch of fucking idiots! I’m not loyal to anyone! This groveling is just a stepping stone for my future success! Just you wait... That bitch Zhuang Zhen... and that mud-legged peasant Chen Cheng... All of you, just you wait!!’

...

Yongsheng Trading Company.

Outside, the ice and snow were melting. The trade caravan was about to depart.

Shen Mi was in her study, conducting a final inventory check.

The door to the study was slowly pushed open.

"Aunt Ding, I’m not hungry. Please don’t bring any more food."

Shen Mi didn’t even look up, her focus remaining entirely on the cargo manifests she was flipping through.

The scale of this caravan was immense, and the total volume of goods was incomparable to any before.

She could not allow herself to make a single mistake.

This first trade journey had to be a resounding success!

Only then would she be worthy of her recent hard work, and worthy of everyone who had helped her—especially... Chen Cheng!

"Mother! It’s me!"

A young woman’s voice called out.

Shen Mi’s head snapped up. The moment her gaze fell upon that familiar yet estranged face, her eyes instantly turned red.

The young woman standing in the doorway was none other than Shen Chun.

Shen Mi remained seated. She didn’t move or speak, merely watching the other person in silence.

"I’m going to participate in the Martial Selection tomorrow."

Shen Chun had just begun to speak when her voice grew softer and softer, until it was nearly inaudible.

"Will you... come...?"

...

On Black Cloud Lake.

A large ship belonging to the Wu Family was sailing toward Zhao City.

Wu Ziyu stood at the prow, her expression a complex mixture of anticipation and worry. Every few moments, she couldn’t resist urging the captain to go faster, and then faster still.

Dozens of miles away across the water.

A large ship, bristling with black flags, was also sailing toward Zhao City.

...

Jiuan Hunting Manor.

Wang Peng stood atop a watchtower. He casually released a silver-feathered, green-eyed carrier pigeon, letting it soar into the heavens.

He lowered his gaze and slowly unfurled the scroll of letter paper the pigeon had just delivered.

The moment he finished reading the letter’s contents, he immediately sprinted down from the watchtower, shouting repeatedly,

"Ready a horse! A fast one! I must return to Zhao City overnight!"

...

「The next morning, at sunrise.」

The long street before the Martial Guard Headquarters was still cloaked in the pale gold of the morning sun. The dew had not yet dried, and the bluestone slabs glistened with moisture.

A tall, imposing archway stood majestically, its upturned eaves casting deep shadows.

On flagpoles to either side, several large, black banners snapped in the morning breeze. The embroidered character for "Martial" on their surfaces rippled and furled in the wind.

At this moment, the street was devoid of pedestrians; all was quiet.

But it was a quiet like the final moment before a storm, or the split second a firework hangs in the sky, waiting to burst into ephemeral glory.

From the distance, the long, clear neigh of a fine steed suddenly rang out, slicing through the morning silence like a sharp blade. The sound echoed up and down the empty street, lingering for a long time.

In the next instant, more neighs, the clatter of hooves, the rumble of wheels, and the clamor of human voices surged forth all at once, converging into a tumultuous and turbulent wave of sound, like a great river thundering into the sea.