Chapter 354: Upper-Upper (Part 2)

Chapter 354: Chapter 172: Upper-Upper (Part 2)

‘Even if the distinguished guest doesn’t mind, that’s a sign of his magnanimity and refinement. As a Steward, however, I cannot fail to make my own attitude clear.’

‘Rules are rules. The hierarchy between superiors and inferiors cannot be taken lightly in the slightest.’

“It’s no bother.”

Chen Cheng shook his head slightly and said,

“Go ahead and discuss your business. Don’t mind me.”

“One moment, Young Master.”

Zhou Wansen replied in a gentle tone, then turned to Li Wenrou and asked solemnly,

“What is it?”

“Elder Zhou.”

Li Wenrou stepped aside to reveal Ning Chong behind her. She pointed at him and said in a gruff voice,

“His name is Ning Chong. He just tested as having top-grade physical potential, making him a prime candidate for Transverse Training. According to the rules, you should be the one to personally handle his arrangements.”

“Top-grade physical potential? Good! Excellent!”

Zhou Wansen’s eyes lit up, and his tone softened considerably.

Hearing this, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but glance over, a perfectly measured look of amazement on his face.

He had been wondering how Ning Chong, who had been severely injured by the bandit leader, could have recovered so completely in just ten days, as if nothing had happened.

‘His innate Root Bone talent must be the reason.’

Zhou Wansen stood up, his gaze falling upon Ning Chong as he sized him up from head to toe.

Broad shoulders, a thick back, a sturdy frame—the ratio of his bone to muscle was indeed that of someone born to cultivate Transverse Training External Skills.

He nodded in satisfaction, a smile playing on his lips.

“Not bad at all… The Mountain Courtyard’s Fist Pavilion is in dire need of promising new disciples with top-grade physical potential.”

“Ning Chong, is it? I’ll remember you! Go and complete the entry procedures first. I’ll submit your case as soon as possible. When the time comes, someone will be sent to guide you.”

“Thank you, Elder!”

Ning Chong clasped his fist and bowed deeply.

“No need for formalities.”

Zhou Wansen waved his hand dismissively, then looked to the side and instructed,

“Steward Li, take Young Master Chen and Ning Chong to handle their entry matters, then personally see them settled in their new residences.”

“Arrange for Ning Chong according to the standards for an Outer Sect Core Disciple. Don’t let him feel slighted.”

He paused, then added in a lower, yet crystal-clear voice,

“Furthermore, Young Master Chen’s residence must be the best private courtyard available! Give him Guan Lan Pavilion. It’s by the East Sea Marsh—quiet, with a fine view!”

“Yes, Elder Zhou. Rest assured, I understand.”

Li Wenrou accepted the order verbally, but her heart jolted in shock.

That Guan Lan Pavilion wasn’t for ordinary disciples. It was where an Inner Elder had attained enlightenment by observing the waves many years ago.

Later, that Elder left the mountain to travel and was never heard from again. Guan Lan Pavilion had remained vacant ever since. Zhou Wansen had it cleaned regularly, reserving it exclusively for special guests from outside the sect.

As they left, Li Wenrou deliberately stepped aside and waited for Chen Cheng to go first.

She knew in her heart that this young man’s importance was likely far greater than she had imagined.

「And at the same time.」

No matter how reckless Ning Chong might be, how could he not understand the situation now?

Chen Cheng’s status was clearly not as simple as it had seemed over the past few days.

‘Calling him “little bro” earlier was truly too rash. So rash that the back of my neck is still cold.’

‘Then again,’ he thought, ‘my decision to befriend Chen Cheng back then was incredibly wise.’

‘If I had gotten mixed up with Fang Lang and Zhao Dongping, I probably would have died without even knowing how.’

Outside the stone house where the Root Bone test was held, a few more young men and women had arrived, lining up obediently behind Huang Jiao and talking in low voices.

When they saw Li Wenrou in her Steward’s Robe approaching from a distance, everyone immediately fell silent and stood up straight. Their faces showed a mixture of awe, anticipation, and a desire to curry favor.

However, Li Wenrou didn’t even give them a second glance. She went straight into the house, grabbed a string of keys, and called out the few people who had just had their Root Bone tested, leading them all away.

As for Huang Jiao and the newcomers behind her, they were simply left standing there.

“Chen Cheng…”

Huang Jiao’s eyes were immediately drawn to Chen Cheng, who was walking to Steward Li’s left.

At first, she thought Chen Cheng was being insolent and ignorant of the rules of seniority.

‘What status? What strength? What kind of Root Bone? How dare he walk side-by-side with Steward Li?’

But gradually, she realized she had the hierarchy completely backward.

As the group walked further away, Chen Cheng maintained a ramrod-straight posture.

Li Wenrou, walking beside him, was clearly bowing her head and hunching her shoulders. When she spoke to Chen Cheng, her face was wreathed in smiles, and she even made her voice as gentle as possible.

Where was even a trace of the aggressive, fire-and-brimstone attitude she had during the Root Bone test?

‘How could this be?’

‘What right does that kid have to make Steward Li so humble and respectful, to the point of being obsequious?’

‘He’s just a mere Lower Rank Martial Artist with only Eight Pillars of Blood Qi, and his Root Bone is far from ideal.’

‘On what grounds?’

‘What in the world gives him the right!?’

Huang Jiao’s expression gradually twisted, her brow furrowed deeply, and she gnashed her molars.

The few people waiting in line behind her all shot her strange looks.

…

Passing the front row of stone houses, a wide Martial Arts Arena came into Chen Cheng’s view.

This Martial Arts Arena acted as a dividing line, splitting the Outer Disciple residential area into three distinct sections.

“That stretch of single-story, gray-tiled houses to the right is the residence for ordinary Outer Disciples. Each person gets one room with no courtyard. Rent is three hundred taels of silver or three points of Military Merit per month, paid every three months.”

Li Wenrou pointed, then picked out three keys and handed them over.

“Lu Shang, Marsong, Ding Lu, you three will live over there. The room numbers are on the keys. Go and get settled in for now.”

“Someone from the General Affairs Hall will come to your doors later to collect payment. Besides rent, you’ll have to pay extra for meals, Training Attire, and a master’s Transmission of Skills. You should have at least three thousand taels ready.”