Wang Kuan didn’t chat with Yan Chuan for long. He handed the Sky Shattering Bow and ten jins of Dragon Blood to Yan Chuan, gave a few instructions, and then lost interest in the conversation.
He was eager to go into closed-door cultivation.
This time, he also received Dragon Blood and was about to break through. If he hadn’t been waiting for Yan Chuan, he would have shut his doors to visitors already!
"Elder Wang, this junior takes his leave."
Yan Chuan could see it as well. Although he wanted to ask Wang Kuan more about the details of ’breaking the limit of Qi and Blood,’ it was clearly not a good time to disturb him.
However, just as he was about to leave, Wang Kuan pulled Yan Chuan aside: "The Sky Shattering Bow is powerful, and using two of them together is even more unstoppable. If you ever encounter an Alien Beast that you can’t handle, I hope you’ll lend your fist or even borrow your treasure bow. Rest assured, the benefits will not be lacking."
"Feel free to call on me!"
This was a good opportunity, and Yan Chuan naturally would not refuse.
Returning what one borrows makes borrowing again easy.
With the Red Tassel Spear in his left hand, a Dragon Blood Bag in his right, and a Sky Shattering Bow on his back, Yan Chuan walked out in grand style.
His heart was burning hot—
"Ten jins of Dragon Blood, breaking the limit of Qi and Blood, can refine ’Sinew, Bone, Skin, and Membrane’!"
"By then, I’d reach the level of the Ten Elders, able to pull the ’Sky Shattering Bow,’ my strength surging, killing the Ten Elders as easily as slaughtering a dog!"
The ’breaking the limit of Qi and Blood’ he had been yearning for was now easily in hand!
Yan Chuan was filled with joy.
Guangling Academy was truly generous.
Last time, after Yan Chuan counterattacked Wu Qi, not only did Guangling Academy not pursue the matter, but they even offered apologies.
This time, after Yan Chuan was relentlessly chased by Tu Meng and had no choice but to lure the formidable enemy onto Guangling Academy’s turf, anyone could see his strategy, but Guangling Academy still didn’t pursue it. Instead, they returned the Sky Shattering Bow and gifted him Dragon Blood. Not only did they not mind, they even seemed grateful to Yan Chuan!
Guangling Academy, indeed generous!
Though among the Guangling Ten Elders were the disgraceful Wu Qi, Wen Wu, and Yuan Shicai, in general, the academy was still mostly positive.
Carrying the Iron Bow!
With the Dragon Blood in hand!
Yan Chuan’s impression of Guangling Academy was improved, and he headed directly to the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall.
"Pride! Laugh proudly amidst the surging waves!"
"Blood! Hotter than the sunlight!"
The sun was already high.
The Martial Arts Hall gathered with apprentices, almost a hundred regulars, lined up under the leadership of Yu Jinpeng, Jin Yutang, and Wei Quan. They first stood in stance, then practiced boxing, all to the rousing beat of a hot-blooded battle song—
It was truly inspiring!
Yan Chuan didn’t have time to instruct today, so he called over the trio of Yu Jin, Jinpeng, and Wei Quan: "Today is already the 26th, the day after tomorrow I have a class at Taikang Academy, I need to head to Taikang early, leaving at noon. Jinpeng, Wei Quan, you’ll stay at the Martial Arts Hall. Yutang will come with me."
Yu Jinpeng was highly skilled in boxing and stable, making him the best to oversee the Martial Arts Hall.
Wei Quan, with inadequate strength and a rebellious nature, still needed to toughen his temperament at the hall.
Jin Yutang’s skill was moderate, neither too high nor too low, with an even temper, making him ideal to accompany Yan where he could teach him anytime, besides having someone handy.
Wei Quan felt aggrieved, wanting to go together.
But Yan Chuan had already made up his mind and didn’t change it.
He instructed Yutang: "We’ll set off after the midday meal. Go pack, tell your parents, can you leave home?"
Jin Yutang nodded eagerly!
His family didn’t really need him. Leaving behind the senior and junior apprentice brothers, being able to follow his master alone was a rare, great opportunity, no matter the difficulty, Jin Yutang would overcome it!
He quickly said to Yan Chuan, "Master, I’m going back now, I’ll be back in less than an hour!"
Although this disciple was not outstanding in many aspects—
Yu Jinpeng was steadier than him.
Wei Quan was livelier.
Jin Yutang was more contemplative.
Enduring through the toughest times at the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall showed he was sentimental. For such a disciple, Yan Chuan was willing to invest time and effort into nurturing him.
Yu Jinpeng had already established himself; with ’Horse Stance,’ ’Twelve Bridge Hands,’ ’Tiger Form Boxing,’ and ’Crane Form Boxing’ all at the Sixth Realm, he wasn’t inferior even to the elites of Guangling Academy, lacking only settling down and Qi-Blood.
Wei Quan still had a long way to go before standing on his own.
Yan Chuan’s main focus was currently on Jin Yutang.
"Keep him by my side, teach extensively."
"Perhaps by year’s end, he might advance further."
By then, Jin Yutang could stand independently, strengthening the foundation of the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall even more.
"Master is going to teach at Taikang Academy, and I am going with him. This trip might last ten to fifteen days, or at least three to five days. Stay well at home and wait for my return!"
In Guangling City, at the Jin Mansion, Jin Yutang returned home, heading straight to the side courtyard to see his mother.
"Your master is a big figure now; if you follow him earnestly, you’ll undoubtedly learn true skills. When you finish your apprenticeship, you can open a Martial Arts Hall, and your future will be settled!"
Mrs. Jin had strands of white hair, looking about fifty or sixty, which was somewhat older compared to Jin Yutang’s mere twenty-four years, but she was just in her early forties.
Nowadays, opening a Martial Arts Hall wasn’t that easy!
Mrs. Jin often stayed in the courtyard, hardly stepping out, unaware of the changes in the world outside, still stuck at the stage when Jin Yutang first entered the Martial Arts Hall, believing after learning, one could open a hall and no longer worry about livelihood.
"I’m doing quite well now, no need to worry. Look at this courtyard, just recently changed, isn’t it much more spacious?"
"They say it was vacated recently."
"In truth, I know, it’s because they see my son has followed a good master, and as the water rises, so does the boat, that’s why they’re favoring me!"
Mrs. Jin continued to chat, somewhat happy, somewhat proud.
Glory through one’s child!
All the waiting paid off after more than ten years, she could finally hold her head high!
"When I open a Martial Arts Hall in the future, we’ll move out and live together!" Jin Yutang couldn’t bear to see his mother being mistreated or satisfied with mere civility from others. It was too saddening. He stood up: "Master is about to leave, my luggage is at the Martial Arts Hall. I just returned to say a word to you, now I’m heading back."
"You should have said earlier!"
"Hurry! Hurry! Don’t let your master wait too long!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Jin hurriedly pushed him away.
Jin Yutang nodded in agreement, turned to leave the courtyard. As he came out, he saw his mother’s maid Nanny Wang, who was all smiles, hurriedly returning from outside. When she saw Jin Yutang, her smile vanished, her eyes darting, showing fear, and she hurried over, smiling apologetically: "Young Master Yutang, I only stepped out for a moment, really just a moment!"
Jin Yutang brushed past Nanny Wang with a smile: "It’s alright, Nanny Wang, go wherever you like, but if my mother falls ill or something happens, remember there are nine people in your house—oh no, ten, since your eldest son recently gave you a grandson, didn’t he? It’s quite something to have a broken leg and still manage that!"
This person’s a demon!
Nanny Wang was both afraid and resentful!
Her eldest son’s broken leg was probably this rascal’s doing!
And what did he mean by those words?
Was he targeting her precious grandson?!
Nanny Wang was inwardly fuming but kept smiling outwardly: "Not going anywhere! Nowhere at all! I’m going back now!"
Going back to take care of that old patient with epilepsy!
Jin Yutang smiled at Nanny Wang, then left.
While Jin Yutang was heading home, Yan Chuan was also packing.
Clothes and shoes, those were basic.
"Here are the hats that Master wanted, plus the rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, bead hairpins, jade pendants, and pendants. I carefully chose them in the market, sure to please Master!"
Wei Quan brought a pile of jewelry to Yan Chuan, almost slipped in words, he awkwardly corrected himself, then slyly asked: "Does Master have a lover in Taikang County?"
Surely, there must be!
Otherwise, why buy so much jewelry to take to Taikang?
"You sure talk a lot!"
Yan Chuan took them, frowning at Wei Quan: "Seems like you need more training!"
Wei Quan’s face fell immediately.
Everything was packed, Yan Chuan took Jin Yutang and set out straight for Taikang County.
Just as they stepped out.
Yan Chuan spotted three familiar faces, two men and a woman, lingering outside the Martial Arts Hall.
"Such damn bad luck!"
In the morning, after Yu Renjie and Dai Pu saw Yan Chuan off, they received terrible news—
Their newly admitted research student professor mentor, Cai Yuming, had passed away two days prior, due to unforeseen circumstances. The two needed reassignment of mentors, but the other two professors teaching ’Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist’ were already full with research students, meaning reassignment would randomly be from the five instructors, excluding Lin Jiuru, who only accepted female disciples.
If assigned to Chen Jingming, it would be alright.
But their luck was too poor, and they ended up with Wei Nanshan and Weng Chaoxian!
One was too old-fashioned, clinging to outdated martial concepts, not a good mentor.
The other’s character was flawed, notoriously harsh to disciples, not providing sufficient benefits, wouldn’t teach attentively, misleading students’ paths.
Reassignment downgrade!
This was already unlucky!
And encountering these two instructors, it was sheer cursed bad luck!
Yu Renjie and Dai Pu left the administration office, burdened by bad news, sat on the lawn looking devastated, glancing up at the sky and down at the ground, feeling like crying!
Just when they were feeling frustrated and helpless.
They suddenly saw Yan Chuan walking out from the Inner Courtyard, with a bow and spear, striding confidently, energetic and vibrant.
Yu Renjie kept staring and suddenly had a thought, his eyes brightened: "Following Wei Nanshan! Following Weng Chaoxian! What’s the future in that? As far as I see, there’s no need to stay at this Guangling Academy!"
He pointed at Yan Chuan departing in the distance, excitedly: "I heard that Master Yan is soon going to teach at Taikang Academy. He’s proficient in the Hundred Schools of Boxing Skill, and his mastery of ’Five Ancestors Crane Sun Fist,’ not to mention Weng Chaoxian or Wei Nanshan, even Professor Cai Yuming might not compare! If we could be admitted as his research students, follow him to learn boxing, our future would be limitless!"
Dai Pu hesitated upon hearing this: "But Taikang Academy is ranked too low!"
Among the 420 academies!
Taikang is ranked at 400!
In the bottom twenty!
Although Guangling Academy is also at the bottom, it at least ranks just over the 300 mark. The gap is too wide!
"What does Taikang Academy being worse matter?"
"Isn’t Master Yan being impressive enough?"
"Think about the Advanced Study Hall!"
"Think about the Martial Arts Competition!"
"Think about Master Yan’s disciples!"
"Use your pig brain and think!"
The more Yu Renjie thought about it, the more feasible it seemed: "Master Yan is going to Taikang Academy for the first time, unfamiliar with the place! If we follow and offer our services, becoming research students wouldn’t be too much, right? Besides, even if Taikang Academy isn’t great, there’s a silver lining. Our boxing skills might not stand out at Guangling Academy, but at Taikang Academy, we’d stand a chance! Whether Master Yan selects research students by appearance, strength, or talent, we have a great shot!"
Dai Pu was persuaded!
After debating it back and forth multiple times, they gritted their teeth, stomped their feet, and made up their minds—
"To hell with Guangling Academy!"
To follow Master Yan!