Out of the more than two hundred students who came to sign up, the Swordsmanship Club selected the best among them and finally accepted only forty, roughly a one in five ratio.
At this moment in the small venue, it seemed like the full spectrum of human emotions was on display.
Those who were selected celebrated with cheers, while those who weren't selected lamented, proving that people's joys and sorrows are never the same.
Standing in front of Huang Liwen was a girl with a bun hairstyle and black-framed glasses. She was Senior Year Class Two's Sister Tian Hongling, cute and adorable, and had always been the mascot of the Swordsmanship Club.
"Sorry, this student, you currently do not meet the recruitment conditions of our Swordsmanship Club."
"Sister, please, I really want to join the Swordsmanship Club."
Huang Liwen pleaded shamelessly.
Among the four major clubs in the Fighting Center, the Swordsmanship Club had the most and the best quality girls.
The other three major clubs were dominated by men, with members either being muscular men or combat fanatics, none of which he would consider.
Of course, in reality, the other three clubs wouldn't consider him either.
After all, as the pillars of the Fighting Center, the four major clubs only accepted elite students, not just anyone.
Huang Liwen, with such a pretty face, couldn't even pass the medical check.
"Sorry."
Sister Bun shook her head helplessly. Although Huang Liwen was quite handsome, rules are rules.
At this time, Ye Qingzhou also noticed Huang Liwen and walked over: "Brother Wen, why are you here?"
Huang Liwen: "…"
Darn it, I don't want to talk right now!
Then he had to grit his teeth and reminded Ye Qingzhou: "Isn't it possible that I mentioned I wanted to participate in the Swordsmanship Club's recruitment selection?"
Ye Qingzhou suddenly remembered that Huang Liwen seemed, apparently, perhaps had really mentioned this matter?
"Oh, so did you get in?"
You totally hit where it hurts!
The veins on Huang Liwen's forehead popped up, and he gritted his teeth harder.
"No!"
Ye Qingzhou was taken aback: "Brother Wen, are you really that bad?"
"I damn well…"
Huang Liwen clenched his fists until they cracked, his teeth almost breaking.
But after all, he was on the Swordsmanship Club's turf. He didn't dare to lose his temper here and could only look speechlessly at Ye Qingzhou: "Didn't you say you weren't interested in the Swordsmanship Club?"
"Oh, you mean that?"
Ye Qingzhou spread his hands in resignation: "Originally, I didn't plan on coming, but Teacher Xu personally invited me with sincerity. I can't just ignore that, right?"
Hearing this, Huang Liwen looked up to the sky with tears streaming down his face; for the first time, he deeply felt the unevenness of life.
"Pig Head Ye!"
"No, Brother Zhou!"
"Godfather!"
His tone became increasingly humble as Huang Liwen looked at Ye Qingzhou with longing in his eyes.
He had once despised those who used backdoor connections, feeling that such people should be shot.
Now, facing a chance to use a backdoor for himself, Huang Liwen just wanted to say, "What a damn delight!"
Ye Qingzhou was speechless: "Calling me Pig Head when there's nothing, and Godfather when you need help, do you need to be so real?"
Huang Liwen clasped his hands together: "Please help, I'll treat you to lunch this month!"
In order to join the Swordsmanship Club, Huang Liwen was willing to spare no expense.
Ye Qingzhou thought for a moment, someone treating him to a meal didn't sound bad, so he turned to Sister Bun: "Let him join the Swordsmanship Club."
This self-assured tone left Tian Hongling stunned, and she really wanted to ask: "Who are you?"
But since she was always soft-tempered, it was hard for her to speak harshly to a fellow student, so she could only shake her head in an official manner: "Sorry, fellow student, it's not possible."
"Why not?"
"He didn't pass the medical examination."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingzhou turned around and looked Huang Liwen up and down, then patted his shoulder with earnestness: "Your steps are light, your eyes unfocused, Qi deficient and weak strength... Brother Wen, young people should avoid indulgence."
"What do you mean?"
"Less masturbating."
"Damn it… don't talk nonsense, this is slander! Do you know it's slander? And besides, what does this have to do with me joining the Swordsmanship Club?"
Huang Liwen was anxious and flushed, embarrassed by Ye Qingzhou exposing him in front of Sister Bun despite his thick skin.
Moreover, he was disgruntled; after all, studying so hard, he deserved a little reward at night, didn't he?
Is it illegal?
Ye Qingzhou shook his head and sighed: "To learn superior swordsmanship, you need to calm your mind and focus. If you keep making yourself exhausted, how can you practice swordsmanship?"
"…"
Huang Liwen looked distressed: "Then I'm leaving?"
At this moment, Xu Lan came over, and upon learning that Huang Liwen was Ye Qingzhou's desk mate, she personally gave him a backdoor and instructed Tian Hongling: "Let him join the Swordsmanship Club."
"Well… alright."
Since Xu Lan had spoken, Tian Hongling naturally complied and wrote Huang Liwen's name on the official members' roster.
Then Xu Lan clapped her hands to gather the new and old members of the Swordsmanship Club, announcing the first thing she would do as the leading teacher: "In a month, it will be the Cyan Wave Sword Fighting Competition. I ask everyone to adjust their states, prepare seriously, and win glory for our First High School at the competition."
"Yes!"
Everyone in the Swordsmanship Club was ignited by Xu Lan's words with a fighting spirit.
Cyan Wave originally referred to the youthful vigor and vitality of young people.
The Sword Fighting Competition was named as such because most of the participants were young Martial Arts Apprentices yet to formally reach the professional level—mostly high school students aged sixteen or seventeen.
Obviously, this level of competition was designed to discover and cultivate outstanding swordsmanship talents among high school students.
Of course, teachers who could discover and cultivate excellent swordsmanship talents would also gain significant benefits. This was one reason why Xu Lan invited Ye Qingzhou to join the Swordsmanship Club.
After the meeting was dismissed, Xu Lan specifically left Ye Qingzhou behind and advised him: "This year, you just need to aim for getting into the top eight; there's no need to pressure yourself too much."
Ye Qingzhou blinked in confusion: "Why not aim for the championship?"
Xu Lan glanced at Ye Qingzhou exasperatedly: "The competition starts in just a month. Although you have talent, your Martial Bone hasn't formed, and your foundation is insufficient; your chances of winning against true experts are too low."
When Ye Qingzhou heard about experts, his battler's instincts got excited: "How strong can they be?"
Xu Lan seeing Ye Qingzhou's eager posture, thought he was underestimating the challenge, and seriously introduced, "While the Cyan Wave Cup isn't a high-level event, some young geniuses from Martial Arts Families also want to use this platform to build their reputation. These people have been consuming Immortal Ganoderma since childhood, making their muscles and bones strong, and their Qi and blood enriched. Thus, their strength often far exceeds their peers, and some geniuses are even not far from professional-level Martial Artists, so they shouldn't be underestimated."
Ye Qingzhou understood instantly and nodded: "Got it, a bunch of second-generation cultivators with a head start will also participate."
Regarding these second-generation cultivators, Ye Qingzhou wasn't particularly envious.
After all, heaven isn't fair—some people are born in Rome, some are born as mules, and for some, Rome belongs to them from birth.
But none of this mattered; Ye Qingzhou was wholeheartedly devoted to Martial Dao, and though there were injustices in the world, he was confident he could sweep them away with his sword.
Xu Lan thought Ye Qingzhou understood the strength of their opponents: "It's good you understand, but don't be discouraged. You have extraordinary swordsmanship talent, and with a year of preparation, winning the championship wouldn't be impossible. This year, you just focus on gaining competition experience. Next year, I'll fully support you in becoming the champion."