"Senior Sister Jiang!"
In the Martial Arts Hall's cafeteria, after finishing his meal, Lin Chen did not return to the dormitory immediately but waited for a while. When he saw Jiang Qing coming out of the cafeteria, he smiled and approached her.
"Junior Brother Lin... is something the matter?"
Jiang Qing noticed Lin Chen. She wasn't the cold type and didn't hide her surprise.
"Senior Sister Jiang, the academy's first-class student treatment quota for me hasn't been used. I wonder if Senior Sister Jiang is interested. If so, I can help Senior Sister purchase resources."
Lin Chen got straight to the point. If Senior Sister Jiang was uninterested, he'd simply find another senior sister or even sell it to one of the junior sisters if necessary.
Jiang Qing blinked her beautiful eyes a few times and did not immediately reply.
"If Senior Sister Jiang doesn't need it, then forget it. Sorry for bothering you."
Seeing no response from her, Lin Chen didn't linger and was about to find his next target.
"Sure."
Just as Lin Chen was about to turn around, Jiang Qing's crisp voice came, leaving Lin Chen dumbfounded as he turned back.
"Then, could Junior Brother Lin order ten pounds of Gray-winged Seagull meat for me in the cafeteria?"
Gray-winged Seagull?
Lin Chen recalled the book written by a wealthy senior sister he once saw in the Martial Arts Pavilion, which mentioned the Gray-winged Seagull, a relatively precious bird meat priced at five taels per pound in the academy.
However, according to that senior sister, the cost-effectiveness of the Gray-winged Seagull isn't as good as the Golden Pheasant. Before reaching the Ten Acupoints, consuming the Golden Pheasant was more economical.
"Senior Sister, not buying the Golden Pheasant? It seems the Golden Pheasant is more cost-effective." Lin Chen kindly suggested.
"After eating the Golden Pheasant, there will be extra fat on the abdomen. I don't like it."
Jiang Qing's response was straightforward, causing Lin Chen's mouth to twitch. That was such a strong reason, so strong he couldn't argue against it.
Senior Sister Jiang, after all, is a woman. If there's extra fat on her abdomen, it indeed wouldn't look good.
Ah, a wealthy lady, she truly doesn't mind spending extra money.
"Got it, Senior Sister Jiang, please wait a moment."
Lin Chen turned and entered the cafeteria, showing his martial arts identity plaque. The top left corner of the first-class disciple's identity plaque had a "甲" character engraved.
After paying twenty taels in a silver ticket and five taels in silver, he got the meat ticket for ten pounds of Gray-winged Seagull.
"Senior Sister Jiang, here's the meat ticket for the Gray-winged Seagull."
Handing over the meat ticket, Lin Chen noticed a silver ticket appearing in Jiang Qing's hand.
A fifty taels silver ticket.
The green ticket, it was Lin Chen's first time seeing such a large amount on a silver ticket.
"Senior Sister Jiang?"
Seeing the amount, Lin Chen did not reach out to accept it and was somewhat puzzled. Senior Sister Jiang giving him a fifty taels silver ticket meant she didn't save any money at all?
He originally thought if Senior Sister Jiang gave him twenty taels, she'd save five, and he'd earn twenty taels.
"A few taels of silver mean nothing to me."
Seeing Lin Chen's confusion, Jiang Qing straightforwardly explained.
Lin Chen understood; this wasn't Jiang Qing showing off wealth or looking down on him, merely stating a fact.
He wouldn't have a fragile heart over this. Since Senior Sister Jiang was so wealthy, there was no need to be bashful with a rich lady.
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Taking the silver ticket, Lin Chen expressed his gratitude.
"Hmm, you can come to me again next month."
Leaving this sentence, Jiang Qing walked away gracefully.
"Senior Sister Jiang is such a good person. Bless her with a peaceful life, and may she prosper on the Martial Path."
Watching Jiang Qing's departing figure, Lin Chen silently sent his blessings.
With Jiang Qing's words, he basically had an income of twenty-five taels each month. A bottle of Nourishing Acupoints Pill cost thirty taels. As long as he figured out how to earn five taels each month, he could maintain his progress on the Martial Path.
Though he was trailing behind, at least he wouldn't fall too far behind.
Stowing away the silver ticket, Lin Chen didn't return to the dormitory this time; instead, he headed out of the Martial Arts Hall.
Back in January, he and Zhao Jingchuan, along with two others, agreed to meet in town every month after joining the academy.
Yesterday, Zhao Jingchuan had relayed a message through the gatekeeper, arranging for everyone to meet today.
...
...
Cloud Conceal Martial Arts Hall!
Before Lin Chen reached the entrance of the martial arts hall, a voice called from his left front: "Senior Brother Lin, over here!"
Following the sound, he saw Zhao Jingchuan and two others sitting at a tea house on the corner, near the entrance of the Cloud Conceal Martial Arts Hall.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late."
"You're too polite, Senior Brother Lin. I just arrived too," Cheng Ying replied with a cheerful tone. He joined the Seven Stars Martial Arts Hall, which was the furthest from the Cloud Conceal Martial Arts Hall, crossing nearly half the city.
"Now that Senior Brother Lin is here, let's move to another place to chat. I know a good spot for martial artists in the county town."
"Are you talking about the Martial Arts Garden, Junior Brother Zhao?" Lu Yongfeng guessed.
"Yes, exactly the Martial Arts Garden."
Zhao Jingchuan nodded. Although Lin Chen was a bit puzzled, seeing the excitement in Lu Yongfeng and Cheng Ying's eyes piqued his curiosity about the Martial Arts Garden.
...
...
"We've arrived, this is the Martial Arts Garden."
In the northern part of Poyang County, passing through a quiet road lined with lush trees, Lin Chen and his three companions arrived in front of a garden gate.
"Is this the Martial Arts Garden?"
Staring at the entrance of the Martial Arts Garden in front of him, Lin Chen was a bit surprised; the gate of this Martial Arts Garden was more imposing than those of the major martial arts halls.
Before the gate, a pair of stone lions carved with dragons and phoenixes stood majestically, their eyes sharp and intimidating to the average onlooker.
Above the door frame, a black lacquered plaque with gold edges hung high, inscribed with the characters "Martial Arts Garden", the calligraphy bold and powerful, conveying an unspoken sense of majesty and solemness.
On the way here, Lin Chen had already learned from Zhao Jingchuan what kind of place the Martial Arts Garden was.
A place for all martial artists in Poyang County to gather.
However, not just anyone with martial training could enter the Martial Arts Garden; the minimum requirement was to be in the Opening Acupoints Realm.
In the Martial Arts Garden, martial artists could exchange insights on the Martial Path and also engage in resource trading.
There were no guards at the entrance of the Martial Arts Garden, as no one with any sense would dare to enter casually.
Zhao Jingchuan led the way in front, guiding Lin Chen and the others into the Martial Arts Garden. After walking through a small path paved with bluestones, they finally arrived at a small courtyard.
Though small, the courtyard had artificial mountains and flowing water, as well as a small martial arts arena, with all sorts of weapons like knives, guns, swords, and halberds available.
"Young Master Zhao."
Within the courtyard, a graceful young woman approached, offering a deep bow in front of the group, her white gauze partially covering the ample charm in front of her chest.
"Miss Wan'Er, we don't need any service here," Zhao Jingchuan said with a smile.
"Alright, then I'll inform the servants not to come in and disturb without your call," the woman replied softly, taking a few steps back before turning and leaving.
"Senior Brother Zhao, you're impressive, even having a courtyard in the Martial Arts Garden. I heard from a senior brother at the martial arts hall that only those who have reached the Refining the Viscera stage can qualify to have a courtyard here."
As the woman disappeared from sight, Cheng Ying looked at Zhao Jingchuan with shock on his face.
"How could I get a courtyard? To be honest, it's from an elder in my family. After I signed up at the martial arts hall, my father took me to visit, and I met that elder here back then. The elder was leaving the county for a while and allowed me to use this courtyard."
Zhao Jingchuan explained briefly, and Lin Chen and the others did not question further about who the elder was.
Every family has a capable relative.
Everyone has their own secrets and connections, which doesn't conflict with the four of them banding together to train in martial arts.
"As before, let's have a friendly match among the four of us first."
Lu Yongfeng looked at Lin Chen with intense determination. For him, defeating Lin Chen had become an important motivation on his path in martial arts.
Not out of jealousy or hatred, but purely from a spirit of competition and unwillingness to lose.
"Looks like Junior Brother Lu is confident, so let's do it."
Lin Chen smiled, the four of them were in the Two Acupoint Realm, with not much difference in strength.
To open an acupoint in the martial arts hall within a month, it would require at least two bottles of Nourishing Acupoints Pill, and while Lu Yongfeng and the others' families were fairly decent in town, spending over seventy taels a month would be somewhat unrealistic too.
One bottle of Nourishing Acupoints Pill per month is the support their families can provide, beyond that, they must seek more resources themselves.
"Senior Brother Lin, be careful!"
Lu Yongfeng's eyes flashed with confidence. After he gave the signal, he moved, and with a single step, he was already in front of Lin Chen.
The agility of the Seven Stars Fist involves not just the moves but also the footwork coordination.
Lin Chen's eyes slightly narrowed as he noted Lu Yongfeng's quick progress; his Seven Stars Fist seemed to have reached a proficient stage, clearly showcasing the effort put in those past twenty days.
However, he faced himself.
With his right hand, Lin Chen struck with a speed of initiative, his palm precisely hitting the back of Lu Yongfeng's fist.
Smack!
The crisp sound of the slap left Lu Yongfeng utterly stunned; his right hand drooping, he stood frozen without making another move.
"What's wrong with Senior Brother Lu?"
Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying looked puzzled and confused. Even if he was at a disadvantage with the first move, how could Senior Brother Lu just stop?
Only Lu Yongfeng himself knew why he had stopped.
Lin Chen's palm, striking his hand, was not only pinpoint accurate but also carried a force like a wave, pushing back the strength he had concentrated on his fist.
With his energy cut off, in a life-and-death situation, it would mean losing the advantage and having already been defeated.
"Senior Brother Lin, have you mastered the Clear Wind Palm?"
Three breaths later, Lu Yongfeng asked his somewhat unbelievable guess.
Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying beside him widened their eyes in surprise. What was he talking about?
Senior Brother Lin mastering the Clear Wind Palm?
They'd rather believe that Senior Brother Lin had opened four acupoints than believe this.
"Not yet," Lin Chen replied calmly.
"I admit defeat."
Lu Yongfeng gave Lin Chen a deep look, understanding inside that though Senior Brother Lin said he hadn't mastered it, he was probably not far off.
PS: Brothers, today's recommended traffic hasn't come, competing for next week's spotlight is somewhat risky. If anyone can give Nine Lamps a vote, we're relying on the new books' list for exposure to draw in more readers and increase follow-up reading.
If the gap is too large, Nine Lamps won't push for it, but the editor mentioned that we're just shy of a couple of hundred paid followers to meet the requirement, let's give it a shot, please!