"Uh..."
Lu Yuan's answer startled Lin Zhiquin. He then looked at Lu Yuan with a strangely approving gaze and said with emotion, "It's rare for someone your age to understand the need to share the family's burden. However, to earn back tuition... becoming an Official Disciple won't be enough for that."
"Why?" Lu Yuan was surprised. "Didn't you say that after becoming an Official Disciple, I would receive a monthly allowance from the martial arts school, in addition to meal subsidies and other benefits?"
"Do you think the martial arts school is a charity?" Lin Zhiquin chuckled and shook his head. "The martial arts school does indeed provide certain preferential treatment for Official Disciples, but they also have to pay tuition—more than ordinary students pay. Don't you understand that martial arts techniques are not taught lightly? If becoming an Official Disciple meant the school would pay you, then we Martial Arts Coaches would have been sleeping on the streets long ago."
"What about entry-level martial artists certified by the Martial Arts Association?"
"They also have to pay an annual fee to the Martial Arts Association; otherwise, your rank certificate will become invalid the following year."
"..."
Lu Yuan's expression soured. What Lin Zhiquin said was the complete opposite of what he understood, overturning all his plans.
"The information you've heard probably comes from outsiders confusing the concept of Official Disciples with Core Disciples. Core Disciples do have much better benefits, and they do get a salary. But Core Disciples usually need to help the martial arts school with various tasks. Before receiving payment, they have to sign a contract with the school. Plus, the application standards for Core Disciples are also higher."
"I think, if you want to meet your expectations—to receive a higher level of the martial arts school's inheritance free of charge, without having to do anything, just practice martial arts, and get paid monthly... there's probably only one status that could satisfy all those conditions..."
"What?"
Lin Zhiquin looked at Lu Yuan, smiled, and said, "A Direct Disciple."
Lu Yuan looked stunned.
Just then, the door to their private room was pushed open from the outside with a CREAK. The middle-aged woman from before came in, carrying two dishes with a smile.
"Your stir-fried pork kidney and chicken are ready."
Two dishes were placed before them: stir-fried pork kidney with red chaotian peppers, and chicken in a casserole. The chicken was stewed with pig's trotters; the broth was thick and gelatinous, and the meat was so tender it fell apart at the poke of a chopstick. It must have been stewing for a long time. Its appearance alone was very appetizing.
"Try them. The stir-fried pork kidney and chicken here are her specialties." Lin Zhiquin gestured for Lu Yuan to eat, then said to the middle-aged woman, "Please bring us some rice..." Glancing at Lu Yuan, he added, "A bit extra."
"Got it." The middle-aged woman nodded with a smile. "You martial artists all have big appetites."
Lu Yuan didn't stand on ceremony with Lin Zhiquin and started eating immediately. He was feeling a bit down and needed food to lift his spirits.
Both dishes tasted quite good. Although they were far from amazing, Lu Yuan had never been a picky eater. He could even wolf down a large basin of food from the school cafeteria.
Lu Yuan tore off a chicken leg, holding it in his left hand while his right hand, wielding chopsticks, picked at the other dishes. While eating, he asked Lin Zhiquin, "So, what exactly is a Direct Disciple?"
Lu Yuan had completely loosened up now, a stark contrast to the nervous, constrained high school student he'd been around his elder earlier. His tone when asking Lin Zhiquin had also become more casual.
Mainly because... before, he was worried Lin Zhiquin wouldn't sign for him, so he had acted somewhat obsequiously. Now, though...
Lin Zhiquin's words had shattered all his illusions about becoming an Official Disciple. Although he hadn't confirmed it, upon careful reflection, it made sense. His previous ideas, in contrast, seemed incredibly naive, so this was most likely the truth. Lu Yuan's interest in becoming an Official Disciple instantly faded. Consequently, whether Lin Zhiquin signed for him or not no longer mattered much. Mentally, he naturally began to see himself on equal footing with the coach.
"A Direct Disciple..." Lin Zhiquin picked up a piece of stir-fried kidney with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly. "It means being personally accepted by the martial arts school's master. It represents the true core inheritance of the school."
Lu Yuan took a hearty bite of the chicken leg in his hand, grinned at Lin Zhiquin, and said, "So, Coach Lin, do you think I have a chance of becoming the master's Direct Disciple?"
Lin Zhiquin seemed to catch the teasing tone in his words and frowned slightly, but his expression quickly smoothed out.
"I can give you that chance," Lin Zhiquin said, looking at Lu Yuan.
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the private room opened again. The middle-aged woman, who had left and returned, came in with braised pork ribs, a dish of green vegetables, and the rice Lin Zhiquin had ordered.
"If it's not enough, I can bring more... The fish will take a little longer; it's been cleaned and is ready to be cooked."
After setting down the dishes, the middle-aged woman looked at Lu Yuan, who was eating heartily, and couldn't help but compliment, "Coach Lin, these students you bring are always so full of vigor, each more so than the last!"
Lin Zhiquin just smiled and said nothing.
Lu Yuan took the rice basin and served himself a large bowl. With the freshly served ribs and greens, he shoveled several large mouthfuls of rice into his mouth. The stir-fried kidney was now showcasing its true charm; its crisp, spicy, and delicious flavor was a perfect accompaniment to rice.
When Lu Yuan finished his bowl of rice and looked up, he found that Lin Zhiquin hadn't touched his chopsticks at all. He had lit a cigarette at some point and was just watching him quietly.
Lu Yuan took a napkin from the dispenser on the table and meticulously began to wipe the oily residue from between his left fingers, where he had held the chicken leg. Then, he suddenly blurted out.
"Coach Lin, the last time you came to this restaurant... you probably brought Yang Jiandong, right?"
The cigarette pinched between Lin Zhiquin's fingers trembled slightly, but his face remained expressionless.
"I guess Coach Lin must have said the same things to Yang Jiandong. And probably not just to Yang Jiandong..." Lu Yuan continued. He wiped the oil stains from his hand, took out another napkin, and dabbed his mouth.
Then he stood up from his chair and said to Lin Zhiquin with sincere gratitude, "Thank you for the meal, Coach Lin. I'm full. The food at this restaurant is indeed good, much better than the hospital cafeteria food. Goodbye, Coach Lin."
When Lin Zhiquin heard the word "hospital," his eyes visibly twitched.
Seeing Lu Yuan pull back his chair and turn to leave, Lin Zhiquin finally couldn't hold back and called out, "Wait a minute!"
"Is there something else you want to say, Coach Lin?" Lu Yuan asked, looking at Lin Zhiquin with a calm expression.
"Sit down first. Let's talk sitting down." Lin Zhiquin gestured with his hand, indicating for Lu Yuan to sit down again.
Lu Yuan thought for a moment and decided he might as well hear what other stories Lin Zhiquin could spin to try and coax him.
Across the small dining table, with a few dishes separating them, the two sat facing each other.
Lin Zhiquin took a deep breath, extinguished the cigarette in his hand, looked Lu Yuan directly in the eyes, and said, "I think you might have misunderstood something. Why don't you tell me your thoughts first? What do you think I'm trying to get you to do?"
Since the secret was out, Lu Yuan had nothing to hold back and said directly, "You're just trying to trick me into fighting in Black Fist matches for you. Just like Yang Jiandong before, for money, right?"
"Black Fist?" Lin Zhiquin looked startled, then frowned. "It seems you really have misunderstood."
He gave a wry smile and said, "I admit, I have considered taking you to competitions. I do need money urgently right now, and there are some more personal reasons... However, those are all legitimate combat tournaments. Anyone can find the registration details online, and they're even filed with the Martial Arts Association. It's completely different from the underground Black Fist fights you're imagining."
"Would legitimate combat tournaments cause someone to suffer over a dozen fractures all over their body?" Lu Yuan said coolly.
Lin Zhiquin was taken aback, his expression turning odd. "Are you referring to Yang Jiandong's injuries?"
Lu Yuan's expression was noncommittal.
"Sigh—" Lin Zhiquin sighed, an expression of amusement mixed with helplessness on his face. "Yang Jiandong's injuries have absolutely nothing to do with me. He got hurt because he secretly participated in some unofficial combat competitions through a channel he found himself. Moreover, his injuries weren't sustained in the ring. He was retaliated against after a match. The cause was that after winning, the guy spat at his opponent and made insulting gestures. The other party couldn't stand it, so they ambushed him as soon as he stepped out, threw a sack over his head, and beat him for a good ten minutes or more... But that person paid compensation later, and Yang Jiandong even used that money for the down payment on his marital home..."
"..."
Fearing Lu Yuan wouldn't believe him, Lin Zhiquin took out his phone, handed it to Lu Yuan, and said directly, "You can call Yang Jiandong's girlfriend right now. I have her contact information. She knows the whole story."
"..."
Lu Yuan looked at the phone Lin Zhiquin offered him, remained silent for a good while, then took a deep breath.
"Last question: why did you deliberately hold up my assessment application by not signing the form?"
"Deliberately not sign for you?" Lin Zhiquin's expression suddenly became even more peculiar. "When I was signing it for you, I got halfway through when the pen in my hand suddenly ran out of ink. I was planning to get a new one from the front desk after dinner and finish signing it then... Of course, I also wanted to use this mealtime to chat with you..."
"..."
In the small private room, Lu Yuan silently regarded Lin Zhiquin's seemingly sincere face. After a long silence, he lowered his head and spoke slowly.
"Coach, can we... talk about the Direct Disciple matter again?"