Entered the city.
Lin Chen curiously observed everything around him.
The three-zhang-wide bluestone street was bustling with pedestrians.
Shops lined both sides of the street, with various signboards. Some were hung with red silk inscribed with golden characters, gleaming under the sunlight; others were simple wooden signs, indicating the stores' ancient heritage.
Well-dressed merchants and wealthy people, vendors peddling along the street.
The county's appearance was completely different from that of Kaohe Town. Here, Lin Chen felt the prosperity and vitality.
This was a demeanor the town's people lacked.
The townspeople were more focused on working hard for their daily meals, while the city's people, especially wealthy merchants and nobles, had long freed themselves from the worry of meals, naturally showing a different spirit.
Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall.
Yu Yongnian brought Lin Chen straight into the martial arts hall. When they reached the hall's reception room, attendants offered fragrant tea.
"Junior Brother Yu, you've arrived!"
Shortly after, footsteps came from the side door behind the screen, and a man walked out.
"Senior Brother Zhao."
Yu Yongnian smiled in response and pointed to Lin Chen, who stood to one side: "This is Lin Chen, whom I mentioned the other day, the first to cultivate Essence Qi in our Kaohe Martial Hall."
"Disciple Lin Chen greets Instructor Zhao." Lin Chen immediately bowed in salute.
"Hmm, not bad at all."
Zhao Ce glanced briefly at Lin Chen and then sat down in the main seat: "Junior Brother Yu, you have traveled a long way from the town, have some tea first."
The two of them chatted while drinking tea, and Lin Chen listened quietly from the side.
The more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong.
This Instructor Zhao was only reminiscing with Instructor Yu and not mentioning anything about his entry into the martial arts hall.
Yu Yongnian also sensed something was off, put down his teacup, and asked, "Senior Brother Zhao, have the procedures been completed yet at the hall?"
"Junior Brother Yu, this matter might be a bit difficult."
Zhao Ce suddenly sighed, "This year, many more students from various martial halls have cultivated Essence Qi within a year than in previous years. To be honest, just in the past two days, I've met seven students. The hall's quotas are already full."
"There are ten quotas. There can't be none left, and Lin Chen is the top of the martial hall, according to the rules, he should have a quota for an Opening Acupoints Pill."
Yu Yongnian's expression was somewhat grim. Each of the Eight Great Martial Arts Halls has ten quotas for disciples for the Opening Acupoints Pill. If the number of students who cultivate Essence Qi within a year exceeds eighty, indeed some students would not get a quota, but regardless of how many there are, the top student would always have a spot.
"Junior Brother Yu, don't get excited. The hall indeed had two quotas left the other day, but the decision on these quotas isn't solely mine. The last two quotas were given to two other students yesterday by the Vice Hall Master. I'm helpless in this matter as well."
Zhao Ce sighed lightly, casting a glance at Lin Chen: "The hall's quotas are indeed full. If Lin Chen is willing to join the hall, at Junior Brother's request, I can apply to the Hall Master to provide Lin Chen with an annual subsidy of ten taels of silver."
"No need."
Yu Yongnian refused directly. He had brought Lin Chen to Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall because he had emerged from the hall years ago, holding that bond in his heart, prioritizing Lin Chen's recommendation to the hall.
Moreover, it was because Lin Chen's situation was rather suitable for the martial arts of Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, but that didn't mean there were no other options.
"Since the hall's quotas are full, I won't disturb Senior Brother any longer. I take my leave now."
"Junior Brother Yu, don't act impulsively, lest you delay Nephew Lin."
"No need for Senior Brother Zhao to worry, Lin Chen, let's go."
Yu Yongnian left with a dark expression, and Lin Chen naturally followed. Having lived two lives, he had a bit of skill in reading people, realizing that this Instructor Zhao didn't value him at all.
From the condescending look on Instructor Zhao's face when he said he would provide an annual subsidy of ten taels of silver, Lin Chen understood that, in his eyes, even an annual subsidy of ten taels was undeserved.
"Pah, the son of a fisherman trying to get an Opening Acupoints Pill, Junior Brother Yu sure dares to dream. And he claims to have cultivated Essence Qi with barely twenty taels spent, who's he fooling?"
Zhao Ce stood at the hall's doorway, spat as he watched Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen's departing figures.
If he hadn't promised the other day, he wouldn't have even granted the ten taels subsidy.
The fact that he offered an annual subsidy of ten taels was already giving Yu Yongnian face, and yet it wasn't appreciated. Now, let them face rejection at other martial arts halls.
"To Mantis Martial Arts Hall."
Leaving the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen: "Don't lose heart. Historically, the first place in every martial hall can get an Opening Acupoints Pill quota from a martial arts hall. If Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall doesn't have quotas, Mantis Martial Arts Hall should."
"Thank you for your trouble, Instructor."
Lin Chen sincerely appreciated Instructor Yu's efforts. Since he joined the martial hall, Instructor Yu had taken good care of him, and now he was personally negotiating for his benefits at the martial arts hall.
A direct disciple's treatment, perhaps it was something like this.
The two of them crossed most of the county town and arrived at the Mantis Martial Arts Hall.
After Yu Yongnian reported their identity and purpose, a servant of the martial arts hall led them to the guest room to wait. After a cup of tea's time, a young instructor came out to receive them.
"I've already understood Junior Brother Yu's purpose. The spot for the Opening Acupoints Pill is gone, but our martial arts hall can provide a year's funding of fifteen taels for Lin Chen."
Qian Yong said with a smile. The Martial Affairs Office had already sent a copy of all students who had practiced Essence Qi to the entire county earlier this morning. After reviewing Lin Chen's information, he decided on the fifteen taels of funding.
"Senior Brother Qian, Lin Chen spent less than twenty taels to practice Essence Qi in total, which can be verified in the records of the Martial Hall. In terms of martial path talent, Lin Chen is not weaker than those from family backgrounds."
"If that's the case, why doesn't Junior Brother Yu let Lin Chen join the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall?"
Facing Qian Yong's rhetorical question, Yu Yongnian remained silent. Could he say that the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall rejected Lin Chen?
"With less than twenty taels spent to practice Essence Qi, and Junior Brother Yu coming from the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, how could such a disciple be missed by the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall?"
Yu Yongnian continued to stay silent. He couldn't say that the spots at the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall were already full. Regardless of the truth of Zhao Ce's words, they came to the Mantis Martial Arts Hall because the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall was full, treating Mantis Martial Arts Hall as a backup. Revealing this would embarrass both sides.
He didn't believe that Qian Yong couldn't guess this, yet he still pushed with such questioning, his intention was clear.
The attitude was clear too; the Mantis Martial Arts Hall would no longer give Lin Chen the spot for the Opening Acupoints Pill.
"I've troubled you."
Yu Yongnian cupped his fists, taking his leave once more.
"I won't see you off, Junior Brother Yu."
After Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen had left, Qian Yong snorted lightly, "What nonsense, the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall doesn't want him, so they want to take advantage of us at the Mantis Martial Arts Hall? What do they take us for? Spending less than twenty taels to practice Essence Qi, only a fool would believe that."
At the entrance of the Mantis Martial Arts Hall.
Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen, "Do not be discouraged. If the Clear Wind and Mantis Martial Arts Halls are not willing to give you a spot, there are other halls you can choose."
Lin Chen nodded, but a shadow covered his heart; things were not so simple.
He had indeed practiced Essence Qi. As long as someone practiced Essence Qi, the hall should grant a spot for the Opening Acupoints Pill. Now, these two halls were not giving him one, partly due to disbelief that he spent so little to achieve Essence Qi, but more importantly because of his social background.
Such things were hard to speak of openly, hence it was excuse that the spots were full.
Cloud Conceal Martial Arts Hall, Gale Martial Arts Hall...
The next two halls, as Lin Chen anticipated, rejected him again.
Upon exiting the hall's door, he looked at Instructor Yu, about to say something but stopped.
Emotionally, he should persuade Instructor Yu. Each rejection from a martial hall was a blow, akin to rubbing his face against the floor.
Yet he really didn't want to give up the Opening Acupoints Pill. His family was indeed poor, so he needed to seize this opportunity even more.
A step late, then every step is late.
Only by securing the Opening Acupoints Pill and gaining an advantage could he earn more rewards in the monthly assessments of the martial hall.
Having visited four martial halls, it was already nearing noon.
"Let's fill our stomachs first. There's a restaurant in the city with some good dishes."
Yu Yongnian led Lin Chen to a restaurant not far from the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, his face once again showing a smile, "Back in the days when I was learning martial arts at the hall, some fellow disciples and I often came to this restaurant."
"Shopkeeper, bring a plate of Flying Phoenix Claw, and add two more dishes as you see fit."
The so-called Flying Dragon Claw is just wild chicken claws, albeit with a nicer name.
As the dishes came, Lin Chen ate in silence. Yu Yongnian poured himself a cup of wine and sipped, seeing Lin Chen's silence, he comforted, "There are still four martial halls. Don't lose heart. The path of the martial way is long and arduous. Don't let these minor setbacks discourage you. Today's setbacks will be your motivation for growth on the martial path."
"The fragrance of the plum blossom comes from the bitter cold; the sharpness of a sword is honed. I understand this principle, and even if I don't secure a spot for the Opening Acupoints Pill, I will not forsake the martial path."
Yu Yongnian's eyes showed a hint of surprise, "I didn't expect you to articulate such words. 'The sharpness of a sword is honed' is worthy of a great toast. You cannot drink wine, so substitute it with broth and drink with me."
After a cup of broth, Lin Chen continued, "Instructor Yu, I returned to the village, and the village chief mentioned one thing. Back when Scholar Jiang left the village, he told the village chief that if any young villagers achieved something on the martial path, he should be informed. Can I write to Scholar Jiang about my current situation?"
Lin Chen raised his head, voicing the thought that had surfaced in his mind.
If no martial hall would grant him the spot, he could only write to Scholar Jiang.
"If Instructor thinks it's inappropriate, I won't write it."
After listening, Yu Yongnian slapped the table, "Write it, why not write it."
Feeling perhaps his attitude had shifted too quickly, Yu Yongnian explained, "Although hardships can sharpen your resolve, it's naturally better to endure less."
"I will heed your instruction, Instructor Yu. I will write to Scholar Jiang when I return."
"There's no need to rush. First, let's visit the Martial Affairs Office with me?"
Yu Yongnian waved his hand, noticing Lin Chen's puzzled look, he said solemnly, "We go to the Martial Affairs Office to file a complaint!"