I Cheated While Cultivating - Chapter 24
Five Auspicious Martial Arts School was one of the most magnificent martial arts schools situated in the northern part of Yellow Wood City.
The entire martial arts school covered an area of more than twenty acres, with a collection of various facilities for clothings, food, accommodation and transportation, and a variety of practice rooms had been built. Not only was there a wide field, but it had also been evenly divided into specialized fields for boxing, swords, sabers and so on and so forth.
Furthermore, there was also a collection of many local famous ninth class practitioners in Yellow Wood City, external practitioners from other places, as well as external disciples of Five Elements Clan serving the school.
It could only be considered extremely luxurious.
Comparatively, the difference between those schools and a smaller-sized martial arts school like Prosperity Martial Arts School was like heaven and earth.
As such, most apprentices from Five Auspicious Martial Arts School walked down the street with their heads held high, as if they had an inexplicable sense of superiority over the apprentices from other martial arts schools. They seemed eager to walk with their noses pointing to the sky.
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However, those apprentices were currently standing neatly in the morning class square of the martial arts school, eyes downcast and gazes obedient. There was a black mass of two to three thousand people who dared not even make a single sound.
Five Auspicious Martial Arts School had not only recruited apprentices from Yellow Wood City but also other villages under the city’s jurisdiction as well as its neighboring cities, where people sent their children over.
At the side of the morning class square was a spacious high platform. Originally, this was the place for the practitioners to check on the condition of apprentices during morning sessions. But now, even these practitioners had lowered their heads, stood at a side and dared not speak a word.
Before the crowd of practitioners, there were three men in their fifties. They looked humble and earnest as they spoke to a young man in front of them.
That young man looked like he was in his twenties, and held a longsword, with hard lines of features. Although he did not look particularly handsome, he was above average. With a green hair crown on top of his head, he had tied his hair up in a simple knot.
His overall appearance was like a typical young martial artist in the world of martial arts.
He was Liu Changsheng, a master fifth-class martial artist, ranked at thirty-ninth on the People Ranking Board, with a name given as Little Greenwood Sword.
“Why are you guys creating all this trouble for? There’s a welcome ceremony or a banquet at a restaurant.” Liu Changsheng seemed a bit impatient. He said to these three middle-aged men, “I’m here to assess your strength and the condition of the martial arts school, not your food and wine.”
“Young Master Liu, it’s been like this all the while.”
“Indeed. As the host, we cannot ignore the people from the sect!”
“If the sect were to discover that we have failed to serve you well, we’ll certainly be punished.”
These three middle-aged men were precisely the masters of the three martial arts schools under the Five Elements Clan. They were namely Five Auspicious Martial Arts School, Integration Martial Arts School, and Grand Waves Martial Arts School.
“Young Master, they are right. It’s been a tradition that whenever we send people to perform the assessment, they will go through the same itinerary,” An elder who looked to be in his sixties stood beside Liu Changsheng. He lowered his voice and said, “Even though you’re very keen to compete with them, this will only take up at most a day or two.”
“I wouldn’t have come if I knew there would be so much hassle.”
Liu Changsheng sighed. He came here just to enjoy competing during the assessment and watch others compete. Therefore, he had not thought so much about other matters.
He had no other hobbies, he just liked to compete with people on his own, as well as watch others compete. He had no interest in things like banquets and feasts.
“This is Master’s order of getting you out to train up yourself.” The elder lowered his voice and reminded him.
“Alright.” Liu Changssheng nodded helplessly and said to the three masters of martial arts school, “We’ll follow your arrangements, just keep it simple.”
“Good! You’ll be rest-assured with great satisfaction!” The three masters of martial arts schools replied unanimously. Then, they instructed one of the practitioners behind them, “Go and get Shopkeeper Qian to come over. He’s waiting at the front hall.”
The practitioner nodded hastily and trotted all the way out of the morning class square.
“Young Master Liu, Shopkeeper Qian offers the restaurant and inn which are the best in Yellow Wood City.” The master of Five Auspicious Martial Arts School, Zhao Yuan smiled as he said, “In his early years, he was an apprentice in my martial arts school. Later, he became a ninth-class martial artist and worked as a practitioner for a few years.
“After that, he had gathered some savings and left the martial arts school. He started a restaurant and inn. He had managed to achieve all this in slightly over a decade. Also, this is considered as part of the Five Elements Clan’s property. You’ll be satisfied with them.”
“Stop trying to butter up someone you’ve already familiar with.” Suddenly, the elder let out a low growl.
“Yes. I was too reckless. Please forgive me.” Zhao Yuan was startled and hastily apologized. Despite not knowing the identity of this elder, he could see that Liu Changsheng actually cared about this elder’s words. Naturally, he dared not treat him lightly.
“Ah! Butler Wang, you don’t have to be so fastidious over these details,” Liu Changsheng suddenly laughed, then spoke to Zhao Yuan, “From what you said just now, does Shopkeeper Qian know martial arts too?”
“That’s right. Young Master Liu, you’re right,” Zhao Yuan nodded and continued, “Although Shopkeeper Qian has left martial arts school for more than a decade, his martial arts has not fallen behind. I occasionally exchange moves with him. He’s nearly at the peak of ninth-class and almost reaching the level of eighth-class.”
“He’s only a ninth-class martial artist. Anyway, it seems alright…” Liu Changsheng looked thoughtful, but no one could tell what he was thinking.
Just then, Zhou Heng and Yu He had reached the front hall of Five Auspicious Martial Arts School and bumped into Shopkeeper Qian.
This man seemed to be in his fifties, with thin eyebrows and small eyes, a round face shape with a mustache. He was dressed in gorgeous silk and his body was slightly plump.
“I knew it. This man must be competing with my family for the business.” Yu He recognized him at one glance, then he said to Zhou Heng, “This Mr. Qian is very treacherous and despicable.
“He has no knowledge of making money in the hospitality business, so he made a carbon copy of my family’s businesses, poached my restaurant cook, copied the decor of my family’s inn, and darn him, he even copied the attendants’ costumes.
“He doesn’t know which business or targeted customers will earn him more wealth. As such, he often keeps an eye on my family business, once my family fancies a kind of business, he’ll immediately intervene to follow suit and compete with us. Once he has earned money, he turns around to poach my restaurant’s workers. That’s so abominable of him!”
Zhou Heng took a glance at Shopkeeper Qian and was dumbfounded. What a superb copycat. If he were to exist on Earth, he would have become a company’s right-hand man.
“Yo! Isn’t this Little Shopkeeper Yu?” Shopkeeper Qian recognized Yu He. His face instantly flushed red. He staggered his way toward them. He smiled and said, “Why are you here? Do you think that you’re capable of competing with me? Even your dad has given up, who are you to do so?”
“All aspects of my family’s restaurant and inn are way better than your fake goods!” Yu He was not persuaded and said in exasperation, “How shameless of you to actually compete with my family!”
“By virtue of the fact that I used to be a fellow apprentice with Zhao Yuan!” Shopkeeper Qian snorted, “Everyone knows about this. Otherwise, why do you think your dad would give up on this business?
“As for the accusation on fake goods. Hehe! Wait until I expand my restaurant, then I’ll buy over your family’s assets. By then, it will be under my ownership and naturally, my business will become genuine!
“Don’t worry. By then, I’ll make sure to save some vacancies as attendants for your family. Hahaha!”
“That’s very despicable of you!” Yu He was very furious and gnashed his teeth.
At that moment, a practitioner from Five Auspicious Martial Arts School trotted over and said, “Shopkeeper Qian, come with me. The master of martial arts school is almost done with his part, the next step depends on you, so give it your best shot.”
“No problem. Hehe!” Shopkeeper Qian gave Yu He a provocative glance. He turned his head toward the practitioner and walked over to him. He smiled and said, “Let’s go, Practitioner Chen.”
At the same time, he took out a few pieces of silver from his sleeves. There were at least three to four taels of silver. He handed it over to Practitioner Chen who had helped him pass the messages. The practitioner was delighted.
“I want to go along too!” Yu He shouted.
“That’s right. We have the competitive right.” Zhou Heng nodded along and spoke. He was siding with Yu He.
“Go? Where are you going, kid? Stop meddling with adult’s business!” After receiving money, that practitioner had to do his job. He simply waved his hand and shouted, “Hurry up and get out! Don’t force me to send you off!”
“Go back home, Little Shopkeeper Yu. Haha!” Shopkeeper Qian laughed triumphantly.
“Darn it!” Yu He was not willing to back down, but he felt helpless.
“Let me do this.” Zhou Heng patted Yu He’s shoulder. He walked up and said to the practitioner, “I’m Zhou Heng, I’m here to bring my friend to visit Master Zhao of the martial arts school, please make this known to him.”
Ever since he competed with Sun Zhengpin in front of the Wang residence, he had gained considerable fame in the Yellow Wood City.
Many times, when one had no fame, it was no different from coming to a dead end.
Although the exact details of that match were transformed into a dream by Mayor Wu Zhongshan by using his secret skills, the fact that he had defeated Sun Zhengpin was known to all.
An apprentice who had defeated a ninth-class martial artist was indeed a real deal, a genuine martial arts genius.
A genius like this would not be turned away, no matter the martial arts school in Yellow Wood City. If any martial arts schools rejected him, it might provoke criticism and they would be considered proud and arrogant.
More so, Five Auspicious Martial Arts School was still undergoing assessment. They certainly could not afford to slip up.
As a matter of fact, the moment Zhou Heng’s name was mentioned, Practitioner Chen’s impatient look instantly turned doubtful.
“Your name…” He frowned, then he asked, “Are you the same Zhou Heng who defeated Sun Zhengpin in front of the Wang residence some time ago?”
“That’s right.” Zhou Heng nodded.
Practitioner Chen fell silent. He felt distressed, as such, he helplessly returned the silver which he had just received from Shopkeeper Qian. Then, he sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Shopkeeper Qian. I cannot make a decision on this. I’ve to inform the master of the martial arts school.”
Before Shopkeeper Qian was able to reply, he had left.
The sudden change puzzled Shopkeeper Qian. As he returned to his senses, his round face instantly turned into pig liver color.
Shopkeeper Qian stared at Zhou Heng, gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, “Kid, how much do you want? Quote your price now, take it and leave immediately!”
Zhou Heng laughed and cussed him, “Dream on!”
“You?!” Shopkeeper Chen was in a fit of rage that he almost had a stroke.
Not long after, Practitioner Chen ran back again. He lowered his head as he was too embarrassed to look at Shopkeeper Qian. He simply shouted, “Shopkeeper Qian, Mr. Zhou and Little Shopkeeper Yu, come over now.”
After the words, he turned around and walked back.
“We succeeded! Zhou Heng, you’re awesome!” Yu He cheered. He had never thought that Zhou Heng was that famous nowadays.
“Hmph! Don’t think just because you can see him means you can fight me!”
Shopkeeper Qian was furious. He flicked his sleeves and followed Practitioner Chen. At the same time, he smirked to himself, “Brats, what the hell do you know?! In terms of eloquence, you’re inferior to me even if both of you teamed up!”
