Moonlight was cold and clear.

By the rules, tomorrow Xiangzi would go to the Four Seas Court to select his assigned trial location.

Among Forty-Nine City’s three great martial halls, Baolin Martial Hall differed from the other two—it emphasized not “control” but “cooperation.”

Take the powerful Clear Gang: for years it had been on good terms with Baolin Martial Hall. The Qi family patriarch of the “Da” generation even sent every descendant to the hall.

Yet in truth, there was no master-servant distinction between the two—only mutual reliance.

Most other large and small factions followed the same pattern.

For a moment, the choices truly dazzled the eye.

Xiangzi suddenly recalled Third Miss Li from days ago.

Setting aside his inner emotions, her advice had been spot-on.

In the end, there were only three destinations: the mining districts, the Clear Gang, and the Grand Marshal’s Mansion.

The Grand Marshal’s Mansion was prestigious, with paths upward. For those eyeing a future in the military, it was an excellent door—this was the choice of most great household sons.

The mining districts were dangerous but lucrative. Take Chen Fan from the Li family mines earlier—one month’s stipend was nearly a hundred silver dollars. For an ordinary ninth-grade entry cultivator, that covered medicinal costs without worry.

Add in hunting demonic beasts in the mines, and the profits could be even higher.

In this light, the mining districts actually suited Xiangzi well right now.

First, practicing stance work in the mines accelerated his progress.

Second, the five-colored ores that suppressed blood energy seemed to affect him little.

The four martial cultivator essentials: eat, soak, nourish, train.

In the mines, at least eating and training would be no issue.

Yet Xiangzi rejected the mining districts first.

No other reason—the two mining districts friendly with Baolin Martial Hall were the Chen family’s in the north city and the Qian family’s.

Though seemingly close to Forty-Nine City, they were separated by Lake Weiyang teeming with fish demons, making travel to the hall inconvenient. More crucially—

They were too far from the Li family mines in the southwest.

Distance truly made things difficult.

For example, if one day he went to the Li mines to kill someone and couldn’t return for a hot bath—

How troublesome!

Thus, only one choice remained: the Clear Gang.

Setting aside the gang’s power, his friendship with Qi Ruiliang alone would grant considerable support there.

Moreover, the Clear Gang had one business—transporting demonic beast meat.

On his first trip back to the western city apothecary, hadn’t he seen several outer sect disciples escorting beast meat from outside the city?

And before transport… didn’t they have to kill the beasts?

He’d heard the Clear Gang hunted in the perilous outskirts of Little Blue Garment Ridge—treacherous terrain, undeveloped mines, bordering the Three Strongholds and Nine Lands where horse bandits roamed.

Higher risk meant greater reward.

At least that place offered the highest monthly stipend, making it the top choice for common-born hall disciples.

Of course, for Xiangzi, there was another appealing reason—it was close to the Li family mines.

Decision made, Xiangzi felt relieved.

As he prepared for bed, a knock sounded at the door.

Opening it, he was stunned by the visitor.

It was Little Ma.

Little Ma knelt on the cold mud, kowtowing with resounding thuds. “Master Xiang, please take me on your external trial. I, Little Ma, sell my life to you!”

In the silent night, the young man’s voice carried sharp resolve.

—

The night wind was slightly chill.

Little Ma’s expression was dazed, his face pale as paper.

Over this month-plus in the miscellaneous court, he had thought himself resigned—

With no hope of ninth grade, staying in the hall for life with food, drink, and decent stipend—where else could he find such fortune?

After all, he was just a mud-legged commoner.

But Chen Jiang’s appearance today had brutally shattered his illusions.

Even as a miscellaneous disciple—so what? In name a disciple, in truth just an errand-running servant.

In this world, without a hard enough fist, one could only be bullied.

He wasn’t born like Qi Ruiliang—where was his right to step back and find open skies?

Step back… and behind was only a dead end!

He was only fifteen. Though his talent was lacking, with medicinal broths to temper him, couldn’t he fight once for the ninth-grade life-death refinement?

It was just one life—

Throw it away if need be.

But broths cost money. A miscellaneous servant like him—where would he get silver? His pitiful stipend couldn’t even buy one portion of blood energy broth a month.

Only by gambling—with his life.

Thus, he knelt here.

Like a dog, he knelt here, begging for that sliver of chance!—

His head struck the mud heavily.

In the cold night, the muffled thuds rang clear.

Xiangzi seemed not to hear, standing silently.

By Baolin Martial Hall rules, ninth-grade disciples on external trials could select two or three young miscellaneous disciples.

First, they were fellow sect brothers, known inside and out. A few past the Blood Energy Barrier would naturally help.

Second, outer sect trial grounds were perilous. Miscellaneous disciples from apprentices, if they survived the killing, might carve a blood-licking future.

After all, most miscellaneous disciples were eliminated apprentices—outside, they could still be called “extraordinary talents.”

In past years, some miscellaneous disciples had greatly advanced externally and returned to fight for ninth-grade life-death refinement.

Clearly, this stimulated Little Ma harbored such thoughts.

Yet in Xiangzi’s mind, taking Little Ma was not a good idea.

Helping Little Ma was only for Old Ma.

And Old Ma had only this grandson left.

“Junior Brother Little Ma, rise… let me think,” Xiangzi said softly.

Little Ma paused, said nothing, and continued kowtowing.

Blood seeped from his forehead.

Xiangzi’s face cooled slightly. “Little Ma, do you think kowtowing so pitifully will soften me?”

“Or in your heart, I should soften?”

—

Little Ma froze.

Blood mixed with mud streamed down his forehead, stinging fiercely.

Dense fear rose in his heart.

Before this “Master Xiang,” he seemed unable to hide any thought.

“I dare not… Master Xiang, I dare not.”

Little Ma’s face was wretched, a bitter smile tugging his lips. “I lost my father young. Grandpa raised me alone. Finally entered the hall… but only as a second-class apprentice.”

“I’m useless. Grandpa’s sixty and still pulls rickshaws outside.”

“To call Young Master Qi and the others ‘brother,’ even with Grandpa before me, I dare not acknowledge him.”

“I know this has nothing to do with Master Xiang.”

“I only beg Master Xiang for a chance.”

“This life—I sell to you!”

Tears rolled from his eyes, a strikingly bright light gleaming within.

Xiangzi’s expression unchanged, his eyelids trembled.

He said nothing.

After a long while—

The door closed.

Little Ma’s face turned ashen.

—

Perhaps disturbed by Little Ma last night, Xiangzi had a long dream.

In it: bustling traffic, towering buildings. He hurried along, sandwich and coffee in hand.

The once-familiar exhaustion and pressure now seemed somewhat comfortable in the dream.

But when rhythmic knocking sounded,

The dream ended.

Waiting silently until the knocks ceased, Xiangzi suppressed his irritation.

Gently opening the door,

It wasn’t Little Ma outside.

But someone he never expected.

In the morning mist stood a tall, pine-straight black-robed martial artist.

As the first time they met, a gentle, scholarly smile graced his face.

“Junior Brother Li’s first night in the outer sect—did you sleep well?”

Xiangzi paused, a smile tugging his lips. “Senior Brother Chen, good morning. I slept soundly last night.”

“Back in the apprentice compound, I benefited much from your care. I meant to visit, but arrived only last night and was delayed.”

“Unexpectedly, Senior Brother visits first—my discourtesy!”

The visitor was Chen Hai.

Hearing this, Chen Hai’s smile warmed further.

As nominal apprentice trial examiner, he had indeed observed this big fellow’s assessments several times.

“Care” was an overstatement, but it showed the junior brother’s attitude.

At least

This young junior brother, whose name had soared in Baolin Martial Hall in mere days, did not seem the “arrogant, eyes-above-all” type his own brother described.

With this thought, Chen Hai’s smile suddenly vanished. He snorted coldly. “Still not coming out?”

At the words,

A bruised, bloated fatty shuffled from the corner.

The moment he saw Xiangzi, the dark fatty trembled.

—

“I learned of my shed brother’s actions yesterday.”

Chen Hai smiled. “If not for Junior Brother’s lesson, I wouldn’t know this mongrel dared such nonsense in the hall…”

“In truth, I, as elder brother, have been remiss.”

Saying this, this ninth-grade accomplished martial artist known in the outer sect for gentle affability showed shame and dejection.

Xiangzi paused—he could tell Senior Brother Chen was sincere.

As the saying went, don’t strike a smiling face. Since the other came to apologize, Xiangzi should respond in kind.

But seeing Chen Jiang’s dark, bloated face, insincere words stuck in his throat.

“This rascal erred, and I as brother cannot shield him. This morning, I expelled him from the hall.”

“I came also to thank Junior Brother, so you know this matter won’t breed resentment between us brothers.”

Hearing this,

Xiangzi’s pupils contracted slightly.

Expelled from the hall?

Even forfeiting precious apprentice status?

For the Chen family of Righteous Virtue House, this was no small loss.

In those past-life web novels, didn’t striking the young always bring the old?

He had prepared for this when acting against Chen Jiang yesterday.

Why was the story… not following the script?

A gentle smile curved his lips. Xiangzi clasped his hands earnestly. “Senior Brother Chen is just and steadfast—truly well-deserved reputation. This junior admires!”

The two exchanged pleasantries further.

Suddenly Chen Hai asked softly, “Today Junior Brother goes to Four Seas Court. Have you decided on a trial location?”

Xiangzi’s smile unchanged. “I’m mud-legged born. Hard-won ninth grade, and martial tempering costs silver. I plan to choose high-stipend places.”

Hearing the frank words, Chen Hai smiled and asked, “Has Junior Brother considered… the Chen family mines?”

“I’m untalented but know the Chen mine owner. If willing, I can introduce you.”

“With Junior Brother’s talent, the old mine owner would surely welcome you warmly.”

“As I know, the Chen mines lack a guard instructor. The stipend alone… is quite good.”

“One hundred eighty silvers monthly.”