"General Xu, Wu Yuan is...." Wu Qiming began to speak on Wu Yuan's behalf.
"Chieftain Wu." General Xu's gaze hardened with displeasure and a chill crept into his voice, "Right now, I am speaking to Wu Yuan!"
A wave of invisible energy rippled out, as though a sleeping tiger was awakened. Wu Qiming's pupils constricted sharply and he felt his hairs stand on end. Although he had received martial arts training, he was but a mere sixth-grade martial virtuoso.
"Wu Yuan, there's no need to feel nervous," Headmaster Zhang Da reassured with a smile. The frigid tension in the atmosphere relaxed. "Speak your mind. But as the headmaster, I hope you can consider the bigger picture."
While it seemed like he was trying to persuade Wu Yuan, it was in fact a veiled threat.
At that moment, Wu Yuan's attention was completely drawn to the large stack of silver notes presented by the servant. His eyes showed a hint of longing, their edges tinged with a touch of red.
Observing this, Wu Qiming couldn't help but sigh inwardly, while a subtle smile graced the lips of both General Xu and Headmaster Zhang Da.
No matter how level-headed Wu Yuan was, he was just a fourteen-year-old boy. 5000 taels of silver were enough to buy a large mansion in Li City!
General Xu began to entice him, “Wu Yuan, should you decide to withdraw from the tournament this year, you can take these 5000 taels of silver with you right away. Next year, you'll still have the opportunity to join the Cloud Martial Hall and pursue the pinnacle of martial arts! Achieving the rank of a marquis or a general will no longer be mere wishful thinking."
A struggle flickered across Wu Yuan's face. After a brief pause, he glanced discreetly at Wu Qiming as though he had made up his mind, "General, Headmaster, I am willing to compete for the title of number one among four provinces to bring honor to Li City. I am prepared to continue my cultivation at the martial academy for another year."
"Haha, good!" General Xu burst into hearty laughter, "Now this is the spirit of a true Li citizen. This is how an exemplary student from the county martial academy should behave."
Wu Yuan kept stealing glances at the stack of silver notes. Meanwhile, a hint of regret and reluctance flashed across Wu Qiming's face.
"Wu Yuan, take the silver notes with you and leave us for now," Zhang Da instructed.
"Yes." Wu Yuan promptly grabbed the silver bills and carefully stashed them away. Following the servant's lead, he exited the side hall.
After Wu Yuan left, Zhang Da shifted his attention to Wu Qiming and spoke with a knowing tone, "Given your role as the chieftain of the Wu Clan, I trust you grasp the significance of connections. It would be unwise to take actions that might jeopardize your interests."
Wu Qiming bowed. "Once we return, I will emphasize to Wu Yuan that his decision to forfeit this year's martial academy major tournament was entirely of his own accord."
"Today, Wu Yuan and I had the privilege of attending the general's private banquet. Afterward, we returned home by ourselves. Neither the general nor Headmaster Zhang summoned us," Wu Qiming continued.
General Xu and Zhang Da exchanged glances, nodding satisfactorily.
This Wu Qiming, he was a sensible one.
The steward escorted Wu Qiming and Wu Yuan out of the manor through a side door.
"Brother Zhang, I have one more request," General Xu said with a friendly smile. "There's no need to inform Yuanhan that Wu Yuan is withdrawing from the major tournament."
Zhang Da was taken aback for a moment, then gave a slight nod, sighing: "Parents always plan far ahead for their children's futures. I hope Yuanhan will not let down your efforts."
"There isn't much more I can do. Once he enters the Cloud Martial Hall, his fate is in his own hands," General Xu spoke with a sigh.
"Alright then." Zhang Da rose to his feet, "General Xu, I shall take my leave. I have much to discuss with the teachers of the martial academy regarding Wu Yuan's matter. We must ensure nothing goes wrong."
This matter concerned the very foundation of the county martial academy and could not be concealed by the headmaster alone.
General Xu acknowledged with a nod. "In that case, I won't see you out."
He watched as Zhang Da departed.
"Hmph!" A young man with a frosty expression strode out from the side of the hall. "Father, even in a fair competition, Wu Yuan is no match for sixth brother."
"Furthermore, given Father's influence, a single word from you would have sufficed to make Wu Yuan withdraw. Why did you have to offer 5000 silver taels?" The young man couldn't comprehend his father’s actions.
"Naive!" General Xu looked at his eldest son with visible disappointment. "From a young age, you loved taking advantage of others. How can you possibly grasp the concept of sacrifice?"
"You have to give to get. 5000 taels of silver may not be an insignificant amount to our Xu family, but if it can pacify the Wu Clan's resentment and significantly reduce our risks, that’s money well spent."
"Among the six of you, only your sixth brother has truly inherited my martial arts talent. If the Xu family is to prosper, our hopes rest on him. I am willing to fork out an even higher price if it means he can enter the Cloud Martial Hall without an issue," General Xu stated somberly.
"Father, I have been careless in my thoughts. I humbly seek your forgiveness," the young man bowed in apology, yet a chill lingered in the depths of his eyes.
In Li City, curfew was lifted on every fifth day of the month. Today happened to be the fifteenth of March, so the streets remained lively even after nightfall.
"Wu Yuan, you shouldn't have agreed," Wu Qiming stared fixedly at Wu Yuan.
"Chieftain, 5000 taels of silver is a considerable sum," Wu Yuan said indifferently, "I'll just be entering the Cloud Martial Hall a year later."
"Silver is just an external possession. In our vast Middle Land, what truly matters is martial strength." Wu Qiming shook his head, "Do you understand why the Cloud Martial Hall only recruits teenagers under the age of sixteen? The ages twelve to eighteen mark the best years to lay one's foundation in martial arts. If you miss this period, you'll regret it for life."
"Entering the Cloud Martial Hall a year earlier is worth much more than a mere 5000 taels of silver. Even 10,000 isn't enough!" Wu Qiming tried to keep his voice low, but he could not conceal his agitation. "Wu Yuan, I thought you had become more sensible ever since you awakened your potential in martial arts, but you have greatly disappointed me today..."
"Chieftain!" Wu Yuan suddenly interrupted Wu Qiming, looking into the other man's eyes with unwavering seriousness, "Did we have a choice today?"
A look of astonishment crossed Wu Qiming's face. At this moment, he realized that Wu Yuan's behavior in the side hall had been nothing more than an act.
"If I had chosen to refuse, would that have changed the outcome?" Wu Yuan continued, answering his own question, "It wouldn't! All it would have done was offend General Xu and Headmaster Zhang, compelling General Xu to resort to riskier tactics."
"General Xu was bold enough to invite us to his banquet and meet us in person, indicating his confidence in having complete control over the situation. If I had refused, I’m not sure whether I’d survive safely until the martial academy major tournament."
"Right now, at least General Xu and Headmaster Zhang don't harbor hostility towards us. I can also continue to cultivate peacefully at the martial academy."
"And I even received 5000 silver taels. That's not a small sum," Wu Yuan chuckled, retrieving a sizable stack of silver notes from his clothing. He then split them into two piles and handed the larger one to Wu Qiming. "Chieftain, this is for you."
Wu Qiming was taken aback.
"If it weren't for our clan, I might never have entered the martial academy."
"Were it not for your presence today, Chieftain, I fear General Xu might have sent me away with a mere 500 taels." Wu Yuan shook his head, "By keeping 1000 taels, I'm already taking advantage of the clan, but it is necessary for my cultivation and my mother's treatment. I hope Chieftain will understand."
"Wu Yuan, keep this silver for yourself! Money is indispensable for martial arts cultivation." Wu Qiming insisted, attempting to shove the silver notes back into Wu Yuan's clothes.
But Wu Yuan stopped him. "Chieftain, as long as I have sufficient money for my needs, I am content!"
"If I run out of funds for my cultivation, I will definitely inform you." Wu Yuan revealed a smile, "Besides as Chieftain once said, once I grow strong enough, wealth will naturally come my way."
"Your appetite should dictate the size of the loaf you eat. Eating too much will lead to more trouble than one can handle."
"Chieftain, let's alight here. If we go further in and other families catch sight of us, it will spark gossip." Wu Yuan half rose and gave a slight bow. In one swift leap, he was out of the carriage, disappearing into a nearby side street.
Wu Qiming sat in the carriage, his head bowed as he looked at the large stack of silver notes in his hand. Indeed, he needed the silver. Maintaining a clan was no easy task. Managing a clan's growth was even more challenging!
"Xu Shouyi! Zhang Da!" Wu Qiming growled under his breath, a cold glint in his eyes.
For over a decade, he served as the chieftain of the Li City branch of the Wu Clan. In his youth, he had grand ambitions in the path of martial arts, but it was unfortunately a wasted endeavor. For the sake of the clan, he worked tirelessly.
Wu Yuan stood out as the most gifted disciple that the Wu Clan’s Li City branch had seen in recent years, and Wu Qiming saw him as the great hope for the clan's resurgence.
When circumstances demand it, one can only bow their head.
I just hope Wu Yuan's progress won't be hindered by this one-year delay. Wu Qiming sighed.
He did not take General Xu's promises to heart. Wu Yuan could take first place in next year's major tournament? The promises of big shots were like bears splitting logs — utterly nonsensical!
I can't assist him in his martial arts cultivation. I can only search for more ways to alleviate Wu Yuan's worries.
Wu Qiming continued to contemplate how else he could support Wu Yuan.
Wu Yuan walked through the dimly lit streets, exchanging greetings with each person he met. Those living within these narrow streets were all part of the Wu Clan.
The Wu Clan comprised hundreds of clansmen, spread across more than a dozen households. While most of these families were considered middle-class, and better off than the impoverished residents of the city's southern region, true wealth was still out of reach for them.
He advanced another hundred meters and finally stopped before a somewhat dilapidated courtyard house. This was Wu Yuan's home!
"Mother, I'm back!" Wu Yuan’s face brightened as he called out loudly into the courtyard house.