Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 86 - 87: Is This the Privilege of Advancement?

Chapter 86: Chapter 87: Is This the Privilege of Advancement?

Lin Shan was both angry and annoyed, his eyes widening slightly as he said, "Dean Hong Yuan, your word is gold—didn’t you say before that Scholar Lu should be handed over to me?"

Hong Yuan’s face stayed impassive; after all, this ’golden words’ title wasn’t something he named himself, but something others gave him. Just because they tagged him with a nice title didn’t mean he’d restrain himself. He replied, "That was before. Now that Scholar Lu has passed the assessment, what he deserves, he shall have!"

Lin Shan was furious, even releasing his True Qi, his sleeves billowing.

But Hong Yuan seemed not to notice at all.

Putting morality aside, he had the rationale on his side. If Lu Chang’sheng had passed the assessment, he met Martial Artist Institute’s rules—why would Lin Shan have any say?

He only tolerated it because the other was Mountain Master; otherwise, he would’ve sent him packing!

Below, the various instructors changed color, casting looks of shock and uncertainty at the two big shots on stage. Moments ago, everything was harmonious; in just a blink, things were on the verge of erupting.

"Mountain Master, calm down!"

The old instructor shouted out.

Lin Shan’s face turned, flashes of anger showing.

The old instructor, flustered, wanted to calm the seemingly hot-headed Lin Shan, but accidentally made him feel like he was being told his strength wasn’t enough and shouldn’t poke his nose in—unless he wanted to get beaten up.

So, Lin Shan merely glanced at the old instructor, then turned to Hong Yuan and said, "Keep your people in line!"

But who he meant—old instructor or Lu Chang’sheng—was anyone’s guess.

Maybe both.

Watching the Mountain Master storm off, the professors and instructors were all dumbfounded.

Just what kind of talent did that Scholar Lu have, to nearly make two academy big wigs with some personal ties almost come to blows?

"Alright, no more gossip—just do your own jobs!" said Hong Yuan.

······

Early the next morning, Lu Chang’sheng received news from the Martial Artist Institute.

"That fast?"

In the front hall, he met the person sent by the Institute—not some errand-running junior official, but Instructor Qin himself.

Lu Chang’sheng had trained at the Institute for years. Though he hadn’t won much praise from the instructors, he still recognized Qin.

But today, Instructor Qin’s smile was warm—completely different from usual.

"I came to tell Scholar Lu you passed the assessment. From now on, you’re officially a student of the Martial Artist Institute!"

Students who passed the test were different from those who hadn’t; the latter couldn’t enjoy the official resources inside the Institute.

Those who passed earned the right to be recommended. Once they joined the local army, they were at least Ninth Grade officers—and their path to advancement was a whole other road compared to the civil service examinations.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled happily, "Thanks for making this trip, Instructor!"

"No need to be so formal! And one more thing—when you head to the Institute, don’t forget to see the Dean!"

"Any hint what it’s about, Instructor Qin?"

"I’m not really sure myself," Instructor Qin shook his head.

After chatting a bit more, Instructor Qin asked, "How’d you think of bringing lime packets last night?"

Lu Chang’sheng wasn’t surprised Instructor Qin knew about his identity. He replied, "If your opponent’s a gang member, you can’t treat it like a battlefield fight."

That’s just being adaptable.

If weapons had been restricted, Lu Chang’sheng would’ve chosen the ring-bladed saber over the spear.

"I see! Against gang members, things get much messier—adapting on the spot is just right!"

Most students only think about what weapon suits them best; Lu Chang’sheng thought one step further, weighing environment and enemy advantages.

"It’s just like the ’know yourself and your enemy’ rule from Military Strategy! Those youngsters study it all day but never really apply it—you get it better than the rest!"

Instructor Qin couldn’t help admiring him.

"No, it’s just that they’re so confident in their own ability, they don’t bother," Lu Chang’sheng hurried to explain.

Instructor Qin looked at him oddly, "Those nobles you fought with suffered heavy casualties!"

Before Lu Chang’sheng could show his awkwardness, Instructor Qin made his farewells.

He still had to notify the other students who passed, and couldn’t hang around here—otherwise, with Black Mountain Prefecture so big, he’d still be making rounds come lunchtime.

He wore a bitter look as he left.

Lu Chang’sheng’s keen ears caught Instructor Qin muttering, still about himself.

What he didn’t know was that Instructor Qin had waited especially at the junior officials’ door all morning just to see him, scaring the poor official half to death. Only after much persuasion did the official realize Qin truly wanted to deliver the news himself, not make trouble for him.

"I’ll be off to the Institute soon," Lu Chang’sheng told Li Nangua.

"Is something wrong?"

Li Nangua hadn’t heard the earlier conversation in the front hall; she followed proper manners, knowing men’s discussion with outsiders wasn’t her place to overhear, so she’d returned indoors.

Now hearing Lu Chang’sheng say he’d go to the Institute, she was startled and looked worried.

"It’s fine. The instructor just came by to tell me I passed the assessment. Now I’m an official student—having this status means there’s no need to worry about anyone pressuring us!"

Because Dean Hong Yuan protects his own, the Martial Artist Institute holds a special place in Black Mountain Prefecture. Add to that his peerless might, and nobody dares make him bow his head.

From what Lu Chang’sheng found, there were stories of him clashing with nobles.

Once, a gifted Martial Artist with impressive root bone was bullied by nobility—almost losing his life. Hong Yuan stepped in personally and forced all those nobles to bow.

Since then, nobody dared pressure Institute people—joining the nobles themselves was another story, of course.

"Is that—really enough?" Li Nangua still sounded doubtful.

Not that she distrusted Lu Chang’sheng, but those nobles really were something else.

"It is!"

"Great! If that’s the case, then the bookstore and tavern won’t be affected either!" Li Nangua said with a smile.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded. He knew plenty about his family’s business situation.

Those nobles may have some bottom line, but when it came to his businesses, they showed little mercy.

You’re not worried?

Lose your industries and see how long you keep calm.

And since they only used proper means, they didn’t fret about the authorities chasing them.

"These days, the nobles act ever bolder. Later, if there’s no urgent business, just don’t go out. If you must, bring extra people!"

"In a few days, let’s go to the Martial Arts Hall and see if we can hire some protectors."

Li Nangua quickly shook her head, "Better not—hiring protectors costs too much, plus my Immovable Stake is already at Great Success!"

"Huh?" Lu Chang’sheng was surprised; Nangua rarely sparred—he’d nearly forgotten how talented she was at training.

"When did this happen?"

"Just a few days ago," said Li Nangua.

Lu Chang’sheng swatted her shapely behind, grumbling, "Give me a straight answer!"

"Mmm~ A few months ago—just beat you by a bit!" Li Nangua rubbed her rear, blushing slightly.

The two had been married for years, but every time they teased each other, Li Nangua couldn’t help going red.

"Guess Nangua’s talent is upper-mid level. But why didn’t the bone-reader notice?"

Lu Chang’sheng felt a strange twinge, a sliver of unease about the unknown.

"Any word from Dazhuang?"

"Same as always. Hallmaster Li Fei begged favors from lots of friends—even tried to have Dazhuang apprentice under them. Still couldn’t get any True Qi Martial Arts!"

"But last I heard, one of Li Fei’s seniors is starting to waver. Hallmaster Li Fei reckons if he keeps working on him, maybe he’ll agree."

Lu Chang’sheng sighed, "True Qi Martial Arts is the core legacy of any sect—without entering the True Qi Realm, you’re just better than average!"

Even at Great Success with Pile Skill, you’d still get shot down by bows or crossbows.

But True Qi Realm is a whole new game.

True Qi Tempering Body, True Qi Release, and True Qi Shield—three stages of mastery, all offering tremendous defense against ordinary killing tools.

If not, how could the top-tier True Qi martial artists ever earn the title Thousand-Man Enemy?

Thinking of those two agile figures soaring between pavilions last night, Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but look forward to it.

"No worries. Worst case, I’ll just pick a target and get rough—threats and bribes!"

Lu Chang’sheng said.

After having breakfast with Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, and the others, Mrs. Lu wanted to go shopping. Lu Chang’sheng was a bit uneasy, but seeing Li Nangua planned to go along, he nodded.

Nangua had mastered Pile Skill and the Four-Sided Blade Technique—more than enough to protect Mrs. Lu.

Still, things couldn’t always go on like this.

"We really do have to hire some protectors!"

Leaving the Lu Mansion, they soon arrived at the Martial Artist Institute.

"Morning, Scholar Lu!"

"Morning!"

The instructors and professors were especially friendly today—their behavior was just like Old Wang in the village spotting a pretty widow.

Wait a second!

Lu Chang’sheng suddenly remembered the unsolved mystery of Zhao Family Village—had Mr. Wang ever gotten up to anything with that woman?

"I’ll have to ask Mr. Wang about it next chance I get!"

Soon after, he arrived at a courtyard behind the Institute.

A little yard, a thatched house.

And one old pagoda tree.

This was the famed living quarters of the Institute’s Dean—if it weren’t for today’s opportunity, Lu Chang’sheng would never have guessed Hong Yuan was so undemanding about his home.

"Once you get older, it’s about taking care of yourself—it does wonders for your well-being!"

Hong Yuan heard Lu Chang’sheng’s footsteps and turned, smiling.

"The Martial Dao is endless. Not until I hit middle age did I finally understand—so I changed my lifestyle!"

"If I can avoid a fight, I do—this way, I might just live a little longer!"

As he spoke, he suddenly produced—like a magic trick—a short stool, placing it down and gesturing for Lu Chang’sheng to sit.

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng’s surprised look, he grinned, "Just a minor technique of the True Qi Realm!"

This time, he slowed it down—he reached out, and a nearby chair trembled and landed in his hand.

Lu Chang’sheng understood then—it was moving objects with Qi.

He was also a bit curious—he’d met Dean Hong Yuan before, but today, he seemed so different. Was this the post-assessment treatment?

Hong Yuan shook out his sleeve, and two items slowly landed on the ground.

"Anyone who passes the assessment, I always give them a gift. But you have to choose yourself!"

He pointed at the items on the floor, speaking slowly.

Lu Chang’sheng looked down—there was a Recommendation Letter, and a True Qi Martial Manual.