Volume One, Chapter Seven: The Calm Before the Storm

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A draw.

A draw?

The once arrogant and defiant members of the Heavenly Stems class, brimming with provocation, suddenly vanished without a trace at this moment.

Both sides were youthful and impetuous. After such an intense contest, dozens of students in the hall were flushed and breathing hard.

“A draw!”

“We didn’t lose…”

A surge of roaring cheers erupted around Sinan Xi, releasing the tension that had been building all class long, exploding at the instant the scores tied.

“Pathetic—they’re so happy without winning,” Sinan Xi inwardly scoffed at them.

Then Sinan Xi glanced sideways at Yan Jin, Song Han, and finally Vice Dean Xing.

Yan Jin, who had been on the verge of tears earlier, had now regained her composure. Whether she had actually cried or had sand in her eyes was unclear, but she occasionally wiped the corners of her eyes lightly.

Song Han and Xing Zhen, however, wore extremely sour expressions. Sinan Xi’s unexpected appearance had disrupted their plans.

Xing Zhen had intended to use the observation class as an opportunity to humiliate Yan Jin, and to simultaneously confirm the nepotism of that old fool Yan Shenxing, thereby suppressing his growing power within the Soul Appraisal Institute.

Now, with Director Zhuge stepping down soon, Xing Zhen, who had coveted the head seat of the Soul Appraisal Institute for ten years, had to seize this chance!

Who dared stand in his way?

He wanted someone eliminated!

Just a short while ago, Yan Jin’s students looked as withered as frostbitten eggplants. Now, led by someone unknown, they were shouting loudly in unison:

“Rematch!”

“Rematch!”

Sinan Xi was taken aback. “Good grief, these little juniors were all downcast when behind, but as soon as the tide turns, their voices get louder and louder.”

“Whether or not they have the answers, it seems the outcome won’t change much,” Sinan Xi murmured playfully.

His voice was just loud enough for the teachers in the back to hear, sparking quite a debate among the crowd.

Vice Dean Xing’s expression stiffened; he maintained a polite smile but was grinding his back teeth furiously, itching to rush forward and slap Sinan Xi several times.

Sitting dead center in the back row, Director Zhuge looked on at the noisy classroom—not with anger, but with a knowing smile.

He first glanced at Vice Dean Xing to his left, then lightly patted Old Yan and burst out laughing.

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“Well done, well done. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such lively kids here in the institute. Young people’s competitive spirit and refusal to yield to one another is a good thing. This observation class was well arranged,” Director Zhuge said, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room.

When the director looked at him, Xing Zhen’s face tightened, and his ingrained flattery slipped out naturally, “Director, you flatter me. This is merely my duty.”

“Enough. The Soul Appraisal Institute isn’t like the Spiritual Cultivation Institute. There’s no need to settle every score—let it rest. Both teachers have worked hard, and time is almost up. Everyone, finish your comments and return to your places.”

“Yes.”

…

The previously tense classroom fell quiet again after the teachers left. Once the Heavenly Stems class departed, Sinan Xi’s juniors surrounded him like heroes welcoming a champion.

“Senior Brother, I never expected you to be so knowledgeable and talented,” a junior who had been desperately trying to stop him from speaking said in admiration.

“Yeah, yeah, without you, we’d definitely have been humiliated to death by them,” another junior sister chimed in.

Sinan Xi chuckled and shook his head. Remembering he had promised to make grilled fish for Little Liuli, he exchanged some polite words with them and then hurried toward the High Mountain Pool outside the Soul Appraisal Institute. He hoped to catch some big fish before dusk to ease Little Liuli’s recent hardships.

On the other side of the Stone Drum Tower, Xing Zhen stormed into the Wen Yuan Pavilion study room and immediately slammed the table, unleashing a furious scolding on Song Han.

Even under public rebuke, Song Han dared not retort, only cursing silently.

“Who was that person? What’s his identity? Why did he end up in that stinky girl’s class?”

Facing Xing Vice Dean’s triple interrogation, Song Han hurriedly explained, “His entrance exam scores were terrible, and he refused to pay the class selection fee. Vice Dean Xing, you personally assigned him to the Earthly Branch class.”

“And now you blame me?”

“Student dares not, student dares not.”

“I don’t care who he is or where he comes from. In the Soul Appraisal Institute, I won’t allow anyone to ruin my plans! Find some fellows from the Body Mastery Institute and teach this brat a good lesson. I refuse to believe anyone dares sabotage me here!”

Fuming and confused, Xing Vice Dean suddenly recalled another matter and looked around before pulling Song Han aside to whisper:

“The security fees for Flowery Street—you dispatch some people to follow Mo Daoke. Once collected, split the profits evenly. Remember, be tough in attitude. The people on that street only respect strength.”

In the Outer Wasteland, many remote towns like Lin’an exist. They don’t submit to any great continent or nation, nor fall under the power of large clans or sects.

Lin’an has no official government, nor a stationed defense force. Here, the cultivation institutes hold supreme authority.

Those who wish to achieve fame through scholarly means must seek study at the Soul Appraisal Institute.

Those who wish to learn martial arts and physical training must attend the Body Mastery Institute.

Those who seek spiritual cultivation and enlightenment have only this institute within hundreds of miles.

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Composed of the Soul Appraisal Institute, Body Mastery Institute, and Spiritual Cultivation Institute, the Cultivation Institute naturally became the “imperial power” of Lin’an city. It governs security, major cases, and tax collection.

In short, when the head of the Cultivation Institute sneezes, everyone in Lin’an city trembles thrice.

It is precisely because of the Cultivation Institute’s unique position that Xing Zhen can swagger around extorting money.

To the north of Lin’an city, dust and clamor rise. Over a dozen men in martial training suits ride horses, cutting across the busy streets, heading straight for Flowery Street.

Their imposing momentum swept through, reining their horses at a martial arts school near the entrance to Flowery Street. The leader shouted loudly in the street:

“Master Xie, you came from the Body Mastery Institute—why don’t you know the rules?”

Master Xie narrowed his eyes, scanned around, then clasped his fists in reply.

“What do you mean? Nearly a hundred merchants and thousands of residents on Flowery Street have hired my Wei Yuan Martial School to guard the street, capturing thieves and dealing with troublemakers. I pay every penny owed to the Cultivation Institute. What rules are you talking about?”

The man who had shouted earlier was Fan Ci, a senior brother of Master Xie at the Body Mastery Institute. They had many disputes during their school days. Later, after finishing cultivation, Xie Yunlin left and opened this small martial school, while Fan Ci stayed on as an assistant instructor.

“Senior Brother Xie, don’t blame your junior for being harsh. I notified all merchants on Flowery Street two months ago that the security and stability of the entire street is now jointly managed by our Body Mastery Institute and the Spiritual Cultivation Institute. You…”

Fan Ci paused, sneered, then said, “You still cling here? Don’t you understand the rules?”

“Such a ‘joint management’! Such ‘rules’! By your logic, the whole world belongs to your Cultivation Institute, and with one word, everyone must kowtow and pay you?”

Xie Yunlin had left the Body Mastery Institute to open this martial school precisely because he detested the Cultivation Institute’s arrogance. He wanted everyone in Lin’an city, especially impoverished children, to learn martial arts.

Wei Yuan Martial School only accepts poor apprentices. In exchange for training, they help with chores and manual labor to offset tuition.

When they graduate, the capable ones are sent to clans as bodyguards; the less able remain to maintain order on this street. Whenever a business has trouble or a household is robbed, they respond immediately.

In return, they only ask each household to pay a few strings of silk money monthly.

Xie Yunlin’s school recruits poor kids, so the Body Mastery Institute’s recruiting teachers have long turned a blind eye. But now Wei Yuan Martial School has encroached on the lucrative security fees—this is absolutely intolerable to the Cultivation Institute.

According to the Cultivation Institute’s rules, all ancestral homes and shops in Lin’an’s core areas pay security fees either by headcount or area.

In contrast, Wei Yuan Martial School is efficient, enthusiastic, and charges only about one-twentieth of the Cultivation Institute’s fees. As a result, more and more people on Flowery Street refuse to pay their security fees to the Cultivation Institute.

The security fees for Flowery Street had cost Xing Zhen dearly to purchase from Instructor Shi of the Body Mastery Institute. Now they refuse to pay—this is a direct threat to his life.