Chen Qing stepped forward and took Ms. Han's calloused hand. "Mom," he said with a nod, "I did it. I successfully broke through for the first time."
"You did it?! You... you really did it?!"
Ms. Han's lips trembled as she sought confirmation again and again. "The heavens are smiling on us! The ancestors have blessed us! My son... my son has a future now!"
Chen Qing smiled. "From now on, I can continue training with my master."
"That's wonderful. Truly wonderful."
Her hands trembled with excitement. "Then... does that mean you can take the Martial Arts Examination?"
For a commoner who practiced martial arts, the Martial Arts Examination was the most direct path to changing one's fate.
Passing the exam meant an immediate, earth-shattering change in one's status.
Even becoming a Martial Scholar brought numerous tax exemptions, greatly relieving the pressures of daily life.
If one managed to become a Scholar, they could not only hold an official post in Gaolin but also receive a government stipend. They would even be excused from kneeling before the County Magistrate.
For common folk, such a life was almost unimaginable.
And Elder Chen's greatest wish was for Chen Heng to pass the exam, allowing him to live out his days in peace and comfort.
Chen Qing waved a hand. "Mom, with my current strength, it's still too much of a stretch to take the Martial Arts Examination..."
Of the dozens of people at the Zhou Institute who had reached Manifest Force, very few dared to even attempt the Martial Arts Examination.
That alone showed how difficult it was to pass.
'Still, I have to start preparing for the examination now. Only by making a name for myself there can I truly be considered a success.'
Ms. Han's spirits instantly fell. She slowly sat back down on the low stool, her head bowed. A sense of guilt crept into her heart. "It's good that you succeeded. It's just that I'm useless... I can't help you..."
She couldn't go on, her shoulders trembling slightly.
She had watched him train desperately for three agonizing months, and every moment had pained her heart.
Now, a glimmer of hope had appeared for her son's future, yet she was powerless to help him.
Chen Qing comforted her, "Mom, I've reached Manifest Force now. I can get a registered position. You don't have to worry about these things."
"A position? You can earn money with that?"
Ms. Han murmured, a flicker of hope rekindling in her eyes.
Chen Qing nodded.
Ms. Han wiped her eyes and pulled a blue cloth bundle from the bottom of a cabinet. "This is a happy day. We should celebrate."
Chen Qing nodded. 'If I can eat more meat and take things like Blood and Qi Powder, it will definitely speed up my progress.'
A short while later, Ms. Han returned, carrying three small fish strung together on a grass cord.
The fish weren't large. Their tails were still twitching slightly, a clear sign they had just been caught and were incredibly fresh.
Ms. Han sat on the boat's floorboards and, by the faint light, began to scale and gut the small fish.
She carefully set aside the fish maws and the tiny bit of roe in a small bowl, not even willing to discard the heads.
"Take one of these to your grandfather's, and tell him the good news while you're there."
Ms. Han held out one of the cleaned fish. "I'll stay here and make a nice soup for you."
Chen Qing frowned slightly. "Mom, let's not."
"Silly child, you don't understand."
Before he could argue, Ms. Han pressed the fish into his hand, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If your grandfather finds out you succeeded on your very first breakthrough, who knows? He might be so happy that he'll start to value you more. We're not asking for handouts, but if we don't even try, it's not like good fortune will just fall from the sky, is it?"
Knowing he couldn't change her mind, Chen Qing had no choice but to wrap the fish in several tight layers of lotus leaves before disembarking.
As he neared the Chen Family's Old Mansion, however, Chen Qing's steps slowed.
He recalled his grandfather's cold remarks about his martial arts training, and the scheming look on his second aunt's face.
'My mother's intentions are good, but this fish... If I give it to them, they might not even appreciate the gesture.'
Looking at the tightly wrapped fish in his hand, an idea struck him. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly hid the package in a crevice among the thick roots of the Old Locust Tree beside the mansion, loosely covering it with a few stones.
Once that was done, he took a deep breath and, empty-handed, walked toward the weathered wooden door.
A moment later, he arrived at the Chen Family's Old Mansion.
KNOCK KNOCK!
The sound from the old mansion's weathered wooden door was dull and heavy.
"Who is it?"
Elder Chen's hoarse voice called from inside.
"Grandfather, it's me!"
The door opened with a CREAK. Elder Chen squinted his dim eyes, and his expression soured when he saw who it was. "What brings you here today?"
Ever since he'd learned that Chen Qing had started practicing martial arts, the old man had been stewing over it.
In his eyes, for Chen Qing to make such a big decision without a word to him was a clear sign of 'disrespect'.
Chen Qing stepped inside, empty-handed. "Grandfather."
"Come in."
Seeing that his grandson had come with empty hands, Elder Chen's expression darkened further, and his tone grew colder still.
'Second Aunt is busy in the kitchen,' Chen Qing noted, 'but Second Uncle is nowhere to be seen. He must be hiding in his room, slacking off again.'
Elder Chen tapped his bronze pipe and asked casually, "I hear you've taken a Veteran Escort Master as your teacher?"
Chen Qing nodded. "My master worked as an escort in his younger days. He's retired now and teaches students at his home."
Elder Chen's brow furrowed into a knot.
'A retired Escort Master is either injured or old and feeble. What could he possibly teach anyone?'
He took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Practicing martial arts requires meat at every meal. Silver is spent like water..."
His meaning was clear: he wanted to convince Chen Qing to give up.
After all, if the training came to nothing, all the silver coins spent on it would go down the drain.
Giving up now would be cutting his losses.
Chen Qing nodded. "I will work hard."
Elder Chen frowned. "With a Root Bone like yours, you're destined to have little future in martial arts. You'd be better off being honest and hardworking like your father..."
His tone grew stern.
Chen Qing said earnestly, "Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather, but I've already made up my mind."
"Fine!"
Hearing this, Elder Chen grew instantly furious. "Your father is such an honest man. Are you determined to be the death of me...?"
Second Aunt came out, wiping her hands on her apron. With a look of deep distress, she said, "Ah Qing, your grandfather only wants what's best for you."
In her eyes, Chen Qing was just wasting their silver coins.
Chen Qing didn't beat around the bush. "Grandfather, Second Aunt, I've reached Manifest Force."
"What did you say!?"
Elder Chen froze, a flash of astonishment in his aged eyes.
Manifest Force!?
He knew, of course, what Manifest Force meant. It was the true first step on the martial path. Not only did it qualify one for the Martial Arts Examination, but it also meant no longer having to worry about where one's next meal was coming from.
'This good-for-nothing grandson of mine... actually reached Manifest Force?'
Chen Qing repeated, "Grandfather, I've reached Manifest Force. I'm qualified to take the Martial Arts Examination next year."
Second Aunt was also stunned.
'Could it be that this foolish boy, Chen Qing, truly has a fool's luck? He managed to break through on his first try by a fluke!?'
"Good! Good! Excellent!"
Elder Chen suddenly burst into hearty laughter, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.
He stood up unsteadily and clapped Chen Qing firmly on the shoulder. "My old eyes must be failing me! I never expected the Chen Family to produce another man of promise!"
The displeasure he'd felt about Chen Qing arriving empty-handed seemed to vanish in an instant.
"You praise me too much, Grandfather," Chen Qing said.
Second Aunt's eyes darted about as she asked with feigned concern, "Ah Qing, when did you break through to Manifest Force?"
Chen Qing replied calmly, "Just today."
Upon hearing this, the tension in Second Aunt's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
'Based on how long he's been training, it took him almost three months to reach Manifest Force. According to Chen Heng, that means it will be nearly impossible for him to make a second breakthrough to Dark Force.'
Elder Chen's smile remained, but the enthusiasm in his eyes had already faded.
After that, Chen Qing and Elder Chen made small talk for a while.
Elder Chen's attitude had changed completely, and his words were now laced with concern.
Chen Qing glanced at the sky. "Grandfather, it's getting late. I should be heading back."
"Look at me, getting muddled in my old age."
Elder Chen tapped his own head. "You should hurry back. It'll be trouble if you're out after dark."
In these times, few commoners dared to travel the roads at night.
Chen Qing left the old mansion.
Elder Chen watched Chen Qing's retreating figure, his mind already turning.
'Training for the Martial Arts Examination isn't easy. It requires silver coins.'
'Though I've saved a fair amount over the years, supporting Chen Heng's training already has me stretched thin. I simply can't afford to support Chen Qing as well.'
"Father," Second Aunt began in a low voice, "Chen Heng said that the longer it takes to make the first breakthrough..."
"...it's normal to succeed on the first try if you're lucky enough..."
"I know."
Elder Chen cut her off, his voice hoarse.
He understood perfectly well. Compared to Chen Heng, Chen Qing's aptitude was clearly a level below. His first breakthrough had been a real struggle, and the possibility of him advancing further was slim.
Chen Heng, on the other hand, had a much better chance of a second breakthrough, and thus a greater chance of passing the exam and earning a title.
'I should be putting all my resources into Chen Heng.'
"What a pity..."
Elder Chen gazed in the direction Chen Qing had gone and shook his head slightly.
...