Chapter 378: Supreme Treasure
“My apologies, you three…”
Chen Cheng spoke up at the opportune moment, saying,
“I appreciate your masters’ kind intentions, but I have already decided to join the Fishing Pavilion.”
“What!?”
Gu Qianqian, Zhou Wansen, and Li Wenrou all frowned at nearly the same instant, their eyes filled with disbelief.
For all Three Pavilions of the Mountain and Sea Sect to recruit a single disciple at the same time was an extremely rare event. It was something that might not happen once in several years, or even a decade.
But for all Three Pavilions to be rejected at once? That was utterly unprecedented.
“…There’s no need to doubt me. This is a choice I’ve made after careful consideration.”
Chen Cheng said,
“First, the disadvantage of my Root Bone is too great. Joining the Fishing Pavilion to gain experience will buy me time to improve it as much as possible.”
“Second, I’m not well-off financially. If I rashly join one of the Three Pavilions and can’t keep up with the resource demands, I’ll certainly be weeded out by the competition.”
“Losing face myself is one thing, but I’m afraid I would tarnish the esteemed reputations of your masters. Then I would truly be at fault!”
“…Lacking resources? That’s an easy fix!”
Li Wenrou was the first to speak, saying,
“I have some connections in Yunlei City. When the time comes, I can just find a couple of major clans to sponsor you.”
“You need a sponsor?”
Zhou Wansen immediately chimed in,
“Chen Cheng, I can introduce you to my contacts at the Yunlei Commerce Association. As long as you regularly complete some tasks assigned by the association, they can cover all your resource expenses!”
At this, however, Gu Qianqian said nothing more.
She couldn’t be happier that Chen Cheng wasn’t entering the Dragon Pavilion. Even if she knew a suitable sponsor, she would never introduce them to him.
“Thank you both for your kind offers, but it’s really not necessary.”
Chen Cheng said,
“I’m still a few months shy of seventeen. Even after training in the Fishing Pavilion for three years, I’ll still be less than twenty years old.”
“By then, my Root Bone will have improved, I’ll have more experience, and I’ll have some savings. Wouldn’t it be better to join one of the Three Pavilions then? Why the rush?”
“You have a point. Do as you please, then.”
Gu Qianqian turned and left. With Chen Cheng’s own words, she could now go back and report to her master.
Zhou Wansen hesitated for a moment before standing up to take his leave as well.
“Chen Cheng, since your mind is made up, I won’t say any more. Focus on recovering from your injuries. I’ll notify you as soon as I hear anything from the Fishing Pavilion!”
“Thank you, Elder Zhou.”
Chen Cheng cupped his fist in a salute and watched Elder Zhou depart.
After they were both long gone, Li Wenrou couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
“I should have guessed… You kid, you’ve got backbone, guts, and even more than that, pride… You won’t even rely on Junior Martial Uncle Yun. You’re dead set on carving out your own path!”
Li Wenrou paused, her sigh growing heavier.
“But have you ever thought that if you rely on no one, this path will be a thousand, even ten thousand times more difficult than you imagine!”
“Perhaps after three years in the Fishing Pavilion, your Root Bone won’t have improved at all, you won’t have saved much, and what’s worse, you might even find it hard to advance your Cultivation…”
“I’m not trying to pour cold water on you, but this is the outcome for eight or nine out of ten disciples in the Fishing, Hunting, and Apothecary Pavilions. Only one or two in ten truly make it out!”
“Is Young Master Chen here?”
Just then, a soft and sweet voice with a hint of liveliness called out from beyond the courtyard gate.
Chen Cheng and Li Wenrou both looked over at the same time.
A girl of about fifteen or sixteen walked in.
The girl had a delicate, oval face and wore an aquamarine dress that made her skin seem all the more fair. A thin silver bracelet adorned her wrist, from which hung two small bells that chimed softly with her movements.
“Qing Chan?”
Chen Cheng’s heart stirred. ‘I never expected this young lady to visit so suddenly.’
“What brings you here?”
“Young Master, your battle yesterday made your name known throughout the pavilions! My master said that you will surely ascend to the Inner Sect with this victory.”
Qing Chan took a book with a black cover from her robes and said earnestly,
“My master wishes to congratulate you, Young Master, and has sent this servant to deliver a congratulatory gift. I hope you will accept it.”
“Please thank…”
Chen Cheng paused, startled.
“It’s embarrassing to say, but I still don’t know how to address your master.”
“When the time is right, Young Master will naturally find out.”
Qing Chan smiled and handed the book to Chen Cheng.
“…What is this?”
Chen Cheng lowered his gaze to the cover, and Li Wenrou also looked over, curious.
“Secret Six Harmonies Spear!?”
Chen Cheng’s heart leaped, while Li Wenrou was so shocked her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.
“My master said that Young Master might be in need of Martial Arts manuals, so…”
Qing Chan said with a beaming smile,
“This servant picked this gift from the Outer Sect General Affairs Hall. Since I didn’t know what kind of Martial Arts you prefer, Young Master, I just chose the most expensive one. I wonder… are you satisfied with it?”
“You silly girl…”
Chen Cheng gave a wry smile.
“This gift is far too valuable. I can’t accept it. You should take it back and return it immediately.”
“Hah, it’s not expensive at all.”
Qing Chan said with a serious expression,
“If it weren’t for the Mountain and Sea Sect’s rules, this servant would have gone directly to the Inner Sect General Affairs Hall to get an even better Martial Arts manual for you.”
‘Not expensive!?’
Hearing this, Li Wenrou’s eyes widened even further, practically bulging out of their sockets.
The Secret Six Harmonies Spear required thirty thousand taels of silver or Three Thousand Points of Military Merit to redeem. Such a huge sum was something few disciples could afford, let alone those in the Outer Sect—even most in the Inner Sect would be hard-pressed.
At this thought,
shock and speculation uncontrollably flooded Li Wenrou’s wide, fierce eyes. No matter how she racked her brain, she couldn’t guess the identity of this young lady’s master. Just who could they be?
Compared to Li Wenrou, Chen Cheng’s reaction was far calmer.
On his journey north, Chen Cheng had already learned that the noble person in the carriage was a bona fide rich woman.
Today merely confirmed his initial conclusion.
‘Perhaps in her eyes, thirty thousand taels is about the same as thirty taels in the eyes of an ordinary person…’
“Wait a moment, young lady.”
Seeing Qing Chan was about to take her leave, Chen Cheng quickly stopped her.
“It’s impolite not to reciprocate a gift. Let me get something for you to take back as my return gift.”