Chapter 57: A Clear Mind

Two days later, the wound on Xu Wuyi’s left shoulder had mostly healed.

He changed into a clean school uniform and stepped back through the gates of Honghe First Middle School.

The moment he stepped through the gates, he could feel a different atmosphere than usual.

The teachers and students he passed along the way, whether he knew them or not, all looked at him with unconcealed excitement.

"Morning, Senior Brother Xu!"

"Look, it’s Xu Wuyi!"

"The guy who took first in the joint exam is back!"

Greetings echoed from all around. The students he knew were naturally effusive, and even a few underclassmen he didn’t recognize mustered up the courage to run over, shout, "Hello, Senior Brother Xu!" then dash off with a blush.

It was as if Xu Wuyi had become the man of the hour at Honghe First Middle School overnight.

He maintained his usual composure, offering an occasional nod in response as he walked steadily through the crowd toward the Martial Arts Dojo.

’His aspiration for the Martial Arts was firm enough that this level of fame wasn’t enough to make him lose his way.’

At the same time, he was well aware that all this attention was built on strength.

If he were still just an ordinary student with a Life Energy Level below 9, no one would probably give him a second glance.

Just as he stepped through the main entrance of the Martial Arts Dojo, he saw Teacher Wang Wenhai standing by the edge of the training grounds, apparently waiting for him.

"Teacher Wang," Xu Wuyi said, walking up quickly.

Wang Wenhai looked him up and down, his gaze lingering on his left shoulder before he nodded. "You look much better. How’s the injury?"

"Much better. It doesn’t affect my daily training," Xu Wuyi answered truthfully.

"That’s good." A hint of relief showed on Wang Wenhai’s face before his expression turned serious. "Come on. Follow me to the principal’s office. Principal Zhang wants to see you."

Xu Wuyi’s heart stirred. ’The joint exam just ended, so for the principal to summon me personally... it must be about the reward.’

He followed Wang Wenhai down the quiet corridors of the administration building until they arrived at the door to the principal’s office.

Wang Wenhai knocked, and Principal Zhang Qiming’s steady voice came from within:

"Come in."

They pushed the door open and entered. Principal Zhang’s office was spacious and bright, its bookshelves piled high with documents and books.

Principal Zhang was sitting behind a large desk. When he saw them enter, a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Ah, Mr. Xu, you’re here. Please, have a seat."

He gestured to the chair opposite him.

Xu Wuyi did as instructed and sat down.

Principal Zhang looked at Xu Wuyi, his eyes filled with admiration. "Your performance in the joint exam was outstanding! You’ve brought great honor to our school. All the teachers and I are incredibly proud of you."

"The resource stipend of two hundred thousand Federation Coins has already been transferred to your student account. You can redeem and use it at any time."

"Thank you, Principal. I only did my best," Xu Wuyi replied calmly.

"Neither arrogant nor rash. Very good." Principal Zhang nodded, but then his tone shifted, and the smile on his face faded somewhat.

"I called you in today not only to praise you but also to inform you of something. It’s regarding the recommendation slot from the Provincial Martial Arts Association for the ’Three Greats’ special recruitment exam."

Xu Wuyi’s heart sank. Seeing the principal’s sudden change in expression, he had a faint premonition of what was to come.

"That slot..." Principal Zhang began, choosing his words carefully, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "It was ultimately given to Su Yueling, a student from United Middle School."

Beside them, Wang Wenhai’s brow was tightly furrowed. He had clearly known about this already and simply remained silent.

Xu Wuyi didn’t say anything, falling silent.

He was far more mature than his peers. While disappointed, he was hardly disheartened. Besides, this was the Provincial Martial Arts Association’s decision; there was no way for him to appeal it.

Principal Zhang sighed and continued, "Based on the results, you were the one who took first place in the joint exam, yet the slot wasn’t given to you. Do you know why?"

Xu Wuyi shook his head.

Principal Zhang narrowed his eyes. "The slot falls under the purview of Councillor Lin, who oversees Martial Arts education for the provincial council. But he doesn’t get the final say in many matters. This was the ultimate decision of the provincial capital’s Lin Family."

"And Su Yueling’s teacher is Grandmaster Ren Bai—the ’White Shadow Sword Saint’—who currently stands guard at the border between Red River and Silver Port."

"Grandmaster Ren bears the heavy responsibility of suppressing a fissure in the Star Realm. The Lin Family’s action was intended as a gesture of goodwill toward him."

After he finished speaking, he took a deep blue card from a drawer and slid it across the desk to Xu Wuyi.

"Because of what happened, Councillor Lin has made a personal donation of five hundred thousand Federation Coins, which he is giving to you through the school as a form of compensation."

Five hundred thousand Federation Coins!

Even compared to the school’s stipend, this was a massive sum. Moreover, it wasn’t a restricted stipend but actual cash he could use however he pleased.

Xu Wuyi remained silent. His primary concern wasn’t the amount of money, but rather Su Yueling’s background.

’So she’s a Grandmaster’s Disciple. No wonder she could produce such a terrifying sword shadow. She even had a senior brother whose sole job was to ensure her safety.’

"I understand," Xu Wuyi said, his expression calm. "Thank you, Principal. And please thank Councillor Lin for me."

The slot that should have been his had been taken away, and it wasn’t that Xu Wuyi didn’t feel a spark of anger, but he understood all too well that impotent rage was useless.

If he wanted to reclaim what was rightfully his, the only way was to grow stronger, one step at a time.

However, just as he was about to stand up and take his leave, he saw Principal Zhang suddenly slam his hand on the desk.

BANG!

The loud noise stunned Xu Wuyi, and even Teacher Wang, who was standing nearby, jumped in surprise.

"Thank him my ass!" Principal Zhang Qiming roared, all traces of his gentle calm gone. "That bastard Lin has no shame! The nerve of him, making a ’donation’! Who is he trying to humiliate?!"

"Xu Wuyi! The reason I laid out the whole story for you today is so you remember exactly who stole what was rightfully yours!"

"So what if it’s the Lin Family? So what if it’s a Grandmaster? You think they don’t get old? You think they don’t die?"

Zhang Qiming stood up, strode around his desk, and gripped Xu Wuyi’s shoulders. "We who practice the Martial Arts do so to achieve a clear and unobstructed will!"

"You’re not strong enough right now, and that’s why they can walk all over you. Remember this feeling. If you ever get the chance in the future... heh heh..."

Zhang Qiming didn’t say it explicitly, but his meaning was crystal clear.

"Ahem..." Teacher Wang couldn’t help but cough twice. "Principal, perhaps we shouldn’t say things that are detrimental to unity."

’He knew Principal Zhang was famous for his explosive temper even before leaving the military, but Xu Wuyi was still a minor. He couldn’t let the principal be a bad influence on the boy.’

Watching the two of them interact, the emotions weighing on Xu Wuyi’s heart seemed to wash away, replaced by a sense of being deeply moved.

’No matter what those high-and-mighty figures thought, his principal and his teacher were standing firmly on his side.’

"Thank you, Principal. I... I understand!"

He said the same words again, but this time, the feeling behind them was completely different.

Principal Zhang clapped him on the arm again and said, "Go ahead and take that five hundred thousand from Lin. The school will grant you another five hundred thousand in stipend credit on top of that."

"Take this money, work on improving yourself, and get a good score on the college entrance exams."

"It’s just the Three Greats. Who needs a special recruitment slot anyway?"

After a moment, Principal Zhang’s expression became serious once more. "If you can place in the top ten in the entire province, I will personally take this fight all the way to the Capital."

"This matter... isn’t over!"