SWDnovel Chapter 18 Announcement
Chapter 18 Announcement
The golden sun hung high in the sky, shining brightly on the four large characters "Shangyin Martial Arts School".
Stepping back into the martial arts school, Mo Zheng's mood was completely different. Previously, he was stuck at a bottleneck every day, only thinking about practicing swordsmanship. Now, however, he felt a sense of enlightenment.
The martial arts school was already quite crowded. Some people were chatting and laughing in twos and threes, while others were contemplating martial arts in a quiet spot. It was quite lively.
"Mo Er, over here!"
Chen Wu was also mingling in the crowd. When he saw Mo Zheng come in, he waved and greeted him, then ran over to him.
He asked with concern, "You've been on leave for two days. What happened? Are you sick or injured?"
Looking at the chubby little boy in front of him, Mo Zheng smiled and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "It's a good thing that you're healthy and free from illness."
"What good news? You're engaged?" Chen Wu's eyes widened, only guessing this possibility.
You'll find out soon enough.
Mo Zheng didn't speak directly; the matter of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall couldn't be explained in just a few words. He walked towards the backyard.
"Why so mysterious? Could it be that your Qi and blood have achieved a major breakthrough?"
Chen Wu was puzzled. He knew that his friend was highly regarded by the master of the martial arts school, so it was only natural that he would make any breakthroughs in his martial arts.
Luo Yiyi was also in the martial arts school.
He was surrounded by several disciples, who were chatting and laughing when they suddenly saw Mo Zheng approaching. They immediately gave him a cold look.
Unexpectedly, Mo Zheng completely ignored his hostility, didn't even glance at him, and disappeared behind the door on his own.
"Hmph, this kid..."
Luo Yiyi clenched his fists, his face looking very grim.
Since his defeat, he has devoted himself to practicing his spear skills. However, while internal strength is easy to cultivate, external strength is difficult to master. After several months of practice, he found that he was still far from mastering the spear technique. It would be difficult for him to make a breakthrough in at least the next year or two. It would be impossible for him to defeat Mo Zheng in a head-on confrontation.
"Senior Brother, let this brat be arrogant for a day or two. There are still six months until the martial arts hall assessment in the manor. When you go to Jinqing Manor, you will be an official."
"Yes, senior brother, there's no need to bother with this guy surnamed Mo. What future can a son-in-law have?"
……
The disciples surrounding Luo Yiyi offered kind words of comfort, which made Luo Yiyi feel much better.
Yes, in another six months, he will be able to pass the assessment and enter the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall for training.
No matter how well this kid has cultivated his external martial arts, he has only been in the academy for about a year, so he can only stay obediently in Shangyin County. It is still uncertain whether he can reach the level of Qi and Blood Mastery before the age of eighteen.
Their futures are destined to be worlds apart!
"My fellow disciples are right. Let's go to Yue Lai Restaurant tonight, it's my treat," Luo Yiyi said with a laugh.
"Thank you, Senior Brother." "Senior Brother is so generous!"...
The other junior disciples all flattered him with beaming smiles.
"Hahaha, once I'm admitted to the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall, I'll definitely throw a grand banquet at the Wang Family Restaurant to celebrate!" Luo Yiyi said smugly.
He was confident that he had no hope of defeating Mo Zheng in a short time, so he could only try to regain his composure and vent his frustration through other means.
Isn't it just mastering swordsmanship?
Once I enter the martial arts hall and become a qualified martial artist, I will avenge this grudge sooner or later!
Soon, it was time for class.
Just as Luo Yiyi was gathering his disciples to begin martial arts practice, he saw the sect leader Zhao Feng leading Mo Zheng out, holding two pieces of bright yellow paper in his hands.
"Yiyi, is everyone here?"
"Master Qi, everyone is here."
Luo Yiyi dared not show any emotion in front of Zhao Feng and answered very respectfully.
"Alright, everyone come here. We have some important news to announce today, a joyous occasion for our martial arts school."
As he spoke, Zhao Feng grabbed Mo Zheng's sleeve and headed towards the stage inside the martial arts hall.
The hundred or two disciples below lined up and stood still, looking at each other in bewilderment, none of them knowing what good news it was.
Luo Yiyi also looked confused. For the martial arts school, the most important thing is the annual Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall assessment, but it will take another six months.
What else could there be?
"I know you're all wondering what big event could possibly happen before the annual Martial Arts Academy assessment?"
Zhao Feng smiled and said, "It's Mo Zheng, oh no, it should be Lord Mo. He killed the notorious bandit Yu Yang two nights ago, displaying the Thunderclap Sword Technique at its perfect level. He has now been exceptionally admitted to the Martial Arts Hall."
After a pause, he added, "It's not the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall, it's the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall. He has already been granted the official rank of a seventh-grade copper seal constable by the Six Doors. Starting tomorrow, he will leave our Shangyin Martial Arts School and go to Liangzhou to train."
The Six Doors Bronze Seal! Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall!
These two terms were completely unfamiliar to these martial arts school disciples, but they knew that the seventh rank was the only one in the entire Shangyin County, and only the county magistrate Fang Daquan was a seventh rank. They had never heard of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall, but they had long heard of the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall.
Mo Zheng, the younger brother who was bullied by others just half a year ago, has suddenly transformed into a seventh-rank official and was even exceptionally admitted to the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy!
Silence fell over the entire martial arts hall.
Countless gazes converged on Mo Zheng, some filled with envy, some with jealousy, some with shock, some with bewilderment, and so on.
Those disciples who knew the significance of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall gaped wide-eyed, their mouths agape and their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets!
Liangzhou, the Martial Arts Academy?!
Luo Yiyi, as the senior disciple of the martial arts school, was one of the disciples he had heard of.
His whole body stiffened, and as he gazed at that handsome figure, he felt an intense sense of oppression in his heart.
How did he end up being exceptionally admitted to the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy?
How can he be qualified?
Aren't all the martial arts academies at the state level just recruiting geniuses?
How come this happened to this kid, since it only happens once every few years in the entire Shangyin County?
"The...master of the museum?"
He asked in a hoarse voice, "Are you afraid you've been scammed? No one from Shangyin County has been admitted to the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy in nearly twenty years."
"It's absolutely true. The governor himself came to assess us today."
Faced with the questioning, Zhao Feng replied without hesitation: "All the officials of Shangyin County witnessed that Mo Zheng is indeed qualified to enter the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall."
"But……"
"alright!"
Zhao Feng glared at Luo Yiyi, who was about to speak, and said, "Just listen, don't say anything more."
"Yes."
Luo Yiyi reluctantly agreed, her chest heaving, clearly indicating her intense emotions.
He knew that their futures would be worlds apart from now on.
That dream of becoming an inbound martial artist and taking revenge will remain just a dream for the rest of my life.
……
At Wang Dahu's home.
The family had already finished lunch and were enjoying the sun in the front yard, chatting and drinking tea in a very leisurely manner.
On a winter afternoon, the sun shone warmly, making people feel very comfortable. Jin Tianbao and Wang Qing'er would often exchange glances, their eyes filled with affection and sweetness.
When Mr. and Mrs. Wang saw this, they secretly laughed. This was just how young and innocent they were. This engaged couple was in love, and they wouldn't have to worry about them once they got married.
Just then, the gatekeeper said, "Young Master, you're back! Oh, watch your step!"
Wang Dahu's burly figure appeared at the gate, but he was completely different from when he left. He seemed to have lost all his energy and spirit, and he was weak and listless. He walked on the threshold, and if the gatekeeper hadn't been quick to help him, he probably would have fallen.
"My son, what's wrong?"
Madam Wang, no longer caring about her future son-in-law, hurriedly stood up and went to greet Wang Dahu, complaining, "You were fine when you left just now, what happened to your appearance? Did those damned bastards from the Black Sand Gang bully you?"
"It's all your father's fault. Why did he have to get involved in this mess?"
"A family of brothers who live off their wives deserve to suffer and learn a lesson."
After saying that, he glared fiercely at Master Wang.
Pretending not to notice, Master Wang asked, "Da Hu, how's your cousin's family? Has the matter with the Black Sand Gang been resolved?"
Wang Dahu acted as if he hadn't heard anything and walked into the building in a daze until Madam Wang grabbed him, bringing him back to his senses.
Looking at the concerned faces of Master Wang and Madam Wang in the courtyard, and the curious expressions of Jin Tianbao and Wang Qing'er, he sighed softly and said, "Gone, the Black Sand Gang is gone."
The Black Sand Gang is gone?
The people in the courtyard looked at each other in bewilderment. What were they talking about? How could the Black Sand Gang be gone?
"Master, is Tiger suffering from dissociative identity disorder? He's talking incoherently!" said Madam Wang.
"I don't have dissociative identity disorder."
Wang Dahu felt exhausted. He found a chair and lay down, saying, "It's true. The Black Sand Gang is gone, and Gang Leader Han Xiao has been killed. Father, you don't need to worry about Sister Yu Mei's family anymore, and we don't need to worry about her either."
Then, he recounted everything he had seen in the alley.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked astonished, as if they were listening to a storyteller.
The younger brother of the son-in-law suddenly transformed into a martial arts master, severing the arm of a protector of the Black Sand Gang with a single sword strike.
Just as the Black Sand Gang was about to make their move, all the adults in the city suddenly appeared to support him and stand up for him!
Even more outrageous is that a big shot from the state is coming today, and this big shot is here specifically for the second son of the Mo family. How is that possible?!
Wang Qing'er's mouth was slightly open, her pretty face full of disbelief. She was extremely unwilling to believe that Mo Zheng could be so successful, but she knew that her brother was always steady in his work and would never lie to anyone, let alone lie to her on such an important matter.
She looked at Jin Tianbao and asked, "Jin Lang, do you think this is true?"
Jin Tianbao nodded slightly and said, "If what you said is true, Brother, and this young man named Mo Zheng has been accepted into the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall, then it is indeed true."
"The Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy is the highest-ranking martial arts academy in the nineteen prefectures and two hundred and twelve counties of Liangzhou. Once admitted, one will be immediately appointed as a seventh-rank copper-seal constable of the Six Doors."
"With such a martial arts genius as a relative protecting us, I'm afraid even the county magistrate won't dare to mistreat our Wang family in the future."
Jin Tianbao was a disciple of the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall. He was knowledgeable and well-connected, and his words undoubtedly carried more weight than Wang Dahu's.
Therefore, as soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent again.
Wang Qing'er, in particular, was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts, her mind a complex mess.
How did a mere son-in-law's younger brother become a martial arts genius and a high-ranking official of the seventh rank?
Even if her fiancé graduates from the martial arts academy, he can only start from the ninth rank, and he doesn't know if he can ever reach the seventh rank in his lifetime.
Master Wang was filled with regret; he should have agreed to Yu Mei's marriage proposal.
In this atmosphere, Madam Wang suddenly laughed and said, "Master, Tiger, judging from your furrowed brows, this is clearly a good thing!"
"Just like Tianbao said, with this new relative in our family, who in the entire Shangyin County would dare to bully us?"
After saying that, she said to Master Wang, "Master, I told you long ago that the second son of the Mo family is talented, diligent in martial arts practice, and handsome. In the entire Shangyin Martial Arts School, even the young master of the Luo family is far inferior to him. Although he is just a minor constable now, he is a hidden dragon in the abyss. Sooner or later, he will rise to prominence. Look at him now, isn't that it?"
After a pause, he continued, "Go to the cloth shop and get a few bolts of cloth and some money. Tomorrow morning, we'll go with Tiger to offer our congratulations. It's only right that relatives visit each other often."
After saying that, he added under his breath, "Yu Mei is a lucky girl, she really has good taste."
After hearing her words, Master Wang immediately came to his senses; such an important event deserved congratulations.
However, Wang Dahu and Wang Qing'er, the brother and sister, were still somewhat absent-minded and clearly had not yet recovered from the incident.
……
Holding the martial arts manual, Mo Zheng glanced longingly at the Shangyin Martial Arts School.
Since his rebirth, this is the place where he has spent the most time, shed the most sweat, and exerted the most effort.
This should be the last time I come.
Thinking about what he has experienced in the past six months, from being looked down upon as a son-in-law wherever he went, to his current achievements, all of this is due to the changes brought about by martial arts.
However, the path of martial arts is one of constant transformation and the pursuit of becoming stronger.
The Shangyin Martial Arts School can no longer teach Mo Zheng anything.
After their conversation inside, Mo Zheng understood why, despite only having mastered the subtleties of swordsmanship and not yet achieving perfect qi and blood, he was reported by He Xiong, which led to Zhou Xian's assessment and his admission to the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy.
This is because those who have mastered external martial arts have achieved an extremely refined level of self-control, which plays a significant role in cultivating qi and blood through standing meditation.
Mo Zheng noticed the difference after just a brief trial of standing meditation in the backyard; his blood and energy levels increased significantly.
Even without the aid of mental power and Qi and Blood Pills, he could reach the Qi and Blood Perfection level in at most half a year.
No wonder they say that external and internal martial arts complement each other.
He is only fourteen years old this year.
How could the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy possibly turn away a fourteen-year-old boy whose swordsmanship was already refined and whose qi and blood were fully developed?
……