Lately, he’d been eating Exotic Beast at, so he hadn’t been taking his als at Weiyuan Hall. He ca ho for dinner instead.
Before, Xu Qing would always have dinner ready, so he could eat as soon as he got back. But today, because of the incident with Zhang Tong and the others, Xu Qing was in no mood to cook.
Xu Yang thought to himself, ’By the end of this month at the latest, I should be able to reach Qi Gathering Great Success.’
Once he finished using the seventy taels of silver he’d gotten from Li Sanhe, he should be able to reach Qi Gathering Great Success. That would be two or three months earlier than he had originally anticipated.
...
「The next day, Weiyuan Hall.」
When Sun Tao heard his master was looking for him, he imdiately left the Outer Courtyard Disciples he was instructing. He soon arrived at Lin Cheng’s personal courtyard.
He saw Lin Cheng practicing his Pile Skill. Stepping forward, he bowed and said, "Greetings, Master. May I ask why you have summoned ?"
Lin Cheng’s gaze swept over Sun Tao, and he was inwardly satisfied.
’After all that fighting in the mountains, this disciple of mine has grown considerably. His aura is honed, and his Martial Dao has clearly advanced.’
He concluded his Pile Skill practice, took the towel a nearby concubine offered him, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Your trip into the mountains was quite fruitful, and your mindset has changed for the better," he said. "From now on, you are no longer responsible for the Outer Courtyard. Just focus on your cultivation and give your all to preparing for the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon. I’ll have An Ye take over teaching the Outer Courtyard Disciples."
Sun Tao shook his head. "Master, these minor duties don’t hinder my training. Junior Brother An Ye is still young. I wouldn’t be at ease leaving the Outer Courtyard’s affairs to him. Please, let continue to help you for these next few months.
Once I successfully pass the Dragon Ascension, Junior Brother An Ye can take over."
Lin Cheng thought for a mont, then nodded. "As you wish."
Sun Tao cupped his fists. "If that is all, Master, I will take my leave."
Lin Cheng seed to rember sothing. "I already waived Xu Yang’s tuition the day before yesterday," he said. "Don’t go asking him for it in the future."
Weiyuan Hall was no charity. If a disciple’s paynt wasn’t recorded when tuition was due, it was Sun Tao’s job to go and collect.
Sun Tao was stunned. "Why would Master waive Junior Brother Xu Yang’s tuition?"
In all of Weiyuan Hall, only he and An Ye, who was to take over his duties, were exempt from paying tuition. Everyone else, even those who had reached Qi Gathering Great Success, still had to pay the monthly two taels of silver on ti.
"Don’t concern yourself with it. Just do as I said."
Xu Yang hadn’t even reported his comprehension of the Wind and Thunder Strength to Lin Cheng, so as his master, Lin Cheng certainly wasn’t going to be the one to broadcast it.
"Yes, Master. I’ll take my leave."
As he walked away from his master’s courtyard, Sun Tao’s mind was racing. ’Why would Master waive Xu Yang’s tuition? Is Xu Yang his illegitimate son? Or has he already taken him on as a Direct Disciple?’
"Junior Brother Sun, why do you look so absent-minded?" ca Gu Fang’s voice.
Sun Tao looked up, only then realizing he had been so lost in thought that he had almost bumped into Gu Fang without noticing.
"Senior Sister, why do you think Master waived Xu Yang’s tuition?"
Gu Fang froze. That was a privilege even she didn’t enjoy. While the two taels of silver was a trivial amount to her, the gesture itself was incredibly significant.
"Why don’t you go ask him yourself?" she said, pointing at Xu Yang, who had just walked in.
"Never mind. If Master didn’t tell , I’d better not ask." Sun Tao resisted the urge to approach him.
...
Xu Yang and Wu Yongfeng stepped into the Inner Courtyard. They went to the spot where their small group usually practiced, but today, only Qiu Wenjie was there. Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong?" Wu Yongfeng asked.
"Over there!"
Qiu Wenjie casually pointed. Xu Yang followed his gesture and saw Zhang Hong and Zhang Yong in a pavilion, getting along splendidly with Jiang Ping and his followers. Bursts of laughter drifted over from them from ti to ti.
Besides the two of them, several other disciples who had perford well during the mountain sweep were also in the pavilion.
"They actually managed to get in with Senior Brother Jiang Ping’s circle," Wu Yongfeng said, his voice tinged with envy.
Squeezing into the circle of young masters like Jiang Ping ant their path on the Martial Dao would be much smoother in the future.
Xu Yang felt no jealousy or envy. He simply took his stance and began his Pile Skill practice.
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