Xu Yang had no trouble finding Xu Qing and the others.
"Brother, you’re going to be a Martial Scholar!" Xu Qing was extrely excited.
With a Middle C-class result in the lock-lifting, becoming a Martial Scholar was a sure thing. There wouldn’t be any surprises.
Zhou Xia and Xu Lan had similar reactions, broad smiles plastered on their faces.
"Let’s take Cousin Zhou Xia ho first, then we’ll head back."
Xu Yang said once they were away from the training grounds.
The city wasn’t exactly chaotic, but with so many people out and about today, a young woman like Zhou Xia could easily run into trouble. Besides, it was just a short walk out of their way.
"N-no, it’s fine. I can get back on my own. The second round is tomorrow. Ah Yang, you should hurry back and rest, save your energy." Zhou Xia’s tone was a little unnatural.
"Cousin," Xu Yang’s voice deepened, "has sothing happened at ho?"
His five senses were sharp, so he naturally caught the odd note in Zhou Xia’s voice.
Besides, he had been so busy with his training that he hadn’t had any ti to visit his uncle’s family. Logically, his cousin should have been happy that he offered to walk her ho.
"N-no... nothing." Zhou Xia’s voice grew flustered.
’I can’t believe he noticed sothing was wrong just from my slight hesitation.’
"Fine. Then I’ll go see for myself."
Xu Yang didn’t press the issue. He would know if sothing was wrong once he took a look.
"Alright, I’ll tell you. But after you hear this, don’t do anything reckless."
Zhou Xia’s tone softened. "It’s about Dad. You repeatedly refused the Huang Family, and they might have taken their anger out on him. He’s not an accountant for the Huang Family anymore. They sent him away to be a minor shopkeeper, and he’s been really down lately.
Dad was worried you’d clash with the Huang Family if you found out, so he didn’t want you to know."
"How could they be so unreasonable and outrageous!" Xu Yang’s voice grew cold.
He had always worried that his issues with the Huang Family would put his uncle, caught in the middle, in a difficult position. He never imagined it wouldn’t just be a difficult position, but that they would directly punish him out of spite.
His uncle, Zhou Shunchang, had followed the Huang Family since before they rose to prominence. He’d spent half his life in poverty, and just when the Huang Family’s fortunes improved and life was getting better, they started mistreating him because of Xu Yang’s affairs. It was a classic case of casting aside soone who had outlived their usefulness.
’It’s a good thing Lu Ren showed up back then, making the Huang Family look down on . Otherwise, I would have ended up having a nasty falling out with them anyway.’
"It was even worse than that. The Huang Family’s Second Master falsely accused Dad of cooking the books and wanted to kick him out of the family’s service entirely. It was only because Fifth Master Huang put in a good word that Dad was able to stay."
Speaking of this, Zhou Xia was also getting angry.
Not only did they cast him aside after he was no longer useful, but they also tried to sling mud at him. If Zhou Shunchang had left the Huang Family with a stained reputation, his lifelong good na would have been ruined.
"For now, don’t tell my uncle that I know. I’ll deal with this after the Martial Arts Examination is over."
Xu Yang walked Zhou Xia to her neighborhood but didn’t go all the way to Zhou Shunchang’s house.
He didn’t have the mind to deal with it right now, but once the Martial Arts Examination was over, soone would have to answer for this.
He had already repaid his debt to the Huang Family, but the Huang Family hadn’t yet settled their debt to his uncle. He would get justice for this matter.
"Ah Yang, don’t do anything rash! Dad doesn’t want you to fight with the Huang Family. You’ll end up with a bad na, just like that Lu Ren." Zhou Xia was getting panicked.
’How would a Martial Artist like Xu Yang solve things? By storming the Huang Family’s residence, of course.’
Xu Yang shook his head. "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything rash."
Hearing this, Zhou Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She pushed open the door to see her father pacing back and forth, looking anxious.
When he saw Zhou Xia return, Zhou Shunchang first made sure Xu Yang wasn’t with her before asking urgently, "Xia, how did Ah Yang do on the exam?"
eting her father’s expectant gaze, Zhou Xia said, "He got a Middle C-class."
Middle C-class?
Zhou Shunchang’s face flushed with excitent. "Middle C-class! It’s actually Middle C-class! With that score, becoming a Martial Scholar is practically guaranteed! Wonderful! My nephew is going to be a Martial Scholar!"
"Ah Yang has made sothing of himself. When I die and see your aunt in the afterlife, I’ll be able to face her with my head held high."
"It’s a pity, a real pity the Huang Family can’t recognize gold-inlaid jade when they see it. Otherwise, he surely would have helped them reach even greater heights."
At this mont, he only felt regret for the Huang Family’s sake, not schadenfreude. Having followed them for so many years, his greatest wish had been to help the Huang Family develop into one of Qingyuan’s truly great clans.
...
"Wait here for for a mont."
Instead of heading straight back to Bai Shi Workshop, Xu Yang took Xu Qing and Xu Lan to Weiyuan Hall.
Since he had used Lin Cheng’s na, he had to at least go and explain himself.
"Brother Xu!"
"Greetings, Brother Xu."
Amid the greetings of Weiyuan Hall disciples, Xu Yang made his way to Lin Cheng’s courtyard.
Xu Yang stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Disciple greets Master."
Lin Cheng was lounging on a reclining chair, a cattail-leaf fan in his hand. "You did well today. There’s a decent chance you’ll achieve Dragon Ascension. But in tomorrow’s matches, rember to strike first and strike hard. Don’t be afraid to kill.
As long as you succeed in the Dragon Ascension, they won’t dare retaliate, even if you kill a direct descendant of the Four Great Clans."
His tone carried a note of approval. Even he was a little surprised that Xu Yang had managed to get a Middle C-class result.
Although he had given him three Qi Replenishing Pills, they wouldn’t have provided a huge boost.
His biggest worry was that Xu Yang would be timid and fearful of causing trouble tomorrow, getting knocked off the stage before he even had a chance to use his Wind and Thunder Strength.
Xu Yang cupped his fists again. "This disciple will heed Master’s teachings."
"I hope you actually take it to heart."
’I’m not very optimistic. If a personality like his could be changed with just a few words, I wouldn’t have such a headache.’
"Instead of going ho to rest and build up your energy, you ca to find . What’s the matter?"
Xu Yang said, "After the examination ended today, the Cao Family was the first to approach . They wanted to join them as a follower for Cao Rong after he enters a Sect. I was unwilling, but I also didn’t dare to offend them, so I borrowed your na, Master, and said I had already joined the Lin Family.
Several other families ca by after that, and I used the sa excuse to turn them all down. I hope Master can forgive ."
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