SNT Chapter 16: Refusal

Without realizing it, the two had returned to the dock.

Cheng Ming suddenly remembered something and turned to ask, "Ah Qing, you still haven't received any sponsorship, have you?"

"Not yet."

Chen Qing shook his head.

During these days he had discovered that not all disciples with obvious strength could obtain sponsorship.

Those wealthy merchant families were all cunning as ghosts, only placing bets on young talents.

Like Qin Lie, who not only could hold a position at Wang's Records but also gained favor from major families like the Luos, receiving continuous meat and medicinal supplements daily, naturally his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

While disciples like Chen Qing with mediocre qualifications were mostly ignored.

Most would eventually stop here, with the lucky ones possibly breaking through bottlenecks to reach hidden strength.

"The Cheng family is willing to sponsor you," Cheng Ming suddenly said. "Ten pounds of meat monthly, plus one tael of blood qi powder. Though it's not much, are you willing?"

After spending these days together, Cheng Ming most appreciated two things about Chen Qing: his diligence and hard work, and his great filial piety.

Although his natural endowments were somewhat lacking and his family circumstances poor, this kind of character was truly rare.

Though the Cheng family wasn't a major clan, the two brothers managed a family business of more than twenty people, operating two merchant ships and a hundred acres of thin farmland.

For Chen Qing, this was already no small tree to lean on.

Cheng Ming's position at the River Office was partly intended to facilitate dealings for the merchant ships.

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and a trace of surprise showed in his eyes.

Cheng Ming raised an eyebrow, "What, think it's too little?"

"How dare I! Thank you for your cultivation, Chief!"

Chen Qing took a deep breath and clasped his fists solemnly.

Cheng Ming waved his hand, "Tomorrow I'll have someone deliver the items to your home. You just focus on practicing martial arts."

After Chen Qing left, a nearby patrol guard approached, "Chief, are you really going to sponsor that Chen Qing?"

After spending this time together, everyone knew Chen Qing's background.

Chen Qing was only of middle to lower qualification at Zhou's courtyard, taking several months to cultivate obvious strength. Any discerning person could see his potential was limited.

Though the Cheng family had some property, every piece of silver had to be spent on the cutting edge.

Cheng Ming watched Chen Qing's departing figure and sighed softly, "This child is about the same age as my son, but lost his father early and has to support his family alone..."

He rubbed the knife at his waist, "Consider it fate."

...

As dusk gradually painted the sky, Chen Qing walked through mottled tree shadows back to Zhou's courtyard.

"Junior Brother Chen, you haven't been coming as early as usual these past few days," He Yan was wiping stone weights and greeted him with a smile when he saw him.

This senior disciple who had practiced at Zhou's courtyard for seven or eight years, whose cultivation remained stuck at obvious strength, had become the most diligent model in the courtyard.

Since Chen Qing broke through to obvious strength, the two often practiced together, sparred, and exchanged insights, developing a good relationship.

"Trivial matters kept me busy and delayed me," Chen Qing stretched his muscles and bones, his sleeves still carrying the dusty air from the office.

"Without you here, I felt much more lonely," He Yan returned the stone weight to its place. "After stance work ends, let's have a good few rounds."

Chen Qing then stretched his muscles and bones, preparing for stance work training.

On the other side of the courtyard.

Qin Lie was speaking quietly with Luo Qian, occasionally glancing toward the back courtyard.

Zheng Ziqiao was practicing moves with several senior brothers, his boxing wind surging and force overflowing, forcing several ordinary disciples who were sparring partners to retreat repeatedly in embarrassment.

"Junior Brother Qin, Junior Sister Luo, Junior Brother Zheng."

Zhou Yu's voice rang out like a clear spring as she and Sun Shun approached together, immediately drawing the attention of surrounding disciples.

When Qin Lie saw Zhou Yu, his eyes couldn't help but brighten, "Senior Sister Zhou, is there something?"

"With the military examination approaching, several nearby courtyards want to organize a small sparring gathering, with seven spots per courtyard," Zhou Yu smiled sweetly. "Senior Brother Liu Ze from Mantis Boxing and Senior Sister Liu Xue from Seven Star Palm have already agreed to attend. These are all masters of great achievement in hidden strength, and if there's compatibility, connections could continue afterward."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qian's fingertips moved slightly.

Great achievement in hidden strength was only one step away from transforming strength. If she could make such connections, it would greatly benefit her standing in the Luo family.

The Luo family was large and flourishing, with her father having six sons and three daughters. Without exceptional means, how could she secure a place in the clan?

"I'll go," Zheng Ziqiao said without hesitation.

Liu's courtyard's Mantis Boxing was famous far and wide, reportedly producing several skilled fighters. Having the fortune to make such connections would be excellent.

Qin Lie calculated silently: though his qi and blood were abundant, he lacked real combat experience. Such occasions could both broaden his horizons and build connections, exactly the opportunity for sons of humble families to leap through the dragon gate.

"Counting Senior Brother Liu, Senior Brother Qi... there are still two spots left," Zhou Yu counted on her fingers. "Do you have good candidates?"

Qin Lie remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the obvious strength disciples in the courtyard with a natural scrutiny and detachment. He had no deep connections with these 'mediocre' people.

Sun Shun looked at Chen Qing's figure silently practicing stance work alone in the corner, pondered for a moment, and finally spoke, his voice carrying a trace of barely perceptible lack of confidence, "Junior Brother Wu Lin... and Junior Brother Chen Qing, how about them?"

"Junior Brother Wu has achieved great accomplishment in obvious strength and attempted to break through to hidden strength once, so he's... barely qualified," Zheng Ziqiao responded, his tone relatively peaceful.

Immediately, his brow furrowed into a knot as he looked toward Chen Qing in the corner, his voice carrying incredible doubt, "Junior Brother Chen Qing? How long has he barely stepped into obvious strength? His foundation might not even be stable! Senior Brother Sun, this small gathering represents our Zhou courtyard's reputation! Take him along?"

Obviously, he thought Chen Qing wasn't qualified to participate in this gathering.

Zhou's courtyard had more than thirty disciples total, with over ten having reached obvious strength.

Chen Qing was completely unremarkable among the many disciples, having neither distinguished family background nor amazing talent, his martial future was predictable.

Luo Qian also spoke up, "Senior Brother Sun, this small gathering represents Zhou courtyard's reputation, concerning our exchange level with other martial courtyards, a serious matter! It's not charity!"

Her words carried barbs, obviously dissatisfied with Sun Shun's favoritism.

Sun Shun's face burned, and he hurriedly said, "Junior Brother Chen practices martial arts very diligently..."

"Like this..."

Zhou Yu spoke up at the right moment, her voice still gentle, "We're all fellow disciples. Junior Brother Chen has been here for a short time, so treating this as giving him a chance to gain experience would be fine. From now on, the spots for small gatherings can rotate, equal opportunities for all."

Her words gave Sun Shun a way out and also silenced Luo Qian.

Seeing Zhou Yu speak, though Zheng Ziqiao was dissatisfied, he also closed his mouth.

Luo Qian shrugged, considering it tacit approval.

Sun Shun grinned and said, "Good, I'll go tell Junior Brother Chen right now."

With that, he quickly walked toward Chen Qing's position.

"A sparring gathering?"

Chen Qing finished his stance and breathing exercises, sweat still fresh on his forehead.

Sun Shun said eagerly, "Liu Zhang from Mantis Boxing and Liu Xue from Seven Star Palm will both attend, everyone sparring together and exchanging insights..."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and refused, "Senior Brother Sun, I won't attend this gathering."

Whether this so-called sparring exchange was good or bad remained unknown.

He possessed the Heaven Rewards Diligence fate pattern and only needed to practice diligently and hard.

Sun Shun was slightly stunned, "Junior Brother Chen, this... this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Thank you for Senior Brother Sun's kind intention."

Chen Qing shook his head, "It's just that I know my cultivation is still shallow and my foundation unstable. Rather than join that commotion, I'd prefer to calm my heart and make my foundation more solid."

Sun Shun tried to persuade him earnestly for a while longer, but finally gave up when he saw Chen Qing's persistence.

When Zhou Yu saw Sun Shun returning, she said, "Is it settled?"

Sun Shun smiled bitterly, "Junior Brother Chen... politely declined."

The several people were somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

They hadn't expected Chen Qing to give up such a good opportunity.

Zheng Ziqiao raised an eyebrow, "Probably afraid of stage fright and losing face, so he doesn't dare go."

In his view, this was the only explanation.

Qin Lie looked at that figure sweating profusely and shook his head, "Truly hopeless. He doesn't know how to cherish such a good opportunity. What use is burying oneself in hard practice?"

In his view, people of humble circumstances like Chen Qing should seize every opportunity they could grasp.

Practicing martial arts wasn't just about mindless hard cultivation.

Though Luo Qian said nothing, she had already branded Chen Qing as "useless" in her heart.

She must keep her eyes sharp and remember never to sponsor such people.

A flash of disappointment passed through Zhou Yu's eyes, then quickly returned to calm.

For her, this was just losing one disciple to make up numbers, anyone else going would be the same.

There were many disciples with obvious strength in the courtyard, someone would always be willing to seize this opportunity.

[NEXT CHAPTER]