10 PM.
After finishing his martial arts practice at Master Luo's home, Meng Chuan couldn't resist telling his master as he was leaving:
"Master Luo, today I participated in the martial arts exam for the second-year students at school and got first place."
"Oh? Not bad, how were the opponents?"
"In the end, I defeated someone who trained in Tiger Form, their Qi and Blood was similar to mine."
Luo Guanyun nodded and said:
"Not bad, but don't get cocky, this is just the lowest level of competition."
Meng Chuan nodded in agreement.
Then Luo Guanyun asked for some details about the fight, which Meng Chuan answered one by one, and Luo Guanyun pointed out areas that needed improvement.
Seeing that it was late, Luo Guanyun finally let Meng Chuan go.
After Meng Chuan absorbed Master Luo's guidance, he stood up to bid farewell, and the Huayun Prefecture's car was still waiting for him downstairs.
Sitting in the back seat, Meng Chuan closed his eyes and pondered.
...
Early the next morning.
After finishing his martial arts practice, Meng Chuan was preparing to go to school and received a bank transfer notification.
[10,000 yuan deposited to your bank card]
His wallet, which had been drained after shopping at the mall a few days ago, was replenished once more.
He felt a bit excited; the bonus from the police for the demon-slaying incident was just an unexpected gain.
This 10,000 yuan was truly the first significant reward of his martial arts career.
Meng Chuan thought it over while eating breakfast and couldn't figure out what was going through the principal's mind.
"What is the principal thinking?"
"It's just a school final exam, why give me so much money?"
After quickly finishing his red bean porridge, Meng Chuan decided to go to the school to clear things up; otherwise, accepting the money wouldn't sit well with him.
Ping'an High School.
Meng Chuan was in the classroom reading the boxing manual, while his classmates were having a heated discussion about yesterday's exam questions.
"There are so many people whose names I don't even know, and we're about to part ways."
Tomorrow, the winter break would start, and after it ended, he would attend classes with the second-year students.
He looked down at the empty space in his desk where books should be, realizing that he didn't have any culture class books.
Then he looked up at his classmates, whom he had spent half a year with.
He silently wished them well in his heart.
Everyone has their own path to follow, and his goal is to reach the summit known as Martial Arts.
As for the journey, it's just scenery and fleeting encounters.
Meng Chuan decided to find Old Wang to inform him that he would be attending classes with the second-year students next semester, thinking it was best to tell his homeroom teacher.
In the teacher's office.
Yesterday, he didn't dare to ask the principal how Meng Chuan did in the exam.
Listening to Meng Chuan's babbling, he scratched his head in confusion and repeatedly asked:
"Are you sure you punched your way to first place in the second-year sectional exam by beating Qi Fei, and kicked the first-year prodigy Zong Ping from Class 1, and ended up in first place?"
Meng Chuan nodded seriously.
"You're not lying to me?"
Meng Chuan continued to nod.
"What's your Qi and Blood level?"
"Yesterday it measured at 7.47."
Only then did the homeroom teacher believe him, and upon realization, he was secretly delighted.
"Li Min, Li Min, you damn well can forget about becoming the grade director, keep dreaming."
Teacher Wang laughed so hard his mouth nearly split open, and only after Meng Chuan quietly reminded him did he restrain himself.
"Uh, Meng Chuan, I've thought you had potential since you were young."
"When you go over to study with the second-year students, make sure to show the good spirit of our first-year Class 3."
Meng Chuan nodded, agreeing, while secretly wondering what spirit their class had.
Leaving the office, Meng Chuan went to the principal's office with a questioning heart.
When the principal saw Meng Chuan, he quickly took out the dragon and phoenix tea cup that Meng Chuan had given him and personally filled it.
"The money's been transferred, right, Xiaomeng?"
Meng Chuan didn't expect the principal to pour him tea personally, increasing his confusion.
The principal's courteous demeanor felt somewhat unfamiliar to Meng Chuan.
"It has been deposited, but principal, it's just a final exam, why give me such a large bonus?"
The principal had already prepared an explanation and was about to speak.
Meng Chuan, predicting what he might say, interrupted him directly:
"Please don't lie to me; the second year has two final exams every year, are you some kind of money-spending deity?"
The principal, seeing this, smiled bitterly and said:
"Meng Chuan, let me be honest with you, this exam is to prepare for the joint exams, and our school already has internal funding as part of the competition rewards."
"But you're right; in fact, the original bonus was only half the amount, but I personally doubled the reward for you and Zong Ping."
"I know you want to ask why I would pay out of my pocket. Zong Ping, as you know, is my nephew."
"And as for you, to be honest, I'm worried that Ping'an Middle School's shallow waters won't foster a true dragon, but I don't want you to leave, so I gave you more support."
Principal Zong sheepishly touched his nose and slowly continued:
"I've taught students for over thirty years, and you are, so far, the most gifted student I've had."
"Having only Zong Ping isn't enough; if you stay for the college entrance exams at Yong'an Middle School and get into a top Martial Arts University, Yong'an Middle School would receive a lot of resource support because of your achievements."
"And aren't you improving Guoyi Fist? If the certificate is obtained, our school would also receive some resource allocation from the Education Department."
"I'm not coveting money, I just... want to equip our school's martial arts dojo with some Qi and Blood testing equipment for the students."
A single Qi and Blood tester can easily cost over a million, with those produced by famous brands exceeding even tens of millions.
Moreover, not only is the manufacturing price high, but the equipment is delicate and hard to maintain.
It requires hiring professionals for regular maintenance, adjustments, and data calibration, which is a significant long-term expense.
"You may not know, but before your class arrived, our school didn't even have a decent martial arts dojo."
"I know my actions may seem selfish to you; if you went to a professional Martial Arts School or further entered the preparatory class of a prestigious Martial Arts University, your path might be wider."
"But I... sigh."
The principal's voice grew quieter, his eyes darkened, and his face flushed red.
Hearing the principal's heartfelt words, Meng Chuan also felt somewhat embarrassed by his sincerity.
After all, sincerity is the ultimate weapon.
After a moment of silence and weighing the pros and cons, Meng Chuan straightforwardly said:
"I will stay at Ping'an Middle School."
The principal's eyes lit up again.
Upon hearing Meng Chuan's response, he felt as though he might be placing Meng Chuan on a pedestal, so he quickly added:
"Xiaomeng, you should consider it carefully; after all, your talent is indeed very high. I suspect you possess some extraordinary martial arts trait, and I'm afraid... Ping'an Middle School might not fully nurture you."
Within the school, the highest strength and most capable in martial arts teaching was him, the principal who had passed nine Qi and Blood Gates.
Typically, the principals of martial arts schools are martial arts families who have broken through the first major barrier.
The school has many teachers proficient in various fist skills, those with Qi Blood levels above three gates.
There's also an abundance of martial arts-related equipment and resources.
Thus, in terms of faculty and financial capability, Ping'an Middle School can't remotely compare.
"I've thought it through, no worries, principal. I'm willing to contribute to Ping'an Middle School in the future."