Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 83 The Golden Brand of the Sun Family Martial Arts School

When registering for the imperial examinations, information such as name and ancestral home were clearly recorded to verify identity and facilitate the government's timely announcement of the results. This has always been the custom.

Upon hearing this, Sun Yong slapped his thigh hard, his smile finally coming out: "Good! Good! Good!"

The three consecutive "good"s fully expressed his joy at that moment.

He turned to Yang Jing, his tone urging, "Jing'er, hurry, go home quickly, don't keep the messenger waiting. This is a favor from the imperial court, we can't be careless!"

Upon hearing his master's urging, Yang Jing quickly bowed and said, "Yes, Master. Then this disciple will take leave and go ahead. I will be right back."

Sun Yong nodded quickly, "Go ahead, be careful on the road."

"Yes."

Yang Jing immediately turned around and strode out of the martial arts school. His steps were hurried but steady as he headed towards Datongfang. He needed to go back to his residence to get some things before heading back to Yangjia Village to avoid keeping the officials waiting. It was on the way anyway, so it wouldn't take much time.

As soon as Yang Jing disappeared outside the gate, the Sun Family Martial Arts School quickly erupted in excitement.

Xu Hong, Qi Yun, Zhao Wenzheng, and several other disciples with internal strength gathered together, their faces filled with emotion.

"I never expected that Junior Brother Yang would reach this point." Xu Hong sighed, his tone filled with emotion and regret. "He's only been a member of the martial arts school for less than a year, right? This is no ordinary talent; even the best among us with average talent can't compare."

Qi Yun's eyes held a complex expression as she whispered, "Passing the military examination grants one a semi-official status, meaning one won't need to kneel before the county magistrate in the future. Even my elders will have to show him some respect."

Zhao Wenzheng nodded and said, "Yes, with this resume, whether you join a local power or are recruited by the government, you will have a bright future. This is only after passing the military examination. As for becoming a world-renowned martial arts champion... well, let's not talk about it. For us, even passing the military examination is a huge hurdle."

These veteran disciples of internal strength, though holding high positions in the martial arts school, always lacked a respectable title. Yang Jing's rise made them incredibly envious.

The surrounding ordinary disciples were in an uproar, their young faces filled with envy and admiration.

Discussions and exclamations rose and fell, and the air was filled with excitement.

Sun Yong stood in the center of the training ground, listening to the noise of his disciples, his smile never fading.

He glanced at the excited disciples in the front courtyard, but did not reprimand them. He straightened his clothes and strode out of the martial arts hall.

He wanted to go to the city gate in person to see the list of candidates for the military examination that had just been posted.

He had waited more than ten years for this day, enough to wash away all the resentment and ridicule.

After Sun Yong left, many of the disciples in the martial arts school also left.

Qi Yun, Zhao Wenzheng, and others also left. They came from families in the inner city of Yuhe County. Now that the results of the examination had been posted at the training ground, they were preparing to go back to see how their families reacted.

Many more disciples called their friends and flocked towards the city gate or the county government office, wanting to see Yang Jing's name on the list with their own eyes, join in the excitement, and share in the joy of this glory.

Sun Ningxiang stood under the corridor, watching her junior brothers' excited backs. After hesitating for a moment, she also lifted her skirt and quickly walked out of the martial arts hall.

She wanted to go and see, not because of Yang Jing, but because it was a big deal for the Sun Family Martial Arts School.

Yes, that's exactly why she wanted to go and take a look.

The sunlight was just right, shining on the bluestone pavement of Chengpingfang, gilding each row of footprints with gold.

Sun Yong stood in front of the list at the city gate for a long time, his fingertips almost touching the words "Yang Jing" on the list, until the sun rose higher, before turning around and walking back with a heart full of joy.

Instead of going straight back to the martial arts school, he turned and entered another alley in Chengpingfang, the location of Jishi Medical Clinic.

Jishi Medical Clinic and Sun's Martial Arts School are just across the street from each other. On weekdays, disciples would send their injuries from training or martial arts competitions to this clinic. Sun Yong and the school's owner, Zhang Tong, were old acquaintances.

After Lin Yue was seriously injured, Zhang Dong personally treated him. He had been worried about him these past two days, so he took the opportunity to come and visit him.

Pushing open the wooden door of the clinic, which was filled with the scent of medicine, Zhang Tong, who was seeing patients inside, looked up and saw that it was Sun Yong. He put down the pulse pillow in his hand and smiled, "Master Sun, your complexion is much better today than it was a few days ago?"

Sun Yong chuckled and shook his head. Thinking of his other disciple who was still lying in bed, he didn't say anything more and stepped forward to ask, "Master Zhang, how is my disciple Lin Yue doing today?"

Zhang Tong led him into the inner hall, saying as they walked, "He woke up once in the middle of last night and just woke up again. He's in much better spirits than he was a couple of days ago, but he's still very weak. Why don't you go in and take a look? It'll be good for him to see you and maybe that will put his mind at ease."

The two walked through the main room with medicine cabinets and came to a quiet ward in the backyard.

As soon as I opened the door, a faint smell of medicine wafted out.

Lin Yue was leaning against the headboard, his face as pale as paper, staring blankly at the bed curtains. He only turned his head slowly when he heard a noise.

Upon seeing Sun Yong walk in, Lin Yue's previously blank gaze suddenly sharpened. He struggled to sit up, but the movement aggravated his wounds, causing him to gasp in pain.

"Master!" His voice was hoarse, filled with deep resentment, and his eyes instantly reddened. "I'm not reconciled!"

The pent-up grievances and resentment of the past two days finally erupted at this moment.

Lin Yue's chest heaved violently as he pointed outside the door, almost shouting, "I had a chance to pass the training ground test! It's all that Li Mengchao's fault! He clearly did it on purpose! He went so far as to try and ruin me! I... I'll fight the Li family to the death!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and his wounds seemed to begin to bleed again. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, but he was completely unaware of it. He just stared intently at Sun Yong, his eyes burning with hatred.

Sun Yong looked at the emotionally agitated Lin Yue, and his brows, which had relaxed because of Yang Jing's success in the exam, suddenly furrowed.

His face darkened, and his voice took on a stern tone: "Nonsense! The martial arts competition is a place of life and death. Fists and kicks have no eyes, and injuries are commonplace. Over the years, many martial artists have suffered broken arms and legs in the competition, and some have even died on the spot. You were only seriously injured, and it's a miracle you survived. Yet you dare to shout 'It's a fight to the death' here?" He walked to the bedside, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Yue: "The path of martial arts is full of thorns. If you can't even withstand this little setback, how will you achieve great things in the future?"

Lin Yue was scolded by his master, but his neck remained stiff, his face pale but defiant: "Master, it's not that I'm afraid of getting hurt! It's just that this injury is too unfortunate! I'll be bedridden for at least half a year, which is a crucial time for my advancement. If I delay this, I don't know how far behind I'll fall... That bastard Li Mengchao clearly deliberately tried to kill me; his methods are too vicious!"

Sun Yong sighed, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying an undeniable air of authority: "I have already sent people to investigate. Li Mengchao's harsh treatment of you is certainly due to competition, but the more important reason is probably that you are getting too close to the Xiao family."

Lin Yue was taken aback upon hearing this.

Seeing Lin Yue's puzzled look, Sun Yong continued, "The Li family and the Xiao family have been enemies for generations, fighting openly and secretly for over a hundred years. You, a martial arts school disciple, insist on getting involved in the conflict between the six major families. Aren't you just courting death? They see you as a henchman of the Xiao family, so naturally they won't allow you to stand out."

“The six major families in Yuhe County are deeply intertwined and have many internal conflicts. Any outsiders who interfere will only become victims.”

Sun Yong's voice turned serious. "From today onwards, this matter ends here. Once you've recovered, focus on your training at the martial arts school and don't get involved with the Xiao family anymore. With your talent, as long as you're willing to concentrate, I'll personally guide you, and breaking through to the Transformation Realm won't be difficult. Why wade into those muddy waters?"

Lin Yue was so disheartened by his master's words that he dared not get excited anymore. His chest heaved gradually calmed down, but his eyes still held a hint of resentment and grievance.

He secretly grumbled to himself, "Is my master afraid of the Li family? I've been beaten so badly, and instead of seeking revenge, he's blaming me for associating with the Xiao family?"

But he dared not disobey his master, and only whispered, "Disciple...disciple just wants to fight for the honor of the martial arts school."

He looked at Sun Yong, his tone filled with resentment: "Disciple knows that the martial arts school has not produced a disciple who has made it onto the list of successful candidates in the training ground for more than ten years. So many people outside are laughing at us, saying that Master has no successor... Disciple is anxious and just wants to prove himself and let everyone see that the disciples taught by the Sun Family Martial Arts School are no worse than those from any other martial arts school!"

"If I hadn't been injured by Li Mengchao, the name of a disciple of my Sun Family Martial Arts School would definitely be on the list of successful candidates in this year's martial arts competition!" Lin Yue said, his eyes reddening again, filled with resentment over his injury and heartache over the missed opportunity.

Upon hearing Lin Yue's words, Sun Yong's anger, which had been aroused by his impulsiveness, subsided considerably.

Although this child is arrogant, he seems to genuinely care about the martial arts school, which is a good intention.

He softened his tone, saying with a hint of relief and reassurance, "You don't need to blame yourself too much. Someone from the martial arts school made it onto the list in this year's training ground test."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue was stunned, his pupils contracted slightly, and he didn't react for a moment.

"Master... what did you say?" He doubted his ears, his voice trembling slightly. "Someone from the martial arts school made the list? Besides me... who else could it be?"

His mind raced. There were only a few internal strength disciples in the martial arts school. Senior Brother Xu Hong lost in the first round of the arena, and Zhao Wenzheng and Qi Yun didn't even make it to the first round. How could this be...?

Suddenly, a name jumped into my mind—Yang Jing!
But he immediately rejected the idea. Yang Jing had only recently broken through to the Dark Force realm, and his foundation was still shallow. It was already his limit to get the top spot on the seventh arena. How could he possibly make it into the top five in a ranking battle full of experts?

Those opponents were all seasoned veterans who had been immersed in the peak of internal strength for many years. How could Yang Jing possibly be their opponent?
Sun Yong took in the shock and disbelief on Lin Yue's face, a smile playing on his lips, and slowly said, "It's your senior brother Yang Jing. The results of the military examination were posted at the county government office and the city gate just now, and he ranked fourth."

Yang Jing started learning the art a few months earlier than Lin Yue, so he was indeed the senior apprentice.

Lin Yue looked at Sun Yong's serious expression, which didn't seem like he was joking. The color drained from his face instantly, and his expression froze, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water on him.

Yang Jing?

Yang Jing, whom he had always looked down upon, thinking he was mediocre and unlikely to amount to anything.

He actually made it onto the list of candidates for the military examination, and ranked fourth?

An indescribable feeling welled up inside me—shock, resentment, and a hidden sense of shame and indignation.

He always thought highly of himself and considered himself the most talented among the martial arts school disciples. He never took Yang Jing, who was of inferior talent and taciturn, seriously.
But now, he is seriously injured and bedridden, while his junior brother, whom he had looked down upon, has achieved the ranking he had always dreamed of...

This was even more painful for him than losing to Li Mengchao; it felt like a huge rock was stuck in his chest, making him feel suffocated.

These thoughts churned in his mind, but he dared not show them on his face. He could only bite his lip hard and dig his fingertips deep into his palm.

Zhang Tong, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but show surprise upon hearing this.

He knew that Lin Yue was Sun Yong's most valued disciple. He thought that after Lin Yue was seriously injured, the Sun family martial arts school would return empty-handed from this training ground test. Unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise.

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and smiled at Sun Yong, saying, "Congratulations, Master Sun! Congratulations, Master Sun! I was wondering why you looked so radiant today; it turns out there's such a joyous occasion! Lin Yue's injury must have been hard for you, but now that another disciple has made it onto the list, it's truly a great comfort!"

Sun Yong's smile deepened upon hearing Zhang Tong's congratulations. He returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute, his tone tinged with emotion as he said, "Master Zhang is too kind. To be honest, even I was somewhat surprised that Yang Jing made the list. I always thought he was rather reserved, only knowing how to bury himself in training without participating in actual combat. It was only in this training ground test that his potential was truly revealed. From now on, we should nurture him properly."

Zhang Dong stroked his beard and laughed, "Of course. Such a promising talent cannot be neglected. Now that he has passed the examination and has a semi-official status, many martial arts schools and families in Yuhe County are eyeing him. Master Sun, you must pay attention and nurture him well, lest someone quietly steal him away."

Although he said it jokingly, it was also true. A martial artist with potential and achievements, and more importantly, an official position, is a walking gold standard, and has always been a coveted prize.

Upon hearing this, Sun Yong gave a soft "hmm," his eyes showing a hint of seriousness.

He naturally understood this principle. With Lin Yue injured, Yang Jing was now the face of the Sun Family Martial Arts School. He couldn't let him be poached by outsiders, and most martial arts schools wouldn't do something so taboo unless they were shameless.

Seeing that he took it seriously, Zhang Dong added, "Speaking of which, with a disciple who made it onto the list, the Sun Family Martial Arts School's reputation will be even more renowned. This is a living signboard; when recruiting disciples and making friends with like-minded people, we'll have more leverage."

Sun Yong agreed wholeheartedly and nodded slowly.

More than a decade of silence was completely broken this time.

Yang Jing is a rough gem. It was fine if we hadn't noticed him before, but now that we've discovered him and seen his talent, we will naturally put our heart into polishing him.

(End of this chapter)