Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

The campus of Jixian Middle School opened its gates in the early autumn morning light. A straight and wide cement road stretched out, carrying the bustling voices and the excited cheers of the new students. Beside the road, in a small pond, the lotus flowers of late summer were still blooming vigorously, their pink and white petals shimmering in the sunlight. Occasionally, a fish would swim beneath the leaves, its tail flicking and shattering the reflections on the water. Passing through this tranquil scene of vitality, several tall buildings stood majestically on both sides of the road, opening their arms to welcome the students who moved between them.

However, as Cang Tianci, clutching the heavy acceptance letter, stepped onto the bustling main road, a strange sense of alienation quietly arose. The surrounding clamor seemed to be separated by an invisible membrane, becoming blurred and distant. His gaze swept over the lotus flowers in the pond, over his peers laughing and chatting, full of curiosity about the new campus, and finally settled on the silently standing high-rise buildings. This orderly world, along with the Xiqiao Village he had just left behind, filled with the scent of earth and grass, and the sports school training hall where he spent his days soaked in sweat and shouts, formed three completely different worlds. The weight of the acceptance letter in his palm remained the same, but the burning passion in his heart, born of family honor, seemed to be quietly absorbed and cooled by this grand and unfamiliar sense of order, giving rise to a deeper awe of the unknown sea of ​​learning ahead.

The registration point for the gifted youth program was set up in a spacious, well-lit classroom at the far end of the first floor of the teaching building.

The person in charge of registration was a middle-aged male teacher with meticulously combed hair and thick glasses. On the table in front of him lay a thick roster and a stack of forms to be filled out. His expression was serious, exuding a scholarly rigor and rigidity. He glanced at the notification letter, then looked up and carefully examined the tall, slightly dark-skinned, calm-eyed boy before him, asking, "What's your name?"

"Teacher, I...I am called Cang Tianci."

After finding and confirming the name "Cang Tianci" in the name column, the middle-aged male teacher looked up and said, "Welcome, Cang Tianci. I am Xu Wenyuan, the homeroom teacher of the gifted youth class." He picked up his pen and began to fill out the registration form routinely, "Place of residence: Xiqiao Village...Graduated school: Jixian No. 1 Primary School..."

When filling in the "Specialties and Remarks" section, he didn't even look up, and routinely asked, "Besides academics, is there anything else that needs to be noted? For example, athletic or artistic talents?"

"Teacher Xu, I... I'm still a student at the county sports school, practicing martial arts and Sanda," Cang Tianci replied.

"A sports school?" Xu Wenyuan's hand, which was writing, suddenly paused. He looked up and sized Cang Tianci up and down again. "You mean... that sports school where they train every morning and afternoon?"

"Yes...yes, teacher."

Xu Wenyuan frowned slightly and asked, "First place in the county, did you achieve this result while spending a lot of time and energy on professional sports training every morning and afternoon?"

"Yes, teacher." Cang Tianci nodded.

Xu Wenyuan fell silent, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, making soft "tap, tap" sounds. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Cang Tianci, I must remind you very seriously. The gifted youth program is not a lounge for honors, nor is it a regular junior high class. It's a place where top students gather, which means a faster teaching pace, stronger competitive pressure, and a heavier academic burden. Our goal is to complete all three years of junior high curriculum in two years, and then compete with those graduating students who have studied for three years for the best high school education resources."

He leaned slightly forward and said solemnly, "This means there is no chance to catch your breath here; every minute and every second is crucial. In the past, some students couldn't adapt to this high intensity or were distracted by other things, causing their grades to plummet and ultimately leading to them being relegated to regular classes. And you still have to train every morning and afternoon. How much time and energy will that take? How can you guarantee that you'll still have a clear head to listen to lectures and complete the massive amount of homework after training? Being good at both academics and sports is a good thing, but the path to the gifted youth program is like walking a narrow bridge; one wrong step and you could end up losing everything."

Every word Xu Wenyuan spoke was like a cold nail, striking Cang Tianci's once-burning heart. The prospects described by his homeroom teacher and the worries in his words were like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over his head, instantly sobering him from the joy of being admitted to the gifted youth program. He had only thought of glory and opportunity, but had never considered the extreme price that would have to be paid and the risk of possible failure.

A chill ran down his spine, and the cicadas outside the window seemed to vanish instantly, leaving only the pounding of his own heart. He subconsciously took a deep breath, and the Hidden Dragon Technique quietly began to circulate. The chill subsided slightly, but the cold scales in Teacher Xu's words—"time," "energy," and "awakeness"—pierced his consciousness like steel needles.

As he hesitated, his master's words echoed in his mind: "Experiences in the mortal world are also a form of cultivation." Yes, this pressure might very well be a form of cultivation. With this thought, he looked at Teacher Xu with firm eyes and said, "Teacher...I...I will handle it."

Seeing Cang Tianci's insistence, Xu Wenyuan could only sigh and say, "I hope you can manage it. You have talent, and I just don't want you to waste it by choosing a path that's too difficult. Here's the class schedule and timetable; take a look. Remember to be at school on time tomorrow morning at 8:00."

That evening, the conference hall of Jixian Sports School was brightly lit and filled with a lively atmosphere. The opening ceremony for the new school year was underway. On the stage, Principal Zhou Zhenhua, dressed in a crisp dark tracksuit, stood solemnly, exuding authority. He summarized the historic breakthroughs achieved in the previous school year and outlined the training and competition plans for the new year. Finally, he changed the subject, saying, "Achievements are earned through hard work; glory is forged through sweat and perseverance! Here, I want to especially commend a student—Cang Tianci."

A buzz of discussion immediately arose from below the stage, and all eyes instantly focused on Cang Tianci in the front row. Tianci felt his cheeks burning slightly, but his back involuntarily straightened even more.

Zhou Zhenhua's voice was full of admiration: "When he entered the sports school, his foundation was not outstanding, and his physical condition was not good. But with his relentless determination, he not only made breakthroughs in martial arts in a short period of time, eventually winning a provincial gold medal, but also made great strides in his studies. In this primary school graduation exam, he won first place in the county and was admitted to the junior class of Jixian Middle School."

"Wow—" A louder gasp and enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Many students looked at Cang Tianci with admiration and disbelief.

Zhou Zhenhua gestured with his hand. Once the room quieted down, he continued, "What does this show? It shows that as long as you have determination and perseverance, there are no difficulties you cannot overcome! Sports not only hone your physique and skills, but also your willpower. This quality can be applied on the field, as well as in your studies and in every step of your life."

His gaze swept intently over all the trainees below the stage, his voice rising: "You must all take Cang Tianci as your role model, learning his spirit of fearlessness in the face of hardship, diligent study, and never giving up. Apply the same tenacity you show on the training field to your academic studies and to your individual professional breakthroughs. Let those outsiders see that our sports school doesn't cultivate brutes with strong limbs and simple minds, but rather promising talents who are well-rounded in both academics and athletics!"

Zhou Zhenhua's words resonated like war drums in the hearts of every student, eliciting prolonged applause. Amidst the applause, Cang Tianci felt a heavy weight of expectations and immense pressure. The principal had set him up as a role model; he could only move forward, not backward.

After the ceremony, Zhou Zhenhua specifically stopped Cang Tianci, patted him hard on the shoulder, and said loudly, "Tianci, well done! You've made our sports school proud. Now that you're in the gifted youth program, keep up the good work! Don't fall behind in training, and keep up with your studies too. Show those who only know how to study by rote that we martial arts practitioners are just as smart. Have confidence?"

"Yes! Principal Zhou!" Cang Tianci nodded emphatically, meeting his intense gaze.

However, as he walked alone on the narrow and quiet alley connecting the middle school and the sports school, the voices on both sides seemed to still be colliding and echoing fiercely in his ears—on one side was the cold, rational, and cautionary words of his homeroom teacher, Xu Wenyuan, and on the other side was the fervent and hopeful pre-battle mobilization of Principal Zhou Zhenhua.

Two powerful forces, like two invisible yet incredibly solid shackles, bound him from the left and right. One force wanted to firmly press him down into the sea of ​​books and exercises, while the other wanted to nail him to the training arena. Each path required him to devote 100% of his time and energy.

The road ahead seemed like a tightrope swaying violently in a gale, with a bottomless abyss beneath his feet. Cang Tianci took a deep breath of the cool early autumn air; the icy air filled his lungs, clearing his mind. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking slightly, and the confusion in his eyes was gradually replaced by a resolute determination.

He knew that the real tempering had only just begun from this moment on.