Chapter 15: Laughing Heartily as I Step Outside—Surely We Are Not Mere Commoners

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A barely fourteen-year-old youngest apprentice at the inn was actually going to participate in the disciple examination of the Mortal Dao Association. This news sent Li Dongshan and the other wanderers in the inn into a roar of laughter.

Li Dongshan patted Chen Tiansheng’s shoulder with a peculiar expression and said, “Young Chen, you just accompanied Fang Chenghu on a trip for a few days. If you’re tired, just ask me directly for leave. There’s no need to use such an excuse for a sightseeing tour.”

Even Feng Siniang, who usually thought well of Chen Tiansheng, disapproved and advised, “The youngest disciple in Qingzhou Prefecture is currently Gao Runshan, the head steward. He entered the marketplace at ten and only became an official disciple at eighteen. You’ve been in the marketplace less than three years. It’s too early for you to take the disciple exam.” She then curiously asked, “Which sect are you planning to take the exam for?”

“Guamen,” Chen Tiansheng answered without hesitation.

Guamen?

Everyone was momentarily stunned, then burst into louder laughter.

Feng Siniang lowered her brows, scrutinized him for a moment, then shook her head and said, “Guamen focuses on martial arts. Its threshold is low—anyone can train. But to reach proficiency in mystical arts is not easy. Even Gao Runshan, with his exceptional martial talent, took a full eight years to achieve proficiency. I don’t know what marketplace skills you’ve learned, but Guamen’s training of internal energy often leads to the illusion of having reached proficiency.”

Li Dongshan sneered, “Young Chen, with your slight build, you clearly aren’t cut out for martial arts. You wouldn’t have been fooled by some street vendor into buying fake marketplace techniques at a low price, thinking you’re some martial prodigy, would you? Don’t be deluded. Your nature suits waiting tables—serving others. Stop dreaming of the jianghu; it’s not a place for you.”

Marketplace mystical arts are expensive. Even the most common Guamen basic marketplace techniques sell for at least ten taels of silver. Since Chen Tiansheng started waiting tables and earning tips, Li Dongshan had been skimping on his wages. Although Chen Tiansheng earned nearly two taels daily in tips, he shared a lot with his companions and supported his family. Saving ten taels in a year was difficult. Even if he had bought marketplace skills, how could he have learned them in such a short time?

Chen Tiansheng’s work as a waiter was excellent, even better than those training in Cai or Diao sects, indicating some talent. Yet he chose Guamen, which was downright laughable.

Feng Siniang disliked Li Dongshan’s tone but agreed Chen Tiansheng had chosen the wrong sect and advised, “Young Chen, it’s good to have jianghu dreams, but you must understand what suits you. You said it yourself—you should join the Diao sect. If you’re serious, I can give you a Diao marketplace technique.”

Feng Siniang was straightforward and well-known to those present, so no one was surprised, though some teased him a bit.

Chen Tiansheng was moved by Feng Siniang’s words but politely declined, “Thank you for your recognition, Fourth Lady, but I yearn for a jianghu of swords and blades like yours. I hope one day to become a hero who cleaves mountains and slices the moon in others’ hearts.”

Cleaving mountains and slicing the moon?

Li Dongshan and the wanderers laughed.

That was the technique of immortals. For a mortal to possess such power was utterly fanciful.

Seeing Chen Tiansheng’s determination, Feng Siniang took a deep breath and congratulated him, “Congratulations on having a dream and daring to live for it. Whether you succeed or fail, at least you won’t live a wasted life.”

Looking back, she had once entered Guamen with fervor and never switched to other potentially gifted sects.

Nowadays, almost everyone practicing marketplace arts follows their talent. People like Chen Tiansheng are rare.

Of course, the end of the marketplace path leads to the immortal sect. Practitioners cultivating martial arts who learn techniques outside Guamen can also enter the immortal sect and pursue martial paths.

But the Guamen jianghu experience is a battle experience unavailable elsewhere!

Guamen disciples are like fish in water in the immortal sect, achieving far more than the other seven sects!

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Chen Tiansheng smiled gratefully, then scanned Li Dongshan and the wanderers laughing at him. Taking two steps toward the counter, he picked up a heavy stone slab as thick as an arm. Amid puzzled gazes, he lightly tossed it up, and as it fell to chest height, he clenched his fist and struck out.

Smash!

The sound of the stone shattering echoed sharply. The hard slab suddenly cracked and fragmented, pieces rapidly falling to the ground.

Those who had mocked him were speechless, mouths agape in disbelief at the scene. Their pupils dilated in shock, an eerie silence descending. The fallen stone shards rang like a great bell in their ears.

Chen Tiansheng’s face remained humble, but his usual meekness vanished. He strode out the door boldly and laughed loudly:

“Laughing to the sky as I leave, how could we be mere weeds in the wild? Ha ha—”

Everyone was stunned.

They had thought they understood the young man before them but had all been mistaken.

Someone stepped forward to inspect the fallen fragments. Seeing no artificial marks on the cracks, they were astonished and exclaimed, “A single punch shattered such a large marble slab! His strength surpasses that of a Guamen disciple with five years of training. Could he have reached proficiency?”

Li Dongshan refused to believe it. After thoroughly examining the fragments and confirming their authenticity, he stood there dumbfounded, then sheepishly retreated to his room after a long moment.

Feng Siniang gazed toward the door, lost in thought, murmuring, “Laughing to the sky as I leave, how could we be mere weeds in the wild...”

...

Chen Tiansheng left the Five Lakes Four Seas Inn and headed straight toward the Mortal Dao Association in Qingzhou Prefecture.

His public rebuttal of Li Dongshan was partly to vent old grievances but also a declaration of his entrance into the jianghu.

Guamen wanderers lacked passion and were timid; how could they embody the spirit of Guamen warriors?

Why assert this spirit?

The reason was simple, just like choosing Guamen—it was to conceal his knowledge of the other seven marketplace arts.

Like with the Diao sect, a fraud never reveals their deceit!

One’s true methods only work when others don’t know.

He chose Guamen among the eight sects because it aligned with his jianghu dream and because combat was essential upon entering the jianghu. Since Guamen training’s effects are obvious, it was better to let others mistakenly believe he only practiced Guamen.

As for whether exposing Li Dongshan would cause trouble for Zhao Daqiang, Chen Tiansheng had thought it through.

Knowing Li Dongshan’s nature, he would certainly harass Zhao Daqiang because of this. But whether or not Chen Tiansheng confronted Li Dongshan, once he passed the disciple exam and left the inn, Li Dongshan would lose a talented waiter and still make things difficult for Zhao Daqiang.

If so, why not vent his anger openly?

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As for Zhao Daqiang, once Chen Tiansheng became a disciple and gained status in the Mortal Dao Association, he could help Zhao find a better place for training.

Until then, Zhao would have to endure.

Lost in thought, Chen Tiansheng arrived at the gates of the Mortal Dao Association.

Like previous exams, the entrance was crowded with jianghu figures, though most were over thirty and many had taken the examination multiple times.

Officials from the local government patrolled the streets.

Although the Mortal Dao Association was a martial arts place, it was within the city jurisdiction, so officials were needed to maintain order.

As the youngest participant, Chen Tiansheng immediately drew curious looks.

Most wanderers present had visited the Five Lakes Four Seas Inn and remembered the outstanding waiter. Many approached him for conversation, some mocking, others encouraging.

While chatting, Liang Wei, a guard on duty, came over, patted Chen’s arm, and signaled to speak privately.

Chen knew Liang Wei worked for Zhang Chengnan but sensed no hostility, so he followed him to a quieter spot.

Before Chen could speak, Liang bowed apologetically, “About that day on Yongle Street, I’m sorry. We are also searching for Gu Xue’s whereabouts now.”

Chen glanced at Liang, knowing he spoke truthfully and sincerely apologized.

Liang Wei was not a marketplace wanderer; he practiced official martial arts and had never trained in Diao sect marketplace skills. Without proficiency in Diao marketplace arts, he could detect lies.

Chen said, “It’s not your fault. You’re just following regulations. From now on, I’ll rely on you to help find my sister-in-law.”

Liang’s eyes showed some surprise.

His interactions with Chen had been brief, but he remembered Chen’s usual timidity and meekness. After a few days apart, that weakness and servility had vanished, replaced by confidence and calmness with no pretense.

Perhaps the family tragedy had forced this young man to grow up instantly.

Alas, a pitiful soul.

Thinking this, Liang grew more determined. He glanced cautiously around, and seeing no one near, whispered a warning:

“Zhang’s men failed to capture you at the inn and have informed the Zhang family’s eldest son—Zhang Jingcong of the Immortal Sect. I heard Zhang Jingcong will arrive in Qingzhou Prefecture within a month to personally handle Zhang Chengnan’s affairs. You’d better leave Qingzhou quickly!”

Chen narrowed his eyes.

They came fast!