leonardwarren Chapter 45 Martial Arts School, Part 1: Advance as a Form of Retreat!
Chapter 45 Martial Arts School, Part 1: Advance as a Form of Retreat!
The senior disciple Chen Zong's calm voice echoed in the courtyard.
Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Zhou Tong.
Low gasps of breath rose from all directions, followed by a sudden uproar.
"How many? Eighty-three days!"
"How is this possible! This has already surpassed Senior Sister Liu and Senior Brother Zheng!"
"Last time, it took him three months to go from wood-like skin to stone-like skin, which was a full month slower than Senior Sister Liu and Senior Brother Zheng..."
"Yes, normally, the later the breakthrough, the longer it takes. In terms of time alone, the gap between him and Senior Sister Liu and Senior Brother Zheng should gradually widen. How could he have surpassed them all at once!"
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, and the buzzing of their discussions swept through the entire courtyard like a tidal wave.
Some were shocked, some were envious, and some had a hint of jealousy and resentment in their eyes.
A look of obvious astonishment appeared in Zheng Hao's eyes. Then, the astonishment faded, and his gaze turned slightly cold as he scanned Zhou Tong, as if he wanted to reassess this junior brother who had surpassed him.
Liu Qing looked at Zhou Tong, whose face remained calm, and her eyes sharpened.
Chen Zong stood on the steps, calmly observing the various expressions on the faces of the people below. Only after the murmurs subsided slightly did he raise his hand and gently press it down.
As if an invisible force had swept over, the noise in the arena immediately subsided, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the faint sounds of bustling city life coming from the distant streets and alleys.
"Announce this good news."
Chen Zong's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:
"I want to tell you that the mysteries of the human body are so profound that even a great martial arts master cannot fathom them, hence the saying that one must be enlightened."
Those of you whose progress in cultivation is slightly slower should not feel ashamed. With perseverance, you may one day break through a certain barrier and reach a completely different realm.
He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd. His gaze was as calm as an ancient well, yet it made everyone he looked at involuntarily straighten their backs.
"However, diligence leads to mastery while idleness leads to ruin; the foundation of everything is perseverance. Junior Brother Zhou Tong's progress is due to his own talent, but it is also inseparable from hard work. I hope that all junior brothers and sisters will learn from the virtuous and practice diligently without slacking off."
"We will follow your teachings, Senior Brother!" Everyone bowed and said in unison.
At this moment, Liu Qing suddenly stepped forward, her face beaming with smiles, her voice clear and melodious like a spring:
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhou! Congratulations, Senior Brother! Our martial arts school has produced another outstanding talent; it is truly a blessing for our Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School."
Zheng Hao followed closely behind, cupping his hands in a smile, his tone as cheerful as ever, showing no sign of anything amiss:
"Junior Brother Zhou, you truly are a man of few words, but when you speak, you astound everyone! I knew from the beginning that you were destined for greatness, and I was right!"
Zhou Tong quickly returned the greeting by clasping his hands in a fist salute, his expression humble and his tone sincere:
"Senior Sister Liu and Senior Brother Zheng are too kind. I was just lucky and got a little too fast for a moment. The path of martial arts cultivation is long and arduous, and I will need to learn more from you two in the future."
Seeing this, the other disciples also came to their senses. Regardless of what they were thinking, they all put on smiles and offered their congratulations.
For a moment, congratulations such as "Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhou!" and "Junior Brother Zhou is amazing!" filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere, as if the momentary stagnation and undercurrents were just an illusion.
Chen Zong watched all this calmly, his gaze lingering slightly on Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's smiling faces, his expression unfathomable.
Once the commotion subsided, he said calmly, "That's enough for today. You may all continue your cultivation."
Having said that, he said no more, turned around and left, pushed open the door and entered the main hall, leaving the thoughts of the entire courtyard outside the door.
With the departure of the senior disciple, the lively atmosphere on the field seemed to have lost a crucial pillar, and the atmosphere became subtle.
Many disciples glanced at Liu Qing and Zheng Hao, then at Zhou Tong, who was walking alone to the corner of the courtyard with a calm expression, their eyes revealing a cryptic look.
No matter how eloquently Liu Qing and Zheng Hao spoke, no one would take it seriously.
The resources, prestige, and even the implicit protection of the family business that come with the position of a direct disciple are simply too great.
Zhou Tong, this dark horse that suddenly accelerated and even temporarily took the lead, has already posed a considerable threat to the two of them.
Liu and Zheng could not possibly turn a blind eye to this.
Zhou Tong naturally and clearly sensed this subtle atmosphere that was silently spreading.
He remained unmoved, oblivious to the probing, speculative, and even amused gazes around him. He walked through the crowd to the open corner of the courtyard where he usually practiced his skills, and draped his outer garment over a nearby bench.
He had just stopped when he caught a glimpse of Liu Qing and Zheng Hao walking towards him together out of the corner of his eye.
This time, things are different from the past.
The disciples who usually surrounded the two like stars around the moon did not follow.
They exchanged glances, tacitly dispersed, some pretending to stretch, others whispering, but their eyes kept drifting towards them.
They were all seasoned veterans of the martial arts school, and they knew that Senior Sister Liu and Senior Brother Zheng's visit was probably not just a casual greeting. They didn't want to, and dared not, hear anything they shouldn't hear.
Zhou Tong slowly turned around to face the two people approaching, his face still bearing that gentle and humble smile, but his heart was slightly turbulent.
From the moment he first learned of the tacit agreement between his father and Director Ni, the goal of becoming a disciple was planted in his heart like a seed.
Later, as his understanding of Director Ni's influence in Cangzhou City deepened, and as the Worry-Free Sect spread within the city and the situation became increasingly unpredictable, his desire to obtain that transcendent status grew stronger and stronger.
He knew that with the help of the panel and his own efforts, one day he would make Liu and Zheng feel threatened.
The day came a little earlier than he had expected, but he was not completely unprepared.
Zhou Tong always planned ahead and proceeded step by step.
Having foreseen this situation, he had naturally rehearsed it many times in his mind.
Currently, regardless of strength, background, or status within the martial arts school, he is far behind Liu and Zheng, and cannot compete with them head-on.
Once the other party develops a strong sense of apprehension towards him, they will use both overt and covert methods to bring him into trouble, and it may even affect the family's fledgling business.
Therefore, he must keep the two of them in check for the time being, giving himself more time to develop.
During this period, he not only secretly observed and subtly inquired about the personalities, preferences, and behavior of these two people, but also carefully learned about their temperaments, preferences, and behavior styles.
He also carefully analyzed the "mourning clothes bureau" and other similar cases from Manager Hu, trying to understand the game theory experience of manipulating people's hearts and guiding their perceptions.
He had already rehearsed today's scenario in his mind several times and was fully prepared.
Now that the stage is set and the stars have taken the stage, it's time to truly begin and put our strategies into practice.
"Junior Brother Zhou."
Zheng Hao stopped five steps in front of Zhou Tong, a warm smile on his face, and greeted him in a clear voice, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Zhou Tong quickly responded with a smile, bowing respectfully: "Senior Brother Zheng."
He then turned to Liu Qing and clasped his hands in greeting again: "Senior Sister Liu."
Liu Qing nodded with a smile, her face beaming.
Zheng Hao, taking advantage of the good news announced by his senior brother, praised Zhou Tong a few more times, his words sincere.
Zhou Tong naturally remained modest.
The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but underneath it was like a taut bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.
Finally, Zheng Hao changed the subject, his tone still smiling, but his eyes deepened slightly:
"Junior Brother Zhou is truly remarkable. His martial arts progress is rapid, and his comprehension is exceptional."
In my opinion, with your talent and ability, Junior Brother Zhou, it won't be long before Master takes notice of you and accepts you as a disciple of our Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School.
Liu Qing also chimed in at the opportune moment, staring at Zhou Tong's face with a playful intimacy:
"Yes, Junior Brother Zhou. I'll really need your help then."
"A personal disciple?" Zhou Tong was slightly taken aback, then smiled and shook his head.
Zheng Hao's eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile remained unchanged as he pressed on:
"Oh? What do you mean by that, Junior Brother... Don't you have any interest in becoming a direct disciple?"
He asked directly, his gaze fixed on Zhou Tong's expression, not missing a single subtle change.
"How is that possible!"
Zhou Tong met his gaze and said calmly:
"Being a direct disciple means receiving personal guidance from your master, and having your doubts about cultivation addressed directly."
This means preferential allocation of resources to martial arts schools; more importantly, it signifies a completely different status within Cangzhou City, providing a solid foundation for both oneself and one's family.
He paused, then smiled and said, "If I said I didn't want such benefits, it would be hypocritical and disrespectful to my master and the martial arts school. I truly yearn for them."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's smiles remained, even widened, and they exclaimed, "Junior Brother is frank!" and "He has ambition!"
However, their eyes met for a fleeting moment in the air, and a chill, like frost on a winter night, quietly condensed deep within their gazes.
Zhou Tong took in the subtle changes in their expressions, but he remained calm.
His strategy today is to "advance by retreating".
Human nature is complex, yet it also has its own stubborn cognitive paths.
Liu Qing and Zheng Hao spent countless hours and effort trying to figure out their master's preferences in order to compete for the position of direct disciple.
In their deeply ingrained belief, the position of a direct disciple is the ultimate goal that is worth such dedication and such fierce competition.
If Zhou Tong were to deny it outright at this moment, saying that he had no intention of doing so, it would only seem fake and pretentious, and he would not be able to gain people's trust at all. It would only make them think that Zhou Tong was more cunning and had bigger plans.
The most difficult part of psychological warfare between people is breaking down the other person's defenses and getting them to believe your "first words".
As long as this "first sentence" sounds reasonable and conforms to their cognitive logic, breaking the initial window of doubt, there will be room for subsequent guidance.
If even the beginning is questioned, no matter how eloquently you speak later, it will be difficult to achieve any effect.
Zhou Tong seemed completely oblivious to the subtle changes in their expressions, and continued with a smile:
"But while I may want to, now is not the time."
He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to the two of them, his tone warm and friendly:
"By the time when I, junior brother, truly have the ability and am fortunate enough to catch Master's eye, I imagine that my two senior brothers and sisters will already be Master's personal disciples."
"At that time, I'll have to rely on my senior brothers and sisters to put in a good word for me with Master and give me some pointers!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao were slightly taken aback.
A hint of doubt flashed in Zheng Hao's eyes: "Junior Brother, what...do you mean by that?"
Zhou Tong looked at Zheng Hao's expression, a hint of surprise on his face, then seemed to understand something, and chuckled:
"Hey! Senior brothers and sisters, you... don't actually think that my meager cultivation is enough to presume to become a personal disciple before you two, do you?"
His question was delivered naturally, with a hint of amusement and exasperation, leaving Liu Qing and Zheng Hao momentarily speechless.
Before they could answer, Zhou Tong shook his head and began analyzing on his fingers:
"My senior brothers and sisters think highly of me, but I know my own limitations."
Yes, I'm showing some staying power now, and my cultivation speed is temporarily faster.
But as the senior brother just said, the human body is mysterious, how can the speed of cultivation remain unchanged?
Today I move quickly, but who knows if it's just a coincidence? Who knows if I won't slow down later? Who can predict the future?
He looked at Liu Qing and Zheng Hao with sincere eyes:
"Even if I were to put it another way, and my performance was acceptable afterward, how strict is Master in accepting disciples?"
The requirements for talent, temperament, and even karmic affinity are extremely high. A master's assessment of a disciple is not a matter of a single day or night. The days of testing me are far from over.
These words immediately struck a chord with Liu Qing and Zheng Hao.
The two of them have been hailed by outsiders as the most promising disciples of the martial arts school to become Ni Dongting's students for quite some time, but they have not yet officially entered the school. Clearly, the master's test is still ongoing.
Becoming a direct disciple is by no means an easy task.
Zhou Tong chuckled and continued, "As far as I know, among the four major martial arts schools in Cangzhou, the weakest disciples who have been accepted into their schools are all at the peak of the Bone Forging stage! Most of them are formally recognized by their masters after reaching the Refining Realm."
After the bone forging process, each breakthrough in a minor realm often takes years. While I don't belittle myself, I dare not be arrogant either. My journey is still very long.
This statement was both logical and well-founded. It acknowledged ambition, clearly outlined the objective differences between the two, and satisfied their core demand: "The advantage lies with me!"
As Liu Qing and Zheng Hao listened, the intense wariness and hostility that had suddenly arisen in their hearts because of Zhou Tong breaking the record dissipated by most of it.
Both of them felt a sense of relief, and upon reflection, they even chuckled a little.
Perhaps because they had held the title of martial arts prodigy for too long and placed too much importance on the position of personal disciple, Zhou Tong's sudden acceleration caused them to overreact.
Upon careful consideration, Zhou Tong's current achievements are indeed far from posing a substantial threat to the two of them on the long road to becoming their personal disciples.
Just then, Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping thoughtfully over Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's faces:
"If my senior brothers and sisters hadn't asked that question earlier, I really wouldn't have expected that you would connect me, your junior brother, with a direct disciple so quickly—a connection that seems completely unrelated..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping intentionally or unintentionally over his fellow disciples who, though engaged in their own tasks, still occasionally glanced in their direction. He shook his head and sighed.
"Looking at everyone's reactions now, I'm starting to understand... what Senior Brother intended with his actions today."
"What is Senior Brother's intention?" Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's eyes sharpened simultaneously.
Zhou Tong nodded: "Just now in the hall, my senior brother probed my thoughts on the position of personal disciple. I naturally told him frankly that I did indeed have this desire. Then, my senior brother brought me out and announced the news of my breakthrough to everyone..."
He paused, looked at Liu and Zheng, and said meaningfully, "Now that I think about it carefully, it seems that Senior Brother wanted to test more than just me today."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's eyes narrowed, and their hearts trembled!
Then, recalling that Chen Zong's gaze seemed to linger slightly on the two of them after he announced the news.
A thought that sent a chill down their spines suddenly crossed their minds:
The senior brother wanted to use Zhou Tong's sudden emergence to observe the two of them, to see if they had enough tolerance for a promising newcomer, and whether they had the demeanor of senior brothers and sisters!
No, that's not all!
Zheng Hao's mind raced: Perhaps the senior brother wanted to see if they would be burdened by the empty title of "the number one genius of the martial arts school," and whether they would become agitated and lose their composure because of a junior brother's temporary surpassing, revealing their narrow-minded nature of being jealous of others' talents!
The two had a fleeting doubt about whether Zhou Tong was just making things up, but it was quickly dispelled.
This practice of secretly observing and testing one's character in subtle ways is entirely in line with the senior brother's consistent style of doing things!
Upon realizing this, the two quickly reviewed their reactions in their minds:
He congratulated Zhou Tong in public with appropriate words and a flawless smile... He shouldn't have revealed any flaws and shouldn't have lost face with his senior brother.
Zhou Tong took in the subtle changes in their expressions and thought to himself: It's done.
Not a single word he said was a lie, including his speculation that his senior brother was secretly considering the two of them, which was also well-founded.
He simply selected and guided the facts in a direction that was both advantageous to himself and acceptable to the other party.
It is precisely because these words are so well-reasoned that they can so easily break down the other person's defenses and guide their thinking.
By this time, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao had both fully come to their senses.
A smile, even more genuine and radiant than before, bloomed on Liu Qing's face. She glanced at the disciples around her, who seemed to be secretly enjoying the spectacle, and spoke in a gentle tone, carrying the concern of a senior sister:
"Junior brother, please don't overthink it. Your talent is evident, and you've made rapid progress. As your senior sister, I can only be happy."
Zheng Hao was also all smiles, his tone warm and friendly:
"That's right, Junior Brother Zhou. From now on, whether you encounter difficulties in your personal cultivation or in Cangzhou City, or if there are any issues in your family business that require smoothing things over, feel free to come to me! We are brothers, there's no need for formalities!"
This time, Zhou Tong did not politely refuse as he had before.
The second phase of "advancing as a form of retreat" has begun.
A slightly embarrassed expression appeared on his face:
"Since you say so, senior brothers and sisters... I do have something I'd like to ask you two for help with."
Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's smiles remained unchanged, their tone becoming even more gentle: "Junior brother, please speak freely."
Zhou Tong first sighed softly before saying:
"Not long ago, I heard someone mention that there are some rare medicines in this world that can significantly accelerate cultivation, such as... wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain that must be over fifty years old."
These things are nowhere to be found on the market; they are controlled by the government and powerful families.
"If we hadn't separated, I would have had a chance to get it, but now..."
He shook his head slightly, and said in a slightly embarrassed tone:
"I am really curious about this kind of medicine. I wonder if it is convenient for my senior brothers and sisters to use it at home?"
"Junior brother, I'm willing to pay a high price to buy it. Just a little bit, just to see it, will be enough for me."
Faced with Zhou Tong's longing gaze, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao's eyes both stiffened slightly.
As Manager Hu said, even members of prominent families cannot easily obtain such controlled drugs; they don't even have enough for themselves, let alone sell them to others.
You dare to say that?
Both of them were somewhat displeased.
However, this displeasure was quickly replaced by another emotion, a feeling that was a mixture of superiority and relaxation.
Zhou Tong has now separated from the main Zhou family and has lost the support of the family's most core resources.
That's why I was so eager and even rash in asking them to buy from me.
In martial arts training, both talent and resources are indispensable.
How much of a threat can someone who needs to ask them for resources pose?
Upon realizing this, the last bit of wariness in their hearts quietly dissipated, replaced by a sense of superiority.
Zhou Tong keenly noticed the change in the two people and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The two went from initial wariness to temporary relaxation after hearing his analysis, then to realizing and feeling fortunate about their senior brother's intentions, and finally to the sense of superiority they felt due to the disparity in resources.
All the shifts in emotions and the guidance of all thoughts were within Zhou Tong's calculations.
He carefully read people's minds and proceeded step by step, finally making the two of them feel at ease in regarding him as a junior who was "talented but not a threat, and even someone they needed to rely on."
However, that's not enough. It would be even better if we could use this to pry open a gap in scarce resources.
He, Liu, and Zheng will inevitably clash in the future.
In that case, we should take some of their resources and use them on ourselves to weaken our enemies and strengthen ourselves – that is the right way!
Thinking to himself, Zhou Tong, before the two could refuse, delivered the final blow with a sincere smile:
"If you can get what you want, Junior Brother will definitely remember the care and concern of Senior Brother and Senior Sister. Such a treasure is hard to come by. If Junior Brother's cultivation progress is even a little bit faster in the future, he will definitely tell you that it is all thanks to the care and concern of Senior Brother and Senior Sister."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing and Zheng Hao swallowed back the words of refusal they were about to utter.
Zhou Tong's words came at the perfect time.
At this moment, the two still harbored a slight doubt as to whether their senior brother had noticed their jealousy and envy of others' talents.
if……
(My darlings, this chapter is another 6,000 words. That's already quite a lot of updates during the new book period. If you have any monthly tickets, please give them to me!)
Yesterday, the book surpassed 3,000 favorites, and it also received its first donation. Thank you to "Lu Zhixuan" for the donation.