"A salary of ten thousand a month—who could resist that? The moment you become a Martial Artist, it's like the nation itself is paying to support you. Starting today, no one can stop me from practicing Martial Arts. I'm telling you, not even Jesus could stop me!"
"You're the kind of person who wouldn't even dare to dream big. A First Realm Martial Artist gets ten thousand a month. What about the Second Realm or Third Realm? Still, thinking about it, the path of Martial Arts must be incredibly difficult. I bet not a single senior Martial Arts Student has even achieved Qi Blood Sensing. But that's no big deal. Those seniors are old news; the future belongs to us freshmen!"
"This big lecture is definitely to promote Martial Arts to us freshmen. The seniors are busy with their college entrance exams, and the second-years are swamped with studies too. That leaves us freshmen, caught in the middle! We have the most time and energy. This is a golden opportunity, brothers! When we get back, everyone better start practicing the Horse Stance!"
"You talk a big game now, full of ambition, but when it's time for the Horse Stance, you'll be fighting for your life. Still want to practice Martial Arts and the Horse Stance? Just get into the Horse Stance and stay there, without making a sound."
"Those poor seniors. If they switch to become Martial Arts Students now, they'll have less than four months to practice. Not like us first-years; we'll have two and a half years of practice before the college entrance exam."
"Two and a half years to train in Martial Arts; forget about exams entirely. Graduate without needing to work, and still get a martial arts stipend of ten thousand a month."
The lecture ended, and the students began to leave the auditorium one after another.
The first-year students were the most excited, talking to each other with their arms slung over shoulders. Many had made up their minds to switch to becoming Martial Arts Students. In their view, being a Martial Arts Student was already the most relaxed existence among students.
They used to think that Martial Arts Students were just enjoying the moment, with a bleak future ahead. But unexpectedly, with the new government decree, Martial Arts Students had become the real hot commodity.
It could be said that once one became a Martial Artist, you wouldn't trade it for a degree from a top university.
「Senior Year, Class Eight.」
This was Jiang Shu's class.
The class teacher, Yan Dehou, walked up to the podium, glanced at the fully seated class, cleared his throat, and said, "The lecture has just finished, and I'm sure you all have a lot to discuss with each other. We'll skip this class period. No one is to leave the classroom; you can have some free activity time.
"Keep your voices down so you don't disturb students who want to study. The next class will proceed as scheduled. Those who want to switch to becoming Martial Arts Students can come to my office after class."
With that, Yan Dehou left the classroom, closing the door behind him.
Instantly, the classroom buzzed with energy. Conversations sprang up everywhere, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
"Jiang Shu, why are you back?" Xu Shuhui, who sat in the desk in front of him, turned around, her ponytail swinging, her face full of curiosity. "Are you going to study in class, or are you heading home again later?"
A few days ago, when Teacher Yan announced that Jiang Shu was taking a leave of absence, she had been quite surprised.
After all, as the student who sat in front of Jiang Shu, she felt she understood him reasonably well.
His grades were average, but he was a genuinely good person. He wasn't like the other boys in class who made vulgar jokes about girls. When he had free time, he would also help out by tidying up the classroom's trash corner.
She had imagined a classmate like him would follow the usual path: attend school, take the college entrance exam, and with a bit of luck, get into a regular university and start his college life.
His taking a leave of absence was completely unexpected.
"I'll be going back later."
Jiang Shu sat in his chair. He glanced at the textbooks on his desk that clearly didn't belong to him, his brow furrowing slightly.
Even though I was prepared, seeing it firsthand is still too much.
He had left directly last time, without returning to the classroom.
Although he had decided to pursue Martial Arts after breaking through his fetal delusion, focusing solely on that path without being distracted by anything else, the contents of his desk still held the memories of his high school life in this world.
His diligent class notes.
His doodles from moments of relaxation.
His spontaneous writings when he was in a bad mood.
This desk didn't just hold textbooks and exam papers; it held the entirety of his high school years in this life.
But now…
"Jiang Shu, I've already put my books in your desk, so don't go messing with them. I tossed your books in the corner. Since you're on leave, you won't need them or the desk anymore, right?"
Before Jiang Shu could say anything, his deskmate, Wang Han, quickly interjected. As he spoke, he even pushed the books from his own desk further onto Jiang Shu's, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Oh, I just thought you were stressed and taking some time off, and that you'd be back soon," Xu Shuhui said. "The Horse Stance sounds really tough. We have Martial Arts Students in our school, right? They haven't achieved even small success yet and will probably just end up in a vocational college. Honestly, I think it's better to take a shot at the college entrance exam. You might even make the score for a bachelor's degree program."
"After all, becoming a Martial Artist seems extremely difficult. Having the strength of a thousand pounds—in ancient times, that kind of strength could take on ten thousand men. It's just too hard," Xu Shuhui said, shaking her head. She was the class's study committee member. In her view, academics were paramount, the true foundation. Even after everything Zheng Yanbo had said at the lecture today, she still felt that Martial Artists changing their destinies were just exceptions, rare cases.
Individual cases don't represent the norm. Practicing Martial Arts might not truly change one's fate. But good grades and getting into a good university definitely can.
"Pfft, Xu Shuhui, did you even listen to the lecture today? Didn't you hear what that Zheng Yanbo said about Martial Arts being the real future? Jiang Shu's taking a leave to practice Martial Arts; his future's bright, so why would he care about studying anymore?"
Wang Han scoffed, seemingly siding with Jiang Shu and praising him.
In reality, the sarcasm in his voice was blatant.
Maybe some people will have a bright future because of Martial Arts. But Jiang Shu? What is he? Always going to and from the dorm alone, always eating alone. Senior year is almost over, and he still hasn't bothered to make friends with anyone in class. I sent him several messages asking to use his desk, and he didn't even bother to reply. He's like a pig sticking green onions in its nose to look like an elephant—all show and no substance! Trying to act so aloof and unique. What good will someone like that be in society! But Jiang Shu can only put on that act on Weixin. Just like now—I've put my books on his desk right in front of him, and he hasn't said a word! Useless! He's destined for nothing more than a vocational college!
"It's definitely good to study more, you know? It's like a double insurance policy. Even if you don't succeed in Martial Arts later and only get into a vocational college, with your studies, you can still upgrade to a bachelor's degree," Xu Shuhui, a product of traditional family upbringing, offered her conservative yet idealistic advice, looking at Jiang Shu.
"Jiang Shu, what's the point of you practicing Martial Arts, huh? Did you hear that? Xu Shuhui is telling you to go for an 'upgrade to bachelor's'! Hahaha!"
"And Xu Shuhui, you're so concerned about Jiang Shu—don't tell me you have a crush on him?"
Wang Han's voice grew louder and louder, and by the time he said "crush," he was practically shouting, as if he wanted the entire classroom to hear. He couldn't believe Xu Shuhui had actually voiced the very thing he'd been itching to say.
'Upgrade to bachelor's'! Hahaha, that's hilarious! Someone who can only hope to get a bachelor's degree by upgrading, and he's thinking about practicing Martial Arts? We're all classmates here; who is he trying to fool? Who here doesn't know his actual worth?
"Wang Han, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Xu Shuhui's bright eyes widened, a flash of anger in them. She whipped her head around, but it was too late.
In the intense pressure cooker of senior year, any classroom gossip was the quickest way to grab everyone's attention.
At that moment, countless pairs of eyes were fixed on their corner of the room.
Wang Han, however, was completely unfazed by Xu Shuhui's anger. He stood with his arms crossed, looking utterly triumphant.
Just a few words from him could sway others' emotions and set the whole class abuzz. He reveled in being the center of attention. It was as if, in that moment, he was the main character of the class. His mastery of words, far beyond his peers, was the foundation of his confidence for his future in society! He, Wang Han, whether he went into politics or business, was destined for greatness. He didn't buy Zheng Yanbo's speech. If Martial Artists were really that strong, why weren't other countries also practicing Martial Arts? In the future, Martial Artists would just be elite soldiers in the army or super bodyguards for corporations. What truly controlled the world was, and always would be... power and money!
Amidst Wang Han's raucous laughter, every student's gaze in the classroom turned to Jiang Shu and Xu Shuhui.
At that moment, Jiang Shu and Xu Shuhui seemed like unwilling actors on a stage, put on display for everyone.
Xu Shuhui's eyes reddened. She bit down hard, glaring at Wang Han, speechless.
Having always been focused solely on her studies, this was the first time she'd ever faced something like this; she was completely at a loss.
She knew that the more one tried to explain in such situations, the wilder the rumors would become. All she could do was sit rigidly in her chair. She wished she could be an ostrich and bury her head in the sand, oblivious to everything.
However, just then, Jiang Shu, who in her eyes was usually the quiet and reserved one in class, actually stood up. Amidst dozens of scrutinizing gazes, he spoke, shattering the tense silence, "Wang Han, has no one ever told you that you talk too much?"