Galon was subtly aware of his sister's unusual behavior. The maturity in him immediately sensed a different vibe from Ying'er, as if she valued every word he said. During their playful chase earlier, she moved carefully, as if afraid of hurting him, using very little force, which allowed him to take her down with a surprise attack later.
"Let's have lunch first. You've worked hard, making breakfast and lunch, and going out to buy fruits," he said, pinching his sister's cheek. Her cheeks were soft and smooth, and it seemed like her acne and freckles had reduced significantly recently.
"You!!" Ying'er slapped Galon's hand away. "Are you out of your mind? Since when do you care about people?" she asked, looking at him quizzically. Although she often pretended to be indifferent to her brother, she was always secretly paying attention to everything about him.
Galon hesitated, realizing the change might have been too abrupt, and withdrew his hand. "Can't I become more sensible? What's with the fuss? Come on, let's eat."
After a hurried lunch, the siblings washed the dishes and cutlery together, then quickly retreated to their respective bedrooms, feeling somewhat awkward. Ying'er felt chilly under her skirt after the incident, always uncomfortable around Galon. Given their status as step-siblings with no blood relation from combined single-parent families, their relationship was complicated.
Galon was eager to return to his room to ponder over allocating his attribute points.
Standing in front of the window, he quietly observed the pale red attribute data below.
"If I can really add skills, then focusing on archery or swordsmanship could allow me to compete for a short period and win substantial prize money. But it would be too conspicuous for a student who rarely practices to suddenly win a competition. My sister Ying'er knows too well that I hardly ever practice these skills," he mused, pressing his hand against the glass window.
"This means the path of archery or swordsmanship might not work. But what about Baiyun Martial Arts School? I've always paid attention to training there. A sudden surge could be seen as the result of accumulated effort, which wouldn't draw much attention. Plus, the school is independent of the educational system, so a little anomaly won't raise eyebrows. The only issue is the prize money being somewhat minimal... Maybe I should inquire about any upcoming exchange competitions at the martial arts school. Those offer much more in terms of prize money! That's a viable option!"
He gently caressed the glass, its icy touch smooth under his fingers: "I should head to the martial arts school this afternoon to ask the instructor about the details."
After resting briefly in his room, Galon quietly left, passing by Ying'er's room. Through the crack in the door, he saw her lying on the bed, cheeks flushed, sleeping soundly, and decided not to disturb her.
He put on his scarf and coat, changed shoes, and left the house. With the three hundred dollars his uncle had given him, he hailed a black carriage.
"To Baiyun Martial Arts School."
"10 bucks, okay?" the coachman asked.
"Let's go," Galon nodded.
As the carriage rolled on, Galon observed the pale yellow buildings passing by from the right window. Soon, the streets became quieter, replaced by rectangular, gray-white buildings and shops selling clocks and daily necessities.
Galon carefully reviewed his skills in view:
Combat Techniques: Beginner. Archery: Beginner. Swordsmanship: Beginner.
"If I can enhance my physical attributes through the secret training techniques of Baiyun Martial Arts School, combined with my attribute points, my training results would far exceed those of my peers," his wine-red eyes narrowed in anticipation.
He wondered about the limit to which he could increase a single attribute through points. "Different individuals have varying talents, and the effectiveness of secret training techniques varies widely. This could serve as a perfect cover for my attribute enhancements. Even if the training methods are not top-tier, they could rival the best with my attribute points. My only hope now is that these points can be applied to training techniques just like they enhance attributes."
Galon could think of three people at the martial arts school he could ask: Shamanra, Roya, and the girl with silver short hair he sparred with.
He remembered Elvin, the top student among their batch, always winning with overwhelming strength and a humble attitude. "Elvin is always training at the school, even on weekends. He would definitely know about the competitions."
Galon had heard about the inter-school competitions in Huai Shan City and the entire Grant Province, selecting the strongest students for official rewards and medals. "This competition is a way for martial arts schools to avoid malicious competition, showcase their talent reserves, and solidify their social status. The first-place prize money has never been less than a hundred thousand, and winners get to participate in the federal competition."
After gathering his thoughts, the carriage gradually came to a stop.
"We've arrived at Baiyun Martial Arts School," the coachman announced.
"Thank you," Galon paid and got off.
The narrow streets gave off a cluttered vibe. The ground was paved with gray-black cobblestones, uncomfortable to walk on. The buildings on both sides varied in height and color: red, gray-white, pale yellow, with patterns ranging from squares to triangles and wavy lines.
Galon noticed a white notice board beside a tunnel entrance, attracting a few onlookers. The notice announced a holiday recruitment drive at Baiyun Martial Arts School, offering discounts for students under eighteen and listing fees for adults.
Two teenagers, after reading the notice, commented on the futility of martial arts in the age of firearms and walked away, leaving Galon to contemplate the information alone.
He then headed towards the grey-white pointed building, its red wooden door open, revealing a student in a tan uniform sweeping the floor.
Galon skimmed the notice and proceeded towards the door.
Inside, the fitness room was dimly lit, with four black punching bags hanging at the far end. Three people were practicing their punches, watched by three students holding towels and other items.
Galon's entrance went almost unnoticed, except for a brief glance from one of the towel-holding students. This fitness room was open to all students, but the heavy bags were intended for formal trainees.
Galon's gaze settled on a boy practicing alone on the left.
The boy, shirtless, displayed well-defined, tanned muscles, dripping with sweat that soaked his grey shorts. He was focused on his punching bag, hitting it steadily but not too fast, causing only slight vibrations.
After about ten minutes, the boy stopped, wiped his face, and grabbed a black towel from a rack.
"Elvin, I'm Galon, we're in the same batch. Can I ask you something?" Galon approached loudly due to the noise in the room.
"Galон? Oh... I remember..." Elvin smiled warmly. "Just ask, we're all classmates here."
"I wanted to ask about the student competitions."
Ten minutes later, Galon left the room with a clearer understanding of the competitions. To qualify for provincial and national competitions, students first had to excel in internal martial arts school competitions and then in city-wide contests. The process was staggered, with only the internal school and city competitions concluding within three weeks.
"The prize money would be enough. The city competition offers ten thousand for first place, five
thousand for second, and two thousand for third. Securing second place would solve my financial issues."
Galon was subtly aware of his sister's unusual behavior. The maturity in him immediately sensed a different vibe from Ying'er, as if she valued every word he said. During their playful chase earlier, she moved carefully, as if afraid of hurting him, using very little force, which allowed him to take her down with a surprise attack later.
"Let's have lunch first. You've worked hard, making breakfast and lunch, and going out to buy fruits," he said, pinching his sister's cheek. Her cheeks were soft and smooth, and it seemed like her acne and freckles had reduced significantly recently.
"You!!" Ying'er slapped Galon's hand away. "Are you out of your mind? Since when do you care about people?" she asked, looking at him quizzically. Although she often pretended to be indifferent to her brother, she was always secretly paying attention to everything about him.
Galon hesitated, realizing the change might have been too abrupt, and withdrew his hand. "Can't I become more sensible? What's with the fuss? Come on, let's eat."
After a hurried lunch, the siblings washed the dishes and cutlery together, then quickly retreated to their respective bedrooms, feeling somewhat awkward. Ying'er felt chilly under her skirt after the incident, always uncomfortable around Galon. Given their status as step-siblings with no blood relation from combined single-parent families, their relationship was complicated.
Galon was eager to return to his room to ponder over allocating his attribute points.
Standing in front of the window, he quietly observed the pale red attribute data below.
"If I can really add skills, then focusing on archery or swordsmanship could allow me to compete for a short period and win substantial prize money. But it would be too conspicuous for a student who rarely practices to suddenly win a competition. My sister Ying'er knows too well that I hardly ever practice these skills," he mused, pressing his hand against the glass window.
"This means the path of archery or swordsmanship might not work. But what about Baiyun Martial Arts School? I've always paid attention to training there. A sudden surge could be seen as the result of accumulated effort, which wouldn't draw much attention. Plus, the school is independent of the educational system, so a little anomaly won't raise eyebrows. The only issue is the prize money being somewhat minimal... Maybe I should inquire about any upcoming exchange competitions at the martial arts school. Those offer much more in terms of prize money! That's a viable option!"
He gently caressed the glass, its icy touch smooth under his fingers: "I should head to the martial arts school this afternoon to ask the instructor about the details."
After resting briefly in his room, Galon quietly left, passing by Ying'er's room. Through the crack in the door, he saw her lying on the bed, cheeks flushed, sleeping soundly, and decided not to disturb her.
He put on his scarf and coat, changed shoes, and left the house. With the three hundred dollars his uncle had given him, he hailed a black carriage.
"To Baiyun Martial Arts School."
"10 bucks, okay?" the coachman asked.
"Let's go," Galon nodded.
As the carriage rolled on, Galon observed the pale yellow buildings passing by from the right window. Soon, the streets became quieter, replaced by rectangular, gray-white buildings and shops selling clocks and daily necessities.
Galon carefully reviewed his skills in view:
Combat Techniques: Beginner. Archery: Beginner. Swordsmanship: Beginner.
"If I can enhance my physical attributes through the secret training techniques of Baiyun Martial Arts School, combined with my attribute points, my training results would far exceed those of my peers," his wine-red eyes narrowed in anticipation.
He wondered about the limit to which he could increase a single attribute through points. "Different individuals have varying talents, and the effectiveness of secret training techniques varies widely. This could serve as a perfect cover for my attribute enhancements. Even if the training methods are not top-tier, they could rival the best with my attribute points. My only hope now is that these points can be applied to training techniques just like they enhance attributes."
Galon could think of three people at the martial arts school he could ask: Shamanra, Roya, and the girl with silver short hair he sparred with.
He remembered Elvin, the top student among their batch, always winning with overwhelming strength and a humble attitude. "Elvin is always training at the school, even on weekends. He would definitely know about the competitions."
Galon had heard about the inter-school competitions in Huai Shan City and the entire Grant Province, selecting the strongest students for official rewards and medals. "This competition is a way for martial arts schools to avoid malicious competition, showcase their talent reserves, and solidify their social status. The first-place prize money has never been less than a hundred thousand, and winners get to participate in the federal competition."
After gathering his thoughts, the carriage gradually came to a stop.
"We've arrived at Baiyun Martial Arts School," the coachman announced.
"Thank you," Galon paid and got off.
The narrow streets gave off a cluttered vibe. The ground was paved with gray-black cobblestones, uncomfortable to walk on. The buildings on both sides varied in height and color: red, gray-white, pale yellow, with patterns ranging from squares to triangles and wavy lines.
Galon noticed a white notice board beside a tunnel entrance, attracting a few onlookers. The notice announced a holiday recruitment drive at Baiyun Martial Arts School, offering discounts for students under eighteen and listing fees for adults.
Two teenagers, after reading the notice, commented on the futility of martial arts in the age of firearms and walked away, leaving Galon to contemplate the information alone.
He then headed towards the grey-white pointed building, its red wooden door open, revealing a student in a tan uniform sweeping the floor.
Galon skimmed the notice and proceeded towards the door.
Inside, the fitness room was dimly lit, with four black punching bags hanging at the far end. Three people were practicing their punches, watched by three students holding towels and other items.
Galon's entrance went almost unnoticed, except for a brief glance from one of the towel-holding students. This fitness room was open to all students, but the heavy bags were intended for formal trainees.
Galon's gaze settled on a boy practicing alone on the left.
The boy, shirtless, displayed well-defined, tanned muscles, dripping with sweat that soaked his grey shorts. He was focused on his punching bag, hitting it steadily but not too fast, causing only slight vibrations.
After about ten minutes, the boy stopped, wiped his face, and grabbed a black towel from a rack.
"Elvin, I'm Galon, we're in the same batch. Can I ask you something?" Galon approached loudly due to the noise in the room.
"Galон? Oh... I remember..." Elvin smiled warmly. "Just ask, we're all classmates here."
"I wanted to ask about the student competitions."
Ten minutes later, Galon left the room with a clearer understanding of the competitions. To qualify for provincial and national competitions, students first had to excel in internal martial arts school competitions and then in city-wide contests. The process was staggered, with only the internal school and city competitions concluding within three weeks.
"The prize money would be enough. The city competition offers ten thousand for first place, five thousand for second, and two thousand for third. Securing second place would solve my financial issues."