Rise in the Martial Chaos: Starting From a Martial Arts School

Chapter 53: Chapter 38: Matchmaking

After Sun Yong finished explaining the last key aspect of channeling Dark Energy, he saw that Yang Jing had committed it all to memory and nodded in satisfaction.

He turned and walked into the back room, emerging a moment later with a small, gleaming white jade bottle. It felt smooth and warm, clearly an item of quality.

”These are Peiyuan Pills, a few that I’ve saved up. Take them and use them.” Sun Yong handed the jade bottle to Yang Jing, his voice laced with anticipation. ”These pills can nourish your qi and blood and harmonize your Inner Strength. They’re several times more potent than the flesh of ferocious beasts you usually eat and will be of great benefit in stabilizing your Dark Energy Realm.”

Yang Jing took the jade bottle. It felt surprisingly heavy. He opened the stopper, and a medicinal fragrance that was both bitter and mellow immediately filled the air. With just one breath, he felt the Dark Energy inside him stir, as if drawn by some force.

He quickly closed the stopper and bowed. ”Thank you for this generous gift, Master!”

”You don’t need to thank me.” Sun Yong waved his hand, his gaze resting on him, a mix of sentiment and conviction in his eyes. ”On the path of the Martial Dao, one’s Root Bone is certainly the most important factor, but perseverance, comprehension, and opportunity are equally crucial. For you to break through to the Dark Energy Realm on your first attempt with a Lower-Grade Root Bone is already an anomaly. Keep training hard, don’t slack off, and in the future, you might even have a chance to touch Huajin.”

Huajin!

The word struck Yang Jing’s mind like a clap of thunder.

A Huajin Martial Artist was a peak expert, the kind so rare you could count them on one hand in all of Yuhe County and its surrounding counties. It was a realm many Martial Artists didn’t even dare to dream of reaching.

He clutched the jade bottle tightly, his palm growing warm, and bowed solemnly once more. ”I will not disappoint you, Master!”

Seeing the light that ignited in his eyes, Sun Yong revealed a gratified smile. ”Train well.”

Then, he raised his voice and called out to the courtyard, ”Ning Xiang, come in for a moment.”

Sun Ningxiang had just finished tidying up the medicine bowls on the veranda. Hearing the call, she entered and saw that Yang Jing was still in the room and that her father still had a lingering look of delight on his face. She couldn’t help but ask quizzically, ”Father, what did you call me for? Junior Brother Yang hasn’t left yet?”

Her gaze shifted between the two of them, sensing an unusual atmosphere.

Sun Yong smiled. ”Go to the front courtyard and fetch Xu Hong, Qi Yun, Lin Yue, and Zhao Wenzheng. Oh, and see if Liu Maolin is around. If he is, have him come as well.”

”All of them?” Sun Ningxiang grew even more confused. ”Father, what’s happened?”

’These are all the Dark Energy disciples currently at the Martial Arts Hall. They’re Core Disciples. Father only ever summons all the Core Disciples together when something important has happened.’

”You’ll find out when they arrive.” Sun Yong didn’t elaborate, simply waving his hand. ”Hurry along.”

Although filled with questions, Sun Ningxiang did as she was told and left.

A short while later, the door to the room was pushed open, and Sun Ningxiang led a group of people inside.

Xu Hong, Qi Yun, Lin Yue, and Zhao Wenzheng stood side by side, with Liu Maolin trailing behind them, his face still flushed from his recent practice.

Upon entering the room, they saw Yang Jing standing off to one side and their master, Sun Yong, seated formally at the head of the room with a solemn expression. They all fell silent and stood obediently in a line.

”Master, you sent for us?” Xu Hong, as the eldest disciple, was the first to speak.

Lin Yue’s gaze fell on Yang Jing, a probing look in his eyes. ’Why has Yang Jing been in the inner courtyard for so long? And why did Master go to the trouble of summoning all of us Core Disciples?’

Qi Yun and Zhao Wenzheng exchanged confused glances, while Liu Maolin just scratched his head, looking completely bewildered.

Everyone in the room, their gazes a mixture of confusion and curiosity, fixed their attention on Sun Yong, waiting for him to speak.

Only Yang Jing, who had a vague inkling of his master’s intentions, stood with his hands by his sides, his expression calm.

Sun Yong’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Qi Yun. He suddenly asked, ”Qi Yun, are you betrothed to anyone at present?”

Qi Yun froze, caught off guard by the question. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she gave a slight bow. ”Master, I am not.”

Although she came from a prominent local family where marriages were arranged with great care, her devotion to the martial path had caused her own to be delayed.

Hearing this, Sun Yong smiled. His gaze shifted to Yang Jing, then back to Qi Yun. ”Then what do you think of young Yang Jing here? I see the two of you are of a similar age. Your personalities, though different, seem complementary. You’d make a suitable pair.”

The moment he spoke, the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xu Hong’s mouth fell open, and he even forgot to unclench his fists.

Zhao Wenzheng’s eyes were wide as saucers; he clearly hadn’t expected their master to have summoned them for this.

Liu Maolin was so shocked he nearly jumped. ’Is Master trying to play matchmaker for Yang Jing? And with Qi Yun?!’

Lin Yue’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Qi Yun was the first to react. Her pretty face flushed crimson with a mixture of anger and shame, and her voice trembled. ”Master! What... what are you saying?!”

She was both shocked and furious. ’My family is one of the most respected in the county! And I’ve always had high standards. I require my future husband to be a Martial Dao expert whose strength surpasses my own, to give me more standing within my family.’

She looked up at Yang Jing, her gaze icy. ”My family elders have many conditions regarding marriage. One of them is that my partner’s strength must be greater than my own.”

The implication was clear: with his current abilities, Yang Jing wasn’t qualified to stand by her side.

Yang Jing also quickly cupped his fists. ”Master, this is out of the question! Senior Sister Qi and I are not compatible. We would be a terrible match.”

’He really couldn’t stand this Senior Sister Qi, who was always looking down her nose at everyone and ordering the junior disciples around. Marrying her was completely out of the question.’

Seeing their reactions, Sun Yong shook his head helplessly. He looked at Yang Jing, his tone laced with encouragement. ”It seems you’ll have to work harder. Although you’ve broken through to the Dark Energy Realm, in terms of actual strength, you are indeed still a step behind Qi Yun.”