4 The Clan’s Upcoming Test

At Zheng-Fu’s room…

“What do I do? My Qi energy level doesn’t improve at all. Even though my physical strength is enhanced, the Qi energy is not.” Zheng-Fu sadly remarked…

When it came to practicing, Zheng-Fu had to practice by himself with his very own interpretation of practicing to become stronger. However, his Qi energy level had not been improved at all. The reason why he had to do it alone was that he did not want anyone to know about it, especially his parents…

“Zheng-Fu…I’ve talked to the people at Napa Institution. They’re currently open for new applications. I think I’ll send you to further study there. What do you think about it?” All of a sudden, Kong-Shi broke off the silence from outside of Zheng-Fu’s room…

“Father…I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I want to review everything that Master Huang taught me, so I can thoroughly understand them. I hope you understand.” Zheng-Fu replied to his father instantaneously. He was not ready and did not want to further his study right now at all, so he lied about reviewing the lessons that he learned from Master Huang…

Extra reviewing!?

“How much time do you need, son? The clan’s upcoming martial arts test is around the corner. If you remain in the clan’s estate…you’ll have to take the test! But if you go to Napa Institution, you’ll be exempted.” Kong-Shi immediately reminded his son of that fact. He wished for his son to go to Napa Institution because he did not want him to attend the test since the test would be very brutal for his son’s frail and weak body…

“The Clan’s test!?”

“That’s right…Every kid from eight years old up must participate in the Clan’s test. Any children who fail the test will not get the resources to help in their energy cultivation process. And it’s a very horrible thing if you don’t get those resources because you won’t be able to improve your Qi energy level fast enough.” Kong-Shi explained the situation to Jeung-Foo, trying to make him realize how harsh it could be to lose in the test so he would decide to give up and leave the clan…

“Is that the truth, father!?” Zheng-Fu asked his father wonderingly before opening the door to his father. “So…anyone could get energy cultivation resources if they pass the test, father?” He seemed to be very excited after hearing this information because it gave him hope and made him want to improve his physical strength harder…

“Yes! That’s right, son. But…”

As Kong-Shi finished confirming his son, he noticed that the muscles on his son’s body had become more visible. He was also taller, and it seemed like his breathing rate was stable as if his weak meridians had been reenergized…

Grab!

To make sure whether what he perceived was correct, Kong-Shi reached out his hand to grab Zheng-Fu’s shoulder automatically…

“What!?”

“Father! What are you doing? I only asked if what you said is true. I haven’t done anything wrong.” Zheng-Fu was startled so he spoke in a weird tone of voice when he saw that his father got strange. He did not know what his father was trying to do to him because he believed that he had not done anything wrong…

“Nothing, son! You didn’t do anything wrong. I just…I can sense that your body looks different. That’s all. It has become stronger than before. Your breathing rate is also stable. What happened? How come you have changed this much? I thought you spent all those times studying with Master Huang, didn’t you?”

Kong-Shi asked Zheng-Fu with wonder and curiosity because he knew well that Master Huang was definitely not the one who helped his son with martial arts practice for he was a scholar, not a martial artist. So, he would like to know what his son had been up to during all those study times…

“Well… You see…”

“Father… Could you please not be mad at me if I told you the truth? And please don’t tell mother too!” Zheng-Fu hesitated and was very worried about telling his father what he had been doing because he was afraid that his father would not be pleased. So that was why he asked his father to not be angry at him. He also intentionally made a very sad face while asking…

“Of course! I promise. You can tell me.” Kong-Shi quickly nodded and agreed to his son’s request. He was interested to know what made his son change this much. But whatever it was, this was something that he should be glad about, not to be angry about. After all, he had been trying to help strengthen his son’s physical body. Why would he be angry to see him getting stronger?...

‘Please remember that you gave me your promise, father!’

Hearing his father’s words, Zheng-Fu still kept quiet while sticking his head out of his room to check whether there was anyone around, then turned to his father and said “I’ve become stronger because I’ve been spending time after Master Huang’s classes to practice my very own version of martial arts, father. I’ve been practicing heavily too.” He finally explained to his father with a very innocent look in his eyes…

“Seriously…! That was just it!?”

When Kong-Shi heard the explanation, he was simply amazed and could not help making a weird sound because Zheng-Fu’s answer was something completely simple and sensible. His son did not do anything special to get stronger. He went ahead and let himself believe that either his son had been blessed by heaven or had something magical to help him…

“Yes, father. That was only it. I’ve been practicing heavily every day for the past five years. It’s the reason why my body has become stronger as you can see. Apart from getting a stronger body, my inner system also works better. The only thing that hasn’t been developed is my Qi energy level. I haven’t been able to break through the third level of the Qi Gathering stage. It’s like what I’ve been working on is for nothing.” Zheng-Fu explained his situation to his father, letting him know that he both gained benefits from practicing martial arts and hit the wall of the Qi Gathering. He let out a big sigh of sorrow and disappointment while he was talking about his energy level…

“The third level of the Qi Gathering stage!”

“Are you telling me that you’re in the third level of the Qi Gathering stage? Since when!? When?” Kong-Shi got excited again when he knew that his son’s energy level had improved to the third level of the Qi Gathering stage. He could actually sense a glimpse of stronger energy in his son earlier, but since Zheng-Fu was a weak boy and had to quit practicing martial arts, he thought he was just thinking things…

“I think I got to the third level about a year ago and my energy just stayed at that level ever since. No matter how hard I practiced, I haven’t been able to break through to the fourth level.” Zheng-Fu contemplated for a moment about his experience before giving his father the answer…

“So, I see. Since last year, right? Zheng-Fu! My dearest son! I’m extremely proud of you that you’ve been practicing by yourself without any guidance and getting to this level, even. And you’ve been keeping this from your mom and me because you were worried that we wouldn’t allow you to do so. From now on, you must let us know anytime you go practice martial arts because we’re family.” Kong-Shi said while stroking his son’s head with warmth and care. He never realized the hardship that his son had gone through for the past several years. It made him feel proud and admire his son’s determination…

“It’s not what you think, father. The reason why I didn’t tell you about it was that I didn’t want you and mother to be disappointed in me. I want very much to become the kind of martial artist like you. These days…the only thing that I hear, doesn’t matter where I go, is people talking about how you failed to give birth to a strong boy. I’m such a disgrace. It makes me feel tremendously painful to be born as someone not up to the clan’s standard. We’re the clan built by martial artists, not Zhuàngyuáns. So, I must work hard and endure as much as I can to revive your reputation!”

Zheng-Fu let what he had been keeping to himself out with tears coming down his face. Even though he was reborn with his old memories, he also had full awareness of being the son of Kong-Shi and Tang-Ling in this new life. He knew that he was born as Zheng-Fu who was a boy with frailty, which prevented him from practicing martial arts…

The intense awareness of being the only son of his parents in this life made him feel angry at those people who talked badly behind his parents’ back for having him as a son who was too weak to become a martial artist. And in order to avenge those horrible people, he must become stronger and stronger…

“Here, take this, Zheng-Fu. There are still three months to go before the clan’s test. If you can practice everything in this manual, you’ll have a chance to pass the test and get the energy cultivation resources. When you succeed, no one will ever dare to look down at you again.”

Kong-Shi handed Zheng-Fu a martial arts manual before supporting him with his words, love, and affection…

Huh?

[“The Practice of Fundamental Martial Arts” Manual]

“Father…This is…”

“That’s right. It is the “Practice of Fundamental Martial Arts" manual. With this manual, you might be able to break through the third level. I’m not available now, so I can’t stay and guide you. If there’s something that you don’t understand, just go to Wang-Loo. I’ll let him know that he must help you on this.”

Kong-Shi saw that his son got curious when he read the name of the martial arts manual, so he immediately explained to his son why he gave him the manual with a tint of happy smile…

“Thank you very much, father!”

Zheng-Fu ran to give his father a thank-you hug right away. He was well aware that his father loved him dearly. No matter what happened, his father would always be there for him…

“All right. I need to go. You must concentrate on practicing. Whether you’ll succeed or not, you’re still my son. Here! Take this too.” After his words, Kong-Shi took out something that looked similar to a stone, but it was a special stone that contained a lower level of Qi energy…

A lower-leveled Qi energy stone!?

“I love you the best, father!”

Kong-Shi left Zheng-Fu’s room right after he gave his son the “Practice of Fundamental Martial Arts” manual and a Qi energy stone. Zheng-Fu was now the only one left in his room…

“From reading Xianxia novels, I know that there are 4 levels of Qi energy stones. They’re the lower-leveled, mid-leveled, high-leveled, and immortal-leveled Qi energy stones. These stones contained natural Qi energy. The higher the level of the stone, the more energy the stone holds. If I can absorb energy from the Qi stone, my energy level will be increased. Great! It’s time for me to start to become a real martial artist. What I need to do is to meditate to cultivate the energy from the Qi energy stone!”

Zheng-Fu waited no longer after he went over the knowledge about the Qi energy stone and the way to absorb its energy in his head. He started to sit down and meditate to absorb the energy from the Qi stone. Even though this Qi stone had low energy in it, he believed that the stone would help him break through to the next Qi Gathering level. As of now, his energy level was completely low…