“`
Walking out of Xu Bo’s office.
Li Yuan didn’t rush to the cafeteria to eat; instead, he first returned to the Elite Building, to Martial Arts Room 4011.
He waited for a while.
Li Yuan calculated the time, then made a video call to his uncle, Li Changzhou.
Quickly.
Drip— the video connected, and Li Changzhou was having a meal.
“Uncle,” Li Yuan began.
“Xiao Yuan, why are you suddenly calling me?” Li Changzhou asked with a smile while taking big mouthfuls of food, “Have you had your meal?”
“Not yet,” Li Yuan shook his head, “Uncle, listen to me, there’s something important…”
Quickly, Li Yuan recounted the events of the afternoon in detail to his uncle.
At the same time, he sent the documents of the Grade B contract to Li Changzhou.
Initially, Li Changzhou continued to eat while listening, but after a while, he put down his chopsticks and began to look through the document seriously.
Occasionally, Li Changzhou would ask about some details and then fall into deep thought.
When Li Yuan had explained everything.
“Uncle!”
Li Yuan finally said with slight hesitation, “I was thinking of calling you later tonight, but I feel like it’s better to make a decision earlier.”
“That’s right.”
“You’ve thought it through well,” Li Changzhou looked at Li Yuan with approval and said earnestly, “This matter indeed needs an early decision. Go now and find your teacher Xu Bo, and tell him you’ve decided to sign with Starfire Martial Hall.”
“Once your teacher agrees, send a message to Hall Master Wan right away, saying you agree and are very satisfied with the Grade B contract, and are willing to sign at any time.”
“Tonight works,” Li Changzhou spoke resolutely.
“Right away?”
“Tonight?” Li Yuan was a bit confused by his uncle’s decisiveness.
He still remembered that previously, his uncle had advised him to shop around.
Li Changzhou, seemingly understanding Li Yuan’s confusion, said patiently, “Xiao Yuan, you’re good at language studies, do you remember an old saying?”
“If he accords me the respect due to a man of worth, I repay him with the same; if he treats me as an ordinary person, I repay him the same.”
“With your principal and Teacher Xu vouching for you, I believe they wouldn’t conspire to deceive a child like you.”
Through the video, Li Changzhou looked at Li Yuan, “Moreover, Starry Sky Martial Hall controls the Starry Skies Fighting Network, and I know a bit about it. I just didn’t expect your spiritual power talent… Back in the day, I was only a level 12 Martial Artist, and now I’m not even considered a real Martial Artist anymore, so many things are indeed unclear to me.”
Li Yuan listened attentively.
His uncle’s Martial Artist level wasn’t high, but he was indeed insightful about many things.
“On this matter.”
“Starry Sky Martial Hall has treated you with insincerity,” Li Changzhou said, shaking his head, “Your Uncle Zhong is a good person, but it’s normal for him to have his own motivations… It’s understandable, everyone has to make a living.”
Li Yuan nodded slightly; he didn’t blame Uncle Zhong.
The latter wasn’t a senior figure in the Martial Hall, without the power to make decisions.
“But this Lord Wan has shown you the greatest sincerity, even willing to sponsor you personally,” Li Changzhou spoke gravely, “If we wait for the Martial Arts Hall or Starry Sky Martial Hall’s response… it would make us seem greedy.”
“Sometimes, interests are important.”
“But sometimes, one must stay true to their heart,” Li Changzhou said, “Especially as you are about to embark on the path of Martial Path.”
“Remember this phrase, ‘A Martial Artist seeks clarity of thought and a conscience free of guilt.'”
“Clarity of thought and a conscience free of guilt.” Li Yuan nodded, taking the words to heart.
“You’ve made a commitment,” Li Changzhou continued, “Not just Lord Wan, but your teacher Xu Bo, even Principal Tan and others… they’ll all think you act decisively and with sincerity.”
“Maybe when you become powerful, you won’t care.”
“Maybe you won’t see direct benefits.”
“But, as the saying goes, ‘Three men make a tiger, and a multitude of voices can melt metal.’ We have to look at the long term… when you make your way in Star Realm, having a good reputation among Martial Artists can be crucial; at a critical moment, it might even save your life,” Li Changzhou advised.
“I understand,” Li Yuan nodded firmly.
Starting from middle school, especially after high school, his uncle often instilled in him the principles of interpersonal conduct through small matters.
“Alright, go ahead.”
“I’ll send a message to your aunt right away,” Li Changzhou said, “If you’re to sign the contract tonight, I’ll have her come over.”
His uncle and aunt were both Li Yuan’s legal guardians.
“Okay,” Li Yuan nodded.
He ended the video call.
…
Without having his meal, Li Yuan went straight to Xu Bo’s office and knocked on the door.
“`
“Come in,” a deep voice called out.
The door was pushed open.
“Teacher Xu,” Li Yuan said as he opened the door, going straight to the point, “I just communicated with my family, and both my uncle and I are willing to sign with Starfire Martial Hall.”
“Shall I send a message to Lord Wan right now, Teacher? Do you think that’s appropriate?” Li Yuan got straight to the point.
“You’re willing to sign the contract now?” Xu Bo’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, “Not waiting for the Martial Arts Hall’s decision?”
“No waiting.”
Li Yuan shook his head, “The terms Lord Wan offered are very satisfactory to me and my family; we see no need to wait.”
“We can sign anytime, even tonight,” Li Yuan added.
“Haha.”
“That’s fine,” Xu Bo said with a rare smile on his normally cold face, “You’re thinking correctly. Alright, I’ll make a video call to Lord Wan right now; he’s probably not home yet.”
“Remember not to speak.”
Li Yuan nodded.
Immediately, Xu Bo made a video call to Lord Wan in front of Li Yuan.
The light condensed and projected.
The call connected.
“Old Wan,” Xu Bo said with a smile.
“Tie Ta, what’s the matter?” Lord Wan said with a trace of mirth in his voice as he sat in his car.
From Lord Wan’s perspective, Li Yuan was not visible.
“I have some good news for you,” Xu Bo said with a laugh, “Just now, Li Yuan and his aunt and uncle communicated; originally they wanted to wait and see the Martial Arts Hall’s terms, but this sensible young man persuaded his family to agree to sign with your Starfire Martial Hall.”
“On the terms of the contract you drafted, nothing needs to be added.”
“When would be a good time to sign?” Xu Bo asked with a smile, “Tonight or tomorrow works for us; which do you prefer?”
“He decided so quickly?” Even Lord Wan was a bit surprised, but his smile grew wider, “Good, it seems I did not misjudge him.”
“Since the young fellow trusts me.”
“Alright.”
“The contract terms will remain unchanged,” Lord Wan deliberated briefly, “Personally, aside from sponsoring him with one million Blue Star Coins, I’ll also gift him an additional one million Points.”
“Haha, truly worthy of being a Hall Master—such generosity,” Xu Bo laughed, “One million Points are worth about the same as one million Blue Star Coins outside.”
“Before you left, you praised the young man highly,” Lord Wan said with a light smile, “If Tie Ta sees potential in him, I trust him. Besides, you know that these Points aren’t of much use to me—who better to give them to?”
“Alright.”
“Then I’ll thank you on Li Yuan’s behalf,” Xu Bo said with a smile, “Don’t worry, the young man is grateful; he won’t disappoint you.”
Lord Wan smiled.
“Tonight, I have a dinner… Let’s schedule the signing for tomorrow morning at ten o’clock,” Lord Wan thought for a moment, “You can give your student a half-day off, no problem, right?”
“No problem at all,” Xu Bo responded with a smile.
Afterwards, the two ended the communication.
“Li Yuan, you heard it all clear,” Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan with a smile, “Points are used within Starfire Martial Hall for internal exchange; they can get you quite a few good things. One million points in value is not less than one million Blue Star Coins.”
“Thank you, Teacher,” Li Yuan said sincerely; he had heard the conversation.
If Teacher Xu hadn’t intentionally spoken highly of him, he probably wouldn’t have received such benefits.
“What are you thanking me for?”
“Isn’t it a teacher’s job to consider their students?” Xu Bo waved his hand and laughed, “If not so, why would I have become a teacher?”
“Helping you also requires you to be capable,” Xu Bo said with a laugh, “You haven’t had dinner yet, right?”
“Let’s go eat first.”
“For the signing tomorrow, come to the school first. I will accompany you there.”
——
