20: To benefit

Following the address given by his Senior Brother, Chen Qing found himself in front of a massive ice sculpture building. Looking at the structure almost entirely covered in ice, Chen Qing rubbed his nose.

“My teacher is truly unique. Such a huge ice sculpture building, just maintaining it must consume a lot of energy. And it's the scorching end of August; my teacher has essentially provided a giant air conditioner for the entire school!”

There was no trace of heat near this building.

“No, if the dean of the Fire Department also created a similar building, making lava or something, then it would just cancel out.”

Chen Qing chuckled, dismissing his own thought. He suspected that if the dean of the Fire Department really dared to create lava in the school, he would surely be beaten to death by everyone else.

No longer observing, Chen Qing quickly arrived at his teacher’s research lab.

Yang Chen sensed his arrival and emerged from the secret room, looking travel-worn.

This was Chen Qing’s first time meeting the dean of the Ice Department, and sure enough, as his Senior Brother had said, he was a thorough researcher.

Yang Chen was still wearing a white lab coat, glasses, and his beard hadn't been shaved in who knew how long.

The two left the research lab and went to the sofa area in the living room.

————

“Sit down. Chen Qing, don’t be so formal with me. None of your Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters treat me as an elder; many things here were bought by them.”

To Chen Qing’s surprise, his teacher, whom he was meeting for the first time, was very casual, completely without any airs of a powerful person.

“Understood, Teacher.” Chen Qing took a seat opposite Yang Chen.

“Haha, do you feel that I didn’t personally recruit you, and that it was a bit disrespectful?” Yang Chen poured a cup of tea and casually drank it.

“No! Teacher, I sincerely wish to become your disciple. After all, I am of the Ice element, and there aren’t many Ice element teachers in the school. Becoming your disciple is the best choice.”

Although Chen Qing said he didn’t mind, his subsequent words were clearly telling Yang Chen, “I don’t have a better choice, so I can only become your disciple.”

He actually had some thoughts in his heart. He was, after all, an S-rank, and in other departments, he would be a sought-after talent.

Yet, since his enrollment, apart from his Senior Brother’s visit, no one else had come to recruit him.

While Chen Qing wasn’t so delicate as to demand special treatment, this disparity was still unpleasant.

Yang Chen chuckled, “You do have an opinion! Good, much better than those hypocritical old farts!”

“In your situation, if it were me, I would also feel indignant. It’s very normal, human nature. But the fact that you dare to express it directly is rare. I, Yang Chen, have not made a mistake in taking you as a disciple!”

Chen Qing didn’t expect him to say that, having thought that these Martial Artists all had arrogant personalities, unable to tolerate any slight.

This made him inwardly approve of this teacher even more.

“Haha, taking on students, in my opinion, is a mutual process. I value you, and you must also value me; only then can we become master and disciple. Forcibly taking a disciple, in my opinion, is irresponsible to the student!”

Yang Chen took a sip of tea and continued, “From now on, you are officially my disciple, Yang Chen’s! Outside, if you encounter trouble, you can use my name; the Federation will still give me that Face. Of course, if you provoke your peers, don’t expect me to step in for you! Youngsters’ matters are for you youngsters to handle yourselves.”

“Martial Artists do not do things like bullying the weak.”

Chen Qing smiled reservedly, “How could I! Your student is a law-abiding person and won’t cause trouble easily.”

Yang Chen nodded. This student had an honest appearance and spoke quite straightforwardly; he was quite satisfied.

“Since I didn’t personally recruit you, I still need to show some gesture. Tell me, what kind of compensation would you like?”

Compensation?

It seems his Senior Brother didn't trick him; the dean of the Ice Department is quite wealthy.

“Your student is indeed a bit short on funds recently and lacks resources to Cultivate.” Chen Qing rubbed his hands, recalling what Yan Zheng, the admissions teacher, had said before enrollment. He continued:

“Teacher, during admissions, the admissions teacher told me that as long as I enrolled, the school would cover all Cultivation resources up to and including the third Realm. I’ve already used 5 million in my recent Cultivation. When can these resources be replenished?”

“Also, when Senior Brother came to recruit me, he told me that if I became your disciple, I could freely learn our school’s Ice element skills, I could freely consume the Medicinal Pills in your lab, and you would also give me some academic credit subsidies each month.”

From the moment Chen Qing started stating his first request, Yang Chen had already begun tugging at his long-unshaved beard. Even after Chen Qing finished speaking, he remained silent.

Who was in charge of admissions this year? Making such high demands? Don’t they know I’m broke?

The admissions conditions set by the school were to be fulfilled by them, the teachers.

Also, that brat Tong Zhe is getting a bit out of line now. Who taught him to make such wild promises?

He completely forgot that it was he who had told Tong Zhe, “Make any conditions you want.”

“Teacher?” Chen Qing prompted when he remained silent for a long time.

“Oh, oh, well, Chen Qing, Cultivation is not something that happens overnight.”

“Teacher, I saw a school motto today that said, ‘Martial Artists Cultivate, seizing every moment!’” Chen Qing replied.

“That’s not wrong, but Chen Qing, resources must be acquired step by step. You cannot become fat by eating one bite.”

“Teacher, the school motto also says, ‘If there are no resources, then strive for them! Fight for them with your life!’ Your student is so poor he can only pawn his pants, with nothing but a worthless life left. A classmate told me today that he’s preparing to go to the Space Battlefield for a mission in a couple of days. Your student’s strength is weak; I originally hoped for some support from you, Teacher. Now it seems, your student can only use this worthless life to fight for a future!”

Chen Qing spoke sincerely, with a serious expression.

Yang Chen had pulled out several strands of his beard, looking somewhat helpless. A silver light flashed in his hand, and a pendant appeared.

“This is a pendant I used many years ago. It contains a spatial dimension that can be used to store some supplies. Inside, there are also some Body Tempering Pills, Soul Restoring Pills, and bloodburst pills, all second-tier Medicinal Pills. The storage equipment plus the Medicinal Pills should be equivalent to the total of your Cultivation resources for the lower three Realms.”

Although it wasn’t specifically for Chen Qing’s current stage of Cultivation resources, if he wanted, he could completely sell them, likely even at a premium.

Especially the storage equipment; this wasn’t something developed by the Federation, but something he had seized from the Space Battlefield.

It was a type that was valuable but rarely seen on the market, so a premium was almost inevitable.

Chen Qing was surprised. He couldn’t help but say, “Teacher, this is too valuable. I’ll keep the Medicinal Pills, but this pendant…”

Yang Chen waved his hand, “Take it. These were originally intended for your Xiao Shijie (Junior Apprentice Sister). Her background is tragic; I took her in from outside. But she’s a bit restless and impatient, prone to getting into trouble, so I didn’t want her Realm to advance too quickly, fearing she would act recklessly.”

“You take it and use it. Just remember to look after your Xiao Shijie (Junior Apprentice Sister) more in the future.”

Chen Qing didn’t know about this and nodded upon hearing it.

He hadn't met his Xiao Shijie (Junior Apprentice Sister) yet and wondered what kind of person she was.