Martial Arts Longevity Begins with the Equipment Slot

Chapter 35 Secret Conspiracy Revealed

"Bang bang bang!"

A knocking sound shook the dust off the door frame.

"Brother Xiahou! Open the door!"

"Brother, I brought you something nice!"

The person outside the door had a loud voice, like a muffled thunderclap in mid-air.

Chen Yu got up and opened the door.

A burly man came towards us.

The burly man carried two jars of sealed old wine in one hand and a lotus leaf package tucked under his other arm.

Chen Yu looked at the lotus leaf wrapping.

The aroma of oil wafted out even through three layers of leaves.

It's probably something like braised pork hock or roast chicken.

"Hey, Brother Meng, what brings you here?"

The visitor was none other than Meng Feifan, the steward of the Thousand Mining Hall.

Upon recognizing the figure, Xiahou Fei quickly stood up to greet him.

"Brother Xiahou, let's talk in private for a moment."

Meng Feifan glanced at Chen Yu standing behind the door, and seeing that he was an unfamiliar face, he fell silent.

Then, he turned to Xiahou Fei and gestured with his eyes that he wanted to talk to him alone.

Xiahou Fei understood immediately and led him to a dark, secluded house next door.

There was only a square table and two long benches inside.

Close the door and light the oil lamp.

The wick of the oil lamp was not twisted high, and the flame flickered, casting two swaying shadows on the wall.

Meng Feifan sat cross-legged at the head of the table. The wine jar had been opened, and the clay lid was tossed on the corner of the table.

"Gurgle, gurgle."

He didn't use a cup; he just poured a mouthful directly from the mouth of the jar.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and the liquor leaked from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his stubble onto his chest.

He didn't wipe it, but instead wiped it with his sleeve and continued to tear the lotus leaf package.

Inside the lotus leaf wrapping was indeed braised pork hock.

"Eat."

Meng Feifan pushed the braised pork knuckle to the opposite side, and the oily meat slid halfway around in the rough porcelain plate.

Xiahou Fei held chopsticks in his hand, but remained motionless.

After a moment's hesitation, he took the initiative to ask.

"Brother Meng, just tell me what you need. If I can do it, I definitely won't delay."

"Great! I admire your straightforward personality!"

Meng Feifan stopped what he was doing and put his legs off the bench.

"Then I'll get straight to the point."

"The Intermediate People's Court is holding its selection process tomorrow, isn't it?"

"I have a cousin who, like you, trains apprentices at the Hundred Refinements Hall."

"He is currently a third-class craftsman. If he trains one more disciple who can enter the Central Academy, his contribution points will be enough to promote him to a second-class craftsman."

"What does Brother Meng mean?"

Xiahou Fei asked tentatively.

"Nothing else, I just wanted to ask what level your apprentices are at, and whether they want to participate in tomorrow's selection?"

"What does this have to do with what you're talking about?"

Xiahou Fei didn't dare to answer easily, but instead continued to ask questions.

"Here's the thing, my cousin has an apprentice named Han Feilong."

"He's a promising talent; his martial arts skills are quite good, basically meeting the requirements of the Central Academy."

"However, the Intermediate Court also has requirements for the forging level."

"Han Feilong might be a little lacking in forging skills."

"There's only one selection for the Intermediate People's Court in the second half of the year, with a total of ten spots. His chances might be slim."

"So, his master found you and asked you to do some favors?"

Xiahou Fei asked as if he had just realized something.

"Exactly."

Meng Feifan picked up a piece of pork skin and put it in his mouth, chewing it heartily.

"If you have any very strong apprentices who are going to participate in the selection tomorrow, could you ask them to go easy on you...?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Fei immediately thought of Li Mei and Chen Yu.

With their combined abilities, getting into the Intermediate People's Court is definitely not a problem.

The intermediate court selects candidates only twice a year, in February for the first half and in August for the second half.

If you miss this opportunity, you'll have to wait another six months.

Half a year has passed; who knows how many opportunities I'll miss?

I certainly can't let my apprentices' bright future be ruined for a little bit of profit.

Just as he was about to refuse, Meng Feifan suddenly pulled out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and handed them over.

"Take this hundred taels of silver note."

Xiahou Fei waved his hand in refusal and pushed the silver note back.

"Brother Xiahou, why be so polite?"

Meng Feifan stared at Xiahou Fei, his eyes gradually turning cold.

Judging from his reaction, he's probably not very cooperative.

This guy might actually have some real talent in his apprentice.

Wouldn't Han Feilong's spot be in danger?

"Brother Xiahou, I've already arranged all the outer courtyard masters for the Hundred Refinements Hall, except for you."

"It's just that you'll participate in the selection six months later, which may not be a bad thing for your apprentice."

"We've been brothers for so many years, I hope you won't embarrass me."

Meng Feifan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his expression quite impatient.

"One thing at a time, friendship is friendship, and rules are rules."

"His apprentice is a human being, and so is my apprentice."

"If you want to get into the Intermediate People's Court, it's all about ability; the most capable will get in!"

"You want me to do something so shady? Let me tell you clearly, I can't do it!"

Xiahou Fei rejected him outright, without any hesitation.

"Hahaha!"

"I was just saying! Why are you getting so angry!"

Meng Feifan chuckled awkwardly three times and handed another jar of wine to Xiahou Fei.

"Alright, let's not talk about these depressing things anymore."

"Come on, let's drink. The innkeeper says this is authentic 'Drunken Spring Brew,' try it and see if it tastes right..."

Chen Yu was in the next room, no more than three zhang away.

He heard everything they were saying.

Having sharp hearing and eyesight is such a convenient thing.

Within a radius of ten feet, no conspiracy can be hidden.

It turns out that Han Feilong looked very confident and boasted that he was sure he would get into the Intermediate Court.

In reality, it was a show of bravado born out of a lack of confidence, a way to drown one's sorrows in alcohol.

No matter what Meng Feifan says, I will definitely do my best to get a spot in the Intermediate People's Court.

This was also Master Xiahou Fei's wish.

His righteous and stern refusal just now touched Chen Yu deeply.

After spending so many days together, he could see very clearly that his master, Xiahou Fei, was indeed a genuine person.

Speak freely and without reservation.

They teach you the techniques when they say they'll teach you the techniques, and they give you weapons when they say they'll give you weapons.

Even if he disagrees with some aspects of himself, he will not easily deny them, but will choose to believe and support them.

With such a generous master, how could the disciple possibly let him down?

I will never give up the spot in the Intermediate People's Court!

……

The third day of the eighth lunar month is the day of the selection process at the Central Courtyard of the Sword Casting Manor.

As dawn broke, a group of people crowded into the bluestone square.

On the high platform, there were five grand master chairs.

Seated in the center is Zhou Zhengqing, the head of the Intermediate People's Court, who has the final say in this selection process.

To his left is the master craftsman Shen Tiesheng, who is seventy-two years old and has been wielding the hammer for fifty years.

On the right is Yang Wenming, the secretary of the Intermediate People's Court, who is responsible for conveying instructions from all parties and recording the selection process in writing.

There were two more people sitting on the very edge.

One of them was Bao Dahai, a deacon from the Criminal Law Hall, who was responsible for supervising the selection process to prevent anyone from engaging in favoritism or fraud.

Another is Lu Xiaoyu, a disciple of the External Affairs Hall. She is responsible for compiling the selection results into documents and archives and storing them in the library.

There weren't many people at the sword-testing arena.

There were only about thirty people, all with solemn expressions, ready for battle.

Chen Yu didn't find it strange.

Those who are selected all have recommendation letters from their mentors.

If the candidate's performance during the selection process is deemed too poor, the mentor who wrote the recommendation letter will also be punished.

Therefore, one cannot come to this place to participate in the selection without reaching a certain level.

The number of people is small, which is not unusual.

The hour of Chen (7-9 AM) has arrived, and the examiners enter the room carrying the documents.

"Now, I will announce the rules for this selection."