Ignorance is Bliss
By the time Wang Jinyang finished talking, they had reached the cafe.
Wu Zhihao went to the bar to order some drinks. Nobody fought to pay because the school would cover these expenses anyway.
Meanwhile, everyone else found a secluded spot to sit and continued listening to Wang Jinyang.
"All these matters related to martial artists are still far from your stage in life. The most important aspect is still your martial sciences exam for now. There's no point overthinking it."
"The martial sciences exam is often compared to
"Among the Five Stages, political background check aside, cultural studies and general studies depends solely on the effort you put into them.
"The determining stages are physical assessment and practical test!"
Wu Zhihao spoke the moment he returned to his seat, "Brother Wang is right. Most candidates get disqualified during these two stages."
Wang Jinyang laughed and said, "All of you here possess more than 110cal in Vitality. You won't have any problems passing the lower limit of the physical assessment—your greatest obstacle is to pass the admission prerequisite.
"To be honest, the difference in Vitality between all of you isn't that great anyway.
"Getting ready with some quality supplements like Vitality Pills before the exam can be truly life-changing.
"Of course, if you think taking Vitality Pills aren't enough, let me teach you a trick…"
Although perceived as a little trick to Wang Jinyang, any tips from a real martial artist would be vastly important for Wu Zhihao and others, even if it was truly a little trick.
Excitement took over everyone's facial expressions. None of them dared to speak. They all leaned in to listen.
"A burst of Vitality doesn't just depend on Vitality itself, but its state as well.
"Physical state. Mental state. Emotional state.
"Before the physical assessment, start by doing some warm-up exercises. Don't overexert your body. Keep your mind fresh and recharged. Don't even think about adding more practice on the final day.
"As for the emotional aspect, learn to be in full control of your emotions. It's very difficult to achieve extreme emotions.
"Happiness, sorrow, and anger. When one achieves the extreme state of emotions, it spikes one's Vitality. Therefore, one's Vitality will be higher than usual.
"However, I don't think you've been through enough in your lives to be able to unleash your emotion to the max!"
"Unleashing our emotions?"
Everyone sank into a state of contemplation. Wang Jinyang suddenly laughed. "Actually, I have a way to help you unleash the most extreme state of your emotions!"
Everyone beamed in delight. Fang Ping, however, glanced at him doubtfully. Fang Ping did not really care about this since he knew he could increase his Vitality very quickly.
When Wang Jinyang made the announcement, Fang Ping thought Wang Jinyang looked as mischievous as when he was insulting Senior Li Yuanjiang just now. Fang Ping did not think that any good would come of it.
As expected, Wang Jinyang said with a smile, "Some emotions are hard to command. With one exception—anger.
"Now, if I step on your face and spit a few times now, then during your physical assessment, you can recall these memories of being insulted…"
"Ahem ahem!" Wu Zhihao almost choked to death. This legendary senior of theirs seemed to be less reliable every second they spent together.
"Hahaha!" Wang Jinyang guffawed. He only stopped after a while and said, "I'm just kidding! But perhaps you can try that.
"It's hard to make yourself extremely happy or extremely sad at will. Anger is the easiest. It's no surprise that you can increase your Vitality by one or two cal under bursts of anger."
The statement carved itself into Wu Zhihao and the others' minds.
As long as they could increase their Vitality by one or two cal, perhaps… It was not that bad to have one's face stepped on, right?
Looking at their newfound eagerness, Fang Ping shuddered. They would not readily humiliate themselves, would they?
Needless to say, Fang Ping was ninety percent sure they would!
In order to pass their martial sciences exam, what was the harm in getting a little bit of humiliation?
Wang Jinyang did not dwell on whether they would actually carry it out. He continued speaking. "After the physical assessment, the practical test won't be too difficult too.
"It's nothing more than examinations of your impulsive force, stamina, and physical flexibility.
"All of these are closely related to Vitality. The higher your Vitality, the higher the probability of you passing.
"Of course, there's also those piles of trash that
"If a chicken is placed in front of your nose and you can't even kill it, you're thinking about killing human beings?
"Killing a human being is much harder than killing a chicken…"
"Killing someone?"
Fang Ping froze for a while. When Wang Jinyang mentioned killing another person, he looked unfazed, as though he had really killed someone before.
In modern times like this, Fang Ping was sure even martial artists were restricted by law. There should not be murders happening… Right?
Moreover, Wang Jinyang was only a freshman…
As though he detected Fang Ping's stare, Wang Jinyang gave a small smile and said, "In time, you'll figure things out.
"Of course, the prerequisite is that you pass the martial sciences exam and become a martial artist.
"Everyone is into martial arts now; everyone craves becoming a martial artist. But how many among the ordinary folks truly understand what it means to be a martial artist?
"More and more people are getting dissatisfied at the attention given to martial artists in recent years.
"The powerhouses are able to start their own companies, pay a reduced amount of taxes or none at all.
"Powerhouses get elected as officials. Even if they suck in government affairs, it won't matter that much.
"Powerhouses are granted a lot of privileges. They are so privileged that everyone is starting to be dissatisfied.
"But so what?!
"You reap what you sow. That's how reality works. You can't get anything by sitting around and doing nothing.
"While they're busy getting dissatisfied and thinking that it's unfair, little do they know that even the powerhouses feel mistreated too!"
Wang Jinyang suddenly stopped talking. A smile returned to his face. He continued, "I've spoken too much. This trip back to Sun City has made me very emotional indeed."
Wu Zhihao and the rest of the gang did not really mind. After all, they agreed that martial artists deserved the privileges that were given.
However, Fang Ping took Wang Jinyang's words to heart. Fang Ping had his doubts previously. They said a martial artist possessed the power of a hundred ordinary men. However, with so many ordinary men around, there should not be a need to obsess over martial artists, right?
In this age of firearms, if one was not enough, if a hundred or a thousand ordinary men each held a gun, could a grandmaster evade their attacks?
Now that he heard Wang Jinyang's story, it seemed like there was more than what meets the eye.
Unfortunately, Wang Jinyang had no intention to speak more about it. Fang Ping thought that it was inappropriate to persist as well. Thus, he decided that he would only find out after becoming a real martial artist.
As everyone engaged in their conversation, Wang Jinyang's mobile phone rang in his pocket.
He did not excuse himself from the crowd and answered the call. He gave a few simple replies before uttering, "I'm heading to No.1 High School in the afternoon. I'll go over again at night."
Wang Jinyang hung up after that without explaining what it was about.
Nobody minded either. After continuing the conversation for a while, all of them left the cafe.
Initially, the school arranged for them to greet Wang Jinyang over lunch. However, Wang Jinyang was also a resident of Sun City. He decided to go back to his home in Sun City first after leaving the cafe.
Fang Ping and the rest did not feel that it was appropriate to keep tagging along. As they promised to greet him in the afternoon, their task had been accomplished.
…
Once Wang Jinyang departed, Wu Zhihao's face shone with delight. He exclaimed, "We've learned so much!"
More than anything else, they found out about the technique to adjust their emotions — something that no one really understood before.
Wang Jinyang taught them a trick to overcome the practical test. Wu Zhihao had always been hopeful about passing his martial sciences exam. Now, he was even more confident.
Even Yang Jian and Liu Ruoqi felt like they had gained a lot from this and could attempt to apply for Nanjiang Martial Arts University.
On the other hand, Wang Jinyang disclosed another important fact too. Governor-General Zhang of Nanjiang was indeed attempting to achieve a breakthrough to Grandmaster Rank-7.
The reason behind this disclosure was none other than to encourage them to apply for Nanjiang Martial Arts University this year.
Governor-General Zhang graduated from Nanjiang Martial Arts University, the only institution that specialized in martial arts in the entire Nanjiang province. However there were also other two institutions that had intakes from both branches of sciences in Nanjiang and they were almost just as prestigious as Nanjiang Martial Arts University.
However, considering how Governor-General Zhang was a Nanjiang Martial Arts University graduate, he would definitely help Nanjiang gain more martial arts resources if he manages to break through to the Grandmaster ranks.
When that happens, there would definitely be preferential policies in place to benefit Nanjiang Martial Arts University.
Wang Jinyang was certain about this.
Hence, everyone in the group set their eyes on Nanjiang Martial Arts University.
After Wang Jinyang left, the group made plans with each other to fetch Wang Jinyang before they each left for their own respective homes.
…
Meanwhile.
Wang Jinyang was getting ready to go home when his mobile phone rang once again.
Wang Jinyang whipped out his phone and glanced at it. His eyebrows furrowed as he answered the phone, "Didn't I say that I'm going over tonight? What else do you want?"
A voice of a middle-aged man echoed from the other end of the line. He said politely, "Mister Wang, I'm sorry to have disturbed you. But we just received intel that our suspect has infiltrated the White Mountains. The White Mountains cover lands between the two provinces. If the suspect escapes…"
Wang Jinyang's eyebrows furrowed deeper. He snapped, "We discussed this before. I thought we established that our target was to remain in his spot and that we'd only proceed after I arrive.
"Now, he's running away. Did one of you alert him?"
The voice at the other side of the line fell silent briefly. It was apparent that Wang Jinyang assumed correctly.
Wang Jinyang was clearly displeased. He harrumphed and continued, "Why don't you try to search around Auspicious Sun City or in the province? If it wasn't because of my sudden need for resources to achieve my breakthrough that landed me in my home in Sun City, I wouldn't have accepted this task at all!"
The man at the other end hesitated for a while before replying, "We've agreed on the terms, but the man must be captured for arrest. The other condition is… It must be Sun City that accomplishes this arrest!"
Wang Jinyang responded indifferently, "Of course. I'm just doing my job to help clear your way after receiving the money. The only reason I returned to Sun City this time is to guide my juniors in No.1 High School that are taking their martial sciences exam."
"Good. We'll be sending over some information soon. I wish you godspeed in solving this problem."
"No worries."
"..."
After a few more exchanges, Wang Jinyang hung up his phone. He rubbed his temples and heaved a small sigh. 'I hope he didn't run far. Otherwise, why would there be such an amount of money to spend on something pointless?'
Wang Jinyang was frustrated too whenever he remembered the funds he needed for his breakthrough this time.
The institution agreed to pay half while he had to fund the other half himself. If it were other students who came from rich family backgrounds, they had nothing else to consider.
However, he could only depend on himself.
He was then reminded of the students from No.1 High School and he shook his head. Everyone wanted to become martial artists, but who'd truly know the hardships martial artists had to go through.
It seemed to him that those few students—Wu Zhihao included— were from average families.
Once they manage to enroll in Nanjiang Martial Arts, Wang Jinyang foresaw that they might truly understand pure disappointment in the future.
Li Yuanjiang's problem of not achieving a breakthrough to become a martial artist did not originate from a lack of talent.
"Hehe!" A mischievous laugh rang. No one knew whose laughter it belonged to, or whether it was a self-depreciation joke.
Wang Jinyang stuffed both his hands into his pants pockets and sauntered over toward his residential area.
Sometimes, ignorance was truly bliss.