Chapter Eighteen: Winning Over

The next day.

Morning training had just ended.

A wealthy classmate with whom Chen Fan rarely interacted suddenly called out to him.

"Your name is Chen Fan, right?"

The young man yawned, sauntered over with an easy grin, and familiarly slung an arm around Chen Fan’s shoulders.

Chen Fan warily shrugged him off, gazing at the youth whose name he couldn’t recall. "Is there something you need?"

Inwardly, he heightened his vigilance toward this person.

The youth merely grinned, unconcerned. "Someone wants to treat you to a meal."

Chen Fan felt perplexed.

The youth waved toward the corridor. "Look, they’re here."

A group of robust, energetic young men, all wearing the academy's white cloud vests, approached. Among them, two or three wore the formal robes reserved for inner disciples.

The one leading them was none other than the "Black Bear" Chen Fan had seen the day before.

Chen Fan immediately clenched his fists, troubled.

Could this fellow be seeking trouble with him because he'd spent time alone with He Hongshan?

Boys at this age were impulsive and illogical; if they were looking for trouble, Chen Fan had little recourse. Dealing with a common thug was easy enough, but he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on a rich heir...

Black Bear and his companions drew closer.

"Tianyou!" the youth beside Chen Fan greeted, a flattering smile on his face.

Black Bear nodded to him, then raised his chin and looked at Chen Fan. "Bao Tianyou. Inner disciple."

Outer disciples could only wear the academy’s vest, but only inner disciples were issued the formal robes.

Chen Fan had already known this man’s status.

He also guessed that inner disciples likely possessed true martial prowess, all having mastered inner energy, or perhaps even surpassed that.

Chen Fan inwardly felt uneasy, but outwardly maintained composure. "I am Chen Fan. May I ask what brings you here, Brother Bao?"

Bao Tianyou smiled, courteous. "I hear you’re the prodigy of the Black Cloud class. If you become an inner disciple, we’ll be true brothers, so naturally, I wanted to get acquainted a bit early!"

Chen Fan was taken aback, his expression turning odd.

He’d thought this was a domineering disciple seeking trouble, only to find he was here to win him over...

He had indeed been praised by Feng Cong, but he was far from the most valued student in the Black Cloud class.

Aside from He Hongshan, there were at least two or three others whom Feng Cong favored more than Chen Fan.

Moreover, he had only just begun practicing the White Cloud Pine-Crane Fist; a few compliments hardly meant much. The other party shouldn’t know for certain that he would master this technique!

Why had Bao Tianyou sought him out so proactively?

He failed to notice that, among those favored by Feng Cong, he alone was from a common background, without any faction or affiliation.

Such individuals were the easiest to recruit!

Among those who came to the White Cloud Academy to study martial arts, forming cliques like Bao Tianyou was not uncommon...

Had it been someone older, a wealthy heir, they would never have missed the chance to win over someone like Chen Fan—only Lin Mo, He Hongshan, and the others, still young and proud, remained oblivious.

Bao Tianyou and his group brought Chen Fan to a renowned restaurant in the county, Jiangshan Tower.

Chen Fan had heard of it, but never eaten there—it was simply too expensive.

He followed them upstairs to the second floor, noticing that another group of White Cloud Academy disciples had also arrived.

What surprised Chen Fan was that the other group’s leader was an outer disciple in a vest, yet several inner disciples in formal robes surrounded him!

That youth looked to be sixteen or seventeen, with remarkable presence.

Bao Tianyou even approached him and struck up a conversation.

Chen Fan overheard Bao Tianyou address him as "Brother Feng."

The two interacted as equals, which Chen Fan found intriguing.

Soon, Bao Tianyou bid farewell to Brother Feng and led Chen Fan and the others into a private room.

They ordered a lavish spread—roast goose, grilled chicken, braised pork, and more.

The meal alone cost seven or eight taels of silver. Seeing the prices, Chen Fan thought it wasteful.

Had he bought ingredients and cooked himself, he’d barely spend one percent of that!

Seven or eight taels of silver was an amount an ordinary family might not save up in a year.

Yet for these wealthy youths, it was merely the price of entertaining a guest.

And this was only a county-level gentry.

The vast disparity between rich and poor in this world left Chen Fan with much to ponder.

Of course, since Bao Tianyou was footing the bill, Chen Fan made no pretense and ate heartily.

He had to admit, the meal was delicious—by far the best he’d enjoyed since crossing into this world! It was well worth the price.

After eating their fill, Bao Tianyou exchanged pleasantries with Chen Fan before changing the subject:

"Brother Chen, while diligent practice is important, progress should be gradual. Everyone’s energy is limited—those of us who train must avoid restlessness and ensure sufficient rest, especially at midday, to recover and not overdo it..."

Chen Fan knew he was alluding to his intense midday training with He Hongshan the previous day.

He laughed inwardly, but outwardly feigned innocence. "But I noticed He Hongshan from our Black Cloud class also trained in the practice room at noon?"

He intentionally made it clear he was not acquainted with He Hongshan.

Bao Tianyou shook his head. "He Hongshan is the He family’s prodigy; she has an unlimited supply of energy pills. Two or three hours of sleep a day is enough—she spends all her time cultivating. There’s not another like her in the entire Feiling County."

Energy pills?

Once again, Chen Fan encountered a gap in his knowledge, silently noting the term.

Bao Tianyou continued, "Don’t think I mind you and He Hongshan being alone together—my Bao family and the He family have always been on good terms. Hongshan is a sister I’m fond of, but I’m telling you the truth. For martial artists, especially in the strength-training phase, energy expenditure is crucial!"

Chen Fan gave an awkward smile.

This Black Bear appeared rough and young, but was no simple character.

With a few words, he’d laid bare the underlying issues between them.

Of course, Bao Tianyou spoke so openly only because he believed Chen Fan and He Hongshan were worlds apart, without any possibility between them.

"However... I must warn you—do not harbor any thoughts about He Hongshan." Bao Tianyou’s expression grew serious as he looked at Chen Fan’s handsome, refined face.

"He Hongshan is an anomaly—a genius among geniuses. With the He family’s unwavering support, she is meant to master the White Cloud Pine-Crane Palm within a year or two, display her talent, and head to Yandu City, becoming a core disciple of the White Cloud Academy’s main branch, perhaps even rivaling Li Linliu in the future!"

Main branch?

Chen Fan’s mind raced.

So Feiling County’s White Cloud Academy was merely a branch!

The county’s elite families must value the academy not for the branch, but for the main branch’s strength.

There was no sign marking it as a branch at the academy’s entrance; at his level, no one would tell him, so he’d never have known.

He finally heard the name Li Linliu from someone else.

Chen Fan couldn’t help but ask, "Who is Li Linliu?"

Bao Tianyou was momentarily stunned, surprised. "You don’t know Li Linliu?"