Full-Time Martial Saint

After eating and drinking his fill, Chen Cong finally mustered up the courage to explain why he had asked for leave to come back.

"You're transferring to the martial arts academy?"

Upon hearing his idea, his father, Chen Changhe, remained silent with a solemn expression; his mother, Zhao Qian, was puzzled and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Chen Cong, do you know you're a senior in high school now?" Zhao Qian asked calmly, suppressing her anxiety.

Chen Cong nodded: "Mom, I know."

Seeing this, Zhao Qian couldn't help but frown, and said with a hint of urgency, "There are only nine months left until the college entrance examination. You're transferring to the martial arts academy now..."

"Calm down, honey, calm down." Seeing Zhao Qian's voice getting louder and louder, Chen Changhe quickly tried to soothe her, "Let's hear what the child has to say first."

Zhao Qian took a deep breath and suppressed her temper: "Your teacher Wang called me a few days ago. Now that I think about it, she must have been hiding something from me."

"Tell me, why do you suddenly want to transfer to the martial arts academy?"

Meeting his parents' gazes, Chen Cong thought for a moment and said, "This noon, I took a test at the Tianwu Training Hall on Quanshan Road, and my martial arts skills score was 578."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Changhe and Zhao Qian were both stunned.

After a moment, Chen Changhe finally spoke slowly: "I remember Old Zhao saying a few days ago, what was the required score for martial arts skills to apply to a martial arts university?"

"400 points," Chen Cong replied.

"Yes, yes." Chen Changhe nodded. "His Zhao Cheng only has 355 points, he's still a few dozen points short of the mark."

"You just said your martial arts skill score is... 578?"

Chen nodded.

The couple looked at each other and fell silent.

As parents, they knew Chen Cong and knew that their son never lied.

But as ordinary people, they don't know what "578 points in martial arts skills" really means, and they find it hard to make a decision.

After a long silence, Chen Changhe finally spoke in a deep voice: "Son, tell your dad... are you confident?"

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Cong nodded seriously and said, "To be honest, I can't guarantee it 100%, but... I'm at least 70% or 80% sure."

His confidence, which was seventy to eighty percent, came not only from his already mastered Bajiquan, but also from the system reward of [Unblocking Meridians and Activating Collaterals].

Before this, his biggest concern was the terrifying expenses required to switch to martial arts.

However, right now, thanks to the existence of "unblocking meridians and activating collaterals", it seems that the most expensive part of this expense, the cost of physical therapy and qi and blood medicine, can be saved.

More importantly, the incredible effect of "unblocking meridians and activating collaterals" gave him hope that he could improve his overall physical fitness from level 2.8 to level 5 in the next nine months.

"Seventy or eighty percent...that's quite high." After careful consideration, Chen Changhe sighed and said, "To put it another way, even if we continue down the path of the general education program and successfully get into a top university in Beijing, the probability of passing the national civil service exam in the future is not necessarily higher than this."

"Old Chen!" Zhao Qian was clearly anxious when she heard his words.

"Mom, I also support my brother's decision!" Chen Lin suddenly spoke up and expressed his opinion.

"You little bastard, what do you know!" Zhao Qian glared at him fiercely, then sighed heavily, feigning sadness, and said, "Fine, fine! The three of you surnamed Chen have formed a united front, what can I, an outsider, say?"

Seeing this, Chen Changhe quickly smiled and comforted him, "You can't say that."

"We had an agreement: I'll handle external affairs, and you'll handle internal affairs. This matter is a family matter, and you have to make the final decision."

Having said that, he quickly winked at the Chen brothers, Chen Cong and Chen Lin.

The two brothers instantly understood, looked at Zhao Qian in unison, and said, "Mom..."

Meeting Chen Cong's expectant gaze, Zhao Qian said reproachfully, "What else can I say? Just think it through and do it."

She paused, then said worriedly, "This is going to be very troublesome. Have your dad go to school with you tomorrow. Use any connections you can to get it done as soon as possible."

Chen grinned and nodded, "Thanks, Mom!"

"Mom and Dad, you two go watch some TV and relax. I'll go wash the dishes!"

……

In the stillness of the night, in the couple's room, Chen Changhe, exhausted from a long day, was clearly sleepy, but Zhao Qian beside him kept tossing and turning, occasionally letting out soft sighs.

"What happened?"

Chen Changhe turned around and looked at his wife, who was wide awake, in the darkness.

Zhao Qian gazed quietly at the ceiling and said softly, "We only have a little over 50,000 yuan in cash at home, plus another 50,000 yuan in a fixed deposit. That's all we have."

"I heard that the registration fee for the martial arts academy is nearly 40,000 yuan, and there's also that nutritional meal. A regular meal costs two or three hundred yuan. If you calculate it like that, my monthly salary isn't even enough for Xiao Cong's meals."

"I just checked online, and the fees for those physical therapy treatments and qi and blood circulation medications are shockingly expensive."

"Xiao Lin's medication and treatment cost over three thousand yuan a month... Old Chen, what do you think about us...?"

Every expense Zhao Qian mentioned felt like a heavy boulder, piling up on Chen Changhe's heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

But as the breadwinner of the family, he had to find a solution.

"I'm still here." Gently pulling his wife into his arms, Chen Changhe said casually, "The factory has a new batch of orders recently. I'll apply for an extra half-hour shift each day, which should earn me an extra four or five thousand yuan in overtime pay each month."

"Work an extra half-hour shift?!" Zhao Qian sat up abruptly and exclaimed, "You're treating your health like this!"

"Keep your voice down." Chen Changhe patted her shoulder and pulled her back into his arms. "It's only fourteen hours. You still have ten hours to rest. It's okay!"

"Besides, I'm very healthy."

"Go to sleep. Go to the factory tomorrow and ask for a day off for me."

……

The next morning, Zhao Qian, who hadn't slept much all night, got up early to prepare breakfast.

After finishing their meal, the father and son boarded the No. 128 unmanned bus to Xiangcheng No. 1 Middle School amidst Zhao Qian's repeated instructions.

Office of the Academic Affairs Director of the Cultural College of Xiangcheng No.1 Middle School.

Led by Wang Lijun, Chen Changhe and Chen Cong knocked on the office door.

"Enter."

With permission, the three went inside.

"Director Hu, this is Chen Cong from our class, and this is Chen Cong's father, Mr. Chen Changhe."

"Mr. Chen, this is Director Hu Lian from the Cultural Academy of Xiangcheng No.1 Middle School."

Wang Lijun gave a brief introduction to both parties, and then went straight to the point: "Director Hu, Chen Cong plans to transfer to the Martial Arts Academy. This is his application."

"Transfer to the Martial Arts Academy?" The middle-aged, overweight Hu Lian, with his slicked-back hair and small, rimless glasses, stared at the application form in bewilderment. "At this point, isn't this ridiculous?"

"Chen Cong, right?"

"I remember you've always been in the top three of your class at our Cultural Studies Academy. If you can maintain this trend and put in a little more effort, you'll definitely get an offer from Kyoto University in the future. You..."

"Director Hu, I understand what you're saying, but... but I've really thought it through now." Chen Cong bowed slightly, his tone resolute.

Seeing his reaction, Hu Lian turned to Chen Changhe, who was standing to the side, and said, "Mr. Chen, the child is being unreasonable, and we, as parents..."

"Director Hu, I've always respected my child's opinion," Chen Changhe said with a smile. "I hope you can do me a favor and give my child a chance."

Hu Lian stared at the father and son in front of him in astonishment, his mouth agape for a long time before he could only wave his hand helplessly and take a pen from the pen holder.

"Mr. Chen, let me make this clear from the start."

"My cultural college is willing to release people, but the martial arts college may not necessarily accept them."

"If I sign this document and the Martial Arts Academy doesn't accept him, Chen Congke won't even have the chance to take the college entrance exam."

Upon hearing this, Chen Changhe turned to look at Chen Cong beside him. Seeing that Chen Cong's expression remained calm, he nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your trouble, Director Hu."

Seeing that the father and son seemed determined, Hu Lian had no choice but to sign his name on the application.

"Good advice is useless against a damned devil." Hu Lian chuckled and shook his head, handing the signed application to Chen Changhe, and decided not to pay them any more attention.

Standing downstairs in the Academic Affairs Office building, Chen Cong bowed deeply to the kind-faced Wang Lijun before him: "Teacher Wang, I'm sorry..."

Wang Lijun smiled and shook her head: "Teacher believes in you, go ahead."

Chen Cong nodded: "Goodbye, Teacher Wang. I'll come back to see you when I have time."

After saying goodbye to Wang Lijun, the father and son carried their luggage and headed towards the martial arts academy of Xiangcheng No.1 Middle School.

"Son, you have no way out now." On the way, Chen Changhe grinned and patted Chen Cong on the shoulder.

As a father, it's impossible for him not to worry right now; he just doesn't want to show it in front of Chen Cong and put unnecessary pressure on him.

Chen Cong didn't reveal this, as transferring schools was a well-considered decision. He had naturally thought of all the consequences. With his cheat system, Chen Cong believed that even if the martial arts academy was unwilling to accept him, he would still have a way to become a martial artist in the future; it was just a matter of time.