Early in the morning.
Wang Huai’an wasn’t sleepy at all. After becoming a Martial Artist, going several days without sleep wouldn’t be much of a problem.
When he heard movement in the living room, he opened his bedroom door and walked out, only to meet Wang Teng’s gaze.
Wang Teng probably hadn’t slept well the previous night. Dark circles hung beneath his eyes. Clearly, his father’s decision to support his choice of the Martial Arts Track had left him too excited to sleep.
Wang Teng suddenly rubbed his eyes and thought, ‘Did I stay awake all night and start seeing things? How did Dad become so much younger and better-looking?’
Wang Huai’an had indeed become considerably younger. The change was striking.
The haggard, middle-aged appearance worn down by years of hardship had completely disappeared. It was no exaggeration to say that he had undergone a complete transformation.
Wang Huai’an had no intention of hiding it.
Why would he hide such a handsome face?
Besides, Wang Teng was his family. There was even less reason to conceal anything from him.
Wang Huai’an smiled. “What? Shocked by how impressive your dad looks?”
He continued proudly, “Let me tell you, the greatest asset I’ll leave you is our family’s handsome genes. Your Teacher Yang Liu even liked me back then. Unfortunately for her, your mother got to me first.”
It was rare for Wang Huai’an to joke like this, and Wang Teng vaguely felt that something about his father had changed.
Wang Huai’an glanced toward the kitchen. “You didn’t make breakfast, right? Let’s go downstairs and eat.”
Wang Teng instinctively replied, “Isn’t eating downstairs a little expensive? We can just eat some steamed buns at home.”
Wang Huai’an felt slightly moved.
His son really was sensible. Wang Teng knew how to save money for his father.
Unfortunately, when it came to cultivating martial arts, there was simply no way to save money.
Martial arts cultivation was a bottomless pit that devoured wealth. Pills, weapons, cultivation techniques, and resources were all expenses ordinary people could barely imagine.
Before awakening the system, when Wang Huai’an had possessed no ability whatsoever, this problem probably would have kept him worried for days.
After all, being unable to provide his child with a good future had always filled him with deep guilt.
As a father, he naturally wanted to shelter his son and support him through everything. That had always been one of his deepest desires.
In the past, he hadn’t possessed the ability.
Now, he could finally make it happen!
Wang Huai’an took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
The two walked downstairs together and entered a nearby breakfast shop.
Quite a few students were eating breakfast there that morning. Father and son casually chose a table in one corner and sat down.
Before long, several baskets of steamed buns were placed before them. Wang Huai’an took a drag from his cigarette and said, “Eat. You need to fill your stomach before you have the strength to cultivate martial arts. Only by properly tempering and training your body from now on will you be able to achieve something.”
Wang Teng asked, “Dad, do you really agree to let me cultivate martial arts and choose the Martial Arts Track?”
Wang Huai’an almost laughed. “Yes.”
His expression gradually became serious. “This world is filled with danger. We can barely guarantee our safety inside Jinghai City, while countless Demonic Beasts roam beyond the city. No matter what, you need enough strength to protect yourself.”
“Only by holding martial strength in your own hands can you truly control your own destiny!”
“That’s how you refuse to submit to fate!”
Wang Huai’an smiled. “Don’t worry. If you cultivate martial arts, your dad will support you with everything he has.”
He paused briefly before adding, “Also, there’s something else.”
“I’ll lay my cards on the table. Our family is actually a Martial Arts Family!”
The steamed bun Wang Teng had been about to put into his mouth froze in midair.
Fortunately, he hadn’t taken a bite yet. Otherwise, he might have choked.
“A Martial Arts Family?”
He would sooner believe that he could rank first in the entire school during the Martial Arts Entrance Examination.
“What Martial Arts Family lives in a place like this?”
To Wang Teng, his father’s claim was utterly ridiculous!
Wang Huai’an extinguished his cigarette and chuckled. “If I say we are, then we are!”
“Your dad is already a 5th-Rank Martial Artist.”
Wang Teng stared at him expressionlessly.
A 5th-Rank Martial Artist?
What kind of joke was that?
Even the principal of his school was only a 5th-Rank Martial Artist!
A 5th-Rank Martial Artist was an important figure throughout Jinghai City. How could someone like that possibly live here?
His dad was an old man who couldn’t even move the refrigerator!
“You?”
Wang Huai’an knew Wang Teng wouldn’t believe him. He had already expected this reaction, so he didn’t argue or become impatient. Instead, he remained calm and composed.
“Anyway, when it comes to cultivating martial arts, just focus on your cultivation without worrying about anything else.”
“I’ll take care of the resources.”
“Whatever other people have, you’ll have too.”
“All right, hurry up and finish eating. You still need to go to school. Your dad is waiting for you to get into a top Martial Arts University.”
“Then you can amaze everyone!!”
As for Wang Huai’an personally teaching Wang Teng how to cultivate, that was basically impossible.
Wang Huai’an himself was a complete beginner when it came to cultivation. He still needed to learn everything from scratch, so naturally, he couldn’t teach Wang Teng martial arts.
After the two finished breakfast, Wang Teng prepared to head to school.
“I’ll drive you,” Wang Huai’an said.
Wang Huai’an owned an old secondhand minivan.
Wang Teng immediately refused. “No need. The bus at the entrance to our residential community reaches the school gate in fifteen minutes.”
Wang Huai’an nodded.
Fortunately, the bus arrived quickly, and Wang Teng soon boarded.
Wang Huai’an watched the bus disappear into the distance and thought, ‘There’s no need to rush Wang Teng’s cultivation yet. They’re still in the process of choosing their tracks. It’ll be a few days before they officially begin cultivating.’
‘During that time, I should take care of my own affairs first.’
With that, Wang Huai’an turned and left.
After returning home, he tidied himself up briefly and changed into a clean set of clothes.
He also slipped his ID card into his pocket.
He had already decided what he needed to do today.
The first thing was to resign from his job.
Now that he possessed real strength, there was naturally no reason to continue working himself to the bone at that miserable job.
Actually, calling himself a beast of burden was giving himself too much credit.
Even beasts of burden could earn the lofty salary of 3,000 yuan a month.
He only earned 2,800!
The second thing he needed to do was certify his strength as a Martial Artist.
The first matter wasn’t particularly important. The second was the real priority.
Once his status as a Martial Artist was officially certified, he would receive a Martial Artist Certificate. With an official Martial Artist identity, he would be entitled to far more privileges within the city.
For example, he could apply to use the Martial Artist Alliance’s library and Cultivation Rooms.
Having an official Martial Artist identity would also make almost everything in daily life far more convenient.
Forget about a 5th-Rank Martial Artist like him. Even a 3rd-Rank Martial Artist commanded considerable respect in society.
Once his certification was complete, Wang Huai’an would no longer be an ordinary wage earner. He would have crossed social classes and entered the upper levels of society as a 5th-Rank Martial Artist.
Status was always one of the most important things in society.
Besides, once Wang Huai’an obtained a certificate from the Martial Artist Alliance, Wang Teng would finally believe that his father really was a 5th-Rank Martial Artist.
During breakfast, Wang Huai’an hadn’t bothered demonstrating his strength directly to Wang Teng. It was still early in the morning, and he couldn’t be bothered explaining everything.
Once he had the certificate, Wang Teng would naturally believe him.
Before long, Wang Huai’an climbed into his battered old minivan and drove toward the factory.
The vehicle was so old that the radio was practically its only entertainment, so he turned it on to pass the time.
The worn speakers crackled with a hoarse voice.
Wang Huai’an muttered, “Once I have money, I’m replacing this battered old car.”
The radio continued, “King Ma, a 9th-Rank Martial Artist from Capital City, unexpectedly discovered a Grade-Nine Spirit Plant in a Demonic Beast activity zone. Its estimated value is nearly 1 billion yuan!”
“King Pan, an 8th-Rank Martial Artist from Magic City, was exposed for selling counterfeit liquor.”
“A grassroots civil service position in a county under an unnamed city is currently accepting applications. Applicants must possess at least an undergraduate degree in an Academic Track field. Competition is fierce, with the current applicant-to-position ratio reaching 8,283:1. According to reports, the position offers an astonishing monthly salary of 3,200 yuan!”
In the past, whenever Wang Huai’an heard broadcasts like this, he would only curse inwardly, ‘Damn those filthy rich people.’
But things were different now.
He could make money too.
The place where Wang Huai’an had worked all these years was a steel factory in the Old District.
Many people living nearby also worked at the factory, but most were temporary workers earning 2,800 yuan per month. The factory could dismiss them whenever it wanted.
Wang Huai’an wasn’t even forty yet, so he hadn’t quite reached the age when workers typically started getting laid off.
Still, he wasn’t many years away from it.
It was currently time for work, so he went straight to his team leader’s office.
First, he would resign.
Then, he would collect all the wages still owed to him.
It wasn’t much money, but there was no reason to waste it.
The team leader looked at Wang Huai’an’s resignation letter in surprise. “Your son is in his final year of high school, right? He’ll be going to university soon. This is exactly when you need money the most, yet you’re resigning now?”
Wang Huai’an smiled. “Yes. I have some new plans. I want to take a chance while I’m still young.”
Seeing that Wang Huai’an was serious, the team leader nodded. “All right.”
He then added, “You’re always welcome to come back. Jobs aren’t easy to find out there either.”
Wang Huai’an had originally imagined that his resignation might encounter some difficulties, giving him the perfect opportunity to reveal his strength and show off.
Unfortunately, nothing of the sort happened.
Sure enough…
The worlds described in novels were all lies.
After saying goodbye to the workplace where he had spent so many years, Wang Huai’an collected the three months of wages the factory still owed him and left.
Three months of wages amounted to less than 9,000 yuan.
He now had less than 40,000 yuan in total.
That was nowhere near enough to support Wang Teng’s cultivation. It was merely a drop in the bucket!
However, making money was incredibly easy for a Martial Artist.
Meanwhile, Wang Teng had already arrived at school!