Chapter 24: Boss Lady’s Strict Selection, Heng Ran Martial Arts School
Director Zheng got the answer he wanted and stood up straight away.
Seeing this, Principal Wu hurriedly stood up as well, smiling broadly as he spoke, “Director Zheng, about those other few we just mentioned…”
Principal Wu deliberately left his words half-spoken.
Director Zheng looked at him seriously, “We can do as you said. First registration, we’ll receive the relevant files. As long as their Spiritual Consciousness Development Level reaches 10% during the special recruitment on-site test, it’s fine.”
“Then thank you very much, I’ll see you out.”
Hearing this promise, Principal Wu happily went around Old Qian and attentively walked Director Zheng out.
Old Qian followed behind with a forced smile, feeling fortunate in his heart.
Luckily, when he went to find Ge Bai earlier, he had played it safe and didn’t start cursing in the office, otherwise it would have been even more embarrassing now.
Ge Bai was still completely unaware of everything that had happened at the school.
She probably couldn’t imagine that the registration process issue that had been giving her a headache was effortlessly resolved while she was brutally beating Jiang Yan’s Porcupine Beast.
At this moment, Ge Bai, hurrying to the Bus Station, had her mind full of the new System Task.
After transferring to two buses, she finally arrived at Shangwu Street.
Just stepping off the bus, she could clearly feel the thick Martial Arts School atmosphere.
On the advertising board behind the Bus Station platform, there was a huge portrait of a silver-patterned leopard beast posted, with matching advertising slogan beside it: “Shangtai Martial Arts School, Inheriting Martial Virtue”.
It seemed this was a Martial Arts School mainly focused on cultivating leopard-type Spirit Beasts.
Rounding the Bus Station platform, after just a couple steps, she could see a tall faux-antique stone archway.
The three large characters “Shangwu Street” were inlaid with obsidian on a white jade stone slab, hanging at the top of the archway, especially eye-catching.
Entering Shangwu Street, she could see the over two-meter-wide street surface was quaint and straight, entirely paved with bluestone slabs.
High buildings and shops lined both sides of the street, “Yongyue”, “Wuyuan”, “Qiandao”, “Yunhe”, “King Kong”… Martial Arts School signs were densely packed.
Ge Bai hadn’t known much about Martial Arts Schools before, only that different Martial Arts Schools mainly targeted different types of Spirit Beasts, and some more specialized ones even focused on honing specific Skills for certain Spirit Beasts.
She had thought too simply. Now really stepping into Shangwu Street, Ge Bai truly didn’t know where to go.
“Bai Bai, it’s so lively here.”
At this time, Big Willow stood on Ge Bai’s shoulder, looking around. A Spirit Plant that had just left the Botanical Garden two days ago had never seen such a street, feeling like its eyes weren’t enough.
It was already past 11 a.m. by now. Through the windows of various Martial Arts Schools, she could see intense Training happening inside many of them.
The small restaurants nestled between the Martial Arts Schools were also bustling with people coming and going nonstop.
How about eating something first.
Ge Bai touched her stomach and found a small shop that looked quite clean. After going in, she sat at a spot with a wide view.
“Boss Lady, what’s your signature dish?”
“Little girl coming to eat? Then try our Pork Knuckle Wooden Bucket Rice. The freshly braised Pork Knuckle is fragrant.”
The Boss Lady was very enthusiastic, and Ge Bai paid readily.
With her own lunch settled, she didn’t forget to open a bottle of Nutrient Solution for Big Willow.
Big Willow wasn’t polite either, hugging the Nutrient Solution and gulping it down fiercely.
While fumbling in her bag, Ge Bai also touched half a bottle of Young Plant Nutrient Solution. Oh, she hadn’t called out Little Peach to get some air today.
But Ge Bai absolutely wouldn’t admit that she had forgotten about Little Peach in this half day.
She silently Summoned Little Peach.
“Peach~”
The Little Peach that condensed in her palm was probably well-rested, exceptionally lively, flapping its small Leaves and bouncing around in Ge Bai’s palm.
Big Willow stood on Ge Bai’s shoulder, and seeing Little Peach come out, it didn’t move, just stretched out Willow Threads to poke Little Peach’s tender little head.
Little Peach also affectionately rubbed against Big Willow’s Willow Threads.
Ge Bai watched these two little things with an auntie smile, and smoothly stuffed the half bottle of Young Plant Nutrient Solution that Little Peach had left from yesterday into its arms.
“Hold it steady, drink slowly.”
“Peach yao, peach yao.”
Little Peach hugged the Nutrient Solution, hopping from Ge Bai’s palm to the tabletop, sticking to the window to look at the scenery outside.
With these two taken care of, Ge Bai waited for the Boss Lady to make the Rice Bowl with Toppings while peering through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the small shop, continuing to survey the surrounding Martial Arts Schools.
The Boss Lady behind the counter saw that Ge Bai was neat and tidy still wearing her school uniform, and couldn’t help asking a couple more questions.
“Little girl, are you here for Martial Arts School Training?”
Hearing the Boss Lady’s question, Ge Bai politely turned and nodded.
“Yes, but it’s my first time here, and I don’t know which Martial Arts School is reliable.”
“Oh, then you’ve come to the right place.”
It seemed this Boss Lady was quite the warm-hearted person.
“I’ve lived on this street for over thirty years, and taken over this restaurant for over a dozen. I know better than anyone which Martial Arts Schools are reliable.”
Ge Bai subconsciously glanced at the Boss Lady’s face. There were faint crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, but she looked no older than early forties.
Noticing Ge Bai’s skeptical gaze, the Boss Lady smiled brightly.
“Don’t doubt it. This restaurant was originally opened by my dad, I’ve been playing on this street since I was little.”
Hearing the Boss Lady’s explanation, Ge Bai quickly adjusted her expression and blinked.
“Kao Ya, bring the meal to the customer.”
“Ya!”
Suddenly, a Platypus Beast wearing a blue floral apron waddled out from behind the counter in standard duck steps, lifting the curtain.
It held a plate of Rice Bowl with Toppings high above its head with its right palm, steadily delivering it in front of Ge Bai.
After placing the plate down properly, it also opened its left palm to offer a pair of disposable Chopsticks.
Ge Bai looked at the Platypus Beast working so seriously and couldn’t hold back. She took the chance to touch the tuft of silly fur standing up behind its duck head.
Ha, nice texture. Ge Bai, having successfully scratched her itch, was delighted.
“Ya!”
The Platypus Beast pressed down the silly fur with one hand, protesting unhappily at Ge Bai.
“Kao Ya, the little girl likes you. Letting her touch the silly fur won’t make it fall off.”
The Boss Lady leaned on the counter with both hands, propping her head and grinning as she watched this side.
Seeing the Platypus Beast unhappy, Ge Bai also gave an apologetic smile.
The Platypus Beast pouted, turned around, and waddled back behind the counter.
“This is my Pet Beast, always helping me in the shop.”
As the Platypus Beast passed the Boss Lady, it got its duck head rubbed hard by her again.
“Ya! Ya!” This time it was a louder protest, but it was immediately drowned out by the Boss Lady’s giggling laughter.
It seemed the root of the unhappiness was here.
After bullying her own Pet Beast, the Boss Lady didn’t forget the Martial Arts School topic she had just chatted about with Ge Bai.
“Little girl, look at that ‘Heng Ran Martial Arts School’ directly across the street, it’s very good.”
“They’ve been open for a few decades too. The Martial Arts School owner’s daughter should be about your age, also a very cute little girl.”
Suddenly praised as cute out of nowhere, Ge Bai blushed a bit, smiled at the Boss Lady, and lowered her head to wolf down the rice.
This Pork Knuckle is really good!
In between shoveling rice, Ge Bai didn’t forget to look up and check out that “Heng Ran Martial Arts School”.
The sign wasn’t the most grand, but the Doorway was very clean, and the two-story Martial Arts School had much higher ceilings than others.
Through the windows, she could vaguely see a row of four or five burly men furiously pumping iron.
A Martial Arts School biased toward Strength type? Ge Bai was a bit hesitant, but since the Boss Lady recommended it, she planned to go take a look.
“Thanks, Boss Lady. I’ll head over in a bit.”
The chapters these past two days are relatively gentle, the pacing might be a bit slow, but I think plot setup needs careful depiction too. Even a Platypus Beast that only appears once or twice should feel vivid and alive. I’ll pay attention to the pacing. Right at this Martial Arts School, there’ll be a little fight in a couple days.
