Free stuff is always better than expensive things. But at that time, there were still some people that were suspicious of the authenticity of what Master Red was teaching. This limited how many people were willing to switch to the free alternative.
There were some who thought themselves too big to learn on the same open field as poor people, and there were some who were afraid of Master Owl Claw.
This last group of people was afraid of what Master Owl Claw would do to them if they went to the Red Dojo. After all, what they were doing was tantamount to betrayal. So they didn't leave the dojo.
But that was two years ago. It has been three years since the dojo was open, and a lot of people now know that what Master Red is teaching is authentic. This made the students of many dojos flock to the Red Dojo.
There is also the matter of Master Red teaching the advanced mana breathing technique for free. This made those at the fourth, fifth, and sixth transformations in their dojo leave too.
Some of these people were teachers in the Owl Claw dojo. But they left in a hurry to learn in another dojo.
When Skylar left for the regional sect examination, his adopted father, who is also his master, had to bring out their savings for him to train to reach the eight transformations in time for the examination.
At that time, they still had some students and all their teachers. They also had the option to teach the advanced mana breathing technique. They don't plan to do so, but at least they had the option.
But now they don't have that option. The dojo is empty and barely holding on. It caused all the wine that Skylar drank that night to taste bitter.
After the party, he had a solemn chat with his adopted father.
The two of them sat around a table in the sitting room on the ground floor of their large house. There was a maid serving them drinks and snacks.
In the past, there used to be at least two maids serving them. One for each guest at the table. But now, they can only afford one maid for the both of them.
The maids in the house used to be five. They have reduced that to two.
They used to have two cooks and four other servants in the kitchen. But now they can only afford one cook and one servant.
They are not as financially buoyant as they used to be. That much is obvious. The reason why they are poor is also clear.
In the past, there was usually a lot of noise from the courtyard in front of the compound and the large dormitory between the courtyard and this building. He and his father used to complain that there was too much noise. But now, they could clearly hear the clinking of their cups of tea as they stir it with a spoon.
Their compound was silent. It was silent so they could hear what they couldn't hear before.
Their compound was silent because it was empty. It was empty of students, so their coffers are also empty of money. In exchange for the lack of money, they got peace and quiet.
Skylar was not happy about that. He stored his tea and took a sip of it with a gloomy heart and a frown on his face.
He held his tea and asked, "Father, what do you plan to do about the Red Dojo?"
Master Owl Claw sighed and said, "What can I do?"
Before Skylar could reply, he explained what he had tried. "I and some other people put money together to hire Black Mantis to warn Master Red Mane not to teach his advanced mana breathing technique for free. If that had worked, I was planning to press Master Red Mane further and make him also withdraw the teaching of his basic man breathing technique. But things didn't work out."
"Black Mantis disappeared soon after. No one saw him again after he took that mission. We also implored the fire grade dojos to pressure and convince him. They refused to do anything to him. So even if you manage to reach the second mortal coil, it is unlikely that you will be able to stop him."
Skylar didn't like what he heard. He said, "Even if I reach the second mortal coil? How will I reach it without money? At this rate, will I ever reach the second mortal coil?"
Master Owl Claw tried to calm him down. "I can borrow some money to help you reach the second mortal coil. You don't have to worry about that."
Skylar was still frowning. He said, "What next after I reach the second mortal coil? Will I teach the advanced mana breathing technique then? Who will come to our dojo to learn it when they can learn it from him for free?"
Master Owl Claw didn't know what to say. Eventually he said, "With a strength at the second mortal coil, you will be able to wane money with hunting. As long as you stay at the edge of the green forest, you will have no problem whatsoever."
Skylar dropped his teacup on the table with anger. He shook his head and said, "That's not enough for me. Am I supposed to give up the family business because of him?"
Master Owl Claw shook his head as he replied, "Not forever. We just need to hang back for a while. When he leaves for the regional sect examination, our dojo will be full. If he joins a sect, then we won't have any problems anymore."
Maybe Skylar would have calmed down after he heard the first part of what his adopted father said. But he couldn't calm down after hearing the second part.
When he was leaving for the regional sect examination, his father had told him to survive at all costs. That was his major goal. His second goal was to earn the force diagram, not enter a sect.