Chapter 86: VIP
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After he showed the guards his temporary martial arts license, Fang Ping was allowed to enter the school.
The school was too large, so even though many students had stayed behind on campus, they were still scattered all around the university. That made it extremely difficult to bump into anyone.
Fang Ping noticed that it was getting late, so he stopped wandering around aimlessly.
He asked a guard where the reception was, and then Fang Ping made a beeline for it.
...
It took him seven or eight minutes of walking around campus grounds before Fang Ping finally found the reception office.
It was actually an old three-story block that looked significantly more worn than the other buildings next to it.
Just like the train station, the first floor was set up like a spacious service center.
Right now, however, it was very quiet inside. Freshmen were not due to register just yet, and the reception was usually meant to receive visiting parents anyway.
Some students were away from campus on their missions, so when their parents showed up at the university, the staff were in charge of making these parents comfortable.
MCMAU had the funding, so when parents came to visit and the students had not made any arrangements, the university would take care of their food and lodging. This was also one of the ways they acknowledged their martial arts university students.
“Knock knock knock...”
Fang Ping knocked on the glass doors softly, the sound reverberating clearly through the vast empty hall.
“Come in!”
Once she heard the knocks, a middle-aged woman taking a nap behind a counter hurriedly stood up and responded.
When Fang Ping walked in, the woman saw the luggage he was carrying, and she said with some surprise, “Are you a freshman?”
If he was not, he would not need to go to the reception office.
“Hi, Aunty. I’m a Year 1 freshman, and here’s my acceptance letter...”
Fang Ping was very polite, and he hastily pulled out his acceptance letter, handing it to her together with his temporary martial arts license.
The woman took the documents and gave them a glance. Instead of proceeding to examine them properly, however, she simply said, “Are you here to register already? The school hasn’t settled your accommodations yet, you know.
“In the past, students who came early were only early by three to five days. There’s an entire month before the start of the semester...”
The woman frowned slightly, a little troubled.
When freshmen came to the reception office, they were naturally here to ask for accommodation. However, the hostels had not been sorted out yet, so it was not too easy to arrange for now.
Still, when Fang Ping was at the station, Chen Zichuan had said that he could go to Magic City Martial Arts University for help, and Qin Fengqing had also advised him to come to the reception office.
There was a reason they said what they said, of course.
If it were any normal university, a student who arrived this early would naturally be left to their own devices. The university was not going to lift a finger to help.
However, while Magic City Martial Arts University was officially a school, it had long since transformed into an enormous union of martial and economic might.
The students of Magic City Martial Arts University were also the cream of the crop, the leaders of the future.
Although the woman was slightly troubled, she still gave it some thought before saying, “We haven’t settled the dorms yet, and registration hasn’t begun yet either.
“If you don’t mind, young man, I can arrange a room for you at the Magic Martial Hotel outside school grounds.
“Once registration begins, you can come here again and we’ll make further arrangements.”
Fang Ping was surprised to hear that. He had not expected the school to actually arrange accommodation for him.
Judging from the name alone, it was obvious that this Magic Martial Hotel belonged to the school.
Fang Ping had not made any accommodation arrangements himself yet, so if the school could handle it for him, he did not have to go to that extra trouble.
It was not that he wanted to save some money. The most important bit that he was not familiar with the surroundings around the martial arts university.
He could stay in the university’s hotel for now, and if he did not like it, he could just look for a house later.
“Sure, it’s fine by me. Thank you, Aunty.”
“No worries. I’ll help you register for now.”
The woman was unlike the receptionists in most universities. For some universities, the staff there were extremely averse to making any extra effort, and they were quite harsh with their words, too.
When it came to students who ignored the rules like him, they would simply ignore him should he come knocking.
At martial arts universities, however, that was extremely rare.
These students had an extremely bright future ahead, so there was no need to offend them needlessly.
The woman began keying in Fang Ping’s information, and that was when she noticed his martial arts license as well.
After giving it a glance, she suddenly stared at the computer for quite some time.
After that, she could not help but look at Fang Ping again. Once she was sure he was the right guy, the woman finally said with some surprise, “Student Fang Ping, did you break through and become a martial artist after your test?”
“No, I’m still an aspiring martial artist.”
“Oh, so you’re twice-honed?”
“That’s right.”
Fang Ping was feeling somewhat despondent. Was this the difference between a large city and a small town?
Almost no one in Sun City knew about honing your bones twice.
Here at Magic City, however, it felt as though everyone knew about it.
Of course, that also had to do with the people Fang Ping met. Chen Zichuan and the lady were in charge of welcoming martial artists, Qin Fengqing was a martial arts university student, and the woman before him now was also an employee at a martial arts university.
It was natural that they would know about twice-honing.
There were quite a few twice-honed students at Nanjiang Martial Arts University, so there had to be many more at Magic City Martial Arts University.
“Impressive!”
When she heard Fang Ping’s answer in the affirmative, the woman praised him sincerely.
On 1 May, his Vitality was at 149cal.
On 31 July, he had more than 180cal!
He had only taken three months to get that far. It was not easy to make such progress after breaking through his limits.
Of course, while it was difficult to achieve that within three months, that did not mean it was impossible. After all, Magic City Martial Arts University had no shortage of prodigies.
Fang Ping did not explain any further. He had achieved his second bone-honing midway through June, after all.
Almost a month had passed since then, so naturally Fang Ping would not have stayed at the same level.
Wealth: 2800000
Vitality: 196cal (199cal)
Mentality: 197cal (199cal)
When he was at 189cal, Fang Ping’s Wealth was 3.2 million. After that, he had received another hundred thousand as a reward, so it rose to 3.3 million.
Now, his Vitality had increased by 10cal, while his Mentality remained unchanged. It had taken up 500 thousand of Fang Ping’s Wealth.
Upon reaching 199cal Vitality and 199Hz Mentality, Fang Ping had been stuck here for three to four days. His Mentality had not changed this entire month, either.
The 200cal limit he had predicted earlier was now proven true as well.
If all went according to his expectations, Fang Ping would be able to hone his bones for the third time once he reached 200cal Vitality.
After the third honing, Fang Ping decided he would break through.
“I wonder how long it’ll take. This barrier will be a little hard to break...”
Fang Ping murmured inwardly. From the way his Mentality had not budged over an entire month, Fang Ping could tell that 200 was going to be a tough obstacle to overcome.
There were extremely few thrice-honed potential martial artists. Nanjiang Martial Arts University did not have a single one, and as far as Wang Jinyang knew, Magic City Martial Arts University Only had one.
That just showed how difficult it was.
After that word of praise, the woman continued to help Fang Ping register as she said, “If you want to break through and become a martial artist, Student Fang, you can get the hotel to inform the school.
“Although the semester hasn’t started yet, when a twice-honed potential martial artist wants to break through and become a martial artist, the school can send an instructor to watch over you.”
The difference in strength dictated a difference in treatment.
If Fang Ping was not a twice-honed potential martial artist, if he was at 150cal and attempting to become a martial artist now, the school might not necessarily make any arrangements for him.
After all, the semester had not started yet. They would have to make an exception and trouble an instructor too. Most people were not worth all that effort.
A breakthrough had to involve a middle-rank martial artist, and these instructors were not subject to anyone’s beck and call.
When Fang Ping heard that such an arrangement was possible, he said with some surprise, “Even now?”
“Of course. You’re twice-honed, and that puts you at the front of the pack, even amongst your entire cohort.
“A regular martial arts university student isn’t as prioritized as you guys.”
Now that she knew what Fang Ping was capable of, the woman became much more enthusiastic.
Since he was twice-honed, once he became a martial artist, he would soon sweep through the first three ranks like they were nothing.
Such a student would be very prized and loved by the instructors.
Some of the students who became martial artists before the Gaokao might not necessarily be twice-honed. Even if they were Rank-1 now, there was a high chance Fang Ping’s progress would soon surpass theirs.
The woman was almost certain that if Fang Ping chose to break through now, an instructor would come over to stand guard over him within less than an hour.
“So if I wanted to try honing my bones thrice...”
Fang Ping ventured, and the woman said in surprise, “You want to hone your bones three times?”
Fang Ping said with a laugh, “I’d like to try...”
“Student Fang, I would advise against that.”
The woman shook her head. “Thrice-honing takes too long, and it’s exceedingly difficult as well.
“Over the past few years, fewer than five martial arts university students actually managed to complete their thrice-honing.
“Some of them have already graduated, and the only one left is Student Xie Lei in Year 2.
“Student Xie Lei has completed his third honing, but he is only at Rank-2 now. Some of his friends in the same cohort have already reached Rank-3.”
“Xie Lei....”
The last time, Fang Ping had heard Old Wang mention that in passing. He said there was a thrice-honed student at Magic City Martial Arts University as well.
Since the woman said there was only one student left, that had to be this Xie Lei, right?
He was thrice-honed, but he was still at Rank-2, which meant he was one rank lower than Wang Jinyang.
No wonder Old Wang said thrice-honing should not be forced. It may not even be a good thing, because it simply took up too much time.
The woman advised him as such because she did not know that Fang Ping was merely one step away.
Fang Ping did not say anything more, either. He simply thanked her and set the topic aside.
Soon enough, the registration was complete.
The woman picked up the office phone on her desk and made a call.
Less than five minutes later, a business car stopped at the entrance to the reception building.
A man in his thirties, dressed in a suit despite the hot day, walked in and immediately said cheerfully, “I’m here, Big Sis Zhang.”
“I noticed!”
The woman huffed and immediately turned to Fang Ping, saying, “He’s the guest rooms manager for Magic Martial Hotel, so he’ll take you there.”
With that, the woman turned to the man and said, “Li Chengze, this is Student Fang Ping, a Year 1 student. The school hasn’t made any arrangements for the dorms yet, so he’ll be staying with you guys for the time being.
“Oh yeah, Student Fang has completed his second honing, so put him on the sixth floor.”
When he heard that, Li Chengze’s eyes lit up. Magic Martial Hotel catered mainly to the students’ parents.
In other words, their guests were mainly the students’ parents, and of course a few regular customers as well.
However, most Magic City Martial Arts Universities had their own dorms, so very few students stayed in Magic Martial Hotel.
That went for the freshmen as well. Most of them would not arrive as early as Fang Ping had.
Although Magic Martial Hotel belonged to Magic City Martial Arts University, the university itself did not really care about such a small business. People like Li Chengze rarely came into contact with the members of Magic City Martial Arts University, and even when he did, it was never for long.
Now that Fang Ping was a month ahead of schedule, did that mean he was going to stay with them for a month?
Li Chengze was not a martial artist. By now, Fang Ping felt like martial artists were a dime a dozen, but that was because he was a member of that circle.
To outsiders, martial artists were still head and shoulders above them.
To provide service for a martial artist... No, he was not a martial artist yet, but to serve a twice-honed potential martial artist was even more important than serving a Rank-1 one.
The sixth floor was usually reserved or real martial artists, anyway.
Li Chengze did not need any more instructions from the woman. He immediately picked up Fang Ping’s luggage by his own initiative, saying politely, “Mr. Fang, thank you for staying with Magic Martial Hotel. If you need anything, please feel free to tell me.”
Fang Ping could not get used to his passionate initiative, and he took back his own luggage as he said with a smile, “You don’t have to be too polite, Manager Li. I’m the one imposing on you.
“Aunty, I’ll go on ahead then. Thank you.”
“Don’t worry. While we’re settling the dorms, I’ll try to get you a better one...”
The woman said with a laugh, but there were a few layers of meaning in that one line.
If she could interfere with the allocation of dorms, that meant she had a few connections within the workings of the martial arts university itself.
That was normal, though. The employees and administrative staff at a university tended to be closely connected to the school itself.
They could be the higher-ups’ family members, the instructors’ partners, or even some of the students’ family members.
Fang Ping did not dwell on it for too long. He thanked her politely for a bit before leaving the block with Li Chengze.
...
A few minutes later, Fang Ping arrived at Magic Martial Hotel.
When he saw the hotel that was understated on the outside and extravagant on the inside, Fang Ping was hard-pressed to believe that the hotel provided the students’ families with free rooms!
They had the money to throw around!
That was the one line that constantly came to mind today.
Fang Ping could stay here for free, eat here for free, use the limo service for free...
Fang Ping even wondered if he could satiate his carnal desires for free, should he need it?
Seeing how eager Li Chengze was to please him, Fang Ping thought it quite likely.
With Li Chengze’s overeager accompaniment, Fang Ping arrived at his own room. It was as big as a presidential suite!
There was a gym, a reception hall, a kitchenette, a lounge, a bedroom, a bar...
There was everything he could want!
“Is this really free?”
Fang Ping asked an embarrassing question.
He had no choice but to ask. A room like this, in Magic City no less, had to cost at least two or three thousand a night, right?
That was an estimate on the low side, too.
A month’s stay would cost him sixty to seventy thousand. Even if he could afford it, he should not splash the cash like that. If Fang Yuan knew, she would probably strangle him.
Li Chengze’s expression did not change at all, and he said amicably, “It’s free! Magic Martial Hotel is meant to house the school’s students and their families, after all.
“Mr. Fang, you’re twice-honed, so your room is slightly better than the others’. Still, the other rooms are great, too...”
“That’s good to hear. Thank you, Manager Li, but I’m a little tired now...”
There was no need to say too much. Li Chengze immediately said with a smile, “If you need anything, Mr. Fang, you can just press the bell and someone will come by to help.
“I’ll leave you to your rest, then. Call me whenever you need me.”
“Right, thanks...”
“...”
Once he sent Li Chengze away, Fang Ping walked to the balcony and muttered, “Just like that, I’m a VIP now?”
He had not even officially enrolled yet, but Fang Ping could already feel the difference.
His status as a martial arts university student, and a twice-honed one at that, had shown him many new sights that he would not have encountered in Sun City.
There were too few martial artists in Sun City, so they were too far removed from regular people.
Everyone kept talking about martial artists, but very few of them actually met a martial artist.
Turning around to look at the enormous room, the corner of Fang Ping’s lips curved up. “Too bad I can’t take a picture. If I send one to Fang Yuan, she’ll probably run here in an instant...”
It was because everything was free!
The food and accommodation were free, so she just had to pay for the journey here.
If Fang Yuan knew that, how could she sit still?
Nevertheless, Fang Ping still had some things to do, and it would trouble him if she came, so he had no choice but to resist the urge to gloat. Maybe next time.
Leaning on the sofa, Fang Ping heaved a sigh. His food and boarding were settled now.
Next, he had two more things to handle. One was a way to earn money, and the second was his third honing.
He wanted to complete both of those before the semester began, then he would break through and become a martial artist once school started.