Dawn of a New Era - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Martial Apprentice Test

Translator: Lordbluefire Editor: Lordbluefire
During the night, in the bedroom!

Chen Shouyi’s body was like a spring. The muscles of his entire body moved in unison, and his feet were like stepping on air, ethereal and unfixed. He would suddenly advance forward, retreat back, and drift to the left and right. Every time he pierced out, his movements were like flowing water, brimming with unique charm and a strange sense of beauty.

His hand was accurate and stable, sending out sword strikes like bullets. Every time he attacked with his sword, the muscles in his entire body would flow in rhythmic waves.

The sword tip pierced through space, issuing a muffled whistling sound.

This was the result of him attending the tuition lessons this month. His piercing attacks began to reach the point where he could control it with his will. At the same time, he was also gradually getting familiar with the basic steps, allowing his sword techniques to show its might.

For this point, it could be seen by the information in his attributes panel. His sword technique grading had already risen from the elementary grade to (Proficient: 3).

At this moment, he suddenly stopped while in the midst of high-speed movement.

His ears cocked and listened carefully. He swiftly placed his wooden sword back and walked a few steps to the desk in his room. He took out a reference book and pretended to be reading it seriously.

Very soon, the clear sounds of footsteps from his parents could be heard from the stairs outside.

And soon later, Chen Shouyi heard that the door to his younger sister’s bedroom also opened.

“Mother, I’m going to take the test at the test center tomorrow!”

Chen Shouyi listened intently!

“Child, this is such an important matter, why didn’t you say it earlier? We will accompany you there tomorrow.” Chen Dawei’s voice was filled with joy and surprise.

“Father, it’s okay. You guys should go busy yourself with your own stuff. My classmate will go with me. If you guys went with me, I would get nervous.”

“Your classmate? Is it a guy or a girl?” Mother Chen’s voice was filled with vigilance.

“Mother! My classmate is naturally a girl.” Chen Xingyue feigned anger coquettishly.

“That’s not good either. You girls are still so young. What if something happened? You wouldn’t know how to resolve it. How about this? Get your elder brother to go with you, so there would be a lookout for you at that time,” Mother Chen spoke.

In this one month, Chen Shouyi’s transformation was very great. His personality had become increasingly mature and steady. Thus, Mother Chen could also manage to set her heart at ease.

After that, she knocked on Chen Shouyi’s room door. “Shouyi, come out for a while.”

“Mother, is there something you need?” Chen Shouyi pretended to have a look of puzzlement on his face.

“Tomorrow, your younger sister is going to take the Martial Apprentice Test. You should accompany her there. Later on, I will transfer $500 to you. You can have lunch outside!”

Chen Shouyi glanced at Chen Xingyue and could see a type of disdain from her stupefied face. Clearly, she didn’t want to go with her elder brother. He felt a little bothered in his heart, but there was no change to his facial expression. He agreed and spoke, “Sure. Mother, I know it.”

…

On the second morning, after he had finished his morning practice in his bedroom, he went to his bathroom for a shower.

Just when he finished wearing his clothes, his younger sister rushed into his room energetically.

“I knew this would be the case.” Chen Xingyue crossed her arms as a ‘sure-enough’ look could be seen on her face. “You are wearing this out?”

Chen Shouyi glanced at the shorts and sandals he was wearing, before glancing at the T-shirt he had on. He didn’t feel it was inappropriate. He spoke in a confused manner, “These are something mother bought a week ago. I’ve only worn them once, so they are all new clothes.”

Through this month, Chen Shouyi’s body was rapidly growing stronger, and his old clothes were too tight now. Hence, Mother Chen had gone to the store next door to buy a few sets of clothes for him last week.

“Elder brother, it’s not like I want to diss you. But with your sense of fashion, it’s definitely impossible for you to find a girlfriend,” said Chen Xingyue with a look of disgust on her face.

Chen Shouyi also reacted after a moment. “Today is such a hot day, do you want me to wear a buttoned shirt and jeans? Moreover, these clothes were bought by mother. Are you not worried that I will tell her about this?”

Chen Xingyue felt panic a moment later and hurriedly spoke, “It’s very normal to wear such clothes when you are at home or strolling down the streets. But we are heading to the martial test center! That is such an official venue, yet you are going to dress so casually?

“I still have a good friend who is also my classmate coming along. At that time, when I introduce you two, you might be indifferent, but the one losing face will be me.”

Chen Shouyi blushed slightly, but he still tried to gain some face before his sister. “Sure, sure, sure. In that case, you choose the clothes for me. I won’t care any longer.”

Chen Xingyue heaved a sigh of relief. At long last, she had finally convinced her stubborn elder brother.

She instantly opened up the cupboard. A short time later, she picked white-bluish jeans as well as a pair of white sneakers. “Change into it.”

The two of them were blood siblings. Chen Shouyi wasn’t really bothered by the fact that his sister was standing beside him. He simply stood with his back facing her and changed into jeans and sneakers.

Chen Xingyue surveyed him for a total of ten seconds before finally sighing softly. “Your hair…forget it. We have no more time, this is barely sufficient. Luckily, I didn’t harbor any high hopes before I came in.”

Chen Shouyi felt depressed in his heart. He went back to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. Now that his sister reminded him, he discovered that his hair was indeed a little too long now.

…

After the two of them finished breakfast, they called for a cab and went to the martial test center.

“Xingyue, over here, over here!”

The moment Chen Xingyue got down the cab, there were two young girls waiting at the door, calling out to her.

“Didn’t I say to reach at eight? Why are you guys here so early?”

“We also just arrived.” A fair young maiden in a light-grey long dress smiled. “We ate breakfast nearby earlier and came here after that.”

“Xingyue, you are really awesome. If you pass the test this time, you will be number one in our class. At that time, I bet the expression on Xia Feifei’s face would be extremely ugly,” said the other young maiden in a short-sleeved shirt and hot pants. When she spoke, she bounced about. It appeared that she was filled with enthusiasm.

At this time, Chen Shouyi finished paying the fare and walked over. Chen Xingyue’s face blushed with some shame as she hurriedly spoke in a low voice, “Don’t say anymore, I came here with my elder brother.”

“Hello, Brother Shouyi!” Lu Shuyuan was the young maiden in a grey long dress. She greeted Chen Shouyi with a smile.

Zhang Qianru covered her mouth as she smiled. After that, she also greeted Chen Shouyi.

The clear and melodious voices of the two young maidens were like electrical currents, causing Chen Shouyi’s body to feel somewhat numb. Even all his fine hair was standing on their ends.

Seeing that her elder brother Chen Shouyi seemed to be lost in his thoughts, Chen Xingyue grumbled silently and hurriedly pinched him.

“Oh, hello to you two girls!” Chen Shouyi felt pain in his waist and instantly regained his senses.

In truth, the appearances of these two could only be considered as slightly above average. It was just that he never had many interactions with females. Therefore, upon facing two young maidens such as these, it was inevitable that he might not be able to react in time.

Zhang Qianru and Lu Shuyuan exchanged a glance before covering their mouths, giggling.

Seeing that her elder brother had lost her face before her friends, Chen Xingyue’s expression turned somewhat unsightly. She pretended to nonchalantly touch her forehead and changed the topic. “It is pretty hot outside, let’s enter.”

The martial test center was a building that consisted of five floors. The four of them swiftly entered the main hall.

Because the Martial Apprentice Test was only scheduled once every month, although there was still half an hour before the test, there was already a long queue here.

Some came with parents, some came with friends, and there were naturally also some who came alone.

Chen Shouyi’s judgment wasn’t bad, and he could roughly tell who were the test takers and who were the supporters.

He discovered that the majority of the test takers were quite old in terms of age. Less than 25% were around his age. And as for people like his sister, there were only two or three of them. Their number was pathetically small.

“I’ll join the queue. You should take a good rest and don’t let your condition be affected,” Chen Shouyi spoke.

Before Chen Shouyi, the young maidens acted somewhat lovable and well-behaved. The moment he left, they immediately started to chatter continuously.

“Xingyue, your brother is so good to you. I really envy you for having such a brother.”

“In truth, it’s still okay.” Chen Xingyue dryly laughed. She then continued, “He is considered pretty long-winded. I would even grow impatient with him sometimes.”

This immediately caused her friends to be filled with envy.

Chen Xingyue silently mused. “It’s because you guys don’t have elder brothers. If you have one, you wouldn’t feel that way.”

When they were younger, her elder brother always bullied her just because she was younger. She had always remembered this very clearly in her heart.

“Your brother is also studying in a senior high school?” Lu Shuyuan opened her eyes wide and asked with curiosity.

“Yeah, he is in senior high.”

“Which high school is he in?”

“Why? Have you taken a fancy in my brother?” Chen Xingyue teased. She didn’t really wish to answer this question. In truth, the high school her brother was in made her feel too embarrassed to mention it.

In Dongning City, there were a total of eight high schools. The number one high school was the most respectable, and the second to fourth high school was somewhat inferior but still barely made the cut. As for the other high schools, including the no. 5 high school Chen Shouyi was studying in, they were considered garbage schools.

Lu Shuyuan’s fair face instantly blushed, she feigned coquettishly. “I only want to be a little more acquainted with him. Xingyue, you are so awesome, your elder brother should also be pretty strong, right?”

“Yeah, yeah!” Zhang Qianru’s personality was more bubbly. She also jumped into the liveliness and commented, “We are all good sisters. Your elder brother is also our elder brother.”

Chen Xingyue actually wanted to help say something good about Chen Shouyi so he would be able to protect his face. But after thinking about it, she decided not to do so as the lies would be easily exposed.

“His results…are not too good. He is studying in the no. 5 high school. But even so, he still works very hard and would study until very late at night before he sleeps.”