After half a minute, the youth on the back seat finally spoke up. "Hong Da, could you give me some basic information on ability masters?"
"Mm," Instructor Hong grunted. It was hard to tell whether she was agreeing or simply acknowledging his words.
Only after a good while did she finally speak up. "Changed your mind?"
"You know so many people," Wu Youren answered in a low voice. "If I ask for some materials, you should be able to shoulder the heat."
That was only one of the reasons that pushed him to make up his mind.
There was another reason with even greater weight: tucked away in his private stash was a pale green Guizu relic!
Before this, he hadn't known what it was for. Now that he knew such items could shrink objects, his interest was thoroughly piqued.
He had to admit his understanding of the ability master system was still lacking.
Back on the ridge, he truly hadn't heard this information.
Otherwise, with what he knew then, he might well have seriously considered joining the military.
Looking back now, he felt genuinely fortunate that he had learned the right information at the right time.
"I shoulder it for you?" Hong Yan gave a faint snort. *Little guy, you're overthinking it.* "Whatever you face in the future is your own business."
"I meant the source of the materials," the youth clarified, indicating he never expected the grand instructor to take the fall for him.
As long as the materials came from a legitimate source, that would be enough.
"I'll rein in any ambitions of awakening... though I don't think I could awaken anyway."
"Studying these materials is mainly so I can figure out how to help you hunt Guizu relics."
"You..." Hong Yan paused for a moment before letting out a cold snort. "You certainly know how to please people!"
She knew very well that what the youth said might not be the whole truth, yet it was remarkably soothing to the ears.
Wu Youren stayed silent. Any reply to that would be the wrong one, so he simply kept his mouth shut.
Before long, the motorcycle reached the quarantine checkpoint, where even more people called out greetings.
This time, however, Grand Instructor Hong didn't even nod, heading straight for the gates of Red Pine.
This time, she dropped Wu Youren off right near his cabin.
Once he got off, Instructor Hong sped off on her motorcycle, leaving behind only a single sentence: "I'll have it delivered within two days."
Laden with bags large and small, Wu Youren spent quite some time settling into his room before finally coming outside to inspect the vegetable patch behind the cabin.
Left untended, the patch had grown into an unruly mess.
Even so, it was clear people had been coming and going; the fence lay in shambles, and a fair amount of vegetables had been taken.
"Really now... no shame at all," the youth muttered, shaking his head. He picked up his tools and set to work tidying it up.
Getting straight to tending the garden the moment he returned, without even pausing to rest—he really was one of a kind.
Yet Wu Youren knew full well that physical labor was just minor fatigue; a young man like him would bounce back after a good night's sleep.
What truly mattered was no longer having to live on edge, constantly fearing a threat could spring up around him at any second. That mental release was the true rest.
While he was busily working, someone called out from nearby. "Well now, you really do love farming."
Turns out the administrator had arrived.
Wu Youren had sensed his approach long ago. At the words, he stopped what he was doing, looked over at the man, and sighed.
He couldn't drop his persona: "Sigh, I've been away for so long, look at the state this plot is in."
"I even watered it for you," the administrator had the nerve to claim credit in the face of such a mess. "Autumn's here; there aren't many days left for planting."
*You probably helped yourself to my vegetables too, didn't you?* Still, Wu Youren had no ground to complain—who told him to stay away for so long?
"I'll think it over later and see if there's anything else I can grow in winter."
"Planting in winter?" The administrator was dumbfounded. Great Liang had no such tradition.
"Worth a try," Wu Youren replied offhandedly. *Did you really think my farming talent was just talk?*
Or maybe consider setting up a greenhouse?
Plastic sheeting was scarce here, while glass wasn't uncommon. But doing that... the cost would be rather steep, hardly worth the expense.
Dietary habits in Liang still centered on staples and meat—especially among martial artists—so vegetables couldn't fetch a high price.
Still, if it helped build his persona, operating at a loss to make a name for himself didn't seem entirely unbearable.
As he was pondering, the administrator spoke up. "All right then. I'll ask around for you and see what vegetables are suitable for winter planting."
*Huh?* Wu Youren cast him a surprised look. *Did you see Hong Da dropping me off?*
He gave a slight nod. "Then I'll trouble you with that."
Sure enough, the administrator nodded. "I was going to say you've been acting a bit too high-profile, which wouldn't do you any good. But you're fine—haven't let it get to your head!"
*Always playing the elder...* Wu Youren smiled. "Just looking at this patch is enough to remind me: I'm a nobody!"
"Well, that sort of thing is hard to guard against, unavoidable really," the administrator said with a sheepish look. Keeping watch over the vegetable patch wasn't his job, so the youth couldn't blame him, but since he was responsible for managing the area, it was still a little awkward to explain.
He turned to leave. "Now that you're back, keep a low profile. Oh, and don't forget the wine."
"Right, right," Wu Youren nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, whatever I owe you, I'll make up for it."
In the past, he had flattered the man to secure certain conveniences. Now... he might as well treat it as staying true to his original mindset.
Even though people in Liang generally worshiped raw power, letting success go to one's head was never a good trait.
In reality, his return this time had caused quite a stir. To say nothing else, who had ever seen a man sitting on the back seat of Hong Da's bike?
Far too many people had witnessed the scene at the quarantine checkpoint, and Instructor Hong hadn't bothered to explain at all before speeding off.
Near dusk, Cynthia arrived in Knight Rossi's vehicle, accompanied by Liu Jingming.
It was truly rare for the three of them to gather together—especially the son of the matrilocal son-in-law, who dared to visit openly in broad daylight.
The first person Wu Youren noticed was Liu Jingming. The fellow was actually leaning on a crutch, limping along.
Upon asking, he learned that Liu Jingming had also taken on an assignment, clashed with barbarians outside the mountains, and taken a blade to the leg.
Still, on the bright side, this counted as completing his mandatory assignment for the year.
Cynthia hadn't gone on an assignment; she had previously been stationed at the mountain pass and had also received an Excellent rating.
What she cared about, however, was: "How did Hong Da end up giving you a ride back?"
"I'll be taking on an assignment with her next time," Wu Youren felt there was no harm in saying this. "She wanted me to recover as quickly as possible."
Hearing this, Rossi couldn't resist speaking up. "Could you bring me along?"
Wu Youren glanced at him. This man's conduct was truly rather self-serving! Using people when they were useful, tossing them aside when they weren't.
Still, the man had driven his vehicle to help transport supplies before, so why go out of his way to breed resentment?
Given his current standing, making an issue out of someone like this was hardly worth the effort.
He nodded. "Sure. If the chance arises, I'll mention it to Hong Da. But whether it happens isn't up to me."
Rossi indicated that he accepted that explanation. Cynthia listened with a tinge of envy. "Count me in too!"
"You already have an 'Excellent' rating," Wu Youren said, somewhat exasperated. "Any new assignment won't be until next year."
Why join in on the fuss?
Cynthia rolled her eyes. "And you have a Perfect rating!"
"Fine, we'll talk about it when the time comes." Wu Youren didn't want to bicker with her, so the four of them began chatting about recent news around Red Pine.
What Wu Youren cared about most was the current buzz regarding the rumors about him being a hostage. And truth be told, the buzz had pretty much died down. The passion of youths was like a gust of wind—coming fast and fading just as quickly.
Lately, the ones messing up his vegetable patch weren't even the students who resented him, but merely opportunists looking to snatch whatever they could.
Cynthia had been powerless against it too; if passersby casually picked a melon or a couple of dates, could she really chase them all the way to their doorsteps?
The four talked late into the night. Liu Jingming went out to buy food, and Wu Youren stewed a large pot of meat—also obtained from the mountains.
Then came a silent contest of who would linger the longest. Rossi was the first to leave, while Cynthia locked horns with Liu Jingming.
In the end, the female martial artist departed first. Although Great Liang didn't place heavy emphasis on propriety between men and women, people still cared to some extent. In particular, Liu Jingming was notorious for selling Spring Delight, and she didn't want tongues wagging about her.
Wu Youren had assumed his companion was staying behind to press him for goods.
Instead, Liu Jingming spoke with a serious expression. "People from Haicheng Martial Academy have arrived too. Lei Lixing wants to mend relations with you."
"The earl's second son?" Wu Youren chuckled dismissively. "How much did you take from him?"
"He'd look down his nose at me!" Liu Jingming gave a cold snort. "Youren, it's mainly because you're doing the best out of all of us right now."
"Is that so?" Wu Youren shook his head. "How come I didn't know?"
Very few people knew of his current standing, even within Red Pine—aside from those with vested interests, he had always kept a low profile.
Liu Jingming snorted dismissively. "Do you think Jin has zero arrangements inside Liang?"
Indeed. Jin was merely defeated, not destroyed.
"Then I don't agree to mending relations," Wu Youren answered without hesitation.
"I don't know whether I count as doing well right now, but I want to say 'no'!"
He was truly holding back; otherwise, he could have said far nastier things.
But there was no need; someone like Lei Lixing no longer even entered his sights.
Liu Jingming knew very well what kind of life Wu Youren had lived back in Jin. Especially after Wu Youren made the selection list, the kick Lei Lixing gave him at the cafeteria entrance was hardly a secret among the hostage cohort.
He sighed. "He said he's willing to compensate you three thousand silver dollars!"
"Three thousand, heh," Wu Youren chuckled upon hearing that, though there wasn't a trace of amusement in his eyes.
Then he let out a long breath, murmuring softly, "Back when I was in Hostage Manor, I only had two silver dollars a month!"
"And I was only left with ten. He's not like the two of us," Liu Jingming understood the situation clearly. "He's the earl's legitimate second son."
"His stepmother wasn't stingy with money; she just didn't want him ever coming back!"
Wu Youren gave a cold smile. "As if any of us could go back... If he could save up that much, why'd he have to pick a fight with me?"
"I doubt he saved it up himself either." The son of the matrilocal son-in-law was surnamed Liu, after all, giving him half a foot inside that circle. He clearly knew a fair few more inside secrets. "Maybe someone gave him the money."
He didn't say who gave it, but did he really need to?
"Heh," Wu Youren sneered. "Three thousand? A single saber of mine is worth that much."
"Who the hell is he trying to insult?"
Chapter 118