"An exotic treasure?" Hearing that, the discipline inspector said with some indignance, "Did we do something wrong by giving up our rooms voluntarily?"
At this, Daiqisi glanced at the silent youth. "I can testify that Little Wu only stepped away briefly because he was swept aside by that massive tree."
"What does it have to do with him?" the female archer said indignantly. "Could this half-dead little bird really be an exotic treasure?"
"Pay them no mind," Hong Da spoke up lazily. "We'll lay low and enjoy the peace and quiet for a few days, then see if we want to head back to Mount Xuanling."
Following the disturbance in the Guizu domain, significant changes were bound to occur, meaning the information they had previously submitted to Red Pine might no longer be useful.
To be responsible, they could consider returning; besides, they could also farm another wave of Guizu relics.
Yet everyone could foresee that the aftermath of the Guizu domain's disturbance would not settle down in just a day or two.
No one objected to this. However, Daiqisi asked another question: "Hong Da, that attack by the Hall of Esoteric Masters... was that a legacy weapon?"
"I don't know," Instructor Hong shook her head bluntly, then assumed a solemn expression. "Don't speak that phrase in public from now on."
"Aren't we... among ourselves here?" Daiqisi gave an awkward smile.
She had wanted to ask this for a long time. It had not been easy to seize this chance, and once missed, she truly did not know who else she could ask.
You're wrong; there really is an outsider! Instructor Hong lowered her eyelids, deliberately avoiding looking at the Jin youth.
"This... I've heard a bit about it too," the discipline inspector spoke up. "Judging solely by the effect this time, it seemed like an ability master made a move."
"Then how many ability masters would that take?" a middle-aged knight chimed in. A senior instructor at Red Pine, he was well-traveled and experienced.
After all, Hong Da had only forbidden mentioning that specific term, not discussing the matter itself; he was clear-headed enough on that distinction.
He remarked with disdain, "Those fellows... are scared to death of dying."
"It might not go that far," Namuzha spoke up. "With so many Guizu domains in Liang, they probably just had their hands full."
"How could that be?" The discipline inspector shook his head, but said nothing more.
A legacy weapon... The Jin youth kept his head down meekly and stayed silent, quietly sorting through his gains from today.
"All right," Hong Da clapped her hands together and spoke sternly, "what was said stays among the eleven of us. None of it is to be leaked. Understood?"
Everyone nodded in unison. Who would be foolish enough to spread news like this?
"Then dismissed," Instructor Hong said crisply. "Those who want to take a walk outside, remember to come back early."
Those words caused a certain youth's body to quiver faintly. Go out for a walk?
For more than eight years, he had never experienced such a thing. Strictly speaking, from the moment he entered Liang eight years ago, he had lost his freedom.
The word "strolling the streets" was far too alien to him.
True, he had stepped outside Red Pine and wandered around inside the Martial Academy, but that was completely different from strolling freely through the city.
So, should he go out? Of course!
To expand his room for survival, he had to probe step by step rather than merely cowering in hiding.
He got up and left without drawing anyone's attention.
Yet when he stepped out of his room and walked toward the main gate, Manna was standing in the courtyard and whistled at him.
"Whew-whit! Where are you off to?"
She sounded every bit like a delinquent young woman teasing a handsome guy.
"I grabbed a bit of money and plan to look around," Wu Youren replied solemnly. "I'll be back early."
"Hey, wait up, let's go together!" A beauty dashed out from the side—it was none other than Daiqisi. "I haven't been to Tianjing in three months!"
"Well... all right," the youth hesitated briefly, then smiled and nodded. "Though I'm only going to look around nearby."
"Daiqisi, wait for me!" the female archer called down from the second floor. "Let me change clothes!"
"Read the room, will you?" the male archer popped up beside her. "I'll go with you. Don't go spoiling someone else's business!"
Watching the pair step out the gate, Manna turned back in bewilderment. "Master?"
This is a hostage from Jin. You're just letting him wander off like that?
"He's been cooped up too long," Instructor Hong said unhurriedly. "A genuine display of emotion... If he held back and refused to go out, that would be something to be wary of instead."
She truly did not see it as a big deal. Earlier, the youth had been able to enter and leave Red Pine freely with her pass token, and nothing had gone wrong.
As for him taking the opportunity to slip away from Liang?
Hong Yan did not believe such a possibility existed.
The youth's past conduct had already proven that he was a clever person!
Clever people rarely did foolish things, and if they truly acted foolishly, there was bound to be a compelling reason behind it.
Wu Youren truly had not expected that what he considered a risky test of boundaries would instead be taken as a genuine emotional impulse.
In other words, had he chosen to endure and stay put, he likely would have been suspected of harboring ulterior motives.
Evidently, many things in this world really defied logic.
Night had fallen by now. The streets of Tianjing were not particularly bustling, and assorted refuse was strewn everywhere along the roadside.
Wu Youren did not mind in the least; even though the air on the street smelled somewhat foul, he felt not the slightest discomfort.
Eight years. A full eight years. He truly had never imagined that one day he could walk freely amidst the bustling city.
His mood was unimaginably relaxed, leaving him momentarily in a daze: Am I dreaming?
A moment later, he took a deep breath, collected himself, and asked, "Instructor, are you familiar with this neighborhood?"
Daiqisi glanced sideways at him, thought for a moment, and said, "Where do you want to go? A tavern?"
"Uh," Wu Youren rubbed his chin. That arsenic wine... better pass on it. "My family doesn't allow drinking."
Actually, he quite wanted to take a look around a tavern. That was where the truest pulse of mortal life could be found.
Yet he had no idea how far Hostage Manor had expanded its counterfeit liquor business, nor did he have any interest in inquiring.
Going to a tavern and not drinking would look awkward, wouldn't it?
Could this be considered catching his own boomerang?
Daiqisi asked casually, "What does your family do?"
She had always been curious about the youth's true background, but since no one spoke of it, she had not felt comfortable bringing it up.
"Just an ordinary family," Wu Youren said offhandedly. "Alcoholism is terrifying, and before I advance to knight, I don't want to drink."
"Oh," Daiqisi nodded slightly. "There are two restaurants nearby that should still be open."
So there really are no late-night street stalls... Wu Youren gave a wry smile. Oh well, what was he even hoping for?
Being able to come out for a walk was already wonderful enough; human desires really were insatiable.
As the two reached the street corner and turned, several whistles rang out.
Four or five delinquent youths were leaning against the wall, whistling at the pair, one of them twirling a dagger in his hand.
Correction—there was also a rough-looking middle-aged man with a long scar over his right eye and an ugly hollow pit where the socket was.
He stood with folded arms, his single eye leering sideways at them, a revolver holstered on each side of his waist.
Wu Youren was not carrying a gun, but he had a long saber on his back and a scimitar at his waist, looking far from an easy target.
Daiqisi not only carried a pistol, but also had a rapier slung at her hip.
Against a pair like them, the thugs still dared to provoke them—one truly had to wonder where they got the nerve.
"Pay no attention to them," Daiqisi warned, worried the youth might lose his temper. "They're just scum."
How bored would I have to be to help Liang root out its scumbags? Wu Youren grunted in acknowledgment, and the two walked past unruffled.
There might be experience points, but how much could there be? He just hoped that helping clean up public morals wouldn't cause his experience points to drop instead.
"A little bird that doesn't even have feathers!" someone squawked from behind, and the bunch erupted in laughter.
"Look, the little bird's trembling with fear..."
Wu Youren glanced sideways at Daiqisi. "These scumbags... are right next to Red Pine's lodging?"
"They wouldn't dare set foot on that street," the female instructor answered casually. "Still, don't underestimate them."
"We aren't afraid of a head-on clash, but people like them love playing dirty."
Actually, I'm quite good at playing dirty too. Wu Youren nodded again. "Small fry like them aren't worth the trouble."
Daiqisi smiled. "I was worried that since you just came off the battlefield, you wouldn't be able to rein in your bloodlust."
Pausing briefly, she added, "You've seen that loan shark fellow; these guys might very well be his lackeys."
"Yeah," Wu Youren had thought of that as well. "Is the job market really this bad nowadays?"
Chatting idly, the two arrived at a restaurant.
The storefront was unassuming, but the interior was rather spacious, spanning over three hundred square meters, though the decor was thoroughly pedestrian.
In such a large restaurant, only four or five tables were occupied; it was likely nearing closing time.
The two ordered a few simple dishes, and Wu Youren asked, "Should we pack some food to bring back for Hong Da?"
Daiqisi asked with a faint smile, "If you pack some for her, what about Manna? What about Namuzha?"
"Then let's pack more," Wu Youren said without hesitation. He really wasn't hurting for money right now.
"Your treat?" Daiqisi laughed. "Waiter, bring me a jar of Jade Dew!"
Jade Dew was truly fine liquor. A jar held around two jin, yet it cost a staggering fifteen silver dollars.
That was almost equal to half a month's pay for a guard at Hostage Manor.
She wasn't exactly ripping him off. From this expedition into the Guizu domain, even if the youth's earnings hadn't reached ten thousand, they were at least in the high thousands.
Daiqisi gave him a sidelong glance. "Have some too. It doesn't pack much of a punch."
Wu Youren stared at the jar containing the Jade Dew, blinked a couple of times, and turned to the waiter. "Do you have milk?"
"Ha!" Daiqisi burst out laughing upon hearing that. "Drinking milk at a restaurant?"
"Yeah," Wu Youren nodded and answered in all seriousness. "I'm not even seventeen yet."
"Mhm, I know," Daiqisi nodded, laughing again. "Just like they said earlier, you're still small."
Wu Youren gave her a speechless look and nudged Aviator on his shoulder. "They were talking about it!"
Daiqisi laughed again, shaking with mirth until her whole body trembled, though she said nothing more.
It really is growing feathers... Wu Youren shook his head. "Let's eat."
The female instructor was stunning to begin with, and after laughing several times in a row, someone at a nearby table stared with wide eyes.
Noticing that the youth sitting across from the beauty was merely drinking milk, the man picked up his wine cup and strolled over.
A woman who could afford Jade Dew and looked so gorgeous—if he didn't try to strike up a conversation, he felt he would be doing himself a disservice.
Daiqisi rolled her eyes at him. Without even waiting for him to speak, her expression hardened, and she produced an identity badge, slapping it down onto the table with a sharp clack.
She looked at him calmly. "Do you recognize this?"
Chapter 151