Cynthia chatted away cheerfully, showing none of the irritation from having her Cloud-Soaring Pill rejected earlier.
Listening to her, Wu Youren felt a bit puzzled. Previously, she had cut off contact the moment she said she would, so why was she going out of her way to butter him up now?
Then again, thinking it over, it made sense. In interactions between young men and women, whether the west wind prevailed over the east or vice versa, it always came down to who gained the upper hand.
She had already yielded once before. Having taken that hardest first step, backing down further was hardly surprising.
Seeing the radiant glow on the female martial artist's face, Wu Youren stuffed the rest of the wolf peach into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I appreciate your good intentions, but I can't leave the martial academy right now. You should go with them."
Cynthia's face darkened. "Are you still angry with me? Or do you plan to go with Sally?"
Sally was the viscount's daughter, whose family had two grand knights.
Was there really... not a single secret left? Wu Youren touched his forehead in exasperation. "Can I have a third reason?"
"I don't think you do." Cynthia's expression grew even darker. "Whom did you promise?"
"He promised me." A figure walked over from the distance—none other than Instructor Kelly.
Instructor Kelly did not look pleased. Confronted with a rival trying to poach from under her nose, it would be strange if she were in a good mood.
Expressionlessly, she said, "If you want to go to Suotu, find your own way... Keep your hands off the person I chose."
Beside her walked another person, the same female martial artist from Great Liang from earlier that afternoon.
"Greetings, Instructor," Wu Youren greeted her hurriedly. "I never said I was going."
"First, get me some vegetables," Instructor Kelly said naturally, glancing at the two female martial artists. "You two wait over to the side."
Whether Cynthia recognized her or not, at her words she obediently retreated to a distance—as did the other girl.
Watching Wu Youren pick vegetables, the female instructor spoke slowly: "You don't seem very interested in leaving the martial academy?"
"That's... not quite it." Wu Youren's hands paused slightly as he gathered the greens. "I just feel Suotu Town is a bit dangerous."
He was a mere apprentice knight; what was wrong with steering clear of danger of that caliber?
"You want to leave and never come back, don't you?"
Wu Youren's hands paused once more before he replied, "I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean, Instructor."
"As a hostage, who wouldn't want to return to Jin?" Kelly said coldly. "In Great Liang, you're constantly pinched for coin."
Here it came! This time, Wu Youren showed no outward reaction, remaining completely calm.
After a few seconds of silence, he answered slowly, "That's why it wouldn't be appropriate for me to leave the academy."
"You can leave," Kelly stated bluntly. "Senior Instructor Hong isn't afraid of you leaving either."
"What if I run away?" Wu Youren felt there was no need to hide things from her. "Why take such a big risk, Instructor? There's no need to test human nature."
Kelly fell silent. Only after a while did she speak: "Your grandfather is dead!"
Wu Youren's body froze uncontrollably for a second.
Then he resumed picking vegetables, replying faintly, "I only ever met him once."
At this moment, he felt the ways of the world were truly too absurd.
He had zero emotional attachment to this nominal grandfather of his. They had only met briefly back when he was about to be sent away as a hostage, just so they could recognize each other—all to avoid failing to identify him when the authorities verified their identities.
Yet his grandfather had died, living expenses were still being sent regularly, and no one had given him any notice of unusual developments.
Neither the guards at Hostage Manor nor the Life-and-Death Knot had uttered a word about this.
To actually learn this information from a martial academy instructor was truly surreal.
"Don't you find it strange?" Instructor Kelly asked in a low voice. "How I would know about this?"
"It is... strange, I suppose." Wu Youren was at a loss for how to answer normally. "How do you know?"
"The ulcer in your younger sister's armpit healed six months after you left."
Wu Youren fell silent, not uttering another sound.
Only after finishing picking the vegetables in silence and gathering them together did he straighten up and ask, "May I ask what you actually want me to do, Instructor?"
Kelly replied unhurriedly, "You need to work hard to make money."
Wu Youren sighed. In his eight years as a hostage, this was the moment someone understood his situation most accurately.
If she even knew the details from when he left home, it was naturally impossible for her not to know his financial circumstances.
He muttered softly, "I'm sorry, but there are some things I will never do."
"My grandfather was a prince of the State of Xi," Instructor Kelly replied obliquely, her voice very quiet. "So I don't mind teaching someone from Jin."
The State of Xi had fallen more than forty years ago, its territory annexed by Great Liang.
As an ethnic group, the Xi people nominally no longer existed, but it was only natural that some harbored lingering grievances.
"My respects, then." Wu Youren nodded slightly. How could the gap between grandfathers be so immense?
Still, that a descendant of the Xi could know details about Jin with such precision couldn't possibly be just because he was handsome.
Kelly waited a moment. Seeing that he had nothing more to say, she continued, "Find a way to earn more money and pay my tuition fees. Once you become my student, you won't have to worry about earning even more."
Wu Youren pondered for a moment longer before asking, "Is there any chance I'll ever return to Jin in this lifetime?"
"That depends on the development of relations between the two kingdoms," Kelly answered without hesitation. "There's no need to ask me that question."
"Then my strength doesn't matter," the youth sighed softly. "Even if I cultivate all the way to Divine Might Knight, what of it?"
"At the very least, it enhances your ability to protect yourself," Kelly said flatly. "Besides, Liang has plenty of loopholes. For instance, Chief Instructor Hong Yan treats you differently."
Wu Youren blinked in surprise, then broke into a smile. "Thank you, Instructor. It seems I really do need to work hard to make money."
"Right now, there's a chance to earn some coin," Instructor Kelly said slowly. "I need a guide who is familiar with Suotu Town."
"That place... is a bit dangerous." Wu Youren looked troubled as he handed over the bundled vegetables. "I'd like to think about it."
"Mm. So be it, then." Instructor Kelly took the vegetables and turned to leave.
She took the female martial artist from Liang with her. Only after the two had walked far off did Cynthia walk back over. "Was that... an academy instructor?"
Wu Youren nodded expressionlessly, though a spark of annoyance crossed his mind: *Why is it that every time I see you, some trouble gets stirred up?*
"I heard that student say..." Cynthia hesitated before asking, "...this instructor is considering reducing your tuition fees?"
Wu Youren blinked. "Do you find that strange?"
"I didn't say that," Cynthia answered cautiously.
She knew the youth from Jin had immense pride and didn't want to make him angry.
"More than one person has recognized your potential. Why, even Sally wanted to take you in as... that!"
Chapter 37