Clap, clap, clap. Crisp applause rang out from one side of the training grounds as two figures walked over, interrupting the session.
"It's Viscount Xuefeng and Master Haide," someone whispered.
The two strode leisurely up to the instructor. Viscount Xuefeng nodded slightly to the assembled students before turning toward the instructor.
"Thank you for your hard work, Boke. As for Miss Tiya, who remains, there is no need to test her combat skills. Her situation is similar to Kemiya's." As they walked over, Scholar Haide had already filled him in on the bespectacled girl's name and circumstances.
"As you command, Lord Xuefeng," Boke replied respectfully, snapping to attention.
"Very well. Take a short rest for now. Elder Haide and I have a few words for these children."
"Yes, sir." Boke turned and stepped away at once, clearing the space.
Viscount Xuefeng stepped onto the wooden platform. He did not look old—perhaps in his forties—with a short black handlebar mustache and a sturdy, robust build. His thick knuckles and sturdy wrists showed that he regularly practiced swordsmanship and combat techniques; he was no incompetent, pampered noble.
His gaze slowly swept across the crowd, and Viscount Xuefeng nodded faintly.
"It is my good fortune to see talented children like you here in Burnt Stone City."
Talent—especially individuals blessed with extraordinary attributes—was, in a sense, the greatest wealth of a fiefdom.
"Scholar Haide is not only your teacher, but also mine. When I was young, I studied by Scholar Haide's side. Even now, I look back on those days with fond nostalgia.
"If you wish to be admired and respected, you must put in tremendous sweat and effort. You should all understand this truth. Yet when I was young, I was just like you, drawn in by various temptations and often wasting precious time.
"Considering that you are still in your growing years and should not be distracted by outside worldly things, I have decided to offer some rewards to help you focus more on your studies." With that, he clapped his hands, and two attendants stepped forward carrying covered trays.
"If you can take first place in the assessment two months from now, I will award this Red-Dyed Cloak as your prize." Saying so, he lifted the cloth cover from one tray, revealing a cloak of fiery-red fur.
[Red-Dyed Cloak] (First-Order - Blazing Sun - Superior): Crafted from the pelt of a wolf beast possessing the "Blazing Sun" attribute. It can "enhance endurance" and deflect cuts from ordinary blades while retaining warmth and repelling water. Its bright, vivid color makes it a prized piece even within noble circles.
"Furthermore, for those who place second and third in the assessment, I also have rewards to bestow." He then had the other cover lifted, revealing two pairs of finely crafted boots.
[Red Wolf Boots] (First-Order - Blazing Sun - Fine): Crafted from the pelt of a wolf beast possessing the "Blazing Sun" attribute. They can "slightly enhance endurance" and protect the feet, retaining warmth and waterproofing, making them exceptionally useful in winter.
"Thank you, Lord Xuefeng!" The students bowed in gratitude, excitement plain on many of their faces.
***
Over the following days, the students threw themselves into their training and studies with fierce, boundless energy, as though injected with adrenaline. Even the trio of noble friends rarely stirred up trouble, no longer picking fights with Suolin and his companions.
Gradually, the students grew familiar with one another. Even the noble students came to memorize the names of all the commoner students in their cohort.
Then came another afternoon.
"Mick, want to spar with me?" Suolin walked over from the edge of the training grounds holding a broad wooden sword. He wore a simple vest, with strips of cloth bound around his wrists.
"Heh, let's do it."
The youth with slanted, triangular eyes readily agreed. Picking up the training wooden sword beside him, he stepped onto the field with Suolin.
"Tiya, they're practicing swordsmanship again," Kemiya said, leaning against the wooden railing and resting her cheek on her hand, sounding slightly bored. "And right in the middle of our noon rest break, too."
"Diligence is a virtue." Kailun clearly approved of their attitude. Glancing at the archery range nearby, she decided to practice with her bow as well.
"Ah, you're going too, Kailun? Fine, Tiya and I will tag along." Today Kemiya was wearing a loose dress shaped like an inverted horn, with no cinched waist.
The three girls chatted about recent happenings as they walked.
"Iona didn't show up again this afternoon. She seems completely uninterested in combat training and only comes when it's time for horsemanship," Kemiya continued.
"They say Iona's family is very influential in the military and possesses many combat techniques and secret arts," Kailun mentioned enviously.
"It's hard enough for ordinary people to learn advanced swordsmanship, let alone secret arts involving extraordinary attributes," Kemiya said, shaking her head.
"By the way, Tiya."
"Hm?" The girl pushed up her glasses.
"You study by Scholar Haide's side—have you learned any special secret arts?"
"Not yet." The girl shook her head. "Does Scholar Haide teach things like that?"
"Of course he does," Kemiya nodded. "My father told me, and he heard it from an uncle of mine.
"Even though Scholar Haide cultivates a class aligned with the 'Castle' attribute, as a scholar he has mastered a vast amount of knowledge and techniques. Setting aside the high-level ones, he certainly has no shortage of secret arts below the first order.
"For ordinary people, the best way to learn these secret arts is to join a guild, like the Apothecary Guild. But the secret arts guilds teach to outsiders are very limited, just a few foundational ones. If you truly want to advance, you usually have to seek out a mentor along that professional path.
"Although the secret arts taught by guilds are already beyond the realm of ordinary people, a ceiling to their growth still exists. For instance, the most formidable apothecary in the guild is only a third-order professional.
"Viscount Xuefeng has three knights of the 'Third-Order - Castle' attribute under his command, and the royal capital is an even greater gathering of powerhouses—rumor has it there are legendary figures of the fifth order and above." Kemiya spoke with deep yearning in her voice.
"Figures like that probably aren't cultivated by ordinary guilds," the girl murmured, recalling the words of the merchant Fandexi.
"Exactly. Everyone knows nobles often keep scholars as aides and advisers, but few people know what organization these scholars belong to." Kemiya turned around and whispered into Tiya's ear, "I've heard that in other nations, the advisers beside the lords aren't scholars, but powerful witches—there are even ageless sorceresses who specifically guide emperors."
Releasing her hand from the girl's ear, she continued, "In the past, there were many old hags among the mountain tribes. Lord Viscount Xuefeng's ancestors were granted this fiefdom by the king precisely for slaying a powerful hag."
As the two whispered, Kailun turned around ahead of them.
"What are you two whispering about?" She couldn't quite follow.
"Nothing! Kailun, have you ever hunted a beast that possessed a complete attribute power?" Kemiya trotted forward to catch up, waving back to Xilutaiya to signal they would chat more next time.
"A first-order beast with a complete attribute? You could call that a 'Fang Beast,' right...?" As Kailun walked, she began recounting past hunting trips in the mountains with her father.
Across the training grounds, young figures gathered in twos and threes—some sweating through rigorous drills, some chatting lazily beneath the shade of the trees, others chasing each other with laughter.
The afternoon sunlight beat down upon the dry ground, and warm gusts of wind drifted by, carrying the intoxicating warmth of youth.
Chapter 23