"Brother Jieluo, are you heading out on a mission?" Returning home after school, Mick looked curiously at the group fully geared up and ready to depart.
"Yeah. I doubt you'll be able to join us this time—it's quite far from Burnt Stone City, out by Ditch Town."
During the recent break, Mick had joined Jieluo's adventuring party on another mission, and the noticeable growth in his strength had taken the members by surprise.
Throughout the assignment, whether in combat, scouting, or analyzing situations and formulating plans, he had improved tremendously.
"As expected of someone studying under Scholar Haide," they all remarked.
With his share of the mission's payout from the break, Mick had successfully replaced his weapon with a new sword and even managed to save up a tidy sum.
*It's a pity I'm still quite a ways off from forging a sword made of black steel.* He felt a touch of regret that the break had been so short. Given enough time, he could have gone with Jieluo to Ditch Town as well.
"What sort of mission is it over in Ditch Town?" Mick asked casually before they left.
"It was actually posted once last year. Apparently, some unknown monster attacked a merchant caravan," answered a party member packing up ropes and netting.
"Back then, another adventuring party took the quest and went there, but the beast never showed up again, so they came back empty-handed.
"Now, after several months, it's resurfaced. Jieluo happened to have the time, so he took it on."
"Is the thing dangerous?" Mick asked, leaning against the wall with his hands pillowed behind his head.
"Who knows? But judging from the absence of severe devastation at the scene, it shouldn't be too strong." With that, the group finished packing.
"All right, we're off! You just stay with Scholar Haide and study hard while we're gone, Mick. Haha!"
Though they were down an important fighter without Mick, there was also one less person to split the bounty with. None of them agonized over it, treating it like any routine, ordinary quest.
"Yeah. Come back safe, guys." Catching the faint scent of tobacco wafting from Jieluo's pack, Mick couldn't resist offering a warning. "Go easy on that stuff. I heard the adults back at the inn say that smoking too much does a lot of harm." That kind of tobacco, known as Sunsway Grass, was addictive with prolonged use.
"Hah! You little brat, trying to lecture me? Beat it!" Jieluo waved his hand, shooing him off.
Mick could only shrug and step aside. He planned to practice his swordsmanship for a while, reflecting on the Leaping Footwork he had recently received from Scholar Haide.
***
At Madame Falan's estate, the lady of the manor returned after being away for several days.
"Tiya, how is your study of the Bloom Art progressing?" Upon her return, she had Lining fetch the girl to inquire about her progress.
"I've gained an initial grasp of it," Xilutaiya answered truthfully. There was no point in hiding it now.
"Oh?" Madame Falan arched a brow, a flicker of disbelief showing on her face.
She had always believed in Xilutaiya's talent, but when it came to the Bloom Art, it was still hard to believe the girl could learn it so quickly.
In truth, there were things she had not told Tiya. Generally speaking, a gardener could only nurture plants matching their own order—meaning a first-order gardener apprentice could at most cultivate first-order plants, a second-order gardener could cultivate second-order plants, and so on. For Xilutaiya to have cultivated a first-order Swan Orchid while still at the zero-order was completely beyond expectation, which had astonished her immensely.
After that, when instructing Xilutaiya, she had deliberately quickened the pace, for she could no longer treat the young girl as an ordinary student, but rather as a genius of her own caliber.
As for the Bloom Art, it was an ability usually introduced only to second-order gardeners. Even when taught, mastering it demanded immense effort, occasionally requiring auxiliary materials to achieve the desired effect.
Introducing it to Xilutaiya early was, on one hand, a show of faith in the girl's talent, and on the other, confidence in her own ability as a teacher.
Even so, the girl's progress had surpassed her expectations.
Even if she had practiced before the winter break, she had subsequently lost time retraining her foundation; to have mastered it now meant taking less than two months in total.
"Let's go take a look in your room." She and Xilutaiya went over to the small greenhouse, the place where Xilutaiya kept the plants she was nurturing.
"Place your hand against the White Camellia beside you and test it out." Best to observe first; if something went wrong, it wouldn't ruin other, more valuable plants.
"Yes, Ma'am." Doing as told, Xilutaiya stepped up to the petite camellia sapling, gently pinched the tip of a branch, and closed her eyes to sense it.
A few seconds later, she caught the rhythmic pulse of the White Camellia and channeled the power of Emerald Honey from within her body into it.
Fresh buds sprouted upon the immature camellia plant, uncurling tender green leaves before a small bud formed, unfurling in slow bloom to reveal pristine white petals.
Once fully open, a delicate fragrance spilled forth, filling the entire room and growing richer by the moment.
"Good. That will do." Madame Falan nodded.
It seemed Xilutaiya truly had mastered it, rather than boasting.
"In that case, it is time I gave that item to you.
"From now on, dedicate yourself fully to cultivating the Fire Cloud Orchid to prepare for the Hidden Woodland assessment, and do not neglect your swordsmanship." She twirled the folding fan in her hand, seemingly pondering what else needed to be mentioned. "That will be all for now."
"Yes, Teacher."
***
Far beyond the distant mountains, a black carriage rolled gently through the peaks. Its body appeared to be crafted from iron and coated in black lacquer, its corners shaped like curved vines in an elegant design, yet it looked remarkably ancient—as though it had been in use for centuries.
A black horse pulled the carriage, its mane magnificent. Crimson eyes flashed from time to time, deterring the forest animals from daring to approach.
"The scent of an ogre? Now this is interesting." A languid, magnetically charming voice drifted out from inside the cabin.
"Since there are ogres here, we might as well set the assessment location right in this place."
With those words, the carriage halted. A snow-white wrist, supple as a serpent, reached out from the carriage window. Slender fingers reached out toward the distant mountain forest as if grasping and pulling at a canvas; instantly, the trees and grasslands across the entire mountain began to deform and twist. Grotesque facial features tore open upon several great trees, turning them into horrific shapes.
***
A black stork flew into Burnt Stone City, its long, blood-red beak tapping against the bedroom window of the viscount.
Several days later, Viscount Xuefeng gathered the students at the training grounds, with Scholar Haide accompanying him today.
"The assessment for entry into the Hidden Woodland has been decided. It will take place three days from now near Ditch Town, where a perilous forest shall serve as your trial grounds.
"The trial consists of three stages—three objectives. If you complete the first objective, I will reward you with a well-crafted fine steel weapon, worth roughly one hundred silvers." Such a reward might take an ordinary person five years of hard work to save up.
"If you complete the second objective, I will have a craftsman tailor a set of armor or a uniform specifically for you, worth around six hundred silver coins." This, too, was considered an exceptional prize.
"And if you complete the third objective..." His gaze swept over the crowd, pausing for effect. "I will award you a special insignia and grant you a residence in the West City District." This was an asset many commoners could not earn in a lifetime, and even more importantly, it was a symbol of status, for those who lived in the West City District were either wealthy or noble.
Once Viscount Xuefeng finished speaking, Scholar Haide stepped forward and offered a few words of advice, emphasizing that they should act within their capabilities and prioritize their lives above all else. Finally, he dismissed the students to prepare, instructing them to set out together for Ditch Town the next day.
"It's finally here." Countless students rubbed their fists and palms in eager anticipation, bursting with ambition.
Suolin glanced at Mick and made a provocative gesture, to which Mick responded in kind, refusing to show weakness.
On the other side, Iona glanced at the black-haired girl in the distance, then followed Viscount Xuefeng back to the castle residence.
*It's about to begin, Tiya. I hope you won't disappoint me.* She secretly steeled her resolve, determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and firmly seize the key to the door leading toward the future.
Chapter 89