Chapter Forty-Three: Mr. Xu, the Luxurious Carriage

After the Sixth Medicine Peak was eliminated in tragic fashion, the remaining two teams in the competition both chose to withdraw. Without suspense, the five members of Xu Wen's group secured the under-fifteen admission quotas for Qingyun Academy.

Xu Wen’s battle with Lan Yanlie became the talk of the disciples, hailed as the most thrilling fight in the history of the Hortonklin family. Especially in that final moment, when the blue fireball suddenly collapsed and Xu Wen seized the chance to turn the tables with a single strike, it left many debating what had really happened. Some claimed the fireball’s collapse was due to Lan Yanlie overdrawing his ‘Blue Flame’. Yet the way Xu Wen calmly seized the opportunity, showing no sign of surprise, cast doubt on that explanation.

Regardless, it was an undeniable fact that Xu Wen had won.

Before the assembled elders and thousands of inner and outer disciples, Mu Yuanshan officially declared that the under-age admission spots for Qingyun Academy belonged to the Seventh Medicine Peak.

That very day, Elder Xu, brimming with excitement, announced that all disciples of the Seventh Medicine Peak—inner and outer—would be granted a day’s holiday, with fine wine and delicacies from the clan brought up to the peak for a night of revelry. They celebrated not only the unprecedented honor of sending an inner disciple to Qingyun Academy, but also the prestige Elder Xu gained among the peaks and elders.

As for the hero of the celebration, Xu Wen, who had stolen the spotlight in the arena, was inevitably plied with drinks by his fellow disciples. Never having tasted alcohol before, he was soon flushed and inebriated, passing out without knowing who finally tossed him into some corner.

He had no idea how much time had passed.

The rocking motion and the rumble of wheels woke Xu Wen from his drunken stupor.

“Where am I?”

Rubbing his throbbing head, Xu Wen sat up and found himself in the carriage of a wagon. The seat beneath him was padded with thick, snowy-white fox fur—soft and comfortable. A dainty tea table nearby was laden with freshly washed fruits. The carriage’s walls were lavishly decorated, with warm yellow curtains fluttering gently as a breeze blew in. Everything bespoke the conveyance of a noble scion from a great family.

Moving to the window, Xu Wen lifted the soft curtain and peered outside…

Sunlight bathed the green hills and clear waters. The carriage, drawn by two majestic unicorns, sped steadily along a broad road. Judging by the sounds, there were plenty of other carriages on the road too. Glancing aside, he saw several riders on large-horned deer following closely. As they noticed the curtain move, one of them quickened his pace to draw near.

“Young Master Xu, you’re awake?”

“Yes.” Xu Wen’s head still throbbed faintly, and he didn’t immediately catch the respectful address. Still, he gradually pieced together where he was—it was the day they set off for Qingyun Academy.

A glance at the man’s chest revealed a black eagle insignia and, beside it, a long sword. His mind cleared a bit more. The sword insignia bore four stars, and beneath it, a short gold line was divided into seven segments…

A Hortonklin family warrior? A four-star senior swordsman?

“Um, why am I in this carriage?”

After a two-second pause, Xu Wen finally asked a rather pointless question.

“Oh, that was the patriarch’s arrangement. He told us not to wake you, to let you rest well.” The guard explained dutifully. “Your fellow disciples and the other inner disciples are resting in the carriage ahead. I’m responsible for the convoy’s safety on the road to the Imperial Capital.”

Xu Wen finally detected the oddity and fully emerged from his haze. The guard, named Malone, was quickly dubbed Uncle Ma by Xu Wen. In their conversation, Xu Wen learned that last night, Elder Xu had taken advantage of his drunkenness to publicly declare Xu Wen his ‘adopted grandson’!

And that…explained his current treatment: fine clothes, a luxurious carriage.

This carriage was usually reserved for the elders on official business. Early that morning, Elder Xu had ordered the unconscious Xu Wen settled into this opulent wagon for the journey out of Blackwater City.

Xu Wen could only accept this in silence.

Elder Xu had hinted at this half a month ago, so it came as no great surprise. And with Elder Xu’s support, his nominal father would surely be well looked after.

Xu Wen began chatting with Malone.

From him, Xu Wen learned that the Hortonklin family’s convoy to Qingyun Academy consisted of five carriages. Ten inner disciples occupied three of the carriages; eighteen guards, who took turns resting, accompanied them, along with an outer steward stationed permanently in the capital.

All eighteen guards were four-star warriors and fire mages. Since the route crossed more than a dozen cities and many remote, lawless areas, their presence would spare the convoy a great deal of trouble.

“Who are those people behind us?” Xu Wen had noticed, as the convoy rounded a bend, several more carriages trailing behind. These bore no Hortonklin insignia, but instead displayed emblems of wands and swords.

Malone glanced back.

“Oh, they’re from Silan Academy. Their headmaster is on good terms with our patriarch. Each year their top students travel with us to Qingyun Academy.”

“I see…”

Xu Wen nodded in understanding.

He’d heard of Silan Academy. Before joining the Hortonklin family, it had been his first choice for cultivation, but family finances had kept him away.

“Uncle Ma, how many people has Silan Academy sent to Qingyun Academy this year? How strong are they?”

Clearly, this was a question for Malone, who, assuming Xu Wen was eager to compare himself with his peers, smiled as he replied, “More than usual—thirty in total, all roughly two-star intermediate level. There are four third-year students, sixteen or seventeen years old, who have reached early three-star.”

Xu Wen raised his eyebrows, losing interest at once.

Four early three-star fire mages—their standards were clearly below the Hortonklin inner disciples. Of the five elders’ quota holders from Hortonklin, even the weakest had reached five stages of three stars, and the strongest was near the peak of three stars. Evidently, Silan’s teaching quality wasn’t impressive, or they wouldn’t need the Hortonklin guards’ protection.

Seeing Xu Wen’s lack of interest, Malone suggested, “Young Master Xu, should I invite Xie Zhan and the girls over?”

“No need to disturb them. They drank plenty last night as well—let them have some peace. Besides…” Xu Wen stretched lazily. “It’s been ages since I traveled far. I might as well enjoy the scenery.”

“Very well, I won’t disturb you.”

Watching the youth lean quietly against the window, his gaze growing deeper, Malone tactfully slowed his pace and drifted to the rear of the convoy.

“So, Brother Ma, what were you two talking about for so long?” someone asked as Malone fell back.

“Don’t tell me you couldn’t hear,” Malone replied coolly.

“Heh, just didn’t expect you to take such an interest in a kid. Not like your usual style,” another guard teased quietly.

“He’s different from the other inner disciples.”

“Oh? How so?”

“I can’t quite say. But haven’t the patriarch and Elder Xu both been acting oddly? Hmph…” Malone gave a faint smile, leaving the others staring after him in silent thought.