Chapter Sixty-One: Thanks, Brother

Chapter Sixty-One: Thanks, Brother

Outside the bathhouse, over a dozen students stood guard with makeshift weapons, watching the entrance warily. Suddenly, they saw a handsome, youthful boy emerge from within, looking refreshed and invigorated. For a moment, they were stunned. Then, a few with confused expressions approached him and asked Xu Wen if he had seen a "filthy vagrant" intrude into the bathhouse.

"Oh, you mean that guy who ran in and left right away? Dirty and smelling awful?" Xu Wen scanned their faces and instantly understood, responding with flawless acting.

The group, brimming with indignation, all nodded in unison.

"That's him!"

"I'd been soaking for ages, then that bastard suddenly jumped in—my whole morning's bath ruined!"

"You're lucky. I was right next to him. I can still smell it. Take a whiff, guys."

"Ew..."

Everyone recoiled in disgust and moved away from the unfortunate soul. As Xu Wen walked off, they called after him:

"When did that bastard leave?"

"Which way did he go?"

Without looking back, Xu Wen pointed toward the dining hall and quickened his pace. From behind, a sincere voice called out, "Thanks, brother!"

After spending a gold coin on the teleportation fee, Xu Wen arrived from the Fire Magic Academy at the main square outside the gates of Azure Cloud Academy. He studied the divine statue in the square, but when it gave no further response, he finally gave up and left the school grounds. Since students could select their own courses for self-cultivation, they were free to enter and exit during normal term time.

"Stop. I'm talking to you. You’re a new student, right? Didn't your teacher tell you that you’re not allowed to come and go freely during this period?" A teacher blocked Xu Wen as he approached the gate, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

Xu Wen wasn't wearing the standard Azure Cloud Academy uniform, but instead wore a robe embroidered with the Hortonklin family crest—quite conspicuous. Yet compared to that, his spiritual level was even more striking. Walking across campus, he drew more than double the usual number of glances.

"My name is Xu Wen. This was given to me by Dean Harman..." Xu Wen hurriedly produced the token Harman had given him.

The middle-aged teacher's eyes lit up. "Oh, it's you!" He recognized Xu Wen—he was the six-star wind mage who had seen Xu Wen unconscious at the gates that day.

"Wait, you've reached the fifth tier of the second star?" The teacher stared in astonishment, checking several times to be sure, his face reflecting shock and disbelief. He had thought the school had gained yet another young prodigy, but now...

Seeing the concern in the teacher’s eyes, Xu Wen was quietly touched and explained, "…After I fainted, I just ended up like this. Dean Harman told me not to let word get out." The teacher nodded slowly, looking thoughtful, as if he understood the situation.

"Where are you off to now?"

"I'm training with Dean Harman. I plan to head into town to buy some dry rations, then return and continue my closed cultivation, to see if there's any chance of recovery." Xu Wen replied, half truth, half pretense.

A shadow of regret crossed the teacher's face again. He nodded, "Perhaps... you might still find a remedy." Then he paused, frowning as he glanced at the street directly opposite the school gates. He turned back, cautioning, "Be careful once you leave the academy. If someone tries to cause you trouble, just tell them you're not a student of Azure Cloud Academy, and you'll be fine."

"Trouble?" Xu Wen was taken aback. "Who would dare pick a fight with a student from Azure Cloud Academy—especially in the Imperial Capital?"

The teacher smiled. "It's not thugs or riffraff. Ordinary sparring and challenges between cultivators are permitted as long as they don't disturb others—the guards won't interfere much. Most of them are examinees who failed the entrance test. Once they're over seventeen, they have no hope of entering Azure Cloud Academy, not next year, not ever. Living in the capital, they often seek out trouble with new students. Someone like you will definitely catch their eye."

"Oh." Xu Wen understood now. No wonder new students weren’t allowed to come and go freely.

Those examinees wouldn’t dare touch senior students or those with powerful backgrounds. They targeted only "new students" with weak cultivation and unfamiliar faces like him.

If the new students refused a challenge, they'd be utterly disgraced.

If they lost, it would become the failed examinees’ lifelong boast—at least they could claim that, though they weren’t chosen, their abilities surpassed those who were!

"I'll be careful." Xu Wen thanked the teacher for the warning, then left Azure Cloud Academy.

Meanwhile, across the street outside the academy gates, several young men sat at a roadside stall, sipping tea and watching Xu Wen emerge. Smiles crept onto their faces.

"I thought Azure Cloud Academy had higher standards—he doesn't even have an elemental vortex. How did such a rookie get in? What a joke."

"He's mine. Don't you dare fight me for him. I'll foot the bill for everyone at the Fragrant Pavilion afterward!" The young man dressed as a mage slapped his chest.

"Wait." A calmer voice stopped the two eager youths. Looking back, they saw it was a mage sitting at the stall, holding a wand. His pale face and narrow eyes followed the distant young mage’s movements.

"Boss, there's no need for you to fight over this one with us, is there?"

"Exactly, you're already fifth tier at the third star. Challenging a second-star rookie is beneath you," the other two whispered, only to receive an eye roll from the mage. He turned to a young man in tight black leather armor next to him. "Third, can you see which noble family he’s from?"

Realizing the mage was concerned about provoking the wrong people, the others turned to the assassin, whose eyesight rivaled any archer’s.

Without looking up, the assassin replied, "His family crest marks him as a minor fire magic house." His voice was cold as he leisurely poured himself more tea, eyes fixed on his own cup. "You guys really want to pick on a rookie like this? Don’t tell anyone I was here—shameful!"

The other two grinned. "If it were up to you, of course you’d be embarrassed. But don’t forget, Azure Cloud Academy hardly ever lets new students out. We’re lucky to nab even one—when can we afford to be choosy?"

"Exactly!"

"Let’s wait until he turns onto that street—no need for that big guy to come out and interfere."

"Right!"

"Remember—the Fragrant Pavilion. Three days, I’ll drink to you first!"

"Ha! Thanks—wait, what? Three days? You might as well rob me!"

The young man who "claimed" Xu Wen leapt up like a startled rabbit, eyes wide, glaring at his extortionate companion.

"You said it yourself. A lifetime’s glory can’t be bought for just one meal, can it?"

His companion grinned shamelessly.

"You..."

The third-tier, fifth-level mage raised his own cup, smiling at him. "Three days."

"Thanks, Ade."

A faint smile appeared even on the assassin's face.

As their cups clinked, the matter was settled—like it or not. Ade, caught up in the moment, agreed to three days. At worst, he’d just have to tighten his belt for the next year.

Throwing back his head, he downed his tea in one gulp—

And immediately spat out all the tea leaves with a series of splutters...