Chapter Sixty-Two: The Art of Provocation

Perhaps it was the memory of their fallen classmates, but today the atmosphere within the Cambrian Hall was somewhat subdued, with an air of earnest diligence pervading their studies.

The students of Dragon Soaring Martial Academy were required to learn a wide array of subjects, broadly divided into three main categories: military formations, combat techniques, and miscellaneous studies, comprising over twenty different courses.

The instructor served as both teacher and class supervisor, responsible for welcoming new students and ultimately sending off those who had completed their training. From the very first day at Dragon Soaring Martial Academy, the instructor took charge of all their affairs. A good instructor needed to understand each student's progress, offering guidance when necessary; thus, the number of students in each camp was usually limited to around twenty. Any more, and the instructor would be overwhelmed.

Within the academy, only the first camp boasted a larger number of students. Wu Man’s reputation was well known, and every noble family hoped their children could benefit from her professional instruction. Naturally, they sought every means to place their children in the first camp, some of whom Wu Man could neither refuse nor dared to refuse.

To Ye Xin, this system seemed disorganized, forcing instructors to repeat lessons frequently. For example, now Xie En had summoned a specialist teacher in pharmaceutics to impart knowledge about medicinal herbs.

Pharmaceutics offered little direct aid in improving one’s strength, but it was an essential field of study. At the very least, one should recognize the appearance, characteristics, uses, value, and growing environments of precious medicinal herbs. Even if one had no intention of engaging in business, a chance encounter might otherwise be wasted through ignorance.

The academy also offered courses in geography, covering the cities, mountains, and rivers of the various principalities, as well as the locations of certain sects.

Weaponology taught students how to discern the quality of weapons and armor—a crucial skill, for possessing a top-tier suit of armor could mean an extra life, and wielding a fine blade could greatly enhance one’s combat prowess.

The school was a cradle of knowledge—a phrase repeated countless times, yet it conveyed truth. The vast majority of the elite in the Kingdom of David had emerged from Dragon Soaring Martial Academy, having received systematic education.

Self-taught individuals might excel in one area, but could never attain comprehensive understanding in all fields.

The frequent repetition of lessons fostered a relaxed academic atmosphere. As soon as the specialist teacher began his lecture, students who had already studied the subject slipped away from the dais to the corners of Cambrian Hall, intent on quiet cultivation. Neither Xie En nor the teacher interfered.

Of course, those who wished to hear the lesson again were welcome to stay.

An hour later, the teacher finished and took leave of Xie En. Xie En strolled outside before returning with two guards, who carried a heavy punching target and, at his direction, placed it to one side.

"Ye Xin, this punching target is yours," Xie En declared loudly. "You may leave only when you break it."

Ye Xin stared in disbelief, gazing at the target, then turned to Xie En and spoke bluntly, "Instructor Xie, are you out of your mind? Or did I offend you somehow?"

"Will you go on your own, or shall I throw you over?" Xie En responded coolly.

"Damn it..." Ye Xin muttered and said, "I'm not playing your games anymore..."

With that, Ye Xin rose and strode toward the hall’s main doors.

Xie En flicked his wrist, and a whip uncoiled like a serpent, wrapping around Ye Xin’s waist. With a deft twist, Xie En hauled Ye Xin off his feet, sending him flailing through the air toward the punching target. The next moment, Ye Xin crashed heavily into it, then tumbled to the ground, crying out in pain.

Their tussle drew the attention of the students, who straightened and looked toward them.

"Instructor Xie, what’s going on?" Wen Rong whispered.

"Strange... I’ve never seen him so serious," Shen Miao said, equally puzzled.

"What did I do to offend you? Why are you tormenting me like this?" Ye Xin shouted.

"No choice—when you accept favors, you owe something in return. I promised someone I’d see you train properly, so I’ll have to spend some extra effort on you," Xie En replied loudly.

The students understood: Instructor Xie had been entrusted by someone to look after Ye Xin.

Wen Rong and the others found their answers and breathed sighs of relief, though they wondered if it would do any good—Ye Xin had never been able to gather Yuan energy.

"Open your mouth," Xie En said, striding over to Ye Xin. He produced a transparent vial containing a clear potion, within which countless blue specks glimmered mysteriously.

Ye Xin struggled to his feet, trying to flee, but Xie En seized him by the neck and lifted him bodily into the air. Unable to breathe, Ye Xin was forced to open his mouth, kicking and flailing helplessly.

Xie En pressed the vial’s mouth to Ye Xin’s lips, forcing the potion down his throat.

"Mm... mmph..." Ye Xin fought desperately, but his strength was no match for Xie En’s, and he could not escape.

Xie En dropped Ye Xin to the ground, smiling as he watched Ye Xin gasp for breath, utterly disheveled.

"Who would have thought Instructor Xie was a master of alchemy..." Shao Xue’s eyes sparkled suddenly.

"Impossible," Wen Rong said skeptically. Xie En had never shown any interest in pharmaceutics before.

"A few days ago, I was bored and went to the library, and found Instructor Xie there," Shao Xue whispered. "Curious, I greeted him and glanced at his books—they were all about the Yuan Spirit Physique. I overheard some instructors chatting, saying Instructor Xie had unexpectedly taken an interest in the Yuan Spirit Physique and had even sought advice from them."

"If... if he really can break the barrier between yin and yang, that would be fascinating..." Shen Miao murmured.

"Get to work!" Xie En said below. "Keep at it until you break the target!"

Ye Xin sat on the ground, still gasping for breath, paying no heed to Xie En.

"Ye Xin! Do you really want to be a useless failure your whole life?" Xie En roared. "Think of your father, clad in armor and galloping across battlefields—what glory! And you? Wasting your days in idle pleasure, everyone calls you ‘Young Master Ye’ to your face, but do they respect you? What have you done to earn their respect?"

"I hear you used to bully Tie Renhao as a child. Now, every time you see him, you seek protection. If no one shields you, he can knock you down at will and humiliate you in every way!"

"You can seek protection today—what about tomorrow? This year you can seek protection—what about next year? Do you expect to always find someone to help you in time?"

"I heard you destroyed the Sirius Technique. I know you were unwilling to accept it. If you had the prowess of the Wolf Commander, how would the Zong family dare bully you? It’s not their shamelessness—it’s your incompetence! You’re not even fit to call yourself a man!"

"Look at those behind you—they live with far more dignity than you! Don’t blame unfairness, don’t blame the coldness of society. While they are cultivating diligently, what are you doing? While they study hard, what are you up to? They pour out their effort and sweat—if you enjoy the same dignity with none of their exertion, that is the true unfairness!"

Xie En’s furious voice echoed through Cambrian Hall, changing the expressions of those around.

"Instructor Xie... isn’t that a bit much? How can he say such things?" Shen Miao said, troubled.

"Severe illness requires drastic medicine. If this can truly make Young Master Ye pull himself together, it’s for the best," Wen Rong said.

"Ye Xin, I’m giving you a chance—perhaps the last chance of your life!" Xie En pointed at the punching target. "That is Zong Zhentang of the Zong family, the enemy who forced you to destroy your family’s ancestral treasure! Go! Attack him! Destroy him! Crush him!"

Suddenly, Ye Xin let out a howl like a wolf and surged to his feet, throwing himself at the punching target.

Bang—Ye Xin struck it with a heavy punch, though the movement was awkward and too forceful, causing him to rebound half a step.

Bang, bang, bang—Ye Xin went at it again, both fists alternating, raining blows upon the target like a storm.

To the students watching, Ye Xin’s actions were somewhat pitiable; clearly he’d never trained before, yet he possessed a strange, fierce momentum.

Time passed swiftly; in over half an hour, one student could bear it no longer and walked over to Ye Xin, stopping beside Xie En and timidly calling, "Instructor..."

"What is it?" Xie En barked.

"Instructor, with Young Master Ye like this, none of us can cultivate. We can’t quiet our minds," the student said.

"Nonsense!" Xie En exploded. "Do you think the battlefield is quiet? Scouts from both sides rush back and forth, signaling arrows whistle through the night sky, some mutter in their sleep, some snore, some fart, night patrols bang their clubs, horses neigh, hounds bark—if you can’t handle this noise, how can you possibly cultivate calmly on the battlefield?"

The student was left speechless, staring dumbly at Xie En.

"Go! If you truly believe you can’t cultivate, then go home, crawl back into your bed!" Xie En shouted.

The student retreated in embarrassment. Wen Rong and her companions exchanged glances; Shao Xue whispered, "How long has it been? Can Ye Xin endure it? If it were me, I’d be exhausted after so long."

"Instructor Xie knows what he’s doing," Shen Miao shook her head. "What else can we do? Would you dare try to persuade him? Anyone who tries will just get scolded."

"I have a feeling... this is good for Ye Xin," Wen Rong said slowly. "Instructor Xie seems very confident. Who is he, really?"