Chapter Sixty-Six: The Academy's Paragon

The next day, Ye Xin, utterly exhausted, was unable to rise from his bed. Upon hearing this, Xie En changed Ye Xin’s training sessions to the evening, just as they had previously agreed. If they continued their charade under everyone’s watchful eyes every day, Ye Xin would grow irritable. With the time moved to night, he gained both freedom and the chance for genuine cultivation.

Every morning, the students of Longteng Martial Academy would witness Ye Xin being carried out like a corpse by his guards and placed into the academy’s carriage. This went on for a full seven days. On the eighth day, Ye Xin finally managed to walk back on his own. Though his steps were heavy and his body swayed, every student who saw him recognized the immense progress he had made.

By the twelfth day, after a night of training, Ye Xin even had the energy to chat and laugh with others. That day, Xie En announced before everyone that Ye Xin could return home to recuperate for three days before beginning the next phase of his training.

Watching Ye Xin’s departing figure, the students of the Fifth Battalion began to whisper among themselves. Their curiosity about Xie En’s concoctions matched their admiration for Ye Xin’s resilience.

If Xie En’s medicine could enable a frail person like Ye Xin to train for long periods, it would surely benefit them as well!

“Teacher Xie is truly skilled,” Shen Miao murmured. “I didn’t believe he could help Ye Xin gather his vital energy, but now I have no choice but to believe.”

“Yes, Ling, look at how spirited your brother is compared to before,” Shao Xue added.

“Whether he is or isn’t has nothing to do with me,” Ye Ling replied coldly.

“You really are stubborn, girl!” Shen Miao sighed. “No matter what, you share the same family name—he’s still your brother! Besides, we’ve told you countless times—what your brother did back then was right. Otherwise, how would your family have peace now?”

“That’s right. Even if you don’t believe Shen Miao or me, you should at least believe Wen Rong, shouldn’t you?” Shao Xue said, winking at Wen Rong.

“Ling, your brother actually suffers more than you do,” Wen Rong said gently. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t be training so desperately. He’s holding it all in.”

A look of sorrow flashed in Ye Ling’s eyes, and she slowly lowered her head.

Ye Xin made his way through the campus, attracting attention wherever he went. In just half a month, he had become the model student of the academy. Many instructors used his example to motivate their own students: “Even Ye Xin knows how to strive to improve himself, training with such determination! Are you really going to let a former wastrel outdo you?” They would then pile on more lessons, leaving the students groaning in protest.

“Look, that’s Ye Xin,” someone pointed out his retreating figure.

“His health is getting better and better. After a whole night of training, he still looks like nothing’s happened,” another student remarked.

“Teacher Xie from the Fifth Battalion is forging Ye Xin’s bones and sinews. If he truly manages to gather his vital energy, with such a solid foundation, he’ll progress much faster than the rest of us,” said a third.

“Don’t forget, he started four years later than we did,” the first student retorted. “Most of us began training at fourteen. No matter how fast he improves, catching up to us… that’s a tall order.”

“If only someone like Teacher Xie would personally tutor me…”

“You? Dream on. Do you know about the Sirius Legion? Commander Qiu Jiechao of the Autumn Gate personally requested Teacher Xie to supervise Ye Xin. You think he’d be this dedicated without receiving proper compensation?”

“How can we compare to the Ye family? Even though the Wolf Commander is gone, a centipede dies but never falls—Ye family’s foundations are still deep.”

By coincidence, as Ye Xin neared the academy gate, Tie Renhao, Tie Huizhen, and a few others exited a small building and caught sight of Ye Xin’s profile.

“Fifth Prince, look… there’s Ye Xin,” a student called.

“I’m not blind, I see him,” Tie Renhao replied, his face dark.

“Brother, this isn’t like you at all. Normally, you’d have rushed over already,” Tie Huizhen said in surprise.

“I’ve never liked him, but I am, after all, a proper warrior. Making trouble for him now would only make me look contemptible.” Tie Renhao grinned wickedly. “Now that he’s finally taking his training seriously? Good. I sincerely hope he successfully becomes a warrior… then I’ll have plenty of chances to teach him a lesson.”

Ye Xin did not notice Tie Renhao. He exited through the academy gate, walked along the main street for a few minutes, then turned into an alleyway. After winding through several alleys, he entered a small courtyard, crossed it, and slipped out the back door into a carriage that had been waiting.

He had important matters to attend to today; Xie En had given him a leave precisely to facilitate his escape.

After nearly an hour, the carriage left Jiuding City, turned onto a dirt road, and continued for another half hour. Up ahead, a forest appeared, and in its shadow stood a solitary figure—Qiu Jiechao of the Sirius Legion. Beside him was a Boundless Direwolf.

Ye Xin jumped down from the carriage and nodded to Qiu Jiechao. “Uncle Qiu, thank you for your trouble.”

“You needn’t be so polite, Young Commander,” Qiu Jiechao replied hastily.

Ye Xin’s eyes fell on the Boundless Direwolf. He walked over and reached out to touch the back of its neck. The wolf, which had been sitting listlessly, suddenly bristled as Ye Xin approached, its fur standing on end like steel needles and a threatening growl rumbling in its throat.

Ye Xin paid it no mind. He began to channel the Sirius Technique, and his hands emitted a faint golden glow.

The Boundless Direwolf was an exceptionally intelligent beast. Its eyes grew dazed, and the growl faded, allowing Ye Xin to place his hand on its neck.

He gently stroked the wolf’s head and neck, channeling vital energy into the beast as its eyes slowly closed.

“It just lost its master. I hope you’ll treat it well,” Qiu Jiechao said quietly. This wolf’s master had been assassinated by the clan’s killers half a month earlier. The sight of the beast brought back memories, filling Qiu Jiechao with a touch of resentment, for Ye Xin had forcefully stopped him from seeking vengeance.

Ye Xin simply smiled. Sensing that the Boundless Direwolf no longer resisted him, he withdrew his hand and leapt onto the wolf’s back.

The Boundless Direwolf was larger than a wild ox, its back higher than a military horse. Yet it wore no bridle, only a saddle. The rider had to use their own strength to keep balance and direct the wolf. Achieving true unity with the beast required long practice and mutual adaptation, for their temperaments varied just as humans’ did—some wild, some calm, some diligent, some lazy, some aggressive, others timid.

“You should find time to visit Sirius Mountain,” Qiu Jiechao suggested.

“We’ll talk about it once this is over,” Ye Xin replied. “Uncle Qiu, don’t return to the city yet. Wait here for me. I’ll be back before nightfall.”

“Very well,” Qiu Jiechao nodded.

Ye Xin squeezed with his legs, and the Boundless Direwolf shot forward like lightning—one leap, and it had covered over ten meters, then broke into a sprint.

At once, Ye Xin felt the air pressure change around him, and a faint ringing filled his ears. The Boundless Direwolf could maintain a speed of nearly two hundred kilometers per hour—some even faster, some slower. At such speeds, the surrounding environment transformed radically.

I should get a motorcycle helmet, Ye Xin thought with a wry smile at his own absurdity.

Overall, he managed to ride the beast well enough. After about half an hour, he slowed it to a stop and took out a black cloak.

He dared not race along the main road, with so many caravans and travelers about—there would be no way to keep his movements secret. Fortunately, the Boundless Direwolf was a versatile beast, and its speed was unaffected by the wilderness.

Continuing on, he rode for nearly another hour before spotting a pillar of black smoke ahead. Ye Xin altered his course, heading toward the hilltop from which the smoke rose.

Soon, he arrived at the hilltop, where a bonfire burned. Two burly men sat beside it, one adding dry wood, the other occasionally sprinkling medicine onto the fire, producing the black smoke.

When the enormous wolf bounded up the hill, the two men leapt to their feet, drawing their blades and eyeing Ye Xin warily.

“Did Mo Yan leave me a message?” Ye Xin asked quietly.

At the mention of “Mo Yan,” the two men relaxed. One stepped forward and said quietly, “This is a letter from Boss Mo.”

“Give it to me,” Ye Xin ordered.

The man hesitated, clearly reluctant to approach the Boundless Direwolf with its blood-red tongue, but steeled himself, walked over quickly, and handed Ye Xin the letter.

As soon as Ye Xin took it, the man hurriedly withdrew. Ye Xin opened the letter and read it swiftly, then asked, “When was this letter left for me?”

“Before dawn,” the man replied.

“And where were they at dawn?” Ye Xin pressed.

“At the relay station not far down the mountain,” the man answered. “Boss Mo said that if you arrive at noon, you should head to Bluewater City to find him. If you arrive before noon, go to Quyun Ford—Boss Mo has already made arrangements overnight.”

“I understand. You two head back to Jiuding City,” Ye Xin instructed. He then urged the Boundless Direwolf forward, disappearing down the hill in a flash.

After another half hour of riding, Ye Xin calculated that he was close to his destination. He slowed and turned toward the main road.

Before long, a wide river appeared ahead. On this side of the river stood a shabby grass hut, and Mo Yan was waving to him from its doorway.