Yellow-tier Mentor Huo De

The convoy arrived at Heping Town.

Everyone got out of the carriages and lined up to receive a pill from people dressed in pale blue robes, each wearing a badge on their chest—azure blue throughout, with a dagger stained crimson blood engraved at its center. After swallowing the pills, they entered Heping Town without incident.

Only then did the tense expressions on many faces finally relax. Some turned to look outside; they had just heard a disturbance at the rear of the convoy.

A young girl said to her parents, "Father, Mother, why did you stop me at noon and not let me warn that young man?"

Her face was full of confusion and incomprehension. That handsome young man was clearly not a local of the Black Corner Region; he did not even understand that one should not eat food from strangers.

If she had stopped him then, she could surely have saved his life.

The burly man said gravely, "Have you forgotten what I taught you? Never harbor pity. Remember that!"

Having traveled through the Black Corner Region for years, they had long learned certain secrets.

For instance, convoys like this targeted outsiders every year. Those traveling alone were usually their targets.

And these people generally operated in groups. Interfering rashly with them, unless one belonged to forces like the Blood Sect, Black Skull Tomb, or Eight Fan Gate, usually meant certain death.

The girl fell silent for a long while before choking out, "I hate this place!"

Her mother gently rubbed the girl's hair. A trace of helplessness and sorrow showed in her eyes, but she did not offer any words of comfort.

Cruel realities were indeed hard to accept, but at critical moments, they could help her daughter make fewer mistakes and improve her chances of surviving.

The group was soon swallowed up by the sea of people.

However, the convoy members did not leave. They remained outside, controlling the carriages. They rarely chose to enter Heping Town, for the atmosphere and rules within made them feel uncomfortable to their very bones.

"Why has the captain been gone for so long?" They gathered together and stared down the road they had come from.

Someone suggested, "Should we go look for him?"

The idea quickly gained approval. Just as they selected several people to set off, the sound of galloping hooves reached their ears.

They looked up. When they clearly saw the figure on horseback, their pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints, and their expressions changed abruptly, becoming exceedingly ugly.

Hun Cang ignored them and went straight to the entrance. Upon learning that he had to take a pill, he raised no objection and swallowed it directly.

"Hello, may I ask how I can contact someone within Jia Nan Academy?" He did not leave immediately.

"Hello, I'm Huo De, captain of the second squad of Jia Nan Academy's Law Enforcement Team and also a Yellow-tier Mentor. Who are you looking for?" a middle-aged man asked.

"Hun Cang." After politely giving his name, he continued, "Xiao Yu, from Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire."

"You may have to wait a while. Senior Xiao Yu went out to train the day before yesterday and won't be back for at least a month," one of the students said before Huo De could respond.

Hearing this, Huo De looked at Hun Cang apologetically. "Is it urgent?"

"It's nothing urgent." Hun Cang smiled, then asked where he could register to join Jia Nan Academy before leaving.

He did not mention the names of the other Xiao Family members. They had only recently arrived at Jia Nan Academy and did not seem capable of offering him any help for now.

After Hun Cang left, several students behind Huo De stared at his departing back for a moment. One of them said, "That guy isn't simple."

"Anyone can see that, alright?" Huo De turned and glared at him. "Mind your own business. After you finish registering people, hurry up and eat, then go patrol. A lot of people have arrived in Heping Town lately. Don't let anything go wrong."

For someone to reach Heping Town alone, they were either incredibly lucky or exceptionally strong! Huo De thought to himself. Given the chaos of the Black Corner Region, he did not believe Hun Cang had made it here through luck.

"He looks under twenty, yet he's already a Seven-star Dou Shi... Perhaps my chance to advance to Black-tier Mentor lies with him." Huo De murmured excitedly.

After casually choosing a place to stay, Hun Cang's first night in Heping Town quietly passed.

The next day.

The moment he stepped outside, Hun Cang was about to register when he saw a young man dressed in Jia Nan Academy disciple robes walking toward him.

"Hello, I'm Mentor Huo De's disciple. My name is Lin Gu," the young man introduced himself.

Hun Cang gave a slight nod. "What is it?"

"My mentor would like to invite you to lunch and discuss the entrance examination while we're at it." Lin Gu studied Hun Cang with curious eyes. He had studied under Huo De for some time and had seen quite a few people come to register at the academy.

However, even for him, this was the first time he had seen Huo De treat someone who was not yet an official student with such enthusiasm.

"Alright, lead the way." Hun Cang agreed. If there was an easy way to handle things, it was naturally the best choice.

Along the way, Lin Gu did not take Hun Cang to a restaurant, but instead brought him to a residence.

Huo De was cultivating in the courtyard. Hearing a knock, he opened his eyes. When he saw the figure behind Lin Gu, he quickly approached with a smile.

"Please, come in." Huo De was exceedingly warm, leaving Hun Cang somewhat stunned. Could the man have seen through his identity?

In truth, Huo De had learned the previous night from several escort groups that the leader and second and third-in-command of one particular group had all died.

That group had arrived only slightly before Hun Cang.

Afterward, he spent some money investigating further and confirmed that Hun Cang had once been with that group.

In other words, the young man before him was not only strikingly handsome but also extremely strong, at least strong enough to deal with a Da Dou Shi.

A student like this would surely pass the Inner Academy assessment with ease after joining the academy. Huo De could practically see his hope of promotion before him—how could he not be enthusiastic?

Lunch was held at Huo De's home, prepared personally by his wife. Hun Cang was not particularly picky about food. After a simple meal, they finally got to the point.

"Hun Cang, with your strength, passing the examination will definitely not be a problem. However, I hope you can join the class I oversee when the time comes." Huo De wore a serious expression.

Across from him, Hun Cang calmly lifted his tea and took a sip. Smiling faintly, he said, "Captain Huo De, you yourself said I'll have no problem passing the examination. Then why should I join your class?"

He was not really here to learn anything anyway. It did not matter who became his teacher; what mattered was who could offer enough benefits!

Huo De was not at all surprised by Hun Cang's words. How could someone who had come to Heping Town alone possibly be as harmless as he appeared?

He said in a deep voice, "You may make any request. As long as I can fulfill it, I will do my utmost to provide it. To be honest, I've been stuck as a Yellow-tier Mentor for a long time. I hope to borrow your light and rise another step."

Sincerity was always the ultimate weapon... Hun Cang's gaze fell on the teacup he was idly turning in his hand. "Can you help me enter the Inner Academy as soon as possible?"

"Yes. There will be a competition two months from now. I happen to have one slot, and I can give it to you!" Huo De said without hesitation.