In Qin Leyin's memories, Qin Xiao was nothing like the crude, brawny Skyline person described in the rumors.
He was refined and elegant, like a friendly uncle from next door. He was even a bit of a chatterbox and could talk with anyone for half a day. When Qin Leyin first met him, he was teaching several little brats how to read the Ode to Huiyao in the outer district of Profound Candle Prefecture.
When he saw the faint bruises on Qin Leyin's body, he said nothing. He simply changed the culture lesson into a Combat Arts Class and taught the little brats how to inflict effective injuries on adults despite their disadvantage in height. That day, the children knocked him down several times, and he even treated everyone to mung bean soup.
After Qin Leyin returned home, he used the techniques he had learned on the street to knock down his father for the first time.
His father was extremely surprised, then used combat arts to beat Qin Leyin even worse.
When Qin Leyin went to find Qin Xiao with a bruised face and swollen nose, Qin Xiao seemed to have been prepared for this. He called over a medical officer to treat Qin Leyin, then began teaching him combat arts.
An infiltrator who enjoyed tricking children—that was Qin Leyin's first impression of Qin Xiao.
"Actually, things like the Skyline people killing officials and rebelling happen once every few years. There's nothing surprising about it," Bai Yu said. "Flame Capital always treats those sent to become officials in the Skyline District as sacrifices. Once the Skyline people kill the sacrifices, they naturally quiet down."
"But that year was different."
Le Yu asked, "What was different?"
"The political situation was different," Bai Yu said. "The late emperor wanted to reform