A Glimpse of Talent

Deep within the Martial Academy, beside the seven-story tower on its highest level, stood a secluded little courtyard.

This area was home to the Martial Academy's instructors. The courtyard was the most elegant of them all and rarely opened, but someone had been staying there these past few days.

Inside the courtyard.

"Junior sister, don't blame our master. A journey of experience in the jianghu is something every martial artist must undertake. Taking a position as an instructor at the Martial Academy is already one of the easiest, most comfortable paths." The young man in a voluminous black robe, a faint scar on his face, smiled.

"I understand."

Huan Xinyan smiled, her lustrous black hair drawing the eye. "As a teacher, you teach your disciples, but you also teach yourself. In the year or so I've been an instructor at the Martial Academy, I've gradually come to understand martial principles that used to elude me."

"Good."

The scarred young man looked at Huan Xinyan approvingly. "That little rascal who used to follow right behind me, babbling away, is finally starting to grow up."

"Senior brother, you're always bringing up things I did as a child." Huan Xinyan smiled helplessly.

"Haha, even a young lady gets embarrassed." The Scarred Youth laughed louder and couldn't help patting Huan Xinyan on the head. "I wonder what outstanding young man will be worthy of you one day."

The Scarred Youth looked young, but he was already over forty. His accomplishments in martial arts had merely softened the marks left by the years.

And he had watched Huan Xinyan grow up!

"That's still a long way off," Huan Xinyan said. "I remember you didn't marry until you were in your thirties."

"I married late because I hadn't found anyone suitable." The Scarred Youth smiled. "Actually, that little Lu Ren isn't bad."

"Senior brother, don't go making matches for me. I'm not interested in him, and I'm not thinking of getting married anytime soon." Huan Xinyan shook her head repeatedly.

The Scarred Youth smiled, not taking it to heart.

Suddenly.

"Master Huan, Senior Brother Wu Yuan has come to the Martial Academy. He's already on his way to the 'Martial Dao Grand Hall.'" A somewhat nervous voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

The two inside turned toward the voice.

Outside stood a tall, slender young woman with an awkward air about her, dressed in a disciple's uniform.

"Wu Yuan's here? All right, go notify the dean and the other instructors at once. I'll be right there," Huan Xinyan said.

"Yes." The young woman hurried off.

"Wu Yuan? He's a disciple of the Martial Academy, right?" The black-robed Scarred Youth smiled. "What could make you, of all people, a little nervous, junior sister?"

He'd heard the young woman call Wu Yuan senior brother, so he knew he must be a disciple of the Martial Academy.

"He's the first disciple I personally took on after coming to the sect's Martial Academy in Li City Prefecture." A hint of pride showed on Huan Xinyan's face as she smiled. "I'm looking for him because he may well have the strength of a Sixth-Rank Martial Master. I've asked the instructors to come witness it so we can test him properly."

"A Sixth-Rank Martial Master?" The black-robed Scarred Youth smiled. "I remember Martial Academy disciples can be no older than fifteen."

"Right!"

"Wu Yuan just turned fourteen a few months ago." Huan Xinyan spoke solemnly. "And he only made a sudden leap forward in the past few months. Half a year ago, I remember he was still a little short of becoming a Seventh-Rank Warrior."

"Just over fourteen? And not even a Seventh-Rank Warrior half a year ago?" The usually composed black-robed Scarred Youth's expression shifted. "Junior sister, are you sure? Has he achieved Martial Dao Enlightenment?"

"I taught him myself. How could I not be sure?" Huan Xinyan said firmly.

The black-robed Scarred Youth nodded slightly. "His physical improvement is astonishing. I just don't know how he fares in real combat."

"His saber techniques and footwork are both very solid," Huan Xinyan said at once.

She could tell her senior brother was interested.

"Haha, junior sister, you can't tell if someone's training is solid until you see him fight." The black-robed Scarred Youth smiled. "Isn't your Martial Academy going to test him?"

"Come on! Take your senior brother along to have a look."

"All right." Huan Xinyan's eyes brightened. She knew full well that her senior brother was one of the sect's high-ranking members.

If Wu Yuan caught her senior brother's eye?

Then Huan Xinyan would have a much better chance. It might even be as good as settled!

The Martial Dao Grand Hall.

This was the Martial Academy's main hall. Major public events were held here, and it also housed several special training rooms and strength-testing chambers. Naturally, disciples were constantly coming and going.

"Senior Brother Wu."

"Senior brother." Most of the Martial Academy disciples knew Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan stood to one side of the hall and nodded in reply.

"I wonder what Master Huan and the dean are coming to find me for?" Wu Yuan pondered.

He couldn't think of any particular reason.

Since the Martial Academy Grand Competition ended, he'd kept a low profile. Even while training in seclusion at the academy, he rarely went out.

"I've only seen Master Huan two or three times these past few months," Wu Yuan thought. "Could it have something to do with those rumors going around the Lineage?"

Rumors had spread through the Lineage that he was nearly as strong as a Martial Master, but they were only rumors. He'd never demonstrated his strength in public.

Just then.

Six or seven Martial Academy disciples walked in through the hall's main entrance together.

"Brother Guan is definitely the first of our year to reach the Seventh-Rank Warrior level!"

"A Seventh-Rank Warrior!"

"Brother Guan Yang's come in first in the last four minor competitions, and he's improving faster and faster. There's a good chance he'll enter the Cloud Martial Hall next year." As they walked, the disciples chattered and praised the handsome, broad-shouldered young man with short hair in their midst.

"Hmm? Isn't that Senior Brother Wu Yuan?" Someone suddenly spotted the figure nearby.

"Wu Yuan?"

"He placed in the top four at this year's Martial Academy Grand Competition. I heard he was about as strong as Liu Ruyan, who placed first!" Several disciples spoke in hushed voices.

Wu Yuan wasn't any older than them. He was even younger than some of them.

Still, he was a celebrated figure at the Martial Academy.

"Wu Yuan?" The youth called Guan Yang frowned.

He knew Wu Yuan.

As the most dazzling young member of the Guan Lineage of Dongye in recent years, he desperately wanted to enter the Cloud Martial Hall.

And to enter the Cloud Martial Hall, he had to win first place in the Martial Academy Grand Competition!

Guan Yang knew who his competitors were. In his eyes, Wu Yuan was the biggest threat of all.

But he hadn't seen Wu Yuan once in the past few months.

"I heard Wu Yuan's still young enough to compete in the next Martial Academy Grand Competition, so he's stayed at the academy. He's aiming for the Cloud Martial Hall too," one of the disciples with them said quietly. "He'll probably be a major threat to Brother Guan."

The others nodded. Even if the previous year's top four didn't improve at all, they'd still have a shot at taking first place in the next competition!

Besides, at their age—the prime years for physical development—even without training hard, their strength would steadily improve.

"He's strong. Brother Guan probably can't beat him right now," said a very composed, tall, slender disciple among them.

"Hmph!"

Guan Yang snorted and glanced at the tall, slender disciple. The latter's expression immediately changed; he knew he'd said the wrong thing.

Whoosh!

But Guan Yang changed course, leading his entourage straight toward Wu Yuan.

"Senior Brother Wu." Guan Yang smiled broadly, his earlier coldness nowhere to be seen. "I've admired you for a long time, but I've never had the chance to speak with you."

"Senior Brother Wu."

"Greetings, senior brother." Several disciples spoke up, all showing some trepidation.

They might have formed a little group around Guan Yang, but facing the famous Senior Brother Wu, they were still rather reserved.

"Hello." Wu Yuan smiled casually, not giving it much thought.

"Senior Brother Wu, my name is Guan Yang. Have you heard of me?" Guan Yang maintained what he considered a gracious smile.

"Guan Yang?" Wu Yuan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

Guan Yang's face stiffened.

In an instant, Guan Yang decided Wu Yuan was deliberately mocking him. After all, he'd placed first in four consecutive minor competitions. Even if Wu Yuan didn't know him personally, how could he not even know his name?

But how could he know that Wu Yuan hadn't paid any attention to the Martial Academy since the last competition?

The Martial Academy Grand Competition? A children's game.

Wu Yuan hadn't planned on competing in it at all.

"Senior Brother Wu, I've heard your name many times." Guan Yang stared at Wu Yuan. "I heard you turned down Nanmeng Martial Academy so you could win first place in next year's Martial Academy Grand Competition. As it happens, I'm hoping to enter the Cloud Martial Hall too."

"I was thinking we could have a match now. What do you say?"

"A match?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

His gaze swept over them. Only then did he notice that Guan Yang was the leader of this group of Martial Academy disciples, and he understood a little.

"No need for a match," Wu Yuan said mildly.

"Are you afraid, Senior Brother Wu, or do you think I'm not worthy?" Guan Yang said in a low voice. "Your strength is impressive. You became a Seventh-Rank Warrior at fourteen, and I admire you. My physical strength may still be inferior to yours."

"But I've received personal instruction and training from our elder. I'd say my saber techniques have some unique qualities of their own. I heard you're good with a saber too, so I'd like you to give me some pointers." Guan Yang stared at Wu Yuan.

Guan Yang wasn't an impetuous person.

But he knew very well that if he wanted to enter the Cloud Martial Hall, he had to find out how he measured up to Wu Yuan.

"Your elder?" Wu Yuan frowned slightly, then asked, "Are you from the Guan Lineage of Dongye?"

"That's right!" Guan Yang said with a hint of pride.

Wu Yuan understood.

The old ancestor of the Guan Lineage of Dongye, Guan Zishan, was the number-one expert in Li City's territory and a former First-class Expert!

The Guan Lineage was also one of the most prominent houses in the region around Li City.

Suddenly.

"Wu Yuan's over there!"

"He finally showed up." A commotion came from the hall entrance. A group of people walked in, drawing the disciples' attention.

Guan Yang and Wu Yuan looked over as well.

Dean Zhang Da, Huan Xinyan, and more than ten other Martial Academy instructors in purple robes had entered together.

"Dean? Instructor Liu?" Guan Yang was startled.

"So many instructors. Why have they suddenly come to the Martial Dao Grand Hall?" Nearly twenty disciples inside the hall looked puzzled.

"Him?" Wu Yuan looked over too, but his gaze passed over the instructors and fell on the black-robed, scarred young man at the back of the group.

That stride!

That gaze! And that invisible presence, so well concealed that only Wu Yuan had managed to sense it!

How keen was Wu Yuan's perception? He instantly judged him to be an expert!

At least a First-class Expert!

"Haha, Guan Yang, you're all here." One of the Martial Academy instructors stepped forward with a smile. "I was just about to ask you all to come and observe your Senior Brother Wu. Since you're already here, this works out perfectly."

"Instructor Liu, what are we supposed to observe?" Guan Yang couldn't help asking.

"What?" The instructor frowned. "You don't know? Your Senior Brother Wu has the strength of a Martial Master. Today, the Martial Academy is officially testing and recognizing it!"

"Senior Brother Wu? Martial Master strength?" Guan Yang's eyes widened as he stared at Wu Yuan beside him like he was looking at a monster.