My Territory

Dawn spread across the eastern horizon, and the sky gradually brightened. The frigid wind that had raged for so long was still howling, but the heavy snow had suddenly stopped. Berely's residents all breathed a sigh of relief. Many people went outside to stretch their legs, and the streets and alleys suddenly became much more crowded.

Countless people gathered in whispers on street corners, discussing what had happened at the Sword and Beauty Tavern the previous night: a sudden fire, more than a hundred drunk and unconscious Army Academy students, the Empire's Minister of the Army personally arriving at the scene in a towering rage, and the Army Academy's president looking so grim he had nearly drawn his sword and started cutting people down on the spot.

Rumors and gossip gradually spread through the streets, all manner of strange and bizarre stories continually circulating among the public.

Some said the Army Academy students had been gambling together; others said they had been conducting certain illegal transactions. Still others claimed the Sword and Beauty Tavern was a filthy, indecent place, where many of the waitresses had been carrying on with those students. Every sort of scandal spread at lightning speed. In this winter, with scarcely any entertainment news to please the eye, these scandals had even begun racing toward every corner of the Empire and the western nations aboard post-station carriages.

Drowsy and half-asleep, Mr. Grong stepped down from his carriage at the gates of Fifth University. The howling cold wind swept over him, making him shiver and abruptly jolting him awake. He straightened his chest and put on the dignified air befitting a university dean of academic affairs, a knight, and a cultured gentleman of high society.

Mr. Grong's face was rosy with health, and he was in an excellent mood. He had spent a wonderful night yesterday. In a clean, comfortable, secluded, high-class hotel where no one could disturb them, he had shared a night of spring with Gina, the lead dancer of that Gissian traveling troupe.

"Lovely Little Leopard, what strength!" Although Mr. Grong's waist and legs ached and both his arms were still trembling nonstop, he felt so light all over that he seemed able to ride the wind into the sky. Last night, he had felt like an old tree sprouting anew, like dead wood meeting spring—the sheer exhilaration of storming cities and seizing lands, the delight of sweeping across the bed like wind, forest, fire, and mountain, the thrill of being so vigorous that his opponent wept and cried for mercy!

It was not merely physical. More than that, psychologically, Mr. Grong was utterly satisfied.

Thinking of how Miss Gina had remained limp as mud in bed, unable to move even after dawn had fully broken, Mr. Grong subconsciously slipped a hand into his pocket and carefully gripped the bottle of potion Lin Qi had sold him. Miraculous—too miraculous. That feeling of youthful vigor nearly drove Mr. Grong mad.

Just one drop had given Mr. Grong the joy of returning to his youthful days.

He had to get several more bottles from Lin Qi—he absolutely had to get more. For those potions, Mr. Grong would spare no price. He was now the dean of academic affairs at Fifth University. Once that aged and decrepit president retired, or suddenly kicked the bucket one day, he was highly likely to become Fifth University's president. He already held the rank of knight; once his wife's father died, he might even inherit at least an earl's title from that immensely wealthy family.

He held a lofty position and enjoyed an outstanding reputation. Everywhere in Berely's upper society, people fawned over him. After all, the Empire had not fought a war for thirty years. Men of letters had replaced those martial brutes as the Empire's most respected figures. What else did he lack now?

Perhaps the only thing he lacked was the youth that, once gone, would never return!

But the potion Lin Qi had sold him was a miraculous medicine capable of restoring his youth! Therefore, regardless of the cost—even at Lin Qi's quoted price of one hundred gold coins per bottle—he had to get several more. In fact, so long as Lin Qi was willing to sell him a few more bottles, he could recommend that Lin Qi continue his studies at Berely First University after graduation!

If Lin Qi could obtain a diploma from Berely First University—the oldest royal academy in the Empire—then his future would be sufficiently guaranteed. No matter which administrative department he entered, he could at least obtain a junior official's post.

"Then I can hint at that to him!" Mr. Grong was in high spirits. So long as Lin Qi sold him a few more bottles of that potion, what was a mere recommendation slot? He had that authority. This was precisely what he was in charge of.

Swinging his small mountain-vine cane and walking with light steps, Mr. Grong—immensely satisfied both physically and mentally—hummed a cheerful court waltz as he strode into the campus. This was one of Mr. Grong's peculiar habits: every time he returned to the university from outside, he would always make a circuit around the grounds. It was like a male lion in a pride inspecting his territory, and it brought him tremendous psychological pleasure.

But today, his inspection was interrupted just as it began, and Mr. Grong was greatly annoyed.

Fuming, he watched a squad of arrogant Dragon Cavalry and over a dozen furtive Copper Hats, their bodies exuding a sinister, chilling air, charge into the university and rush toward the largest male dormitory building. A surge of rage immediately shot to Mr. Grong's head. What was this? What did they think they were doing?

Since when had these vulgar Dragon Cavalry, these secret police who dealt with conspiracies all day, dared to barge so openly into a noble university? A university—this was a place that cultivated the Empire's elite. Every student here was a talent of exceptional promise. How did these damned bastards, who ought to deal only with street thugs and rogues, dare come here and run wild?

What he found especially intolerable was that they actually dared invade his territory!

This was Fifth University, the territory of the honored Imperial knight, Mr. Grong. How dared they charge into his territory so early in the morning?

Mr. Grong gave a heavy cough, intending to stop this gang of reckless fools.

But his cough sounded particularly weak amid the cold wind. The Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats did not hear Mr. Grong's warning-laden cough at all. Still brimming with enthusiasm, they strode toward the dormitory building, brutally shoving aside several students who had just come downstairs before charging up with heavy, synchronized steps like mad dogs.

Very soon, the building rang with the distinctive shouts of Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats conducting an investigation: "In the name of the Imperial Royal Family, please open your door!"

Less than a breath later, a dull crash sounded. Clearly, those not-so-good-tempered Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats had smashed down the door by force and barged straight into the room.

Mr. Grong's eyelids began twitching violently. He was shaking all over with rage. Outrageous—simply outrageous! These crude martial brutes actually dared disregard a noble knight? Mr. Grong let out an angry roar, pointed at the nearest servant, and bellowed, "Go call people! Call everyone we can use—all the guards, all the teachers and students from the discipline office!"

Mr. Grong furiously waved his cane and charged toward the male dormitory building, snorting and glaring.

He would never allow anyone to behave so outrageously on his territory! He was the spokesman for the highest will in this place!