Confession

"Old Instructor!"

Xue Yan was startled and abruptly came to his senses, emerging from his meditation. He looked ahead, but there wasn't a soul in sight.

"Could I have imagined it?"

Just then, a large hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Old Instructor! It really is you!"

Cesar chuckled. "Little Swallow, you don't seem to have made much progress!"

"Breaking into the Saint Realm is too difficult."

"Take your time. You can't rush these things. You still have at least three hundred years to live, and you may yet have a chance before your time is up."

"Where's the little fellow? I don't think I can sense his presence in this mansion."

"Jonathan usually lives at Ulada Magic Academy. I don't know why, but he bought a mansion in Black Phoenix City and has been keeping to himself, rarely going out."

With his hands behind his back, Cesar walked along as he spoke. "Then come with me to see him."

"Yes, Old Instructor!"

"But, Old Instructor, could you please stop calling me Little Swallow? If Jonathan hears you, he'll definitely mock me the moment he sees me. After all, I taught him for several years."

"Oh? He dares to do that, and you can't keep him in line?"

Xue Yan helplessly recounted his first encounter with Jonathan. Cesar burst out laughing when he heard the story.

"What an interesting fellow."

"In seven years, you turned him into a Level Seven Warrior. Not bad."

"That was because he was talented. My job was only to teach him assassination techniques. But the kid was remarkably perceptive; within a few years, he'd learned everything I knew."

"When we fought at the same level, neither of us could get the upper hand in a short time. If he used magic, I'd be at a disadvantage."

"I heard he's a Level Six Mage now?"

"He broke through around June or July last year. A Level Six Mage at sixteen. He may already be in the middle or even late stages of Level Six."

"Could he become a Level Seven Mage at seventeen? If so, his magical talent would rank among the top three in history. And since he cultivates both magic and martial arts, he might even be number one."

Xue Yan nodded in agreement. "You're right, Old Instructor."

"Come to think of it, Jonathan has quite a connection with Saber. His people were slaughtered by us."

Cesar's expression shifted, and he looked surprised. "What happened?"

Xue Yan told him the whole story.

Cesar said, "He's remarkably clear-eyed for someone so young. With potential like his, he has a good chance of entering the Saint Realm someday. He might even reach my level."

"Do you believe what he said?"

"Jonathan is becoming harder and harder to read. I used to think I had everything under control, but I'm no longer so sure."

"Still, based on what I've seen so far, he seems trustworthy."

"Saber killed his people, Saber saved him, and Saber raised him."

Cesar sighed. "They really are bound together by fate. Let me meet him first. If you bring up the grievances between him and Saber while we're there, I'll sense even the slightest killing intent."

"Understood, Old Instructor."

When they reached Rhode Mansion, Cesar looked at the plaque. Xue Yan said, "The Abraham who adopted him was surnamed Rhode."

Cesar nodded. Xue Yan stepped forward and knocked. Hilton opened the door.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Jonathan. We're his acquaintances, and we arranged to meet him."

"I see. Please, come in."

After leading them to the living room, Hilton said, "Please wait here. I'll go get the young master."

From Hilton's description, Jonathan knew who had come, so he hurried to the living room.

"Greetings, Lord Cesar and Lord Xue Yan."

After greeting them, he grinned. "Lord Cesar, I've been waiting for you for years. At last, you're here."

"I haven't let up for a single day all these years."

"All right, you're quite the smooth talker. Come closer and let me have a look at you," Cesar suddenly said.

Jonathan knew he couldn't hide it from him, so he obediently stepped forward.

Cesar seized Jonathan's wrist and closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them, let go, and stared at him in disbelief.

Seeing the radiant smile on his face, Cesar burst into laughter. "Incredible. Truly incredible!"

"You've hidden it well."

"You flatter me, Lord Cesar."

Xue Yan looked bewildered. "All right, Xue Yan, you can head back. I'll stay at this kid's mansion for a few days and give him some pointers."

Hm?

Hadn't he said he was going to test Jonathan's killing intent?

Still, since Cesar had given the order, Xue Yan could only do as told.

Only after they were alone in the living room did Cesar speak. "You broke through to Level Seven Mage at sixteen, didn't you?"

"I can tell your spiritual force is already close to the late stage. At this rate, you'll probably have the spiritual force required for Level Eight Mage by the end of this year."

"I'm curious. How did you do it?"

"Even if you became a Level Seven Mage early last year, you couldn't have accumulated spiritual force to this extent so quickly."

"I'm not sure either. But I discovered that when a mage focuses on a single task, they might enter a wondrous state. In that state, their spiritual force grows twice as fast."

"For instance, I've been practicing how to inscribe Magic Arrays lately. Each one is complex and consumes a great deal of spiritual force. The slightest lapse in concentration would make me fail, so I have to stay completely focused."

Cesar pondered for a moment. "What you're saying makes some sense, but it's easy to say and hard to do."

"It still comes down to your talent."

"Maybe. That's only one example. Carving stone and studying magic should work too."

"A Level Seven Mage at sixteen and a Level Seven Warrior at sixteen. Such talent has truly never been seen before in the history of the Yulan Continent."

Jonathan didn't answer, but silently thought, That may not be true of the history of the Yulan Plane.

"I, Cesar, always honor my promises. I'll stay here for three months, then leave. How much you learn will depend on your own ability."

"Thank you, Lord Cesar!"

Cesar continued, "I hear you have a grudge against Saber?"

"There's a grudge, but there's gratitude too, so we've left each other alone."

"But if they ever hurt me, harm me, or harm anyone close to me, I'll repay them in kind someday, no matter who it is—even if I can't do it now!"

"A hundredfold!"

Cesar looked straight into Jonathan's eyes. Jonathan didn't back down in the slightest.

After a while, Cesar said, "I understand. I'll tell Saber to be careful. I may even help you in a crisis, but only if it's within my power."

"Thank you, Lord Cesar. That's more than enough."

"Even without your help, I'm confident I can get through a crisis on my own."

"The world is vast. Anywhere can be home!"

"Well said!" Cesar's eyes showed his approval.

"Keep working hard. I look forward to the day you truly stand as my equal!"

A quick announcement: the update schedule has changed to midnight and eight in the morning.