A Day at Canaan Academy

In the classroom prepared for Xiao Yan, Fire Elder and a middle-aged man in a red-and-black robe were waiting inside. Both had their eyes closed in quiet repose. The middle-aged man sat upright beside Fire Elder, a full head taller than him. His already fierce features, coupled with several scars that seemed to have been left by blades, made him look even less like a good person.

So when Xiao Yan pushed open the door and entered, he naturally could not help looking at the man a few more times. Suddenly, the man opened his eyes, meeting Xiao Yan's scrutinizing gaze head-on. In that instant, one thought arose in Xiao Yan's mind: Danger!

Boom!

Xiao Yan's body reacted instinctively. When he came back to himself, he found that he had bent his knees and lowered his shoulders, Dou Qi surging through him as he assumed the posture of one facing a formidable enemy. Yet when he looked at the man again, he found that the man was still sitting there, without moving in the slightest. Looking at his face again, apart from his genuinely intimidating appearance, there was none of that dangerous feeling from before.

The man then stood up and tossed Xiao Yan a plaque. His voice was hoarse and heavy, and he seemed to be someone who did not enjoy speaking much.

"Not bad. I'm not always at the Academy, so there's no fixed time. Bring this to find me whenever you want!"

Without giving Xiao Yan a chance to speak, he pushed open the door and left. It seemed he had waited here solely to see whether Xiao Yan was qualified to become his student. From beginning to end, he had not even left Xiao Yan his name.

Fortunately, Fire Elder spoke at the right moment. "That is Wu Protector of the Academy's Enforcement Squad. He will be responsible for your Dou Techniques and combat training from now on. Just go to the Enforcement Squad to find him later. As for cultivation methods, since you do not need one, we can discuss that another day."

Then Fire Elder waved his hand, and bundle after bundle of books landed before Xiao Yan. "The first key to alchemy is medicinal ingredients. Identifying herbs is a required course for every alchemist. Today, I'll teach you..."

When Xiao Yan emerged from the classroom, several stacks of books introducing medicinal herbs had been added to the storage ring on his finger. Although Fire Elder taught far faster than the instructor Xiao Yan had listened to yesterday, perhaps because his soul force was so powerful, Xiao Yan did not feel much pressure.

Still, he had harbored a few unrealistic hopes—perhaps they would teach him pill refinement right away. But today's lesson had poured a small bucket of cold water over him, making him realize that he still had a long way to go on the path to becoming an alchemist.

Just as he stepped out of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, someone grabbed him from the side. Xiao Yan turned and saw that it was Lu Mu, the kid he had met yesterday.

"Senior Xiao Yan, something terrible has happened! Han Xian discovered that you didn't attend class today. He wants you to give him a reasonable explanation."

Xiao Yan looked utterly baffled. After thinking for a moment, he understood what had happened. Han Xian did not know that Xiao Yan was taking separate lessons. He thought Xiao Yan was attending the alchemy department classes with him, and when he did not see him, he assumed Xiao Yan had skipped class.

But Xiao Yan had no interest whatsoever in why Han Xian thought he was entitled to an explanation. After asking Lu Mu where the Enforcement Squad was located, he left. He still had to find Wu Protector after lunch, so he had no time to play along with Han Xian, that king of the kids.

Seeing that Xiao Yan had merely thanked him for the warning and seemed completely unconcerned about Han Xian, Lu Mu was also rather puzzled. How could he be so calm after letting someone get dirt on him? Combining that with Xiao Yan asking for the Enforcement Squad's location, Lu Mu finally reached a conclusion after much analysis.

Xiao Yan had someone backing him!

He was going to get someone in the Enforcement Squad to deal with Han Xian!

I absolutely have to cling to this thigh!

Unaware of who was supposedly backing him, Xiao Yan was happily eating lunch. He had just thought of a brilliant idea: he put his Academy uniform into his storage ring and changed into an ordinary coat, making him look like Lu Mu and the others.

The plan proved effective. Although he still attracted some glances, they clearly did not recognize him and merely took him for a "prospective student."

Just as Xiao Yan was secretly praising his own brilliance and might, someone came over and sat across from him. Xiao Yan instinctively lowered his head a little, wondering whether the other person had recognized him. But after a while, he realized that the person across from him had not made a sound and seemed to be looking at him.

Xiao Yan merely disliked trouble; it was not as though he had done anything wrong. It would not be a big deal if someone recognized him, so he slowly raised his head to see who it was.

As Xiao Yan's gaze gradually moved upward, the first thing he saw was a pair of fair, slender forearms resting on the table...

So she really isn't here to eat... Hm? Such thin arms? About my age?

Xiao Yan thought to himself. Then he saw the other person's hands, crossed together beneath her chin...

Those hands... Is she a girl? The storage ring on her finger looks much better than mine...

Then Xiao Yan finally saw the person's face. As expected, she was a pretty girl, and as expected, she was somewhat small and thin like him. Her eyes held a trace of anticipation as she stared at Xiao Yan, while the smile on her lips carried a hint of slyness. But none of that mattered. What mattered was that face...

"Who are you?"

Xiao Yan asked in a daze. This little girl was indeed quite pretty, but he did not know her. Why was she smiling at him?

"Xiao Yan! Right?"

Instead of answering Xiao Yan's question, the girl carefully examined his features before calling out his name. Fortunately, Xiao Yan had deliberately chosen a secluded spot, so it did not draw anyone's attention.

Xiao Yan neither admitted nor denied it, and the two remained locked in a standoff. Silence fell for a moment. Seeing that this girl was around his age, did not wear a uniform, had come with obvious ill intent, and had not even introduced herself, Xiao Yan made a few guesses. She was probably one of Han Xian's lackeys or fangirls, here to cause trouble for him.

Thinking this, Xiao Yan became even less willing to waste time here. He quickly finished his food, ignored her, and stood to leave. Who would have thought that she would apparently be enraged by his indifference? She followed behind him, chattering without pause.

"Why are you running? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"

"You dare ignore me? Do you know who I am?"

"This way leads to the Enforcement Squad? What are you going there for?"

Xiao Yan kept his eyes on his nose and his mind on his heart, paying her no attention at all. He sped up and dashed away. The girl was clearly less skilled than Xiao Yan. After chasing him for a while, she could only watch helplessly as he disappeared from view.

"Huff... huff... Just you wait, Xiao Yan. I'm not done with you!"

Naturally unable to hear those harsh words, Xiao Yan quickly arrived at his destination. The Enforcement Squad's headquarters was far from the Academy's center, practically tucked into a corner of Canaan Academy according to the map. Xiao Yan knew almost nothing about the Enforcement Squad. He had only heard Lu Mu mention that students rarely came here...

When he saw the Enforcement Squad's great banner bearing a blood-red "Law" character, Xiao Yan felt as though the whole atmosphere had suddenly changed. Inside the Academy, he had seen multi-story pavilions and buildings, along with the laughter of people coming and going, all radiating the bold vitality of youth beneath the sunlight.

But what stood before Xiao Yan looked more like a military camp. There was a gate flanked by watchtowers, while black walls extended outward on either side beyond it, enclosing a vast area.

If not for that banner, Xiao Yan might even have thought he had come to the wrong place. He took out the token Wu Protector had given him and walked toward the Enforcement Squad's gate.

After showing the token in his hand to the burly guard standing watch outside, the man let Xiao Yan in with some hesitation. Once through the gate, Xiao Yan saw nothing but broad, heavily built men training in the open ground ahead, occasionally letting out exhausted roars.

Xiao Yan did not quite understand why such a sight would appear in Canaan Academy. Still, following the gate guard's directions, he crossed the training field and headed toward the row of courtyards behind the dormitory buildings.

Only after asking several people did Xiao Yan learn where Wu Protector lived. Though none of these men looked as fierce as the Wu Protector Xiao Yan had seen that morning, every one of them gave him an indescribable pressure. That feeling made Xiao Yan more vigilant, but also more curious.

Just as he reached Wu Protector's courtyard, Xiao Yan heard shouts coming from inside. But they definitely did not belong to Wu Protector's hoarse voice. It sounded like a young man!

Xiao Yan knocked on the door. After a while, a boy opened it, panting heavily. He was about Xiao Yan's age and wore an ordinary training outfit. His appearance was utterly unremarkable, but his fiery red pupils were especially eye-catching.

He was not surprised by Xiao Yan's arrival. Without saying much, he stepped aside to signal Xiao Yan to enter. Wu Protector's courtyard was also exceptionally clean, containing nothing besides several sandbags, training dummies, and other equipment used by the young man.

"Master Wu went out on business. Wait a while."

Seeing Xiao Yan indicate that he understood, the boy said nothing more and resumed his own vigorous training. Yet during brief moments when he paused to catch his breath, his gaze would occasionally drift toward Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan, who was sitting to the side reading, also noticed that gaze. He felt that the other boy did not necessarily want to ignore him, but simply was not used to speaking. So he said:

"I'm Xiao Yan. May I ask your name?"

"Wu Hao."

After Xiao Yan spoke first, Wu Hao visibly relaxed. Xiao Yan continued asking:

"Earlier, I heard you call Wu Protector Master Wu. Are you his disciple?"

Wu Hao nodded. "I am Master Wu's disciple, and also his adopted son."

Xiao Yan understood. "No wonder you're also surnamed Wu."

Once they had started, the two finally began chatting now and then. It could not be called lively conversation, but they did gain some understanding of each other.

Wu Hao asked how Xiao Yan had come to study under Wu Protector and praised Xiao Yan's talent. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan learned from Wu Hao that the Enforcement Squad specialized in combat, and that everyone here had killed people—though all of them had been evil people.

Just as Xiao Yan wanted to ask whom the Enforcement Squad fought, Wu Protector returned. Their conversation naturally came to an end. Wu Protector did not pay much attention to Wu Hao, who had already resumed training. Facing Xiao Yan, he remained as sparing with words as ever.

"Use your Dou Techniques. Let me see."

Xiao Yan demonstrated the three Dou Techniques he knew one after another. After watching, Wu Protector shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"We who cultivate Dou Qi also cultivate our bodies. Without a strong physique, how can a Dou Practitioner fight others? Your Dou Qi cultivation is not bad, but your body is rather weak."

Xiao Yan silently nodded at those words. His previous life could not exactly be called pampered, but no one had ever guided him in systematically training his body. Even when called weak, Xiao Yan was not discouraged. After all, was he not here precisely to become stronger?

If everyone at Canaan Academy only praised Xiao Yan as a genius and said they had nothing to teach him, then what had he come here for?

Wu Protector continued, "But you have enough time to make up for it. This cannot be rushed; you just have to start step by step. Still, for you, there is a faster way."

Xiao Yan raised his head in confusion, but he seemed to see the slightest smile flicker across Wu Protector's expressionless, ice-cold face. Yet when he looked carefully again, it was back to normal. Xiao Yan could not tell whether he had imagined it.

"You can speak with Fire Elder about alchemy. I suggest that you prioritize learning to refine healing pills."

Wu Protector seemed to have said something that concealed immense terror, then skipped right over the matter. "Back to Dou Techniques. Your first major problem is..."

Unlike old man Fire Elder's purely theoretical teaching, Xiao Yan's lessons with Wu Protector had him constantly cycling between listening and practice. Thus, when he left, Xiao Yan no longer had the excitement he had felt upon arriving.