Former fiancé

Chen Shi'an smiled at Qin E'na. "Wanting to rise above the crowd means having ambition.

Is it wrong for a man to have ambition?"

Qin E'na snorted softly. "Ambition is a good thing, of course, but you shouldn't reach for the clouds with your feet off the ground.

What kind of place do you think the Demon Hunting Team is?

If you go there, you'll need Heaven's blessing just to stay alive, yet you're still dreaming of rising above the crowd?"

Chen Shi'an shook his head. "Those are clearly words of concern. How do they come out sounding so different when you say them?"

Qin E'na raised an eyebrow. "Who's concerned about you? Don't flatter yourself!"

Su Qingrou shook her head repeatedly. "Why can't you two exchange more than a couple of sentences without bickering?

Shi'an, I don't understand this business of you men wanting to rise above the crowd.

When your elder brother was still here, he often talked about winning honors and making a name for himself too.

Since you've already decided to venture out and try, I can't stop you.

You don't need to worry about things at home. With Zhao Ling and E'na helping me, everything will be fine.

But you must take care of yourself. Making a name for yourself comes second. Coming home safe and sound is what matters most."

Chen Shi'an nodded. "Don't worry, sister-in-law. I'll definitely put safety first. I'm the only man left in the Chen Family. For your sake, I have to keep myself alive and well."

The Demon Hunting Team's recruitment trials took place as scheduled.

The trials were held at the Demon Hunting Team's camp in Windrise Stronghold.

Early that morning, the crowd surrounding the camp was so dense that not even water could trickle through.

Most of them, however, had only come to watch the excitement.

Unfortunately, every entrance to the Demon Hunting Team's camp was heavily guarded. Only those taking part in the trials could enter; everyone else could only listen for signs of activity outside.

With a little over an hour remaining before the trials, Chen Shi'an made his way through the packed crowd and arrived outside the camp.

Barricades, including chevaux-de-frise, stood before the camp gates. More than a dozen burly men with Horizontal Sabers at their waists stood beside them, maintaining a strict guard.

A long table had been set up before the barricades. Behind it sat a lean young man with a lock of black hair hanging over his forehead.

His legs were crossed, and he held a blue-covered register.

Anyone taking part in the trials had to pass his inspection before entering the Demon Hunting Team's camp.

At that moment, a dozen or so people were lined up before the table, waiting to be checked.

Chen Shi'an was about to join the end of the line when he saw the spectators retreat to either side, swiftly clearing a passage wide enough for three horses abreast.

A group of more than twenty strode down the passage. Apart from the yellow-robed old man leading them, they were all young men and women. They held their heads high and their chests out, looking straight ahead with an air of utter arrogance.

They walked briskly out of the crowd, passed the line of applicants, and went straight to the long table.

To Chen Shi'an's surprise, he spotted a familiar face among them: Fang Ruyu.

"They're from the Martial Academy."

"The Martial Academy is taking part in the Demon Hunting Team's trials too?"

"Possibly. The Demon Hunting Team is doubling its numbers this time, so there'll naturally be plenty of new positions for squad leaders, centurions, and the like.

The Martial Academy's disciples are strong, and they have the academy backing them. They stand a good chance of landing an officer's post in the Demon Hunting Team without even earning military merit. Naturally, they wouldn't want to miss such an easy bargain."

Some spectators recognized the Martial Academy group, and hushed conversations spread through the crowd.

Chen Shi'an stopped, in no hurry to join the line.

By then, the yellow-robed old man had led the twenty-odd academy disciples to the table. Without even looking at the young man seated behind it, he said carelessly, "Several of our Martial Academy disciples will be taking part in the trials. Hurry up and give them their number tokens."

The young man kept his legs crossed and replied flatly, "Anyone taking part should go to the back of the line. Anyone who isn't should stand aside."

The yellow-robed old man and the academy disciples first froze, then anger appeared on their faces.

Martial Academy disciples enjoyed such exalted status. Why should they have to queue?

Someone immediately shouted, "How dare you! Didn't you hear? We're from the Martial Academy!"

The man behind the long table raised his head and gently brushed aside the black hair hanging over his forehead.

The instant he saw the man's face clearly, the yellow-robed old man's expression changed dramatically. He hastily called out, "Those taking part in the trials, get in line at once!"

The academy disciples stood rooted to the spot, their faces filled with astonishment.

"What are you standing there for? Get in line!" The yellow-robed old man raised his voice.

Seeing his stern expression, the three academy disciples participating in the trials dared not delay and hurried to the back of the line.

Then the yellow-robed old man forced a smile and prepared to salute the young man behind the table.

The young man waved a hand. "Only three are taking part. What about the others?"

The yellow-robed old man's smile widened a little. "Ye..."

The young man frowned.

The yellow-robed old man visibly faltered, then bent slightly at the waist. "On Dean Lu's instructions, I've brought these outstanding academy disciples to observe the Demon Hunting Team's trials. Please... please make an exception."

The young man lifted his eyelids slightly. "You can go in first. They wait outside. Once all the applicants have entered, they can go in."

The yellow-robed old man's expression turned bitter, and he was about to speak.

The young man added, "If you don't want to go in, you can wait with them."

The yellow-robed old man hesitated no longer and quickly replied, "Thank you."

He then waved at the academy disciples. "Wait outside for now. Remember, no making a racket!"

With that, he strode toward the Demon Hunting Team's camp gates.

By now, how could the academy disciples fail to realize that the young man behind the long table was no ordinary figure?

The yellow-robed old man was an instructor at Windrise Martial Academy. Anyone who could make him behave so respectfully was certainly no small fry.

But why would someone like that come to the camp gates to check a register?

Though their minds were full of questions, the academy disciples, Fang Ruyu included, quickly stepped aside.

Not only the academy disciples but the spectators too could tell that the young man behind the long table had an extraordinary background.

Standing among the crowd, Chen Shi'an had watched everything unfold.

He had more or less guessed the young man's identity.

Only a handful of people in the Demon Hunting Team could afford to disregard Windrise Martial Academy. Among those so young, there was only one: the Demon Hunting Team's deputy commander, Ye Xicheng.

Ye Xicheng was the adopted son of Fu Qingyang, commander of the Demon Hunting Team.

He was Windrise Stronghold's youngest Ranked Martial Artist, having become a First-Rank Martial Artist at twenty.

He was unrestrained in his conduct, proud and untamable.

Publicly embarrassing the Martial Academy was exactly the sort of thing he would do.

In principle, someone like him should have been known to everyone. The Windrise Martial Academy disciples and the spectators should have recognized Ye Xicheng long ago.

However, Ye Xicheng spent most of his time carrying out missions elsewhere and rarely returned to Windrise Stronghold.

Thus, few people had ever seen him. They knew his name, but not his face.

Of course, once Chen Shi'an revealed his true strength, the title of Windrise Stronghold's youngest Ranked Martial Artist would pass to a new owner.

Unable to enter the Demon Hunting Team's camp immediately, the academy disciples went together to the back of the applicants' line and struck up conversations with the three academy disciples taking part in the trials.

Most spoke respectfully, with an ingratiating undertone.

Of those three, two men and one woman, the leader was a man of average build dressed in white brocade.

Facing his fellow disciples' flattery, the man in white kept his chin raised, looking thoroughly haughty.

From time to time, however, he glanced at Fang Ruyu, who stood quietly to one side without joining them.

As usual, Fang Ruyu wore a long white dress embroidered with lotus flowers. She stood quietly apart, composed and elegant.

A few more applicants gradually joined the back of the line.

Chen Shi'an had no desire to mingle with the Windrise Martial Academy disciples. Once another seven or eight people had lined up behind those three, he slowly emerged from the crowd and joined the end of the queue.

Fang Ruyu spotted Chen Shi'an immediately. Her eyes brightened, and she walked quickly over. "Are you taking part in the Demon Hunting Team's trials?"

"Miss Fang, what a coincidence. We meet again."

Chen Shi'an smiled faintly. "This is a good opportunity. I thought I'd give it a try."

Fang Ruyu blinked. "There are requirements for entering the trials. You need someone's recommendation, and you have to be at least a fourth acquired stage Martial Artist.

Your elder brother used to be a squad leader in the City Guard Team. If you find a way, you should be able to get someone to recommend you. But can you lift a four-hundred-jin stone?"

Chen Shi'an's smile remained unchanged. "I should be able to."

Fang Ruyu clearly looked doubtful. "I've never heard that you cultivated."

Chen Shi'an said, "Even what you see isn't necessarily true, much less what you hear."

Just then, the man in white, surrounded by academy disciples like the moon amid a host of stars, actually stepped out of the line and took a place directly behind Chen Shi'an.

"Junior Sister Fang, is this a friend of yours? Introduce us." A warm smile appeared on the white-robed man's face.

Fang Ruyu visibly frowned. After a brief hesitation, she began introducing the two.

The man in white was named Song Yuming, a Windrise Martial Academy disciple who was about to graduate.

"So you're Brother Chen. A pleasure, a pleasure."

Song Yuming cupped his hands toward Chen Shi'an, smiling without warmth. "May I ask how strong you are, Brother Chen? Can you lift a four-hundred-jin stone?

If not, I'm afraid you'll have made this trip for nothing. The Demon Hunting Team's minimum admission requirement is the fourth acquired stage."

Chen Shi'an smiled faintly. "I'll have to try before I know whether I can lift it."

A flicker of disdain crossed Song Yuming's eyes. Then he asked with a look of surprise, "You mean you didn't try before coming here, Brother Chen?

You didn't even make such important preparations? Ah, you're far too careless.

I must remind you, a four-hundred-jin stone is no trifling matter. If you can't lift it, don't force yourself. It'll be troublesome if you throw out your back."

Chen Shi'an felt thoroughly irritated. How could he fail to see that Song Yuming was interested in Fang Ruyu? He plainly wanted to keep Chen Shi'an from having too much contact with her and had deliberately come over to interfere.

His words sounded concerned, but every one of them carried a put-down.

"No need to trouble yourself, Brother Song. I know what I'm doing."

Chen Shi'an gave a lukewarm reply, then turned to Fang Ruyu and smiled. "Miss Fang, I believe Brother Song came to see you."

With that, he deliberately moved two places away, leaving space for Song Yuming and Fang Ruyu.

At this, Fang Ruyu involuntarily frowned, and disappointment surfaced in her beautiful eyes.

When Song Yuming saw her expression, fury blazed within him.

Still, he did possess a measure of cunning.

Forcing down his jealousy and anger, he smiled. "What are you saying, Brother Chen? Since you're Junior Sister Fang's good friend, you're naturally my good friend too. I came over because I'd like to get to know you better."

Chen Shi'an wasn't afraid of trouble, but he didn't want to invite inexplicable trouble either.

Judging by the other academy disciples' attitude toward Song Yuming, his background was clearly far from ordinary.

He had no desire to find himself targeted over a former fiancée by someone who was plainly deeply jealous and seemingly clever.

So he cleared his throat and smiled. "Brother Song, you've misunderstood. Miss Fang and I can't really be called good friends. We've only met a few times."

Delight appeared on Song Yuming's face, and he was about to speak.

But Fang Ruyu suddenly said, "That's right. We can't be called good friends. You're merely my former fiancé."

With that, she abruptly twisted her slender waist and strode aside.

"..."

Chen Shi'an nearly swore aloud.

Fang Ruyu was clearly doing this deliberately, trying to make Song Yuming bear a grudge against him.

What was that for?

Although the two of them had indeed had some unpleasant encounters before, Chen Shi'an had subsequently done Fang Ruyu a huge favor.

How could she repay kindness with enmity?

Song Yuming's smile froze on his face. His expression immediately darkened, and his angry eyes fixed on Chen Shi'an. "Is what Junior Sister Fang said true?"

Are you even involved with Fang Ruyu? Why are you throwing a jealous fit here?

Chen Shi'an was rather speechless.

Still, he had no intention of letting Fang Ruyu set him up for no reason. Suppressing his irritation, he explained with a faint smile, "Brother Song, my engagement to Miss Fang was dissolved long ago. There's no longer anything between us..."

"Brother Song?"

Song Yuming sneered. "What do you think you are? If not for Junior Sister Fang, you wouldn't even have a chance to speak to me.

Do you think you're qualified to call me your brother?

I'm warning you, Chen. You're not to have any contact with Junior Sister Fang from now on.

Otherwise, I'll make you regret being born!"

"..."

Chen Shi'an felt utterly helpless. The risks of dealing with this sort of seemingly clever person were simply too unpredictable.

His mind followed such bizarre paths that there was no telling when he would lose his senses or what form his madness would take.

So Chen Shi'an simply turned around, leaving Song Yuming facing the back of his head.

As he turned, he caught sight of Fang Ruyu.

He distinctly saw her watching him, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

"Chen Shi'an, are you looking to die?" Ignored, Song Yuming flew into a rage and roared.

At the same time, the academy disciples surged over immediately and surrounded Chen Shi'an.

Their eyes were hostile, their gazes predatory, and they looked ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.

Such a scene immediately drew the surrounding spectators' attention. Countless eyes turned toward Chen Shi'an and Song Yuming.

Fang Ruyu clearly hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly. Panic appeared on her face, and she was about to run over.

Just then, a voice rang out nearby. "If you dare fight here, no matter who you are, you'll all spend a month eating prison rations in the Demon Hunting Team's cells!"