Cynthia chattered away happily, without a trace of her earlier annoyance over the rejected Cloud-Surging Pill.
Wu Youren, however, was a little puzzled as he listened. Before, she cut off contact just like that. Why did she seem to be falling over herself to curry favor now?
But on second thought, that was normal enough. When boys and girls got along, whether the west wind or the east wind prevailed, it all came down to who overpowered whom.
She had already yielded earlier. Having taken that hardest first step, it was hardly surprising that she would keep yielding.
Watching the female warrior's animated expression, Wu Youren stuffed the remaining wolf peach into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed.
He raised a hand to wipe his mouth. "I appreciate your kindness, but I can't leave the martial academy right now. Go with them."
Cynthia's expression darkened. "Are you still angry with me? Or are you planning to go with Shali?"
Shali was the viscount's daughter, whose family had two Great Knights.
So there really were... no secrets left? Wu Youren rubbed his forehead in vexation. "Can't I have a third reason?"
"I don't think you could." Cynthia's expression darkened further. "Who did you promise?"
"He promised me." A figure approached from a distance. It was Instructor Kaili.
Instructor Kaili did not look pleased. Faced with a rival trying to poach someone, it would have been strange if she were in a good mood.
She said expressionlessly, "If you want to go to Suotu, find your own way... don't touch the person I chose."
Someone else followed beside her: the female warrior from Great Liang he had seen that afternoon.
"Greetings, Instructor," Wu Youren hurriedly greeted her. "I didn't say I was going."
"Pick me some vegetables first," Instructor Kaili said quite naturally, then glanced at the two female warriors. "You two, wait over there."
Whether Cynthia recognized her or not, she obediently withdrew into the distance at those words-as did the other woman.
Watching Wu Youren pick vegetables, the female instructor spoke slowly. "You don't seem very interested in leaving the martial academy?"
"That's... not really it." Wu Youren's hands paused briefly. "I think Suotu Town is a little dangerous."
He was merely a Knight Apprentice. Was there anything wrong with keeping a respectful distance from danger on that scale?
"You're planning to leave and never come back, aren't you?"
Wu Youren's hands paused again before he answered, "I don't quite understand what you mean, Instructor."
"As a hostage, who wouldn't want to return to Jin?" Kaili said coldly. "Here in Great Liang, even money has been a hardship for you."
There it was! This time, Wu Youren showed no unusual reaction and remained perfectly calm.
After a few seconds of silence, he answered slowly, "That's why it isn't appropriate for me to leave the martial academy."
"You can leave," Kaili said decisively. "Chief Instructor Hong isn't afraid of letting you leave, either."
"What if I run away?" Wu Youren felt there was no need to hide things from her.
"Why take such a big risk, Instructor? There's no need to put human nature to the test, either."
Kaili fell silent. Only after a while did she speak. "Your grandfather is already dead!"
Wu Youren's body stiffened involuntarily.
Then he continued picking vegetables and answered evenly, "I only met him once."
At that moment, he felt that the affairs of this world were truly far too absurd.
He really had no feelings for that grandfather he had acquired out of nowhere. He had merely learned to recognize him in the days before becoming a hostage.
That way, he would not fail to recognize the man when the authorities checked.
But his grandfather was dead, the money for living expenses had kept arriving, and no one had notified him of anything unusual.
Neither the guards at the hostage residence nor the Life and Death Knot had mentioned any news about this.
Now he had actually learned it from an instructor at the martial academy. It really was rather extraordinary.
"Don't you find it strange?" Instructor Kaili asked gravely. "How I know about this."
"It is... strange, I suppose." Wu Youren did not know how to answer that question normally. "How did you know?"
"The ulcer under your younger sister's arm healed six months after you left."
Wu Youren fell silent and said nothing more.
Only after silently finishing picking the vegetables and gathering them together did he straighten up and speak. "May I ask, Instructor, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Kaili answered unhurriedly, "You need to work hard to earn money."
Wu Youren sighed. In his eight years as a hostage, this was the moment someone had understood him most precisely.
She even knew the circumstances when he left home, so naturally, she could not possibly be unaware of his financial situation.
He murmured softly, "Sorry, but there are some things I cannot do."
"My grandfather was a prince of Xi," Instructor Kaili said quietly, without answering him. "So I don't mind teaching someone from Jin."
Xi had fallen more than forty years ago, its territory annexed by Great Liang.
The Xi ethnic group now nominally no longer existed as a people, but it was perfectly normal for some to remain unreconciled to that.
"Then pardon my disrespect." Wu Youren nodded slightly. How could there be such a huge gap between one grandfather and another?
Still, a descendant of the Xi people being able to learn about matters in Jin with such precision was unlikely to be solely because he was handsome.
Kaili waited a moment. When he said nothing further, she added, "Find ways to earn more money and pay my tuition fee."
"Once you become my student, you won't have to worry about earning more money."
Wu Youren pondered for another moment before asking, "Is there any chance I'll return to Jin in this lifetime?"
"That depends on how relations between the two countries develop," Kaili answered without hesitation. "There's no need to ask me that question."
"Then how strong I am doesn't matter." The youth sighed softly. "Even if I cultivate all the way to Divine Might Knight, what difference would it make?"
"At least it would improve your ability to protect yourself," Kaili said evenly. "Besides, Liang has plenty of loopholes."
"For instance, Chief Instructor Hong Yan treats you rather differently."
Wu Youren froze for a moment, then smiled. "Thank you, Instructor. It looks like I'll have to work hard to earn money."
"There's an opportunity to earn a little money right now," Instructor Kaili said slowly. "I need a guide familiar with Suotu Town."
"That place... is a little dangerous." Looking troubled, Wu Youren handed over the bundled vegetables. "I'd like to think about it."
"Mm, let's leave it at that, then." Instructor Kaili took the vegetables, turned, and left.
She took the female warrior from Liang with her. Only after the two had gone some distance did Cynthia come over again. "She's... an instructor at the martial academy?"
Wu Youren nodded expressionlessly, but a trace of puzzlement crossed his mind. Why does something happen every time I see you?
"I heard that student say..." Cynthia hesitated before asking, "This instructor is considering reducing your tuition fee?"
Wu Youren blinked and asked, "Do you find that strange?"
"I didn't say that," Cynthia answered cautiously.
She knew the boy from Jin had a strong sense of pride and did not want to anger him.
"More than one person recognizes your potential. Mm, even Shali wants to take you as her... that!"