There was a Knight here too? Wu Youren was somewhat taken aback.
However, he had already made his decision and would not change it lightly.
He said calmly, "Stay back. There's an administrator here, and the Life and Death Knot knows about this too. If you barge in recklessly, you'll bear the consequences!"
"What the fuck..." the person opposite muttered. "I'm Instructor Ke Li!"
Ke Li? Wu Youren actually remembered that name.
Cynthia had previously mentioned that she knew an instructor named Ke Li who was fairly close to the Mirage Sea Alliance, and had wanted to introduce him.
He darted out through the doorway, cupped his hands, and said politely, "Sorry, I was a little too on edge..."
In the darkness, he could vaguely make out two figures, one of them especially burly.
The burly figure was toying with a dagger-the one Wu Youren had thrown. "Hmm, interesting."
After a pause, he added, "Arson is a serious offense at the martial academy!"
Most of Great Liang's territory was relatively dry, so arson carried heavy penalties. Although the martial academy turned a blind eye to fighting, it would not tolerate arson.
But this was the rainy season!
However, Wu Youren knew he could not argue that point with this man. He could only sigh softly. "But... it didn't catch fire, did it?"
"You really are something," Ke Li said calmly. "Once a fire starts, things become a big deal."
Was there something behind those words? Wu Youren could only smile bitterly. "There were too many of them. I couldn't beat them, and I might have died."
Not necessarily, surely? Cynthia's lips moved, but in the end, she did not voice her objection.
Liang's people were fierce. Even a mere disagreement carried a very real possibility of ending in murder.
She could not say the others would know when to stop-wouldn't that amount to saying Liang's martial artists could only scare people?
Ke Li could not say that either. After all, the war between Liang and Jin had ended only a dozen or so years ago, and hatred still ran deep.
He snorted. "Didn't you pay the Life and Death Knot protection money? Why didn't you ask for help?"
"Protection money is one thing; asking for help is another," Wu Youren answered calmly. "The price of asking for help is too high!"
"You do understand things," Ke Li remarked before asking, "You're interested in fighting the Weird Race?"
"I am." Wu Youren nodded slightly, silently adding, Unfortunately, it's not easy to arrange.
"Then come on a mission with me," Instructor Ke Li said casually. "I'll handle this matter for you."
Now that's an option! Wu Youren nodded readily. "Sure, but the gate guards are pretty strict."
Instructor Hong Da's written authorization had not yet expired, but the gate guards' attitude toward him was far too unfriendly.
"That won't be a problem if you're going on a mission with me." Instructor Ke Li took a few steps forward, his face gradually becoming clearer.
It was the typical face of a burly Liang man, broad and thick, but with a shrewdness in his eyes that was hard to conceal.
"Aren't you afraid of the danger?"
"I am," Wu Youren answered calmly. "But you've seen my current situation. The martial academy might be even more dangerous."
"Hmph, what a mess," Instructor Ke Li grumbled in displeasure. "Those Life and Death Knot fellows only know how to shirk their work."
Wu Youren's face showed little expression, but inwardly he wondered, What exactly is the relationship... between these two sides?
Cynthia, however, guessed what he might be worried about and volunteered, "They asked Instructor Ke Li to handle this."
"Oh, thank you, Instructor." Wu Youren nodded in realization, then asked, "Then the other side..."
"I can't concern myself with that much," Ke Li replied offhandedly.
After a pause, as though afraid Wu Youren might not understand, he specifically added, "In principle, instructors don't intervene in conflicts between students."
In principle... Wu Youren nodded slightly. "Understood."
Relying on others was ultimately no substitute for relying on himself. He should never have entertained unrealistic expectations-but then why say he would "handle it"?
"You can ask them to send someone willing to fight you one-on-one," Instructor Ke Li continued. "I can serve as a witness."
"A witness?" Wu Youren was startled. Hadn't he said he was unwilling to help? What did this mean, then?
"Don't you know your own situation?" Ke Li looked at him calmly.
Cynthia frowned at that, wondering what his situation was.
"Understood." Wu Youren nodded again. "Limited involvement, but if they refuse, we just leave it at that?"
"The martial academy's instructors aren't concerned about powerful martial force," Ke Li said more plainly. "But helping you... would be inappropriate!"
Cynthia grew a little anxious. "Instructor, that wasn't what you said just now."
"You don't understand." Ke Li did not look at him at all, instead lifting his chin toward the Jin youth. "He does!"
"I... understand!" Wu Youren hesitated before nodding, his expression calm.
Clearly, the man already knew of his identity as a hostage.
Ke Li's earlier words had carried quite a bit of meaning. Now, that could essentially be confirmed.
For the Life and Death Knot to ask an instructor at the martial academy for help, they would most likely have needed to explain the circumstances.
The martial academy had its own independence and was not directly subordinate to Liang's enforcement agencies, so directly assigning it orders might have been inconvenient.
Thus, it was perfectly normal for the Life and Death Knot to reveal Wu Youren's background. If anything happened to a foreign hostage, the martial academy would also bear responsibility.
Ke Li should understand that this needed to remain secret, but making the situation a little clearer could also save a great deal of trouble.
That was as much as Wu Youren could think of for now. He looked at Ke Li. "When do we leave?"
"I need two days to prepare," Ke Li answered casually, then asked, "How many instructors do you think would be enough?"
Wu Youren shook his head slightly. "I know nothing about the mission, so I'm not entitled to offer an opinion."
Ke Li replied, "It's a nonmandatory mission, mainly to investigate Weird Race activity. I can make the decisions myself."
"Then... the fewer, the better?" Wu Youren blinked. "I don't know much about the mission system."
Ke Li rubbed his forehead. It was his first meaningless gesture since appearing, showing that he was somewhat conflicted too.
"A smaller group does have its advantages. Aren't you worried about your own safety?"
However, Wu Youren did not answer the question, merely saying calmly, "Fewer people also means fewer responsibilities."
"Fair point." Ke Li nodded slightly. Members of a mission team had a responsibility to help one another.
They could refrain from helping in an emergency, but once the mission was over, it would inevitably attract some criticism, more or less.
What concerned him more, however, was that the Jin youth had actually declined to answer his question.
His interest was somewhat piqued. "Do you really have some special ability to sense the Weird Race?"
Wu Youren shook his head. "I've never felt it was special, and no one's ever said that about me."
"But clearly... forget it." Ke Li shook his head. "Fishing for information like this is too childish. I'm a little displeased!"
"Then I'm very sorry," Wu Youren answered softly, though his face showed not the slightest trace of apology.
He still did not understand how the Life and Death Knot had persuaded Ke Li to act, nor could he ask about the details.
However, that did not matter. There was no doubt that the instructor did not want to get involved in his affairs, yet had no choice but to take them on.
That meant the man was unlikely to change his mind simply because he was in a bad mood.
"I don't particularly like that attitude of yours," Ke Li said with a light snort. "Hong Da told me."
Why didn't you just say so earlier? What's with all the posturing? Wu Youren coughed lightly.
"I'm grateful for Hong Da's appreciation, but I'm truly embarrassed. I really don't understand it myself. Perhaps my intuition is... a little sharper?"
Ke Li gave another light snort. "That counts, I suppose. A word of advice: don't overestimate yourself."
"All right." Wu Youren nodded again without offering any further explanation-it really would have been useless.
When it came to dealing with someone from Jin, a slightly partial Cynthia was already an anomaly in Liang. Fortunately, lust was human nature.
"I think you're a little..." Ke Li really was somewhat surprised. Why was this youth's temperament so much like an old man's?
In the end, however, he said nothing more, instead looking at Cynthia. "Help deal with those people bothering him."
"But... they're very likely to come at night." A faint trace of anticipation showed in the female martial artist's eyes. "Then should I?"
"With his current arrangements, he won't suffer much." Ke Li snorted lightly. "Just come during the day!"
"All right." Cynthia was somewhat crestfallen, but quickly recovered. "Should I go straight to them?"
"Do as you like," Ke Li said dismissively. "Just don't make it too ugly. Keep your distance from this fellow."
Cynthia had barely nodded before she froze again. "Why?"
"Think about it yourself." Ke Li would not reveal secrets endlessly and stopped at a hint. "Mirage Sea martial artists should not get involved in unrelated matters."
"All right." Cynthia continued nodding, then said, "But I don't really understand."
"He's got trouble attached to him. The Mirage Sea Alliance has no need to invite trouble," Ke Li answered solemnly. "You can't shoulder that kind of trouble!"
Cynthia's eyes shifted slightly, and then she nodded. "I'll listen to you, Instructor!"
Isn't it just Shali? If I could fight her once, I can fight her a second time!
"Don't brush this off." Ke Li's expression turned stern. How could he fail to see the girl's little thoughts?
But a moment later, he still sighed and shook his head dejectedly. "Anyway, I've said my piece."
Then he glanced at the Jin youth and said ominously, "I hope you... know where to draw the line!"
Wu Youren nodded emphatically, regretting only that he did not have a head of blond hair. "Rest assured, Instructor. No one knows where to draw the line better than I do!"
"All right," Ke Li said impatiently. "Then let's part... hmm?"
The next moment, several figures appeared in the distance, looking rather furtive.
The arrivals were none other than Shali's pack of followers, still led by that fellow with the particularly foul mouth.
Ke Li had no intention of provoking two Great Knights, but for them to pull this right under his nose-do they really take me for a dead man?
Seven Knight Apprentices had come in total. Some kept watch, while others were responsible for pursuit and encirclement. They seemed quite organized!
Just as they took their positions and were about to attack, Ke Li snorted lightly. "What are you doing up instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?"
"Fuck, we've been spotted!" The Knight Apprentices erupted into an uproar.
Immediately afterward, however, someone spoke up. "This has nothing to do with you. We're here to settle a grudge with the Jin man. Every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor!"
(Two chapters, 6K words. Please keep reading, vote, and add to your favorites.)