"Is that so?" Instructor Ke Li was not particularly surprised. Since the other party was a hostage from Jin, his family circumstances certainly could not be poor.
Then he raised a hand, took the Weird-Repelling Jue, and toyed with it briefly. He gave a soft grunt. "The material really is quite good."
Hearing this, Oliwen also cast it a sidelong glance. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he sighed inwardly again.
He also had a Weird-Repelling Jue, one made of ironwood, which was slightly better than an inferior jade jue.
His family was upper-middle class by Liang standards, but they had only managed to obtain it through every means possible because he was entering Red Pine Martial Academy.
He truly had not expected the plainly dressed youth from Jin to possess such a high-grade Weird-Repelling Jue.
Had he known the other party had such wealth, he would have been more careful when provoking him.
What Oliwen had said earlier was not false, either. He really had suffered from diarrhea these past two days.
Judging by when it had started, he strongly suspected that the Jin boy had used underhanded means to set him up that night.
Supporting this was the fact that the other two companions who had been thrown to the ground had also suffered from diarrhea these past two days.
He had first explained things to Ke Li, intending to find a suitable opportunity to tell the instructor his suspicions.
But now, seeing the other party's jade jue, he suddenly lost some enthusiasm... his own wealth truly could not compare.
Wu Youren had also had something else in mind when he took out this Weird-Repelling Jue.
He had discovered that as he gained experience points, not only did his own strength increase, but the Weird-Repelling Jue's quality and performance improved as well.
This was something he simply could not figure out, so he was taking this opportunity to have the instructor help analyze it.
Having a golden finger and not knowing how to use it properly really was agonizing.
Ke Li did indeed have a good eye and recognized the Weird-Repelling Jue's grade.
Wu Youren believed that if the other party could have seen the jade jue's previous condition back in Jin Garden, he absolutely would not have given such an appraisal.
What both pleased and troubled him, however, was that even with a Knight's cultivation, Ke Li had failed to notice anything unusual about the Weird-Repelling Jue.
I wonder if a Great Knight... could tell?
After toying with it for a while, Instructor Ke Li returned the jade jue to the Jin youth, somewhat reluctantly. "It's even better than mine!"
His own Weird-Repelling Jue was only made of ironwood. It would be a lie to say he was not tempted.
But the possessions of a foreign hostage... ordinary factions could extort some silver dollars, but it was best not to touch something like this.
Of course, if the other party willingly offered it up, that would be another matter.
Unfortunately, however, the Jin youth put it away as though he had heard nothing.
Ke Li adjusted his mood. "How many of those wildcats on the verge of mutating into Monkey Tigers could you handle at once?"
Hearing this, Oliwen's heart sank slightly again... could this fellow actually handle a Quasi-Knight?
"Even that one was a fluke," Wu Youren replied without revealing anything.
"The key was that I had a Knight and other companions beside me at the time. That was what kept my movements from going awry."
"You Jin people are full of schemes," Ke Li grunted in dissatisfaction. "You managed to deal with a Chang Ghost alone without even using a gun!"
Knight Apprentices ranked at the bottom of martial practitioners in combat strength. Taking on a Chang Ghost one-on-one with a cold weapon was extremely difficult.
The government sold Weird-Breaking Projectiles so that ordinary people and Knight Apprentices could also kill the lowest-ranking members of the Weird Race under normal circumstances.
The Jin youth had come out to kill Weirds without even carrying a gun. That was... oh, since he was a hostage, it made sense!
But when Oliwen heard this, his heart sank again. Fuck, this fellow has killed more than one Weird?
Wu Youren, however, replied, "Against a member of the Weird Race with the same cultivation, courage and a careful eye can actually give you a fighting chance."
Ke Li fell silent. Only after a long while did he shake his head. "A pity you're not from Liang."
If the other party had been born in Liang, he would more or less have qualified as a "favored son of heaven." With intensive nurturing, becoming a Great Knight would have been within reach.
But a foreigner... to be honest, he was even somewhat inclined to destroy him.
Still, forget it. Even if he became a Great Knight, he would only be one man's strength. What decisive role could he play?
Moreover, the other party was a "hostage." If Ke Li really wanted to act, he would have to weigh that consideration too.
Wu Youren smiled. "When Great Liang and Jin merge someday, won't I be from Liang too?"
"Huh?" Hearing this, even Qigeli, who was driving, spared him a distracted glance.
Then he sighed and nodded. "What a pity. There really aren't many Jin people as farsighted as you."
"Keep your fucking eyes on the road," Ke Li could not help cursing at his student.
Farsighted, my ass. If the Jin youth really wanted to join Liang, would the Life and Death Knot have needed to commission me to approach him?
It was not that there was no chance at all of winning him over. Otherwise, that bunch would simply have watched coldly from the sidelines. Why would they have asked him?
But hearing this, Oliwen had a sudden idea. "Changing nationality should be pretty simple, right?"
He was not being that kindhearted. He simply wanted to make trouble for the Jin youth.
No one answered his question. Ke Li and Wu Youren thought it pointless, while Qigeli did not dare speak.
After a while, the instructor spoke again. "Let's head to Suotu instead. I think going to... the Rust Zone would be pointless."
He had not directed those words at anyone in particular.
After a pause, however, Wu Youren spoke up-he was the one who had coined the name Rust Zone. "Whatever you decide, Instructor."
Ke Li glanced sideways at him. "Know how to shoot?"
"Yes." Wu Youren nodded. In fact, back in Jin Garden, he had only touched a gun twice in total-merely handled it.
But Cynthia had a gun and had also taught him to ride a motorcycle. It was actually these four-wheeled cars that he had never tried driving.
Speaking of which, the girl really had treated him quite well. He simply knew in his heart that nothing would come of it.
"Then I'll lend you one." Ke Li tossed him a pistol, followed by a box of ammunition. "Don't fire it at people."
It sounded like a casual reminder, but only the two people involved understood that those words carried weight.
"All right." Wu Youren smiled and nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Instructor. I won't betray your trust."
Watching him count the ammunition, the corner of Ke Li's mouth twitched. Won't betray it... then what was reporting Kaili all about?
Kaili's true identity was a mystery. Even he was not very clear on it. He only knew that she called herself a "descendant of Xi," yet no one interfered.
Probably only that bunch from the Life and Death Knot could make sense of it.
But what did that have to do with him? He only needed to know that this Jin youth was not as simple as he appeared.
"Mostly Weird-Breaking Projectiles." Having finished counting, Wu Youren could not help remarking, "Knights... really are rich!"
"Don't give me that," Ke Li said, struggling to keep his composure. "That Weird-Repelling Jue of yours is worth two years of my income."
He only knew that the other party was a lord's grandson. Beyond that, he was uncertain.
However, Knight cultivation was the minimum requirement for holding a noble title in Jin. It was not strange for the Jin youth to possess such a fine jade jue.
He said, "The Weird-Breaking Projectiles were issued for academy field assignments. I'm poor too, so use them sparingly."
Oliwen summoned his courage and spoke. "Um... Instructor, I don't have many Weird-Breaking Projectiles."
"Giving you any would be useless," Ke Li replied with exceptional coldness. "You have no experience dealing with the Weird Race!"
"But I'm from Liang!" Oliwen decided he would endure it no longer. "Our duel is a contest of how many Weirds we kill!"
Ke Li gave him a strange look. "Even now, you still think the duel means anything?"
"Of course," Oliwen answered without thinking. "If I win, he has to pay protection money!"
What indigestible stuff have you been eating? Wu Youren gave him an odd look.
"Forget about the protection money." Ke Li was also somewhat speechless. "I accepted a commission from the Life and Death Knot. Understand?"
"The Life and Death Knot?" Oliwen truly had not expected that answer.
Over these past two days, he had been asking around about Wu Youren and had also made some inquiries about this organization, though he had not put his full effort into it.
Neither he nor Miss Shali thought particularly highly of the Life and Death Knot.
They knew this faction was no weakling.
But for some reason, perhaps because they did not think much of Wu Youren, or perhaps because of something else, they had not paid much attention to the matter.
Only now did he realize: they had already responded long ago!
But this left him somewhat unconvinced again. "Instructor, we didn't cut off the Life and Death Knot's source of income..."
Ke Li grew impatient at that. "Do you fucking think I'm here to reason with you?"
Oliwen finally shut his mouth and fully understood that, in essence, his outing this time was punishment from the Life and Death Knot.
Ultimately, the Jin youth had picked him. As for the reason... he really had brought it on himself.
After choosing their direction, they drove for less than an hour before entering the mountains. The road, already poor to begin with, grew even more dilapidated.
Once they entered the mountains, all four grew solemn, and Qigeli opened the off-road vehicle's convertible roof.
After another half hour or so, Instructor Ke Li waved a hand. "Stop!"
Before the vehicle had fully stopped, he had already leaped out and was charging rapidly toward a hilltop.
The other three did not hesitate either, getting out and rushing after the instructor.
Whether intentionally or otherwise, Qigeli guarded the left flank. Seeing this, Wu Youren took the initiative to move to the right.
Oliwen was a little slow on the uptake. Seeing the two spread out, he looked around blankly several times before realizing what was happening.
Then he slowed his steps, treating himself as responsible for guarding the rear.
The three ahead reached the hilltop one after another and looked into the distance.
Faintly, gunshots and angry roars came from the direction of another ridge.
Instructor Ke Li considered for two or three seconds, then drew his pistol, loaded a different round, and fired into the sky.
A burst of red fire exploded in the air with a piercing whistle.
Before long, Instructor Ke Li's wristwatch vibrated. It was the radio function. "This is Wu Yan'er. Who's nearby?"
"Ke Li," the instructor answered calmly. "Reconnaissance assignment. I'm the only one. I'll wait for you on the hill beside the road."
"We need assistance!" the other party shouted. "We're surrounded by the Weird Race. Four wounded!"
"My assignment is reconnaissance," Ke Li replied, unmoved. "The most I can do is wait here. Give me a time."
(The update is here. Calling for monthly tickets, continued subscriptions, and recommendation tickets.)