Chapter 24: Doctrine of Balance

Duke did not immediately respond to Rayan's words. Instead, he lifted the bottle of liquor again and took a small sip, furrowing his brow with a fine line.

Rayan did not know whether Duke's expression was due to the sting of the alcohol or his words. He lay half-reclining by the bed, his entire arm supporting his body felt numb, but he did not move an inch, mustering his strength as he stared intently at Duke, waiting for his response.

A crow stood on Duke's shoulder, nearly dancing in agitation.

Finally, Duke put down the bottle, grinning. "Let's talk about the cost first. After all, I am a businessman."

Rayan swallowed nervously, "Are you referring to the apprentice fee?"

Duke shook his head, speaking in a very mercantile manner: "Bed, alcohol, cleaning, stitching—the costs of these."

"You said we wouldn't talk about that!"

Rayan's pale face couldn't help but flash a hint of anger, like a child stood up by an adult.

"I meant we couldn't talk about money while stitching, not that we couldn't after it's done."

Duke chuckled, "I am a legitimate businessman, surely you didn't think I was as kind-hearted as Lady Spring Rain?"

Rayan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Since you know about Lady Spring Rain saving me, how can you shamelessly claim you're just a bar owner?"

Duke nonchalantly pulled out a silk handkerchief stitched with the Pisces emblem from beside Rayan and threw it onto Rayan's chest, "Pisces is Lady Spring Rain's crest. This kind of craftsmanship, if she didn't give it to you, did you steal it?"

Rayan looked at the blood-stained silk handkerchief on his chest, feeling a surge of emotions. He had not wanted to soil Lady Spring Rain's belonging, but now, not only had he failed to keep the Twilight Blade, he hadn't even managed to keep the handkerchief clean.

How useless!

Thinking this, Rayan felt as if his heart was being twisted, turning his head away, unable to look at the handkerchief.

Another matter also tormented his heart. It was only natural for Duke to discuss costs, but Duncan had robbed him of all sixty silver coins he had risked his life to earn. Whether for apprenticeship or stitching, he could not afford to pay.

Duke leisurely sipped his Deer penis liquor, glancing at Rayan from the corner of his eye, secretly observing his reaction.

This seemed like a test, Duke was deliberately making it difficult for him—Rayan pressed his chapped lips together, calming down.

"This handkerchief was indeed given to me by Lady Spring Rain, but based on just a handkerchief, how can you conclude that Lady Spring Rain is kind-hearted?" Rayan intentionally steered the conversation back to Lady Spring Rain, trying to find an opportunity through the talk.

"Lady Spring Rain's reputation is known to all."

Duke smiled easily, putting on an air of casual conversation, "Haven't you heard the story behind her name?"

"The origin?"

Rayan shook his head, "I only know that she is the daughter of a lord from the Torrent Kingdom and also a noble lady from the Stonerock Kingdom. Her carriages are even gilded..."

"You understand nothing, kid."

Duke laughed mockingly: "You have much to learn."

Rayan smiled faintly, seizing the moment: "So, you agree to be my teacher?"

If Duke hadn't wanted to teach Rayan, he wouldn't have made such an effort. He had already decided in his heart, but being so easily figured out by this kid was still a bit uncomfortable, his face immediately stiffened: "Do you really want to know the origin of Lady Spring Rain's name?"

"If it's part of what you're teaching, I will listen earnestly," Rayan said with neither servility nor arrogance.

Duke glared at Rayan annoyed, picking up his Deer penis liquor and stood up, "Damn it, I'm not telling!"

Rayan purposely scoffed: "You probably don't know, do you?"

Duke opened his mouth to retort, then realizing the trap, laughed, "Kid, are you deliberately provoking me? If I tell you, it means I admit to being your teacher, if I don't, it means I'm pretending to know something I don't. Either way, you win. Well, you're quite cunning."

"Either way, I can't afford your fee, and even if you really don't know, I wouldn't dare say it out loud."

"Rest assured," Rayan intentionally added.

"You..."

Duke chuckled bitterly, sitting back down and then seriously said, "I will absolutely not be your teacher."

Rayan's heart sank, his plan to reclaim the Twilight Blade seemed to be fading away.

"How so?"

Duke smiled at him, "Disappointed?"

"Yes. Is it because I have no money?"

Duke waved his hand, stating solemnly, "It's not about the money. Since you've guessed that I am an Assassin, you should understand, Assassins can't just take on students privately."

"Can't?"

Duke scratched his head, "Ah, you really understand nothing, how have you survived till now?"

Rayan pressed his lips together, not answering. All this knowledge, Evan had never taught him. Whenever he had asked, Evan always remained silent. He desperately needed a good teacher to guide him!

Duke took another drink of his Deer penis liquor, cleared his throat, and slowly said, "All Assassins belong to the Balance Sect, and an Assassin's student must also come from the Balance Sect."

"Balance Sect?"

"All things in the world are in balance."

Duke looked up at the dark ceiling, murmuring, "Without light, there is no darkness, and without darkness, there is no light. Only by maintaining the balance between light and darkness can the world function normally. What Assassins do is eliminate those unbalanced elements."

Rayan was utterly uninterested in the doctrines of the Balance Sect, asking directly, "How can I join this sect?"

Duke smiled slightly, "Kid, you can't."

Rayan's body tensed up, his wounds aching under the strain. He gritted his teeth, sitting up straight, and said to Duke, word by word, "I'm not afraid of hardship, not afraid of toil. I've been wandering for fifteen years, sleeping in broken tile kilns, competing with cats and dogs for food, subjected to the world's scorn. Now that Evan, who took me in and protected me, is dead, and the Twilight Blade has been stolen by a wicked servant, I have nothing left. What in this world can't I do!"

"It's not about determination."

Duke shook his head, "The important thing is whether you can believe in the doctrine of balance."

"I believe!" Rayan blurted out, willing to pay any price to improve and reclaim the Twilight Blade.

"All things in the world are in balance. Without light, there is no darkness, without darkness, there is no light. Mustn't an Assassin forsake the traditional heart of good and evil, walking in the shadows between light and darkness? Isn't that the meaning of balance?"

Duke paused, not expecting a fifteen-year-old boy to understand the millennia-old doctrine so thoroughly. Unfortunately, the kid's ambition and desires were too strong. Ambition and desire are not bad for young people, but to become an Assassin of the Balance Sect...

He sighed, slowly saying, "To become a member of the Balance Sect, you must strictly adhere to the rules, executing every command issued by the sect unwaveringly—no taking wives, no lands, no children, not wearing noble crests, not vying for royal favor or honors—can you do that?"

Rayan silently lowered his eyelids. He couldn't comply with any of those conditions, he couldn't trick Duke with cleverness.

Duke continued, "Moreover, to become a member of the Balance Sect, you must leave the Auroria Continent, cross the calm sea without wind or waves, reaching the shadow lands on the other shore to take your vows."

"The shadow lands? I thought those were just legends, no ship can sail across a calm sea without wind..."

"That's why I say, you can't do it."

Duke said calmly, "I cannot be your teacher."

Rayan collapsed back onto the bed, filled with despair.

Duke raised the liquor bottle, gulping down a large swig, then wiped his mouth, slyly saying, "However, I can guide you as a boss."

Rayan leapt up from the bed, ignoring his wounds, grabbing Duke's arm excitedly, "Are you serious?"

"Look at how naive you are!"

Duke scoffed, "You owe me a lot of money, aren't you going to work off your debt as an assistant? As a boss, guiding a clueless assistant, the old folks over in the calm sea shouldn't have anything to say about that..." He quickly covered his mouth with the bottle to stop himself from speaking further.

Despite being mocked by Duke, Rayan couldn't contain his excitement, "Thank you, boss... Let's start now!"

"What's the hurry?"

Duke shook the liquor bottle, giving him a disdainful look, "You've been seriously injured, breaking four or five bones, how can I make you work now?"

"Work? You mean train..."

Rayan hastily corrected himself, "Work, I understand!"

Duke wore a teachable expression, turning to the crow at his side, saying, "Wu ah, go get some food."

"Wu ah!"

The crow flapped its wings and flew away, returning shortly with a food box, gently placing it by the fireplace.

"Can you get out of bed?" Duke asked.

"I think so."

Rayan hobbled to the fireplace, supporting himself on the bed, and sat down.

The bread looked very soft, and the chicken was drizzled with honey, still steaming as if just prepared.

"Let's leave it at that for today, make do with some food, tomorrow I'll reconstruct your diet."

Duke tore off the fattest part of the roasted chicken, feeding it to the crow, which pecked at the chicken meat, enjoying it immensely.

Rayan didn't understand what "reconstruct" meant, he began to worry he would never be able to pay off his debt to Duke.

He mechanically picked up a piece of bread, immediately filled with the scent of oats in his nostrils, he opened his mouth, then hesitated and put the bread back. "This... is expensive, right? I'll just eat the kind of bread you gave me last time."

Duke wanted to laugh, but couldn't. How much hardship had this kid endured? Good food was right in front of him, and yet...

He grabbed the bread and stuffed it into Rayan's mouth, deliberately using a stern tone, "Why are you like a bird, needing me to personally hand-feed you!"

"Wu ah!"

The eating crow expressed its dissatisfaction. How could a Fourth Tier human be compared to it, a Fourth Rank Feral Beast? Wu ah!