A Reward of One Credit

In the blink of an eye, the black spear in the hands of the hidden assassin had already closed the distance to Vice Dean Xia, now merely a dozen feet away. 

Even the flying sword, resembling autumn waters, wielded by the madman Qin, remained suspended in the air, unable to launch another strike. The sheer force of the oncoming attack sent his hair and the fabric of his black robe whipping backward, creating an aura of imminent destruction that was almost unimaginable. 

This presence, coupled with the icy cold murderous intent in his eyes, heralded a grim reality: the hidden assassin had decisively shifted his target to assassinate Vice Dean Xia the moment he realized his identity had been exposed. 

Yet, for reasons unknown, Nan Gongmo hesitated slightly in his strike. His left hand, gripping a short golden staff, trembled involuntarily, as if awaiting something, though the anticipated event never materialized. 

Suddenly, an inexplicable gust of wind surged above the black-tiled roofs, snapping countless dried grasses standing between the tiles. A gaunt old man, appearing as if he descended from the heavens, emerged from the cliff's edge. With a thunderous roar, he stomped down with tremendous force, releasing an overwhelming and domineering aura from beneath his feet. A brilliant yellow light erupted, followed by a dazzling display of black and white, forming a vibrant tiger's head at his feet. The powerful sound of air being forced aside echoed like the roar of a majestic tiger. 

Nan Gongmo tilted his head slightly. 

The sky above him seemed to darken, completely overshadowed by the gaunt old man. 

The golden staff slipped from his grasp and soared into the air. At that moment, the slight hesitation that only individuals of their caliber could perceive detached itself from him, leaving only a more chilling and frigid killing intent emanating from him. 

"Swish!" 

At the tip of his black spear, a burst of black radiance shot forth, as if the spear had suddenly ignited, emitting a beam of light. 

Vice Dean Xia remained motionless, standing his ground, but the robe adorned with qilin and divine phoenix insignias began to swell outward. A stream of yellow light shot from his fingertips, silently colliding with the black radiance aimed directly at his brow. 

He remained unperturbed, rooted to the spot, only his gray-white hair ruffled by the sudden gust of wind that erupted from his brow. Meanwhile, Nan Gongmo's body felt as though it were ensnared by a peculiar force; he could no longer hold the black spear, which slipped from his palm as blood droplets flew from the cracked skin of his hand. 

"Bang!" 

The vibrant tiger's head above crashed down upon the golden staff, sending it hurtling back and striking his left shoulder with a resounding thud. With a sickening crack, his shoulder bone shattered, collapsing under the force. 

"Kill!" 

Yet, the hidden assassin emitted no cries of anguish, nor did he heed the flying sword, poised to sever his head in the next moment. Instead, with a cold shout, a spurt of blood and a faint golden light shot forth, aiming for Vice Dean Xia's brow! 

This was a desperate strike made with his life at stake, more potent and terrifying than the black radiance emitted by his spear earlier. In that instant, Nan Gongmo forgot everything; all his thoughts coiled around that delicate golden light. 

The azure sword light, like autumn waters, sliced through the black robe at the back of his neck, creating a gust, yet it did not sever. "Roar!" The vibrant tiger's head above crashed into his back, overwhelming him, causing him to spew blood and collapse helplessly to the ground, kneeling in the courtyard of blue bricks and black tiles. 

"Tong Wei... your cultivation and archery skills have improved." However, with a sense of release, Nan Gongmo calmly turned his head toward the ginkgo grove to his left. 

The one-eyed black-robed lecturer stood like a hawk on a tree trunk, silently observing Nan Gongmo, his former comrade with whom he had once faced life and death together. After a brief moment, he turned and leaped away without uttering a word, vanishing into the ginkgo grove. 

"Vice Dean Xia, I never expected that after sustaining such injuries years ago, you would still possess the cultivation of a Grand Master. Even alone, I am no match for you." Nan Gongmo coughed, blood trickling uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth. 

Vice Dean Xia suppressed all emotion on his face and spoke calmly, "If you were a citizen of the Yunqin Empire, your future achievements would undoubtedly surpass mine." 

"Unfortunately, I am not. I was born a citizen of the Tangzang..." Nan Gongmo wiped the blood trickling down his neck and coughed, "Though you have confirmed my identity, if something were to happen to me here, our side would undoubtedly uncover your involvement... After all, few can trace my whereabouts." 

"We will do our utmost." Vice Dean Xia slowly turned away. To others, his words would hold no specific meaning, but Nan Gongmo understood, a bitter smile creeping onto his lips as he fell silent. 

... 

Lin Xi awakened amidst a serene fragrance of herbs. 

Struggling to open his heavy eyelids, he noticed he was clad in a clean blue robe, yet he was not in his own room. 

With a furrowed brow, he appeared lost in thought as he observed Assistant Professor An, who was seated before a small purple clay stove emitting wisps of medicinal vapor, engrossed in a book. 

The walls were lined with shelves brimming with scrolls and labeled jars, and in the tranquil room, only he and the black-robed woman seated sideways against him were present. 

"You're awake?" Assistant Professor An's gaze remained fixed on the book in her hands, not looking at Lin Xi, yet she suddenly spoke. 

Lin Xi nodded, sitting up from the thick mat on the floor. He noticed some burn marks on his exposed skin, but after applying a layer of light yellow ointment, he felt no pain; rather, it provided a soothing coolness. 

Assistant Professor An continued, "Do not wash off the ointment; your burns are not severe and should heal by tomorrow. How did you know that the student from the Department of Craftsmanship was there?" 

Her tone was flat, reminiscent of someone reading, devoid of emotional fluctuations. However, her question caused Lin Xi to pause, recalling the image of the female professor severing her sleeve, her bare arms like jade lotus, as she carried the frail student from the Department of Craftsmanship. He then realized the reason for his presence here. 

"What happened to that new student from the Department of Craftsmanship?" He could not help but ask before responding to Assistant Professor An's question. 

Assistant Professor An replied calmly, "He is fine now." 

"Oh." Lin Xi felt a flicker of joy in his heart and answered the previous question, "I seemed to hear his cries, so I rushed over without thinking." 

"Acting without considering your own safety was indeed reckless, yet such courage in rescuing a fellow student deserves commendation. When I found him, he had already fainted from the heat. If it weren't for you, he might not have been saved in time." Assistant Professor An's voice remained steady, "Thus, the academy rewards you with one credit." 

"Just for that, I received a credit?" Lin Xi was astonished, having never considered such a benefit. It is known that an elective course typically offers only two credits. 

Assistant Professor An continued to focus on her book, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone, "This is my apothecary room, not far from the chapel where you attend your medical care courses. I will need assistance in some upcoming classes, so if you are available, you can help me. Over the course of the academic year, that could amount to two credits." 

However, this statement struck Lin Xi like a thunderbolt. He could not help but exclaim, "You have taken an interest in me?" 

Earlier, while conversing with Lecturer Mu Qing, he had heard that if some professors took notice of a student and involved them in research for certain courses, they would receive extra credit rewards. Now, having already received one credit, the sudden mention of another two caused him to react this way, and he felt a flush on his face, realizing how ambiguous his words sounded. 

"Yes, indeed." But the female assistant professor, engrossed in her book, showed no signs of ulterior motives, stating honestly, "You have entered the Chosen... with an extraordinary memory for herbs, and having chosen medical care and toxicology, you must have some interest in apothecary work. Therefore, if you do not mind, you could come help me every couple of days for a few hours. I know you are undergoing training with Tong Wei, but it doesn't matter; you can come before or after your sessions with him." 

Just helping out for a couple of hours every two days, and knowing that this assistant professor was aware of his training with the Windwalker and that there was no pressure of exams, two credits over the course of a year left no grounds for refusal. 

Yet, to be cautious, Lin Xi, who was already thoroughly tempted, still asked carefully, "Assistant Professor An, what subject are you researching?" 

"I am testing several herbal formulas, and you can assist me with the preliminary processing of some herbs." Assistant Professor An replied plainly. 

"Alright." Upon hearing it was not something terrifying, Lin Xi nodded immediately.