Chapter 19

-----------------------------------

Xu Zhenyan sat quietly inside his tent, meditating. Today was the day of admission, but he already arrived two days ago, making good time despite the delay.

Even though he expected it, it was still quite striking to see just how many applicants there were. Across the plains surrounding Azure Lake, thousands of tents were set up, just like his. If he didn't know any better, he'd think an invading army was coming over the Sea of Mountains.

'Yet, only a fraction of these will be admitted…'

However, he wasn't worried about his chances. Rather, he was more concerned about how he was going to hide his aptitude. He couldn't possibly be tested in front of the assembly, unless he wanted the whole world to know there was something wrong with him.

'The tallest nail gets hammered down first…'

Indeed, that was the case for the protagonist who, because of his extraordinariness, became everyone's target.

However, he soon put such thoughts out of his mind. Aside from requesting a private examination, there was little he could do. If they refused, then so be it—Green Luan academy wasn't the be-all-and-end-all.

Suddenly, a loud noise sounded outside his tent. A cacophony of voices followed, arguing amongst themselves.

Sighing, Xu Zhenyan got to his feet. Given the ruckus and his state of mind, meditation was a pipe dream in any case.

Parting the tent curtains with one hand, he looked around briefly before spotting the source of the disturbance. When he did, his lips quirked upwards.

'As expected of the protagonist—school hasn't even started yet, but he's already making a scene.'

A short distance outside the camping grounds, two carriages stood head-to-head. One of these was easily recognizable from the novel's description—drawn by four rust-colored horses and decorated in bronze colors. The other was more inconspicuous.

The two drivers, a burly, well-dressed fellow and an unassuming old man, were at a standoff. The road was only wide enough for one carriage, but neither were willing to move aside.

"Courting death!"

An abrupt voice sounded from the bronze carriage, followed by a tender, golden-clothed youngster emerging from inside.

Seeing his face, Xu Zhenyan stifled a laugh. It was exactly that Qiu Lu he met on the road. He had a hunch the fellow was some kind of side-character, but to be the victim of the protagonist's first face-slapping was really too pitiful.

Like him, other applicants either stuck their heads out of their tents or stopped their socializing to observe the excitement.

"This guy is too reckless. Even though that carriage doesn't seem noteworthy, who knows what kind of character is sitting inside?"

Looking to his side, Xu Zhenyan saw a pair of youths discussing the commotion. Surprisingly, they weren't on Qiu Lu's side, despite him being more overtly high-status.

"I don't know, that old man driving the carriage doesn't look like anything special either. Otherwise, it could be…"

However, before the second boy could finish his sentence, the burly fellow and old man suddenly exchanged blows. For these kids who hadn't started cultivating yet, it was undoubtedly too fast to see, but Xu Zhenyan followed it without much effort.

'That old man should be 'Uncle Liu', the border-barbarian general.'

Amidst the gasps of the surrounding spectators, he watched idly as the crusty old veteran destroyed the other driver's nose in a single blow. If he had to hazard a guess, he'd estimate his own cultivation to be roughly equal with that burly driver's. That meant he wasn't a match for the geezer either.

'Not surprising, given I haven't started cultivating in earnest yet. Though, the same could be said for everyone else.'

Given how few cultivators there were, most children didn't know much more than the basics. People like himself, coming from a family of martial artists, were a rarity, even here.

After the commotion was over, the guest of honor himself finally stuck his head out the carriage window. Xu Zhenyan observed Lin Xi's immature, baby-ish features with curiosity.

There was a brief exchange between him and the old man before he got out of the carriage. Giving the senior a friendly wave, he followed an academy student, come to escort him on behalf of his sponsor.

Unable to restrain his curiosity, Xu Zhenyan burned holes in the back of his skull. For a brief moment, he even considered having a talk with the kid, but the feeling soon passed.

'I'll see more than enough of him in the coming days…'

Huffing to himself, he was about to turn and reenter his tent when Lin Xi's head suddenly turned, meeting his eyes.

Despite his surprise, Xu Zhenyan remained stone-faced, not displaying any behavior that could be considered out of the ordinary. However, he couldn't quite stop his lips from quirking upwards.

Their gazes remained locked for a second-or-two before Lin Xi looked away. However, Xu Zhenyan didn't miss the hint of tension in his shoulders.

'Interesting. I wonder what made him react like that…?'

Watching the protagonists disappearing back, he eventually returned to his tent. Something like mingling with the other applicants, he didn't even consider. Eighty percent of them wouldn't even make it past admission, so it was pointless.

-----------------------------------

Lin Xi followed behind Xia Yanbing, the student-turned-lecturer who met him and Uncle Liu just outside Azure Lake.

The youth's eyes were glazed over, not even paying attention to where they were going.

'That person…'

He recalled the face of the student he locked gazes with a few moments ago. With sharp, handsome features, dark hair and luxurious, embroidered robes, he stood out even among the other children.

'Could he be… a villain?'

Having lived a plain life in the countryside for the past two years, Lin Xi had long since gotten used to 'normal'. For that reason, he never thought of himself having reincarnated into a fictional world. To him, every day was real and grounded.

Yet, after learning cultivators existed, and the encounter with that 'Qiu Lu' person and this other mysterious youth, he couldn't help recalling the stories from his past life.

'If this was a fantasy novel, then…'

From the outside, these things always seemed glamorous and exciting. However, realizing he'd be encountering those same bad guys he only saw in fantasy, worry sprouted in his chest.

'With the ability to 'return', there's no need for me to be looked down on by anyone.'

Remembering that half-smirk, he involuntarily clenched his fist. Suddenly, he felt pressed to surpass that youth.

-----------------------------------

Eventually, the sky darkened as nightfall approached. Today was the last day before tests would be conducted, a period of grace for late-arrivals.

Xu Zhenyan remained solitary, meditating and doing little else. About an hour ago, he stepped outside to eat from the public buffet, but despite his appearance standing out like a sore thumb, nobody really noticed him.

'It's coming along nicely.'

Although his cultivation hadn't advanced, his efforts bore fruit outside of solidifying his foundation. One of these was a technique he tentatively named 'ghost walking'—by regulating his soul force, as well as manipulating the ambient ki emitted by those around him, he was able to mask his presence nearly perfectly.

While he thought about this, he noticed growing noise outside his tent. The sound of chatter, as well as scuffling feet, filled the air.

'What is it this time?'

He briefly reviewed his memories before thinking of something. However, judging it unimportant, he didn't bother getting up and going outside.

Though, apparently he wasn't going to be left to his own devices.

"Hello, is this tent occupied? It's time for the Song of Valor. Please come out."

A request came from outside the tent, which Xu Zhenyan promptly ignored. Having gotten used to dormitory life through high-school and college, he'd more than his fill of these types of 'team building' activities.

When no answer came, a hand suddenly pushed the tent flap aside before a girl, about sixteen or seventeen years of age, stuck her head inside.

"Oh, there's someone in here! I thought you were sleeping. Did you hear what I said?"

Bringing a light in from behind her, she shone it onto Xu Zhenyan's face.

The Xu clan's young master felt his forehead creasing into a frown.

"I'm not interested."

His tone was blunt and impolite.

The girl, now able to see the interior, immediately noted his extraordinary appearance. Stunned, she could only look at his face, her immediate thoughts vacating her mind.

Seeing that she wasn't leaving, Xu Zhenyan's displeasure only increased.

"Leave."

His voice went from impolite to ice cold.

The chill was enough to jolt the girl from her torpor, blinking her eyes stupidly.

"Uhm, it's compulsory…"

Despite his rudeness, she didn't seem offended. Instead, she sounded apologetic.

Xu Zhenyan touched the bridge of his nose, frustration building.

"I. Don't. Care."

Seeing that he wasn't budging, the girl nervously bit on her lower lip. After a moment's thought, she withdrew from the tent, letting the flap down behind her.

"Sorry for bothering you."

The voice that reached him from outside sounded somewhat pitiful.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Zhenyan closed his eyes, resolving to make the most of the last hour-or-so before bedtime.

-----------------------------------

Advance chapter available for $1.

pa tre on.com/user?u=59309466