Chapter Twenty-One: Forced to Bow

“I vaguely remember that Big Brother once mentioned it—Xin’er couldn’t cultivate because both the Yang Force and the Yin Sha coexisted within him. As he grows older, perhaps one day these forces will merge into one. If that happens, Xin’er would become…” Deng Qiaoying frowned, as though searching her memory. “He would become a Primordial Spirit Body. If that’s truly the case, his rate of cultivation would far outstrip yours.”

“A Primordial Spirit Body? Truly?!” Sun Meifang, who had remained calm all this time, suddenly looked shocked.

“I don’t think I’m mistaken… Big Brother did say so.” Deng Qiaoying seemed uncertain, then asked, “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Sun Meifang smiled, then looked deeply at Ye Xin.

Ye Xin himself had no idea what a Primordial Spirit Body was, but he did know there was something unusual about this body.

“Xin’er, say something, will you? Do you have the confidence to obtain the Medal?” Deng Qiaoying pressed.

From Ye Xin’s perspective, he faced a truly dreadful dilemma. But from Deng Qiaoying’s viewpoint, this was a perfect opportunity. Ye Xin’s reputation had been terrible; he couldn’t cultivate, was considered a wastrel. If he could enter the Longteng Martial Academy and win the Medal, it would greatly improve his standing, and perhaps even help him find a good marriage.

“Auntie… If you keep pressing like this, you’ll ruin me…” Ye Xin murmured weakly. Though the situation made his blood boil, he barely managed to restrain his emotions, careful not to let Sun Meifang or Deng Duojie notice anything amiss.

Most of the students at Longteng Martial Academy were acquired-stage martial artists. Only the very best could, within the five-year term, break through to the innate stage. The recruitment age was usually fifteen, as their bodies had matured enough to endure the grueling regimen. By twenty, if they still hadn’t broken through, their prospects were set, and it was pointless to continue investing in them.

For the notorious Slayer General to enter Longteng Martial Academy? What a farce… It was the equivalent of a university graduate enrolling in kindergarten!

“What nonsense is this?!” Deng Qiaoying slammed the table. “Ye Xin! Never forget that you are the direct son of Ye Guanhai, the Young Marshal of the Sirius Army! Do you mean to squander your life as you did before?!”

Her tone was stern and unyielding, the weight of her authority pressing down on Ye Xin until he was at a loss for words. Then she barked, “I am in charge of Ye Family matters now! I’m telling you, whether you want to or not, you’re going! Even if I have to tie you up, I’ll throw you into Longteng Martial Academy myself!”

“Mother, that’s not what Brother means!” Ye Ling hurried to interject, then turned to Ye Xin. “Brother, you always said you dreamed of entering Longteng Martial Academy. You said you didn’t want to shame the Ye Family, but you were born unable to cultivate, and you felt wronged. Now the chance is right before you, so why…”

It’s over… Looking into Ye Ling’s puzzled eyes, Ye Xin felt a chill run through his heart. Aunt Deng Qiaoying was pressing him with the dignity of the Ye Family, and his sister Ye Ling was invoking his former hopes and grievances. There was no way to refuse, both emotionally and logically. Sun Meifang and Deng Duojie harbored ulterior motives; if he adamantly refused to go to Longteng Martial Academy, they would certainly grow suspicious.

Ye Xin had no wish to attract undue attention—at least not on his second day in Jiuding City. That would be a dismal failure.

“I never said I wouldn’t go… But I can’t even condense Yuan Power… I’ll just become a laughingstock…” he muttered dispiritedly.

“If you keep being so useless, those who laugh at you will only multiply!” Deng Qiaoying snapped.

“Sister, let’s leave it at that. Xin’er agreeing is enough.” Sun Meifang tried to smooth things over.

“Sister-in-law, you don’t understand…” Suddenly, Deng Qiaoying’s eyes reddened. “Many people say in private that Xin’er became so reckless because I spoiled him. My brother and sister-in-law died young, leaving only this poor child behind. If I can’t set him on the right path, how will I face my brother in the afterlife?!”

“I know, these two years have been incredibly hard for you…” Sun Meifang sighed deeply.

“Sister-in-law, please, you must help me with this—help Xin’er!” Deng Qiaoying pleaded.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go find Dean Feng right away!” Sun Meifang nodded. “His two children were able to follow Commander Wei to the front thanks to your brother’s efforts. Feng Qishan owes us a debt—he should repay it!”

“Aunt, there’ll be no problem.” Deng Duojie said slowly. “If it were someone else, perhaps Dean Feng wouldn’t make an exception, but Cousin is after all the direct son of the Wolf Commander. If not for him stepping forward back then, who knows if Longteng Martial Academy would even exist today? How could Feng refuse?”

“Exactly!” Deng Qiaoying exclaimed. Wolf Commander Ye Guanhai had always acted with honor and generosity, helping countless people. But after the downfall of Ye and his wife, those he’d aided chose to forget him. The coldness of the world was truly chilling.

“Brother, let me teach you some martial skills these next few days,” Ye Ling said. “You need some basic training, at least.”

“No need, it’s best to just go straight to Longteng Martial Academy,” Deng Duojie interjected. “I’ve already sent word to some friends this morning, asking them to help plead your case. If all goes as planned, Cousin can enter the academy today.”

“That soon?” Ye Ling was astonished. She’d never liked this cousin. Since the Ye Family’s decline, the two families had grown distant, and Deng Duojie had always ignored her at the academy. Deng’s scorn yesterday had left a deep mark, causing Ye Ling to view her as an enemy. This sudden friendliness was incomprehensible.

Still, it could only benefit Ye Xin, never hurt him. She had no grounds for suspicion.

“Xiao Ling, you know the sort of people I associate with,” Deng Duojie said coolly, her manner now quite haughty. Yet when her gaze flickered once more to Ye Xin, her lips twitched involuntarily.

“Xin’er, aren’t you going to thank your cousin?!” Deng Qiaoying urged anxiously.

“Thank you, Cousin,” Ye Xin said with a bitter sigh. There was no salvaging this now… For an ordinary martial artist, entering Longteng Martial Academy was a rare opportunity. For Ye Xin, it would be a stain he could never erase. He could already imagine the uproarious laughter in the Heavenly Punishment Battalion when the wolves and tigers there heard the news.

“I’ll head to Longteng Martial Academy now,” Sun Meifang announced, rising.

“Xiao Ling, let’s go together today. We can discuss matters on the way,” Deng Duojie said.

“Discuss what?” Ye Ling asked.

“Even if Dean Feng agrees, if the instructor objects, it will still be difficult. Then Cousin would become a joke,” Deng Duojie replied. “I’m very close to our Instructor Wu. Let’s have Cousin join the First Battalion.”

“No.” Ye Ling shook her head at once. “Our Instructor Xie is very kind-hearted and soft. If necessary, I can ask Sister Wen and the others to help plead as well. Instructor Xie won’t refuse. My brother should join the Fifth Battalion, so I can look after him.”

“Instructor Xie can’t compare with our Instructor Wu,” Deng Duojie insisted.

“That’s not so certain.” Ye Ling frowned. She could not let her brother join another battalion. Cliques among the scions of noble families were the norm at Longteng Martial Academy, and many whom Ye Xin had once bullied were now students there. Had Ye Guanhai still been alive, no one would dare trouble Ye Xin. Now things were different. She had to keep Ye Xin under her watchful eye to feel at ease.

Besides, Ye Xin wasn’t going to the academy to cultivate, only for the status and to earn a Medal. The instructor’s prowess hardly mattered.

“Very well, I know how deep the bond is between you siblings,” Deng Duojie said with a smile.

“Brother, go pack your things. I need to prepare too,” said Ye Ling, her brows shining with happiness. Though worried for Ye Xin’s future at the academy, she was finally able to protect her brother. This was a great achievement, something to be proud of.

Ye Xin rose stiffly, speechless, and turned to leave.

A short while later, Ye Xin returned to his own small courtyard, Xue Baiqi trailing behind.

He stood dazed for a long time before exhaling deeply and muttering, “I only just got back yesterday… and now I’m off to Longteng Martial Academy? And I’m supposed to get married too… What kind of wretched luck is this…”

In his plans, Deng Qiaoying had never been a factor. He only meant to safeguard her if things became dangerous. But now, the overlooked Deng Qiaoying had dealt him one blow after another, and he was powerless to change it. Ye Xin was no longer confident about his future. Who knew what other surprises fate might have in store?

Xue Baiqi said nothing, knowing Ye Xin was in no mood for conversation.

“If you want to laugh, just laugh…” Ye Xin sighed.

“Sir, the instructor for the Fifth Battalion at Longteng Martial Academy… is Sister-in-law,” Xue Baiqi said gravely, not daring to chuckle.

“Xie En?” Ye Xin’s face twitched.

Xie En was one of the Eight Tigers of the Heavenly Punishment Battalion, known for his fondness for heart-to-heart talks—so much so that his endless chattering could drive one mad. His features were so gentle that he’d earned the nickname “Sister-in-law.”

“Mm,” Xue Baiqi replied in a low voice.

At that moment, Hao Fei’s figure drifted lightly over the courtyard wall. He glanced at Ye Xin and asked, perplexed, “What’s happened?” Ye Xin looked so out of sorts that even a blind man would notice.

“Sir is going to Longteng Martial Academy,” Xue Baiqi explained.

“As an instructor? What—is his strength exposed?!” Hao Fei was astonished.

“You’re overthinking it. Sir is going as a student.” Xue Baiqi replied.

“What… what is this?” Hao Fei’s eyes widened. The current deans of Longteng Martial Academy had all tried to recruit the two of them as instructors, but Ye Xin’s strength had always surpassed theirs. For him to enroll as a student—this was beyond absurd.

“Enough about that,” Ye Xin said. He had resolved to play along for a while, then deliberately stir up trouble so the academy would expel him. Though it would sadden his aunt, he had no choice. Ye Xin then turned to Hao Fei, “Did you learn anything?”

“Not a thing,” Hao Fei shook his head.

“Have you seen Old Thirteen?” Ye Xin pressed.

“It’s impossible to meet Ghost Master right now,” Hao Fei said. “We’ll have to wait at least another day.”

“Good. Don’t force it if you can’t see him. His identity must never be revealed,” Ye Xin replied.