Chapter Twenty-Two: Killing with a Borrowed Blade

Whether Ye Xin was willing or not, going to Dragon Soaring Martial Academy had already been decided, and as for how much it would affect his plans, it was still too early to say. Thus, Ye Xin sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, deep in thought.

Xue Baiqi and Hao Fei sat in the carriage as well. Although they were nominally just guards of the Ye family, Deng Qiaoying had long since regarded them as family, so they were qualified to ride together with Ye Xin.

"Xiao Fei, did you notice?" Xue Baiqi suddenly whispered.

"Yes," Hao Fei replied with a cold smile. "The carriage has been moving slowly the whole time, never exceeding twenty paces a second. But after we brushed past those warriors just now, the speed picked up, surpassing thirty paces a second. They’re in a hurry now."

"It must be that Deng Duojie has arranged some little amusements for me and is afraid we'll miss them if we’re late," Ye Xin opened his eyes and sighed. "Still just children..."

"She can hardly be called a child anymore," Xue Baiqi chuckled. "She can actually keep her cool. If it were me, I’d have fought you on the spot, my lord."

"My lord, what do you think that girl will try against you?" Hao Fei asked.

"What can she do? Nothing more than borrowing another’s blade," Ye Xin said indifferently. "Back in Nine Cauldrons City, I made far too many enemies. Back then, we were all just kids, and my father was still alive. They couldn’t do a thing to me. Now, their opportunity has come."

"My lord, if you really intend to conceal your strength, it may be troublesome," Xue Baiqi said with a frown.

"That's why you two must stay by my side, so they don’t get a chance," Ye Xin replied. "Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to tear off all pretense."

Seeing the flicker in Ye Xin’s eyes, Xue Baiqi and Hao Fei fell silent. Although they had fought alongside Ye Xin for nearly two years, they could never quite grasp his limits. They only knew that once Ye Xin lost control, the power he unleashed was truly astonishing!

If things developed step by step according to the plan, it might be a blessing for Nine Cauldrons City. But if Ye Xin went berserk, the city would drown in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, just as had happened in the Golden Mountain and Spirit Peak of the Great Zhao Kingdom.

No one knew how much time had passed before the carriage ahead, carrying Ye Ling and Deng Duojie, came to a screeching halt. Xue Baiqi glanced out through the gap in the curtain and said softly, "We’ve arrived at Dragon Soaring Martial Academy."

Ye Xin was the first to leap out of the carriage. His gaze swept forward, landing on the arched gate ahead.

The main gate of Dragon Soaring Martial Academy stood about eleven or twelve meters tall, wide enough for at least ten carriages to pass side by side—magnificent in every sense. The words "Dragon Soaring Martial Academy" were carved into the archway with sword energy and inlaid with liquid gold, gleaming as brilliantly as ever despite centuries of wind and rain.

If someone were to pry out those golden characters, they could probably fetch a fortune. But no one ever dared lay a hand on Dragon Soaring Martial Academy. The high-ranking officials dominating the court, and the generals commanding armies on the front lines, nearly all came from here. This was the sole training ground of the ruling power in the Great Wei Kingdom. To offend Dragon Soaring Martial Academy was to oppose the entire nation.

"Brother, hurry up!" Ye Ling called from ahead.

"My lord, we can’t just go in there," Hao Fei whispered.

"I know. You two wait here for me," Ye Xin replied, then strode toward Ye Ling.

As Ye Xin drew near Ye Ling, a carriage sped over from another direction. A man and a woman leaped out and headed straight for the academy’s gate.

They paid no heed to Ye Ling and Ye Xin, heading straight inside. At this moment, Deng Duojie emerged from her carriage, smiling. "Fifth Prince, Seventh Princess, what a coincidence!"

The young man glanced at Deng Duojie, his gaze sweeping over Ye Xin and Ye Ling. Then he smiled, "Sister Deng, since when have you become so—" He cut off abruptly, his face changing dramatically as his eyes widened, fixing on Ye Xin. After a stunned pause, he roared, "Ye Xin! You beast, how dare you show your face before me?!"

It truly was a coincidence—the young man was none other than Tie Renhao, the fifth son of Tie Xinsheng. As a child, he had been bullied by Ye Xin almost every day. In truth, though Ye Xin had done many wild things, he was not completely ruthless; but Tie Renhao was stubborn—bullied, he would always try to get back at Ye Xin, only to be bullied again. He never gave up, no matter how many times he lost.

As for the young woman, it was an even greater coincidence—she was Tie Xinsheng’s favorite, the Seventh Princess Tie Huizhen. Years ago, Ye Xin had been sent to the Heaven’s Sin Camp precisely because he had attempted to violate her.

Back then, everyone feared Ye Xin. But now, things were utterly different. Ye Guanhai was gone, and Ye Xin was still considered a cripple. Yet both Tie Renhao and Tie Huizhen had entered Dragon Soaring Martial Academy and received merit insignias—symbols that they had become innate martial warriors!

"Tie Renhao, still haven’t fixed that suicidal temper of yours?" Ye Xin said, his tone almost mournful. "The fact that you’re still alive is nothing short of a miracle."

Tie Renhao’s roar had drawn the attention of passing students; many stopped to watch, curiosity in their eyes. At this moment, Sun Meifang and an elderly man appeared within the gate—Sun Meifang had clearly arrived earlier. It was evident that the Deng family now wielded considerable influence in Nine Cauldrons City, for one of the academy’s deans, Feng Qishan, had personally escorted Sun Meifang out.

Seeing the commotion, Feng Qishan seemed intent on stepping forward, but Sun Meifang gently tugged his robe and shook her head.

Tie Renhao grew even more enraged and strode toward Ye Xin. Behind him, the Seventh Princess Tie Huizhen’s face went pale; she unconsciously stepped back, clearly haunted by nightmarish memories.

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?!" Ye Ling blocked Ye Xin, shouting.

Deng Duojie was friends with Tie Renhao and Tie Huizhen, but there was no way she would intervene to stop the conflict. She had already slipped away, while the imperial guards assigned to protect Tie Renhao sensed trouble and followed closely behind, hands on their swords. Compared to them, Ye Ling and Ye Xin seemed isolated and vulnerable.

"Ye Ling, this has nothing to do with you. Get out of my way!" Tie Renhao roared.

"Ye Xin is my brother—how can it have nothing to do with me!" Ye Ling stood firm, fists clenched and ready for trouble.

"In that case, you can die together!" Tie Renhao sneered. He had been bullied by Ye Xin countless times as a boy, and his beloved sister had nearly been violated by Ye Xin. In his eyes, Ye Xin was a mortal enemy who could never be forgiven!

"Are you mad?!" Ye Ling realized Tie Renhao was forcefully channeling his energy, utterly shocked—he would dare attack here, at the very gate of Dragon Soaring Martial Academy?

But Tie Renhao had lost all reason. As his energy surged to its peak, about to be unleashed, a crisp, metallic ring split the air.

Klang! Hao Fei sat cross-legged atop the carriage, a long sword in his hands. The blade was angled skyward, its tip quivering, sending resonant waves in every direction.

Gazing intently at his sword, Hao Fei’s pupils burned with unwavering focus, a strange fervor—as if he were beholding a lover. A chilling aura slowly spread around him, and the blade began to shine, finally cloaked in a pale golden radiance.

The crowd instantly fell silent. Nearly all those present were academy students; though most had never forged their life technique or seen battle, they recognized the feeling—it was killing intent!

Within the archway, Feng Qishan’s pupils contracted as he took another step forward, but Sun Meifang pulled at his sleeve again, shaking her head.

Tie Renhao’s murderous intent was instantly diluted, for the sword’s song was aimed at him, the killing intent unmistakable.

"How formidable..." a student murmured.

"No wonder the deans fought so hard to bring them in as instructors," another sighed.

Hao Fei had proven, in full view, that the rumors were true!

A life technique and a killing move are worlds apart, but the ascent is gradual. The same life technique can vary in strength. When unleashing it, one’s energy circulates at extreme speed, producing a dazzling aura. At lower levels, the aura reflects the life technique’s primal color; as power increases, it turns bright silver, and when nearing the threshold to a killing move, it shifts from silver to pale gold.

Generally, only advanced innate martial warriors can temper their life technique into a killing move—and even then, only possibly so. There are many innate warriors in the Great Wei Kingdom, but only a handful at the Pillar State level.

Hao Fei had already reached the peak of intermediate warrior!

This was why every noble house, including the sovereign Tie Xinsheng himself, valued Xue Baiqi and Hao Fei so highly. In less than ten years, both could potentially reach the Pillar State’s level of power!

"You... you’re Hao Fei?!" Tie Renhao gasped.

Hao Fei gave no reply, still gazing quietly at his sword.

"Lost your nerve now? Hahaha... still trying to show off?" Ye Xin burst into laughter. "Come, come at me! Tie Renhao, you bastard!"

"Brother?!" Ye Ling nearly fainted on the spot. With Hao Fei’s intervention, Tie Renhao had been cowed—surely the best outcome. Who could have guessed Ye Xin’s unruly nature would flare up at the most critical moment!

Tie Renhao’s eyes suddenly went bloodshot, and Hao Fei smiled faintly. Having fought and killed at Ye Xin’s side for so long, he understood perfectly—Ye Xin’s meaning was clear: attack without hesitation.

In that case, let the chaos come sooner rather than later. Hao Fei never doubted Ye Xin’s orders.

"Scoundrel!" Tie Renhao roared as expected, leaping toward Ye Ling and Ye Xin.