Chapter Thirty-Four: Cheating

"Who is Wen Hongren?" Ye Xin asked.

"He is Wen Rong's biological father," Xie En replied. "The Wen family was very grateful to Wen Tian, so in the end, Wen Hongren adopted her as his goddaughter. That's why her name changed to Wen Tian. The poor girl probably never had a good day in her life. After becoming Miss Wen, she's been eating excessively every moment, as if she wants to devour the whole Wen family in one breath. Whoever tries to control her, she cries. The Wen family pities her and lets her be, and in less than two years, she's ended up like this."

Wen Tian was frighteningly overweight, shaped like a ball, with flesh hanging from her chin almost touching her collarbone. Yet her movements were surprisingly nimble, darting around as if she never tired.

"So, she's Wen Rong's sister?" Ye Xin frowned. "Could it be... have I misjudged Wen Rong?"

"What do you mean?" Xie En was taken aback.

"Wen Tian seems to have the lowest status in the Fifth Battalion. Wen Rong ignores her and doesn't help her," Ye Xin said. From the start of the students' chores, Wen Tian was the most diligent—chopping firewood in the forest, building earthen stoves, her hands smeared with mud, then starting fires. Many students only did the bare minimum, but Wen Tian was always busy.

"Then you've wronged Wen Rong," Xie En laughed. "Wen Tian's temperament is just like that—probably a maid's habit. She wants to take on all the dirty, tiring, and thankless tasks. Perhaps only in hard work does she find her sense of existence. Wen Rong tried to intervene several times, but Wen Tian always became very upset, so in the end Wen Rong had no choice."

"I see..." Ye Xin felt more at ease. He couldn't explain why he had just felt disappointed.

"Sir, why are you asking about Wen Tian?" Xie En said. "Could it be... you like that sort of thing? Heaven..."

"Get lost!" Ye Xin retorted. "You're a disgrace as an instructor. In my opinion, Wen Tian is a student with great potential."

"Are you... just guessing?" Xie En asked suspiciously.

"Two years ago, I had a strange encounter and discovered a new ability," Ye Xin said quietly. "While walking the streets, I would suddenly notice certain people, as if waking from a dream. I can't explain where the feeling comes from, but repeated dangers have proved it—anyone who catches my instinctive attention is special in some way."

"No way..." Xie En muttered.

"Last night, around this time, Deng Duojie used a life skill that hides her presence to approach my courtyard, and I noticed her in an instant," Ye Xin continued.

"Boss, you're already a miraculous talent, and now you have this kind of luck? How is anyone else supposed to survive..." Xie En groaned.

"If it were you, you'd be dead already," Ye Xin replied. "Besides, it's both good and bad. I don't want to rely too much on this ability unless I can find a logical explanation."

Just then, the students began quarreling; several seemed agitated.

"They're planning tactics to deal with Tie Huizhen and Deng Duojie," Xie En said with a mischievous grin, then paused as if remembering something. "Wait... Boss, you just said Deng Duojie's life skill hides her presence? If she sneaks in and steals our battalion flag, what then?"

"She won't. For the First Battalion, they've already won. Deng Duojie keeps her life skill hidden—she wouldn't expose herself for a guaranteed victory in the flag battle," Ye Xin shook his head.

"Speaking of which... Boss, can't you do it a different way?" Xie En said. "This is pure cheating!"

"I like easy games—the easier, the better," Ye Xin replied. "What's the name of that student? The one always lurking at the side?"

"Him?" Xie En looked over. Most students clustered together, discussing tactics, except Wen Tian and a thin, small boy who hid at the back. "His name is Li Chonglou. His family used to be decent, but half a year ago, a shipment was robbed, and they lost everything. Luckily, he'd already paid his tuition, so he can stay at the academy. But his temperament changed a lot—he's always timid and avoids his peers."

"That's the one. Bring him to the woods, discreetly," Ye Xin instructed.

"For what?" Xie En asked.

"I can't act directly, so I need to create a hero who turns the tide," Ye Xin said.

The Fifth Battalion students were arguing fiercely. They didn't want to fight the First Battalion for the flag, but now that things had come to this, they had to persist. Choosing to fight always offered a sliver of hope, while giving up meant true loss.

Xie En walked over and tapped Li Chonglou gently. Li Chonglou looked up in surprise. Xie En gave him a signal and then headed toward the woods.

Li Chonglou, puzzled, followed slowly. Soon, the two were deep in the forest. Xie En stopped.

"Instructor, is something wrong?" Li Chonglou asked softly.

"I know your situation," Xie En sighed, then repeated Ye Xin's instructions. "Your family suffered disaster, so all their hopes rest on you. If you become an innate warrior and find an opportunity to join Commander Wei's corps, your family might recover. The pressure on you is immense, isn't it?"

Li Chonglou bit his lip and lowered his head. "Instructor, I have... only half a year left before graduation."

"Becoming an innate warrior in six months is not easy," Xie En said.

"I know..." Li Chonglou hadn't had a chance to confide in anyone. He felt inferior around classmates, didn't want to make his family despair, and now, suddenly exposed, his heart ached and his eyes reddened.

"I have a cultivation method. Do you want to learn it?" Xie En asked.

"What? Instructor... you're serious?" Li Chonglou was stunned.

"I want to teach you a method. The rest depends on your effort," Xie En said.

Li Chonglou froze. This was a tremendous boon, but it came as such a shock he couldn't respond.

"Well? Do you want to learn?" Xie En pressed.

Li Chonglou trembled, then dropped to his knees. "Instructor, your kindness..."

"Get up, get up!" Xie En grabbed Li Chonglou's shoulder and pulled him up. "I'm not just helping you—I'm thinking of the Fifth Battalion. If you learn my method, maybe you can help us win the flag battle."

"Really?" Li Chonglou exclaimed.

"Keep your voice down," Xie En said, then glanced aside. "Ye Xin, come over."

Ye Xin emerged from the woods, approaching Li Chonglou.

"Remember every word Ye Xin says, and follow his instructions with total concentration. Understand?" Xie En commanded.

"Understood, understood," Li Chonglou replied hurriedly, trying to smile at Ye Xin. He was so excited his facial muscles twitched, making his smile odd.

Ye Xin extended his hand, and a silver chain dangled from his fingers, with a pale yellow gemstone attached at the end.

"Focus on this gemstone with all your mind," Ye Xin's voice was gentle. "Think of nothing but my words, keep your mind clear..."

Li Chonglou had no time to question—he assumed this was Xie En's method. He stared wide-eyed at the gemstone.

"Don't strain so much, relax... relax..." The gemstone swung slowly in Ye Xin's palm. "You faintly feel warm water rising over your feet..."

Xie En watched curiously nearby. Ye Xin's voice grew softer. "Your eyelids are growing heavy, slowly closing... relax... as if you've returned to the depths of the unknown... back to the depths..."

In truth, hypnotism often fails, depending on the subject's traits, psychological defenses, and alertness. But Li Chonglou believed this was Xie En's cultivation method, so he cooperated wholeheartedly, surrendering to the guidance. In just five minutes, he was fully under.

"The warm water envelops your body, letting you sleep deeper and more comfortably... sleep deeper..." Ye Xin spoke slowly. "Your arms can't move..."

Li Chonglou's hands quickly dropped.

"Your fingers can't separate..."

Li Chonglou's fingers pressed together, obeying Ye Xin's command.

That was enough. Ye Xin signaled Xie En to go monitor the students.

"You are a hero. This flag battle will be won because of you. No one can stop you..."

Li Chonglou's brows twitched, his posture straightened.

"You are clever and brave. No matter what danger arises, you can overcome it, never retreat," Ye Xin whispered. "Now, take out a vial of potion from your body. Inside is saber-toothed tiger urine. Pour the saber-toothed tiger potion on yourself, bit by bit."

Li Chonglou lifted his hand, mimed unscrewing a cap, and shook his empty fist over himself as if holding a real bottle.

"They're all fools. They don't understand—the saber-toothed tiger's urine can scare off fierce beasts. This way, you can approach their flag silently without using energy," Ye Xin said.

Li Chonglou's mouth curled into a cold smile.

"Now, you've reached their camp. Lie down... slowly lie down... don't let them spot you."

Li Chonglou bent over and lay flat in the grass, motionless.