Xiao Ke offered a slight smile. "I can handle a drink."
Ye Yun's elegant eyebrows shot up. "Good. Then tonight, nobody leaves sober."
Ling Feng, ever the worrier, cut in. "But we have class. Instructor Jiang gives her loyalty lecture every single night."
"Battle days are different," Ye Yun said, waving a dismissive hand. "The instructors won't cancel class, but Jiang won't show. She does it on purpose to give us a chance to blow off steam." He shot a pointed look at Ling Feng. "Of course, if you're afraid of getting in trouble, if you don't have the guts... You can just run along."
That hit its mark. Ling Feng and the others froze, remembering last Sunday night when Instructor Jiang had been a no-show. They'd chalked it up to an emergency, but now it was clear: it was a deliberate night off. They were young, full of pride and fire. Being called gutless was an insult they couldn't ignore.
"Who's afraid of who?" they all declared, grabbing their glasses. "Let's drink."
The table erupted in a flurry of toasts. Glasses were raised and emptied, again and again.
Before long, the food was gone and the liquor was flowing freely. Aside from Ye Yun, Ling Feng, and Xiao Ke, the rest of their classmates were a mess, stumbling over their words and slumping in their chairs. Ling Feng himself was starting to feel it, his tongue thick and his speech slurred.
Ye Yun, though not obviously drunk, had a deep blush staining his handsome features, making him look almost beautiful, like a delicate maiden.
But it was Xiao Ke—the one who'd humbly claimed he could only "handle a drink"—who was the real surprise. After a full pint of hard liquor, he was as calm as ever, a faint, easy smile playing on his lips.
It dawned on both Ye Yun and Ling Feng at the same time: this guy was a pro. When it came to drinking, none of them stood a chance against him.
Ye Yun grabbed the bottle and poured out the last of its contents, topping off his, Xiao Ke's, and Ling Feng's glasses. "They're done for," he said, nodding at their comatose friends. "And it's getting late. One last round, then we head back."
He raised his glass.
As Xiao Ke lifted his to meet it, something odd caught his eye. He'd always known Ye Yun was tall—a solid five-foot-nine, not much shorter than himself. But sitting down, Ye Yun seemed significantly smaller.
How is that possible?
Xiao Ke's gaze drifted down to Ye Yun's chair, and when he saw his legs, it clicked in an instant. Ye Yun's height came from his long, slender legs, not his torso. It was a proportion you'd normally see on a woman. Strange.
He didn't think he'd been obvious, but Ye Yun had caught his glance. The blush on his face deepened, and he shot Xiao Ke a look that was a confusing mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.
When the meal was over, Ye Yun picked up the tab. As Ling Feng had guessed, even after rounding down, the bill came to a jaw-dropping ten thousand gold coins.
Xiao Ke's expression soured. He knew it wouldn't be cheap, but this was astronomical. It also meant Ye Yun was ridiculously wealthy, likely the son of a high-ranking noble family, maybe even one of the five Great Clans.
Ye Yun glanced at his drunken classmates in disgust, then told Ling Feng to get a waiter and haul them back to the dorms.
Xiao Ke started to get up to help, but Ye Yun stopped him. "They can handle it. Hey, Xiao Ke, I've got a few questions for you. You mind if we find a place to talk?"
After a meal like that, Xiao Ke couldn't exactly say no. "Sure," he nodded.
"My dorm, then," Ye Yun said. "Too many ears around here."
Xiao Ke shrugged. What was the big deal about going to another guy's dorm? He agreed and followed.
But Ye Yun didn't lead him to the standard elite-class suites. Instead, they walked toward a secluded area of campus known as the Jiangnan Small Lodge. It was like stepping into another world—a perfect garden sanctuary with rare plants, rockeries, koi ponds, and elegant pavilions. Tucked away amongst the scenery were a series of private wooden cabins. These were the living quarters for the school's instructors and the principal.
Rumor had it that a few students with special status lived there, too—mostly members of the imperial family.
But the imperial surname was Jiang, and Ye Yun's was Ye. He wasn't royalty. So how did he score a private cabin that not even Ling Feng had access to? The kid was a walking mystery.
The surprises kept coming. When they entered one of the cabins, Xiao Ke stopped dead. There was a maid inside. You've got to be kidding me, he thought, stunned. This guy is so much of a playboy that he brings a personal maid with him to school?
The maid was just as shocked to see Ye Yun walk in with another man. "Miss—" she stammered.
Ye Yun's beautiful almond eyes flashed with a warning glare.
The maid caught herself instantly. "Young Master! Why... why did you bring a man home?"
Xiao Ke had to roll his eyes. Like, he was going to bring a girl back? There were barely any female students at Glory, and zero in their elite program.
"Xiao Huixiang, this is my friend, Xiao Ke," Ye Yun said coolly. "I invited him for a chat. Go brew us some tea."
Xiao Huixiang shot Xiao Ke another suspicious look before heading off to prepare the tea.
But this wasn't just any tea. While most people would just steep some leaves, Ye Yun had his maid use a small red clay stove and fresh spring water to brew it from scratch, right there in the room. The process was incredibly precise. The moment tiny, pearl-like bubbles began to form a steady stream from the bottom of the pot, she had to add the leaves and serve immediately.
This was an ancient, formal method of brewing tea, something only practiced by the highest echelons of nobility.
That settled it. Xiao Ke was now certain Ye Yun was from a major noble family or one of the Great Clans.
As the sun began to set, they sat by the window, sipping tea and talking. Ye Yun finally asked the question that had been burning in his mind: how could a mere Level 2 Battle Soldier like Xiao Ke possess such devastating combat strength?
Xiao Ke wasn't about to reveal his secret about using Origin Force Water to ignite his bones. The last thing he wanted was to become a lab rat in some research facility.
"I was just born different," he said vaguely. "And when I practice the Tiger's Might Art, my strength seems to grow more than it should."
Ye Yun looked intrigued. "I've never heard of the army's standard Tiger's Might Art doing anything like that. I guess it really is just your unique physiology... a shame. I thought you might have some secret technique for building strength. I was prepared to pay a fortune for it to train my family's soldiers. Well, so much for that plan."
So that was his angle. Ye Yun had hoped to acquire Xiao Ke's "secret" to mass-produce powerful fighters for his clan. Cultivating Origin Force was a long, arduous process, but if raw strength could be trained quickly, it would be a game-changer.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Young Master Ye," Xiao Ke said earnestly. "I don't think it would work for anyone else."
Ye Yun studied his eyes for a moment, then nodded, apparently convinced he was telling the truth. Though clearly disappointed, he didn't flip a switch and turn cold. He remained just as polite as before, not discarding Xiao Ke simply because he wasn't "useful."
They talked for a while longer, their conversation drifting from cultivation and battlefields to imperial politics and the fine arts. Xiao Ke was floored. Ye Yun was an expert in everything, the very definition of an aristocratic prodigy.
Xiao Ke, by contrast, felt like a complete amateur. When Ye Yun asked if he knew anything about music, he hesitated before giving a self-deprecating laugh. "Not really. I can play the flute a little, that's about it."
Every shepherd boy could play a flute. It was hardly a skill to brag about.
But Ye Yun's eyes lit up. He seemed to have a genuine passion for music and immediately sent Xiao Huixiang to fetch a transverse flute, insisting that Xiao Ke play something.
Trapped, Xiao Ke took the instrument. He tested the tone, took a breath, and began to play. The melody that emerged was haunting and cyclical, filled with a sense of deep emotion and sorrow. It was a sound that spoke of endless longing, an echo of something beautiful and lost.
Both Ye Yun and Xiao Huixiang, connoisseurs of music, were utterly captivated, drawn into the profound melancholy of the song.
When the last note faded, a long silence hung in the room.
"The quiet blade," Ye Yun finally murmured, shaking his head. "That's what you are, Xiao Ke. You love to play the humble card. You have incredible combat power, but let everyone think you're a Level 2 weakling. You can drink anyone under the table but claim you can only have a little. And you have the soul of a musician, but say you only know how to 'play the flute a little.' You are something else."
Xiao Ke could only offer a wry smile. He didn't know how to explain it. He really didn't know anything about music theory. His mother had taught him to play the flute as a child, and for him, it was just a way to remember his family. The sadness in the music was real because his memories were tinged with loss. He never thought it was anything special, yet here was Ye Yun, praising it like a masterpiece.
By now, the sky was dark, and a soft, soundless rain had begun to fall.
Xiao Ke stood up to leave. Ye Yun had Xiao Huixiang bring him an umbrella. "Take this," he said. "You can bring it back whenever you have time."
"Thanks."
As Xiao Ke took the umbrella, a bizarre image flashed through his mind—the old legend of the scholar Xu Xian lending his umbrella to the White Snake spirit. He quickly shoved the thought away. He's a guy, I'm a guy. What am I even thinking?
He turned to go, but Ye Yun called his name again. As he looked back, two small objects flew through the air toward him. He caught them on instinct. They were the two vials of Origin Force Spring—Ye Yun's reward from the day's battle.
"You may have freakish strength, but your Origin Force level is pathetic," Ye Yun said, his tone flat. "These are useless to me, but they should be perfect for you. I can't believe Ling Feng calls you a friend but didn't offer you his help to help you rank up. So much for loyalty."
"Ling Feng needs it," Xiao Ke said, defending his friend. "He's a Level 7 Valiant General trying to hit Level 8 before graduation..."
Ye Yun just waved his hand, cutting him off.
Xiao Ke sighed internally. That was Ye Yun's one flaw. He was generous and sharp, but completely self-centered. His opinions were facts, and he had no interest in hearing anyone else's.
Knowing how precious the Origin Force Spring was, Xiao Ke gave a deep, formal bow. "Brother Ye, I will never forget this gift. I will repay you one day. Farewell."
He turned and walked out into the rain.
Ye Yun didn't see him out. He simply took out a clean white handkerchief, meticulously wiped the mouthpiece of the flute, and handed it to his maid. "Xiao Huixiang, put this away."
"Yes, Young Master."
Xiao Huixiang's eyes darted to Ye Yun, her expression puzzled. That's... weird, she thought. The Miss always throws away anything a man has touched. Why is she keeping a flute with his saliva all over it?
Instead of heading back to his dorm, Xiao Ke went straight to the school's cultivation chambers. Ye Yun had been right; there would be no lecture from Instructor Jiang tonight.
The cultivation chambers were the pinnacle of luxury for aspiring warriors. The air was thick with the scent of expensive incense, not cheap sandalwood but a fine powder of rare medicinal herbs designed to focus the mind and enhance cultivation. The rooms were soundproof and guarded, ensuring that a cultivator's session would never be dangerously interrupted. If your time ran out, a staff member would strike a soft, resonant gong—the gentlest way to pull someone out of a deep meditative state.
Of course, this luxury came at a price: one gold coin per hour. It was a sum most students couldn't even dream of affording.
Xiao Ke had always found it too extravagant, which was why he usually snuck out to the mountains behind the school to train. But tonight was different. For one, it was still too early to go to the mountains without being seen. More importantly, he was now in possession of three vials of Origin Force Spring—one from his victory and two from Ye Yun.
Walking around with a treasure like that was asking for trouble. In a place like Glory, where everyone was obsessed with getting stronger, you were just as likely to get mugged by a desperate rival as you were to make a friend. It was safer to spend a few gold coins, rent a secure room, and absorb the power now.
Xiao Ke was practically broke. The bounty from his zombie kills back at Black Shark headquarters hadn't come through yet. The only money he had was the thirty gold coins his centurion, Qin Bing, had given him for travel expenses. He'd never touched a single coin, intending to pay her back in full. Now, he had no choice.
He felt a sharp pang as he handed over five gold coins for five hours, but his thoughts immediately drifted back to Qin Bing and his old comrades, Duan Canglong and Luo Hou, still stuck working as cooks.
Just wait, he promised them silently. I'm going to win this whole damn tournament. And then I'm coming back to get you all out of that hellhole.
Inside the chamber, he didn't waste a second. He uncorked a vial of Origin Force Spring and downed it in one go.
A wave of warmth spread through his body, pooling in the sea of energy in his Dantian. He could feel it coalesce into a potent reservoir of Origin Force Water. He had already ignited his spine, pushing his raw strength to an insane 5,300 jin. It was time to focus on his Origin Force level. He was tired of everyone seeing him as a Level 2 scrub. He was tired of the suspicious stares he got whenever he defeated a stronger opponent. The feeling of being treated like a freak was starting to get on his nerves. A higher Origin Force level would provide a better cover for his monstrous physical power.
Ling Feng wasn't kidding. A single vial was like a month of hard training. Feeling the surge of new energy, Xiao Ke closed his eyes and directed the roiling tide of Origin Force Water toward the third martial meridian node in his body.
Rise!
At his mental command, the calm sea of energy erupted into a violent tsunami. The wave surged through his meridians, blasting past the first two nodes he had already unlocked, and slammed into the third.
BANG.
A shockwave ripped through him, making his organs rattle in his ribcage. A grimace of pain twisted his face. Breaking through to a new level was never pleasant. He knew from experience that this was just the first hit. It would take a relentless assault to shatter the barrier.
Sure enough, the wave receded, only to gather itself again, bigger and more violent than before. It crashed against the node with even greater force. BANG. His entire body shuddered.
Over and over, the spiritual tsunami battered the barrier. After a dozen impacts, cold sweat was pouring down his face. On the fifteenth strike, he felt it give. With a final, thunderous crash, the third node crumbled like a rotten dam, and the Origin Force Water flooded through. The node absorbed the energy, was tempered by it, and then began to glow with a soft, steady light.
He was a Level 3 Battle Soldier. And it had only taken an hour.
Keep going.
He grabbed the two vials from Ye Yun and drank them both. The resulting surge was immense, easily worth two more months of cultivation. He couldn't help but feel a flash of envy for the sons of the Great Clans. They could just buy their way to power, pouring endless resources into their training. For someone like him, these vials were a rare treasure, won through blood, sweat, and a bit of luck. With only two weeks of the special training left, his chances to earn more were running out.
He focused his mind and directed the new, more powerful tide toward the fourth martial meridian node.
This was a major threshold. The first three nodes were small, marking the transition between Battle Soldier ranks. But the fourth, fifth, and sixth nodes were significantly larger and tougher, representing the gateway to the Battle General realm. Countless warriors spent their entire lives stuck at the third, sixth, or ninth nodes, unable to leap to the next realm. But for those who succeeded, the power boost was immense. A Level 3 Battle Soldier had an Origin Force intensity of about 300 Kahe. A Level 4 Battle General started at 1,000. It was a whole different league.
Tonight, Xiao Ke was determined to make that leap.
He sent the tidal wave of energy crashing into the fourth node.
BOOM.
The impact was brutal, far worse than before. A coppery taste of blood filled his mouth as the shockwave slammed through his insides. He swallowed it down, his jaw clenched tight. The fourth node was like a fortress wall. The first wave hadn't even scratched it.
The energy receded and struck again, even harder this time.
BOOM!
This time, the blood didn't just rise in his throat; it filled his mouth. He bit down hard, but a thin trickle still escaped the corner of his lips.
This wasn't working. The force was too weak. He could keep battering away at it, but he risked doing serious internal damage, maybe even killing himself, before the node ever broke. The smart move would be to stop, to cut his losses.
But if he stopped now, all that precious Origin Force Water would dissipate. Two entire vials from Ye Yun, wasted.
No. He refused to waste it.
He gritted his teeth and endured. Again and again, the tide of energy slammed into the barrier. Blood began to seep from his nose and ears. His vision swam. He was on the verge of blacking out, but he held on, fueled by sheer, stubborn will.
On the twenty-sixth impact, something finally changed. With a deep, groaning rumble, the fortress wall cracked. The Origin Force Water poured through the breach, shattering the rest of the node into dust. The energy flooded in, not as an attack, but as a soothing balm, repairing the damage from his reckless assault.
Slowly, the fourth node began to shine with a brilliant, clear light.
Xiao Ke's eyes snapped open. He let out a long, shuddering breath. He had almost died, but he had done it. He had clawed his way to the next realm.
He was a Level 4 Battle General.
He took a moment to feel his new power. Just as before, his capacity was higher than normal. His Origin Force intensity, now at this new level, had reached an incredible 1,500 Kahe.