Chapter 42: Sunset Mountains

Ba Wanqing was completely stunned, her cheeks instantly flushing a delicate red, leaving her at a loss for what to do. The classmates around them began to cheer, making it seem as though the two were being sent into a bridal chamber. Ye Kun was a bit taken aback by his younger brother’s sudden move, but seeing the effect, he realized Wanqing must have feelings for his brother too—otherwise, she would have slapped him already.

Off to the side, Wu Chi set down his bottle, visibly displeased. “Kid, I remember what you just said. If the teacher is unhappy, you won’t get to be happy either!”

“What’s all this noise? This is the Cultivation Academy, not the West Market!” Wu Chi staggered over to the children, his urge for revenge clear.

Ye Qin quickly released the blushing Wanqing and stood straight. Wanqing, almost instinctively, reached for Ye Qin’s waist—a gesture that seemed to be in every woman’s nature.

Feng Dian and Yuan Zhen were both unhappy. Ye Qin and Wanqing were actually getting close? This could not stand! They had to break them apart! Their life’s mission was to make the Ye brothers miserable. Wait and see—they’d think of something. Of course! They could tell Wanqing’s father. If the county magistrate knew his daughter was being led astray, heh… that boy would be finished!

“What were you two just doing? Do you know how old you are? Hm?” Wu Chi glared at Ye Qin and Wanqing, scolding them thoroughly. Early romance was a serious matter—it had to be stopped.

“Teacher, I didn’t do anything!” Ye Qin tried to defend himself. “You can’t accuse me like this!”

“Liar! Is a girl someone you can just hug? That’s the behavior of a scoundrel, a rogue!”

“But Wanqing is my wife,” Ye Qin replied, his face all innocence, as if saying, “Teacher, is it wrong to hold my wife?”

Ye Kun could hardly contain himself. Little brother, your flirting skills are impressive—better than mine! To win over someone like Wanqing, that’s really something.

Wanqing’s face, already bright red, turned even redder at Ye Qin’s words. She wished she could disappear into the ground.

“Ye Qin! What are you saying!” Wanqing lowered her head shyly, tugging at Ye Qin’s sleeve. There was no trace of reproach in her voice—it was pure coquettishness. Good heavens.

Wu Chi, in that moment, was lost in memories. Had he not also experienced sweet, unforgettable love like this? Just like these two children. But!

These two brats had stirred up old pains in their teacher, and they would have to pay the price!

“Let me make this clear again: in this academy, romance is forbidden! Otherwise—” Wu Chi suddenly raised his palm, from which a strange aura emanated.

The yellow sand on the ground began to writhe and took the shape of a tiger eagle, leaving the children astonished!

The tiger eagle raised its head and let out a mighty roar, exuding the majesty of a true king. Though made of sand, it looked remarkably lifelike.

“Break!” With a loud bang, Wu Chi punched the tiger eagle, and it crumbled back into sand.

The children’s faces twisted with embarrassment. Was the teacher serious? At this rate, he’d have no friends left.

But Ye Kun thought differently—he was focused on the move the teacher had just performed. That wasn’t swordsmanship!

Old Wei had once said that, apart from the Way of the Sword, there was also the Way of Magic, though it was extremely hard to master and thus very rare.

But what the teacher just did was clearly not a sword technique—it must have been a magical one. Sword techniques were common, but magical techniques were nowhere to be found. Even the simplest magic technique was worth hundreds of times more than a sword technique.

It was easy to train a swordsman, but incredibly difficult to train a mage. As Old Wei used to say, the Way of Magic was the road paved with gold—if you had no money, don’t even think about walking it. It was for the rich and powerful; ordinary folks couldn’t afford it. Just stick to the sword like everyone else—after all, ninety percent of people walked the sword’s path.

At that moment, Ye Kun was seriously tempted by the Way of Magic. To conjure a tiger eagle with a mere gesture, so lifelike—how impressive! Sword techniques were dashing, but to defeat others without moving seemed even more so.

“Teacher, was that the Way of Magic?” Ye Kun asked eagerly.

“You’ve got a good eye. That’s right—this is the Way of Magic!”

With Wu Chi’s admission, the children broke into a commotion. The Way of Magic was so rare! Was their teacher not just a swordsman, but a mage as well? How incredible!

Seeing the starry-eyed admiration in the children’s faces, Wu Chi’s empty heart was filled with satisfaction.

Wu Chi truly was a practitioner of the Way of Magic. In the East Netherworld, he had not earned the title “Martial Maniac” for nothing.

When he found himself unable to break through in swordsmanship, Wu Chi turned to magic, hoping it would help him reach new heights. He soon became addicted, unable to extricate himself.

As his wife would say, it was excessive—and that, in truth, was the real reason she ran off.

Still, Wu Chi’s greatest strength was swordsmanship; magic was simply too difficult. For him, magic was an auxiliary path, not his main one. He once dreamed of mastering both, but that was pure fantasy—utterly impossible.

“Teacher, can you teach us?” Ye Kun asked expectantly. The Way of Magic was truly exhilarating.

Wu Chi did not reply immediately, but asked, “Do you all want to learn?”

“We don’t…” came the chorus.

Ye Kun was left bewildered. What was going on—why did all the other children, except Ye Qin and Wanqing, refuse?

Wu Chi was pleased. Though they were young, they were sensible enough not to burden their families. Otherwise, their own wives might run off.

“Ye Kun, the Way of Magic is full of flashy tricks. The Way of the Sword is our true path—understand?” Wu Chi gazed at Ye Kun with grave seriousness. This was the advice of a true martial maniac, and not without reason.

Seeing the weight of his teacher’s words, Ye Kun nodded silently, though he thought to himself: if two opponents were evenly matched, surely the one with magic would win.

Wu Chi paused, then swept his gaze over the children. “You’ve all been at the academy nearly a month. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out of the city, to the nearby Sunset Mountains, for three days of harsh training. Be prepared—class is dismissed for today.”

The children gasped. The Sunset Mountains were full of wild beasts. Did the teacher really think their scrawny arms and legs could handle it?

“If you’re afraid, don’t come tomorrow. In fact… don’t ever come again. I have no use for cowardly students.”

As the teacher’s figure disappeared, the children felt a weight settle in their hearts—even Yuan Zhen and Feng Dian, usually so bold, had gone pale.

“I don’t know why, but my stomach hurts,” Yuan Zhen suddenly said, clutching his belly as if he were truly ill.