Chapter 111: Deserted and Lifeless

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The vermilion gates slowly swung open.

Qiu Shiyan emerged from the martial arts academy with several others.

Only Bai Fu and his daughter, Bai Taoru, remained close behind her with unwavering loyalty. The rest trailed several steps back, following dejectedly with their heads bowed.

The commotion drew the attention of everyone waiting in line.

“Isn’t that the master of Fengyang Martial Arts Academy?”

“Which one is the master?”

“The one at the front—the pretty one with the long legs.”

“What? The master of Fengyang Martial Arts Academy is a woman?”

“What’s so strange about that? She’s the daughter of the academy’s former master. She inherited the family business.”

“I see.”

“I heard Fengyang Martial Arts Academy has a feud with the Qingyan Sect. The Qingyan Sect even opened a branch right across the street. Now the female master of Fengyang has brought her people out. This should be interesting.”

…

The people at Mingyang Martial Arts Academy had been watching Fengyang Martial Arts Academy’s every move.

As the saying went, a person’s reputation cast a long shadow. Qiu Rubai had dominated Longchong Prefecture for many years. Even though he had gone mad and his martial cultivation had declined, no one dared take him lightly.

There were many disciples of the Qingyan Sect at Mingyang Martial Arts Academy.

The moment the gates of Fengyang Martial Arts Academy opened, the leading Qingyan disciple received word and brought several others outside.

“Well, well, Miss Qiu. From now on, we’ll be neighbors. A pleasure, a pleasure.”

The leading Qingyan disciple was named Yu Haoyuan. He was just over twenty and had reached the late Postnatal Realm.

To possess such cultivation at his age was truly remarkable.

Qiu Shiyan’s face was cold as she said, “Get lost.”

Being told to get lost in front of so many people naturally left Yu Haoyuan looking displeased.

Even so, he continued smiling. “Miss Qiu is just like your esteemed father. You both certainly have fiery tempers.”

He said no more, merely stepping aside with the other Qingyan disciples to see what Qiu Shiyan intended to do.

Qiu Shiyan ignored them and immediately announced that Fengyang Martial Arts Academy would also be opening its doors to accept students that day.

The crowd stared at one another, then erupted into an uproar. It was obvious that Fengyang intended to challenge Mingyang directly. This was going to be entertaining.

Yu Haoyuan merely shook his head. This young lady was truly naïve. What could Fengyang Martial Arts Academy possibly offer to attract students now?

If it could still recruit anyone, would it have waited until today?

Such a spiteful gesture was nothing more than an invitation to humiliation.

Yu Haoyuan did not openly mock her. For the moment, the Qingyan Sect still had some misgivings about Qiu Rubai, even though he had been insane for two years.

All their efforts to suppress Fengyang had been carried out in secret; they absolutely avoided a direct confrontation.

Through the open gates, Yu Haoyuan glanced into the courtyard of Fengyang Martial Arts Academy.

He had heard that ever since Qiu Rubai had gone mad, he had remained inside the academy.

“Today is the opening day of Mingyang Martial Arts Academy, and my master is personally stationed there. No matter how formidable Qiu Rubai once was, he’s now nothing more than a mad cripple. What is there to fear?”

Yu Haoyuan encouraged himself inwardly. His master was one of the three Innate Realm experts in the Qingyan Sect.

Qiu Rubai had already fallen from the Innate Realm. No matter how powerful he had once been, there was only so much he could do now—not to mention that he was a lunatic.

With that thought, Yu Haoyuan relaxed and waited nearby to watch Qiu Shiyan make a fool of herself.

…

Just as Yu Haoyuan had expected, after Qiu Shiyan stood on the steps before the gate and announced that Fengyang Martial Arts Academy was also accepting students that day, the crowd below erupted in discussion—but not a single person stepped forward to register.

To the people of Longchong Prefecture, Fengyang Martial Arts Academy’s condition was no secret. Everyone knew what it was like.

The academy was barely able to stay open. What could anyone learn there? What kind of future could it offer?

Nothing changed. In front of Mingyang Martial Arts Academy, the crowd remained vast, with a long line stretching into the distance.

By contrast, the entrance of Fengyang Martial Arts Academy was deserted and forlorn.

Of course, it could not be said to be completely deserted. The line at Mingyang stretched all the way to the stone steps outside Fengyang’s gates.

“Miss, no one is coming to register,” Bai Taoru whispered beside Qiu Shiyan.

Qiu Shiyan glared at her. “Do you have to say it? Can’t I see for myself?”

After waiting for a long while without the slightest response, Qiu Shiyan began to feel awkward standing there. She gritted her teeth and suddenly announced, “Anyone who registers to join Fengyang Martial Arts Academy today will have all their fees—”

Before she could finish, Bai Taoru grabbed her sleeve and interrupted her.

At that moment, Bai Taoru could no longer concern herself with the distinction between master and servant. Tugging at Qiu Shiyan’s sleeve, she nearly burst into tears.

“Miss, have you gone mad? We can barely afford to eat as it is, and you still want to recruit students for free?”

Qiu Shiyan thought about it and realized that Bai Taoru was right. She could not bring herself to say that the fees would be waived.

Fengyang Martial Arts Academy was already struggling to survive. If they recruited several more people who contributed nothing and merely consumed resources, how could the academy possibly endure?

“Oh? I heard you’re recruiting people here, and all the fees are waived.”

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A clear, resonant voice sounded beside the two women.

“No, no, you heard wrong. We are recruiting, but the fees cannot be waived.”

Bai Taoru shook her head frantically. As her body swayed, her chest rose and fell, drawing more than a few eyes.

Her face was youthful and delicate, her figure petite and graceful, yet she possessed a remarkably full bosom. The combination gave her a distinctive allure.

Holding a folding fan, Fang Yue looked unconvinced. “I clearly heard your young mistress say that all the fees would be waived.”

Bai Taoru was almost in tears. “Our young mistress never said anything like that.”

Fang Yue turned toward Qiu Shiyan.

Qiu Shiyan frowned. “You don’t look like a man short of money, young master. Why cling so stubbornly to those words?”

Fang Yue laughed, closed his folding fan, and gave his head a slight shake. “It was only a joke. Please don’t take offense. I am from Baiquan Prefecture. I have studied a little martial skill and came to Yunbei to seek instruction and improve myself further. I had heard of the great reputation of Master Qiu, so I made a special journey to Longchong Prefecture. I heard a few things along the way, but I never expected Fengyang Martial Arts Academy to have fallen into such a state…”

Qiu Shiyan’s expression darkened, but she could not refute him. Fengyang’s condition was plain for all to see. It was indeed in dire straits.

Bai Taoru gazed at Fang Yue with shining eyes. “Young master, do you still wish to join Fengyang Martial Arts Academy?”

“Well…” Hesitation appeared on Fang Yue’s face.

Of course he intended to join Fengyang Martial Arts Academy; that was the main reason he had come to Longchong Prefecture. But he certainly could not reveal his intentions too readily.

“I advise you to think carefully, young master. Don’t recklessly jump into a pit of mud. Why not come to Mingyang Martial Arts Academy instead?”

Yu Haoyuan had noticed Fang Yue’s brocade robe, the treasured sword hanging at his waist, and the folding fan in his hand. He was clearly the son of a wealthy family and worth winning over, so Yu Haoyuan spoke up to steal the prospect away.

“Our Mingyang Martial Arts Academy is backed by the Qingyan Sect. We lack neither cultivation methods nor martial skills, and we have experts to guide our students. If one of the Innate Grandmasters happens to be in the mood, he may even come to oversee the academy and personally instruct everyone.”

Qiu Shiyan snapped angrily, “Say that again. Who exactly did you call a pit of mud?”

Yu Haoyuan spread his hands. “I didn’t say your Fengyang Martial Arts Academy, Miss Qiu. Don’t take it personally.”

The several Qingyan disciples behind him snickered.

Qiu Shiyan gritted her teeth, nearly drawing her sword and fighting the Qingyan disciples to the death.

Bai Taoru quickly seized her arm and whispered, “Miss, don’t act rashly. There are too many of them. We can’t beat them.”

Qiu Shiyan’s chest heaved. In the end, she still refrained from attacking. This was a busy part of the city, and a reckless fight would bring the authorities running.

The Qingyan disciples laughed for a while.

Then, all at once, they could no longer laugh.

A middle-aged man with gray at his temples had appeared before them at some unknown moment, watching them in silence.

“Father!” Qiu Shiyan cried out.

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