Wayne Shen turned at the sound, only to see a young woman in tight green traveling clothes step into the Scholars’ Quarters.
Her hair was bound up and pinned with a small golden sword hairpin, and she moved with the brisk energy of someone freshly arrived from the road. Behind her followed a towering man, nearly twice the height of an ordinary person, his body corded with muscle—her Wolf Thrall from the Wolf Juxu Kingdom, unmistakable in his presence.
The giant carried the girl’s travel pack, striding into the Scholars’ Quarters at her side.
Claire Yue (Azure Rainbow) led the Wolf Thrall forward, ignoring the other scholars as her gaze locked squarely onto Wayne Shen. She walked toward him without hesitation.
When they were still a dozen paces apart, Claire Yue stopped, and the giant Wolf Thrall halted behind her.
"Senior Brother," Claire Yue greeted him with a bow.
Wayne Shen returned the gesture. "Junior Sister Yue, where have you just returned from training?"
Claire Yue smiled. "I just came back from the battlefield in the Wolf Juxu Kingdom. I heard you’ve been out fighting too, Senior Brother?"
Wayne Shen nodded. "That’s right. I was on the Wild Di Kingdom front, fought several battles against the Di tribes. You’ve made impressive progress, I see."
Claire Yue laughed, "You too. Honestly, I’m starting to worry I might not be able to beat you anymore. But at least I managed to subdue a Wolf Thrall on the Wolf Juxu front. Wolf Thrall, greet Senior Brother Wayne!"
The Wolf Thrall behind her dropped the travel pack with a heavy thud, then suddenly lunged for Wayne Shen, his massive hand reaching out!
His qi was fierce as fire; when his hand shot out, the air instantly dried, swirling with sand and heat like a blazing desert storm rolling in.
On his bare chest, dragon-wolf markings shimmered into view, drawing gasps from the scholars—a sign of the Dragon-Wolf Spirit Body, the signature totem of the Wolf Juxu Kingdom!
Wayne Shen didn’t flinch. He raised his palm to meet the Wolf Thrall’s giant hand. There was a thunderous clap as their sleeves whipped in the shockwave. The Wolf Thrall’s towering frame swayed, and his eyes flashed with a new respect as he rumbled, "You’re strong."
"So are you," Wayne Shen replied.
Wayne Shen smiled faintly. "Junior Sister Yue, to have tamed a Wolf Thrall—your strength has truly soared."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, lively and mischievous: "Senior Sister Yue, Senior Brother Wayne, you two are at it again, trading compliments. When will you learn to be as humble as me?"
Another youth strolled over, his head bare, dressed in white monk’s robes—though his scalp bore no tonsure scars.
"Junior Brother Yun Que," Wayne Shen greeted him politely.
This young monk cultivator clearly practiced the Buddhist path, but his temperament was anything but serene—competitive, eager, and itching for a challenge. "I’ve just returned from the chaos at River Lee. The River Lee Sword Sect was wiped out, the other sects there stirring up trouble. I joined the imperial army to help suppress the rebellion. I’ve learned a lot these past days. I’d like to ask Senior Brother Wayne and Senior Sister Yue for some guidance."
Claire Yue’s eyes sparkled. "The three of us have been sparring since we entered the academy, but we’ve always been a hair weaker than Senior Brother Wayne. That’s why you’re the top scholar here. But after all this training, maybe it’s time for a Senior Sister to claim the throne!"
Wayne Shen replied coolly, "I’ve been out on the frontier, killing barbarians and carrying back a murderous aura. If I fight now, I might not be able to hold back. But we have a real monster in the Scholars’ Quarters now—a ruthless one. He’s beaten almost everyone here. If either of you can take him down, I’ll gladly hand over my title as Senior Brother!"
Claire Yue’s eyes lit up. "You won’t go back on your word?"
Wayne Shen smiled. "When have I ever gone back on my word? The newcomer’s name is Quinn Shepherd. He wears brocade robes and has a white fox with him—easy to spot. I just saw him coming down the mountain; he should be back any minute."
Yun Que immediately bounded away, laughing, "This Quinn Shepherd—leave him to me! Senior Sister Yue, don’t fight me for him, let me have a taste of being Senior Brother first!"
Claire Yue watched him go, sneering, "That bald fraud always acts like some high monk, but he’s the most impatient of us all. If even Senior Brother Wayne finds this Quinn Shepherd tricky, he’s no ordinary opponent. Senior Sister Qu, did you all get beaten by him?"
Senior Sister Qu and the others looked embarrassed.
Claire Yue’s eyes flashed. "Can you tell me what moves Quinn Shepherd used against you?"
Ever cautious, she questioned them in detail about the techniques Quinn used to defeat them. After a moment, Claire Yue made her judgment. "He used spells and palm techniques, but never showed any sword arts. His swordsmanship probably isn’t that strong…"
Qu Ting quickly interjected, "Senior Sister, during the examinations, he beat Daoist Lingyun of Pure Sun Hall with a wooden sword."
"He beat Daoist Lingyun?"
Claire Yue was startled. "How many moves did it take?"
"Just one!"
A tremor ran through Claire Yue’s heart. "It’s not that hard to beat Daoist Lingyun if you’re at the same level—I could do it too. But to win in a single move? That’s another story. He’s beaten all these juniors with just one move, whether fist or spell. To be this skilled in three arts—does he have no weaknesses? No, there must be a flaw somewhere! Even the famed veterans I met on the Wolf Juxu front had openings; how could a new student not? I’ll watch Yun Que fight him and see for myself!"
She set down her pack and strode off with her Wolf Thrall.
Meanwhile, Quinn Shepherd and Lina the Spirit Fox found a high-end restaurant in the capital, ordered a table full of delicacies, and feasted to their hearts’ content. Feeling generous, Quinn bought Lina a pot of fine wine and poured himself a couple of cups. By the end, both boy and fox were stuffed round as dumplings.
Lina, tipsy and dazed, rode the wind in a stately manner as they made their way back to the Imperial Academy. Once drunk, the little fox turned solemn—perched atop a demon wind, forelegs stiff, eyes fixed ahead, her furry belly several times its usual size.
Quinn, only slightly buzzed, strolled along enjoying the city sights. The capital’s splendor was intoxicating, impossible to take in all at once.
Boy and fox entered the academy gates. Quinn waved a hand in front of Lina’s face—her eyes were still wide open, but a soft snore rumbled in her throat like a kitten’s purr. She’d fallen asleep drunk, yet the demon wind kept carrying her forward.
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Quinn couldn’t help but laugh. He scooped Lina out of the demon wind and slung her around his neck. Her body went limp, half curling around him, tail drooping down his chest. She wriggled twice, found a comfortable spot, and drifted right back to sleep.
"Terrible at holding her liquor, but she still loves to drink," Quinn muttered.
Shaking his head, Quinn headed up the mountain. Lina, deep in a drunken slumber, found his neck extremely cozy.
As they neared the cliff edge, Quinn’s steps slowed. Lina suddenly felt his neck bristle as if needles were sprouting, prickling her uncomfortably. She quickly shifted position, but the sensation remained.
She tried several positions, but nothing felt right—Quinn had turned into a giant hedgehog. Squinting sleepily, she reached out a furry paw and patted the back of his neck. No actual spines, but the prickling was real.
"Is Young Master about to show his true form?" Lina wondered.
While Lina puzzled over this, Quinn stopped in his tracks.
Only then did Lina notice someone standing at the cliff—a white-robed monk, robes billowing, watching them from the edge.
"Quinn Shepherd?" the monk called out.
Quinn nodded. "That’s me. And you are?"
The white-robed monk pressed a palm upright before his chest, a gentle smile on his face, radiating the aura of a Buddha. His voice rang out, airy and resonant, laced with Buddhist intonation: "Your wild nature is hard to tame. I’ve come to convert you, to subdue your ferocity. Draw your weapon!"
Quinn frowned. "Senior Brother, you haven’t even told me your name."
The monk’s serene façade vanished, replaced by excitement. He leapt from the cliff, headfirst, diving straight at Quinn. "Once I’ve converted you, you’ll know who I am!" he laughed.
Midair, dragon roars and elephant trumpets echoed. Quinn looked up to see Buddha light blazing—a great Buddha twined with a dragon, riding a white elephant, bearing down on him!
This was the monk’s yuanqi manifesting as a vision—his cultivation was dense, surpassing the other scholars, and rivaling Daoist Lingyun himself!
This attack was a boxing art, laced with sacred syllables that targeted the soul, while the dragon-and-elephant fist struck at the flesh.
Two forms of attack combined—the vision of dragon roars and elephant trumpets, nearly divine in power. The monk’s skill was extraordinary.
Quinn’s spirit surged, excitement building.
Finally—a real opponent!
Ever since arriving in the capital, Quinn had only faced scholars like Qu Ting, and even Daoist Lingyun from the Imperial Supervisor’s office fell to a single sword strike. He’d rarely had a chance for a proper fight.
This nameless white-robed monk was clearly strong, and Quinn’s fighting spirit burned bright.
Since stepping onto Everpeace Empire soil, Quinn had played the role of a civilized scholar, and it was exhausting. But deep down, he was still a child of the wild Great Ruins—a godforsaken outcast, fearless and savage, the kind who’d hunt river dragons or wrestle mountain beasts with nothing but a knife.