Piercer of Heaven (Chapter 34) (Patreon)

AN: Here's one for you guys, 500 words more than the usual. It should be noticeable, at least it felt that way when I reread.

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Xu Zhenyan exchanged greetings with Leng Qiuyu and her friends. However, he couldn’t help but feel something was off—the three girls seemed uncomfortable and embarrassed, and Leng Qiuyu kept sending him strange looks. It was different from her depiction in the novel—reserved and having a noble bearing.

Not wanting to dance around the issue, Xu Zhenyan straight-forwardly brought it up.

“What’s the matter? From the way you all keep looking at me, I can’t help wondering if there’s something on my face?”

Leng Quiyu looked at him suspiciously while her two friends blushed outright.

“We were wondering what business you have here. After all, the men’s baths are in the opposite direction.”

Her tone was blunt, not addressing him as ‘young master Xu’. However, given her family’s status being far above his, it couldn’t be considered impolite.

Xu Zhenyan’s expression changed, realizing his situation. Giddy from his breakthrough and lost in thought, he’d walked here in a daze.

“Ah…!”

Exclaiming in embarrassment, he actually felt his face heat up a little. This kind of scatter-brained behavior was extremely out-of-character for him.

The two girls started giggling, and a small smile formed on Leng Qiuyu’s face.

“It was nice speaking with you, but you’d better leave. If someone else sees you, they may report it to the dorm supervisor.”

The Leng family’s young lady kindly reminded him, implying neither she nor her two friends would rat him out.

Putting his palms together, Xu Zhenyan offered a small bow.

“You are too kind, miss Leng.”

Done speaking, he made as if to leave, but then hesitated.

“From yesterday’s test, it seems I’m destined to be a rather incompetent Medicine Hall student. If I find myself struggling, would it be possible to ask miss Leng for advice?”

His tone and expression was pitiful, like someone feeling wronged by fate.

Leng Qiuyu let out a rather unladylike snort before hastily covering her mouth.

“Young master Xu is so gifted, I doubt it will be necessary. Besides, if you have any problems, it’s better to ask Assistant Professor An.”

Rolling her eyes like she didn’t believe him, she made a shooing motion with one hand.

“Don’t be so slow, if someone really does see you, it will reflect badly on all of us.”

Xu Zhenyan nodded his head regretfully. Then, he turned and left for real, his shoulders hunched in disappointment.

A series of girlish giggles followed after him, amused by the act.

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The next day, Assistant Professor An collected slips of paper from every first-year student.

Yesterday before departing, they were given instructions on course selection. Aside from four mandatory Medicine Hall courses – Soul Force Cultivation, Toxicology, Medical Care and Herbology - students needed to select four optional courses from other departments.

It was worth saying a week still remained before the hand-in period, but Xu Zhenyan already made up his mind. Giving his slip a once-over, he handed it to Assistant Professor An.

His choices included Martial Skills from Self Defense, Metallurgy and Runecrafting from Natural Arts, and Channel-Networking from Internal Study.

After collecting it, Assistant Professor An gave the paper a glance, but didn’t make any remarks. Then, she went to the front of the class before stowing the slips away.

“Everyone who didn’t hand in, while you still have time, it’s best if you make up your minds soon. Lecturers will start slow for this reason, but optional classes are already starting today…”

She then explained how courses worked, who taught what and where to find them.

“…Soul Force Cultivation is part of every course. For that reason, each department will learn separately, otherwise one teacher wouldn’t be able to attend to everyone. I will be responsible for that subject. You will also be taking your Herbology lessons from me.”

Finished with her brief rundown, Assistant Professor An took questions before starting class in earnest.

Although yesterday’s single lesson occupied the entire day, that was because students needed to adjust to the Clear Truth Pill. This time, it was more-straight forward, with her explaining various aspects of Soul Force Cultivation, while guiding students in their practice.

About fifty minutes later, Soul Force Cultivation concluded and she jumped in to Herbology without taking a break.

Herbology was also not complicated, the content being what one would expect. Various types of herbs and medicines were introduced to them, drawn in charcoal and painted in watercolor on skins of parchment. Underneath, descriptions were written, as well as common uses and inclusions in medicines.

From that alone, memorization was required, the parchments being available for viewing upon request. However, there didn’t seem to be anything like personal text-books. If students wanted to review, they’d have to visit Medicine Hall’s library during their own time. That, or they had to make copies with materials provided by the academy.

About two hours later, Assistant Professor An concluded both lessons.

“There aren’t any more Medicine Hall courses today. Those that haven’t picked optional classes, I recommend attending a few that catch your interest, even if you aren’t sure yet. Otherwise, your day won’t be occupied.”

Her usual expressionless face scanned the group of students, glaring sternly at them in turn.

“Class dismissed.”

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Xu Zhenyan was on his way to Martial Skills class, it being scheduled right after Herbology. Given how early lessons started, it wasn’t even noon yet.

The first day of Martial Skills was on a mountain slope with purple flowers, neighboring a valley with a small stream, a bamboo hut and grass mats covering the ground.

Standing by a willow tree next to the stream was a black-robed lecturer. Middle-aged, beardless and with a pale, stoic face. Xu Zhenyan recognized him as the long-haired, militaristic fellow from his admissions test.

“I am Xu Shengmo, your lecturer for Martial Skills.”

The man’s dry voice, sounding slightly bored, carried throughout the clearing.

Hearing his introduction, Xu Zhenyan felt a bit interested.

‘So he’s actually Xu Shengmo from the novel. At that time, I had no idea it was him.’

Reflecting on canon events, Xu Shengmo’s role as a red-herring character was clear.

Because of his bad personality, as well as frequent bullying of the protagonist, it wasn’t hard to come to the conclusion of him being some type of villain.

However, despite frequent disagreements with Lin Xi and his group of friends, as well as his fellow elders and feeling discontented with the way things were being run, he was ultimately a loyalist.

“Lin Xi!”

Out of the blue, the protagonist’s name exited Xu Shengmo’s mouth. Martial Skills being a mandatory course for all Self Defense first-years, it was a given he’d be present.

Xu Zhenyan followed the elder’s gaze, finding Lin Xi in the crowd, a frown on his forehead from being called out. Just hearing Xu Shengmo’s tone, the man clearly didn’t have anything good in store.

“Tell me, what is Martial Skill?”

A dangerous look in his eye, Xu Shengmo tossed the question toward the protagonist.

Realizing the situation was a bit wrong, Lin Xi carefully thought over the question before answering.

“Martial Skill, isn’t it the skill to strike an opponent down?”

His voice revealed a trace of hesitation.

Xu Shengmo gave him a look of dissatisfaction before reaching toward the willow tree, plucking a branch. Then, he tapped it rhythmically against his leg.

“As a member of the Self Defense department, you actually thought so long over such a simple question. Moreover, you still managed to answer incorrectly.”

Though he sounded disappointed, from his expression and posture, it was clear he didn’t have great expectations in the first place.

“Everything taught in Martial Skill rests on a single pillar—that is, the method of killing.”

The coldness in his words and expression struck the first-years deeply. Even the border barbarians among them, having grown up on the border where fighting was as common as eating and drinking, felt uncomfortable and vulnerable.

At that moment, Xu Shengmo’s killing intent was like a rock, weighing down on everyone’s chest. They felt themselves breaking into a cold sweat, some even finding it difficult to breathe.

Under the willow tree, a tense silence stretched.

“Lin Xi, I believe you won’t mind co-operating with me for a bit, helping the others understand my words a bit more easily.”

Xu Shengmo resumed speaking, his tone even.

“Step forward, use any methods and attack me with your full strength.”

His attitude not one of allowing refusal, the man casually snapped the branch back and forth, disturbing the air.

“…”

Openly wearing a frown on his face, Lin Xi walked closer, his fists balled at his sides. Not only him, but the other students couldn’t understand why he was being singled out.

Coming to stand in front of Xu Shengmo, he started carefully stretching, probably wanting to warm up and prevent injury.

However, in the middle of his second stretch, his body moved suddenly, a fist smashing toward the elder’s abdomen!

Yet, the moment Lin Xi moved, the branch, about as thick as two fingers, whistled through the air, producing a noise that made the spectators’ hair stand on end. Despite not being very thin, it seemed to bend like a whip, licking his arm from wrist to elbow.

Looks of horror appeared on the students’ faces, Lin Xi’s own actually discoloring from the pain.

Though he wore a long-sleeved robe, the branch rent an open wound there, his sleeve matting wetly against his skin. A few crimson drops ran down the back of his hand, down his knuckles and the tips of his fingers.

However, Xu Shengmo showed no sympathy, only mockery.

“I told you to attack me with full force. Your fighting strength hasn’t even been lost, only experiencing a bit of pain. If it was on the battlefield, if just this amount of pain causes you to stop, then you would long since have died to the enemy. Continue!”

Clenching his teeth, Lin Xi steeled himself, smashing his fist fiercely toward Xu Shengmo’s chest.

Even from this distance, Xu Zhenyan could see him shivering. Clearly, this amount of pain wasn’t something Lin Xi was used to at all, causing his performance to worsen.

‘…for the first time, I feel a bit of respect for this kid. If it was me, my situation probably wouldn’t be all that different from his.’

Staring thoughtfully at the ‘fight’, Xu Zhenyan tried being honest with himself, realizing that even with his Soul Master cultivation, Xu Shengmo could easily beat him black and blue.

The tip of the willow branch cut Lin Xi’s other arm, sharp as a piece of broken glass. This strike seemed even more painful than the last, sending blood droplets into the air.

Lin Xi’s body curled inwards from pain, the left side of his body hunching slightly.

However, when the other students thought he’d surely collapse in agony, his one foot suddenly shot out, a fierce kick heading for Xu Shengmo’s crotch!

Regardless of who it was, seeing this youngster who was in so much pain actually deliver such a ruthless blow, they would feel a bit of coldness inside.

Xu Shengmo only moved his wrist, the branch colliding against Lin Xi’s shin at full force.

This time, the protagonist couldn’t hold it anymore, a muffled cry exiting his lips as he fell to the ground.

Witnessing this type of scene, even Mu Shanzi and Qiu Lu, the two enemies Lin Xi made early on, didn’t feel any satisfaction. Inwardly, they only felt thankful that it wasn’t them receiving such a miserable beating, unable to even fight back.

Yet, who would have thought that, even in this state, Lin Xi would suddenly fling a handful of stones at Xu Shengmo’s face? At the same time, he launched himself forward with all his strength, pouncing on his enemy like a cornered tiger!

This attack wasn’t only unexpected, but could solely be described with the word ‘treacherous’.

Unfortunately for him, Xu Shengmo wasn’t surprised at all, remaining perfectly expressionless. In the space of a single second, swung a backhanded blow, the willow branch shuddering through the air.

There was a loud series ‘PAs!’, like firecrackera going off, before the wooden stick collided with the stones. Deflecting all of them perfectly, it actually burst into shards and splinters, unable to withstand the repeated high-speed collisions.

The redirected gravel, each about the size of a hail-stone, struck Lin Xi like buckshot out of a shotgun. He collapsed bonelessly to the ground, blood seeping from countless wounds on his torso.

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