I hope this dream-given cheat will be powerful enough so that Henry Clark will have a chance at success. To go from last place to first in just half a year—just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle.

Next, under the meticulous care of the wet nurse and the cost-no-object treatment from James Thompson, in just over ten days Henry Clark was almost fully recovered and able to get out of bed. Although James Thompson never said he had to leave this comfortable room, Henry Clark still conscientiously returned to his plain and harsh dormitory to begin studying his five subjects.

Martial arts, classical studies, arithmetic, horsemanship, and alchemy—these five subjects together require over 450 points to have a shot at first place. To improve by more than 400 points in half a year is just insane. If he really manages it, he’ll be truly unprecedented!

Chapter 8: Currying Favor and Studying Hard

The entire Great Ning Dynasty has three major official factions: the military officers’ group, the civil officials and scholars’ group, and the eunuch faction. Each faction has its own talent cultivation institution: the martial arts academy for the military, the academy for scholars, and the eunuch academy.

Moreover, because the invasion of alien energy caused mutations on this earth, there are many martial sects across the land of the Great Ning Dynasty. These sects are either allies of the civil officials or the military officers, while the eunuch faction remains relatively weak.

To win in this competition, the eunuch academy spares no effort in training its talents. They use every possible method to temper the will of their students, strictly following the tradition of toughening the mind and body, so the conditions in the academy are extremely harsh.

The dormitory where Henry Clark lives can truly be described as austere and shabby.

Eight people share a single dorm room, all sleeping on a large communal bed. Aside from a washbasin, there’s almost no extra furniture, and the quilts are just a thin layer. Henry Clark shivered all winter long.

Previously, Henry Clark didn’t get along with his dormmates because he was too withdrawn and never interacted with the other eunuch students. Coupled with his weakness and uselessness, he was often bullied.

The one who bullied Henry Clark the most was the dorm tyrant Samuel Wright. Not only did he oppress Henry Clark himself, but he also led the other six dormmates in ostracizing Henry Clark. Anyone who so much as spoke a word to Henry Clark, or even made eye contact, would be warned or even beaten by Samuel Wright.

Why did Samuel Wright target Henry Clark so much? There was only one reason: Henry Clark refused to become his lackey, refused to fetch water and wash his feet for him, while everyone else was willing to serve him.

Cliques are rampant among the eunuch academy students. Each year, over two hundred students flock to the most outstanding ones, because these top students will be assigned to powerful and wealthy offices like the Eastern Depot, the Imperial Stables, the Mining Bureau, the Salt Transport Office, and the Weaving Bureau. Backing them brings huge future benefits.

Relationships among eunuch academy students are brutally pragmatic. Those with good grades are at the top, enjoying every comfort. Those with poor grades wash feet and clothes for others every day, even cleaning up after them. The academy leadership, wanting to motivate students, does nothing to stop this.

So for the past five years, Henry Clark has had a terrible time, constantly suppressed and humiliated. Every time he saw Samuel Wright, it was like a mouse seeing a cat. Having his quilt soaked in winter or finding feces in his bed in summer was just normal.

Now, Henry Clark had to return to that nightmare dormitory once again.

……

Henry Clark stood outside the dormitory door. What kind of trap would be waiting for him inside? Or would there be a different attitude this time? After all, just a few days ago, he had risked his life to shield the headmaster from an arrow.

He pushed open the door. All seven were there, sitting neatly on their beds, eyes fixed on Henry Clark.

Suddenly, Samuel Wright stood up and came over, holding Henry Clark’s arm with concern. “Brother Du, are you alright? We’ve all been so worried about you these past few days!”

Samuel Wright’s attitude was as if the sun had risen in the west, but Henry Clark wasn’t surprised, because every eunuch academy student is adept at going with the flow.

“I’m fine,” Henry Clark replied coolly.

Henry Clark only appeared indifferent on the surface; in his heart, he was already recalling Samuel Wright’s family—did he have any sisters, cousins, sisters-in-law, or the like?

Don’t be fooled by Henry Clark’s high education—he’s not broad-minded at all and always repays a grudge.

Samuel Wright didn’t mind Henry Clark’s coldness at all. He became even more affectionate: “Brother, you’ve made such a great contribution this time. The headmaster must have rewarded you handsomely, right? If I’m not mistaken, you’ve probably started calling him godfather by now?”

As Samuel Wright said this, his eyes flickered and he looked nervous, while the others pricked up their ears.

If Henry Clark answered yes, then without a doubt, Samuel Wright would completely change his attitude and from then on treat Henry Clark warmly, even trying to form an alliance with him.

The power to assign eunuch academy graduates lies mostly with the headmaster, with a small portion in the hands of the three deputy headmasters. As a top ten student, Samuel Wright had already acknowledged Deputy Headmaster Charles Baker as his godfather. As long as his grades were good enough, he’d be assigned to a good post, with his godfather’s support. But James Thompson holds a decisive veto, and if James Thompson became Henry Clark’s godfather, a few bad words from Henry Clark could spell trouble for Samuel Wright.