One wore a square scarf on his head, exuding the air of a scholar. The other was short and lean, agile as a monkey.

These two were among the dozen or so brothers who had been waiting for him in the courtyard that morning. One was named Ethan Lane, fond of reading. He was skilled in swordsmanship—despite his gentle demeanor, he practiced a wild and fierce sword style. The other was named William Moore, whose agility was unmatched among them, and he was also adept with hidden weapons, second only to Frank Quinn.

He could hit a target with a throwing knife from fifty paces without ever missing.

The seventeen brothers had each apprenticed at different academies to learn martial arts. Only Ethan Lane and William Moore, like him, were disciples of the Lichen Academy, making them fellow students under the same master.

Earlier, he had been delayed by hunger, needing to buy a sword sheath, and discussing matters with Frank Quinn.

He had not expected that, upon returning to the academy, he would find these two brothers being punished to stand in horse stance at the academy gate.

Glancing around, he immediately noticed several watchful eyes peering out from behind the doors and windows.

With a cold smile in his heart, Adam Carter walked straight up to Ethan Lane and William Moore.

“What are you all doing here? Don’t you know the grand drill is about to begin? Why aren’t you getting up and coming in with me?”

Chapter 9: Chief Disciple

“Of course we know!”

William Moore stood up carelessly. “But just now some guy was acting all high and mighty and punished us to stand in horse stance here for four hours! I didn’t dare disobey. So the grand drill will just have to be delayed—”

Ethan Lane also brushed off his robe and, smiling, ended his horse stance. “It was that David Carter fellow. He’s always hated you to the bone, and the two of us got dragged into it and had terrible luck. With such a rare chance to make trouble, how could he let it slip by?”

The David Carter he mentioned shared the same surname but had no relation to Adam Carter. One was the son of a wealthy merchant, the other a streetwise rascal since childhood.

If there was any connection, it was only that they were fellow students at the academy. Adam Carter was the chief disciple, while David Carter held the second seat. That was also the root of their enmity.

Adam Carter couldn’t help but laugh. “So you really agreed to it?”

“What else could we do if we didn’t? Getting beaten up by him would be worse, right? As the saying goes, a wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him. Neither of us is his match, so we just have to swallow our pride and wait for you, Senior Brother.”

William Moore’s face was as thick as a city wall, looking pained. “We were in the wrong to begin with. Even if he beat us up, we’d have no grounds to complain, so we just have to endure the humiliation for now!”

Adam Carter shook his head, speechless. He more or less understood what had happened. These two were at the peak of the Blood Refining stage and indeed no match for David Carter.

But it wasn’t that they were spineless. When it came to fighting for territory or going all out, both William Moore and Ethan Lane were never ones to fall behind. They just never cared much about saving face.

David Carter, as the second seat and the academy’s second senior brother, had reached the Marrow Refining stage and specialized in leg techniques. His strength might not be extraordinary, but thanks to his father, he had gathered a large group of lackeys in the academy.

These two were always clever—how could they give David Carter a chance to make a move? It was himself who might be in a bit of trouble this time.

Sure enough, after only a moment, someone walked out from the second courtyard gate. Sixteen years old, the same age as Adam Carter. Handsome features, red lips and white teeth. Though dressed in the most ordinary martial academy uniform, his outstanding bearing made it clear at a glance that he was a young master from a noble family.

After appearing, David Carter blocked the main gate, sneering at Adam Carter.

“Senior Brother Wudao, isn’t this a bit inappropriate? Since you’ve joined Lichen Academy, you’re a registered disciple and must abide by the academy’s rules. These two have skipped the grand drill for four days without reason, and even on their duty days, they didn’t show up. I only punished them with four hours of horse stance—was I wrong? As the chief disciple, you should set an example. How can you show favoritism? If everyone followed their example, how would we maintain discipline in Lichen Academy in the future?”

Adam Carter raised his eyebrows. David Carter’s words were righteous and well-reasoned, leaving him with no room to argue.

Four days ago, he and the others had ambushed and killed Bruce Stone. To avoid Harold Stone’s revenge, they had all scattered and gone into hiding in and around the city. William Moore and Ethan Lane, like him, hadn’t shown up at the academy for four days.

It wasn’t a big deal—Lichen Academy’s atmosphere had long since become unruly, and most disciples were lax in their conduct. He, William Moore, and Ethan Lane were actually among the more diligent ones, sincerely wanting to learn, so they came almost every day.

But today, judging by David Carter’s demeanor, he was clearly seizing on this to make trouble, determined not to let it go.

Just as David Carter finished speaking, three other youths in academy uniforms stepped out from behind the door. Their expressions were cold as they stood behind David Carter, clearly backing him up.

All were at the Marrow Refining stage, making up a full quarter of the academy’s disciples at that level.

If this had happened a few days ago, Adam Carter might have been concerned, but now he didn’t care at all.

“Who said they were absent without reason? The two of them have been ill recently, so four days ago, they already asked me for leave. As the chief disciple, do I not have that authority?”