Henry Owen raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this familiar voice and turned around.

The one patting his shoulder was none other than the East Courtyard instructor of the martial arts school, William Harris. She wore a purple fitted outfit, her figure taller than most women, with phoenix-shaped brows like the moon and delicate, beautiful features. Likely due to her martial training, her skin had a healthy wheat complexion.

She lazily carried a heavy sword on her back, her bright eyes still a bit drowsy, speaking as she munched on a meat bun: “Your escort team could have returned to Xiushui yesterday. Why the delay until now?”

Henry Owen was about to explain, but saw that William Harris had already stepped off toward a corner.

He understood at once and followed her in tacit agreement to a deserted alleyway.

William Harris leaned casually against the wall and beckoned to Henry Owen: “Did you bring it?”

Henry Owen quickly pulled a money pouch from his sleeve and handed it over, feeling a bit guilty but keeping a calm face: “Instructor, this humble gift is just a token of respect. Please accept it with a smile.”

William Harris neither agreed nor refused. She took the pouch and weighed it in her hand, her elegant brows immediately furrowing, and even the bun in her mouth lost its flavor: “Why is there so little?”

Inside the pouch, there were only about eighty taels of magic silver.

She felt a slight headache and said, “You’re making things difficult for me. You haven’t fully mastered the Wind-Chasing Blade, so you can only take the exemption route for selection. But even for exemption, there are requirements. Your talent with the blade is decent, but your physical foundation is too weak. Besides, there are only fifty exemption spots, and so many people in and around Xiushui are eyeing them.”

Henry Owen looked embarrassed, knowing he was in the wrong.

Eighty taels of magic silver would have been enough to smooth things over at the martial arts school, but a month ago, Zhengyang Martial Arts School was promoted to an official institution of Xiushui County. From then on, all true disciples who graduated could directly obtain an eighth-rank military post in the Daning army.

Zhengyang Martial Arts School was already a branch of the Wuxiang Divine Sect, one of the six great immortal sects, and inner disciple spots were always in high demand. Now, with official status, the price for exemption spots had soared.

But with his current financial straits, Henry Owen could only thicken his skin: “It is a bit short. Next month, I’ll run a few more escort jobs and invite you and the other instructors to Drunken Dragon Tavern for drinks. For now, please consider my dedication to learning and make an exception!”

“Drunken Dragon Tavern?”

At the mention of those three words, William Harris seemed to smell the strong aroma of the tavern’s wine.

She smacked her lips, finding the bun in her mouth even more tasteless.

Seeing William Harris hesitate, Henry Owen felt a bit relieved, knowing there was hope.

This Instructor Harris was famous for her tough exterior and soft heart, so he had to play the sympathy card.

“Instructor, you know my family’s situation. My health isn’t good, I have no one to rely on in Xiushui City, and I have a younger sister to support. This is all I could scrape together for now. Please help me out! I promise I’ll make you proud in the future!”

William Harris gritted her teeth and muttered, “Here we go again.”

She tossed the leftover meat bun to a nearby dog and turned to size up Henry Owen.

The youth was about fourteen or fifteen, dressed in a coarse, well-worn robe, tall and slender, with refined and handsome features. Most striking were his long, narrow phoenix eyes, which always seemed to hold a hint of a smile, even when he wasn’t smiling.

Only his skin, for some reason, was so pale as to be almost translucent, without a trace of color.

Yet this sickly appearance only made him more pitiable.

William Harris couldn’t help but show a look of reminiscence. Henry Owen’s face was hard to look at—it always reminded her of her younger brother who died young.

She thought to herself that although this kid hadn’t fully mastered his blade skills, he did have some talent. Both he and his sister were in poor health, struggling to survive in Xiushui City, and for Henry Owen to bring out this money today, he must have emptied his savings.

William Harris quickly collected herself and turned to walk toward the north side of the training grounds.

“Fine, since you usually know how to behave and follow the rules, I’ll help you this time. I’ll cover the money for now, but pay me back in a month—and don’t forget the Drunken Dragon Tavern—”

Henry Owen smiled and hurried after her.

Along the way, many townsfolk and martial arts school disciples greeted William Harris with solemn faces and deep respect.

Henry Owen was used to it. William Harris had served in the Daning Anbei Army and had retired to the martial arts school a year ago due to injury.

She had been an instructor at the school for over a year, known for her fairness and kindness, earning her a reputation for chivalry.

Moreover, the Anbei Army guarded the northern border of Daning, with strict discipline and great prestige. Xiushui City had always been under the protection of the Anbei Army, and the townsfolk were especially grateful to them. Naturally, they held William Harris, with her many military achievements, in high esteem.

They soon arrived at the north side of the training grounds, in front of a high platform built of blue stone.

Henry Owen looked up and saw not only a group of robust martial artists in brocade robes seated atop the platform, but also more than a dozen armored military officers and six civil officials in blue robes.

Seated at the center was a man of about forty, with dignified features and a thick, bristling beard.

He sat imposingly on a grand armchair, his tiger-like eyes sweeping the area with an imposing presence.

“Wait here!” William Harris instructed, then stepped onto the platform and bowed respectfully to the man at the center.