With that brief moment to recover, she had already regained her composure. The look she gave Quentin Harper was once again filled with determination: “Senior Quentin, I know that a little setback can’t defeat you. I believe that in Thousand Ancient City, I won’t have to wait for you too long.”

“Then you’d better practice your swordsmanship well. I don’t want the gap between us to grow even wider by the time I head to Thousand Ancient City.”

As Quentin Harper spoke, he glanced at the growing crowd of Eastern Academy students gathering in this direction, and calmly but seriously asked, “Did you enjoy this battle?”

Yvonne Easton was slightly taken aback, but answered truthfully, “I did!”

Thinking of Quentin Harper’s stunning ten strikes, she added again, “I enjoyed it to the fullest!”

“Good.”

When he was reborn as “Quentin Harper”, he was gravely injured—unable to lift his shoulders or carry anything, even daily activities were difficult. It was thanks to Yvonne Easton’s support and care that he got through the hardest times.

That was a debt of gratitude.

In today’s battle, he forced himself to draw his sword, stirring his blood and shaking his meridians, but he didn’t care at all.

All just to let Yvonne Easton fulfill her wish.

Quentin Harper nodded. “My purpose here is already accomplished. Go on with your graduation ceremony.”

Quentin Harper left.

He walked away unhurriedly, as calm as a gentle breeze and drifting clouds.

Yvonne Easton looked dazed. At this moment, Quentin Harper was right in front of her, within reach, yet he seemed like an immortal visiting the mortal world, as if he could drift away with the wind at any moment.

“Senior Quentin, with your cultivation, even if you can’t go to Northern Moon Royal Academy, there are definitely other academies willing to accept you. Let’s go to Sky Academy together and continue our studies!”

“Academy…”

Quentin Harper waved his hand, but didn’t look back.

Northern Moon Royal Academy, Sky Academy…

They were just waystations in life, like scenery along the road—perhaps you’d linger, perhaps you’d pause, but once missed, you wouldn’t turn back.

Because…

Ahead, the journey to seek truth and enlightenment was just beginning, and the wonders of this world were only starting to reveal the tip of the iceberg.

Chapter 5: Aftermath

“Quentin Harper actually dared to challenge Senior Yvonne Easton? Senior Yvonne Easton has already been admitted to a top university in Thousand Ancient City, and Quentin Harper? Who does he think he is?”

“So who won and who lost?”

“Back then, Senior Yvonne Easton was once defeated by Quentin Harper’s sword. Today, she can finally redeem herself.”

“Rumor has it that Quentin Harper had his meridians shattered by an expert at Bei Huan Zhen’s side and lost his true energy. To face Senior Easton on the sword platform now—isn’t that overestimating himself and asking for humiliation?”

“If Quentin Harper dared to invite Senior Easton to the sword platform, he must be confident. This battle might be a real clash of titans.”

The news of Quentin Harper and Yvonne Easton’s sword match quickly reached the graduation ceremony.

In no time, the place was abuzz. Those who heard the news hurried to follow, forming a huge stream of people heading toward the sword platform. In just a few minutes, most of the students at the graduation ceremony had already left.

This scene, as seen by Beatrice, Quincy Young, Felix Turner and the others, made them feel rather embarrassed.

This graduation ceremony was supposed to be their moment in the spotlight, the eleven of them basking in everyone’s attention. Unexpectedly, Quentin Harper had stolen the show, and none of them were happy about it.

“I want to see, now that he’s lost his true energy, what tricks Quentin Harper still has to make a scene at my Eastern Academy.”

A moment later, Felix Turner was the first to stand up, unable to hold back.

“Yvonne Easton once said that even without true energy, Quentin Harper could still outdo me with his swordsmanship. I don’t believe it.”

Quincy Young followed right after.

“We’re about to leave, so why not enjoy a good show before we go?”

Beatrice said with a faint smile.

But those who knew him could tell that this senior’s mood was quite sour at the moment.

As Beatrice stood up, the others followed.

In no time, the group arrived in a grand procession at the sword platform where Quentin Harper and Yvonne Easton had dueled.

But there, they didn’t see Quentin Harper. Yvonne Easton had already sheathed her sword and stepped down from the platform, leaving the students looking at each other in confusion.

“This… is it over?”

“Where’s Quentin Harper? Did he lose to Senior Yvonne Easton in an instant, lose face, and run away in shame?”

“Did we really arrive too late?”

Yvonne Easton’s admission to Sky Academy had made her one of Qingyuan City’s brightest stars. Although Quentin Harper had lost his title as Qingyuan Academy’s top swordsman, his reputation still lingered. Their duel should have been a fierce clash, but now that they’d missed it, the students who rushed over couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“Senior Yvonne Easton, do you know where your ever-resilient Senior Quentin is? Don’t tell me he couldn’t even take three of your strikes and fled the platform in disgrace!”

Seeing Yvonne Easton unscathed and Quentin Harper nowhere to be found, Felix Turner thought he’d figured it out and sneered.

“It’s a pity we didn’t get to see Qingyuan Academy’s top swordsman use his exquisite swordsmanship to defeat Yvonne Easton, a master who’s achieved true cultivation!”

Quincy Young also said mockingly.

Clearly, he was ridiculing Yvonne Easton for her earlier claim that Quentin Harper could outdo them with swordsmanship alone, even without true energy.