Chapter 9: Destined to Be a Fool!

“This girl...”

Hu Li stood at the edge of the training ground, her gaze fixed tightly on her younger brother Hu Tian, who was subtly surrounded by a circle of others.

When she saw the girl, still faintly bruised on the face but beaming with joy, land lightly beside her brother like a bird returning to the forest, her clear, unhidden praises ringing out...

A shadow of seriousness flickered in her eyes.

She was no naive maiden shut away in a secluded chamber.

With both parents dead, she had struggled to survive in the village while raising her young brother, long ago learning the coldness of human nature and the harshness of the world.

She knew that wherever people gathered, there would be a world of martial arts and intrigue.

This martial academy might appear sacred, a place to teach skills and pursue the martial Dao, but the interpersonal entanglements within were likely far more complex than she had imagined.

This fellow student sister who had suddenly shown excessive warmth toward her brother wore a bright smile, yet her eyes carried a sharpness and scrutiny she recognized all too well.

Hu Tian’s mind was simple; suddenly elevated and surrounded by such fervent attention, he might easily lose himself—and even be exploited.

She said nothing, only watched and listened quietly.

She noted every seemingly innocent compliment from Lin Xiaohé, every casual physical closeness, storing them all in her memory.

In this unfamiliar place, her brother was her only source of concern and hope.

Any person or thing that might threaten him or lead him astray, she must remain extra vigilant.

Yet, with so many eyes in the academy now, she could not speak plainly.

“I’ll tell him when he gets home.”

After a moment’s thought, Hu Li turned to Hu Tian and said: “Xiao Tian, work hard at your training here. I’m going back now—remember to return early tonight.”

“Mm!”

Hu Tian nodded, his youthful face glowing with excitement and anticipation.

He looked at his sister, his gaze firm and fervent:

“Sister, don’t worry! I’ll train diligently, rise to prominence soon, and... later, I’ll make sure you live well, no more suffering!”

A youth’s promise, burning with unspoiled passion and sincerity, like a flame untouched by impurity.

Seeing the pure light in her brother’s eyes, Hu Li’s heart softened slightly, the weight of her vigilance eased a little.

She reached out, gently straightening his crooked collar, her movements tender, her voice slower:

“I know.”

“But cultivation isn’t something achieved in a day. Don’t rush, and above all, don’t... believe others’ flattery and lose your true heart.”

“Steady progress, step by step, is better than anything else.”

Her words carried hidden meaning; her gaze brushed lightly over Lin Xiaohé, who stood nearby, smiling warmly.

Hu Tian didn’t fully understand, but he nodded obediently: “I’ll remember, sister.”

Hu Li said no more. She gave her brother one final, deep look, then subtly glanced at Lin Xiaohé with the corner of her eye.

She turned and walked away, her steps still brisk but heavier now, passing through the many watching eyes—some open, some hidden—toward the academy gate.

“Old man, thank you for introducing me today. I’m leaving now.”

As she passed the gatekeeper, Hu Li gave Jiang Ye a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Jiang Ye lifted his eyelids slightly; his aged gaze rested on her face for an instant, then he nodded back in return.

Hu Li’s figure vanished quickly at the end of the long street.

“Brother, your sister really cares for you.”

Seeing Hu Li leave the academy, Lin Xiaohé quietly exhaled.

For some reason, the quiet, assessing gaze of that older sister had made her feel uneasy, as if her hidden intentions had been silently uncovered.

This feeling annoyed her.

“Yes, my sister is the closest person to me.”

Hu Tian nodded, his simple mind unaware of Lin Xiaohé’s subtle emotions.

He was about to settle his mind and reconsider the fist form the headmaster had just corrected.

At that moment, a faint breeze carrying the clean scent of soapwort brushed near.

Lin Xiaohé stepped closer again, the distance between them now exceeding the usual boundary between fellow students.

“Brother, you’re sweating on your forehead. Let me wipe it for you.”

She smiled sweetly and pulled out a pure white, spotless handkerchief from her sleeve.

Before Hu Tian could react, the soft cloth—warm with her body heat and fragrant with her scent—pressed directly onto his damp forehead.

“Sister, this... this...”

Aside from his sister, Hu Tian had never had such intimate contact with a girl.

His clear face flushed crimson instantly, like a boiled shrimp; even his ears and neck turned red, his body stiff with heat and confusion, too stunned to even pull away.

This sudden, intimate moment left several outer-disciple students nearby stunned; their fist forms froze mid-motion, eyes darting between them in silent disbelief.

No way!

It’s broad daylight, and we’re all training!

“Tsk tsk, Lin Xiaohé really knows how to move.”

“Just two days ago she was clinging to Shi Lei...”

“Now she’s targeting the new junior.”

Many exchanged glances, shaking their heads inwardly, a mix of contempt and amazement.

Who would have thought this girl with her twin buns and still-round baby cheeks, looking so cute, had so many schemes?

No wonder they say women mature earlier than men.

The world is cold, people chase advantage and avoid harm—and here in this small outer academy, it was displayed with startling speed and clarity.

Lin Xiaohé seemed utterly unaware of the varied glances around her; she kept smiling, gently wiping his forehead, her fingertips brushing lightly over the boy’s burning skin.

Her voice was sweet as honey:

“Brother, don’t be shy. Among fellow students, looking out for each other is natural. You’re new here—if you have any questions, ask me anytime.”

Hu Tian felt dizzy, the unfamiliar fragrance filling his nose, his heart pounding like a drum, his mind blank—his carefully memorized fist techniques nearly washed away by this sudden “care.”

Closing time approached.

Jiang Ye stood as usual beneath the gate eaves, his aged gaze watching one after another figure depart.

“Brother, my family makes bing cakes—so delicious! Won’t you come home and try some?”

Lin Xiaohé followed closely behind Hu Tian as they stepped out the gate, her voice sweet and crisp, tinged with barely concealed urgency.

Hu Tian’s face showed some hesitation, but he still shook his head: “Sorry, Sister, I promised my sister I’d return early.”

“Alright...”

Lin Xiaohé pouted, feigning a sweet, disappointed look: “Then next time, you absolutely must come! I’ll make them for you myself!”

“Mm! I will!”

Hu Tian nodded firmly, smiling, and turned to leave.

Just then.

“Hu junior, wait a moment.”

A clear voice, carrying a tone of condescension, sounded from behind.

Hu Tian turned to see a young man in silk martial robes, handsome and bearing an air of innate nobility, walking slowly toward him.

Behind him followed three or four inner-disciple students, their bearing unmistakably superior, their steps calm and composed.

“Brother, this is Zhang Xu, an inner-disciple. I didn’t expect him to come find you...”

Lin Xiaohé’s pupils shrank slightly; she quickly lowered her voice to Hu Tian’s ear, her tone filled with reverence and a hint of barely concealed excitement:

“They say he’s the second young master of the Zhang family in Anxi County...”

Hearing this, Hu Tian’s heart tightened.

Though he didn’t know what the “Zhang family” meant in Anxi County, the man’s entire aura, and the way the other disciples subtly looked to him as their leader, made him instinctively feel restrained and pressured.

He quickly bowed, speaking haltingly: “Zhang... Zhang Xu senior brother, you’re looking for me?”

He had no idea what this meant.

“Hahaha!”

Zhang Xu laughed loudly, his demeanor seeming warm and open.

Yet he didn’t stop walking; he stepped straight to Hu Tian’s side and casually draped his arm over the boy’s thin shoulder, imposing an undeniable sense of intimacy and control:

“Hu junior, you’ve just joined the academy and already shown promise. As your senior brother, how could I not celebrate you?”

He tilted his head slightly, looking at Hu Tian, his tone dripping with condescending generosity: “You’re from outside the city, right? You probably don’t know Anxi County well. Come, today your senior brother will take you... to broaden your horizons.”

Hu Tian looked uneasy: “Senior Brother Zhang, I promised my sister I’d return early...”

“Pfft! It’s just dinner. How long could it take? I’ll arrange a carriage to take you back afterward.”

Zhang Xu pulled Hu Tian along by the shoulder.

“Exactly, Hu junior, Zhang senior brother has high standards—few ever get invited by him personally.”

“Today’s your chance. Follow Zhang senior brother—you’ll see all sorts of new things.”

“Don’t worry, Zhang senior brother is always thoughtful.”

Zhang Xu’s inner-disciple followers chimed in.

“This... this...”

Hu Tian muttered objections, but his body obediently followed Zhang Xu and the others forward.

Throughout, Zhang Xu and his entourage never once glanced at Lin Xiaohé, who still struggled to maintain her smile.

Although the inner court and outer court were separated by only a single wall, they were as distant as heaven and earth.

Outer court disciples like Lin Xiaohé were not even worth their notice.

Watching the retreating figures of the group, Lin Xiaohé clenched her delicate little fist.

The fervor in her eyes did not cool; instead, it burned even more intensely.

Jiang Ye, who had observed it all, merely shook his head slightly.

In his seemingly aged eyes, the sneer was so thick it could not be dissolved, as if watching a crude shadow puppet play with a prewritten ending.