No matter how scared a little girl might be, a tasty treat that wins over her stomach will always bring a smile to her face.

Ling Yu had come to believe this. After tasting the sweet malt candy, Tongxi’s expression no longer held even a trace of fear—even if temporary, it was already a great improvement.

"Tongxi clearly wants it, doesn’t she?" Ling Yu smiled, grabbing his sleeve to wipe the drool from the corner of her mouth. The words *I want it* were practically written across her face—how could he miss it?

Realizing she’d drooled from craving, Tongxi instantly shrank like a shy kitten. A flustered shiver ran through her, and her cheeks flushed a soft pink.

"Go on, take it. Here~" Ling Yu gently offered the malt candy.

Hesitant from embarrassment, Tongxi tentatively reached out, pulled back as if resisting, then finally clasped Ling Yu’s outstretched hand.

Thinking she meant to take the candy, Ling Yu blinked in confusion when she only held his hand. "Huh? You don’t want it?"

Only then did he notice—Tongxi’s gaze wasn’t on the candy at all. Following her eyes, he saw the abrasion on his shoulder. The scrape had worsened since the trial ground: the skin now burned a deeper, angrier red. No blood, but the inflamed patch had spread vividly.

Tongxi’s eyes brimmed with quiet worry.

"It’s nothing!" Ling Yu ruffled her hair and thumped his chest with confident ease. "This tiny scratch? Those teachers are pretty weak. Even four of different classes teamed up—I’d still knock them flat!"

His grin coaxed a smile from Tongxi. But in a heartbeat, that smile stiffened like a mask hastily plastered on.

*Shatter.* Beneath it—pure terror.

Without warning, Tongxi yanked her hand back, arms hugging her chest, trembling. Her face went paper-white.

"What’s wrong, Tongxi?" Ling Yu asked, alarmed.

Unseen by him, a pair of eyes gleamed with eerie light behind his back. A "demonic claw" *pat* landed on his shoulder.

Tongxi froze—then puffed up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, every hair on end! If she could speak, her scream would’ve echoed for miles.

"Ahem." A voice cut through the air. "Student, don’t think winning one trial makes you hot stuff. Young man—don’t overestimate yourself."

Ling Yu turned. A man near his height stood there, clad in Huangfeng Academy’s crimson teacher’s uniform.

"You’re… a teacher from Huangfeng?"

"Yes. I’m Wu Jie—the instructor for your trial duel tomorrow. I’m a—"

"Ah, priest-class teacher. Nice to meet you, Teacher Wu!" Ling Yu nodded at the cross necklace on his chest.

"Uh, hello—wait, *hello*? Were you serious just now, Student Ling Yu?"

"Dead serious! I really can!" Ling Yu affirmed without hesitation.

(Truth was, as Gaelkani’s former Second Knight, seasoned on countless battlefields, facing a few academy instructors truly was no challenge.)

"You boast too freely. I can’t stand arrogance like yours," Wu Jie scoffed. To him, such claims from a student reeked of naive fantasy. He turned away, disappointment etched on his face. "I saw your trial today. Your swordsmanship talent is remarkable… but you’re too young. Too naive. Naivety leads only to ruin. Tread carefully."

"Oh!" Ling Yu replied lightly. He knew how it sounded to others—maybe even *was* naive.

*Well then…*

Just as Wu Jie stepped away—*his* turn came. Eerie eyes locked onto *him*. A "demonic claw" landed on *his* shoulder.

"Teacher Wu Jie," Ling Yu called cheerfully, "you’re my opponent tomorrow, right? I’ve been eager to wrap all teacher duels quickly. How about we start now?"

"Heh. Think I’m as easy as that archer teacher?" Wu Jie halted, hands shoved in pockets, voice icy.

"Oh? Shouldn’t priests be *easier*? Derived from mages—the most unique… and most *lowly* profession!"

"*The… most lowly!*" Ling Yu’s words shot like an arrow through clouds, striking straight into Wu Jie’s heart—igniting the powder keg within.

When Wu Jie spun around, his face burned with fury, hash symbols (#) popping across his forehead.

"*Most lowly!*" His fists trembled slightly. "Priests are *not* lowly. I’ll show you the true power of the priest class. Just. You. Wait."

Agreeing to the challenge, the three moved to an open field the size of the trial ground.

"Tongxi, wait over there," Ling Yu said softly, patting her head and settling her in a corner. "I’ll finish this fight with Uncle, then we go home. Okay?"

"Let’s begin!"

"Heh. Fair warning—I’ll use my full strength. Don’t cry ‘bullying’ if you get hurt," Wu Jie muttered irritably.

"Then *my* condition," Ling Yu stated firmly, pointing toward Tongxi. "Do anything to me—but *never* harm that girl. This duel is between us alone. No one else gets hurt."