Chapter 79: Leyton’s Resolve

Chapter 79: Leyton's Resolve

“Huff, huff, huff!” Leyton, gasping for breath, clutched a bag as he approached Ye Tian. “Here… what you wanted… food!” Leyton struggled to lift his arm.

“It’s cold now, what a pity.” Ye Tian set down his broom, touched the bag, sighed, and took out a sandwich, biting into it. “Do you want some?” he asked. Leyton shook his head, collapsing onto the ground, unwilling to move another inch.

“Are you alright?” Ye Tian asked. “I’m fine!” Leyton gritted his teeth. “Just say if you can’t take it,” Ye Tian said with a smile as he looked at Leyton.

“Never!” Leyton declared, then forced himself to stand and picked up the broom, helping Ye Tian clean.

Ye Tian watched, grinning. The constitution of a mage was problematic; there was nothing Ye Tian could do but work on improving Leyton’s physical strength first. As for magic, Ye Tian couldn’t teach that.

The simplest method was weight training. Ye Tian had crafted several sandbags—not very heavy, totaling about twenty kilograms—and strapped them to Leyton’s limbs. At first, the boy hardly noticed, but as time wore on, he began to struggle. By the third day, he was already so tired he could barely crawl.

Yet Leyton never uttered a word about quitting, which was what Ye Tian valued most. Only those who endure hardship can rise above others. Becoming a Grand Magus was no easy feat; the suffering involved was unimaginable to outsiders.

Two months—such a short time. If they had more, Ye Tian could train him gradually, but with so little, he had to resort to intensive strengthening, which meant Leyton had to suffer.

As usual, after a day’s work, Ye Tian taught Leyton a breathing technique when he returned to rest. It was actually the entry-level mantra for cultivating the mind, but Leyton couldn’t understand it, so Ye Tian could only teach him the simplest beginner’s method.

Watching Leyton drag his weary body away, Ye Tian smiled, packed up, and started home. Suddenly, a dazzling figure blocked his path. “Instructor Liphia, what is it?” Ye Tian saw Liphia, her expression icy.

“What’s going on here?” Liphia wasn’t Leyton’s instructor, but seeing Ye Tian treat a mage this way left her dissatisfied.

“Oh, Leyton’s preparing for the advancement exam. I’m just helping him,” Ye Tian explained.

“You know magic?” Liphia suddenly recalled Ye Tian’s actions last time, though they didn’t seem like magic to her.

“No,” Ye Tian replied crisply.

“Then what gives you the right to help him?” Liphia’s anger flared. With barely over a month until the advancement exam, Ye Tian seemed poised to ruin a mage’s future.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let him down!” Ye Tian said seriously.

“What makes you so confident?” Liphia stared intently at Ye Tian.

“It’s not something I can explain now. You’ll see on the day of the exam.” Ye Tian smiled. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading home. I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Come back, I have something to discuss!” Liphia called after him.

“What is it?” Ye Tian asked, his face filled with a fawning smile. Seeing his sycophantic expression, Liphia grew even angrier; she stepped forward and stomped on Ye Tian’s foot, saying coldly, “I’ve decided to take you as my apprentice.”

Thud! Ye Tian toppled over, clutching his foot and crying out in pain.

“Enough, stop pretending or I’ll get angry!” The temperature around Liphia dropped dramatically.

“Yes, yes,” Ye Tian quickly scrambled up. “Instructor Liphia, your joke wasn’t funny at all.”

“Did I say I was joking?” Liphia retorted.

Ye Tian scratched his head. “Do you think I want you to be my apprentice?” Liphia grumbled.

“Then don’t,” Ye Tian replied obsequiously. “I’m really stupid, I’ll just end up infuriating you.”

“Then wait to be burned by Lantus,” Liphia snorted.

“What do you mean?” Ye Tian asked helplessly.

“Do you know why I don’t have any suitors?” Liphia suddenly asked.

“It’s because you’re too aloof and your standards are too high,” Ye Tian said with a smile, but quickly shut up when she glanced at him.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

“A big reason is that people fear Lantus. He’s a madman. Anyone he sets his sights on ends up wishing they were dead,” Liphia sighed.

—

“I don’t see what that has to do with me,” Ye Tian said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. “I’m just a servant. Why would he bother with me?”

“I told you, he’s a madman. His thinking is unlike anyone else’s,” Liphia said, equally helpless.

“He’s quite handsome, though. Why don’t you like him?” Ye Tian asked.

“Hmph, what does that have to do with you?” Liphia said, annoyed.

“Nothing, as long as he doesn’t come after me, we’re fine,” Ye Tian shrugged.

“I’ve said my piece. Do as you see fit.” Liphia snorted and turned away, leaving Ye Tian feeling helpless. “What a mess…”

Back at his dorm, Ye Tian found the lights on. Inside sat Leila.

“Why aren’t you resting yet?” Ye Tian asked.

“I need to talk to you.” Leila hugged some roast meat, biting her lip. “Gray, maybe you should leave Fepuli Academy.”

“Why?” Ye Tian asked, still busy. The table was covered with Leila’s homemade food, and after a day’s work, he was hungry.

“Lantus has ten formidable people, and his background is mysterious. You can’t afford to provoke him,” Leila said worriedly.

“What’s it got to do with me?” Ye Tian kept eating. “Delicious! Leila, your cooking is amazing.”

“Stop eating!” Leila anxiously grabbed Ye Tian’s arm. “I mean it. He’s vengeful; he could come after you any day!”

Ye Tian smiled. “Thank you, Leila, but I won’t leave. I haven’t finished what I set out to do.”

“But—” Leila protested, but Ye Tian gently pressed her lips.

“Don’t worry, if I wanted to leave, no one could stop me.”

Leila left, still worried. Ye Tian smiled, turned to sleep, but the door knocked again. When he opened it, he laughed—it was Arkana. The girl glanced at Ye Tian, then turned away with a snort.

“Come in!” Ye Tian said with a grin. “I was wondering why it’s been so quiet lately.”

“Yes, and just now a pretty girl left. Are you sad to see her go?” Arkana pursed her lips.

“Why be sad? Now a cuter one has arrived!” Ye Tian grinned.

“Such a smooth talker!” Arkana pouted and tossed Ye Tian a small item. “Wear it.”

“What’s this?” Ye Tian asked.

“Magic equipment. It can instantly cast a tenth-level spell, Water Curtain Sky Blossom,” she said, pursing her lips.

“So precious!” Ye Tian was shocked. A tenth-level spell required even a Magus to chant for a while. “I can’t accept it.”

“Then leave.” Arkana pouted.

“Alright,” Ye Tian reluctantly put it on. “Feels strange.”

“You should be grateful,” Arkana said. “A word of advice: stay away from Lantus. He’s a lunatic!”

“Seems I really should keep my distance,” Ye Tian laughed.

“It’s best. I still can’t figure him out, so be careful,” Arkana said, looking at Ye Tian with sympathy. “I’m hungry. Any food?”

“Uh…” Ye Tian looked at the table full of leftovers. “No chance.”

“Fine, let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make something for you,” Ye Tian said, scratching his head.

“Gray, who are you really?” As Ye Tian chopped vegetables, Arkana watched him, then suddenly spoke.

“What?” Ye Tian didn’t catch it.

“Who are you, really? I’ve heard a bit about the imperial capital,” she said.

“Uh, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ye Tian replied, busying himself.

“It doesn’t matter,” Arkana said, watching Ye Tian with a smile. “I want something spicy!”

“No way! By the way, is there a pharmacy in town? When you have time, will you go with me?” Ye Tian asked.

“Sure.” She looked at Ye Tian with curiosity, but he was calm, focused on his task. Soon, a table of delicacies appeared.

“Wow!” Arkana exclaimed.

“It smells so good!”

“Try some!” Ye Tian smiled.

“Don’t snatch any, it’s all mine!” Arkana said.

“Yes, yes,” Ye Tian grinned, sitting opposite her, resting his chin on his hand, watching Arkana devour the food.

—

“Slow down,” Ye Tian scooped some soup for her.

“What kind of porridge is this? It’s delicious!” Arkana eyed the thin chocolate sticks inside, worried. “Will this make me gain weight?”

“Don’t worry, you’re so skinny, even if you gained fifty pounds—no, fifty more—you wouldn’t look fat,” Ye Tian joked. “Eat as much as you like.”

“Then I won’t hold back,” Arkana said, hesitant, but her hands kept moving. She simply couldn’t resist; it was too tasty.

“Gray.”

“What is it?” Ye Tian asked, smiling.

“Nothing,” Arkana replied quietly, then continued eating. After her feast, she sighed in contentment. “That was so good.”

“Wait a moment.” Ye Tian poured her a cup of black tea; this was their favorite, especially for afternoon tea. “Let me tidy up, then I’ll walk you back.”

“Alright!” Arkana watched Ye Tian clean up.

“Gray, how long have you been here?”

“Almost three months,” Ye Tian replied.

“Three months, huh.” Arkana sipped her tea, then rested her chin on her hand. “Do you like Liphia?”

Crash! Ye Tian slipped, dropping several plates.

“Could you not startle me like that?” Ye Tian said with a bitter smile.

“Tch, only you know what’s in your heart. I was just asking,” Arkana said, pouting.

“No,” Ye Tian answered truthfully, then began sweeping up the shards.

“Really?”

“Really.” Ye Tian tossed the fragments in the trash. “Let’s go back.”

“It’s not cleaned up yet!” Arkana complained.

“I’ll finish tomorrow. It’s late,” Ye Tian pointed outside, where it was pitch black.

“Can’t we wait a little longer?” Arkana pleaded.

“No, you need to go to the library tomorrow,” Ye Tian insisted.

“Hmph!” Arkana finished her tea, stood up. “No need to walk me back; I can go myself.”

“Alright, I’ll head back then,” Ye Tian said, putting away the cups.

“You’re such a jerk!” Arkana snapped, then stomped hard on Ye Tian’s foot before running off.

“I really have work to do!” Ye Tian grumbled, rubbing his sore foot. The girls here didn’t know how to be ladylike—how would they ever get married?

Back in his room, Ye Tian washed up and went straight to bed. Tomorrow he had to help Leyton improve his physique again. But mages truly had weak constitutions; these days had yielded little result. Did he need to use medicine? He wondered, but he had none. Oh well, he thought, and fell asleep.

The next day, before dawn, Ye Tian was woken by knocking. Opening the door, he found Leyton.

“Are you okay?” Ye Tian sensed Leyton was obviously weak.

“I’m fine. Let’s start,” Leyton said, breathing heavily.

As usual, they spent the day cleaning, but Ye Tian noticed Leyton had slowed considerably. “Is he too exhausted?” Ye Tian wondered. He patted Leyton’s shoulder, feeling something hard. Upon checking, he found several iron bars.

“No way.” Ye Tian grabbed Leyton, discovering he was at least fifty pounds heavier.

“You secretly increased your weights?” Ye Tian asked.

“Yes,” Leyton admitted.

“Haha, what a fool!” Ye Tian laughed, holding his forehead.

“I’m willing to be a fool!” Leyton said seriously. “To stay at the academy, I’m willing to pay any price!”