Chapter 90: The Rookie’s Infernal Days

Chapter 90: The Rookie's Hellish Life

At last, as night fell, Layton used a tornado to bring over the final giant tree, then collapsed on the ground like a dead dog, unable to move another inch. “Seriously? Is that all you managed?” Ye Tian grumbled, grabbing the tree and channeling his sword aura. In a few swift moves, he stripped away all the branches and leaves, leaving only the bare trunk.

“You’re a swordsman?” Layton hadn’t expected Ye Tian to wield battle energy—a skill reserved for swordsmen. “Yeah, I’m an intermediate swordsman, with a medal, but keep it a secret!” Ye Tian replied, turning his head.

“Are you kidding?” Layton wasn’t unfamiliar with intermediate swordsmen, and he’d even met sword masters, but none could use battle energy as deftly as Ye Tian, slicing through a trunk as thick as a bowl with such ease.

“Gray, why did you come to the academy?” For the first time, Layton voiced the question that had lingered between them. They’d hardly exchanged much beyond Ye Tian’s occasional guidance—words that always seemed to be spoken to the air.

“I’m searching for the way home. You could say I’m someone who’s lost,” Ye Tian answered with a smile. “Rest up, later you’ll need to get back up!” He pointed to the plum blossom stakes nearby.

“Again? Please, no!” Layton’s fear was palpable.

“If you practice boxing without training your foundation, it’ll all be for nothing,” Ye Tian said, quoting a phrase Layton didn’t understand. “Let’s have some meat soup tonight!” Layton asked, puzzled, “Where did you get a pot?” Ye Tian’s bag was full of herbs, with not even a change of clothes.

“Oh, I caught a big fellow from the lake—just right for what we need!” Ye Tian pointed nearby, and Layton finally noticed something like a pot over the campfire, though it didn’t quite look like one.

“What is this?” Layton scrambled up and circled the object. “It looks like a green algae turtle. Is that for real? They usually stay deep underwater!”

“Yeah, I checked out the lake. The water’s good, and there are plenty of treasures!” Ye Tian spread his hand, revealing a huge pearl. “Gray, you should be an adventurer—just that pearl would feed you for life!”

“No interest,” Ye Tian put the pearl away. “I’ll grab a few more next time.” “You’re incredible!” Layton muttered, biting his lip.

“Let’s eat!” Ye Tian pulled out a few small bowls as if by magic. Layton sniffed them—they were wooden, with a faint fragrance.

“Gray, is there anything you can’t do?” Layton was speechless. Why was this man always so surprising?

“Well, I can’t give birth. Now, try it!” Ye Tian ladled soup into a bowl for Layton.

“It smells amazing!” Layton was ravenous. “Careful, it’s hot. And here, take this!” Ye Tian handed him a small wooden spoon. “It’s quite delicate,” Layton examined it. “Of course, my craftsmanship is famous!” Ye Tian boasted, making Layton laugh.

After dinner, Layton’s strength returned. “Get up there. Just stand and close your eyes. Feel everything around you,” Ye Tian instructed.

“Feel what?” Layton asked, puzzled.

“Less talking, more doing!” Ye Tian said.

Layton climbed atop the stake, hands steadying him. “If you’re afraid, use the breathing technique I taught you. Relax—like meditation for your mages. Feel everything, feel the forest!” Ye Tian called from below.

Layton listened, steadying his fear, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Gradually, the fear faded. Soon, his ears caught faint rustling—not beastly roars, but something else.

The sound of water—yes, it was the lake. The crunch of dried leaves underfoot. The hiss—perhaps a snake slithering. The flutter—likely birds taking flight.

As the sounds multiplied and sharpened, Layton heard breathing—Gray’s breathing! Layton opened his eyes, delighted, only to see Ye Tian tending the fire nearby.

“What is it?” Ye Tian asked.

“I heard so many sounds!” Layton exclaimed.

“That’s just the basics. Keep it up—the road ahead is long!” Ye Tian replied, then lay down by the fire. “By the way, do a split. Keep at it until you fall asleep.” He casually issued another dreaded order.

Before Layton could protest, Ye Tian rolled over and slept, leaving Layton to his misery. The night wind was quiet, stirring mist across the lake. A shadow emerged from the water, glanced about, and darted toward the fire.

Bang! A heavy object pinned the shadow to the ground, pressing it deep into the earth. “Hiss, hiss!” The black figure squirmed, but the pressure was like a mountain—no matter how it struggled, it couldn’t move.

At dawn, Layton awoke to a cold breeze. Oddly, though the forest winds were not warm, Layton never caught a cold, despite his constitution. This had happened countless times, yet he showed no symptoms.

Layton opened his eyes and jumped in fright! On the ground, a green-haired turtle as large as a millstone was buried deep in the soil, and atop it, Ye Tian slept soundly.

“Morning!” Ye Tian greeted, startling Layton.

“You weren’t asleep?” Layton asked.

“You’ll understand eventually,” Ye Tian said, opening his eyes. “Go wash up—we’ll start today’s special training soon. Don’t worry, you won’t be bored!” He flashed a mischievous smile.

Layton washed up quickly, while the green-haired turtle lay on its back, struggling helplessly.

“Gray, you’re not going to kill it, are you?” Layton asked.

“Why would I?” Ye Tian replied, confused.

“Why flip it over if you’re not going to kill it?” Layton was frustrated.

“Oh, just so it doesn’t cause trouble!” Ye Tian thought for a moment. “Layton, toss it back in.”

“You really won’t kill it?” Layton was doubtful.

“Why should I?” Ye Tian was equally puzzled.

“It’s a magical beast! Even at a low level, it still has a magic core!” Layton insisted.

“I’m not interested, and it’s a living creature. What right do we have to take its life without reason?” Ye Tian stroked the turtle.

“But you killed one yesterday!” Layton protested.

“Humans survive by exploiting others’ lives—it’s an unchangeable fact. But there’s one thing we can change: don’t take lives unless it’s necessary for survival. Otherwise, there’s no need,” Ye Tian replied seriously.

“What kind of logic is that?” Layton was perplexed.

“It’s just a difference in philosophy. Mine isn’t absolutely correct, and yours isn’t necessarily wrong. Everything is unknown,” Ye Tian said.

“I don’t get it,” Layton shrugged. “But I understand tossing it back!” Ye Tian asked, “Then do it!”

Layton used a tornado to lift the enormous turtle and hurled it into the lake.

“Keep chopping trees, we need more!” Ye Tian ordered. “I’ll see if there’s any game around so we can try something new for dinner!” He turned and left.

“Oh, come on!” Layton groaned at the thought of those massive trees, his cry startling flocks of birds in the forest.

Guiding his tornado, Layton struggled to bring another giant tree over. Ye Tian was busy nearby.

“Gray, that’s enough!” Layton pleaded. Chopping trees was torture.

“Don’t rush, we still need more!” Ye Tian said. He demonstrated slicing the branches into shape with sword aura.

“Gray, I’ve always wanted to ask—are all battle energies this sharp?” Layton envied Ye Tian’s skill, wishing he could do the same.

“I don’t know, but if you focus your internal power, slicing branches is much quicker!” Ye Tian continued his work.

“Focus it?” Layton’s eyes lit up, and he went back to chopping trees. Soon, he guided his tornado, excitedly carrying another giant tree over, while Ye Tian smiled and continued his tasks.

By the end of the day, Layton had finished all the plum blossom stakes. “Is this enough?” Layton asked.

“It’ll do,” Ye Tian said, satisfied. “By the way, Layton, are there any magical beasts that can launch masses of group spells?”

“There are. Actually, that green-haired turtle can, though its magic level is low. Why do you ask?” Layton was curious.

“No reason, just looking for backup for you. Layton, go run two laps up there—see if you can manage to run on the stakes now,” Ye Tian instructed.

“I’d rather not!” Layton was fearful. Why did Gray always suggest impossible tasks?

“Go ahead, it’s good for you!” Ye Tian said, then glanced at the lake, lost in thought.

Despite his doubts, Layton tried. But balancing on the palm-sized stakes was hard enough, let alone running.

“Run, run!” Ye Tian called, then stripped off his clothes and dove into the lake.

Half an hour later, Ye Tian surfaced, disappointed, and climbed ashore.

“Gray, you’re alive?” Layton’s jaw nearly hit the ground.

“Yeah, what’s wrong?” Ye Tian’s body began to steam as he used internal power to dry himself.

Soon, Ye Tian was dry and dressed. Seeing Layton still stunned, Ye Tian’s mischievous side emerged.

“Layton, watch—do this!” He struck a perfect horse stance.

“What?” Layton was dumbfounded. Wasn’t that a posture for relieving oneself? Why do this?

“Come on, hold it until evening!” Ye Tian grinned. Layton tried—it wasn’t too hard; he figured he could last until night.

Half an hour later, Layton regretted it deeply. This seemingly simple pose was impossible to maintain for long! His legs began to shake, and he glanced at Ye Tian, who was resting nearby.

“Gray, let’s switch! Maybe I should just run instead?” Layton was nearly in tears. Gray never ran out of miserable ideas—only worse ones. Why did he always dream up such outlandish things? Layton couldn’t understand, but he knew that if he kept at it, he’d fall.

“Gray, I’m about to fall!” he said, and then, with a thud, dropped down.

“Are you okay?” Ye Tian called.

“I’m fine.” The bank was covered with thick, soft grass, and Layton wasn’t hurt at all.

“Then get back up!” Ye Tian ordered.

“Oh,” Layton replied quietly, obediently resuming the horse stance, though he fell again soon after.

“Keep going!” Ye Tian encouraged.

“I won’t give up!” Layton gritted his teeth and climbed back up.

When Ye Tian called him down for dinner, Layton felt his legs weren’t his own, trembling uncontrollably.

“No worries, you’ll get used to it in a few days,” Ye Tian reassured him.

“Gray, what’s the point of this?” Layton asked.

“The horse stance is the foundation of martial arts—the most important of all! If you can hold it steady as a mountain, no one will knock you down!” Ye Tian explained.

“Then I’ll pass,” Layton muttered, eating the delicious food without enthusiasm. “It doesn’t relate to me at all.”

“You’ll see the value in time,” Ye Tian said, unwilling to explain further, his mind already on how to bring up the giant turtle again.