A moment later, Charlotte and Qie Xin, having sensed something, both whipped their heads toward the entrance, and simultaneously gasped!

"Reese!" Charlotte called out, immediately sprinting over.

It was indeed Reese returning, and he was utterly battered.

At this sight, Reese's clothes were shredded beyond recognition, his face visibly swollen, and the blood on his nose hadn't been wiped clean.

But that wasn't the worst of it; one of his arms seemed dislocated, hanging uselessly. His thigh appeared to have sustained a sword wound, and despite a hasty wrapping, blood still seeped through.

If not for these injuries, Reese would have arrived much sooner. He was practically limping back, his consciousness slightly hazy from the blood loss.

"Reese!" Angelia murmured softly, helping steady him as they walked into the courtyard.

Reese could only force a weak smile; he offered no reply. Perhaps he simply lacked the strength to speak at that moment.

"Reese, how did you get so hurt?" Xia Hao joined Angelia in supporting him, his face etched with concern.

"Nothing much," Reese replied, his voice faint, as if struck by a sudden, severe illness.

Charlotte knew this was no time for questions, so she didn't press further. Instead, she turned to Qieli, who was still stunned, and called out, "Qieli, quickly help stop Reese's bleeding!"

Hearing Charlotte's shout, Qieli snapped back to attention. She was a Light Mage, and this was precisely the moment for her skills to shine.

Qieli didn't dare delay, immediately casting several healing spells on Reese!

The bleeding stopped, and much of the swelling on his face receded, but Reese's arm remained dislocated!

"Sister Charlotte, shouldn't we call the homeowner out to look? I can't fix Reese's arm," Qieli admitted with a trace of apology. She had done her best, but a condition like a 'dislocation' was far beyond the reach of 'Light Magic.'

Charlotte didn't answer, turning instead to Angelia. Just then, Zhong Shenxiu’s door opened, and Kaini stepped out.

She had likely heard the commotion outside and came to investigate.

"Reese, what happened to you?" Kaini frowned deeply upon seeing his condition and hurried forward.

Reese offered only a bitter smile, offering no explanation. He hadn't anticipated such terrible luck today, running into such an unreasonable brute. In a fair one-on-one fight, Reese might not have lost to that arrogant youth, but the problem was, the opponent refused a duel. He opted for a gang-up!

One fist against four hands—Reese was thoroughly thrashed by the youth and his bodyguards! That wasn't even the end of it; after beating Reese down, the youth snatched the jade pendant Zhong Shenxiu had given him earlier, claiming it as compensation for 'emotional distress!'

Yet, fortunately, the injuries Reese sustained would heal with a period of rest!

However, the injustice still burned within Reese. He truly couldn't comprehend it: must poverty invite bullying? Must wealth command superiority?

"You all wait here, I'll go call Xiu out," Kaini said, turning and hurrying back inside with evident urgency.

Not long after, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin appeared, moving at an unhurried pace.

Seeing Zhong Shenxiu, Reese immediately lowered his head. He felt his current state was utterly shameful in front of him.

"How did this happen?" Zhong Shenxiu asked in a level tone, though a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. He had already pieced together the general story from Reese's disheveled appearance.

"Fell accidentally!" Reese's voice dropped even lower, his eyes glued to the floor, looking thoroughly guilty. This was the first time he had ever lied to Zhong Shenxiu.

"Stand up!" Zhong Shenxiu commanded calmly again.

Reese’s expression twitched. Unsure of Zhong Shenxiu's intention, he complied and stood, but his eyes still dared not meet his master's.

Charlotte and Angelia, seeing this, assumed Zhong Shenxiu was about to examine the injuries and politely stepped back. However, Zhong Shenxiu's next words made them both pause.

"Go on, fall over accidentally for me again!" With that, Zhong Shenxiu stared directly at Reese.

Reese’s body trembled, and finally, he lifted his head!

"Tell me exactly what happened?" Zhong Shenxiu abruptly demanded again.

This time, Reese dared not conceal the truth any longer. He could only confess in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "I was beaten!"

"Robin," Zhong Shenxiu suddenly called out to Robin.

Robin instantly understood. She stepped forward, gripped Reese's dislocated arm, and with a swift pull and twist—cleanly and efficiently—she reset the joint.

The action was so fast that Reese didn't even register pain, just a slight numbness in his arm. Then, to his surprise, he realized he could control the limb again!

Charlotte, Angelia, and Qieli watched in stunned silence, amazed that the problem plaguing them had been solved by Robin in just a few moves!

With her current depth of knowledge, Robin could certainly be considered a minor miracle worker!

Afterward, Robin produced a small porcelain vial, poured out a dark, mysterious pill, and had Reese swallow it. Immediately, Reese's complexion began to regain its healthy color! Given Robin's experience level, she could definitely be considered an alchemist!

"Explain everything in detail," Zhong Shenxiu instructed after Robin had completed this series of actions.

Though Zhong Shenxiu usually maintained a detached demeanor with them, he genuinely cared for his people; otherwise, he wouldn't have called on Robin to treat Reese.

Furthermore, Zhong Shenxiu possessed a fiercely protective nature. He could tease those around him all he liked, but if an outsider so much as touched them, he would never tolerate it. To paraphrase a line from a movie: To move against my people is to show contempt for me!

Although Reese felt deeply aggrieved, he recounted the entire incident that had occurred in front of the shop.

Upon hearing the tale, Charlotte and Angelia's faces instantly flared with righteous indignation, carrying the distinct look of "Wait till big sister gets a hold of that brat and castrates him!"

Zhong Shenxiu, however, actually broke into a smile after hearing Reese's account—a smile that would send a chill down the spine of anyone who knew him well!

Subsequently, Zhong Shenxiu asked Reese several more questions, inquiring about the assailants' appearances, clothing, and how they addressed one another.

Though Reese didn't understand why Zhong Shenxiu was asking such seemingly random questions, he cooperated fully, answering each one.

By this time, Zhong Shenxiu had largely deduced the identity of the youth. From Reese's description, it was clear the young man's background was far from ordinary, and he likely frequented that particular shop often.

Now, all Zhong Shenxiu and his group needed to do was ask around the vicinity of the shop to find the youth’s residence; after that, the rest would be simple.

The City Warden’s Manor was the seat of the City Warden’s authority.

Within the 'City of Dream Twilight,' there were thirty-two such manor houses, each responsible for administering a specific territory. Their primary duties included collecting taxes, maintaining public order, and guarding the designated main gates of the city.

Within one such City Warden’s Manor, a lavishly dressed woman was watering flowers in her courtyard when a maidservant entered from outside.

"Madam, the young master has returned!" the maidservant said, bowing slightly with a respectful expression.

"Call him over. Tell him I need to speak with him," the woman instructed softly.

The maidservant acknowledged the order and departed.

Wayne, pouting, made his way toward his mother's courtyard. He knew why his mother wanted to see him—it was likely about school.

His mood was foul today. Even though he had beaten up a country bumpkin that afternoon, his spirits hadn't improved at all!

Wayne had originally agreed with his parents that he would attend school in another city. Unexpectedly, his mother had changed her mind today, worrying he might cause trouble elsewhere, and insisted on finding him an academy right here in the capital!

Wayne genuinely didn't want to listen to his mother's nagging anymore, which was precisely why he wanted to leave. But now, all his pleasant fantasies had dissolved into nothingness. How could he not be depressed?

The thought of having to listen to those long lectures under his parents' watchful eyes made his anger flare!

"Mother, what did you want to see me about?" Wayne arrived in the small courtyard and saw his mother watering flowers, so he spoke up immediately.

The woman turned when she heard her son's voice, but the next moment, she let out a sharp cry of alarm.

"Wayne, what happened to your face? Were you fighting someone again?" the woman interrogated.

Although Wayne had already received Light Magic treatment, clear bruises were still visible on his face.

Wayne was also quite vexed. He hadn't expected that country bumpkin he met today to be so tough. If not for his numbers advantage, he might have been the one getting beaten. Even so, he had taken two solid hits and was surprised by the sheer force behind the boy’s punches; it had nearly knocked him unconscious!

Thinking of this, Wayne ground his teeth in impotent rage. However, the jade pendant he’d snatched from the boy felt rather nice; wearing it gave off a strange, comforting sensation!

Despite all this, Wayne didn't dare tell his mother the truth. He quickly concocted a lie. "I wasn't fighting, I was just sparring with someone."

The woman shot him a skeptical look but didn't press further, offering instead a heartfelt warning: "Your father has been very busy these past few days and is often away. Don't cause him any more trouble!"

Wayne just looked down in silence, wearing an expression that clearly communicated, Say what you need to; I’ll listen how I want to.

"I’ve already selected a very good Martial Arts Academy for you. The enrollment paperwork is done; classes start officially in two days. Get ready."

"Which academy?" Although he knew it wouldn't be in another city, Wayne couldn't help but ask.

"It's the 'Homebody Martial Arts Academy.' You must study hard there and not disgrace your father!"

The moment Wayne heard 'Homebody Martial Arts Academy,' he wilted like a cabbage hit by frost!

The 'Homebody Martial Arts Academy' was the closest academy to his home, and consequently, the one he least wanted to attend!