Qian Jin reached into his robe, flipped his hand, and produced a silver coin from the Battle Realm. That wallet, casually pocketed years ago while hacking through assassins in the jungle, had finally found a use.

With a heart full of apprehension, Biluo followed Qian Jin through the gates of the academy. Two years had passed since his return. Who knew if Keller, the Dean of Academic Affairs and Director, had already found an excuse to expel her long ago? After all, no one had ever accepted a mission that required two full years to complete.

The Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors retained the same ancient, almost senescent atmosphere it always had. Compared to two years prior, not a single brick had been added; it remained exactly as it was.

Ignoring the curious gazes of the new incoming students, Qian Jin guided Biluo with practiced ease through several turns within the academy grounds, arriving before the relatively newest-looking office of Academic Affairs.

Qian Jin pushed the door open and paused, slightly taken aback by the person seated at the desk—it wasn't Keller! It was Teacher Rodriguez! Standing by the desk were two students from the Warrior Academy, one emanating an aura of humility, his hair shining with the luster and smoothness of gold—Dak! The very Dak who had been the top fighter in the first-year Warrior class!

The other man was lean, his eyes slightly sunken, his short, brown hair bristling like a wild beast’s mane. He exuded an arrogance that could be felt a thousand miles away, threaded with a cruel glint around his nose, giving him the dangerous aura of a monstrous beast. “Curious? When did the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors start enrolling warriors of this caliber?” Qian Jin gave a slight start, his smiling face turning towards Rodriguez behind the desk. The office door was pushed open, and a slice of morning sun squeezed into the room as it swung inward.

The sudden influx of light drew the attention of Rodriguez and Dak, who had been conversing. The three—one turning, two looking up—were momentarily stunned when Rodriguez and Dak saw Qian Jin standing in the doorway with a grin. The other warrior, radiating that dangerous aura, assessed Qian Jin with cold, predatory eyes. “You…” Rodriguez’s fingers trembled slightly as he addressed Qian Jin, his whole body shaking faintly, “Qian Jin—you—you have returned—” “Yes, Teacher Rodriguez,” Qian Jin replied, opening his arms wide as he strode forward. “I’ve just completed the trial assessment and returned.”

Rodriguez strode forward too, landing a hard punch on Qian Jin’s chest. “You idiot! You’re usually so sharp, why were you so foolish this time? Even if you couldn’t finish the mission, you could have snuck back to ask me for help! Staying out there for two whole years—do you have any idea how close you two came to being expelled?”

“Oh? So I wasn't expelled?” Qian Jin chuckled, unwilling to recount his experiences of the past two years, his eyes sweeping the room. “Where’s Keller? I’m here to turn in the mission…”

“How dare you speak the Headmaster’s name so casually?” The only young student in the room who hadn’t moved spoke, his tone so chillingly cold it felt like frost being sprayed onto the skin. Dream net.

Qian Jin’s gaze returned to Rodriguez, not sparing the speaker a glance. “Teacher?”

“Keller is the Headmaster now,” Rodriguez clapped Qian Jin on the shoulder. “And I’m the Director of Academic Affairs now, which is why you weren't expelled. Just hand the mission over to me.” “Is that so?” Qian Jin pulled a single strand of red hair from the Golden-Haired Monkey King from his robe, then stepped aside, allowing Biluo to present the Fire Phoenix egg as the mission offering.

Rodriguez stared at the two items in his hand, momentarily stunned. Keller had assigned them this? Was he trying to send the two children to their deaths? Was this something they could possibly complete? Yet, Qian Jin had actually finished it…

Dak, standing behind Rodriguez, visibly started when he saw the two mission objects, repeatedly scrutinizing Qian Jin. They completed both of these things between the two of them? Rodriguez sighed heavily, looking at Qian Jin. “You must have suffered greatly for these two items, right?” “Indeed…” Qian Jin felt a wave of emotion recalling the life in the four seasons valley for two years. “Suffered? That’s putting it lightly. I nearly died countless times.”

“Ah… it’s good you’re back, good you’re back,” Rodriguez patted Qian Jin’s shoulder repeatedly in comfort. “You’ve missed two years of coursework and training, and you missed the Great Battle Spirit Array. What a shame… a real pity. But it’s fine. I’m the Director now; I have the authority to let you study an extra year. If you train desperately, you might still have a chance to catch up to Dak and the others… what a shame… truly a shame…”

Rodriguez shook his head and sighed repeatedly. Dak walked up to Qian Jin, looking at the classmate who had once felled him with a single blow, securing the throne of the strongest first-year, only to disappear before enjoying any special training benefits. Dak gently clapped Qian Jin on the arm. “It’s good you’re back; Teacher is right. If you train hard, you still have a chance to catch up to me. It’s just a shame we won’t get to compete together this time.”

Qian Jin managed a weak smile, not wanting to argue with Dak. It was truly remarkable for the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors to produce a Ninth-Tier Warrior like him. However, when Qian Jin had left the academy two years ago, he was already a Ninth-Tier Warrior unknown to others. “It’s fine, truly fine,” Dak said, gripping both of Qian Jin’s arms simultaneously, nodding encouragingly. “Believe me, your talent is better than mine, and you work so incredibly hard. Just catch up on the missed classes and training, and you’ll definitely surpass me someday.”

“I will,” Qian Jin replied with a bitter smile, accepting his classmate’s goodwill. He then turned his attention back to Rodriguez, who was still caught up in his lament. “Teacher, the mission is complete. If there’s nothing else, I’d like to go see Rollin first.” “Rollin—!”

Rodriguez and Dak spoke simultaneously, their faces showing an indescribable awkwardness and strangeness as they exchanged glances, stuttering slightly.

Qian Jin, seeing their expressions, felt a growing curiosity pool in his heart. “What happened to that fat man, Rollin? Did he fail his exams? Was he expelled?” “This…” Rodriguez looked troubled, leaning in to whisper to Qian Jin, “Qian Jin… let me tell you this… don’t do anything rash… Rollin, he…”

Qian Jin sensed something was wrong from Rodriguez’s awkward expression and quickly asked, “What happened to Rollin?” “Two days ago, he returned to the embrace of the stars…”

“What?”

Qian Jin felt his legs weaken, his body swaying violently as if struck by a bolt of lightning straight to the crown of his head. Dazed, he stared at Rodriguez, the muscles around his eyes twitching uncontrollably. “Died… he died…” Rodriguez bit down hard on his teeth and nodded. “Yes…”

“How could he die?” Qian Jin felt as if a massive stone had settled on his chest. “He was always so timid… there hasn’t been any war around here…”

Rodriguez glanced furtively at the other student standing nearby, grit his teeth again, and continued, “We don’t know the details, only that two nights ago, he suddenly passed away at home. His wife, Julie, said it was a sudden heart attack…”

“Heart attack? Who did you say? Julie? Rollin married Julie?” Qian Jin stared hard at Rodriguez. “A heart attack and he died?”

Rodriguez shook his head and sighed. “Who knows if that’s true? There are all sorts of rumors about Rollin’s death. The most credible one is that this woman Julie wasn’t honest and was involved with Kaysus; together, they killed Rollin. Now, the Kay family is showing up, apparently trying to seize all of Rollin’s property…”

“Teacher, some words should not be spoken so carelessly,” the brown-haired warrior, radiating that sinister danger, slightly lifted his chin to look at Rodriguez. “Would the Kay family be interested in that little bit of property Rollin owned?”

“The Kay family is still at Rollin’s house?” Qian Jin fixed his gaze on Rodriguez.

“Yes,” Rodriguez nodded weakly. “They are there right now, at Rollin’s wake. That poor little girl… Ah… Qian Jin, I know you two were close, but it’s better not to get involved in these matters…”

Qian Jin turned away, ignoring Rodriguez’s words. The sunlight in front of him was suddenly blocked by the brown-haired warrior, and a chilling voice reached his ears. “You just called the Headmaster by his first name—” “Get out!”

Qian Jin’s mind was filled with images and words of Rollin. When something suddenly darkened his path and blocked his way, he hadn't even registered what the man was saying. He shoved the shoulder blocking him aside, exerted force in his feet that pulverized the flagstones beneath him, and rushed out of the room at high speed towards Rollin’s residence.

The brown-haired warrior felt a sudden force slam into his shoulder. Before he could brace himself, he was shoved away, his shoulder striking the wall with a dull thud. Rollin died? Rollin is dead? The fat one is dead? I swear I’ll marry Julie someday! If I can’t, I’ll just keep getting fatter until… Classmate, our friendship… Classmate, be my brother-in-law… Classmate—I’ll treat!

Qian Jin’s mind replayed the image of Rollin’s chubby, smiling face. How could a fat man like that be dead?

Rollin’s estate covered almost an entire street. White banners were hung along the entire length of the road in front of the gates. Not a single mourner was visible anywhere; only the occasional wind stirred the cloth banners gently, creating an ineffable sense of desolation.

Rollin’s body lay in state in the center of the main hall. Luo Qingqing, clad in white mourning attire, knelt beside the coffin, her eyes, already red from crying, having run dry of tears. Julie, also wearing white, stood holding an infant about a year old, teasing the child. No trace of moisture or redness could be seen around her eyes.