Yuan’s Ascension

Wine is poison that pierces the gut, lust is a saber that scrapes the bone. This held true for adults, and even more so for the harm it inflicted on the swiftly developing bodies of adolescents.

Considering Wu Yuan's current physical constitution, the effects of a small quantity of alcohol were nearly negligible. However, he understood that the wine in this world was much more potent than that of his previous life. As for the physical constitutions of Luo He and Wu Sheng? It would undoubtedly have a significant impact on them.

One might assume that a small indulgence would have little consequence, but all disasters originated from the accumulation of small actions.

"Exactly! Ah He, I often advise you to drink less, but you never listen. Today, it's Brother Yuan’s turn to warn you." Wu Sheng chided.

"Hehe, I'll listen to Brother Yuan and forgo the wine." Luo He set down the wine pot, then gestured to the waitress by his side, instructing her to remove the wine.

Wu Yuan chuckled and shook his head. He could tell that Luo He didn't really intend to take his advice, but everyone had the right to free will, so he wouldn't restrict his friend too much.

With Luo He's family background, even if he failed to succeed in his pursuit of martial arts, he should have no worries in his lifetime. Among his two friends, Wu Sheng truly possessed a passion for the martial arts and had the potential to surpass his father, Wu Xiong.

"Let's eat!" Luo He chuckled, "Brother Yuan, the dishes here are unrivaled in taste, all renowned delicacies from Southdream. You rarely come here, so you must sample them.

"Haha, alright, it’s rare for me to visit Southdream, I must try them indeed." Wu Yuan did not hold back.

The three of them shared a meal while discussing amusing tales from the past, their recent experiences, and their hopes for the future.

Suddenly, a wave of commotion could be heard from outside. Luo He and Wu Sheng paid it no mind. But Wu Yuan, whose hearing was exceptional?

His brows furrowed, but before he could warn his companions, the door burst open and a group of people stormed in. Among them were the tavern manager, a handful of waitresses, and several disciples from the martial academy.

"Hmm?" Luo He and Wu Sheng finally reacted, turning their heads.

"Manager Hu, what is the meaning of this?" Luo He stood up, his face clouded over and his gaze icy.

"Childe Luo, my sincere apologies, we could not stop them." The manager explained with a helpless look on his face.

"Could not stop them, or did not wish to?" Wu Yuan retorted.

The manager's face visibly paled.

"No need to blame the tavern manager, I'm the one who wanted to enter." The tall martial academy disciple leading the group sneered, "I was wondering who had the audacity to occupy my usual private room, turns out it's you, Luo He."

"Hai Chen, if you want to play, I will gladly oblige you later." Luo He's face darkened, "But today, I am hosting my good friend. It would be wise for you to leave, otherwise, don’t blame me if things turn ugly."

"Ugly?" The martial academy disciple named Hai Chen taunted, "I am so scared, a guy who got beaten like a pig in martial combat class has the nerve to threaten me? Haha, how absurd!"

"Haha!"

"Haha!" The other disciples joined in the laughter.

Luo He's eyes instantly reddened. The humiliation he faced during martial combat class was a taboo topic for him. If anyone dared mention it, he would turn hostile immediately.

"Hai Chen, that's enough." Wu Sheng said in a low voice.

"Wu Sheng, who do you think you are? What gives you the right to speak to me? Forget it, I can't be bothered to quarrel with you lot today." Hai Chen scoffed, turning serious. "Today, I'm hosting a senior brother, one of the top ten disciples. You had better scram. Otherwise, none of you will be having a good time when he arrives."

One of the top ten disciples? Wu Sheng and Luo He's expressions both changed at once. Although they had just enrolled in the academy a few months ago and were still considered freshmen, they had already heard about the top ten disciples, the ten students who represented the pinnacle of the martial academy.

A tertiary martial academy was not like an elementary or intermediate martial academy. To be one of the top ten amongst almost 10,000 disciples indicated extraordinary strength, at least at the Adept level. These were individuals destined for greatness.

As fellow freshmen, Wu Sheng and Luo He were not afraid of Hai Chen. But to offend one of the top ten disciples? Even Luo He had to contemplate the consequences.

"Manager Hu, is this how you manage your tavern?" Wu Yuan suddenly interjected.

This one sentence caused Manager Hu's expression to change dramatically. If the shopkeeper was around, he naturally wouldn't fear these youngsters. Those who were capable of opening shops usually had some background. But as a common manager, he couldn't afford to offend anyone.

"Who are you?" Hai Chen looked coldly at Wu Yuan.

"My name is Wu Yuan," Wu Yuan replied with a faint smile.

"Wu Yuan?" Hai Chen raised an eyebrow, "I've never heard of you. Among the outstanding disciples of the Southdream Wu Clan, there is no one by the name of Wu Yuan."

"Judging by your attire, I reckon you aren't even a student of the martial academy," Hai Chen continued with disdain. "Perhaps... you are a friend of Luo He's from the elementary martial academy in Li City?"

"Hai Chen, do you know..." Luo He started, only to be silenced by a look from Wu Yuan.

"Indeed, I am from Li City." Wu Yuan spoke once more, his tone nonchalant and relaxed. "I am part of a branch family of the Southdream Wu Clan you mentioned."

Wu Yuan was a clan elder of the Wu Clan and also a special recruitment disciple of the Cloudstride Sect. But how vast was Southdream Province? With a population in the tens of millions, the provincial city alone was home to a million people. Apart from some high-ranking officials and intelligence personnel who would pay attention to Wu Yuan’s situation, the majority were oblivious to such matters. These disciples who spent years cultivating in the martial academy were even more out of touch.

"Humph!" Hai Chen sneered, stepping forward to loom over Wu Yuan. "Branch of the Wu Clan? You call yourself Wu Yuan, do you know who I am?"

"I don't." Wu Yuan replied blandly.

"You don't know, yet you dare to interrupt?" Hai Chen scoffed with a haughty expression.

"Allow me to enlighten you, I am the son of a clan elder from the Southdream Hai Clan. The Southdream Wu Clan is just a small family with not a single first-rate Adept. Even clan elders of the Wu Clan would have to show me respect."

"If you were a disciple of the martial academy, I might have ignored you. But a failure who can't even qualify to enter a tertiary martial academy dares to interrupt me?"

"Do you know? With a single word from myself to the Wu Clan, I could have you expelled from the clan registry, making your family's life worse than death." Hai Chen looked at Wu Yuan.

"Oh? Really?" Wu Yuan remained composed. It had been many years since he last encountered such a fool. However, it was rather understandable. Large families often produced fools. In his previous life, Wu Yuan had seen many such foolish 'family disgraces'.

The saying 'meat-eaters are full of contempt [1]' was not without reason.

"The guest you've invited seems to be approaching," Wu Yuan intoned softly.

"What?" Hai Chen was taken aback. The others in the room were similarly confused, but not for long.

"Hai Chen?" A deep voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the room, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

It was none other than Zhu Shang, one of the top ten disciples of the Southdream Martial Academy whom Wu Yuan had previously met.

"Brother Zhu, just give me a moment. The tavern is packed today, and I'm currently working on clearing the room," Hai Chen replied, a slight subservient smile on his face. The accompanying disciples from the martial academy likewise mirrored this display of flattery and admiration.

Given Zhu Shang's age and prowess, he had the potential to become a second-rate Adept.

Even the chieftains of large clans would not dare to show him any disrespect, instead treating him as a young friend.

It should be noted that among the many large clans of Southdream Province, having even one or two first-rate Adepts presiding over them was considered quite impressive. So, a second-rate Adept like Zhu Shang was undeniably a prominent figure.

"Zhu Shang?" Wu Sheng and Luo He also turned to look at the newcomer. They had heard of him and caught glimpses of this famous disciple from a distance on a few occasions. Unfortunately, they never had the opportunity to interact with him.

"Senior Brother Wu, please accept my apologies." Zhu Shang's attention remained fixed on Wu Yuan, disregarding the crowd around him. With his intellect, a single glance was all it took for him to comprehend the situation.

With an apologetic expression, Zhu Shang addressed Wu Yuan, "It seems there has been a misunderstanding today, I hope Senior Brother Wu can forgive me."

A heavy silence enveloped the room. Hai Chen and the accompanying martial academy disciples felt their hearts tremble.

Senior Brother Wu? Zhu Shang was addressing him as 'Senior Brother'?

Zhu Shang was already a fourth-year disciple. There were no disciples older than him in the martial academy. From his features, Wu Yuan appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, significantly younger than Zhu Shang.

Wu Sheng and Luo He exchanged an equally shocked glance. They both knew that special recruitment disciples were unique, but didn't imagine them to be this powerful.

Powerful enough to make the martial academy's top ten disciples bow their heads and address them as their senior brother.

Keep in mind, Zhu Shang's potential strength was not much weaker than that of a true disciple of the Cloud Martial Hall!

"Brother Zhu, you can just call me by my name, I haven't passed the headmaster's assessment yet." Wu Yuan said calmly.

"With Senior Brother's strength, passing the assessment will surely be a breeze." Zhu Shang affirmed. He knew Wu Yuan's strength. A fourteen-year-old martial virtuoso couldn't possibly fail the verification process.

"I appreciate your kind words." Wu Yuan replied indifferently. "Alright. Brother Zhu, I'm here with some friends today. We had some misunderstandings with Brother Hai, but since you've just arrived, I assume it has nothing to do with you. Let's leave it at that for today."

Wu Yuan continued, "It wasn't easy for me and my friends to meet up, so I won't be able to accompany you, Brother Zhu. We can chat when we return to the martial academy."

"Okay," Zhu Shang nodded. "Senior Brother Wu, what happened today was a misunderstanding. If Hai Chen was rude in any way, I hope you can forgive him."

"I'll pay for this meal. After Senior Brother’s strength has been verified, I'll invite you to a feast to make amends." Zhu Shang looked at Wu Yuan, his expression somewhat pleading.

"Brother Zhu, as I've already said, it has nothing to do with you." Wu Yuan looked him in the eye, calmly stating, "Also, my brother is treating me today, there's no need for you to pay for anything, Brother Zhu."

Zhu Shang felt a wave of regret wash over him. Wu Yuan had refused to accept his mediation.

Without hesitation, Zhu Shang fiercely kicked Hai Chen, sending him sprawling to the ground. He coldly barked, "You fool, are you still not going to apologize to Senior Brother Wu?"

1. Meat-eater: A person who can afford to eat meat, by extension a person with wealth/power. In the old days, it meant that people in high positions and with generous salaries were short-sighted. ☜