The morning sun of Wu Tan City was bright, but inside the Xiao Clan Archives, the light was soft and diffused, filtered through dust and ancient paper.
Yoriichi walked through the heavy wooden doors just after breakfast. He didn't carry the heavy bag of gold he had "earned" earlier; that was hidden safely in his room. For now, his hunger was not for metal, but for the context of the world he inhabited.
At the front desk, Elder Shu was awake. The old man, usually grumpy and prone to napping, straightened up immediately when he saw the red-robed figure enter.
There was a moment of hesitation, then Elder Shu bowed his head slightly—a gesture of respect rarely given to a junior, born from the lingering guilt of yesterday's interrogation and the awe of the boy's impossible memory.
Yoriichi noticed the gesture. He didn't smile or boast. He simply nodded in return, acknowledging the peace between them, and walked silently into the depths of the library.
"Knowledge first," Yoriichi thought, his fingers trailing over the spines of the books in Aisle 4. "Action second."
Hours melted away.
The library was a timeless place. Yoriichi stood in the same spot, his body as still as a statue, only his hand moving to flip pages.
Thwip. Thwip.
The rhythm was constant.
He devoured texts on herbology, on the political structure of the warring empires, and on the properties of elemental Dou Qi.
It was late afternoon when his hand brushed against a crumbling, yellowed parchment tucked between two larger volumes in the geography section. It wasn't a formal book, but a traveler's log from a century ago.
Title: Journey to the Black Corner Region.
Yoriichi opened it carefully. The ink was faded, but legible.
He read the entry dated Year 320.
"The chaos of the Black Corner Region is absolute. Law does not exist here. Strength is the only currency. Yet, in the center of this hell, there stands a paradise. The Jia Nan Academy. It is untouchable. The warlords who rule the Black Corner Region—men who would slaughter a city for a pill—bow their heads when the Academy's enforcers walk by. Its strength is far beyond any Empire in the North-West. It is said to be comparable to the Sects of the Central Plains..."
Yoriichi stopped.
"Central Plains..."
From his readings yesterday, he knew the Central Plains were the heart of the Dou Qi Continent. It was the land of legends, where Dou Zongs and Dou Zuns walked the earth. It was the "Heaven of Cultivation."
"And this academy is comparable to that?" Yoriichi thought, his eyes narrowing. "Oh..."
He leaned back, letting his shoulders rest against the sturdy wooden shelf.
"If that is true, then it must be stronger than the Misty Cloud Sect. Much stronger."
The Misty Cloud Sect was the overlord of the Jia Ma Empire, but they were a local power. They had a Dou Huang, maybe a Dou Zong if the rumors of the old leader were true. But the Central Plains? That was a different league entirely.
"Dou Zong? Or perhaps even higher?" Yoriichi whispered to himself. "Dou Zun?"
He realized he had underestimated the institution his sister attended. He had assumed it was just a prestigious school, like a university for nobles. But it sounded more like a superpower disguised as a school.
"I need to verify this," he decided. "If the Academy is that powerful, it could be a shield. Or a training ground far superior to the mountains. I can plan to go there also to know more."
But who could confirm this?
"Whom can I ask?"
He looked around the quiet library. His gaze drifted to the window seat where Xiao Xun'er usually sat. She wasn't there today, but the thought of her lingered.
"Oh, there she is... near... in concept."
He thought of the mysterious girl with the golden flame.
"Can she know? She definitely comes from a mysterious background as of that flame and her strong bodyguard. She likely knows the true scale of the world. I can ask her... but not now. Asking too many questions about power structures might make her suspicious again."
He turned his attention back to the book, flipping the page.
"Big Sister praises this academy very much... I thought it would be like another high-power clan of the capital. But if it sits in the Black Corner Region and survives, it is a fortress."
He finished the traveler's log and placed it back. He picked up another volume: Classification of Magic Beasts: Rank 1 to Rank 5.
He needed to know what he would face in the Basin of the Fallen Star.
"Rank 1: Comparable to Dou Zhe. Rank 2: Dou Shi..."
More hours passed. The sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the library in shades of gray and blue. The darkness loomed over the shelves, signaling the end of the day.
Yoriichi shut the book.
Snap.
He stretched his neck, hearing a satisfying pop.
"Enough for today," he murmured.
He left the library, nodding once more to Elder Shu, and stepped out into the cool evening air. He walked back towards the infirmary, his steps relaxed and calm. He enjoyed the peace. The wind rustled the bamboo leaves; the distant chatter of disciples felt alive. It was a stark contrast to the demon-infested nights of his past life.
When he reached his courtyard, he found Xiao Yu waiting for him.
She was sitting on the stone bench, swinging her long legs, looking bored but happy. When she saw him, she hopped off.
"You live in that library now?" she teased, crossing her arms. "I thought you were a warrior, not a scholar."
"A warrior who cannot read the map is just a lost man with a sword," Yoriichi replied, a small smile touching his lips.
They sat together on the veranda as the night settled in. Yoriichi brought out some tea he had prepared earlier.
"Big Sister," Yoriichi asked, blowing on the hot steam. "Tell me about the Academy. Not the rumors. The structure."
Xiao Yu's eyes lit up. She loved talking about her school.
"It's huge," she said, using her hands to emphasize the scale. "It's divided into the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The Outer Court is where most of us are. It has departments for everything—Alchemy, Martial Arts, formations."
She took a sip of tea.
"But the Inner Court... that's a mystery. Only the top twenty of the yearly competition get in. It's said to be where the real monsters are raised. The Elders there... they are terrifying. Even the teachers in the Outer Court are Dou Lings or Dou Wangs."
Yoriichi nodded, absorbing the intel. "Dou Wangs as teachers. Confirmed. It is a superpower."
"And the recruitment?" Yoriichi asked. "How is it done? When?"
Xiao Yu grinned. She huffed proudly, puffing out her chest.
"Next month!" she announced. "The recruitment team will arrive in Wu Tan City. And guess who is the representative for our city? Me!"
She looked incredibly pleased with herself. Being chosen as an enforcer/assistant for the recruitment drive was a high honor for a student.
"Good," Yoriichi smiled. "You have done well."
"Of course I have," she flipped her hair. Then her expression softened. "And don't worry about the entry exam. With me there, I can pull some strings. But you don't even need it. The requirement is low this year. You just need to reach 8-Star Dou Zhi Qi before the age of 18."
She looked at him. "You are already 9-Star. You will breeze through. We can go together."
Yoriichi nodded slowly.
"Together..." he echoed.
He looked at the tea leaves swirling in his cup.
"Is going there good for me?" he wondered. "The resources would be immense. The training would be elite. But... if I leave, who protects the Clan? Who watches the Wu Tan City? Who prepares for the Misty Cloud Sect?"
The conflict swirled in his mind.
"But if I stay here, I stagnate. I need to be stronger to protect them. The Academy maybe the fastest path."
"We will see," Yoriichi said softly. "But yes. It is a good path."
Xiao Yu yawned, stretching her arms. "It is the best path. Now, go to sleep. You have dark circles under your eyes from all that reading."
She stood up, patted his head (which he tolerated), and left for the female dorms.
Yoriichi sat there for a while longer, watching the moon rise.
The recruitment was in a month. The Smithing needed to happen now. The training with the bullies started tomorrow.
"Busy days," he whispered.
He went inside, lay down on his bed, and closed his eyes.
Even in his sleep, the thoughts swirled—the image of a massive academy in a chaotic city, the looming shadow of the Misty Cloud Sect, and the heat of the forge he would face tomorrow.
Finally, the rhythm of his breathing took over, and Yoriichi slept, gathering his strength for the fire.