"I'm here to follow Master Yan!"
Zhong Hui arrived light and nimble, carrying a bundle and a treasured sword. She looked spirited and full of determination—her first words were a declaration of allegiance.
"Follow me?"
Yan Chuang glanced at Zhong Hui, baffled.
Was she trying to join the Ironwire Martial Hall?
"I heard Master Yan is going to teach at Taikang Academy. I want to transfer there too, to become your research student and study boxing under you!"
Zhong Hui looked up at Yan Chuang with sincere eyes filled with resolve.
So she wanted to go to Taikang Academy!
Yan Chuang frowned. "You're already one of the top forty elites at Guangling Academy, and your foundation in 'Subduing Fist' was built there. Transferring to Taikang might stunt your growth."
That was the truth.
Taikang Academy was nowhere near Guangling Academy's level—everyone knew it.
"But if Taikang has Master Yan, then it has Subduing Fist. Staying at Guangling, I'll probably never surpass Sister Teng or Sister Zhong. But with Master Yan, I might even surpass Sister Zhong—or chase after Elder Jian!"
Whether she had faith in herself or in Yan Chuang was unclear. But to Yan Chuang, her words—her trust—felt surprisingly gratifying.
Since Zhong Hui was determined, and was even transferring academies to follow him, there was no need to talk her out of it.
However—
He still reminded her: "I'm only a guest professor at Taikang Academy. I only teach three days a month and might not even be allowed to take on research students. Even if I could, I wouldn't have much time or energy to teach them."
"I understand completely!"
Zhong Hui smiled. "Even if Master Yan only teaches once or twice a month, it would be an honor!"
Already calling him "Master Yan"?
Yu Renjie and Dai Pu stared wide-eyed from the side.
Yan Chuang turned to them. "And you two?"
They quickly snapped out of it, exchanged a glance, and pointed at Zhong Hui as they said to Yan Chuang, "Same! We're here to follow Master Yan too. We want to transfer to Taikang Academy!"
With Zhong Hui as the model, they just followed suit.
Yan Chuang raised a brow. "Didn't you just pass the exam to become Professor Cai Yuming's research students?"
Before they could answer, Zhong Hui chimed in:
"Master Yan may not know—Professor Cai passed away a few days ago."
"..."
He died?
Yan Chuang looked at Zhong Hui, then at Yu and Dai, suddenly realizing—
So the professor Wang Kuan mentioned, the one killed by Tu Meng, was their mentor?!
How unlucky!
…
Yu Renjie and Dai Pu also found it surreal.
They had originally aimed to become research students under Instructor Chen Jingming, but overperformed and were accepted by Professor Cai Yuming.
They were excited to delve into the Five-Ancestor Crane-Yang Fist—then suddenly, Cai Yuming died.
They had intended to quietly sound out Yan Chuang about switching to Taikang, but then they ran into Zhong Hui and caught Yan Chuang just as he was leaving for Taikang. Before they knew it, without even going home or packing, they'd followed him out of the city!
"You told your family?"
"Nope. You?"
"I found out about Cai's death this morning, went straight to the Ironwire Hall by noon—I didn't have time to tell anyone."
"So what now?"
"What else? Just go with it. Follow Master Yan to Taikang and register!"
"..."
"..."
They exchanged blank stares, both a little stunned.
…
So it was.
By twist of fate!
By sheer coincidence!
What was originally just Yan Chuang and Jin Yutang became a party of five. Before he even began teaching at Taikang Academy, Yan Chuang had already brought three elite disciples from Guangling Academy with him.
When Shao Yancong saw this, he'd probably laugh his teeth out!
…
"Hahahaha!"
"Excellent!"
"Wonderful!"
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you, Master Yan! No one in Guangling Commandery can match your reputation. With you here, it's like Taikang Academy has a phoenix tree—look, three golden phoenixes have already flown in before you've even taken root!"
It was the morning of November 27th. Shao Yancong had waited with eager eyes and finally welcomed Yan Chuang.
Right on time—just as promised!
And not alone either. He brought surprises—three students from Guangling Academy:
Zhong Hui, on par with Guangling's top forty elites.
Yu Renjie and Dai Pu, a step behind, but both skilled enough to qualify as research students.
All excellent talents.
Shao Yancong was thrilled—he was grinning ear to ear.
Yan Chuang had arrived late the night before, around midnight, and stayed at an inn outside the city. At dawn, he headed straight for Taikang Academy.
Architecturally, it didn't lose to Guangling.
As a newly built academy supported by an entire commandery, it couldn't afford to look shabby.
But—
Once inside, the differences became clear:
Student count.
Student quality.
Student spirit.
All lacking.
A visible gap on all fronts.
Still, enthusiasm wasn't lacking—
[A warm welcome to "Shadowless Kick" Professor Yan Chuang to Taikang Academy!]
Banners were everywhere.
Students lined the road, shouting loudly:
"Welcome!"
"Warm welcome!"
"Shadowless Kick!"
"Golden Touch!"
"When's your first class, Professor Yan?"
"I want to become your student, Master Yan!"
"Professor Yan! Speak in the Taikang dialect!!"
…
The people of Taikang were passionate—the students even more so.
They crowded around, cheering Yan Chuang on, giving him plenty of face.
Jin Yutang walked proudly beside him.
Zhong Hui, Yu Renjie, and Dai Pu were stunned. They'd known Yan Chuang was popular in Guangling, but they hadn't expected this kind of reception even in a place a hundred miles away.
Yan Chuang himself was flattered.
He turned to Shao Yancong and said, "This is too much, Senior Shao. I don't deserve this."
"You do! You do!"
"Your presence is a blessing for Taikang Academy."
"It was so cold and lifeless before."
"If we don't go all out, how can we show our respect?"
Shao Yancong gripped Yan Chuang's hand warmly and walked him into the inner courtyard.
Once inside—
The bustling crowd disappeared. From thousands outside to just a few dozen within.
At the front stood an elder, dignified and imposing. Yan Chuang, experienced as he was, guessed: "This must be someone of the 'Elder Ten' rank."
Indeed—
Shao Yancong led him over and introduced:
"This is Zhao Ye, master of the Five Elements Fist and one of our four inner elders at Taikang. Two others aren't present today, but I'll introduce them later. Brother Zhao, this is Master Yan—'Shadowless Kick'!"
So—
Shao Yancong.
Zhao Ye.
Plus two more.
Only four elders at Taikang?
Yan Chuang took note but didn't let it show. He bowed to Zhao Ye: "Elder Zhao!"
"No need for such formality."
Though a senior elder, Zhao Ye was cordial.
"I've heard much from Brother Shao. You fought through the Guangling Academy at the martial tournament and nearly killed Wu Qi of the Wu Clan Fist! Impressive! We've been eager to meet you!"
"You're too kind!"
Yan Chuang replied humbly.
But Zhao Ye wasn't exaggerating—Shao Yancong had praised Yan's combat skills and teaching abilities extensively. Add in the intelligence gathered by the local Martial Department—
His martial hall.
His advanced training center.
Everything about his teaching record was laid out, leaving no room for doubt. Everyone had been anticipating his arrival.
And now, at last—
Yan Chuang was here!
Then—
Shao Yancong smiled again and introduced more details:
Unlike Guangling Academy, Taikang had only four elders, supported by four deacons—two of whom were currently absent. Yan guessed they were likely in the Shanhai Realm.
The top hierarchy at Taikang:
Four Elders.
Four Deacons.
Below that:
Five Professors.
Eight Instructors.
Fourteen Lecturers.
Twenty Assistants.
Forty-six Tier-Three Research Students.
Altogether, just barely a hundred members of faculty and elite students.
Only half of them were present today—just forty to fifty people. A stark contrast to the lively reception outside.
"Four Elders?"
"Only five Professors?"
Yu Renjie and Dai Pu listened quietly behind Yan Chuang, hearing Shao's breakdown of Taikang's faculty—and felt... odd.
The elders weren't the problem.
After Yan Chuang killed Wu Qi and two others went missing, Guangling was down to seven elders—barely more than Taikang.
But professors?
They weren't sure how many Guangling had, but each of the eighteen widely-taught martial styles had two to five professors.
The Five-Ancestor Crane-Yang Fist alone had three.
Sure, one just died—but that still left two.
Even assuming all styles had only two professors, that'd be thirty-six. Easily seven times more than Taikang.
In reality, it was likely ten times more.
And that was just in number—not counting quality.
Even if both were called professors—
Taikang's were probably no match for Guangling's.
As for the rest—Instructors, Lecturers—it wasn't even worth comparing.
Yes, they were all appointed by the Martial Department, but better academies attracted better talent. There was a clear difference.
As for forty-plus third-tier students?
That was a joke.
Just the Subduing Fist alone—
Just the Seven Stars Fist Society—
From Chief Zhong Le down through the four guardians and five lords, every member was a third-tier student at minimum.
That's twelve, from one society.
Add in those who practiced Subduing Fist but weren't in a society?
Easily ten more.
One style alone had 20+ third-tier students!
Eighteen major styles?
The total was likely over two hundred.
"The gap is massive!"