Chapter 61: Defeat Them

Officer Fu did not engage in much conversation; after briefly explaining the situation to Luo Xuan and Luo Ke, he took Zhou Yan away under the pretense of “returning to handle paperwork.” In truth, Officer Fu brought Zhou Yan to a certain location, took his photo, verified the information, and registered him in the archives.

He then handed Zhou Yan an official identification card.

Thus, Zhou Yan acquired a legal identity in this world with astonishing speed—a young man of twenty-one, orphaned, with no other relatives.

This experience gave Zhou Yan a clearer sense of Zhang Daosheng’s influence as an elder of Vermilion Bird Palace. If someone could conjure up a person’s records out of thin air, erasing someone’s existence must be just as effortless.

...

Even as Zhou Yan returned to the entrance of the sword academy, he was still pondering the true intentions of the old man named Zhang Daosheng. However, when he saw Luo Ke anxiously peering around and waiting for his return at the gate, he set aside his worries and put on a smile for the girl.

“Zhou Yan!” Before he could say a word, Luo Ke rushed ahead of him, “What took you so long? Did they give you any trouble? I always thought the Civil Affairs officers were good people, but I didn’t expect—”

“That’s enough,” Zhou Yan interrupted her indignant rant with an amused sigh.

He pulled out his brand-new identification card and flashed it before Luo Ke. “Officer Fu just helped me replace my ID, so it took a bit of time. Oh, and he also gave me this…”

As he spoke, he pinched the card, revealing another card hidden behind it—a bank card issued in his name, already loaded with a substantial sum.

Clearly, this too was arranged by Zhang Daosheng.

Luo Ke’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Oh my goodness, Zhou Yan, you actually have savings! How much is it?”

Zhou Yan chuckled, “Over seventy thousand, I had no idea at all…”

“Wow!” Luo Ke’s eyes grew even wider. “Zhou Yan, you’ve struck it rich!”

Zhou Yan laughed heartily with her, then shrugged indifferently, “Though it’s nice to have money, it doesn’t seem to make much difference to me.”

Luo Ke’s expression faltered.

She had heard with her own ears that Officer Fu had explicitly told Zhou Yan he had no relatives or friends—an orphan, through and through.

So she asked carefully, “So, Zhou Yan, what are you planning to do next? Will you… go back to your hometown, the one on your ID?”

Zhou Yan’s new identification listed him as being from a small, remote village in the Vermilion Bird District. But he knew better than anyone—he had crossed over from Earth and had no so-called hometown on this planet. Everything was a fabrication by that old fox Zhang Daosheng.

He shook his head with a smile. “I’m all alone—going back would be pointless. On the contrary…”

He looked at Luo Ke seriously. “Xiao Ke, are you and your sister still willing to take in a homeless drifter like me?”

Hearing this, Luo Ke broke into a broad grin. “Of course I am! Though, I’ll have to check with my sister first…”

“I have no objections.”

The sudden, cool female voice startled Luo Ke. She turned and saw Luo Xuan standing at the entrance, tall and composed, gazing at her startled younger sister before shifting her eyes to Zhou Yan. “Come in. Why are you still standing outside?”

Zhou Yan exchanged a glance with the now-relieved Luo Ke, and they both smiled.

Together, they followed Luo Xuan into the sword academy.

*

That evening, after dinner, Luo Xuan set down her bowl and chopsticks, then looked at Zhou Yan, who had finished eating two minutes earlier, and spoke quietly. “Zhou Yan, now that you’ve reclaimed your identity, my last concern is gone.”

“What concern?” Zhou Yan asked, a touch of curiosity in his voice.

“Previously, you agreed to join me in the exchange tournament, but there was a crucial issue we couldn’t avoid—”

She glanced at him. “Vermilion Bird Palace has never allowed anyone without a legal identity to participate in its internal exchanges.”

Zhou Yan immediately caught her implication. Without proper identification, participating in such an official event would expose him as undocumented, and Vermilion Bird Palace would surely investigate him…

In fact, someone already had.

The mysterious elder Zhang Daosheng, a former acquaintance of Luo Xuan and Luo Ke’s father, had taken notice of the sword academy’s recent circumstances and thus discovered Zhou Yan’s mysterious origins. Fortunately, for the present at least, this old man seemed to stand on his side; not only had he refrained from taking any drastic measures, he had even taken the initiative to resolve Zhou Yan’s identity issue.

Zhou Yan nodded. “So, Xiao Xuan, when exactly is this so-called exchange tournament?”

“The day after tomorrow,” Luo Xuan replied calmly. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Yicheng, as the largest main city in Vermilion Bird District with the most sub-cities, has countless Nanning Sword Academies within its bounds, and new talents emerge every year…”

She paused. “You’ve only been learning swordsmanship a short while—your progress is already remarkable. This time, we’ll simply go to gain experience. As long as we don’t come in last, it’s fine.”

“Hmm…” Zhou Yan sighed, half exasperated. “Xiao Xuan, aren’t you underestimating me a bit?”

Luo Ke fanned the flames from the side. “Yeah, sis, aren’t you selling Zhou Yan short? He’s pretty amazing.”

Luo Xuan shook her head. “Zhou Yan has advanced rapidly, but he started too late. Other academies have veterans who have been training for years and are eager to shine at the exchange tournament, and there are geniuses who made a name for themselves in under a year due to their swordsmanship foundation. Compared to them, Zhou Yan is at a disadvantage.”

She glanced at Zhou Yan, lowering her gaze. “Moreover, Zhou Yan is missing his right eye and left hand—his field of vision and agility in combat are heavily restricted. His opponents won’t show any mercy.”

“Oh, come on! Now Zhou Yan has the mechanical left hand I made for him; his disadvantages have been greatly reduced!” Luo Ke protested, grabbing Zhou Yan’s left arm and lifting it.

Zhou Yan gave a small laugh and flexed the mechanical hand into a fist. “That’s right—this is an iron fist without mercy. I’ll plant it right on those geniuses’ faces.”

Luo Xuan watched as Zhou Yan, a grown man, played along with her sister’s antics, and could only shake her head in resignation.

She chose not to argue further, instead continuing softly, “Zhou Yan, though your strength is sufficient, for everyone’s sake, tomorrow I’ll announce the exchange tournament to all the students. Our top talents, Yan Yong and Luo Zhiming, will surely want a shot at this opportunity.”

“Tomorrow, you can defeat them both formally and settle the matter.”

Zhou Yan smiled and nodded.

“No problem.”