Chapter 82

(From now on, the main character's name will be unified as Soren, and the name Lan Ling will gradually fade away. Brothers, I sincerely beg for your recommendations.)

In the morning, after breakfast.

Suoning Bing personally dressed Soren in a tight-fitting archer's outfit made of python skin, which was very expensive. Wearing it, he looked exceptionally heroic, and Suoning Bing's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration.

"You look so handsome," Suoning Bing said. "If Gui Qinshe sees you now, she will definitely regret treating you so poorly before."

Hearing his sister mention the name of his betrothed, Soren just smiled and slightly frowned, indicating his unwillingness to talk about Gui Qinshe at this moment.

Suoning Bing didn't notice his discomfort because Soren's eyes looked bright and mischievous, still as charming as ever.

Suoning Bing smoothed out Soren's frown and said, "Silly boy, our alliance with Baron Gui Xingfu of Linhai City is very important. Besides, you haven't seen your betrothed; she is incredibly beautiful, so beautiful that it's blinding. Once you successfully inherit the title and become the Lord of Tianshui City, we will go to Linhai City to formally propose and arrange your wedding."

Suoning Bing fastened the belt around Soren's waist, looking him up and down. His tall and slender figure, paired with his extremely handsome face, was indeed enough to captivate countless young girls. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Is something wrong with your eyes, kid?" Suoning Bing was too concerned about Soren. Even though his eyes looked fine, she still felt something was slightly off.

"Everything's fine, I'm just mesmerized by your beauty," Soren teased.

"Our kid is truly handsome. Go and dazzle everyone," Suoning Bing rarely teased, then affectionately rubbed her nose against Soren's.

Soren took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her slim waist and stole a kiss on her lips.

Suoning Bing's body trembled, her face instantly turning red, and she whispered, "Little rascal, let me go."

Soren didn't let go; instead, he tightened his grip, making her soft body press against his. Then he brought his lips close to her crystal-clear earlobe and softly said, "Sister, wait for me at home."

With that, he gently bit Suoning Bing's earlobe and walked out.

Suoning Bing's body felt numb on one side, her beautiful face flushed as if she had drunk wine. She watched Soren's back, her large eyes misty and dreamy.

Somewhere along the way, this handsome and melancholic boy had become the center of her life.

For some reason, despite feeling happy and shy from the intimacy, Suoning Bing felt a shadow of gloom, though she couldn't pinpoint the reason.

...

"Good morning, young master."

"Good morning, master."

"Good luck, young master."

Relying on his memory, Soren walked out of the manor in the dark. The family warriors and maids all bowed and greeted him, and he greeted them with a smile and a nod.

Walking out of the manor, Ye Jingyu's carriage was already prepared.

Soren walked over and whispered to Ye Jingyu, "Help me get into the carriage."

Ye Jingyu was surprised, then held Soren's hand and helped him into the carriage.

"May the master return victorious," all the maids and warriors at the manor gate shouted loudly.

Soren waved to them with a smile, bidding farewell.

Ye Jingyu whipped the reins and drove the carriage toward the Royal City Academy.

At this moment, the bet between Soren and Zhi Ning had become the focus of the entire royal city.

Today, the final outcome would be decided.

The road from the manor to the Royal City Academy was lined with crowds cheering for Soren.

"Soren, we support you. You must win the last match."

"Soren, you must win, beat Princess Zhi Ning!"

"Soren, go for it, you must win, you must win!"

Despite being a noble and once having a notorious reputation, Soren dared to resist the royal family's oppression and created miracles time and again. Therefore, he was now revered by countless people in the royal city.

Everyone was waiting for his final performance, waiting for him to create the final miracle.

However, no one knew that the Soren they considered a miracle was now blind.

For an archer, losing his sight was like a gourmet losing his tongue, or a perfume expert losing his sense of smell.

At the Silver Casino, the number of gold coins bet on Soren winning had increased by over a thousand, now totaling over thirteen thousand.

If Soren really won, the Silver Casino would have to pay out one hundred and thirty thousand gold coins.

This was an astronomical amount, equivalent to a province's annual tax revenue. If Soren really won, the Silver Casino would go bankrupt three times over, and Zhi Ning and Zhi Li would suffer a severe blow.

Even for this astronomical amount of gold coins, it was enough to blacken Soren a hundred times.

Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Soren's carriage entered the Royal City Academy.

...

The road was no longer lined with noisy crowds. Soren was still the center of attention, but the atmosphere was cold and hostile.

Every student at the Commoners' Academy glared at Soren's carriage.

Because these people were the most loyal supporters of the royal family. Soren, on the other hand, was the enemy of the royal family, blocking Prince Zhi Li's path.

What was even more unforgivable was that Soren had defiled their Princess Zhi Ning. Both Princess Zhi Ning and Prince Zhi Li had high reputations in the Commoners' Academy.

Moreover, Soren's essay on the downfall of the country due to party strife had completely placed him in opposition to the commoner elites.

As for Soren's astonishing artistic achievements? They didn't care and didn't value these intangible things.

As Soren's carriage passed through the central axis of the Commoners' Academy, he was once again met with dense ridicule and insults from the commoner students.

"Soren, this final exam will be the moment you reveal your true nature as a failure."

"Soren, after today, your Soren family will be finished. You will be nothing, just like us, a commoner."

"Oh no, we may be commoners, but we have outstanding literary and martial skills. You, once you lose your noble status, will become a complete failure."

"Soren, once you lose everything, you can wholeheartedly serve those prostitutes, painting and playing music for them. That's what you're best at, isn't it?"

"At that time, he probably won't have the leisure to do so. But with his good looks, he can work as a prostitute in a brothel, making money faster by spreading his legs."

Ye Jingyu, driving the carriage, was so angry that her body trembled. At this moment, Soren was not just her master but also a man who made her heart ache and was incredibly captivating.

In contrast, Soren listened to the insults and ridicule in the carriage without any reaction.

After passing through the Commoners' Academy, they arrived at the Nobles' Academy, where the scene was different.

"Soren, we support you."

"Soren, you must win!"

Many noble girls enthusiastically shouted support for Soren.

In their minds, a man with high martial skills was just a brute. Only art was eternal, and that night, Soren's performance of "Fate" had completely won them over.

They not only supported him with words but also with actions, especially with gold coins.

They spent all their pocket money to bet on Soren at the Silver Casino, even though they knew this money would be lost, as they knew Soren was completely helpless in martial arts.

Soren couldn't see these girls, but he could feel their enthusiasm. He smiled and thought to himself, "I could have won you some dowry money, but now... I'll do my best!"

The carriage stopped in front of the archery range, the venue for today's final exam.

"Jingyu, help me," Soren said, extending his hand.

Ye Jingyu was surprised again, then helped Soren down and teased, "Yes, my lord. After tonight, I won't be your warrior but your maid."

"Will you be responsible for warming my bed as a maid?" Soren teased, looking in Ye Jingyu's direction.

At this moment, Ye Jingyu realized something was wrong. Although she was holding Soren's hand, her body was busy with the saddle, and Soren's gaze was empty, not focused on her.

"Master, what's wrong with you?" Ye Jingyu asked, her voice trembling.

Soren said, "I can't see. Yesterday, at Lord Jian Yong's manor, a small but highly skilled woman blinded my eyes. I didn't feel anything yesterday, but this morning, I couldn't see."

Suddenly, Ye Jingyu stood still, and tears streamed down her face, something she had never done before.

Then, Ye Jingyu squatted on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Why? Why did heaven treat her master like this?

He was so kind, so talented, so strong, and so pitiable. Why treat him like this?

Then, Ye Jingyu's heart filled with infinite sorrow and anger. She gripped her saber and was about to rush out to tear Zhi Ning to pieces, to tear that venomous woman to pieces.

"Jingyu, don't do that. Hold my hand and lead me into the archery range. The final exam is about to start," Soren said.

"But how can you take the exam? You can't even see, how can you shoot arrows?" Ye Jingyu asked.

"I want to try," Soren said. "There's a saying: when fate manipulates you, you must grab it by the throat. If you can't make it submit, then you must die together."

Then, Soren pulled Ye Jingyu up forcefully and said, "Get up, hold my hand and lead me into the archery range. Today, I will try again to see if I can grab its throat. If I fail, I might shoot my last arrow at Zhi Ning! If that happens, the Soren family will be exterminated, and you will die with me."

Ye Jingyu stood up, gripping Soren's hand and said, "If I die, I'll die with you. If your last arrow doesn't kill Zhi Ning, I will use all my strength to tear her to pieces."

Then, Ye Jingyu held Soren's hand and led him into the vast archery range in the darkness.

...