"Someone from the Mu family?"
Ye Fan followed Ye Yao's gaze and spotted the middle-aged man.
His expression was cold, and a gloomy aura lingered between his brows.
"Yes. He's closely tied to the Third Prince, Duan Tianya."
Ye Yao explained, "I heard the alliance between the Mu family and the Third Prince was orchestrated by Mu Jian. He's the one who proposed marrying Mu Qingcheng to Duan Tianya to solidify their political ties."
"Doesn't look like a decent man."
Ye Fan muttered, a flicker of disdain flashing in his eyes.
He pushed through the crowd and walked straight toward Mu Jian.
Once in front of him, Ye Fan lazily pulled out his admission notice and handed it over with little ceremony.
"Here. My admission notice."
"No respect!"
Mu Jian glanced at Ye Fan but didn't take the notice. Instead, he scolded coldly, "Ye Hai, is this how you raised your son?"
Ye Fan smirked and replied provocatively, "This admission notice was shoved into my hands by His Highness the Third Prince. You're not accepting it?"
He deliberately raised his voice, drawing the attention of nearby onlookers.
"If you won't accept it, fine. I won't enter Tianwu Academy."
Ye Fan shrugged and turned to leave.
His words caused an uproar in the crowd.
"Is Ye Fan insane? Challenging a tutor like that?"
"He's really saying he won't enter Tianwu Academy? That's bold…"
"Does he think he needs permission to join? Who does he think he is?"
The crowd buzzed with speculation. Many who weren't from the imperial city stared curiously, trying to guess Ye Fan's identity.
In Yunyin Kingdom, entering Tianwu Academy was a badge of honor.
Yet Ye Fan acted as if it were beneath him.
"Stop!"
Mu Jian's face darkened. He hadn't expected Ye Fan to be so brazen.
For a moment, he felt he'd lost face.
"What?"
Ye Fan turned back, flashing a playful smile. "Got something else to say?"
Of course, Ye Fan wanted to enter Tianwu Academy.
But he was betting that Mu Jian wouldn't dare reject someone personally recommended by Duan Tianya.
"Hmph."
Mu Jian snorted and, without even glancing at the admission notice, tossed Ye Fan a Tianwu Order.
"Take it."
Ye Fan caught it, his smirk deepening.
Mu Jian turned to a young man beside him.
"Nie Lin, this is Ye Fan—personally recommended by His Highness. Make sure to look after him during the freshman trial."
"Yes, Master."
Nie Lin bowed respectfully, then straightened and cast a sharp glance at Ye Fan.
"Nie Lin? Never seen you before. You're not from the imperial city, are you?"
Ye Fan looked him up and down, then said with a sly grin, "In a place like this, picking the wrong side can cost you your life."
Nie Lin's face darkened, a flash of coldness in his eyes.
Before he could respond, Ye Fan had already turned and walked away—clearly unimpressed.
Just a few steps later, Ye Fan's attention was drawn to a group approaching from the distance.
Among them was a woman in a lilac dress, her demeanor gentle but her gaze icy.
It was Lin Qingyue.
"Did you hear? Lin Qingyue was pregnant with the Third Prince's child—but Ye Fan killed it."
"I heard that too. Apparently, she wanted Ye Fan to raise the child, and he snapped."
"That's not what I heard. Weren't they planning to marry? The whole thing fell apart over the bride price."
"Who knows the truth? But rumor has it Lin Mo got his hands on a Three-Corpse Transformation Elixir. Lin Qingyue took it, refined the stillborn fetus, and her cultivation jumped three levels in a single day."
As the Lin family arrived, the crowd erupted in whispers.
Ye Fan ignored Lin Qingyue and walked past her without a glance.
"Ye Fan!"
Her voice was cold as ice, laced with fury.
Ye Fan stopped and turned lazily, as if just noticing her.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Lin. Something you need?"
Lin Qingyue clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.
"During the freshman trial, I'll kill you myself—to avenge my child."
"How dramatic."
Ye Fan sneered. "You think a sudden boost in cultivation makes you invincible? You're barely stronger than your dead brother Lin Qingyang. Who gave you the confidence to challenge me?"
"You…"
Lin Qingyue's face darkened.
With the Three-Corpse Elixir, she'd reached the fifth level of the Spiritual Martial Realm.
But it still wasn't enough to defeat Ye Fan.
He didn't bother continuing the conversation and walked away.
After a few steps, he rejoined Ye Yao.
"Ye Fan, don't be too arrogant."
Ye Yao had been watching closely and couldn't help but warn him.
"Open attacks are easy to dodge. Hidden ones aren't. Outside the Ye Mansion, keep a low profile. Don't go looking for trouble."
"Sister Yao, you're wrong."
Ye Fan replied seriously. "What did I gain from being a good guy all these years? Just more people stepping on me. Now, I want everyone in the imperial city to know—I'm not some soft persimmon anyone can squeeze."
"You…"
Ye Yao was momentarily speechless.
"It's almost time."
Mu Jian's voice rang out.
"The freshman trial will be held in Wolf Garden, north of the imperial city. Since it's a trial, danger is inevitable. If you're afraid to die, quit now. If not—follow me."
With that, he turned and entered Tianwu Academy.
The crowd exchanged glances, then followed.
Tianwu Academy occupied the northern sector of the imperial city—like a city within a city.
Ye Fan and the others followed Ye Yao, moving with the crowd.
On either side of the road stood towering halls and ornate buildings.
Soon, they reached a wide avenue flanked by ten-foot-high bluestone walls.
At the end stood a massive city gate, wide enough for twenty people to walk side by side.
It was open, and three figures stood before it.
At the center was Mu Qingcheng, the Third Prince's consort.
Her beauty instantly drew every gaze.
The two young men beside her were equally striking—clearly the other two supervisors for the trial.
"Oh no…"
Ye Yao suddenly gasped.
The crowd turned to her in surprise.
"Sister Yao, what's wrong? Shocked?"
Ye Fan looked at her, puzzled.