Chapter Twenty-Seven: Grasped Hands

At the very instant Ye Qianling made her move, Si Yan caught a glimpse of something slipping from her sleeve into her hand. Before he could even blink, that object shot out at astonishing speed. A chill wind brushed past Si Yan’s cheek, and following its path, he saw the tiger’s severed head tumble to the ground.

Ke Li had intended to step forward and intervene, but the speed was simply too fast to keep up with. He thought better of it and stayed where he was.

"You saw what I did, didn’t you? Over twenty people were devoured by that beast, yet you all just stood by and watched. Is that truly the act of a human being?" Those nearby instinctively edged away from Ye Qianling, and though they were moved by her words, they felt sure she would follow in the footsteps of the one called Sui Yin.

"This is a trial, not child’s play. Everyone who comes here should be prepared to die. If you lack ability, you shouldn’t be here. Survival of the fittest—this has always been the principle of West Suburban Southern Academy. The rules apply to all, and you have no right to break them." The man’s face remained expressionless. Ye Qianling’s face darkened, her gaze turning icy.

"Forgive me, but I’ve always believed that rules exist to be broken. No one is born a prodigy. These people were just on the verge of their own growth, and you slaughtered them where they stood. Nowhere and no one has the right to trample on the lives of others at will. Today, you let beasts devour people, skinning and tearing them apart alive, leaving them to die in agony before your eyes. If I have the ability to protect them, why shouldn’t I?" She raised her brows, bloodthirsty intent glinting at the corners of her upturned lips.

Ke Li, who had remained silent, saw the murderous light in Ye Qianling’s eyes. His voice, clear and piercing, sounded out as he looked at her with indifference, as though the matter was of no consequence. "You think you can protect these people? With what? Just you alone—how could you possibly defeat the entire West Suburban Southern Academy?"

He saw his words had struck a nerve. He knew that, alone, her goal was impossible; surely she herself understood that. Her actions had been reckless in the extreme. Even if she was a princess and her life would never truly be at risk, this was West Suburban Southern Academy—the most rule-bound and martial place in the Night Dynasty. Her move was impulsive beyond belief. Ke Li had thought Ye Qianling would not be able to bear such a cruel trial and might step in early to help kill the beast, or at least say something in protest, but not in this manner—the least appropriate of all.

Ye Qianling herself realized she’d acted on impulse, but she did not regret it. In that moment, if she hadn’t intervened, even more people would have died. Unsure how to respond, she was silent for a long while before finally looking up at Ke Li. "Director, it’s true I’m alone and not especially skilled, but if I can save even one person, isn’t that enough?"

A cold laugh rang out. Ke Li’s icy smile swept over Ye Qianling, though it seemed meant for everyone present. "You saved everyone, did you?" His voice was utterly devoid of warmth. "Now everyone has passed the third trial—except you. If anyone else here wants to help you and together you kill the next tiger, you pass. Otherwise, you know what awaits you."

He hadn’t finished speaking before the very people who had just been thanking Ye Qianling lowered their heads in unison. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help; humans are by nature selfish. Who would risk their own life to save another for no reason? This is simple human nature. Ye Qianling felt no disappointment. Seeing that no one stepped forward, she smiled faintly and turned to Ke Li. "Show me the tiger."

She straightened her clothes, tidied her hair, and was just about to step forward when a male voice suddenly rang out behind her. "I’ll help her." Ye Qianling turned, incredulous, and saw it was Si Yan—the very same young man whose striking appearance had stunned her at first meeting, with those phoenix eyes just as she remembered.

Si Yan turned to her and smiled, a gentle expression that seemed to heal the heart. Perhaps it was not dazzling, but it felt as if it shook the very sky. His deep, magnetic voice lingered in the air as his lips parted. "I’ll help you, Miss Ye."

With that one simple sentence, Ye Qianling, who had been bracing herself for a bloody struggle, suddenly felt as if spring had come to her world. She’d never thought of herself as someone who lacked security, and even now, facing this predicament, she wouldn’t be easily moved by another. But these words lit a spark of hope in her eyes.

Still clinging to reason, Ye Qianling said, "Young Master Chi, this is no joke. I appreciate your kindness, thank you, but I don’t need anyone to help me." She didn’t want to say it, but she couldn’t bear for another to be hurt because of her—especially someone so kind, who reached out in her moment of desperation.

To be distracted by someone’s charm at a time like this only showed how remarkable this man’s presence was. His gentle words softened her gaze for a fleeting moment. So his name is Chi Yan, she thought. Chi Yan.

I will remember this, Ye Qianling vowed inwardly.

"Miss Ye, you’re injured, aren’t you?" Si Yan said, after some thought, certain of his observation.

Ye Qianling thought she had concealed it well—unless one looked closely, her wounds were invisible. How had Young Master Chi seen through her? Seeing her confusion, he continued, "In such a small cage, your hidden weapon could never have moved fast enough to sever the tiger’s throat. So, alone, your chance of surviving is only twenty percent. Are you really going to throw your life away?"

"You underestimate me, Young Master Chi," Ye Qianling replied with a smile.

Even if it meant death, she refused to drag anyone else down with her. Alone, she was enough.

"I’m willing as well." This time, it was Sui Ying’ai, the striking young woman from the registration. Ye Qianling paused again, puzzled. If Si Yan’s willingness made sense—after all, it’s not uncommon for a man to stand up for a woman in distress—she couldn’t fathom Sui Ying’ai’s motivation.

Ye Qianling’s core belief had always been that no one goes out of their way for others without some benefit to themselves. Strangers aren’t kind for nothing.

"Count me in," another said.

"And me."

Before she knew it, it felt as if a small team had formed, ready to face the monster together—seven people in all, two women and five men, all of whom had skipped the first two rounds of selection. Lined up, they looked like a living masterpiece, enough to stir the heart. Each was striking in appearance, their temperaments different, but all clearly exceptional.

None of them seemed ordinary. In a moment like this, anyone with the courage to step forward was no coward.

This turn of events upended Ye Qianling’s understanding of the world. She could hardly believe it, and after a long pause, managed to utter a few words: "Thank you."

"It’s nothing," replied a man with seductive, almond-shaped eyes—one who looked every bit the unruly playboy from outside these walls. It was hard to imagine how he’d ended up here. "You put yourself in danger for us—how could we not help you? That wouldn’t be the act of a gentleman." His words, clearly aimed at everyone present, were laced with subtle reproach. "Jian Suifei, Jingde City, seventeen." He introduced himself.

Jingde City, second only to the capital in the Night Dynasty, was a place where the wealthy and powerful gathered. Anyone from there was likely from a prosperous merchant family. Only some unexpected misfortune could have brought Jian Suifei to this den of demons.

"Yeah, the way you handled that just now was incredible. Will you teach me sometime?" A boy with bright, lively eyes looked at Ye Qianling with innocent admiration.

Seeing that the others expected him to introduce himself, he spoke with disarming naivety: "I’m Zhou Xiaojie, fifteen, from Guangke City."

"You’re so young—what are you doing here? Isn’t this the earliest age allowed for admission to West Suburban Southern Academy?" Jian Suifei was surprised at his age. For a fifteen-year-old to be here was harsh, but there was no time to dwell on that now. Getting to know each other quickly before facing a life-or-death trial was what mattered.

"Sui Ying’ai, seventeen, Shaoyang City," said the poised young woman.

"Zhao Mengge, seventeen, Xianyang City." With his tall frame and the way he handled his sword, he was clearly a swordsman.

"Chu Zimu, sixteen, from the capital." Compared to the others, Chu Zimu was the approachable, handsome boy-next-door, with a warmth that drew people in.

"Chi Yan, sixteen, from Shaoyin City." Si Yan finally spoke. Though he still seemed aloof, the fact that he was the first to step forward had already won him the admiration of all.

"Wu Ling, fifteen, from the capital." Another fifteen-year-old—after the first, it no longer seemed strange.

"Have you all studied martial arts?" Jian Suifei asked.

Each nodded in turn. Of course, anyone who dared skip the first two rounds had to possess some level of fighting ability; otherwise, they wouldn’t have had the courage.

There was no need for words. Ye Qianling was truly moved by their kindness, her heart warm yet tinged with bittersweet ache. Now, only by fighting well could she hope to save them all. She silently swore to herself: she would protect these people at any cost.

Once introductions were done, the official led them to a courtyard where yet another cage awaited. This tiger was noticeably larger than the last, appearing even hungrier and more dangerous.

"When we go in," Si Yan instructed, "Miss Wu, Chu Zimu, and I will attack from the front. Miss Sui and Young Master Jian, take the left; Young Master Zhou and Young Master Zhao, the right. If we strike together, we must keep the beast from closing in on us at the outset."