Xin Yunzhou scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: "I know that I am mediocre in literary talent and unlikely to achieve anything in the imperial examinations. I might as well try the military examinations... perhaps I can still earn some fame for the Xin family."

Xin Jiuwei's eyes flickered slightly. In her past life, her brother had never shown his talents until the family was destroyed, so his current initiative to seek change was quite unexpected.

"Has my brother mentioned this to Mr. Ye?" she asked casually.

Xin Yunzhou shook his head: "Not yet. The master has always valued literature over military affairs, and I'm afraid he'll be disappointed..."

Xin Jiuwei tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, lost in thought. Although Ye Qingzheng was a great scholar, he was upright and unyielding. If he knew Xin Yunzhou wanted to abandon his literary pursuits for martial arts, he might not object, but…

Meanwhile, Qi Huaiyu stood in the dark alley outside the Ye residence, coldly watching the lights shining from inside.

He held a forged letter in his hand, the handwriting exactly the same as Ye Qing's—it was the handwriting he had copied when he sneaked into Ye's study a few days ago.

The letter read:

My disciple Yunzhou: Your desire to abandon literature for martial arts is putting the cart before the horse. If you insist on this, then our master-disciple relationship is severed.

Qi Huaiyu's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Xin Yunzhou, you respect Ye Qing like a father. If you received this letter... what would you do?"

With a flick of his finger, the letter fluttered to the ground and was swept by the night wind toward the gate of the Ye residence.

Even after leaving her brother's study, Xin Jiuwei still felt uneasy.

She paused, then suddenly turned and walked out of the mansion.

"Miss, it's so late, where are you going?" Wang Qing hurriedly followed.

"Go to the Ye residence." Xin Jiuwei's eyes were cold. "Go now."

A night wind suddenly rose, whipping up her clothes, making her appear like a chilling shadow disappearing into the deep night.