In the afternoon, the scorching sun blazed intensely.

An ordinary, old carriage creaked and groaned as it slowly entered Scorchstone City.

Several minutes later, the carriage stopped before a quiet mansion in the western district. A slightly chubby young man jumped down from the carriage. He looked about seventeen years old, dressed in simple, durable brown robes, with a thick copper-covered book hanging from the leather belt at his waist, and a worn, faded-edge strapped wooden box on his back.

Arriving at the mansion, he stood on tiptoe to peer through the iron railings into the courtyard, then picked up the knocker on the iron gate and rapped it.

Soon, an elderly servant came over at the sound and saw the young man.

"Oh, it's Yero. What brings you back?" He recognized this young man as a former student of Scholar Hyde.

"I heard that Master Hyde is planning to teach again, so I rushed back immediately."

"I'm surprised someone as unsociable as you got the news so quickly this time." The elderly servant opened the iron gate to let Yero in.

"Master Hyde is taking his afternoon nap right now, so you'll have to wait a while to see him. Please rest in the side hall for now."

About an hour later, light, slow footsteps came from inside the house, and a long-bearded old man in a sleeping robe entered the side hall. Shortly after he sat down, a maid brought him fresh iced tea.

"I heard from Manson that you returned as soon as I woke up." He adjusted his reading glasses on the bridge of his nose and carefully examined the young man across from him.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Hyde." Yero first stood up and bowed in apology before straightening up to explain.

"These past two years in Valley City... haven't been good. Perhaps I couldn't adapt to the environment there, so I humbly request to return to your side to continue my studies." Yero sounded ashamed, his voice low.

"Good child, tell me all your problems. Why are you so restrained today, hmm?" Scholar Hyde's smile eased Yero's nervous heart considerably.

Yero held deep respect for this white-bearded elder over eighty years old. Not only was he his mentor, but he had also cared for him greatly in daily life. Otherwise, as someone of common birth, it would have been difficult for him to pursue knowledge and become a scholar.

"After bidding you farewell, I took your letter of recommendation and went to Valley City to study under Scholar Halwin there..." He began recounting his experiences over the past two years.

"The environment in Valley City is different from Scorchstone City. It's quite frivolous there, with everyone obsessed with various arts and fashions. I'm completely unfamiliar with those things and couldn't join their conversations." In this new environment, this country student found it hard to fit in with his peers.

"Moreover, most of them are descendants of nobility, or come from good families. I..." His voice faltered, but even without him saying more, Scholar Hyde could guess the situation he had faced.

"It seems it was my mistake to recommend you to Valley City back then." Hyde shook his head slightly and stroked his beard as he spoke.

"Not at all, it was my own inadequacy. Fitz, for example, got along well with the local students." Fitz was another student who had studied under Scholar Hyde alongside Yero two years ago.

"Everyone has different personalities and characteristics. There's no need to compare yourself with others." Hyde gestured slightly for Yero to sit down.

"I roughly understand your situation now."

"Don't let past matters trouble you anymore. For the coming period, you shall continue your studies here with me."

Hearing this, Yero's eyes lit up. Suppressing his inner joy, he nodded gratefully.

"Thank you, teacher!"

"Hmm, you're also quite lucky." Stroking his beard, Hyde remembered something.

"Actually, I hadn't planned to continue teaching. As you know, I'm quite old now." He picked up the teacup before him and took a small sip.

"But this time, Viscount Xuefeng specifically asked me to take on a student. I thought that teaching just one person alone wouldn't be beneficial."

"Interacting with peers—the mutual comparisons, competition, socializing, friendships, and so forth that occur—is essential in a person's growth process."

"'How can one know their own appearance without a mirror?' This is the necessity of interacting with peers."

"By observing children of the same age, one comes to understand their own strengths and talents—perhaps being articulate, quick-witted, or relatively average, and so on."

"Only by truly understanding oneself can one begin their life journey."

"So, I had someone spread the news that I would once again accept young people for teaching." He set down his cup.

"In that case, my return might interfere with your original intention." Yero felt ashamed again.

"Hmm, no need to be so cautious." Scholar Hyde leaned back on the sofa, slightly closing his eyes to rest.

"The student Viscount Xuefeng specifically asked me to take care of happens to be seventeen years old as well. She comes from very far away—she's the daughter of the former Viscount Caren."

"Viscount Caren?" Yero recalled something, his voice puzzled.

"Your guess is correct—it's the Viscount Caren who was stripped of his title last year." Hyde explained slowly.

"In the 'Windmill Battle' two years ago, Regas suffered a major defeat. The summoned knights and soldiers suffered heavy losses, which greatly angered the Grand Duke. As the commander, Viscount Caren couldn't escape responsibility and was dismissed from his position, stripped of his title after the war, and has been imprisoned in the water dungeon of White Cliff City ever since."

"If not for the fact that Viscount Caren was previously quite popular in the royal capital and had accumulated many connections who pleaded for him, he probably would have lost his life long ago."

"He himself will likely never leave prison in this lifetime, but he has a daughter outside—the student I'm to teach this time."

"As for why she's not studying in White Cliff City, naturally it's because the 'Windmill Battle' killed too many knights and offended many nobles. Scorchstone City is located in the remote southern part of Regas, with little interaction with the central regions, so the connections and implications are minimal."

"Two generations ago, a daughter of Viscount Xuefeng married into the Caren family—she's the current Viscount Caren's grandmother—so there's a kinship relationship between the two families."

"So now you understand why Viscount Xuefeng specifically pleaded with me to teach her." Scholar Hyde opened his eyes.

"I understand." Though he understood, another unease rose in Yero's heart. He didn't understand why his teacher was telling him so many secrets.

"Hmm, you'll inevitably come into contact with nobility and their peculiar circles sooner or later. Consider this early practice for you." Hyde directly addressed the confusion in Yero's heart.

"That girl is named Iona. I've heard she was quite the celebrated young lady in White Cliff City before, highly sought after by many. But now her circumstances have plummeted dramatically. My colleagues in White Cliff City say this child isn't easy to get along with." At this point, Scholar Hyde paused briefly.

"In the future, she will be your classmate. How do you plan to interact with her?"

"You don't need to give me the answer now. I just want you to start thinking about it and gradually find an approach that suits you."

"If your goal is to join the 'Candlefort School,' then you should also understand that the best path for a scholar is to assist great nobles in managing affairs, developing territories, and solving various problems. In this process, you gradually validate what you've learned, achieve balance in the Threefold Law, and then advance."

"The path of suffering cannot be avoided." — Ancient sage's maxim.

"Consider this the test I'm setting for you, Yero."

"Yes, teacher." He bowed solemnly once more, his small, earnest face filled with determination.