Fortunately, the unicorn hadn't made it very far before collapsing in exhaustion beneath a large tree. Chu Yang hurried over to check its injuries and immediately began treating it.
Compared to directly using Wood Release chakra, the blended natural magic was far more effective when it came to healing magical creatures.
To pull the unicorn back from the brink of death, Chu Yang expended an enormous amount of natural magic. The residual waves of leaking magic even affected the land beneath his feet.
In the area where the unicorn lay on its side, flowers slowly bloomed one after another. Creatures nearby, drawn by the power of life, were instinctively pulled toward the scene.
Firenze, a centaur patrolling the Forbidden Forest, also sensed this unusual surge of power and quickly moved toward its source.
The centaur tribes of the Forbidden Forest were generally unfriendly toward humans—especially witches and wizards.
Firenze, however, was an exception. He harbored considerable curiosity toward humans.
His upper body was human, with blond hair and blue eyes, strikingly handsome, while his lower body was that of a horse. His silver mane streamed behind him like a meteor as he moved swiftly through the darkness.
When Firenze arrived, the first thing he saw was Chu Yang treating the unicorn's wounds.
Vast amounts of natural magic radiated outward, glowing with a green light that symbolized life, as flowers and plants flourished all around.
Firenze's sapphire-like eyes instantly filled with shock.
The sacred sight struck him so deeply that words could hardly describe it. Almost unconsciously, he went down on one knee, following his instincts to worship what felt like a divine miracle.
The unicorn, whose life signs had been as fragile as a candle in the wind, began to burn anew under Chu Yang's aid. It let out a joyful cry and slowly rose to its feet.
"Huff…" Chu Yang collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. This was the first time he had ever felt so completely drained.
The unicorn lowered its head and gently rubbed against Chu Yang's pale face. Its pure white body glowed softly, sacred and beautiful.
"Sir, you have saved the unicorn's life. Please allow me, on behalf of the forest, to thank you. From this day on, your life shall always be blessed by the forest."
Firenze took a few light steps forward, stopped beside Chu Yang, and bowed slightly. His voice was filled with reverence. "You are not in good condition right now. May I carry you back to a safe place?"
By "safe place," Firenze meant Hogwarts. He could tell from Chu Yang's robes that he was a student there.
"Then I'll have to trouble you," Chu Yang nodded weakly. His whole body felt as limp as mud.
Firenze bent down, preparing to lift Chu Yang, but the unicorn suddenly stretched out its head and nudged him aside, rubbing its head against Chu Yang again and again.
"It seems the unicorn wants to carry you back itself!" Firenze clicked his tongue in amazement. "Under normal circumstances, unicorns only allow pure maidens to ride on their backs. This is the first time I've ever seen one willing to let a male rider mount it…"
Hearing this, Chu Yang felt an odd sense of discomfort. But the unicorn clearly insisted on carrying him back, and he had no strength to refuse.
"Would you like me to lift you up?" Firenze asked gently, every bit the gentleman.
"No, no, just give me a hand," Chu Yang said quickly, waving him off. Firenze's earlier words had already made this straight man feel deeply unsettled.
Firenze helped Chu Yang to his feet. With some effort, Chu Yang climbed onto the unicorn's back and immediately felt how smooth its coat was.
Just lying there, he was already on the verge of falling asleep from sheer comfort.
Under the moonlight, Firenze led the way while the unicorn carried Chu Yang behind him. Even if some creatures in the forest were watching them, none dared to act recklessly.
"Mr. Chu Yang, if you wish to come to the Forbidden Forest again, you may blow on this leaf. Whether day or night, I will come to you as quickly as possible."
As he spoke, Firenze turned around and handed Chu Yang a leaf.
The veins of the leaf were clearly defined, its entire surface a vivid green. At a glance, it was obviously some kind of magical item.
"Thank you," Chu Yang accepted Firenze's gift. At the same time, he couldn't help wondering why Firenze's attitude toward him was so friendly. Was it simply because he had saved the unicorn's life?
Were these two races really that close?
With his head full of questions, Chu Yang reached the path by the gamekeeper's hut—and ran straight into Hagrid. Seeing Chu Yang riding atop a unicorn, Hagrid was so shocked that he dropped the lantern in his hand.
"Merlin's beard… I must be too tired. I've started hallucinating," Hagrid muttered with his eyes closed.
When he opened them again, Chu Yang had already ridden the unicorn right up in front of him.
"A unicorn actually letting a male ride it…" Hagrid stared in disbelief. In all his years, he had never seen a single unicorn break this rule.
"Hey, Hagrid," Firenze greeted him familiarly. The two of them often patrolled the Forbidden Forest and were far from strangers.
"Firenze? What are you doing here too?" Hagrid finally came back to his senses and realized just how bizarre this combination was.
A human wizard, a unicorn, and a centaur…
"Someone was hunting unicorns in the Forbidden Forest. Fortunately, Mr. Chu Yang arrived in time…" Firenze recounted everything he knew, though he hadn't seen the true culprit himself—only that the person was extremely evil.
"This matter must be reported to Headmaster Dumbledore," Hagrid said gravely, recognizing how serious it was. Just as he was about to head back to the school, he suddenly remembered Chu Yang and couldn't help asking, "And why did you sneak into the Forbidden Forest? That's punishable, you know."
Chu Yang replied quietly, "I came to check on the Whomping Willow."
Hagrid immediately understood and explained, "It's cold now. The Whomping Willow is hibernating in the part of the Forbidden Forest near the game preserve. It's not around here."
"Hibernating?" Chu Yang exclaimed in surprise. This was the first time he'd heard that magical plants could hibernate too.
"Not true hibernation, exactly. Its activity level just drops a lot. It was the same back when it was at Hogwarts. But if you get too close, you'll still wake it up—and then it'll throw a massive tantrum."
Hagrid emphasized that last point in particular. He had witnessed it himself not long ago, and the scene had been nothing short of spectacular.
"In that case, let it keep resting," Chu Yang said.
The moment he finished speaking, he sneezed.
With his magic nearly depleted, Chu Yang's resistance to the cold temporarily dropped as well.
"We should hurry and send Mr. Chu Yang back to the school. In weather this cold, staying outside any longer will make him ill," Firenze said urgently.
He had no time to pay further attention to Hagrid. Just as he was about to bolt forward, the unicorn was already one step ahead, galloping nonstop toward the school.
Hagrid froze for a moment, then hurried after them.
They were no longer far from the school now. Hogwarts, perched atop the cliff, was clearly visible in the distance.
After delivering Chu Yang back to the grounds, the unicorn and Firenze plunged straight back into the forest surrounding the school.
Hagrid arrived a bit later. Without worrying about disturbing Dumbledore's rest, he hoisted Chu Yang onto his shoulder and rushed straight toward Dumbledore's chambers.
Late at night, just as Dumbledore was preparing to go to bed, a series of urgent knocks dragged him back from his bed.
When Dumbledore opened the door, he saw Hagrid covered in wind and snow—with Chu Yang slung over his shoulder.
"After a few quiet months, I almost forgot just how talented you are at stirring up trouble," Dumbledore said calmly, adjusting his glasses with a weary sigh. "Go on—what happened this time? I can take it."
Sensing that something major had occurred, Dumbledore remained outwardly composed, though clearly exhausted.
"Oh," Chu Yang replied, then said flatly, "I accidentally ran into Voldemort…"
Dumbledore's hand froze mid-wipe. Hagrid stiffened as well. Both of them stared blankly at Chu Yang.
"You didn't tell me that just now," Hagrid swallowed hard, cold sweat pouring down his back. "The mysterious person Firenze mentioned who was hunting unicorns—that was Voldemort?"
Dumbledore's expression was no better. "Hagrid, tell me exactly what happened."
Hagrid repeated everything Firenze had told him.
"I understand," Dumbledore said at last. "Hagrid, you should go back now. And remember—do not let a second person know about this."
"Got it. I promise," Hagrid replied. Not wanting to disturb Dumbledore any further, he quietly left the room.
Dumbledore then asked, "Chu Yang, the Voldemort you encountered—was he Professor Quirrell?"
Chu Yang nodded, then asked, "Headmaster, you sent Hagrid away because you don't want people finding out so soon about Professor Quirrell's connection to Voldemort, right?"
"That's correct," Dumbledore shook his head. "I haven't yet figured out how to deal with Voldemort's return. But let's set that aside for now. How did you escape from Voldemort's clutches—oh, was it Firenze who saved you?"
"Yes," Chu Yang said, deciding to let this beautiful misunderstanding continue.
"You were fortunate—but luck will not save you every time you face danger!"
Dumbledore rarely lost his temper, but now his tone was sharp and severe. "If I weren't worried that this matter would cause unnecessary panic if it spread, Slytherin would be losing fifty points because of your actions!"
"I know I was wrong, Headmaster Dumbledore," Chu Yang said with an awkward smile. Fifty points was no small amount—he might not earn that much back in an entire school year.
Weren't you just saying you could handle it? Why are you getting worked up now?
The reason Dumbledore dared to let Harry Potter face Voldemort was because Harry was protected by the blood magic his mother had cast at the cost of her life.
As long as Harry remained underage, Voldemort could not harm him.
But Chu Yang had no such protection.
In Dumbledore's eyes, even a Death Eater with a bit of notoriety could pose a lethal threat to Chu Yang. Someone who hadn't yet fully grown like him absolutely could not be exposed to Voldemort too early.
Thus, after careful consideration, Dumbledore made a rare decision.
"Mr. Chu Yang, the school has decided to grant you a long holiday starting tomorrow. Your leave will last until the end of Christmas," Dumbledore said, looking at Chu Yang with a guilty expression. As headmaster, being unable to guarantee a student's safety at Hogwarts made him feel he had failed in his duty.
"Until the end of Christmas?" Chu Yang was completely baffled. He had just received permission to enter the Restricted Section—and now he was being sent on leave?
"Yes. Given your progress, missing more than a month of classes will not be a problem for you at all," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile.
After a moment of silence, Dumbledore sighed. "This is for your safety. An outstanding Slytherin like you will not be overlooked by Voldemort. When he comes for you again, you'll have only two choices—become his Death Eater, or be killed by him."
Actually, neither. If Voldemort comes looking for me, he'll just get beaten senseless…
Chu Yang really wanted to say that—but Dumbledore would definitely take him for a madman. So in the end, he could only accept the arrangement.
The one who was also having a hard time wasn't just Chu Yang, but Quirrell as well—still suffering from the heavy blow dealt by Wood Release.
After all, the power of Wood Release needed no explanation.
That single blow had knocked Quirrell's internal organs badly out of place.
Without exaggeration, half his life was gone. If he hadn't escaped quickly enough, Voldemort would have had to switch to a new temporary Horcrux on the spot.
Even with his narrow escape, there was no way he would recover in less than a month or two.
Under those circumstances, it was impossible for Quirrell to continue teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Regardless of whether Dumbledore had already noticed his true identity, Voldemort had no intention of letting him keep appearing in public.
Thus, that very night, Quirrell vanished from Hogwarts without a sound.
The next day, when Dumbledore learned of Quirrell's disappearance, he felt no sense of relief. He knew all too well that without obtaining the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort would never willingly leave Hogwarts.
They were certainly hiding somewhere within the castle.
This ancient fortress, with its thousand-year history, held far too many secrets. Even Dumbledore himself could not see through them all.
If Voldemort chose to hide, prying him out would be no easy task.
Now that Voldemort and Quirrell had gone from operating in the open to lurking in the shadows, they had become even more dangerous. Letting Chu Yang leave Hogwarts temporarily had become an urgent necessity.
Before departing, after obtaining Dumbledore's approval, Chu Yang made another trip to the Forbidden Forest and successfully found the Whomping Willow. After not seeing it for several months, its massive body had grown even taller, like an ancient tree that had stood for a thousand years.
After supplying the Whomping Willow with some natural magic, it slowly sat down, sinking into sleep like a child who had eaten its fill.
Chu Yang didn't bother it any further. He took out the leaf Firenze had given him, placed it to his lips, and blew on it, calling for him to come.
The unique melody echoed through the Forbidden Forest. Not long after, the sound of hooves came from deep within the woods.
Firenze—possessing an almost flawless appearance—leapt forward and landed gracefully beside Chu Yang. Smiling, he said, "Honored Mr. Chu Yang, we meet again."
Getting straight to the point, Chu Yang said, "I have some matters and hope to receive your assistance."
Firenze bowed slightly and replied sincerely, "Please speak. As long as it is within my abilities, I will do my utmost to fulfill your request."
Just as Chu Yang was about to speak, the Whomping Willow—previously fast asleep—seemed to sense Firenze's presence and suddenly woke up.
The awakening of that colossal being shook the ground violently, as if the entire Forbidden Forest were about to collapse.
The Whomping Willow swung its branches—hard as steel whips—down at Firenze.
Believing Firenze to be a threat to Chu Yang, it instinctively launched an attack!
Caught completely off guard, Firenze was struck by the branch and sent flying right out of Chu Yang's sight.
Chu Yang looked up and shouted angrily, "You idiot! Why do you always hit your own people?!"
The Whomping Willow's majestic body shuddered violently. Chu Yang's roar made it immediately realize its mistake. It hurriedly retracted all its branches, curling up its body like a chastened child.
"Firenze, are you alright?" Chu Yang called out.
"Oh, I'm fine—just a bit sore. I think a rib might be broken…" Firenze replied with a wry smile as he limped back.
Chu Yang rushed over, cast a spell to set the broken rib back in place, then used natural magic to heal his injuries.
Feeling this tremendous power, Firenze trembled with excitement. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Chu Yang grew ever more reverent. To him, the natural magic flowing from Chu Yang was the highest blessing bestowed by Mother Nature herself.
If he weren't afraid of frightening Chu Yang, Firenze might have sworn loyalty right there on the spot to this young wizard of Eastern descent.
"Is that the legendary War Tree?" Firenze murmured as he gazed up at the towering Whomping Willow. "When I was young, I heard the elders of my tribe speak of such immensely powerful magical beings. They are guardians of nature itself. Yet today, they have vanished without a trace—only a few tree spirits still remain active within the forests…"
Chu Yang curled his lip. "What war tree? It doesn't even qualify as a treant guardian. It's just an ordinary Whomping Willow!"
Firenze froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "My experience may be limited, but I've never heard of a Whomping Willow growing to this extent."
Chu Yang looked up at the Whomping Willow, towering as high as a skyscraper.
…Alright.
I take back the word 'ordinary.'
"The mysterious person from last time may return to the Forbidden Forest to hunt unicorns again," Chu Yang said, pointing at the Whomping Willow, which was currently sulking. "I called you here because I hope you can work together with it to protect the unicorn herd."
Firenze immediately nodded in agreement.
"No problem. From last night until now, I've been patrolling the Forbidden Forest without pause."
"Then I'll leave it to you," Chu Yang said with a smile. "This guy's a bit dumb—you'll need to help me keep an eye on it."
After settling matters with the Whomping Willow, Chu Yang left the Forbidden Forest and headed to Hagrid's hut. Dumbledore was already there, discussing something with Hagrid.
Seeing Chu Yang push the door open and enter, Dumbledore showed no surprise, as if he had already known that Chu Yang had gone to the forest.
"Professor Dumbledore, before I leave, may I ask you for one thing?" Chu Yang looked at him and got straight to the point.
"What is it?" Dumbledore didn't agree immediately, asking cautiously instead. To be honest, he was a little afraid of Chu Yang's talent for stirring up trouble.
"I want to learn Apparition," Chu Yang said, meeting Dumbledore's gaze. "Given my current situation, I believe mastering this spell would make me safer."
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, then reminded him, "This spell is restricted to students aged seventeen and above. Do you know why?"
Chu Yang nodded. "The process of Apparition puts a tremendous strain on the body and requires extreme mental focus. A single mistake can result in life-threatening accidents."
Dumbledore continued, "Young wizards your age usually find it difficult to control their thoughts. If, during the transfer, your intent to reach a destination wavers, interrupting the spell is the least of your problems. More importantly, your body could be torn apart during the process."
"Which is what's commonly called splinching," Chu Yang picked up the thread, speaking solemnly. "Professor Dumbledore, I fully understand the dangers of this spell."
Hagrid tried to persuade him from the side. "Chu Yang, you're still too young. You should wait a few more years. Normally, only fifth-year students and above are allowed to learn Apparition."
"No, Hagrid. He has the ability to learn this spell," Dumbledore said, looking deeply at Chu Yang. "Since you already understand the risks, I respect your decision."
And so, right there in Hagrid's hut, Dumbledore began teaching Chu Yang how to perform Apparition.
Hagrid, being tactful, stepped outside, leaving the already cramped space to the two of them.
"Remember—destination, determination, and deliberation. Fix your target firmly in your mind, focus your will completely, and feel the changes in your body. We'll start with somewhere close."
Standing outside, Hagrid listened to Dumbledore's voice and found his thoughts drifting back to his own student days. Back then, during Transfiguration class, Dumbledore had guided students step by step in much the same way.
Moments later, a figure suddenly appeared, snapping Hagrid out of his memories.
Seeing Chu Yang in front of him, Hagrid asked in surprise, "I don't think you walked out of the hut. How does it feel? The first try usually makes people really dizzy…"
Chu Yang, looking perfectly fine, shook his head. With his physique, Apparition wasn't enough to make him feel unwell.
"A genius really is a genius," Hagrid said enviously. "Normal people take ages to learn this. You figured it out in ten minutes."
"It was just moving from inside the hut to outside," Chu Yang said with a smile. "That's not too hard. When I can jump straight from London back to somewhere near the school, then you can praise me."
Apparition couldn't be used within Hogwarts itself, so under normal circumstances, the surrounding area of the school served as the anchor point for travel.
Creak—
The door of the hut opened as Dumbledore pushed it aside and stepped out slowly. "You've grasped the essentials. How about trying Diagon Alley? I'll watch from the side."
Hearing this, Chu Yang immediately began Apparating right in front of Dumbledore. The image of Ollivanders filled his mind. The surrounding space twisted, and an invisible pressure surged in from all directions.
Very quickly, that pressure dissipated. When Chu Yang came back to his senses, he was already standing inside the wand shop, with Mr. Ollivander organizing the shelves.
In the next instant, Dumbledore appeared beside him and chuckled softly. "You weren't planning to go back to London at all, were you? Thinking of becoming an apprentice here instead?"
Chu Yang stared at him in astonishment, thinking that the saying about age bringing wisdom really wasn't wrong—he'd actually guessed it.
"That's not a bad thing, actually," Dumbledore nodded. "Then you can stay with Mr. Ollivander. I'm sure he'll take good care of you."
At that moment, Ollivander, having heard the voices, came out from the back of the shop.
Mr. Ollivander looked at Dumbledore and Chu Yang in surprise.
"What's going on?" he asked curiously.
At this hour, neither Dumbledore nor Chu Yang should have been here.
Dumbledore smiled. "Nothing serious. Chu Yang is starting his holiday early today. Didn't you want to take him on as an apprentice? This is a good chance for him to learn a few things from you."
Ollivander took a long, searching look at Albus Dumbledore. The depth in those eyes seemed to convey something unspoken. Only then did he nod in agreement. "I'd be delighted to have him here. I'll take good care of him."
"Thank you," Dumbledore said. Then he bent down and whispered to Chu Yang, "You stay here. No need to return with me. As for your luggage, I'll have it sent over."
With that, Dumbledore Apparated away.
And just like that, Chu Yang became the first first-year student to leave school since the term began. His early holiday filled his classmates with envy.
But not long after Chu Yang left, rumors began spreading throughout Hogwarts.
Some claimed he had been expelled for breaking school rules.
Others said he had offended someone he shouldn't have.
Students who were relatively close to Chu Yang—Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, and the like—were all quite worried.
Some were anxious, others delighted.
Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, welcomed what felt like his first "spring" at Hogwarts.
With Chu Yang gone, he could finally straighten his back, look down on others with his family background, and stop worrying about the pressure from his father. He quickly adopted an arrogant, "Heaven's first, I'm second" attitude.
Not only did Draco swagger into Chu Yang's former dormitory, he also began frequently targeting students who had been close to Chu Yang.
As the rumors spread to every corner of Hogwarts, Dumbledore made no effort to explain Chu Yang's departure.
After leaving the school, Chu Yang began working as an apprentice in the wand shop, systematically learning the process of wand-making under Ollivander.
Life as an apprentice wasn't all that different from studying at school—even the daily routine was similar. The only real difference was that Chu Yang no longer had free access to a vast library.
Diagon Alley's bookshop stood right across from the wand shop. Whenever Chu Yang needed something, he could simply buy it. While its collection wasn't as extensive as the Hogwarts library, none of the essential textbooks were missing.
Before the holiday ended, Chu Yang planned to fully master wand-making techniques and then identify substitute materials, so that versions of himself from different worlds would all be able to successfully craft wands.
Chu Yang had chosen Ollivander as his mentor not merely because the man was one of the greatest wandmakers in the world.
More importantly, Ollivander was someone who constantly pushed forward—continually refining wand craftsmanship and even overturning traditional concepts of wands held by most wizards.
That aligned perfectly with Chu Yang's own mindset. Both of them despised stagnation and decay.
Before Ollivander, nearly all wandmakers crafted wands based solely on a customer's preferences, never considering whether the wand truly suited the wizard.
It was Ollivander who established the profound relationship between wand and wizard.
(End of Chapter)