Inside the training room.
Yelanka’s pale-gold hair was swept up into a high bun. Her delicate, fair face was taut, her purple pupils fixed intently ahead, every ounce of her attention focused on the sensations in her body and the manipulation of her Mind Power.
Attacks ca from all directions, washing over her like a tide. She kept calm, marshaling her Mind Power and adjusting defenses depending on which parts of her body were being struck.
Wave after wave of assault ca, and she defended without a single gap.
She didn’t relax until her Mind Power was completely exhausted.
She was so absorbed that she didn’t even notice her Mind Power had run out, and gave no sign to the attackers to stop.
Only when the next strike landed did she stare in shock — her Mind Power was gone.
Fortunately, the attackers judged the situation quickly and withdrew most of their force.
“Very good.” Guan Tong’s voice sounded. “Your performance in this final training was perfect. Not one attack got through.”
Hearing that praise, Yelanka felt a warm thrill in her chest. She wanted to look up and say sothing, but a wave of dizziness suddenly hit her; blackness crept at the edges of her vision, and the world spun.
“Student Stasiya?”
Just as Yelanka’s body began to lurch backward, she felt hands catch her.
Guan Tong had one hand against the back of her head and the other pressed to her shoulder, steadying her.
“You all right?”
“...Sorry, I’m fine.”
Yelanka breathed deeply several tis to compose herself. In the forty-plus minutes just passed she’d been too focused, and with her Mind Power depleted she’d experienced a brief oxygen shortfall.
“Actually, I’ve been aning to tell you — you don’t need to squeeze out that last bit of Mind Power every session.” Guan Tong said, “I just didn’t want to dampen your morale. Since this was the last session, it’s okay.”
Yelanka nodded.
Today was September 26, the tail end of the month.
She and Sigaochin had to return to Xisiya before the next rule announcent, that is, before October 1. Today was their final training session.
She felt reasonably satisfied: after nearly a month of daily, diligent practice, she hadn’t slipped up in this last run. She’d done flawlessly and earned Guan Tong’s approval. That ant a lot to her.
“At your current level, ordinary sneak attacks and strikes should be easy to handle. Combined with other abilities and items, your combat strength should be quite solid.”
Guan Tong advised, “But the Mind Power ceiling is fundantal. If the ceiling is low, however skilled your techniques, you’ll still face situations where the enemy overwhelms technique with brute force. A beautiful dojang inside a snail shell can never compete with a big courtyard. So when you return, besides refining your techniques, spend more ti finding ways to raise your Mind Power ceiling.”
“I understand. Thank you, Teacher.”
“You’re welco. I wish you a safe journey.”
When Guan Tong said he was leaving, Yelanka couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher, could I have a proper farewell before you go?”
“A farewell?”
Guan Tong had thought his earlier words were enough, but seeing Yelanka’s expression, he realized she didn’t want sothing casual; she wanted a formal goodbye.
Though he thought it unnecessary, he considered that in an age governed by Doomsday Rules, life and death were not in one’s own hands, and partings could be permanent. He nodded and agreed.
“All right. When? Want
to call so classmates?”
Yelanka shook her head.
Though regretful, she’d been at the academy for less than three months and hadn’t made friends. The only person she truly knew was Guan Tong.
She set the ti for ten tomorrow morning, then left the academy and returned to her residence.
When she got back, her guard and steward, Sigaochin, had already packed.
“Your Highness, shall we depart now?”
“No. We leave tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
Sigaochin was surprised. They had planned that after their last class today they would set out; otherwise she wouldn’t have packed already.
Why the sudden change?
Faced with Sigaochin’s questioning look, Yelanka paused and explained, “I want to formally say goodbye to my teacher.”
“Just to say goodbye?”
“Yes.”
“Then fine.” Sigaochin looked at her silently. “Allow
to accompany you then.”
“...Mm.”
…
The next day.
Guan Tong arrived at the academy gate at ten in the morning. He saw, under a tree across the road, Yelanka standing with another tall woman.
Unlike her plain outfits of recent days, today Yelanka wore luxurious clothes like she had on the first day she enrolled.
The tall middle-aged woman beside her wore a black suit and carried a suitcase. Plain at first glance, she nevertheless gave Guan Tong the impression of soone not to be trifled with.
Perhaps from his past experiences, he’d developed a sensitivity to an indescribable “murderous aura.” That aura radiated plainly from the woman in the suit.
He stepped over. Yelanka nodded slightly when she saw him. “Teacher, you’re here.”
“Mm. And you are?”
“Hello, I’m Sigaochin, my lady’s steward.”
“Hello, I’m Guan Tong, a lecturer at the academy.”
Sigaochin studied Guan Tong. She had secretly looked up so basic information about him and now narrowed her eyes as she encountered him in person.
Just as Guan Tong could sense her killing intent, she likewise felt the violent edge in him.
Although Guan Tong’s features were gentle and didn’t look like a person of bloodlust, Sigaochin instantly knew this man was no ordinary teacher — he must have taken many lives, or he wouldn’t exude such a presence.
“Teacher, we depart for Xisiya today.” Yelanka said solemnly. “Thank you for your guidance these past days. I’ve gained a great deal.”
Guan Tong found her earnestness a touch exaggerated, but smiled and replied, “I didn’t do much. Your own effort mattered most. I wish you a safe journey. If you have the chance, you can visit Beixing again.”
At that, Yelanka blurted out, “Teacher, after Lecturer Jingyi returns to the academy, you won’t hold your lecturer position anymore, right? If so, would you consider coming to Xisiya?”
Both Guan Tong and Sigaochin showed surprise; they hadn’t expected such an invitation.
Yelanka’s gaze flickered for a mont after speaking, then steadied as she added, “If you’re willing, you could teach in Xisiya. I’ll make sure you receive the best terms.”
Sigaochin watched Yelanka in silence.
Facing Yelanka’s hopeful look, Guan Tong shook his head slightly. “Sorry, Student Stasiya. I don’t plan to do that for now.”
Yelanka’s expression dimd. “Is that so.”
“One day I’ll go to Xisiya,” Guan Tong said, “but not to be a lecturer there. For what purpose... I believe you know.”
Yelanka’s whole body trembled.
She recalled Guan Tong’s earlier promise never to let her brother off lightly. She couldn’t misunderstand the aning behind his words.
“All right, a farewell isn’t an eternal parting. No need for a somber mood.” Guan Tong smiled.
“...Mm.”
Yelanka nodded, then gazed into empty space. She lifted her palm slightly, as if opening her terminal panel.
In the next instant, a small hourglass appeared on her snowy palm.
The mont the hourglass manifested, Sigaochin’s face shifted and she whispered, “This item—”
Yelanka frowned faintly and Sigaochin imdiately stopped, though her reluctance was plain.
Yelanka moved her palm toward Guan Tong. “Teacher, I want to give this item to you as a parting gift.”
From Sigaochin’s reaction, Guan Tong could tell the item was likely valuable. He shook his head. “I can’t accept gifts for no reason. I only did what a teacher should do. You should take your item back.”
“No. I insist you accept it.” Yelanka was stubborn.
Guan Tong saw she wouldn’t let it go and felt helpless.
After a mont’s thought he relented. “All right, I’ll accept it. But since this is a parting gift, you give
one and I’ll give you one too.”
He reached into his Storage Box and took out one of his items.
In his palm appeared an energy rod-like object.
It was the Passerby Transformation Device he’d once bought on the Market to conceal his identity.
The device’s worth was ambiguous. If you didn’t need to hide your identity, it was practically worthless. But if you did need to change appearance to avoid pursuit or assassination, its value could skyrocket.
Guan Tong gave the device to Yelanka partly because he had little use for it. With Shadow Armor and a wide Shadow Domain at his disposal, he rarely needed to disguise himself as a passerby anymore.
Yelanka was different.
Though she never said so, everything about her pointed to extraordinary status. In Xisiya she would likely be watched by many and beco the center of attention. In that situation, a transformation device could be invaluable.
When Yelanka saw Guan Tong produce an item as a gift, she smiled faintly and accepted it with pleasure.
Watching her smile, Guan Tong thought that, compared to him, she might better earn a nickna like “Yelanka Who Doesn’t Smile.” It seed the first true smile he’d seen from her in months.
Sigaochin stared at Yelanka, and seeing her smile her own feelings twisted.
Guan Tong didn’t examine the hourglass right away; he placed it back into his Storage Box. Yelanka did the sa.
“All right, we’ll depart now.”
“Safe travels.”
“Goodbye.”
Yelanka bowed slightly to Guan Tong, then she and Sigaochin walked toward the city gate.
Guan Tong watched them for a mont, and when they vanished from sight he let out a soft sigh.
People aren’t trees. He and Yelanka had known each other for months, and he had trained her often, so they were at least acquaintances. For soone like him who didn’t have many close people, he felt more attentive toward every familiar face.
Just like Xu Xiaotian and the mother-and-daughter Wang Yan and Chen Na — even if they might not be able to help him much materially, simply because he knew them Guan Tong would lend a hand when necessary.
Yelanka’s situation, however, was more complicated.
Because Guan Tong would inevitably go after her brother one day, how would Yelanka position herself then? Would she sit by as her kin were hard out of sibling loyalty or competitive motives? It was hard to tell.
“Hopefully the next ti we et, we won’t be enemies.”
Guan Tong murmured, then turned back to the academy.
On the other side, Sigaochin and Yelanka walked along the road. Sigaochin couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness, surely you know you’re emotional at tis. Don’t ntion your invitation for him to co to Xisiya; look at the item you offered. It’s extrely precious. The item your teacher gave you is certainly not of the sa high worth.”
“Is the point of exchanging gifts that their values must match?” Yelanka asked.
“Yes.” Sigaochin answered without hesitation, “Because in this era, a precious item can save your life. The item you gave away is just that kind.”
“...”
“Your Highness, look at what he gave you.”
Yelanka opened her Storage Box and checked the Passerby Transformation Device Guan Tong had given her.
After reading its description she couldn’t help laughing.
Sigaochin asked puzzled, “What is it?”
Yelanka handed the device over. “Look. I think this item could save lives too, in the right mont.”
Sigaochin examined the device skeptically. After reading its effect, she was first stunned, then frowned. “If it works like this, it might actually be useful for Your Highness.”
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