Ms. Wen walked in from the balcony holding her hung-up phone, placed the mobile phone on the coffee table, and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Is it set?" Jiang Zhaoye asked, slumping on the sofa.
"It's set." Ms. Wen nodded and sat down beside Jiang Zhaoye. The soft leather sofa sank down a bit, causing Jiang Zhaoye's body to shake slightly along with it. "No. 2 High School was quite pleased. They said they'll send over the official admission confirmation letter and training plan tomorrow for you to sign and confirm. In addition, Principal Zhao said that if it's convenient for you, he'd like to invite you out for a meal to meet before the semester starts."
Jiang Zhaoye sat up with a start. "Huh? Me? The principal is inviting me to dinner?!"
"Mm, he said he wants to discuss your future development direction in person." Ms. Wen glanced at him nonchalantly. "If you don't want to go, I can decline for you."
"I'll go, I'll go!" Jiang Zhaoye almost jumped up. "He's a principal! The fact that he's willing to invite me is giving me face! How could I not go?"
"Oh~ Look at you being so shrewd~" Ms. Wen raised an eyebrow with interest, then nodded. "Alright, then I'll set up a time with them later."
As it turned out, the appointment was set for noon the very next day.
Having a meal with the principal was a much simpler process than Jiang Zhaoye had imagined.
There was none of the clinking of glasses or flurry of polite pleasantries he had envisioned.
It was just a "simple" casual meal.
The meal was set in a mid-range restaurant next to Huaicheng No. 2 High School. There were only four people present in total: Jiang Zhaoye, his mother Ms. Wen, the principal who had recently taken office at Huaicheng No. 2 High School, and the admissions office director who had previously called the mother and son... It was actually the director who had personally made the call; when Jiang Zhaoye had first found out, he was even a bit flattered.
For four people, the table had six meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, and two soups, excluding staple foods and desserts, which gave them plenty of face.
This new principal introduced himself as surnamed Zhao, with the single given name Min. In terms of build, he looked like a muscular hunk. Yet, he happened to wear a plain, scholarly gray polo shirt, had a pair of silver-framed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, styled his hair parted down the middle, and spoke without putting on airs, making him the picture of mild-mannered elegance.
This elegant principal, who was two whole sizes bigger than Jiang Zhaoye, asked gently with a smile about his summer cultivation progress at the dining table, discussed his understanding of psionic energy with genuine substance, and then sincerely explained to the mother and son the school's upcoming development plan for Jiang Zhaoye.
The admission confirmation letter was signed, and the training plan was reviewed.
Full waiver of tuition and fees, a scholarship of fifty thousand a year, a single dorm room equipped with Rank 3 spirit-gathering devices, and one-on-one guidance from Teacher Shen after the semester started.
Just like that, everything regarding the start of the semester was finalized during casual conversation, all proceeding as smoothly as a dream.
The meal could truly be described as enjoyable for both hosts and guests.
When leaving, Principal Zhao gently patted his shoulder, offered a few words of encouragement, and rode off on his little electric scooter.
Jiang Zhaoye stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the principal's back as he comfortably rode off like Tarzan on an underage donkey, feeling somewhat dazed.
Ms. Wen's warm palm gently pressed against his back, giving a light nudge. "Let's go home."
"Mm."
On the way back, Jiang Zhaoye spent the entire trip pondering the information from the principal and the admissions office director.
Among the teachers No. 2 High School had poached from the province this year, the one specializing in both Ice and Water elements was named Shen Hansheng. She was a female teacher who had been renowned as a genius during her student days, graduated from the Four Greats, served for years on the Starry Sky Battlefield, and retired a few years ago to teach numerous students in provincial schools. She would be guiding him specifically once school started.
The school was applying for a new batch of spirit-gathering equipment. If all went smoothly, it would be in place by the end of the year, and Jiang Zhaoye was on the list of those first in line to enjoy such high-grade resources.
Principal Zhao seemed very confident, frankly stating at the table that although No. 2 High School was currently inferior to No. 1 High School, that might not be the case three years from now.
Jiang Zhaoye had felt a stomach full of complaints right then... The muscular principal spoke so unhurriedly and in such a flat tone, yet the domineering aura leaking from his words almost matched his massive build.
Once back home, he had finished thinking through everything he needed to think about.
For a moment, Jiang Zhaoye was somewhat at a loss for what to do next.
The milestone of the psionic test was over, so he no longer needed to cultivate so desperately for the near future.
With his high school and resources settled, his heart was temporarily put at ease.
When someone accustomed to a high-intensity, high-efficiency operating mode suddenly has free time, their senses feel a bit lost.
Who would have thought that that very evening, good news would suddenly arrive.
Ms. Wen was going on another business trip.
For a boy of his age, being suddenly freed from a guardian's supervision was akin to a rabid dog snapping its leash or a wild horse breaking free from its reins.
The mother and son sat in the living room eating dinner. Jiang Zhaoye wolfed down his food while making all sorts of plans in his mind, his whole body bubbling with an uncontrollable surge of excitement.
"..." Ms. Wen asked out of nowhere, "You're not planning to cook up some trouble, are you?"
Jiang Zhaoye froze, guiltily shifting his gaze away. "...No, no."
Ms. Wen gave him a sharp, disdainful glance without exposing him. "I'll be away on business for five days. Behave yourself at home. I bought plenty of groceries in the fridge; I know your awakened constitution means you need a large appetite, so there's no need to sneak food every day. Our family isn't so poor that we'd skimp on your meals."
"Got it, got it..." Jiang Zhaoye pulled his neck back and nodded like a woodpecker.
Ms. Wen didn't waste any more words.
She was always like this—once she said what needed to be said, she wouldn't nag a single word more.
It was true for her social interactions, her work habits, her child-rearing, and her handling of marriage.
That which abandons me, yesterday's day cannot be retained; that which troubles my heart, today's day brings endless distress.
...
Early the next morning, Ms. Wen pulled her suitcase and headed out the door.
Jiang Zhaoye stood obediently at the doorway, tearfully seeing her off into the far distance.
Then he closed the door, dutifully went back to his room, locked it from the inside, sat at the edge of his bed, and looked down at the watch on his wrist.
"Xiao Ling."
"I'm here."
The silver-black screen lit up, cleanly reflecting the time onto his retina: 7:19 AM.
He thought for a moment, opened the wardrobe, and began packing his belongings.
Ancient-style spare clothes, compressed biscuits, a few bottles of water, wound medicine, a psionic shield, a full-face mask, a tactical dagger bought online, and a scabbarded longsword.
After returning from that side last time, based on Xiao Ling's analysis, Jiang Zhaoye had looked up a lot of information on ancient famines, watched many ancient historical TV dramas, and even watched wuxia shows. Right now, looking like a young hero about to make his debut in the martial world, he had packed every gear he could prepare.
He stuffed the items one by one into the storage bag customized to match his spatial button. Finally, after a moment's thought, he also crammed a large pile of broken silver pieces and gold beans inside.
Once packed up, Jiang Zhaoye walked to the window, looked out at the azure sky, and began to calculate quietly in his mind.
His high school was settled, there were still two full weeks left of summer break, and Ms. Wen just happened to be away on a five-day business trip... Right now, wasn't this a heaven-sent opportunity for him to explore the otherworld?
Jiang Zhaoye's gaze grew firm. He closed his eyes and began harassing Little White Cicada.
In the air, an extremely faint crack slowly opened, like transparent ripples blossoming in deep, still waters.
He took a deep breath and stepped through.
When he opened his eyes again, as far as his sight could reach was already the familiar ice cavern.
Jiang Zhaoye sat quietly on his old pal, the cold jade bed, for a long while. His expression was somewhat uneasy. After steeling himself mentally for a good while, his finger trembled slightly as he opened the positioning interface on his watch.
On the screen, a small red dot blinked quietly, with countless green dots densely scattered around it, as well as light gray... map-like routes.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The world seemed to sink into a black tide, and he could clearly hear his own chaotic heartbeat.
Half a ke later, Jiang Zhaoye slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath, as if pouring out all the dust accumulated in his chest.
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