After having lunch with Hainowei, Zhang Ye planned to set off on his return journey.
Seeing Zhang Ye prepare to leave, Hainowei felt a bit reluctant, but she didn't stop him.
After all, they had made a pinky promise; he would return.
“I left some things for you in your little cottage. Remember to check them out later,” Zhang Ye said, turning back before leaving.
“Oh...” Hainowei seemed a bit distracted, her watery eyes staring at Zhang Ye. Her expression clearly said she didn't want him to leave.
Zhang Ye felt a bit of heartache but was helpless. He could only comfort her, saying, “You're an elemental spirit who has lived for a million years. Don't cry like a little girl anymore. I'll be back, okay?”
“I know...” Hainowei nodded, her mood visibly downcast.
Then, Zhang Ye soared into the air. However, just as he took flight, Hainowei immediately followed.
“Wait!” she suddenly called out.
“What's wrong?” Zhang Ye turned around to look at her.
Without saying a word, she waved her hand. A magic imprint flew out from Zhang Ye's chest, shattered in midair, and vanished.
It was the enslavement imprint.
Zhang Ye was startled, and then his gaze softened even more. He emphasized once again, “I will come back.”
“Mhm!” Hainowei nodded vigorously.
Zhang Ye turned around and flew toward All Souls Magic Academy.
Hainowei followed behind him. Only when Zhang Ye flew out of the canyon's range did she stop at the edge of the canyon, watching him depart until he was out of sight.
Like a wife seeing off her husband, she was filled with reluctance.
This was the first person she had met in a very long time who treated her so well.
She could feel his pure goodwill.
Only long after Zhang Ye's figure had completely vanished did Hainowei return to the silent lakebed.
“Alone again...” she murmured softly, gently caressing the little cottage Zhang Ye had built for her.
This place could be called her “home.”
A warm, gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a piece of parchment lying on the stone table.
The parchment was enveloped in magic, preventing it from being ruined by the water.
She swam over and picked it up to read.
It was Zhang Ye's handwriting.
She eagerly read it word by word.
“Don't worry, I'll be back very soon.”
“I know you'll be lonely staying by yourself, so I prepared some little toys for you. They're in the small box under the table.”
Hainowei was startled. Looking under the table, she indeed found a small box.
Opening the box, a bright smile bloomed on her face.
Inside were all the games Zhang Ye had played with her over the past few days—board games, cards, building blocks, and even some she had never played before. Small slips of paper were stuck to them, explaining how to play.
There were also many homemade snacks, such as chewing gum, honey candies, jerky, and so on.
There was also... a notebook protected by waterproof magic, along with a quill and ink.
She continued reading the parchment. Zhang Ye's handwriting was strong and vigorous, yet it carried a trace of gentleness.
“Those games should keep you entertained for a while.”
“Also, the soup you make is even more delicious than mine. You can't let your culinary skills go to waste.”
“Cooking when you have nothing to do can also cultivate your mind.”
“I also left you a waterproof diary, so you won't have to carve your entries onto stones anymore.”
“If you encounter trespassing humans in the future, don't use 【Water Illusion Mist】 to trap them to death. It's best to use the mist to guide them out of the canyon forest, or dispatch Saint-tier magical beasts to drive them away. Don't show yourself in person anymore; this will also reduce the risk of exposure.”
“The water elements here are too dense. Sooner or later, people will notice and those with ill intent will be drawn here. Therefore, it's best if you control the water elements within a certain range and don't let them cover the entire canyon.”
“Also, you should set up some defensive magic circles around Water Spirit Lake and make preparations in advance. This way, you'll have some protection in the future.”
“I hope that when I return, I'll see you safe and sound.”
“Keep your innocence. It's a good thing.”
“But don't forget to think. Thinking from multiple perspectives is very good for you; it makes a person smarter.”
“You are a million-year-old little girl, and you still need to be looked after. I'll be back soon.”
“Wait for me.”
Seeing this, Hainowei was already crying tears like rain.
The concern in every line filled her heart with an unprecedented warmth.
She tightly gripped the parchment and held it against her chest, as if she could feel the warmth of Zhang Ye's palm through it.
“Okay, I'll wait for you to come back...”
...
After flying over ten thousand li, Zhang Ye finally couldn't help but stop and look back toward Claude Canyon.
“She must have seen the parchment, right?” Zhang Ye murmured.
“Why do you care so much about her?” Ella flew out and asked.
Zhang Ye fell silent for a moment, then smiled. “Maybe because I feel she's a bit like me.”
“Like you? In what way?” Ella asked.
“I can't explain it, but I just have that feeling. And...” Zhang Ye sighed. “She has always been all alone...”
Ella looked at him, opening her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
Zhang Ye smiled. “Alright, let's not think too much. Let's head back first. Lina and the others must be waiting anxiously.”
With that, guided by his badge, he rushed toward All Souls Magic Academy.
Soon, All Souls City came into view.
Zhang Ye landed. After he presented his academy badge, the guards respectfully let him through.
Zhang Ye stretched. “Ah... I'm finally back.”
“By the way, why is everyone looking at me with such strange eyes?” Zhang Ye was a bit puzzled.
He noticed that the people around him were secretly stealing glances at him, and several women in the distance were pointing at him.
Ella flew out, crossing her small arms over her chest. “Probably because you look like a beggar right now.”
Zhang Ye was startled and looked down at himself.
By now, his school uniform had long since become tattered and torn due to his previous reckless antics.
Zhang Ye suddenly understood. No wonder the guards hadn't recognized him as a student of All Souls Magic Academy from his uniform earlier and had stopped him until he showed his badge.
Feeling the cool breeze blowing against his skin, Zhang Ye's face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly ducked into an empty alleyway and changed into the magic outfit Joyace had made for him—【Sunshine Knight】.
In an instant, a bright and lively young man emerged.
As he walked down the street, he caused quite a few young girls to turn and stop to stare, making Zhang Ye feel incredibly smug.
“Sigh, as expected, I'm still so handsome~” Zhang Ye flipped his bangs, sighing with mock helplessness.
Ella rolled her eyes at him. “Shameless.”
Crossing All Souls Central Avenue, he finally arrived at the gates of All Souls Magic Academy.
At this moment, three people were already standing at the entrance.
Lina, Xi Ya, and Nan.
Lina and Xi Ya were looking around. Having learned that Zhang Ye was returning, they had run over early to wait, their faces filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Nan leaned against a pillar at the entrance, arms crossed and eyes closed, looking cool and indifferent.
But in reality, his perception had already spread out like radar, searching for Zhang Ye's presence at every moment.
The moment Zhang Ye appeared, he immediately opened his eyes, a microscopic flash of joy passing through them.
However, he quickly suppressed the flutter in his heart, merely saying in a flat voice, “He's here.”
Hearing this, Lina and Xi Ya immediately looked in the direction he was gazing.
Sure enough, Zhang Ye was walking toward them from the distance with his hands in his pockets. The sunlight fell upon him, reflecting off the 【Sunshine Knight】 outfit, making him look like a spotlighted protagonist on a dark stage—so bright and eye-catching.
“Big Brother Ye!” Lina and Xi Ya let out pleasant cries of surprise and hurriedly rushed toward him.
Lina even used several Blinks in succession to appear right in front of Zhang Ye, throwing her arms open and diving straight at him.
Zhang Ye was startled. He hurriedly opened his arms to catch her, spinning around twice in the air with her, drawing stares of envy, jealousy, and hate from the passersby.
“Wild girl,” Zhang Ye grinned, casually ruffling Lina's short hair.
Not having seen her for over ten days, this girl was still as energetic, bright, and lively as ever.
Lina hugged his waist tightly, as if afraid he would leave again.
“Big Brother Ye, you're finally back!”
“I missed you so much!”
“You have no idea how worried I was about you!”
“I even had a nightmare last night. I dreamed that you...”
“But luckily, it was just a dream, not real!”
She seemed to have so much to say. During those days, she had been completely distracted, worrying about Zhang Ye every single second.
The moment she saw Zhang Ye safe and sound, all her worries turned into a key that unlocked her chatterbox, turning her into a chatterbox once again.
Xi Ya also ran over, looking at Zhang Ye with a face full of relief, her eyes glistening with tears.
She seemed to have something to say, but since Lina was talking too much, she didn't speak. She just squeezed her small hands together and stared at Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye also reached out to rub her head, smiling. “Alright, alright, I'm back now. No need to worry anymore.”
Nan also walked over and nodded at Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye looked at him with a smile. “No hug?”
Nan was taken aback, then turned his face away. “N-No way.”
But his eyes kept stealing glances at Zhang Ye from time to time.
Zhang Ye laughed heartily, hooked his arm around Nan's neck, and reached out to mess up his short purple hair.
“Tsundere boy!”
Nan struggled a bit but couldn't break free. In the end, he simply knitted his brows and let Zhang Ye drape an arm over his shoulder.
But from his body language, he clearly didn't dislike it.
However, a trace of confusion flickered in Nan's eyes. Tsundere... what does that mean?
“Let's go! I'll make a feast tonight to celebrate!” With a wave of Zhang Ye's hand, the group walked together toward the dorms.
...
...
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