Sometime later, Gu Jun stepped out of the coffee house.
With nothing urgent on his agenda, he wandered the streets of Tianhai City aimlessly. His hands tucked in his pockets, his gaze drifted from passing cars to neon signs. The city's pulse beat around him, but he walked like a shadow—unhurried, unseen.
Before long, he heard the familiar sound of soft, measured footsteps behind him.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself more than usual," came Di Yan's voice from behind, cool and teasing.
Gu Jun didn't respond. He just kept walking.
Two hours passed like this—quietly, uneventfully. Eventually, he returned to the Tang residence.
The next day was simple and uneventful.
Tang Xin dragged him out to explore the city—ice cream stalls, a noisy arcade, and a rooftop café that she swore had the best view in town. Gu Jun went along silently, indulging her chatter with a rare smile here and there. Despite himself, he didn't mind it.
Finally, the day of the university's opening arrived.
Dressed neatly in a casual yet sharp outfit, Gu Jun stepped into the waiting car outside the Tang residence. The ride to Tianhai Royal University took around half an hour, and he spent most of it staring out the window, lost in thought.
The car pulled up to the university gates.
Gu Jun stepped out and stood still for a moment, looking at the grand archway overhead. Students bustled past him, laughing, shouting, taking photos. Youthful energy filled the air.
This was a new world for him.
Despite his status and training, Gu Jun had spent most of his life in isolation—disciplined, watched, prepared. Coming to university was a deliberate choice. He wanted to experience something close to normalcy. A slice of the life he was never allowed to have.
He arrived early. There was no rush.
His major was philosophy. After a few minutes of wandering across the vast campus, he found the Philosophy Faculty—a tall, stately building with granite columns and an air of quiet dignity.
It took some effort to find the faculty office—especially without anyone familiar with the university guiding him—but he didn't mind. He preferred it this way.
He stepped into the office, completed the registration and orientation paperwork, and exited shortly after with everything in order.
There were no classes today. Tomorrow will be the official inauguration ceremony. Actual lectures would begin the day after.
Later that day, Gu Jun arrived at his dormitory. Dormitory No. 3
It was a shared space for five students.
Two of them had already arrived.
One was tall—around six feet—with a strong build that suggested years of disciplined martial training. His presence was grounded and steady, like a rock in a storm.
The other was of average height, about five-foot-six, but strikingly handsome, with sharp eyes and a lazy smile. A dangerous charm lingered beneath his relaxed demeanor.
Gu Jun gave him an assessing look.
Bright Stage, peak level.
He can break into the Dark Stage at any time.
Interesting.
The tall one caught Gu Jun's attention as well. Although he didn't appear to possess any cultivation, there was something about his temperament, his presence, that made Gu Jun instinctively feel he had a strong affinity for cultivation. A good psych, as the experts would say.
Each dorm room housed five students. So far, three had arrived, including Gu Jun himself. He also knew one of the two remaining students would be his Bright Guard—a hidden protector assigned to him in public.
He nodded to both of them, neither friendly nor cold. He placed his bag down and took a seat on the lower bunk, quietly observing the room and its occupants.
The tall boy approached first, extending a hand with a friendly smile.
"Hey there! I'm Zhao Ming, from Jin Province. You?"
"Gu Jun," he replied simply, taking the handshake but offering nothing more.
Moments later, the handsome boy beside them stepped forward, also offering a handshake.
"I'm Zhou Hao, from Yang Province. Nice to meet you both."
Their introductions were interrupted as the door creaked open and another figure entered.
The fourth roommate was unremarkable at first glance—slightly under average height, modestly dressed, with a mature air despite his youthful face. He looked to be in his twenties, though his demeanor was far more composed than the average university student.
Gu Jun's eyes sharpened.
Li Ming—his Bright Guard.
As if on cue, Li Ming walked in, glanced briefly at the others, then bowed slightly in Gu Jun's direction. The bow wasn't overly formal—just enough to signal respect without raising suspicion.
Gu Jun responded with a calm nod.
Zhao Ming raised a brow. "Uh, are you from around here? Is bowing a thing where you're from?"
Li Ming didn't respond directly. Instead, he turned to the group and said flatly, "I'm Li Ming."
Like Gu Jun, he kept his introduction short and neutral. The others exchanged brief glances at the odd formality, but no one pressed further. It wasn't unusual for quiet types to keep to themselves early on.
"So we're four now," Zhao Ming said, glancing around. "Only one left."
Just as the words left his mouth, a commotion erupted outside the dorm—giggling, squealing, and unmistakable female voices.
Then the door flew open, and in stepped the final roommate.
He was... striking.
The boy looked like he had just walked off a magazine cover. Perfectly styled hair, smooth skin, a defined jawline, and a confidence that oozed from every step. Though he was just under six feet tall, he carried himself like a celebrity.
He muttered to himself while peeking through the hallway peephole. "These girls are insane... but what can I say? Handsome people have it tough."
Finally noticing the others, he turned around with an easy smile.
"Yo! I'm Xiao Wei. Looks like we'll be living together."
His tone was light, almost playful. There wasn't an ounce of awkwardness in his demeanor—only the confidence of someone used to being the center of attention.
Zhao Ming blinked. "Uh... nice to meet you?"
Zhou Hao gave a quiet chuckle.
Gu Jun simply watched, quietly evaluating.
The dorm was full, and everybody was there.