Chapter 68: There's Only One Room Left
"And there's also that Tang San…"
The principal hesitated for a moment before speaking anyway. "Tang San also has innate full soul power. Although his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, the Master places great importance on him. After all, you were classmates…"
"Forget it, Principal."
Before the principal could finish, Lin Yuan smiled and interrupted him.
A trace of indifference flashed through his eyes.
"Partings are always emotional. There's no need to make it so grand."
"If fate truly exists, then we'll naturally meet again someday — on a bigger stage."
Seeing Lin Yuan's firm attitude, the principal did not try to persuade him further. After issuing graduation certificates and letters of recommendation to the two of them, he watched them leave.
…
Walking out of the gates of Nuoding Academy,
Lin Yuan turned back and glanced once more at the familiar entrance. There was no real reluctance in his heart.
This place was merely the starting point of his journey — never the destination.
"Brother."
Xiao Wu, carrying a small bundle, hopped along beside him, clearly in a good mood.
"So are we heading straight to Heaven Dou City now?"
Lin Yuan thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"No rush. Let's go back to the village first."
"This trip to Heaven Dou City will be a long one, and who knows when we'll come back."
"Grandpa Village Chief is getting old. We need to go back and say a proper goodbye so he doesn't worry."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu nodded obediently, warmth flashing in her eyes.
"Mhm! We really should say goodbye to Grandpa. And Grandpa's carrot-braised meat is super delicious!"
During the first vacation of their year at Nuoding Academy, Xiao Wu had shamelessly followed Lin Yuan back to White Stone Village.
The village chief, who had no children of his own, treated Lin Yuan like his own grandson. As for lively, adorable Xiao Wu — who looked like a porcelain doll — he doted on her to the bone.
…
Two days later, White Stone Village.
Thin curls of cooking smoke rose at the village entrance, accompanied by familiar barking from dogs.
When Lin Yuan and Xiao Wu appeared at the village gate, the old village chief — who had been smoking a dry pipe beneath a tree — instantly lit up.
He shakily stood up, not even bothering with his pipe, and hurried over.
"Lin Yuan! Xiao Wu!"
"Oh my precious grandson, precious granddaughter! You're finally back!"
Old Jack's face crinkled into a smile full of wrinkles as he grabbed their hands and looked them over again and again.
"You've grown taller! Taller again!"
"And stronger too! Good! Very good!"
That night, Old Jack brought out cured meat he had been saving for a long time and cooked a hearty reunion dinner.
Under the dim oil lamp, the atmosphere was warm and touching.
After several rounds of drinks, Lin Yuan looked at the kindly old man and put down his chopsticks.
"Grandpa," Lin Yuan said softly, "this time we came back not just to see you, but also to say goodbye."
"I've already reached rank twenty — I'm a Soul Grandmaster now."
"Nuoding Academy can't teach me much anymore. Xiao Wu and I plan to set out tomorrow for the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, to further our studies at the best academy there."
"Heaven Dou City?"
Old Jack froze for a moment.
He had never traveled far in his life and didn't understand the prestige of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
But the moment he heard the word 'Royal,' he knew it had to be a place of immense stature — somewhere only important figures could go.
"Good! Such ambition!"
Though he didn't fully understand, he knew his grandson had made something of himself.
Wiping away tears of excitement from the corners of his eyes, Old Jack tightly grasped Lin Yuan's hand.
"Since you're going, then go boldly!"
"Grandpa's still strong — you don't need to worry about me."
"But," Old Jack's tone suddenly turned serious, "when you're out there, the two of you must support each other."
"Lin Yuan, you're the elder brother — and you're a man."
"You must protect Xiao Wu properly. Don't you dare let her suffer even the slightest grievance!"
As he spoke, Old Jack turned and took Xiao Wu's hand, gently patting it. His eyes were full of affection, as though he were looking at his own granddaughter-in-law.
"Girl, if this brat Lin Yuan ever dares to bully you or treat you badly, write a letter back and tell Grandpa!"
"No matter how far it is, Grandpa will stand up for you! I'll hobble over and break his legs with my cane!"
Clearly, in the old village chief's simple-minded worldview, this pair was already firmly locked together.
Listening to the old man's earnest advice, something deep within Xiao Wu's heart was touched.
As a soul beast, she had lost family before — and she yearned most for this kind of pure, untainted familial affection.
"Mhm!"
Xiao Wu nodded heavily, her eyes slightly misting as she held Grandpa's rough, calloused hand instead.
"Grandpa, don't worry. Big brother treats me really well — he would never bully me."
"And even if he did…" she huffed proudly, "I can beat him back!"
Seeing Xiao Wu's cute expression, both Lin Yuan and Old Jack couldn't help but laugh.
That night, the lights of White Stone Village felt especially warm.
…
Early the next morning.
Under the reluctant gaze of the old village chief, Lin Yuan and Xiao Wu packed their belongings and boarded a carriage bound for the Star Dou Forest.
Only after the carriage disappeared from sight did the old village chief return to his house.
That was when he noticed a bag sitting on the table — he had no idea when it had appeared.
Opening it, he found a large amount of gold soul coins inside!
Judging by the weight, there were several hundred coins.
Old Jack's eyes immediately turned red.
"Silly child… you're already gone, why leave behind so much money? I'm just an old man — I can't even use this much…"
A single gold soul coin was enough to last him more than half a year. With several hundred coins, he would never have to worry for the rest of his life.
After leaving White Stone Village, the journey toward the Star Dou Forest was long — but for Lin Yuan and Xiao Wu, it was anything but dull.
They weren't in a hurry at all, treating the trip as a graduation journey.
Every time they passed through a bustling town, they would have the coachman stop so they could stroll through local markets and sample regional delicacies.
For two people who had spent most of their lives in Nuoding City and White Stone Village, the outside world was full of novelty.
And so they traveled — stopping and starting along the way.
Half a month later,
They finally arrived at a major stronghold on the southern border of the Heaven Dou Empire, and the closest supply point to the Star Dou Forest — Star Dou Town.
It was already evening.
The setting sun was blood-red, dyeing the small town — filled with a killing aura — in shades of orange.
The streets were crowded, mostly with soul masters clad in leather armor and carrying weapons, or merchants selling supplies.
Lin Yuan brought Xiao Wu to a tavern that looked fairly well-established.
"Boss, we'd like a room."
Lin Yuan walked up to the counter and knocked on the tabletop.
The shop attendant, busy calculating accounts, looked up to see a handsome young man and a beautiful girl. Though young, their bearing clearly marked them as anything but ordinary.
He immediately plastered on a smile.
"Hehe, sorry about that, honored guests."
"You've come at an unlucky time. It's hunting season right now — lots of mercenary groups and academy teams are stationed here."
"Our inn currently… has only one upper-grade room left."
"One room?"
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
—
End of Chapter