Living is truly difficult!
Asta's gaze was vacant and her movements sluggish as she put on her exquisite Station Master uniform, which was primarily white with red accents.
The memories of being repeatedly corrected on her sword-swinging posture and having her force exertion adjusted in the consciousness space last night were so substantial and exhausting. Yet, surprisingly, it hadn't affected her energy levels at all... This feeling was too strange.
[Promising Future Chat Group]
Asta: "Will there be this kind of training every day?"
Wangshu: "Thinking about it, it's actually quite thrilling. I didn't expect that upon waking up this morning, I wouldn't feel any fatigue at all. My sleep quality seems to have even improved."
Wangshu: "I used to dream of having this kind of learning space. It's a pity I've already passed the college entrance exams, so I can't use it anymore..."
Asta looked at Wangshu's reply, hesitating to speak. She remained silent for a long while, feeling as if her throat was blocked by something sticky. She wanted to roast the situation, but couldn't get the words out.
She originally thought they were fellow sufferers and would share some common topics.
Jingliu: "Having drive is a good thing. For something like practicing the sword, willingness is paramount."
No one responded. The group went cold.
Deep within The Shackling Prison, where no one could see, the chat group interface before her was briefly summoned and then closed. She repeated this several times until she confirmed there would be no new messages in the short term. Only then did she lower her eyes again. Fortunately, in reality, she had the black silk blindfold to cover her, so her expression could not be seen.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Wangshu stood before the window, his fingertips pinching those two cards with their unique texture. He rotated them gently, and the two cards appeared sequentially with the friction.
"Jingliu, Asta, scanning successful!"
"Two-in-one form! Fusion load!"
"Transform!"
The finely renovated room was instantly filled with a chill, and a layer of frost coated the floor. In the space below Wangshu's lowered fingertips, cold air gathered and took shape frantically. In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a crystalline longsword radiating biting cold. Tiny ice crystals and snowflakes even coagulated out of thin air around the blade, drifting down.
As for Asta's portion... well, as fusion material, having no visual effect is normal.
"Hmph, Shuhu? If he dares to invade, I will make sure he has no return!"
He subconsciously gripped the ice sword. A certain name flashed through his mind, and a line that was slightly embarrassing but full of imposing momentum escaped his lips.
"So cold, so cold! Hiss—"
Before Wangshu could continue adapting to this exaggerated strength that rivaled an Emanator, the chattering voice of the little one freezing came from the living room.
This gave Wangshu a clear understanding of Jingliu's strength again. Simple coldness was already becoming unbearable for a Celestial Physique. He hurriedly gathered his focus and severed the card connection.
Then, Wangshu hid the cards behind his back, gave two dry coughs, and pushed open the bedroom door.
"Is the air conditioner broken?"
Wangshu put away the cards and opened the door. Jingliu was squatting in front of the air conditioner, her small face pale from the cold. She was acting somewhat adorkable... by banging on the air conditioner.
"Little Wangshu, you were woken up by the cold, right?"
Hearing the door open, she didn't turn her head, her tone certain: "Don't worry, wait for me to smack it a couple more times, and this broken machine will definitely be fixed! It occasionally threw fits in the past; smacking it usually works!"
Wangshu looked at her repair method with a subtle expression, the hand hiding the cards behind his back shrinking further into his clothes.
"Speaking of which, Jingliu, don't you need to go to school?"
The electronic clock in the living room displayed the time as 7:23. Little Jingliu was still wearing those white plush pajamas that looked so soft they clung tightly to her body when she squatted.
"Because today is the weekend. I have to go report to the Academy tomorrow... Sigh."
But it didn't matter. She would work hard to take the adulthood qualification exam this year. Then she could apply for early graduation.
She slapped the air conditioner two more times. The room slowly began to warm up. Jingliu stood up lazily and stretched her waist, though there wasn't much curve to show off.
"But aren't you 18 this year?"
Wangshu couldn't understand. Logically speaking, the Academy on the Xianzhou shouldn't be that different from the schools before he transmigrated, right?
Jingliu's crimson eyes revealed clarity: "But today is the weekend."
"You don't have classes on weekends?"
Jingliu: "..."
She fell silent for a long time, then stood on her tiptoes again. With a hint of sympathy, she rubbed Wangshu's head.
"Little Wangshu, the academic pressure on you short-life species is truly bitter."
Actually, thinking about it, it made sense. Short-life species had limited lifespans, so they definitely had to squeeze and squeeze their time. Compared to that, the long-life species of the Xianzhou were indeed much more leisurely.
The two were speechless for a moment. After a while, Jingliu spoke up abruptly: "Will the future me... be very strict in her teachings?"
Wangshu nodded subconsciously, then shook his head.
Jingliu understood instantly. Strict, but because it is me, it doesn't feel that strict, right?
"Forget it..." She shook her head, tossing aside the inexplicable thoughts. "Let's eat first! I'm hungry."
Breakfast was made by Wangshu again. When Jingliu went back to change out of her pajamas, Wangshu had already finished the prep work.
Breakfast was salted vegetable fried rice, plus eggs and sausages.
Jingliu poked at the rice: "Does the future me love eating this stuff?"
"You don't like it now?"
Jingliu nodded. Although saying this was very apologetic to her mom, her mom had fed her salted vegetable fried rice for so long in the past. It was okay to be a little apologetic now!
"Okay, I'll take note next time and switch to something else." Wangshu followed good advice naturally.
The room temperature was comfortable. After eating, Jingliu habitually prepared to jump off the stool and run out to find classmates to play with, but... there was someone at home.
"Little Wangshu, do you want to go out and play with me?"
"No, I'm planning to go find a job first."
After all, there was the friendly sponsorship from the rich woman Asta. Given her status, the help she provided meant finding a job shouldn't be difficult.
First settle down, then think about how to integrate into this world, and finally consider the matter of Paths.
"Find a job?"
Jingliu blinked. Oh, right, you have to find a job.
She looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside the door, then at Wangshu, who was putting away the bowls and chopsticks at an unhurried pace. After hesitating for two seconds, she ran back.
"Then I won't go out today either. I'll accompany you."
She extended her small hand and patted Wangshu's shoulder, her expression full of encouragement.
This made Wangshu feel somewhat overwhelmed by the favor for a moment.
"It's fine, just go play. I need to go inspect the market and check the price comparison of raw materials."
Although setting up a stall couldn't be counted as a stable job, using a stall to integrate into this environment first would definitely be no problem.
Jingliu blinked: "But our relationship is better in the future. Isn't it only natural for me to accompany you?"
Wangshu froze for a moment.
Things having reached this point, the fact that he was just lying at the beginning was becoming a little hard to say out loud.
He silently apologized to the future Sword Champion in his heart: Senior Jingliu, your past self... is surprisingly gentle and simple!
Wangshu hesitated to speak, and Little Jingliu understood instantly again!
"Could it be that the future me..." Little Jingliu saw his hesitation, and her small cheeks puffed up slightly. "Does she not accompany you often?"
Her future self was too bad. Wangshu couldn't even return home in order to change her tragedy, yet she wasn't even willing to accompany him more.
"It's settled then!" She announced indisputably, hands on her hips. "I'm not going anywhere today. I'll just accompany you to find a job and inspect the market! Efficiency is higher with two people!"
"...Alright, then I'll trouble you."
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