Chapter 15: Linlei's Romance

Yunluo Li, Year 9997, November.

The Ernst Institute entered its busiest season of the year—tests for all grades began one after another, the library was full every day, and even the number of people cultivating in Hou Shan increased.

Aikesi and Linlei were already sixth-year students, Yelu and Qiaozhi had advanced to fifth year, and Leinuo was stuck at fourth year—this configuration had held for nearly a year, with no one able to advance further.

The threshold from Level 6 to Level 7 was indeed not so easy to cross.

That afternoon, the five cultivated in Hou Shan as usual. When one shi ended, Leinuo was just about to get up and stretch when he suddenly saw someone approaching from a distance.

"Someone's coming," he said.

The others followed his gaze. A blonde girl was walking toward them, appearing fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing the common skirts of Fenlai Cheng, not a member of the institute.

Aikesi's heart stirred.

At this time, in this place, coming to find Linlei?

Ailisi. Linlei's first love in the original story. The girl who made his heart flutter, made him give everything, and ultimately broke his heart.

According to the timeline, it was indeed now.

"How did you find this place?" Linlei asked.

"I asked the gate guards," Ailisi said. "They said you might be in Hou Shan, so I came in to look."

Linlei fell silent for a moment, then looked at Aikesi and the others: "I'll take my leave first."

"Go ahead, go ahead," Yelu waved his hand, a deeply meaningful smile on his face.

Linlei and Ailisi left side by side.

Once the two had gone far, Leinuo was the first to jump up: "Fourth brother is in love!"

"How do you know it's love?" Qiaozhi asked.

"Does that need asking? A girl comes all this way specifically to find him; if it's not love, what is it?"

Yelu stroked his chin: "I think so too. With Fourth brother's personality, the only person he could put down his cultivation to meet must be extraordinary."

Aikesi leaned against a rock, saying nothing.

He knew the ending of this relationship. But he also knew this was something Linlei had to experience. As a brother, all he could do was stay by his side and appear when Linlei needed him.

"Third brother, why aren't you saying anything?" Leinuo leaned over.

"Nothing much," Aikesi stood up. "Let's go, back to eat."

That night, Linlei returned very late.

When he pushed open the door to the dormitory, Aikesi was leaning against his bed reading a book. Yelu and Qiaozhi were playing chess next door, and Leinuo was already asleep.

"Back?" Aikesi looked up.

"Mm." Linlei sat down by his own bed.

The two fell silent for a while.

"That girl..." Aikesi began.

"Ailisi," Linlei said. "Last time I ventured into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, I saved her, and we've been together since."

Aikesi nodded: "What's she like?"

Linlei thought for a moment: "Pretty good."

Just those two words, but Aikesi heard a different flavor in them. Linlei was a man of few words; to describe someone as "pretty good" was already a rare compliment.

"Then treat her well," Aikesi said.

Linlei glanced at him: "You don't seem surprised?"

"Surprised about what?"

"Someone coming to find me."

Aikesi smiled: "You're not ugly, and your strength is strong; isn't it normal for someone to like you?"

Linlei's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

Aikesi closed his book and lay down: "Sleep early."

"Mm."

In the days that followed, Linlei visited Ailisi more and more often.

Sometimes on weekends, sometimes after evening cultivation ended. Aikesi and the others occasionally saw his figure hurrying away, but no one asked too many questions.

On a weekend in early December, Linlei appeared at the dormitory door with Ailisi.

"This is Ailisi," he introduced.

"These are Yelu, Qiaozhi, Leinuo, and Aikesi."

Ailisi nodded to the group, her smile very beautiful. She wore a pale blue long dress, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes clear and bright.

"Hello," Aikesi was the first to greet her.

"Hello," Ailisi looked at him. "You must be Aikesi? Linlei often mentions you."

"What does he say about me?"

"He says your cultivation is impressive and you're reliable."

Aikesi smiled: "It's rare for him to praise anyone."

Yelu leaned over: "What about me? What about me? Has he mentioned me?"

Ailisi thought for a moment: "Yes, he said the friendship in your dormitory is very good."

"Just that?"

"Just that."

Leinuo laughed so hard he slapped his thigh.

Qiaozhi smoothed things over from the side: "Linlei speaks little; for him to say even this is already good."

The group chatted and laughed, the atmosphere very harmonious.

In the evening, the five of them, plus Ailisi, went to Huadeli for dinner together.

Linlei ignored him.

During the meal, Ailisi chatted happily with everyone. She had a cheerful personality and spoke amusingly, quickly bonding with Yelu and the others. Aikesi spoke little, but occasionally interjected a sentence, keeping the atmosphere pleasant throughout.

Halfway through the meal, Ailisi went to the restroom. Reynolds leaned over to Linlei: "Fourth brother, this girl is nice; make sure to seize the opportunity."

Linlei glanced at him and said nothing.

"Reynolds is right," Qiaozhi nodded. "Good personality, beautiful too; she suits you well."

Yelu patted Linlei's shoulder: "Brother, I support you."

Aikesi said nothing, merely raising his wine glass to signal Linlei.

Linlei also raised his water cup and clinked it against Aikesi's.

After Ailisi returned, the group continued eating.

When the conversation turned to the future, Ailisi mentioned she also studied at the Magic Academy in Fenlai Cheng, but her talent was average, and she was only at Level Three now.

"Level Three is not bad," Reynolds said. "I'm at Level Four, not much better than you."

"You're at Level Four?" Ailisi exclaimed in surprise. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"That's impressive then."

Reynolds looked at Yelu with a smug expression.

Yelu rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay him any mind.

After finishing the meal, Linlei escorted Ailisi back. Aikesi and the others settled the bill and left, walking back toward the academy.

"That girl is nice," Qiaozhi said.

"Mm," Aikesi acknowledged with a single sound.

"Fourth brother is serious this time."

Aikesi nodded. He knew Linlei was serious. In the original story, Linlei gave his entire true heart to Ailisi, only to end up with heartbreak and growth.

Returning to the dormitory at night, Linlei had not yet come back.

Aikesi lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. From the next room came the sounds of Yelu and Qiaozhi talking; Reynolds was already asleep, snoring softly.

He suddenly remembered the year he transmigrated.

Back then, he was nine years old, having just entered Ensite, feeling both unfamiliar and curious about everything. Seven springs, summers, autumns, and winters, more than two thousand days and nights, had passed just like that.

Now Linlei was in love, and Yelu and the others had their own plans; graduation day was drawing ever closer.

The road ahead was long, but some people would inevitably part ways.

【Ding—Detected that this month's check-in opportunity has refreshed.】

【Check in?】

Aikesi silently thought in his mind: Check in.

【Check-in successful.】

【Reward obtained: Gate of Eternal Life · Rejuvenation Pill ×3 — Can rapidly restore injuries, effective for both internal and external wounds.】

Three pale green pills appeared out of thin air. Aikesi glanced at them and tucked them into his chest.

"Preparedness prevents peril."