Chapter 35: Leaving, a New Beginning!

“Xu Jingming, you’re here.”

A muscular man walked out from the study.

“Uncle Tang,” Xu Jingming greeted politely.

This man was his uncle, Tang Daolin.

“Sit down for a bit; I’ll brew you some tea.”

Uncle Tang Daolin nodded with a smile, then called upstairs:

“Qiqi, your cousin is here.”

Tap-tap-tap...

With footsteps echoing, Tang Qi descended the stairs with long, graceful strides.

“Qi-jie,” Xu Jingming smiled and called out.

“Jingming, impressive—you actually got provincial top scorer.”

I didn’t have time to call earlier; is it still okay to congratulate you now?”

Tang Qi smiled sweetly and sat beside Xu Qingwan.

“Of course it’s still okay.”

Xu Jingming grinned, “By the way, these are gifts I brought for you.”

“Face masks for Auntie, skincare for Qi-jie, and tea for Uncle Tang.”

Xu Jingming took out each gift one by one.

“You’re so thoughtful, Xiao Ming.”

Auntie Xu Qingwan didn’t refuse outright—she was about to accept when she noticed all the gifts were luxury brands.

Altogether, they cost at least ten to twenty thousand—her eyes widened:

“Why buy such expensive gifts? You’ll need money for university soon.”

Take them back right now; when you earn money, you can buy us something then.”

“Auntie, I earned these myself.”

Xu Jingming grinned, “The city awarded me two million cash, plus an ability cultivation method and a luxury villa for becoming provincial top scorer.”

These gifts costing ten or twenty thousand? They’re nothing to me.”

Of course, even without the city’s reward,

given how much Auntie’s family has helped me over the years, buying them something valuable is only right.

“Qingwan, just accept them—I saw the city’s reward announcement online too.”

Not just the city, many local Jiangcheng enterprises have publicly offered you equipment and resources.”

Uncle Tang smiled as he placed a steaming cup of clear tea before them.

“So that’s how it is.”

Xu Qingwan nodded and stopped refusing, “You can take the city’s reward, but don’t accept anything from those companies.”

Xu Jingming nodded, understanding.

The municipal government has official backing; accepting state-issued rewards is perfectly fine.

But private companies? Accepting their gifts might bring trouble later.

“By the way, Uncle Tang said the city gave you a villa—where is it?” Auntie Xu Qingwan asked curiously.

“The city said I could pick anywhere within Jiangcheng, but I haven’t decided yet,” Xu Jingming replied.

“Then just pick our Jinghu Community—it’ll be easier to visit each other,” Xu Qingwan urged immediately.

“Sure,” Xu Jingming agreed readily.

For him, an orphan with no parents,

a house was just a place to sleep—anywhere would do.

Since Auntie wanted him to live here, he’d live here.

Uncle Tang Daolin, listening nearby, felt a pang of emotion.

He had spent most of his life working to afford this house.

Now, Xu Jingming didn’t have to spend a single cent—

others were lining up to give him one!

Truly, the younger generation is formidable.

“I’ve got some training issues—I’ll be able to ask you for advice once you move in,” Tang Qi said with a smile.

Though she used a dagger and Xu Jingming used a long spear,

his combat experience was clearly far greater—he could guide her in training.

But his combat experience was clearly far superior to mine, and he could provide some training guidance.

Xu Jingming nodded, then hesitated slightly: “But I won’t be able to guide you long—once everything’s settled here, I’m leaving.”

“Leaving? Where to?” Xu Qingwan’s heart jolted.

“To report for enrollment in Magu City.”

Xu Jingming pulled out his acceptance letter: “Just now, I was accepted by Magu City Ability University.”

“Already accepted? But the application period hasn’t even started yet!”

Xu Qingwan blinked in surprise.

Applications opened three days after the Wu Ke exam results were released.

“Xiao Ming is provincial top scorer—he’s under special admission; he doesn’t wait for applications,”

Uncle Tang Daolin shook his head and explained.

“Special admission... so soon?”

Xu Qingwan felt a pang of disappointment.

She had planned to take Xu Jingming out for fun during the holiday.

But she knew Magu City Ability University was the nation’s top school.

Xu Jingming choosing early enrollment must have his reasons.

“Children grow up so fast.”

Xu Qingwan shook her head, regaining her composure: “Going to Magu City Ability University is wonderful! Today, I’m treating you all to a big meal—to celebrate Xiao Ming’s provincial top scorer title!”

“Yay! I want lobster!”

Tang Qi’s eyes lit up; Xu Jingming smiled too.

With that, the whole family happily left the house.

In the following days, Xu Jingming first appeared at a municipal event and received his two million cash reward.

Then he picked out a two-story, standalone villa in Jinghu Community, covering over four hundred square meters.

All furniture inside was brand new—he left the original furnishings untouched.

He also took his high school best friends, Zhang Hao and Liu Jie, out for dinner.

At dinner, the two friends were awestruck by Xu Jingming’s rise.

When they learned he’d been struck by lightning and his ability mutated from E-rank to S-rank, they cried out in envy: “Lucky bastard!”

They ordered even more lobster.

Of course, their own scores were decent too.

Liu Jie scored 245 on the Wu Ke exam—he was guaranteed admission to an ability university.

Zhang Hao, who took the cultural exam, reached the first-tier admission cutoff.

But compared to Magu City Ability University, their achievements paled.

In the end, both Zhang Hao and Liu Jie got thoroughly drunk.

“Aming, once you’re at Magu City Ability University, get me a signed photo of Sister Jiang!”

As they boarded the taxi, Zhang Hao mumbled half-consciously.

Sister Jiang, real name Jiang Chu, was an ability user from Magu City Ability University.

For the past six months, she’d gone viral online after a video of her slaying a ferocious beast.

In the video, her stunning beauty contrasted sharply with her swift, brutal combat style.

Hence the nickname “Sister Jiang,” and Zhang Hao was her diehard fan.

Xu Jingming promised without hesitation, finally calming him down and seeing him onto the taxi.

With that, all matters in Jiangcheng were settled.

The next day, June 16th,

under the watchful eyes of Auntie’s family, Xu Jingming picked up his suitcase and boarded the high-speed train to Magu City.

“With this, Xiao Ming is truly about to soar.”

Uncle Tang Daolin watched the departing train with a wistful expression.

Who could have imagined Xu Jingming would become provincial top scorer and be accepted by Magu City Ability University?

“By the way, Qiqi, you’re starting to fill out applications soon, right?”

“Since your cousin Jingming is going to Magu City Ability University, try to pick a school in Magu too—it’ll be easier to look out for each other.”

“Your dad’s right. Magu is developing well, economically strong, and not far from Jiangnan—it’s a good choice.”

Since your cousin Xu Jingming is going to the Magic Capital Institute of Supernatural Abilities, you should also try to choose a university in Magic Capital, so you can look out for each other later.

Your father is right; Magic Capital is developing well, its economy is prosperous, and it’s not far from Jiangnan—it’s a good choice.

"Mom, Dad, I understand..."