The Season of Farewells and Silent Promises

Time never stopped, flowing quietly like the babbling river outside Nuoding City. Winter snow melted, spring buds sprouted, and after the clamor of midsummer cicadas, autumn leaves once again turned the branches golden.

More than two years flew by amid daily cultivation, study, play, and Xiao Xiaoxiao's tireless efforts to "build favorability."

Their time at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy was nearing its end.

By now, Tang San, Xiao Xiaoxiao, and Xiao Wu were no longer the ignorant, childish youngsters they had once been.

Tang San had grown much taller, his shoulders broader. The childishness had faded from his face, leaving his features increasingly defined and cool. Only his eyes remained as clear and calm as ever, though they now carried a measure of steadiness and an almost imperceptible sharpness. His Soul Power had reached the peak of level nineteen; with only the right opportunity, he could break through into the realm of a Soul Grandmaster. Under his control, Blue Silver Grass had become ever more resilient and troublesome, and the various effects it carried had been developed to their fullest. Not to mention the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons concealed in inconspicuous corners, their power growing more alarming by the day.

Xiao Wu had become increasingly pretty and lively. Her Scorpion Braid reached her waist, her long legs possessed astonishing jumping power, and her Soft Skill had become almost magical in its mastery. Though her Soul Power had risen slightly more slowly and had only reached level seventeen, even Tang San did not dare underestimate her close-combat prowess.

Xiao Xiaoxiao had changed just as greatly. The frail, timid little girl from back then had grown into a graceful young maiden. Her features had matured, and her liveliness now carried a trace of the soft charm unique to a young girl. Her Soul Power had steadily reached level eighteen, and her use of Mental Interference had become increasingly proficient. She could even perform brief Spiritual Detection and sense emotions to a preliminary degree. She was still the "little mending expert" of the Seventh Dormitory. With that skill, along with the occasional simple gathering task issued by the academy, her little stash of money had become quite substantial. She had often subsidized Tang San's material expenses and the three of them's snack costs.

Many things had happened over those two years.

They had gone to the Soul Hunting Forest several more times, avoiding that abnormal area, to help Work-Study Students who had reached their bottlenecks obtain soul rings. Their coordination had grown increasingly seamless, and Tang San's command combined with Xiao Xiaoxiao's support had practically become a nightmare for low-level soul beasts.

They had clashed with Xiao Chenyu's group several more times, but as Tang San's strength became ever more unfathomable, coupled with Xiao Xiaoxiao's headache-inducing interference and Xiao Wu's fierce Soft Skill, Xiao Chenyu eventually faced reality. He no longer provoked them on his own initiative and even seemed to hold them in a measure of awe.

Master continued to guide them with great care. His theories had been perfectly proven through Tang San, and whenever he watched Tang San grow, his eyes often revealed satisfaction and pride. He also taught Xiao Xiaoxiao everything he knew, especially techniques for cultivating and controlling Spiritual Power.

The Work-Study Students of the Seventh Dormitory had changed over to a new group. Wang Sheng and the others had already graduated and left, but the name "Seventh Dormitory Work-Study Students" had become increasingly renowned because of Tang San and the other two. No one dared casually bully the students here anymore.

Everything seemed to be moving in a better direction.

Except... farewell.

The atmosphere of graduation quietly spread through the academy. The students were all discussing where they would go in the future. Most would choose to remain in Nuoding City, joining local small soul master families or mercenary groups. A select few with greater talent longed to travel to larger cities and apply to more advanced intermediate Soul Master Academies.

As the sun set, it stretched the shadows of the three of them long. They sat side by side on the slope behind the academy, looking at the outline of Nuoding City in the distance.

"Hey, where are you planning to go after this?" Xiao Wu had a blade of grass between her lips and swung her legs. Her voice was unusually lacking in its usual liveliness.

Tang San gazed at the sunset clouds on the horizon, his eyes distant. "Teacher suggested that I go to Suotuo City and apply to an academy called Shrek."

"Shrek? What a strange name. Is it any good?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.

"Teacher said they only accept monsters," Tang San said blandly. "If you're not a monster, they won't take you."

"Monsters? Hehe, doesn't that mean us?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, intrigued. "That sounds fun! I'm going too!"

Tang San did not object, silently accepting it. He looked toward Xiao Xiaoxiao. "What about you?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart began pounding. It's here! The moment that decides my fate!

She had long known that Tang San would go to Shrek, and it had always been the goal she had worked toward. She took a deep breath, turned to look at Tang San, and met his eyes. Her own eyes gleamed with undisguised anticipation and a trace of nervousness. "I... I want to go to Shrek too! I want to... keep studying with you, keep growing stronger with you! Is that okay?"

Her gaze was fervent and sincere, carrying all the thoughts and courage in a young girl's heart.

Tang San looked at her. The glow of the evening clouds fell across her face, dyeing it with a soft, warm gold. In those large eyes, always brimming with smiles and clever mischief, there was now only his reflection.

He fell silent for several seconds. The hillside beneath the setting sun was so quiet that they could hear the wind brushing through the grass.

Just as Xiao Xiaoxiao grew so nervous that her palms were about to sweat, he gently nodded.

"Mm."

It was only one word, yet it felt like the most solemn promise, instantly sweeping away all of Xiao Xiaoxiao's unease and apprehension.

Immense joy exploded in her heart like fireworks. The corners of her lips rose uncontrollably, and her smile shone more brilliantly than the sunset clouds at the horizon.

"That's great!" Xiao Wu happily threw an arm around Xiao Xiaoxiao's neck. "The three of us are still together!"

As Tang San watched Xiao Xiaoxiao's unreservedly joyful smile, what seemed to be the faintest trace of a smile passed through his eyes before quickly vanishing beneath his calm expression. He turned his gaze back toward the distance, toward the direction of Suotuo City.

The road ahead seemed to have become clear, yet it was still filled with the unknown.

But at least, at this moment, the three of them were still together.

The sun sank completely below the horizon, leaving only magnificent afterglow in the sky.

"Let's go. It's time to head back." Tang San rose to his feet, brushed the grass clippings from his clothes, and walked down the hill.

Xiao Wu skipped after him.

Xiao Xiaoxiao lingered at the back, watching Tang San's straight yet lean figure ahead of her. Her heart felt completely full.

Farewells were for the sake of better reunions.

The story of Nuoding City was about to come to an end, but their journey still had a very, very long way to go.

And she would always remain by his side.

She would work hard to grow stronger, work hard to... enter his heart.

She jogged to catch up with the two ahead. The setting sun drew their three shadows together tightly, stretching them long, long into the distance.

Their days at Nuoding Academy had come to a close. And a new chapter was slowly unfolding in the direction of Suotuo City.