Shui Bing'er (Happy New Year, Everyone.)

The sky brightened, and Lin Ming got up to wash. He put the last few items into his ring.

He left the cloth bag he'd carried for three years on the bed.

He didn't need it anymore.

Starting today, he no longer had to pretend to be an ordinary work-study student.

Starting today, he could openly use Soul Tools, and openly display his strength.

He could openly...

He let out a sigh of relief.

Wang Sheng had also woken up. He stood in silence for a moment before walking up to Lin Ming.

"Lin Ming."

"Hm?"

"Your... your thing from yesterday..."

Wang Sheng's face turned red as he struggled to speak.

"Did you really hide it all this time?"

Lin Ming looked at him and nodded.

"Why?"

Wang Sheng didn't understand.

"That was a hundred-year Soul Ring. If you had shown it from the start, who would have dared to bully us work-study students? Who would have dared to show off in front of you."

Lin Ming thought for a moment before answering.

"There were reasons before."

"And now?"

"There are no more reasons now."

Wang Sheng was stunned for a moment. He suddenly laughed, his eyes turning red.

"Okay, okay."

He patted Lin Ming's shoulder forcefully.

"Then don't hide it anymore from now on, you hear me? Go out there and let those snobs see that we work-study students can produce geniuses too."

Lin Ming looked into his eyes.

There was admiration and unwillingness in his gaze, but absolutely no jealousy.

Then he nodded.

"Alright."

As Lin Ming walked out of Dorm Seven, the sunlight happened to fall on him.

It was warm and pleasant.

He took a deep breath.

Four years.

He had never stood like this within Nuoding Academy before.

Standing in the sunlight, thinking nothing, fearing nothing.

Little Lei Yi floated up from his shoulder, hovering beside him.

Its small body was rimmed with gold by the sunlight, shining like a miniature sun.

"Yi~"

Lin Ming looked at it and suddenly said.

"Little Lei Yi, do you want to fly for a bit?"

Little Lei Yi blinked its eyes.

Normally, to save Soul Power, it would perch on Lin Ming's shoulder.

Lin Ming had said to keep a low profile, conserve energy, and always retain enough Soul Power to deal with unexpected situations.

But now...

"Yi!"

Little Lei Yi excitedly floated a little higher, its small body doing a spin in the air.

It began to fly.

From the entrance of Dorm Seven to the sports field, from the sports field to the side of the path, from the path to the branches of the trees.

The ten-centimeter little creature was like a golden butterfly, darting freely in the sunlight.

Lin Ming stood in place, watching the small golden figure.

The curve of his lips widened.

So this is what it's like not to constantly calculate Soul Power consumption.

On the way to the cafeteria, Lin Ming encountered many people.

Everyone who saw him froze for a moment.

Almost all eyes were fixed on his shoulder.

Little Lei Yi was lying there, not quietly curled up as usual.

Instead, it was crossing its legs, its small body swaying slightly, looking perfectly at ease.

"Um... Lin Ming..."

Someone whispered.

"Why does he look... a little different..."

"Different how?"

"I can't quite say... it's like... he's completely let go."

Lin Ming heard them, but he didn't say anything.

The cafeteria was more crowded than usual.

Lin Ming picked up his tray and found a seat.

This time, he didn't choose a corner. Instead, he chose a table by the window, the sunlight falling directly on him.

Little Lei Yi floated down from his shoulder and sat opposite him.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Yi."

"Steamed bun?"

"Yi!"

Lin Ming broke off half a steamed bun for it.

Little Lei Yi held the bun and nibbled at it in small bites.

The sunlight shone on it, and golden arcs of electricity jumped on the bun, toasting it slightly.

"That's not how you eat a steamed bun."

"Yi?"

Little Lei Yi tilted its head to look at him, still with half a bun in its mouth.

Lin Ming suddenly smiled as he watched.

He reached out, took the bun from Little Lei Yi's mouth, and blew away the residual electricity.

"Eat it like this."

He broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth.

Little Lei Yi imitated him, breaking off a small piece and putting it in its mouth.

Then it frowned.

"Yi!"

It had burned itself.

Lin Ming burst out laughing.

The people at the surrounding tables were stunned.

They had never seen Lin Ming smile before.

Even less had they seen him smile like this.

His shoulders shook with laughter, his eyes curved into slits, and he looked as if he had been softened by the sunlight.

"Is that... Lin Ming?"

"It should be..."

"Why... does he smile like that..."

No one could answer.

After finishing his last meal at Nuoding Academy.

Lin Ming walked out of the entrance of Nuoding Academy.

He didn't say goodbye to anyone.

Just like any other time he left Nuoding Academy.

Silently.

Little Lei Yi, the unpromising one, was stuffed again. He was sprawled on Lin Ming's shoulder, his small body rising and falling slightly, emitting soft "huhu" sounds.

Lin Ming reached out and stroked his head, looking at him.

Four years.

Little Lei Yi had been with him for four years.

From Holy Soul Village to Nuoding Academy.

From Level 1 to Level 20.

From Little Lei Yi evolving into Lei Yi.

They had starved together, hidden their strengths together, kept watch together through the nights, and faced near-death together in the Star Dou Great Forest.

They had never been apart.

He looked at Little Lei Yi, who was drowsily nuzzling his hand, and spoke.

"You don't need to hide anymore."

Little Lei Yi opened his eyes and looked at him.

"You can fly wherever you want, play wherever you want, and stay out wherever you want."

Little Lei Yi looked at him, his big eyes reflecting his face.

He nuzzled Lin Ming's cheek with his small head.

"Yi~"

The sound was soft and gentle.

He was saying.

Okay.

The carriage traveled for several days.

This evening.

Skywater City.

The setting sun dyed the entire city a warm orange-red.

Crowds of people flowed in and out of the city gates.

Skywater City was more than twice the size of Nuoding City.

Little Lei Yi floated up from Lin Ming's shoulder, hovering beside him.

"Yi~"

"Mm, we're here."

Lin Ming lowered his head, looking at the ring on his finger, his heart beating a little faster than usual.

He had sent Shui Bing'er a letter when he left Nuoding City.

It contained only two sentences.

"I'm Level 20, and I've arrived."

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Skywater City. Lin Ming and Little Lei Yi got off.

Following the directions they had asked for, they walked for about fifteen minutes before he stopped.

Ahead stood a tall gatehouse, with four characters carved on the lintel.

Skywater Academy.

Two uniformed students stood at the entrance, along with a figure in light blue.

Shui Bing'er stood to the left of the main gate, not too close and not too far.

She just stood there, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, as if waiting for someone.

Lin Ming looked at her.

The sunlight fell on her blue hair, casting a soft glow.

She had grown considerably taller in the past four years, and her once somewhat childish cheeks now had distinct lines.

Only her eyes remained unchanged, still clear, calm, like a winter lake.

She sensed Lin Ming's gaze and turned her head, her eyes landing on him.

The two of them stared at each other from dozens of paces away.

Neither moved.

Little Lei Yi floated up from Lin Ming's shoulder, tilted his head to look at Lin Ming, then at Shui Bing'er.

Then he waved his little finger at Shui Bing'er.

"Yi!"