Phoenix leaves fell, and the autumn wind carried a slight chill.
Tang Ya and Beibei left side by side, their silhouettes leaning close together.
Xu Sanshi stepped out from behind a tree and patted Huang Fei on the shoulder.
"Not bad, kid. You sure know how to talk."
Huang Fei remained calm as he said lightly, "Just telling the truth."
Xu Sanshi grinned. "But that last thing you said—'don't ever try it'—you meant it, didn't you?"
"What do you think?"
Huang Fei rolled his eyes and glanced at him, offering no further answer.
Xu Sanshi did not press the matter. He waved a hand. "I'm off. I'll treat you to something good later."
With that, he strode after the two ahead.
Huang Fei stood where he was, watching the three figures gradually recede into the distance.
Sunlight filtered through the Phoenix leaves, casting dappled patches of light and shadow across the ground.
He lowered his gaze, then turned and headed toward the Library.
His steps were steady.
No one knew what he was thinking.
That night, in the dormitory.
Huang Fei sat cross-legged on his bed, recalling his conversation with Tang Ya that day.
Destroying one's own cultivation and starting over meant that less than one-tenth would remain.
He himself had never considered taking that path.
Not because he was afraid, but because with the system, there was simply no need for it.
He raised his head and looked at the bright moon outside the window.
Moonlight flowed like water, spilling a clear radiance across the ground.
For some reason, he suddenly recalled something he had read in his past life.
Some roads, once taken wrongly, were simply wrong.
Those who could turn back were few.
Those who could not were the norm.
Tang Ya had chosen a more