Book One: Scheming in the Imperial Capital - Parting
"Phew... all done."
Looking at the suitcase in front of me, I wiped the sweat from my brow. This small suitcase contained the necessities I had carefully selected, which had really taken me a lot of effort.
It's time to leave the capital.
Following Huang Huo's instructions, they traveled to the unfamiliar North Realm Continent.
There, I will embark on a new journey.
But...
The problem lies with the Si Nan Family.
The Si Nan Family was just wiped out, and I'm just going to leave like this? Even though I owe them nothing, it's still too heartless and ungrateful of me.
After my family home was destroyed, all I did was visit their graves to pay my respects to the fallen guard members.
There's nothing else I can do.
Because if I stay here out of sentimentality, it will only hold me back.
I must leave.
To move forward.
At least, let's take one last look at the capital...
After leaving the temporary shelter, I walked onto the street. The reconstruction of the street had not yet begun; everywhere was littered with bricks and rubble, a scene of utter devastation, completely unrecognizable from its former prosperity.
Life is truly unpredictable.
"Miss Ye."
Just as I was feeling sentimental, I heard a voice from the side. I turned around and saw Si Nan Xing, Si Nan Ganming, Si Nan Xiao, and Si Nan Ying.
What was bound to happen, happened.
"... What's up?"
It was Si Nan Xing spoke; he should be the new Patriarch now.
"Miss Ye, I know you have no debts to the Si Nan Family. Now that your main family has been wiped out, any attempt by us to retain you will only cause you trouble. But I still want to say—"
The Patriarch of the Si Nan Family bowed deeply to me.
"Please, become our strength! I know it's unreasonable to say this now, but I still want to try to ask you—after all, we desperately need manpower right now!"
"..."
The atmosphere became heavy.
Of course, the answer has been there for a long time.
I must refuse them, and I must do it cleanly and decisively.
I know this is heartless, opportunistic, unfair, and despicable... but I must move forward.
The current Si Nan Family will only become a burden to me—this is a harsh statement, but it is indeed the truth.
Si Nan Xing and Si Nan Ganming, I wasn't familiar with them to begin with. The key point is...
I looked at Si Nan Ying and Si Nan Xiao. Si Nan Xiao had her head down, looking a little embarrassed, but her eyes shone with determination.
As for Si Nan Ying--
"If Xiao Ye doesn't want to, don't force her. It's too embarrassing, big brother."
--She said something I didn't expect.
"Little sister, what's going on?"
"Little Ying..."
"Xiao Ye, your gaze is always fixed on the distance, isn't it?" Si Nan Ying continued, ignoring the surprised expressions on the other three's faces.
"I realized it the moment we met, Xiao Ye. You're different from me. You have a much more distant goal. This small capital city will only be a shackle for you. You will definitely continue to move towards that goal in the future... So please don't worry about me. Just follow your plan."
I was stunned. (Si Nan Ying)
When we first met, she was an adorable little thing. However, beneath her innocent and carefree exterior lay a host of worries. Back then, she wanted to become stronger, simply to break free from the control of her family and to take control of her own destiny...
Despite her appearance, she made such a mature statement.
What kind of changes in mindset were involved?
I have no idea.
"Little Ying, you... have matured."
Si Nan Ying gave me a sweet smile and then said nothing more.
"Well... indeed, as Little Ying said, there are some things I must complete, and I'm afraid I won't be able to fight alongside you anymore, so—I'm truly, truly sorry!"
I bowed deeply and gave my answer.
Si Nan Xing stared at me for a long time, then finally gave a bitter smile and shrugged.
"So it didn't work out after all? Oh well, it was expected... But can you tell me what you're going to do next?"
"You should participate in this!"
I took out the poster.
"The Gray Starling Cup North Realm Rally!?"
"Oh? So you all knew?"
"How could I not know! When the Gray Starling Group announced this project six months ago, car enthusiasts around the world were shocked! This is absolutely the grandest sporting event ever held in the history of Spirit Star!"
"There are no restrictions on the number of participants, their nationality, age, race, or gender. The total number of registered teams has already exceeded a thousand, and millions of fans have set off for the North Realm Continent. All the media around the world are scrambling to report on it, and world-renowned betting companies are in an uproar. It's still only in the preparation stage, but the economic impact has already reached astronomical figures! If our family hadn't run into trouble, we would have gone to the North Realm Continent to watch the race!"
"Xiao Ye, you're going to participate too? You must be kidding!"
This competition is so amazing! Looks like I'm really out of touch...
"I'm not kidding, I'm serious... You might even see me on the broadcast. As for the racing team... I'll just find someone to join."
""""Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?""
The following day, at the dock outside the main gate of the capital.
With less than half an hour until departure, I looked at the huge passenger ship in front of me and fiddled with my ticket.
First, take a passenger ship to a coastal city, then transfer to a sea vessel to the Port Turltukha on the North Realm Continent. The journey takes about a month, and I just managed to make it before the registration deadline, so the time was actually very tight.
I haven't boarded the ship yet because I'm waiting for someone.
"You're leaving already, Xiao Ye?"
They've arrived.
A stunningly beautiful woman in a snow-white cheongsam walked through the throng of people and came before me.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you before... But I knew you would come looking for me."
"Wait for me to see you off? How heartless, Xiao Ye."
"... sorry."
"It's okay~ After all, Xiao Ye is warm on the outside but cold on the inside~"
"What kind of nonsense is this, 'hot on the outside, cold on the inside'... Never mind, Haoyue, do you still remember our promise?"
"An agreement? I don't know anything about any agreement."
"It's about that pinky promise we made that day. We agreed that after everything was over, I'd tell you my secret—"
"I've already said, I don't know anything about any agreement."
"... ah."
Suddenly, I understood what she meant.
"The agreement... I've 'temporarily' forgotten about it. If I listen to your long-winded explanation now, we'll definitely miss the ship, so—"
She suddenly moved closer to me.
A light kiss was left on my cheek.
"No need to rush into it now... Every promise we make strengthens our connection. Let's save this promise for when we meet again..."
The sound of a passenger ship's horn could be heard nearby.
The ship is about to depart.
Goodbye, Xiao Ye, we'll meet again...
Her murmurs echoed in my ears as I stood on the deck, watching the direction the bright moon had gone.
Goodbye, Imperial Capital.
Goodbye, Bright Moon.
Goodbye, Little Ying.
Goodbye to everyone I met and got to know in the capital.
I sincerely look forward to the day we meet again.
I stretched.
"Alright, now it's time for a new beginning!"
Journey of Blood and Transformation in Another World - Volume 1 - The End
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Two chapters were updated today, officially concluding Volume 1. Volume 2 begins from chapter 100.
There might be a break of one or two days for updates, please forgive me.
Now that Volume One is finished, please don't hesitate to share a short review! And please be gentle with your criticisms.