The Time of Parting

This night, Louis found himself unusually sleepless.

It was partly due to parting with friends, and partly due to anxiety about the future. The South Sea Training Camp was complete, but the upcoming CP9 Training Camp would be even more rigorous. Could he truly stand out? Louis never believed that someone from a civilized world like himself would possess more talent in combat than those who lived in a more primitive one.

Failure meant death, with no other possibility.

It was impossible to say he didn't feel pressure.

But he had to go. If he wanted to live, to live well, he had to climb higher, had to make his fists harder than anyone else's. Louis had understood this when he was a beggar. In this world, not advancing meant retreating. If you didn't control your own destiny, you could only wait for others to control it.

Long-term goals: To be determined. Short-term goal: Join CP9. This goal must be achieved, no matter what!

That's what Louis thought.

Although he hadn't slept, Louis still woke up very early the next day. His robust body and strong mental power allowed him to appear energetic even after a sleepless night.

Unlike Louis, Dylan, his roommate, looked very dejected. Not surprisingly, he had also been sleepless last night. Compared to Louis, Dylan, with his more sensitive emotions, found the impending separation even harder to accept.

"What's wrong?"

Louis looked at his dark eye circles and casually asked, "Had a night of wet dreams?"

"Get lost!"

The listless Dylan instantly perked up.

"Hey, Louis."

Dylan hesitated.

"Let's go!"

The dormitory door opened, and Wade from next door walked in, beckoning them to head to the port together.

"En."

Without waiting for Dylan to finish what he wanted to say, Louis nodded and walked out of the dormitory, following Wade. Dylan was left alone in the room. There was no need to bring luggage; superiors would prepare everything. Anything left behind would undergo a strict inspection, and if cleared, would be sealed.

"Hey!"

Dylan, abandoned ruthlessly, screamed and chased after them. "You two!! Can you just listen to someone for a moment!!"

There was no time for breakfast. The CP transport ships were ready to depart. The distance from any department's location to the South Sea Training Camp was not short, leaving little time to waste.

The journey to the port was silent. Over two hundred trainees gathered from the dormitory area, forming a small river. But this river seemed like a dead one, devoid of any sound.

People are always sad when parting, and sad people often don't want to speak.

Upon reaching the port, ten ships were already waiting.

The Instructor Corps had arrived even earlier, standing like insurmountable iron towers at the port entrance. Leading them was, naturally, the Chief Instructor.

"Alright, trash. Your year of training is over. It's time for you to scram!"

The instructor's voice was neither excited nor cheerful, filled only with indifference. This was his attitude towards the graduating students; he neither cared nor was concerned. Even Louis or Wade were just slightly better, and as an old instructor of the CP series, he had seen too many like them. Geniuses who couldn't grow were useless.

"Line up by department. Board the ships one department at a time," the instructor said casually.

The crowd silently divided into teams. Besides the eight factions from CP1 to CP8, Louis and Wade formed two separate factions on their own.

"Now, board the ships."

A large ship slowly sailed over and docked at the shore. The trainees assigned to CP1 boarded quickly and orderly. The large ship set sail, heading directly towards the other side of the sea. Then came the second ship, then the third.

CP2, CP3, and CP4 boarded and departed successively. Next was...

"CP5, board the ship," the instructor called out.

The CP5 queue began boarding. Dylan lagged at the end, walking slowly. Each step seemed to want to carve a pit into the ground, and each time he lifted his foot, it felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making it impossible to lift. The moment he stepped onto the deck of the large ship, Dylan abruptly turned back, a thousand unspoken words in his heart.

He saw them. Amidst the crowd below, the figures of Louis and Wade were exceptionally conspicuous, as both had formed their own formations alone.

Both were looking up, looking in his direction, looking at him.

"..."

His tightly pursed lips relaxed, revealing a faint smile. Dylan, who had wanted to shout something loudly, let out a soft laugh and strode onto the deck, disappearing from his two friends' sight. Although their view was now blocked, Dylan could still feel that the two of them were still watching him, at all times.

The large ship slowly sailed out of the harbor, carrying Louis's good friend towards the distance.

"They're gone."

Wade, standing beside him, suddenly spoke.

"En, gone."

Louis nodded.

"Don't worry, Louis. Dylan is a bit foolish, but he'll take care of himself," Wade said.

"I know."

Louis nodded. Dylan, though a bit foolish, wasn't completely clueless and knew how to protect himself. Moreover, while his strength wasn't top-tier among this batch of trainees, he wasn't weak either. He should manage alright in CP5.

"We're parting ways."

Wade's voice was so quiet Louis could barely hear him.

"Mhm."

Louis nodded gently.

"Louis, will you be scared?" Wade asked. "Starting today, you'll be all alone."

"No," Louis replied, a smile on his face. "I don't have the luxury of being scared."

"Is that so?" Wade's mouth opened slightly in surprise. "That's amazing. Honestly, I'm a little scared."

"What?" Louis blinked.

"I'm so scared," Wade looked at Louis. "Scared I'll never see you and Dylan again."

"We won't," Louis immediately answered. "I won't die, and you won't die, and Dylan won't die! We'll stand at the pinnacle of CP, no, the pinnacle of the world!"

"My, Louis, your ambition is as naked as ever!" Wade chuckled softly.

"Ha." Louis chuckled.

"CP9, Louis, it's your turn."

Before they knew it, besides Louis and Wade, only the instructors remained. "Get on the ship."

"Yes." Louis nodded slightly, gave Wade a deep look, and turned to leave.

"Louis," Wade's voice came from behind. "You have to work hard."

"Ah." Louis replied, without looking back, and strode onto the deck of the large ship.

Hum.

A slight vibration, and the large ship set sail. The wind then slowly picked up speed, and the sails billowed in the wind. Louis leaned on the deck, gazing at the white clouds at the edge of the sky in the distance.

He suddenly turned his head. At the port, the blonde man was still watching them. Noticing he had turned, the man immediately waved his arm vigorously.

"..."

Louis smiled gently and let out a long sigh. The weather today was truly wonderful.