Farewell Before Departure, Ling Luochen's Persistence

Ling Luochen's body did stiffen slightly.

She never expected that her carefully considered thoughts would be so easily exposed by a single sentence from the other party, leaving her no room to hide them.

She remained silent for a long time, so long that Dai Huabin thought she would turn around and leave.

But she didn't.

She took a light breath, and when she spoke again, her voice trembled slightly, without her even realizing it.

"Yes."

She raised her head, her icy blue eyes staring straight at Dai Huabin.

I want to know why.

"Before the final, you weren't that different to her or to us."

Ling Luochen's tone was calm, as if stating a fact, "But now, she's yours. Even Xue Qingyao and the others who have always been by your side don't seem to have this status yet."

She paused, then added, "Is it because she blocked that blow for you in the final?"

Dai Huabin looked at her.

The girl before me, stripped of her Inner Academy genius aura and her cold armor, was just an ordinary girl feeling confused and uneasy about her feelings.

He nodded, without denying it.

That's one reason.

"But not entirely."

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

Ling Luochen instinctively tried to back away, but found that his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground.

Dai Huabin's voice was soft, yet it reached her ears clearly.

"The first reason, Luo Chen, you're a woman too, you should understand. Sister Xiaotao Tao is very beautiful and has a great figure; no man would deny that."

These slightly flippant words instantly flushed a light blush onto Ling Luochen's cheeks.

She wanted to refute it, but she also felt that what the other person said was true.

Ma Xiaotao's voluptuous figure was famous throughout the Inner Academy.

"The second reason is the most important."

Dai Huabin's tone became serious.

"In the finals, Ma Rulong's sword strike was aimed at my and Zhu Lu's Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Sister Xiaotao could have easily ignored it, but she still charged in."

"At that moment, I truly understood my feelings for her."

"Some things can't be understood without experiencing life and death."

He spoke very frankly, without hiding anything.

Ling Luochen listened quietly, his eyelids lowered.

She understood.

She didn't lose because of her looks or her abilities, but because of an opportunity—a chance that made her risk everything.

If I had been on the field at that moment, would I have rushed forward without hesitation?

Ling Luochen asked himself this question.

The answer is yes.

But she didn't have that chance.

An indescribable sense of loss enveloped her.

She always believed that as long as she was good enough, she could get what she wanted.

But now she realizes that when it comes to relationships, being outstanding is never the only way to win.

Seeing her somewhat dejected expression, Dai Huabin felt a pang of pity.

He raised his hand and gently tucked a stray strand of hair that had been ruffled by the wind behind her ear.

His fingertips accidentally touched her slightly cool earlobe, causing Ling Luochen's body to tremble slightly.

"Luo Chen, don't overthink it."

Dai Huabin's voice softened, "The road ahead is long, and no one can predict what will happen."

He made no promises, but his words were like a pebble, stirring up ripples in Ling Luochen's tranquil heart.

She suddenly raised her head, a glint of light flashing in her icy blue eyes.

"I see."

She took a deep breath, her face regaining its usual coolness, but there was something different in the depths of her eyes.

"I won't give up."

Dai Huabin smiled but didn't reply.

He admired Ling Luochen's personality: proud, but not obsessive.

"In a few days, I might have to leave the academy for a while to gain some experience," he changed the subject.

Ling Luochen nodded, his expression calm.

"Good."

She looked at him and said, word by word, "I'm at the academy, waiting for you to come back."

This sentence was her answer, and also her declaration.

After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to walk towards her dormitory.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over her, her back still aloof, yet imbued with a stubbornness that no one could understand.

Dai Huabin watched her departing figure for a while before turning and leaving.

Over the next few days, Dai Huabin began making final preparations for his trip.

He first went to Ma Xiaotao's dormitory.

The two had just started dating and were deeply in love; their separation was naturally difficult.

Inside the room, Ma Xiaotao was clinging to Dai Huabin, her hot breath brushing against his neck.

"Can't you really take me with you?" she asked sullenly.

Although the Evil Fire within her was temporarily suppressed, she knew it was only a temporary measure.

But Ma Xiaotao really wanted to see Dai Huabin find a cure for her.

Dai Huabin put his arm around her soft waist and patiently explained.

"Xiaotao Tao, the place we're going to this time is quite special, and it would be inconvenient to bring you along."

"Don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise to you. When I get back, I will definitely resolve all the trouble you're in."

He cupped her face in his hands and planted a deep kiss on her lips.

He only released Ma Xiaotao when she was breathless and weak from the kisses.

"Wait for me at the academy."

After saying goodbye to Ma Xiaotao, he found Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and Cui Yajie.

Ever since their "sparring" in the Soul Fighting Arena, the three girls' feelings towards him have become somewhat ambiguous.

Especially Wang Dong'er, every time she sees him she grumbles and complains, looking like she wants to pick a fight but can't find a reason.

"Are you leaving?" Wang Dong'er crossed her arms, her pinkish-blue eyes scanning him up and down.

"Yes, let him go out and gain some experience for a while." Dai Huabin nodded.

"Tch, who cares?" Wang Dong'er pouted. "When you come back, I'll definitely beat you!"

Although she said that, the fleeting disappointment in her eyes did not escape Dai Huabin's notice.

Xiao Xiao, on the other hand, appeared much quieter; she simply whispered a word of advice.

Be careful out there.

Cui Yajie came closer with a grin and winked at Dai Huabin.

"Class monitor, don't get distracted by wildflowers while you're out there and forget that you have us lovely classmates back in the academy!"

Dai Huabin was amused by her and said goodbye to them one by one.

Seeing the three girls' different reactions, he couldn't help but find it a little funny.

It seems we're getting deeper and deeper into this mess.

Finally, he returned to his dormitory.

Zhu Lu had already packed everything he needed into a soul guide storage bag.

Di Lingxi sat to the side, holding a large pile of snacks in her arms and a lollipop in her mouth, looking at him expectantly.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress sat by the window, one reading a book and the other lost in thought, seemingly indifferent to everything around them.

But Dai Huabin knew they were all waiting for him.