Huang Fei just wanted to lie in the dark, watching the people onstage shine.
Mm, it was time to leave.
He rolled over to face the wall and pulled the blanket up to his chin.
Not leave Tang San, but leave Notting Academy.
Tang San's path of the ultimate Life Flow was settled. His Second Soul Ring was the Life Ancient Vine, from the same source, and his foundation was solid. No matter how much Yu Xiaogang tried to mislead him later, Tang San wouldn't stray from the path.
After all, he was a man with a mind of his own. He had chosen Life Flow for his First Soul Ring and Life Flow again for his Second Soul Ring. That proved he had wholly accepted this direction.
Huang Fei no longer needed to keep an eye on him.
If he stayed by Tang San's side, he would never be able to show what he could really do.
It wasn't that he couldn't show it. He didn't dare.
Where Tang San was, he had to keep up his disguise, hold back, and suppress his Soul Power to the level of an eleven-rank Soul Master. He had the strength of a thirty-rank Soul Master but couldn't use it; he had stronger Soul Skills but had to pretend he didn't know them.
It was like tying a champion swimmer's hands and feet and throwing him into the water.
Stifling.
He hated feeling stifled.
He needed to find somewhere—a place where no one knew him, where he didn't have to pretend.
There, he could use his Martial Soul freely, study the uses of Blue Silver Grass, and explore the possibilities of the Life Flow path.
He wouldn't need to explain to anyone why his Soul Rings were so powerful, hide from anyone how quickly his Soul Power was growing, or pretend in front of anyone to be an "ordinary work-study student with mediocre talent."
There, he could be his true self.
As for things at Notting Academy, he needed to find a suitable excuse to leave.
He couldn't say he was quitting. He'd have no way to explain that to Old Jack, and Tang San would question him too.
He couldn't say he was transferring, either. No academy would accept a work-study student with a "First Soul Ring of one hundred and twenty years and eleven-rank Soul Power."
So the only option was to go out and gain experience.
Traveling to broaden his horizons and hone his combat skills.
That excuse would hold up with Old Jack, and it would hold up with Tang San.
Old Jack would worry but wouldn't stop him; Tang San would hate to see him go but wouldn't stop him either.
Because he wasn't wrong—a Soul Master who stayed in an academy all the time would never become a true powerhouse.
As for when he'd return, he hadn't decided.
Maybe a year, maybe two, maybe... whenever he felt like coming back.
Huang Fei closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
Tang San's even, unhurried breathing came from the bed beside him.
Who knew what he was dreaming about? His lips were faintly curved, as if he were having a pleasant dream.
Huang Fei glanced at him and said silently, Xiao San, walk your own path steadily from here on.
Then he closed his eyes too.
That night, he slept more deeply than usual.
Early the next morning, when Tang San woke up, he saw Huang Fei already sitting on his bed.
This wasn't the usual Huang Fei, the one who "needed to be called three times before he'd crawl out of his blanket." This Huang Fei was fully dressed, his eyes clear, and he looked as if he'd been awake for a long time.
"You... got up this early today?"
Tang San rubbed his eyes, hardly able to believe it.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Huang Fei's voice was quiet, but serious.
Tang San paused.
As far as he could remember, whenever Huang Fei spoke in that tone, it was never about anything trivial.
"What is it?"
Huang Fei looked at him, paused for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"I'm planning to leave Notting Academy for a while."
The corner of the blanket in Tang San's hand slipped to the floor.
"I'm going out to gain experience."
Huang Fei added, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the weather.
"My cultivation is too slow here at the academy. My First Soul Ring is too low in age, and I need to find a cultivation method that suits me. Nothing will change if I keep staying here."
Tang San opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat.
He wanted to say, "Your Soul Power is only at rank eleven. Going out to gain experience is too dangerous."
He wanted to say, "You don't even have a Second Soul Ring yet. What will you do if you run into a Soul Beast?"
He wanted to say, "Just stay by my side. I'll protect you."
But he said none of those things.
Because he knew Huang Fei wasn't someone who needed protecting.
They had grown up together in Holy Soul Village, and Tang San knew better than anyone that Huang Fei, lazy and laid-back as he was, always looking half asleep, never did anything unless he was sure of it.
If he said he was going out to gain experience, then he'd thought it through carefully and made all the necessary preparations.
"How long?"
Tang San asked.
"I don't know."
Huang Fei answered honestly.
"Maybe a year, maybe longer. I'll see how things go."
"Where are you going?"
"I'll head south to start with. The climate's warm there, and there are plenty of Plant-type Soul Beasts. It'll be good for cultivating Blue Silver Grass."
Tang San fell silent for a long time.
The others in Dorm Seven hadn't woken up yet. Only their voices echoed softly through the dim room.
The fire had gone out. A little warmth lingered in the ashes from the last of last night's flames, but it was slowly fading too.
"When are you leaving?"
Tang San's voice was hoarse.
"Tomorrow."
Huang Fei replied.
Tang San said nothing more.
He lowered his head and stared at the wrinkled blanket on his bed, his fingers tracing circles over it without thinking.
He wanted to ask Huang Fei to stay, but didn't know what to say.
He wanted to say, "Wait for me. I'll come with you," but he knew Huang Fei wouldn't agree.
So in the end, he merely nodded.
"All right."
One word, as light as a falling leaf.
The day Huang Fei left, the first rain of autumn fell on Nuoding City.
Tang San stood at the academy gates, rain streaming down his hair. He didn't have an umbrella or use his Soul Power to shield himself from the rain. He watched Huang Fei's figure grow smaller in the downpour, then disappear around the bend in the road. There was nothing left—only the gray sky and gray earth, blending into one.
Huang Fei left with only a bundle on his back. It wasn't large. Inside were a few changes of clothes, the Peace Knot Old Jack had given him, and his final month's allowance from Spirit Hall—a single Gold Soul Coin. He still had plenty of things stored in Forty-Eight Moons Embracing the Stars, enough to last him a long time.
Tang San asked if he should walk him to the city gate. Huang Fei said there was no need. Tang San asked if he should hire him a carriage. Huang Fei said it would be a waste of money. Tang San stood at the gate and watched him, his lips moving several times before he finally managed just two words: "Take care."
Huang Fei looked back at him and smiled.
"You too."
Then he left, walking at an unhurried pace with his hands tucked into his sleeves, just as he had when strolling around the academy. He didn't look back again and again or say a reluctant farewell. He didn't even waste words.
Tang San stood in the rain until Huang Fei's figure had vanished completely. Only then did he slowly turn and walk back to Dorm Seven.
Wang Sheng poked his head out at the doorway. Seeing Tang San's expression, he didn't dare ask anything. Xiao Wu sat on her bed with a carrot in her hand. She took a bite and chewed slowly, without her usual chatter.
Dorm Seven was quiet. The fire burned brightly, but no one said a word.
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