Spirit City, the library.
Zhao Linchuan stood in the shadows between the bookshelves, his gaze passing over row upon row of spines before settling on the long table in the corner of the reading room.
A boy sat there, around fifteen or sixteen years old. His face was stiff, but his eyes shone with startling brightness as he held a thick old book and carefully copied something down, word by word.
Looking at the boy, Zhao Linchuan felt an absurdity he couldn't quite put into words.
The person he knew was a thoroughly down-and-out middle-aged man, called "Grandmaster" by the world, but in truth a self-important, stubborn fool.
But at this moment, he was still young, and there was still light in his eyes.
"Creak—"
The library door swung open, and a graceful figure entered.
The young woman wore a long purple-and-gold dress. Her hair fell like a waterfall, and her features carried the youthful innocence and nobility unique to a girl her age.
Her gaze drifted among the bookshelves, as though she were looking for something.
Bibi Dong—the young Bibi Dong.
Zhao Linchuan's breathing slowed. He knew what would happen next.
According to the original course of history, Yu Xiaogang would "happen" to meet Bibi Dong here. He would use his half-baked theories to impress this gifted young woman from Spirit Hall, and from then on, they would be entangled for half their lives, bringing about countless tragedies.
"Miss, are you also studying the direction of Martial Soul Mutation?"
Yu Xiaogang's voice rang out from the corner. He had already set down the old book and stood up, his eyes fixed intently on the purple figure by the door.
Bibi Dong paused, then looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Yu Xiaogang, a disciple of the