Chapter 6: EastSea Academy

Shun Lee leaned his head against the cool glass of the bus window, watching as the familiar figures of Wu Pei and Sister Mei grew smaller in the distance. The early morning light cast a soft glow on the scenery outside, but Shun Lee's gaze was distant, his mind elsewhere.

A complicated look settled in his eyes, a mix of nostalgia and melancholy.' Alone again...' he thought, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He had grown accustomed to the orphanage, to the warmth of familiar faces, and now, once more, he found himself heading into the unknown.

The quiet hum of the bus engine lulled him into a contemplative state. 'Why does it always feel like I'm losing something?' he mused. The bond he shared with Wu Pei and Sister Mei was precious, yet here he was, leaving it all behind. 'Is this what life is about? Constantly moving forward, always leaving things behind?'

Shun Lee let out a soft sigh, his eyelids growing heavy. The early hour weighed on him, and the gentle rocking of the bus made it harder to stay awake. His thoughts drifted, fragmented and aimless. 'What am I supposed to do now?' he wondered, the uncertainty gnawing at him. He had goals and dreams, but in that moment, they felt distant, almost unreachable.

As sleep claimed him, his last conscious thought was a simple one, laced with vulnerability.' I don't know what to do...'

And with that, Shun Lee drifted off, the bus carrying him towards a new chapter, the road ahead both daunting and full of possibilities. Shun Lee stirred awake as he felt a light tap on his shoulder. The bus driver smiled down at him and said, "We're here, kid. Time to get off."

Rubbing his eyes, Shun Lee quickly registered his surroundings, then felt a flush of embarrassment. "Oh! Thank you, sir," he replied, bowing a little in apology as he hurried off the bus.

As he stepped onto the grounds of Eastsea Academy, Shun Lee's eyes widened. The Eastsea Academy was far grander than anything Shun Lee had seen before. Towering stone buildings framed the campus, their walls covered with ivy and banners of deep blue and gold fluttering proudly in the morning breeze. Rows of flowering trees lined the pathways, filling the air with a sweet scent, and a large fountain stood in the center courtyard, its water sparkling under the sun. The entire place felt alive, like it was buzzing with the energy of the countless students who had walked these paths before him. Shun Lee couldn't help but feel small, dwarfed by the scale and elegance of it all.

He wandered with wide eyes, marveling at the vast open spaces where older students sparred with practice weapons or meditated with calm expressions, clearly seasoned in their skills. Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Hey there! Are you lost?"

Shun Lee spun around to see a girl, probably 17 or 18, approaching him with an easy smile. She was wearing a blue tracksuit, her long black hair tied back neatly, yet a few loose strands framed her face, softening her features. Her phoenix eyes were sharp yet warm, as though they had a way of immediately putting Shun Lee at ease. For a moment, he just stared at her, a little dazed by her presence.

He quickly shook his head, snapping out of his trance. "N-no, I'm not lost!" he stammered, trying to gather his composure. "I came here to register."

The girl's eyebrows raised in surprise, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, really? Aren't you a bit early for that? Only those who are nine years old can get in with a recommendation letter." She tilted her head, studying him. "You… don't look day older than eight."

Shun Lee felt his face heat up, his hands fumbling as he dug into his pocket to pull out the letter. "I am nine!" he protested, fishing out the slightly crumpled recommendation letter as proof. But as he pulled it out, the letter slipped from his fingers and fluttered to the ground.

Red with embarrassment, Shun Lee scrambled to pick it up, silently cursing his clumsiness. The girl's laughter rang out, light and genuine, as she watched his flustered movements. She bent down, scooping up the letter before he could reach it, and handed it back to him with a playful smile.

"Here you go, nine-year-old," she teased, giving him a gentle pat on the head. The unexpected touch made him pause, and he realized she was ruffling his hair. "You're a bit clumsy, huh?"

Shun Lee's face turned even redder, though he managed a small, shy grin. "Only sometimes," he mumbled, tucking the letter safely back into his pocket. "Thanks… and I really am nine, you know."

The girl chuckled again, clearly amused by his persistence. "Alright, alright, I believe you," she said, crossing her arms. "Well, I'm Lin Yuxin. I'm one of the older students here. And what's your name, nine-year-old?"

"Shun Lee," he replied, straightening up a little. "And… it's nice to meet you."

Lin Yuxin nodded approvingly. "Likewise, Shun Lee. You know, it's not every day that we get a student with a recommendation letter that looks as young as you." She gave him a thoughtful look.

Shun Lee bit his lip, unsure of how to respond to that. The idea of being seen as young felt strange, especially when he was around 17 years old in his past life just like she was. "I guess I just need more milk," he said quietly.

Lin Yuxin smiled, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder reassuringly. "Well, lucky for you, the academy have specialized foods for youngsters like you. Eastsea Academy may be big, but if you need any help, just find me, alright? I'll make sure you don't get lost."

Shun Lee nodded, feeling a bit more relaxed in her presence. "Thanks, Lin Yuxin," he replied, grateful for her kindness.

With one last friendly ruffle of his hair and surprise just how smooth and gentle it was despite how messy it looks makes Lin Youxin wonders about it. Lin Yuxin gestured toward the registration building in the distance. "Come on, let's get you signed up. You've got a lot to see here and the academy's just waiting to show you what it has in store since your pretty much the first person to sign up."

As they walked together, Shun Lee stole one more glance at Lin Yuxin, feeling both a sense of awe and comfort in her presence.

At the registration booth, Shun Lee handed his recommendation letter to Lin Yuxin, who began reading through it carefully. Her gaze softened slightly as she noticed a detail in the letter—Shun Lee was an orphan. A sense of sympathy stirred within her, but she tried to keep her expression neutral, though Shun Lee couldn't help but notice her gaze linger on him, making him wonder why she was looking at him that way.

As she continued to scan the document, another detail caught her attention, surprising her. Shun Lee's martial soul was noted as a "smartwatch." It was incredibly unusual since most students had martial souls tied to traditional weapons, tools, or animals. The fact that his martial soul was a modern tool was rare, and it piqued her curiosity. She raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shun Lee with a new level of interest.

Then, she spotted something else that made her smile—his soul power was registered at 16, a remarkable level for someone so young and especially impressive for an orphan who likely hadn't had the resources or training others might have. She beamed at him and handed him a small metal placard, engraved with his name and rank, serving as his new identity within the academy.

"Congratulations, Shun Lee!" she said warmly. "With a soul power of 16, you're basically guaranteed a spot in the First Class. That's quite an accomplishment!"

Shun Lee's cheeks flushed with pride, though he couldn't fully understand why she seemed so pleased with his score. Lin Yuxin explained with a smile, "Not everyone gets that high at your age, you know. You're definitely going to stand out here."

Just then, Lin Yuxin glanced around, noting that only a few students had arrived. "We'll need to wait a little longer for more students to arrive," she told him. "Once we have enough, we'll all take a bus to officially enter the academy grounds."

Shun Lee blinked, slightly dumbfounded. "Wait, we're not even in the academy yet?"

She laughed, nodding. "Not quite. It's still early—most kids are probably just getting up to eat with their families right about now."

Shun Lee, eager to start his new journey, hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you think I could go ahead and head in first?"

Lin Yuxin chuckled, shaking her head. "Nice try, but rules are rules. Besides, why did you even arrive so early?" She teased, raising an eyebrow. "You're lucky I found you; the guards probably would have kicked you out if they'd seen you wandering around at this hour."

A chill ran down Shun Lee's spine as he imagined that scenario, causing his face to pale a bit. Lin Yuxin couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. "Relax! But really, you should stick with me for now. Speaking of which…" she said, glancing at the food stalls nearby, "Want to grab something to eat while we wait?"

Shun Lee started to shake his head, feeling grateful for all her help but not wanting to impose any further. "Oh, no, I'm okay! Thank you for everything you've done so far."

However, at that very moment, his stomach betrayed him, growling loud enough for both of them to hear. Shun Lee's cheeks turned bright red as he tried to stammer an excuse, but Lin Yuxin burst into laughter, her eyes crinkling with genuine amusement.

"Alright, alright, looks like your stomach has a different opinion," she teased, her voice warm. "Come on, my treat. A future First-Class student needs to start the day strong, right?"

Unable to argue with her logic or his hunger Shun Lee nodded, allowing Lin Yuxin to lead him toward the food stalls, feeling both embarrassed and grateful for her kindness. In the bustling crowd of the academy, her warmth made him feel a little less alone.

Lin Yuxin didn't hesitate for a moment; she took Shun Lee's hand and pulled him along the bustling academy streets, practically skipping with excitement as she led the way. Her bright energy lit up the early morning atmosphere, and she chatted to herself about where they should eat, oblivious to the stares of passersby.

Shun Lee, meanwhile, was completely flustered. He couldn't remember the last time anyone, let alone a girl, had held his hand so naturally. In school, his classmates often avoided contact during group projects, and it was a strange as the unfamiliar sensation of having someone hold his hand so warmly. His cheeks flushed pink as he followed along, and he found himself at a loss for words as Lin Yuxin's cheerful energy washed over him.

When she finally asked what he wanted to eat, she flashed him a playful smile. "Come on, you're the guest today, so it's my treat!"

Shun Lee shook his head, trying to politely refuse. "Ah, no, really, I can pay for myself…"

But Lin Yuxin waved her hand dismissively, refusing to budge. "No way! I insisted, and besides, you're new here and you've got to experience the best food near the campus!"

Seeing there was no way to win, Shun Lee sighed, giving in with a reluctant nod. "Alright… but only because you insist."

Grinning with satisfaction, Lin Yuxin suddenly spotted a small eatery nestled along the bustling main street. Her eyes lit up, and she tugged Shun Lee's hand again. "There! That's my favorite spot!"

Before he could say a word, she pulled him towards the quaint, inviting stall, where a middle-aged woman stood behind the counter, beaming at Lin Yuxin as she approached.

"Yuxin! Good morning!" The woman greeted her warmly, clearly familiar with Lin Yuxin's bright presence.

"Good morning, Auntie Lan!" Lin Yuxin chimed back, chatting with the woman for a few minutes as if they were family. After a bit of friendly banter, Lin Yuxin introduced Shun Lee with a proud smile. "This is Shun Lee. He's a new student, and I'm showing him around."

Auntie Lan's gaze softened as she looked down at the boy standing by Lin Yuxin's side. She offered him a warm smile. "Welcome to EastSea Academy, young man. You're lucky to have Yuxin here to help you since she's practically famous around here for being a sweetheart!"

Lin Yuxin's cheeks turned pink at Auntie Lan's comment, and she waved her hands dismissively. "Oh, no, Auntie, don't say that I'm just helping him out a little!" she stammered, but Auntie Lan only chuckled and winked at Shun Lee.

Shun Lee nodded shyly, still trying to process everything. Lin Yuxin's lively, easygoing nature was completely different from what he'd expected from an elite academy, and he found himself relaxing a bit in the cozy atmosphere.

"Anyway, Auntie! we'll have the usual, plus something special for Shun Lee," Lin Yuxin said with a wink trying to appear calm, and Auntie Lan chuckled as she began preparing their order.

Shun Lee, watching this exchange, let a small smile slip as he glanced at the flustered Lin Yuxin. She noticed it immediately, her eyes lighting up. "Hey, you should smile more often," she said, nudging his arm playfully. "It suits you."

Shun Lee immediately looked down and murmured, "I wasn't smiling at all."

"HeHe, you sure were." Lin Yuxin smiled brightly, which made Shun Lee flustered so He ask about what to expect entering the school.

This makes Lin Yuxin chuckles as she noticed that Shun Lee was trying to change topic but didn't mind it at all.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly as they wait for their food, with Lin Yuxin leading with her bubbly personality. She shared funny stories about life at EastSea Academy and even gave him insider tips on the best hangout spots. Shun Lee found himself opening up, feeling strangely comfortable under her warm gaze and the genuine interest she took in what he had to say.

As Auntie Lan returned with their food, she quietly placed the dishes on the table, giving them a warm smile before slipping away again to let them enjoy their meal in peace. Shun Lee couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this pleasant with whom he just met with the bustling sounds of the small noise outside and combined with Lin Yuxin's laughter made it a moment he knew he wouldn't forget.