Family Letter and Course Selection

Are you hungry?" 

"Um..." 

"It seems I should bring more food next time. Have you not practiced before?" 

"Um..." 

Lin Xi and Bian Linghan walked along the mountain path. 

On such a temperate evening, strolling under a sky as clear as crystal with a classmate from the misty waters of the south should have been a refreshing experience. 

Yet, the pressing issue at hand was that both Lin Xi and Bian Linghan were quite famished, feeling as though they hadn't eaten for four or five meals. 

As the professor Qin, who had brought them, mentioned, extreme hunger indeed saps one's strength. 

It appeared that cultivation not only increased one's appetite but also enhanced digestion. The thought evoked a sense of sympathy for the Yunqin Empire. 

To fend off external threats, they must cultivate their own elite warriors, yet these warriors, aside from being rare talents, are also nourished by precious elixirs, and they possess particularly hearty appetites. 

Just considering the amount of food these elite warriors would consume was staggering. 

Lin Xi plucked a tender branch from the roadside thorns and chewed on it, his mind wandering in a childlike manner. 

"Oh no, our teacher spoke to us for so long... yet we forgot to ask for their name." He suddenly recalled, frowning slightly, and turned to the somewhat reserved Bian Linghan beside him. "I just thought of something: the dean's rule against entering others' rooms might have another reason." 

Bian Linghan turned her head, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "What other reason?" 

"The academy has its own secrets," Lin Xi whispered. "Just as you possess the talent of a Windwalker, which must not be disclosed... What if, by entering freely, someone overhears your dreams?" 

Bian Linghan lowered her head, her mood heavy as she softly replied, "Actually, I don't wish to be a Windwalker... or even to be in this academy." 

Once those words escaped her lips, a faint regret washed over the slender girl. She was unsure how she had so easily uttered them in front of Lin Xi, fearing that he might scorn her for such sentiments. To her surprise, however, Lin Xi nodded in understanding and spoke in a tone only they could hear. "I understand; not everyone aspires to be in the academy. Yet, sometimes our arrival in this world is beyond our control. However, meeting many people and witnessing splendid things can be rather delightful, don't you think? We cannot choose to be born into this world, but we can decide whether to lead a vibrant and interesting life while we are here." 

Bian Linghan looked at Lin Xi in astonishment, and for a moment, they fell silent, walking side by side. Yet, the anxiety and confusion in her heart seemed to dissipate considerably. 

"If I could often conceal my identity and return home... being a Windwalker might indeed be quite an intriguing endeavor... but this world lacks trains and airplanes, making travel rather cumbersome..." Lin Xi panted slightly, glancing up at the setting sun between the distant peaks, allowing his thoughts to drift. 

... 

"The frail and slender Bian Linghan possesses the terrifying talent of a Windwalker, while Lin Xi entered meditation faster than all other new students, yet his aptitude for accepting the elixir is merely average..." 

In a dimly lit room cluttered with armor, weapon fragments, and other oddities, the black-robed instructor Mu Qing examined an unrolled parchment, reading it meticulously. 

The parchment detailed the first day's training course for the new students of the Zhi Ge department, noting even the minutiae of their actions and words, including Bian Linghan's Windwalker talent, which was classified as confidential by the academy. 

The ability to access such secrets indicated a significant level of trust, and the depth of that trust required numerous brushes with life and death, contributing to the academy's glory—something Lin Xi and his peers could hardly comprehend. 

"Wang Xinglun, rose at night, trapped in the old study on the fourth floor... Peng Ying, rose at night, ventured into the cellar, reaching the wine vault..." 

After perusing the parchment, the unremarkable black-robed woman took a fine pen and began to write in the margins. 

Within the entirety of the Yunqin Empire and the Qingluan Academy, only individuals of her caliber understood that the academy's strength lay not only in formidable legacies and training methods but also in the cadre of instructors who engaged daily with vast amounts of information. 

These instructors were bestowed with a title by Dean Zhang, one that she and Vice Dean Xia could not fully grasp but would surely amuse Lin Xi: "Galactic Instructor." 

Selected from decades of students, those with a penchant for organizing and synthesizing information from the overwhelming sea of data processed various materials gathered from the academy and the empire, ensuring proper storage and organization. 

These instructors could trace the trajectories of ongoing events from extensive data and even offer valuable suggestions to professors researching cultivation methods or crafting weapons. 

The academy's glory and power were not solely built on courage and loyalty; a crucial yet often unspoken aspect was sacrifice. 

Suddenly, the plain-looking black-robed woman paused, and after a moment, Lin Xi's voice broke the silence: "Teacher Mu Qing, are you there?" 

She rolled up the parchment, opened the door, and found Lin Xi waiting in the corridor, where he bowed respectfully. 

"Are you here regarding uncertainties in your training or course selection?" Mu Qing inquired, nodding in acknowledgment. 

Lin Xi replied gently, "Today's training lesson was quite comprehensible, and I assume the teacher will elaborate further on the training matters. I am not here with questions about the training or course selection; rather, I have a personal matter to discuss." 

Mu Qing asked, "What is it?" 

Lin Xi earnestly inquired, "As a young student away from home for a long time, my parents and younger sister must miss me. I presume the academy allows correspondence?" 

Mu Qing's expression softened as she nodded, "The academy permits letter correspondence, and messages are delivered more swiftly than outside. They should reach your Deer Forest Town in about half a month. If you wish to send a letter home, simply write it and hand it to me. Likewise, letters from home can arrive at Qingluan Academy within that time frame, but the academy has regulations; incoming and outgoing letters will be inspected, meaning others will also see them." 

"That is of no concern; I merely wish to exchange trivialities and learn about my family's recent happenings," Lin Xi said cheerfully, smiling. He had no secrets to hide from his parents or younger sister. 

Seeing the smiling youth, Mu Qing felt a wave of warmth, her tone becoming gentler: "Regarding course selection, aside from the mandatory courses in the Zhi Ge department—soul power cultivation, wilderness survival, archery, and martial skills—you should have selected four elective courses as well." 

Lin Xi replied, "I chose Medical Care, Toxicology, Spirit Communication, and Speed Reading." 

Mu Qing frowned slightly, regarding Lin Xi. "Medical Care and Toxicology are courses from the Apothecary department; the former is useful for self-treatment or aiding companions, while the latter helps identify and administer poisons—both valuable on the battlefield. Spirit Communication is from the Spirit Ritual department, useful for taming spirit beasts, which can greatly enhance combat prowess. However, Speed Reading is a course from the Literary Studies department, typically used to swiftly locate useful information among vast texts and memorize significant excerpts. What is your intention in selecting this course?" 

Lin Xi chuckled sheepishly, lowering his voice, "Some courses seem intriguing, but they might consume considerable time without guaranteeing success... My memory is fairly decent; if I choose this course, I believe I should have no trouble passing the exam and earning credits, so I thought I might take a shortcut..." 

Lin Xi's honesty bordered on bluntness, nearly confessing his intent to merely earn credits, which might sound a bit unambitious. Yet, upon hearing this, Mu Qing felt a sense of relief and sighed softly, reminding herself that he was merely a naive and endearing youth, not someone with grand designs for his future as a covert spy. 

In fact, Mu Qing thought that with Lin Xi's calm demeanor and average aptitude, he could potentially attain a high position and achieve great success even as a spy in a foreign nation. However, she also understood that among ten spies, often nine were cunning and treacherous individuals... As they navigated the treacherous waters of enemy territory, they danced on thin ice, sometimes sacrificing those close to them to gain trust, leading to psychological distortion over time. 

"Thank you, Teacher. I will trouble you to help me send the letter tomorrow." 

Lin Xi was oblivious to Mu Qing's thoughts as he cheerfully bid her farewell and returned to his room. 

"If you have time, you might also consider auditing some courses. Although auditing does not earn credits, you can still learn a great deal, which will benefit you in the future. Moreover, if a professor takes notice and asks for your assistance in completing research projects, you can also earn credits for your contributions," Mu Qing added, observing the light-footed Lin Xi as he departed. 

The image of this boy from Deer Forest Town, with his light steps, created an illusion in her mind; it seemed he was not walking through the grand corridors of Qingluan Academy but rather joyfully traversing the streets of a small town.