Chapter seven – Chasing Dreams Among the Stars

On the school plaza of Yucai High, sunlight streamed through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The air was calm, and Fang Xing wiped the sweat from his forehead, having just finished an intense round of training. His gaze was firm, but deep down, there was a flicker of unease. After all, he knew he didn't truly belong in this world.

"Fang Xing?" A gentle voice came from behind, breaking his thoughts.

He turned to see a graceful girl standing not far away. There was a hint of apology in her eyes. It was the same girl who had accidentally injured Liu Wei during training earlier.

"I'm sorry, Fang Xing," Bai Lianyi said softly, her voice tinged with nervousness and regret. "I lost control during the sparring… I really didn't mean to."

Her demeanor was like that of a little girl who had made a mistake, her innocent eyes making it hard to hold a grudge. Fang Xing noticed that Liu Wei, standing nearby, seemed a bit dazed, possibly having developed a fondness for Bai Lianyi.

"It's fine, accidents happen in sparring." Fang Xing waved it off, his tone light. "Besides, I'm sure Liu Wei doesn't mind."

Liu Wei quickly nodded and forced a smile. "Yeah, Bai Lianyi, no need to worry about it."

Bai Lianyi smiled faintly and handed Fang Xing a campus card from her bag. "Please, let me cover the medical fees for this incident."

As she spoke, the sunlight perfectly illuminated her face, highlighting her gentleness and resilience. This moment stirred something unfamiliar in Liu Wei's heart.

"Fang Xing, do you think we might have misunderstood her?" Liu Wei asked thoughtfully after they left the infirmary.

Fang Xing didn't answer immediately. He shrugged lightly. "Maybe. But it doesn't really concern us. We weren't involved in any rumors anyway."

"True, good thing we stayed out of it," Liu Wei nodded, though he hesitated slightly. "But I noticed her campus card didn't have much credit. Maybe her family's not doing too well."

Fang Xing smirked. "Your thinking is way too innocent, almost comically so."

Back home, Fang Xing opened several packages. Inside were some tools—drones, air quality detectors, and a selfie stick. While simple, these were all essential for his upcoming exploration.

"I still need a gravity sensor. I could probably borrow one from the school's lab, though. Saves money." Fang Xing chuckled as he considered his next steps.

He wasn't preparing these things without reason. As a trainee for the interstellar warrior program, he understood the risks and challenges that awaited him. And as a "traveler" from another world, there were too many things he needed to prepare for in advance.

A few days later.

In the practice room at his residential complex, Fang Xing stood in the "Dragon Stance," his breathing long and steady. Every drop of sweat carried his anxiety and hope.

"Fifty-nine minutes… Sixty minutes!" He gritted his teeth, holding out until the very last moment, drenched in sweat.

"One hour, that's my limit." He collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. Despite the exhaustion, there was a trace of satisfaction in his heart.

He knew that every breakthrough was a step closer to becoming stronger. Right now, his goal was to continuously push his limits, even beyond the current martial arts realms.

"Skin refinement, muscle refinement… If I don't break through, the future will only get harder." Fang Xing muttered to himself, his mind drifting to the potential dangers that lay ahead.

Sometimes, he questioned whether his relentless training was worth it. But whenever such thoughts arose, he reminded himself that this world had left him with no choice.

"If I don't work hard, I'll just be a useless fish." He chuckled at his own joke as he finished his shower.

After washing up, Fang Xing put on his virtual glasses and started playing a game. For him, gaming was the best way to relax.

"Move! What are you, a noob?" He shouted at his teammates, but soon after, a message popped up, bringing him back to reality.

**[Dear Mr. Fang Xing, your account balance is 754.23 star credits.]**

"Damn it, I'm almost broke…" Fang Xing's face turned serious. Buying equipment, drones, and other tools had drained his funds.

"Looks like I'll need to find a job soon." He sighed, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over him.

Just then, his comm device buzzed. Liu Wei's face appeared on the screen. "Hey Xing, we've got a customer, time to clock in!"

"On my way." Fang Xing grabbed a piece of bread and rushed out the door.

Their job wasn't complicated. They mostly helped clients' kids with combat training—a way for the wealthy children of the interstellar era to experience the thrill of battle.

"I want to fight ten at once!" A young boy, about eleven or twelve, shouted arrogantly. Beside him stood a mother who looked exhausted.

Fang Xing and Liu Wei exchanged a glance. They knew this was an easy job. After all, dealing with a spoiled rich kid wouldn't cause them much trouble.

After the session, Fang Xing patted Liu Wei on the shoulder. "Today's client was a breeze, much better than that last one with Gu Yun."

Liu Wei rubbed his shoulder and smiled. "Yeah, Gu Yun was a real nightmare."

But then he seemed to remember something, glancing at Fang Xing suspiciously. "Wait, Xing, how come you had it easier than me?"

Fang Xing grinned. "I wore protective gear. The kid couldn't even tell."

Liu Wei's jaw dropped. "You bought protective gear? Looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself."

Fang Xing shook his head. "It's an essential investment. Besides, haven't you been getting close to Bai Lianyi lately? How's that going?"

Liu Wei's expression froze slightly before he quickly shook his head. "It's just a normal friendship, nothing special."

"I hope so." Fang Xing was a bit concerned but didn't press further. He knew that in this unpredictable world, trust was a luxury.

As the sun set, Fang Xing gazed at the distant sky, silently making up his mind. No matter how dangerous the road ahead might be, he wouldn't back down. This world, though foreign, had become his new reality, and there was no turning back.

"The future… I'll carve it out with my own hands."