Chapter 25: Departure for the Imperial Capital!

The dining room swirled with the caramelized aroma of sweet-and-sour fish. Su Qingyue adjusted the holographic cake projection above the table. When the words "Congratulations on Imperial Capital University!" bloomed in golden light, Su Zhenguo—normally stoic—blinked back tears. "Xiao Ye...if your parents could see this..."

"Enough gloom!" Lin Yuru kicked her husband under the table, plopping a chicken drumstick into Lin Ye's bowl. "Where's the villa the city awarded you? Pick one here in Azurewater Garden Villas! We'll watch over each other."

"Was hoping you'd say that." Lin Ye projected a digital map. "How about Villa 12? The balcony faces your kitchen window."

Su Qingyue snorted. "Admit it—you just want to smell Mom's cooking!"

"Eat here daily before leaving!" Lin Yuru beamed. "Treat this as your home."

"And tutor your cousin!" Su Zhenguo winked at his daughter, though his mining engineer schedule rarely allowed home visits.

"Dad! I'm not that weak!" Su Qingyue slammed her chopsticks, though Lin Ye caught the flicker of envy in her eyes.

"Actually, Uncle, I leave in three days." Lin Ye swallowed guilt. He'd bought bullet train tickets early to lobby Director Zhao about Su Qingyue's admission—a plea forgotten during yesterday's high-stakes negotiations. "Imperial Capital wants me to start cultivating techniques early."

"But freshman term starts in September!" Lin Yuru frowned.

"Free resources," Lin Ye shrugged mysteriously. "Plus...I've got a surprise brewing."

"Surprise?!" Three voices chorused.

"Wait and see."

The next three days blurred. Lin Ye moved into Villa 12's pristine rooms across from his aunt, hosting Zhou Mingyu and Li Qiang at a farewell feast.

"Get Goddess Cheng's autograph for me!" Li Qiang drunkenly sobbed, referring to Cheng Ruonan—the Imperial Capital sophomore whose viral Mutant Beast-slaying videos had melted his gamer heart.

Departure Dawn

Zhou Mingyu crouched at the villa gates, scarfing a scallion pancake. When Lin Ye emerged with luggage, he lobbed a second pancake skyward. "From Old Wang's stall!"

Lin Ye caught the flaky disk mid-arc. "Dramatic much? It's not a funeral."

"Who's crying?!" Zhou Mingyu kicked a pebble. "Train till you puke! Make Qingyang proud..."

Their grins mirrored in the sunrise.

The bullet train hissed to a halt at Haiquan City Station, final stop before the Imperial Capital. Lin Ye leaned against the window, black hoodie shadowing his face. Lightning patterns pulsed faintly on his wrists in the dawn light. A commotion shattered the carriage's tranquility.

"Over here!" A boy in neon-green streetwear shoved through the aisle, metallic pendant clanking. Two girls trailed behind—all three halted before Lin Ye's four-seat booth.

"Ladies take the opposite seats." The boy flipped his silver-streaked bangs. "I'm Zhang Yang—scored 660 in the Martial Arts Exam!" His chest puffed loud enough to draw stares.

The girl in pink giggled behind crystal-studded nails: "Zhang Yuxin, liberal arts track." She nudged her companion. "My bestie Li Ruoxuan."

The bespectacled girl nodded. Chestnut hair braided into fishtails framed her qipao collar beneath a beige trench coat. She placed a blue-and-white porcelain-patterned thermos on the table.

"What's your name, bro?" Zhang Yang plopped beside Lin Ye, sneaker chains jingling. When Lin Ye lowered his hood, revealing sharp features, Zhang stiffened competitively. "Heading to scout universities too?"

"Lin Ye. You're all prospecting schools?"

"Hell yeah!" Zhang slammed the table, rippling Li Ruoxuan's tea. "My cousin's Wutai University's student council president!"

Li adjusted her glasses: "The way you brag, one might think you're the president."

"We're tight!" Zhang's ears reddened. "He invited me for a campus tour." He leered at Li. "I'll take you girls too!"

"Amazing!" Zhang Yuxin fake-gasped, texting under the table: So loud!

Li replied: Acts like it's Imperial Capital U! Her almond eyes glinted behind lenses. "And you, Lin? That Thunder Martial Hall badge—Martial Arts track?"

"Yeah."

"Pfft—Martial Arts kids belong at Wutai!" Zhang Yang elbowed Lin Ye. "But with those twig arms? Doubt you'd pass their trials."

Lin Ye sighed. Wutai University—mediocre even by provincial standards—wasn't worth his spit.

"Ignore him." Li Ruoxuan spun her thermos lid, gaze lingering. "Dream school?"

"Thinking of Imperial Capital University."

Zhang Yang snorted. "Bullshit! Then I'm aiming for Demon Capital U!" His crowing drew more stares.

Lin Ye shrugged silence. The girls dismissed it as bravado. Unnoticed by Zhang, Li's glances kept drifting toward Lin Ye's lightning-etched wrists.

Imperial Capital South Station

"Next stop: Imperial Capital South Station." The announcement drowned Zhang Yang's monologue.

At the exit, Zhang pointed to a cherry-red sports car with pulse-light trim: "My cousin's Blaze Axe X7!" He yanked the gullwing door. "Ladies! Let me show you a real top-tier campus!" Suddenly remembering, he smirked at Lin Ye: "Sorry bro—four-seater only."

Lin Ye rubbed his nose. "Who said I wanted a ride?"