Chapter 38: The Fire Reflected in the Eyes

In the early morning, a breeze blew from the mountains, brushing against Lin Xi, Tang Ke, and Bian Linghan.

Looking up the gentle slope, the academy buildings—true sky gardens—still resembled heavenly palaces. Awe-inspiring, they seemed to be suspended in the clouds, evoking admiration and reverence.

And reverence, in turn, breeds restraint.

As Lin Xi inhaled the natural fragrance of wildflowers by the roadside, he pondered over a saying of a certain middle-aged uncle, one that had been widely quoted among lecturers.

Two days had passed since he rejected Zhou Yongxian's offer. The riding and survival classes during these two days had been rather uneventful. For Lin Xi, basic equestrian skills posed no challenge, and as for archery, both he and Bian Linghan had been subtly instructed by the one-eyed black-robed lecturer to hold back and remain low-key. The wilderness survival class had only covered basics—mainly compensating for what the Warfare Department students missed on their journey from Lingxia Lake to Qingluan Academy.

They were taught how to set up military tents, move through various terrains, and even sampled edible insects, tree roots, and leaves in a remote valley.

The lecturer for survival training was a sturdy, dark-skinned middle-aged man named Nan Zhongjie. Though his honest appearance made him resemble a simple farmer, the black robe he wore marked his identity as a true instructor.

According to him, this was only the appetizer—limited to a single day. Much of the course would later involve real field expeditions.

Today marked their first elective class. Among dozens of available electives, Medical Aid had attracted little interest among Warfare Department students. Only three had chosen it—and coincidentally, they were all friends: Lin Xi and the other two.

Unlike most students, Lin Xi didn't pick electives based on interest. He valued practicality. As the only one who had truly seen Dean Zhang's written admonition, he understood deeply that cultivators were not invincible. Just as he was ready to strike down others, he also had to be prepared to be struck—so learning some first aid was far from a bad idea.

In fact, two of his four electives were from the Medicine Department, and behind this decision lay a secret—something he didn't dare speak of.

Because attending Medicine Department courses gave him a chance to glimpse the tall, mysterious girl Gao Yanan.

Even with his previous life's knowledge and secrets, Lin Xi had no romantic experience. The schoolgirl crushes of his old world—like passing little notes or watching movies together—had all ended with different college choices, leaving only vague, immature memories. What he felt now for Gao Yanan was something completely different.

A thousand students might be gathered, but in that moment, his eyes saw only her.

Even now, the thought of possibly seeing Gao Yanan again made the morning breeze seem gentler than usual.

Walking beside Lin Xi, Bian Linghan—frail and slender, a girl from Jiangnan's riverlands—had no such complicated thoughts. She simply felt: walking quietly through the academy paths with Lin Xi and Tang Ke… felt wonderful.

The academy buildings scattered across the mountains followed no particular order. Various halls and palaces dotted slopes and cliffs. Peaceful paths and covered corridors wove between them. Fortunately, the elective registration form clearly marked the meeting locations for each course, so the trio didn't get lost.

They passed a rice paddy fed by a crystal-clear stream and a cluster of Jiangnan-style buildings with white walls and gray tiles, eventually arriving at the gray-colored hall built along the slope of the mountain next to the Warfare Department's peak.

The building had only three stories, with large open windows, looking remarkably like a school building from Lin Xi's old world.

"Meng Bai!"

Below the building, a plump boy in a yellow robe was glancing around nervously. Lin Xi spotted him and couldn't help but shout with a smile.

That timid demeanor—who else could it be but their friend, Meng Bai?

Hearing Lin Xi's voice, Meng Bai broke into a wide grin and ran toward him.

"You chose Medical Aid too? And… you've gotten fatter?" Lin Xi punched Meng Bai playfully, but paused in mild surprise.

Meng Bai's once-pale face had darkened slightly, making his freckles less noticeable—but his face and belly had both grown visibly rounder.

"The academy food's too good…" Meng Bai rubbed his stomach, blushing in embarrassment.

Lin Xi, Bian Linghan, and Tang Ke burst into laughter.

"Your Internal Affairs Department doesn't have many physical courses, huh?" Lin Xi tugged at Meng Bai's yellow robe, grinning. "If you keep this up, that robe's going to be too small soon."

But Meng Bai brightened at the mention of his department, ignoring the teasing. "I think the Internal Affairs Department is just as good as the Medicine Department. We mostly study ancient texts, searching for better cultivation methods."

Lin Xi patted his shoulder knowingly.

By now, he understood the Internal Affairs Department researched the inner workings of the human body and advanced cultivation methods. It was an academic track that rarely appeared in other academies—and had low odds of being deployed to the front lines.

For someone timid and unambitious like Meng Bai, it was no surprise he chose Medical Aid.

"How many from your department picked this class?"

"Just me."

"What?"

"They thought Internal Affairs already had too many boring required courses, so they didn't want to take another dry subject. Most picked Warfare Department electives instead… Lin Xi, hearing you now, I regret not choosing something more physical."

"Why?"

"Now that we've started trial exercises in the valley… with my body shape—even with a voice changer and new robes, won't I still be recognized?"

"Pfft—"

Lin Xi and Meng Bai entered the gray building while joking. But just as Meng Bai lamented his figure, Lin Xi suddenly stopped laughing.

Because in a classroom on his left, rows of gray-robed Medicine Department students sat listening to a lecture.

Among them, Lin Xi immediately spotted Gao Yanan.

Her long black hair was loosely tied back, and though her gray robe was drab, to Lin Xi her features looked like a beautiful painting.

There was even a small red bump—likely from an insect bite—on her porcelain cheek, which only made her look even cuter.

"Don't worry. If anyone can recognize you, at least we can too. And if anyone hits you too hard, we've got your back," Tang Ke and Bian Linghan were still laughing, comforting Meng Bai.

But they hadn't noticed Lin Xi's change.

Because at that moment, a strange red light appeared in Lin Xi's eyes.

It came from beyond the classroom's window—first a glimmer, then a bloom of eerie crimson.

"Lin Xi…" Tang Ke, Bian Linghan, and Meng Bai finally noticed something was wrong, and followed his gaze.

Their expressions changed instantly. "Fire!"

A great sheet of red, like a raised banner, blazed in the distance—it was a massive fire, erupting from nearby buildings!

Within a breath, everyone in the gray building was alerted. Not just the students, but even the black-robed lecturer at the podium changed expression.

"Put it out!"

He spoke only two words before leaping like an arrow, vanishing from sight.

From the upper floor, another black-robed lecturer descended gently—like a drifting black lotus leaf.

…

By the time Lin Xi and the others exited the building, the two instructors had already reached the fire.

The affected buildings were all wooden—three stories high and interconnected into several courtyards. Thick smoke billowed skyward, and flames surged from windows.

"There are students inside?!"

Lin Xi gasped, seeing panicked students fleeing the fire.

"They must be attending electives!"

Among them were several familiar faces from the Warfare Department. Clearly, all the students escaping the blaze—regardless of robe color—were new recruits from across departments.