The night passed in silence.
The next morning, Aoi Kenshin and Zhu Zhuqing departed the Starfall Forest, walking along the imperial road toward the Heavenly Dou Empire.
After roughly half an hour, they arrived at a fork in the road. Here, their paths would diverge.
Zhu Zhuqing's destination was Shrek Academy, nestled within the small village of Soto in the Barak Kingdom, a subordinate territory of the Heavenly Dou Empire. Aoi Kenshin, on the other hand, was headed for the imperial capital.
He thought to himself: bustling areas, plenty of fine wine.
"Safe travels, Zhuqing," he said with a carefree grin, waving her off.
Though they were practically the same age, he still called her "Sister Zhuqing" more as a teasing, affectionate nickname than a formal title. At first, she resisted it—but now, she had grown used to it.
Watching the young man in his tattered white robe stride confidently ahead, Zhuqing suddenly said, her voice soft and a touch shy:
"Kenshin… you said purple has more charm, didn't you?"
"Huh?"
Kenshin frowned in mild confusion. Why this topic all of a sudden? When had he even said that…?
Ah, yes—when they had first met, she had asked him why his first soul ring was purple. He had just blurted, without thinking, "Because purple has charm." A casual, offhand remark… and Zhuqing actually remembered.
He opened his mouth to explain, "I was just making it up, you don't need to—"
But she continued, her cheeks faintly pink:
"Next time we meet… I'll wear purple for you."
"F-farewell!"
Without waiting for his reaction, she spun on her heel and hurried away, practically running. In her haste, she even twisted her ankle.
Kenshin's sharp eyes caught the flush rising along her pale, swan-like neck.
"Farewell, Sister Zhuqing," he murmured, lips curling into a small, self-satisfied smirk. Humming a little tune, he turned down the other path.
No melodrama. No lingering sentimentality. He knew that if fate allowed, they would meet again.
The Starfall Forest lay roughly eight hundred kilometers from Heavenly Dou City, passing through the Fasno Province, Balenburg City, and the Sunset Forest.
At the nearest city, Bolan City, Kenshin exchanged the hides and bones of hunted spirit beasts for a fair amount of gold spirit coins, purchasing a white-maned steed for the journey ahead.
A journey of travel, adventure, and a touch of mischief ensued.
Half a month later, the imposing silhouette of Heavenly Dou City finally appeared on the horizon, bathed under a blazing sun.
"Whoosh~~"
Kenshin reined in his white steed, hooves kicking up clouds of dust. He took a swig of wine, wiped the sweat from his brow, and let his gaze sweep across the city sprawling before him. Even from several hundred meters away, he could see the sunlight glittering like gold leaf across the crimson city walls, reflecting off the gilded corners of the moat—it was breathtakingly magnificent.
Any passerby would gasp: What a bustling, splendid city.
Kenshin murmured, a faint grin tugging at his lips:
"Hopefully, there's wine here that catches my eye."
Along the journey, he had sampled wines from every city—but none had been worthy of pouring into his Clear Spring Flask.
Leading his white-maned steed, he arrived at the base of the city walls. Entry required a fee—but when Kenshin revealed his aura, level twenty-two soul power radiating effortlessly, the guards immediately treated him with respect and escorted him inside.
Level twenty-two wasn't extraordinary—but at such a young age, it drew attention.
Kenshin waved to the enthusiastic guards with a lazy smile. He felt a twinge of disappointment.
"Shouldn't the novels say that people get scorned or hassled at the gates? Why am I not getting that treatment?"
With that playful thought, he strolled into Heavenly Dou City.
The moment he stepped inside, he was swallowed by the noise and spectacle of urban life.
Golden leaves drifted from the ginkgo trees lining Suzaku Avenue. Merchants haggled with passersby, their voices rising and falling in the warm morning air. Steam curled from tea houses and noodle shops, mixing into a fragrant haze.
Nearby, a storyteller in a teal robe slammed his wooden clapper, bowing politely to collect coins from the audience. Beneath a stone bridge, a painted pleasure boat drifted along the river, young nobles aboard drinking and laughing.
"This is the place," Kenshin murmured, excitement lighting his features as he took in the sights.
Soon, he found the city's finest tavern: the Feast of Fragrance. Renowned throughout the imperial capital, it was said to offer every delicacy imaginable on jade plates, paired with the finest liquors.
"Yo, stranger! A new face, young master!"
A waiter spotted Kenshin from afar, draping a clean cloth over his shoulder as he hurried over, beaming.
"Leave the horse to me, I'll feed it well," he said, taking the reins from Kenshin and handing them to a footman. Then, politely gesturing for Kenshin to follow, he continued:
"Not familiar with our tavern, young master? Would you like me to show you around?"
Kenshin's smile was easy as he appraised the ornate establishment. Carved beams, painted halls, miniature rockeries, and trickling streams—luxury and refinement in every detail.
"Yes, I'm from the outer city. Bring out all your specialties, and two jugs of your strongest, finest wine."
"Right away!"
The waiter didn't bat an eye at Kenshin's tattered attire. Years of experience had honed his ability to read people—this young man might be rough on the outside, but his confident gaze and free-spirited aura marked him as someone extraordinary.
"Private room or main hall, young master?"
"Main hall. I like a bit of liveliness."
"Understood!"
He called out to the staff, then began leading Kenshin to a table.
"Wait a moment."
Kenshin pulled a gold spirit coin from his pocket and placed it in the waiter's hand. The man's eyes lit up, bowing deeply.
"Thank you, young master!"
Meanwhile, on another path, Zhu Zhuqing had finally arrived at Shrek Academy. Though called an academy, it was little more than a small village of barely a hundred households.
A low fence circled the settlement, and a handful of people had gathered at the gate.
Zhuqing frowned slightly, surprise flickering across her icy, composed face. Was this really the famed Shrek Academy? It seemed… far too modest.
Chaos appeared to have broken out ahead: a boy had paid ten gold spirit coins to enroll, only to be told he did not meet the requirements—and that the fee would not be refunded. Both he and his father protested angrily.
At that moment, a slightly older boy with golden hair stepped forward, releasing two century-old soul rings and one millennium-old soul ring.
For someone his age, this configuration drew gasps from the waiting crowd. His overwhelming aura pressed down on the protesting father and son, forcing them into submission.
Zhuqing's sharp gaze darkened with disgust. Those who bullied the weak… compared to Kenshin, they were worlds apart.
She ignored the golden-haired boy entirely, casually scanning the other applicants.
Ahead of her, a black-haired boy stood beside a girl with scorpion-tail braids. Nearby, a short-haired beauty in a white dress was undergoing a test.
The girl's clear, melodious voice seemed to catch the attention of an elder.
"Did your family know you were coming here?"
"They say education is open to all. If I meet the requirements, there's no reason to reject me, right?"