"Perhaps you've thought of everything. For your Lin Yun Er, you'll do anything." Asura noted. "You'll go through hell."
"Firstly, I won't go through it, I'll destroy it. And secondly, the mother is a very dear person to Lin Yun Er, so it would be very bad if she suffered. I should have thought of that earlier. A dear person to her is dear to me too. Even if I don't like him very much." I remarked dryly, almost finishing the work.
About a minute later, everything was ready, and the kettle whistled in the kitchen. Putting away all the unnecessary tools, I headed to the kitchen; it was necessary to discuss our plan again before Lin Yun Er arrived. The kitchen was a small room, half of which was occupied by the stove, refrigerator, and cabinets, along with the table. Lin Yun Er's mother sat at the table, staring blankly out the window.
"Everything is ready, we still have half an hour, so I suggest that after Lin Yun Er arrives, you call the guardians and inform them that I have come to visit your daughter. During the conversation, I will use the seal, and you will lose consciousness, and I will leave safely. This will ensure your maximum safety." I said in a very serious tone, one mistake could ruin everything.
"Agreed, so you'll turn me from a traitor into almost a hero." she remarked indifferently. "I have a question, how much time will I have before I lose my mind? I hope you haven't made it so that I only have a few days?" she said with contempt, looking at me with eyes expressing incredible determination and anger.
"Of course not. How else would I look Lin Yun Er in the eyes?" I asked, with a slight smile. "You will have about two, two and a half years before your mind is completely clouded. Before that, short-term memory loss, increasing in duration, loss of control over limbs, and falling out of conversations will be your maximum discomfort. You can even be treated quite easily. If you invite a spirit mage, or buy an expensive healing tincture." I said in a slightly indifferent voice.
"Unfortunately, I won't remember knowing this, so what you're saying now won't help me much." she spread her hands, at that moment the front door opened and someone entered.
"Mom, I'm here!" Lin Yun Er's clear and gentle voice rang out from the hallway. "Jiaxing Yun, are you here?"
"He's in the kitchen, dear." Lin Yun Er's mother replied disdainfully. "Don't worry, he's still whole, and I won't serve him for dinner."
"Really?" Lin Yun Er asked, entering the kitchen. "That's good, Mom, can we talk alone?"
"Yes, I'll go watch TV for now." she said, getting up and returning to the living room, from where the sound of the TV soon could be heard.
"Hello, long time no see." I smiled, waving my hand. "How are you? What successes have you achieved?" I said, but she walked up to me and gave me a good slap. Of course, I didn't feel it much due to my strong body, so she hurt herself more, but it still hurt a lot for such a reaction. However, I understood myself that I deserved it.
"Ow! What is your jaw made of?" she exclaimed, grabbing her hand. "This is for you disappearing for a whole four months again! And you know, I really don't want anything to do with you anymore. You know, dating a guy like you, who can disappear, is not cool at all!" she cursed, her words made me feel very bad, it hurt more than on New Year's, I was practically broken.
"But, I..." I naturally couldn't find words to answer her, her words were the absolute truth, so there was no point in arguing with her.
"You know, initially I broke up with you only because Mom said so. I thought she was wrong and that you were better than she seemed." she began to speak in a rather stern voice, while I stood like a statue. "But then you disappeared for two months, didn't call, didn't write. I thought you had forgotten about me and had already started thinking that it was better to forget you and move on. But then it was mid-September, and I thought that even if we couldn't see each other, our relationship wouldn't be destroyed so quickly. But in February, you disappeared again, didn't answer calls or letters. I'm tired of all this. I'd rather find a guy who won't ditch me like this after we've been dating for a year."
"I understand, forgive me. During this time, I was very busy, basically lived in the forest and couldn't answer. But what if I don't disappear anymore?" I tried to apologize and beg for forgiveness.
"Really? And who will confirm that you lived in the forest and not somewhere else?" she asked with a claim, I remained silent, as I could not confirm this. "See? And I have almost no feelings left for you. Back then, I started dating you only because you led me out of the library, near which a rat was hunting. You seemed like a charming prince on a white horse. But this illusion quickly faded. I simply started to like you, and then you led me to the holy spring. For me, you were someone extraordinary, who could do anything. I admired you and was proud that I was your girlfriend, that out of everyone, you chose me. I truly loved you, but now, I've stopped thinking about you that way. My feelings have cooled towards you, and I have almost forgotten about you in these four months. It was a surprise to me that you called me and suggested meeting. Honestly, I thought you had forgotten about me long ago and found someone else."
"That's not true, I will never forget you!" I had been silent the whole time, after the last words, I couldn't help but object.
"Well, don't forget. I, on the other hand, have almost forgotten. Of course, I'll be grateful if we remain friends. But if you keep disappearing like this, I don't see the point in communicating with you at all." she said, calming down.
"Okay." I agreed, unable to argue with her points, however, after talking with her, a feeling of emptiness remained in my chest. It was as if my soul had been taken out, leaving nothing in return, and most importantly, it was foolish to blame her or anyone else. I myself was to blame for this, thinking that my feelings would be enough to start dating her again, I was a complete idiot, disregarding her feelings in my desire to become stronger and protect her.
"You asked what successes I've achieved?" she asked, in her usual voice, sitting down at the table.
"Yes, how is your development progressing?" I asked, sitting opposite her, completely indifferent, coming to my senses after everything that had happened.
"I have reached the third stage and am approaching the intermediate level. Perhaps another couple of months and I will be able to achieve it." she replied calmly. "Now I am the best in class. I think I'll try to get into Xi'an University this year. And you didn't go to university, are you planning to apply this year?" she asked, turning her head towards me.
"Yes, in a month there will be exams at Minzhu." I said, still not coming to my senses. "This year, one of my classmates is also applying to the local university. His name is Mu Bai, tell him you know me, I think he'll help you if needed."
"I see, thank you." she said, nodding her head, after which we fell into silence for a couple of minutes, it was clear she felt sorry for me. I, on the other hand, couldn't come to my senses after her statement. "And what level have you reached? You were a very strong mage, I will never believe that you are still at the initial level."
"And you're right not to believe it. I have already reached the intermediate level of wind magic." I said, regaining some of my former composure.
"Really? And what second element did you awaken?" she asked with excitement. "How long have you been an intermediate level mage?"
"My second element is lightning, I have already reached the second stage of the initial level." I said, leaning my head back. "And I broke through at the beginning of September. It was quite difficult, I literally cultivated to exhaustion. By the way, are you still in touch with Jiaxing Xia?"
"Yes." she nodded affirmatively. "And since you brought it up yourself, she told me in February that you were coming to visit me. I thought you didn't tell me about it because you thought you were going to surprise me. But you never came, and disappeared for a month. Of course, after a couple of months, she assumed that you unexpectedly went for training instead of visiting me. It was very hurtful. Especially considering that you disappeared. So you must understand why I don't feel anything for you anymore. At first, I worried about you, then I worried that you had abandoned me, but in the end, I stopped caring, and if you don't want to be my friend, I don't mind."
"I understand." I replied indifferently, and my chest tightened again, and a strong pain appeared. "Let's not return to this topic for now, okay? I was really training all this time."
"Yes, okay, I believe you." she sighed heavily, the conversation was clearly going nowhere.
"When you reach the intermediate level and awaken your second element, try to build two star paths one after another." I decided to pass on one of my secrets to her. "First, start building the star path of one element, then a little later, another. This will help you develop star control."
"Thank you, I'll definitely try." she smiled. "And have you done this before? Is there definitely an effect?"
"Yes, the more you practice, the better." I replied dryly. "After a year of study, there will be competitions at the Imperial University for all second-year students. Try to get selected for it, okay?"
"Will you be there too?" she asked with obvious interest. "Well, it will be a chance to see what you're like in battle, since you're always training."
"Yes, definitely." I replied, the conversation was again heading towards a dead end, I looked at my watch, I had been visiting Lin Yun Er for almost fifty minutes, I needed to finish the conversation urgently.
"Lin Yun Er, won't you go to the store, we need to buy bread for dinner?" Lin Yun Er's mother asked, returning to the kitchen.
"Yes, right now. Jiaxing Yun, do you want to go for a walk with me?" Lin Yun Er asked, getting up from her chair.
"I want to talk to him a little," his mother said suddenly, before I could even answer.
"Alright," Lin Yun Er replied sadly, quickly walked into the corridor, and left the apartment.
"So, how long will I be unconscious when you use your seal? Will I be able to come to my senses by the time she returns?" Lin Yun Er's mother asked, her voice sharply changed, a minute after her daughter left.
"I'm not sure, maybe a couple of minutes, maybe a couple of hours. But it will feel like a dream, so I'll just put you on the couch, pretending you just fell asleep," I said, my voice still indifferent, I didn't care about anything anymore.
"Then let's hurry," she said, heading into the living room, picked up the phone, and made a call, after which followed the typical speech when one reports a person to the authorities. I think this is how neighbors reported each other in the Soviet Union. Waiting for the right moment, I approached her from behind and pressed the cursed seal to the back of her head. She seemed to be electrocuted and lost consciousness. Picking her up, preventing her from falling, I didn't think twice and picked up the receiver.
"If you want to find me, I'll be waiting for you on the north side of the outer wall in an hour. If you don't come, I don't care. But I'm tired of you chasing me," I said in a serious, even menacing voice. "You've tried to take my tooth many times, but thanks to my friends, you haven't succeeded. I think we're both tired of this. Let's settle this once and for all, whether you'll chase me or not. If no one comes from you, I'll ask my friends to pressure you like you've never dreamed of. I repeat, I'm tired of playing cat and mouse with you!" In response, there was silence, and I didn't wait long, quickly hanging up the phone. Dragging Lin Yun Er's mother into the living room and laying her on the couch, I headed to the appointed place.