Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 19
“…As a friend, he will always be remembered by us. May he find peace in the next life. Bow.”
As the host’s voice fell, Ling Xiao bent down deeply with everyone else. When he stood up, tears streamed down his face.
Students lined up to offer the flowers they held in their hands and then silently returned to give Ling Xiao, who stood at the front of the line, a silent embrace. Ling Xiao attended as a close friend of Ping Zong. However, since that incident, Lan Sheng was forcibly isolated by the school authorities and couldn’t even attend the farewell ceremony.
Ying Feng was the last to come forward to say goodbye. He didn’t offer flowers but handed something to Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao looked at the tattered cloth in his hand, a piece cut from Lan Sheng’s cuff. Tears fell like rain.
In Tianxiu, there were no funerals. Sometimes people even gathered to celebrate death. But tragedies like that of Ping Zong, who passed away before even starting his journey, always evoked deep sorrow.
Many people participated in this farewell ceremony—the principal, instructors, students, even the school doctor and her Qizi who didn’t belong to this academy. They stood at the end of the line, silently watching the grief-stricken students pass by. This was the first time these young ones encountered death, especially of someone they had been close to. The faces of the girls were stained with tears, and some boys had red eyes. This was their first real lesson in the harsh reality of the Tianxiu coming-of-age ceremony.
In the end, only a few remained in the hall. Ling Xiao and his friends couldn’t leave him alone. Ying Feng surprisingly stayed as well. The principal and Yao Tai exchanged glances, then approached Ling Xiao.
“Please do not blame Dr. Yao. The whole idea was mine. I thought a gentle mobilization would reduce the students’ resistance to the coming-of-age ceremony. I hoped everyone could pass this stage peacefully, but it had the opposite effect.”
“If I hadn’t been so presumptuous, Lan Sheng might not have had such a severe psychological shock. He wouldn’t have taken such a drastic action, and Ping Zong wouldn’t have sacrificed himself. The entire fault lies with me. I sincerely apologize to you and to all my students.”
The principal bowed his head sincerely. Yao Tai wanted to approach but was stopped by Zhi Shang.
He silently shook his head, signaling her not to disturb. This incident was complicated, with no clear blame. Every coming-of-age ceremony brought tragedy. The principal aimed to reduce such tragedies, but who could predict unforeseen outcomes?
Seeing the principal humble himself before the students, Yao Tai felt inexplicably upset. If anyone should apologize, it should be her, as she was more involved.
Ling Xiao turned, facing the principal. Their heights were nearly the same, and their gazes were almost level, like peers.
“Principal, you don’t need to apologize to me. If time could turn back, even if we knew the truth, they would still have the coming-of-age ceremony.”
“I know their strengths well. Ping Zong would win, Lan Sheng would lose, the outcome wouldn’t change. Lan Sheng’s refusal to become a Qizi wouldn’t change either. Whatever choice was made would lead to the same conclusion.”
With tears in his eyes, he looked at Ping Zong’s portrait. “Perhaps when they decided to be together, this outcome was already destined. The mistakes of others merely sped up their journey to that conclusion.”
He approached Zhi Shang, who had changed his glasses since the previous pair was shattered by Ling Xiao outside the emergency room.
“I should be the one apologizing to you, Doctor.”
“No…”
“Please hear me out,” Ling Xiao interrupted. “Not just an apology, but also gratitude. Thank you for teaching me about the coming-of-age ceremony, a lesson so costly I’ll remember it all my life.”
“If I hadn’t felt this deeply, I might not have realized the cruelty of the coming-of-age ceremony. I might have remained naive, joking about Qizhu and their Qizi, daydreaming during biology lessons. Even though I’m physically undeveloped, mentally I’m even more so. Thanks for showing me my naivety and ignorance.”
His gaze was sharp, tears defiantly in his eyes, making it hard for Zhi Shang to meet his gaze.
“But now I understand. As Dr. Yao said, the goal of a Tianxiu person is to become stronger, conquer the strong, and grow even stronger.”
“My previous understanding of strength, my unwillingness to lose in any endeavor, was just arrogance. Thank you for helping me see my real objective.”
He raised his fist, clutching the piece of the cuff. “I swear, in this life, I will never be anyone’s Qizi. I’ll control my destiny, not letting anyone decide my fate. No matter who I face in future coming-of-age ceremonies, even if it’s someone I deeply love, I will never, ever lose.”
……
Yao Tai, weighed down with concerns, had been walking for a while before she realized that someone was following her.
“What do you want?” She stopped and asked Ying Feng.
“The medicine you injected into me last time seems to have worn off.”
Yao Tai was taken aback. “How can that be? It’s only been a few days.”
“I’ve had unusual physical reactions for two days in a row.”
Yao Tai thought for a moment. “Have you been in close contact with anyone who has already awakened?”
Ying Feng recalled that only Zu Yue had confessed to him that evening that he had entered the awakening period, and the medicine seemed to have failed shortly after that.
“There was one time,” he admitted.
Yao Tai advised him, “If the other party has no intention of suppressing the awakening, and you don’t want to be troubled by the physiological reactions caused by the awakening, I suggest you keep your distance from them.”
Ying Feng had no intention of having any dealings with Zu Yue in the first place. “I will.”
“Come with me, and I’ll give you another injection.”
Ying Feng followed Yao Tai back to the medical building. It was evident that she was troubled. As Ying Feng wasn’t much of a talker, the two walked in silence to Yao Tai’s office.
The cool, transparent medicine was once again injected into him, accompanied by Yao Tai’s advice, “Regular interactions won’t cause the medicine to fail. Only intense physical contact can disrupt hormone levels. Just keep that in mind.”
Ying Feng wanted to mention that he had only spoken face-to-face with Zu Yue briefly. But in the end, he chose not to. After all, he had already decided to keep his distance, and further words seemed unnecessary.
“All done,” Yao Tai said after finishing the injection. Ying Feng slowly rolled down his sleeves, stood up, and prepared to leave.
“Thank you for the other night,” Yao Tai suddenly said.
Ying Feng knew she was referring to the matter with Ling Xiao. “It’s nothing.”
“I know. People like you prefer to be alone. If I hadn’t insisted, you wouldn’t bother with others’ affairs, especially considering your relationship with Ling Xiao isn’t that good. But forgive me; I was overwhelmed at the time. I couldn’t just send him away in that state.”
“I understand,” Ying Feng replied succinctly.
Yao Tai looked concerned. “Ever since the incident with Ping Zong, many students who have registered have requested to postpone the coming-of-age ceremony. The start of this year’s awakening period was harsh. I foresee many challenges ahead. But every Tianxiu person has to face this. Avoidance isn’t the solution.”
“I think they just want to prepare better. I believe our race isn’t that mentally fragile. When they’re ready, they’ll face their future.”
“I hope so,” Yao Tai said, looking at Ying Feng, whom she had always been particularly attentive to. “Even if you haven’t found someone you like yet, you should still be prepared.”
“I always remember what Dr. Yao told me,” Ying Feng said. “Especially after yesterday. What Ling Xiao said is also what I believe. No matter who I face in the coming-of-age ceremony in the future, I won’t lose.”
When Ying Feng came out of the medical building, the sky was getting dark, and lights were lit all over the campus. It was still some time before the curfew. With nothing specific to do, Ying Feng decided to go to the training hall. After the series of events in the past couple of days, he wanted to sweat a bit before going to sleep, which he believed would help him rest better.
But when he arrived at the training hall, he was surprised to find lights inside and occasional thudding sounds.
Someone had arrived before him. Not wanting to share the venue during his private time, he was just curious about who had the same idea as him. Taking a peek, he was surprised to find Ling Xiao, who had just sworn an oath at the Ping Zong farewell ceremony.
Ling Xiao had activated two combat robots. Every punch and kick hit their weak points. Several broken robots lay against the wall, indicating Ling Xiao had been training for a while.
Ying Feng had sparred with him before, but Ling Xiao’s eyes seemed sharper, his expression more serious, and his attacks more precise, capturing Ying Feng’s full attention.
As Ying Feng watched intently, Ling Xiao spun and delivered a flying kick, sending one robot flying against the wall. Its chest opened to reveal a white flag of defeat.
Quickly following up, Ling Xiao kicked the second robot, which flew straight at Ying Feng. Reacting instinctively, Ying Feng punched it, sending the second robot rolling to one side.
“You were spying,” Ling Xiao called out from a distance.
Ying Feng didn’t bother to argue, especially since he was indeed watching secretly.
“I didn’t expect anyone to be here so late.”
“I need to become stronger,” Ling Xiao said with determination. “I won’t lose to anyone in the coming-of-age ceremony. I’ve sworn it.”
“Same.”
Ling Xiao tilted his head. “Then, would you like to train together? Our last duel doesn’t count. I hope you won’t choke this time.”
Ying Feng began to unbutton his uniform one by one, took it off and threw it to the side, then methodically rolled up his sleeves.
“Last time was an accident; I won’t hold back this time.”
Inside the training hall, the two were evenly matched, and for the first time, both found such an invigorating duel.
They fought until both were completely drained. The duel finally came to an end with Ling Xiao sprawled unceremoniously on the floor, sweat drenching the ground as his chest heaved.
Ying Feng wasn’t faring much better. He sat against the wall, one hand resting on a bent knee, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had such a satisfying fight,” Ling Xiao said between breaths.
Though Ying Feng didn’t voice it, he agreed. Fighting a real opponent, especially one of equal skill, was a completely different experience compared to the predictable robots.
“Even though I’ve always been competitive with you, I have to admit, you are indeed strong,” Ling Xiao expressed his appreciation for Ying Feng for the first time.
After a pause, Ying Feng responded, “So are you.”
“Even so, if one day we face each other in the coming-of-age ceremony,” Ling Xiao said confidently, “I won’t lose.”
“Likewise,” Ying Feng hesitated before adding, “But that’s unlikely to happen. You’re overthinking it.”
Ling Xiao felt as if cold water had been splashed on him. He got up unsteadily. “I still haven’t had enough, but it’s almost curfew.”
Ying Feng also got up, picking up his uniform. He initially came here just to sweat it out, but unexpectedly bumped into Ling Xiao, having such an exhaustive duel. He was certain he’d sleep well tonight.
The two made their way back to the dormitory. As they reached the junction in the corridor, Ling Xiao finally spoke again.
“Hey,” he called.
Ying Feng stopped, waiting for him to speak.
“Do you want to continue tomorrow?” He raised his fist. “Train together.”
In the dim corridor light, his gray eyes sparkled, not because of their color, but the passion they emitted.
“Alright,” Ying Feng couldn’t help but agree, seemingly forgetting the recent past when Ling Xiao had vowed to defeat him in front of the whole class. Just a short while ago, their relationship was at a freezing point.
Seeing a positive response, Ling Xiao genuinely smiled. It was the first time Ying Feng had seen him smile since their last encounter at the medical building. In just three days, he witnessed Ling Xiao’s rebound from his lowest point to his peak. It seemed nothing negative could ever bring him down, not even the pain of losing a dear friend. That pain would only serve as unstoppable momentum for him to move forward.
The author has something to say:
Tip: Fledglings in their (pre)awakening phase, if they haven’t received suppressant injections and have frequent, prolonged physical contact with those who have, might cause the suppressant to fail in the latter. Normal interaction is safe. Not injecting is like the appearance of a normal Earthling, not affecting daily life much, but poses risks.
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