Chapter 7

Chapter 7: So Terrible

Being alive sure is hard!

Asta stared blankly ahead, her movements sluggish as she pulled on that elegant station chief uniform — white with red accents.

The memories from last night's consciousness space — being corrected on her sword-swinging posture over and over, having her force distribution adjusted repeatedly — were vivid and exhausting. Yet somehow, it hadn't affected her energy levels at all... The feeling was bizarre.

【Bright Future Chat Group】

Asta: "Is this training going to happen every day?"

Wangshu: "It's actually pretty exciting when you think about it. I didn't expect to wake up this morning with zero fatigue. My sleep quality seems even better."

Wangshu: "I used to dream about having this kind of study space. Too bad I already took the college entrance exams, so it's too late for that..."

Asta stared at Wangshu's reply, started to type something, then stopped. She sat there for a long while without responding, feeling like something was stuck in her throat — viscous and cloying. She wanted to retort, but the words wouldn't come.

She'd thought they were in the same boat, and would at least share some common ground to commiserate over.

Jingliu: "Having drive is a good thing. Swordsmanship is best learned when the heart is willing."

No one responded. The group went dead.

Deep in the unseen recesses of the Abyssal Prison, the chat interface in front of her flickered on and off several times, until she confirmed no new messages were coming. Only then did she lower her gaze again. Thankfully, the black silk blindfold hid her expression in the real world.

Meanwhile, Wangshu stood by the window, two cards of unusual texture pinched between his fingertips, rotating them so they appeared one after the other with each flick.

"Jingliu, Asta — scan complete!"

"Two-in-one form! Fusion loading!"

"Transform!"

The tidy room was instantly flooded with freezing air. A layer of frost spread across the floor. At the point where Wangshu's fingertips hung low, frigid energy gathered and shaped itself wildly, coalescing in the blink of an eye into a crystalline longsword — translucent throughout, radiating biting cold, with tiny ice crystals and snowflakes forming from thin air around the blade, drifting downward.

As for Asta's contribution... fusion material. Not much to show for it. Normal.

"Hmph, Hoolay? If you dare come, I'll make sure you never leave!"

He instinctively gripped the ice sword, a name flashing through his mind, and a line that was somewhat embarrassing yet brimming with imposing force slipped out.

"S-So cold! Hsss—"

Before Wangshu could even begin adjusting to this power — nearly on the level of an Emanator — little Jingliu's shivering, stammering voice drifted in from the living room.

This gave Wangshu a clearer understanding of Jingliu's strength. Simple cold alone was already too much for someone with a long-life species' constitution to handle. He quickly pulled himself together and severed the card connection.

Then Wangshu hid the cards behind his back, cleared his throat twice, and pushed open the door.

"Is the air conditioning broken?"

He stepped out to find Jingliu crouching in front of the air conditioner, her small face pale from the cold, looking rather adorably... whacking the unit with her palm.

"Little Wangshu, you got woken up by the cold, right?"

She didn't look back at the sound of the door, her tone certain. "Don't worry — let me smack it a couple more times. This piece of junk always acts up every now and then. A good whack always fixes it!"

Wangshu watched her repair technique with a subtle expression, the hand hiding the cards behind his back retreating further into his shirt.

"By the way, Jingliu, don't you have school today?"

The digital clock in the living room read 7:23 AM. Little Jingliu was still wearing what appeared to be an incredibly soft white fleece pajama set — the kind that clung to her body when she crouched.

"Today's the weekend. I have to report to the academy tomorrow... ugh."

But no matter — she'd push hard this year to pass the coming-of-age certification, and then she could apply for early graduation.

She gave the air conditioner two more whacks. The room had already begun warming up. Jingliu rose lazily and stretched — though there wasn't much to show for it.

"But aren't you eighteen this year?"

Wangshu couldn't understand. By all rights, the Xianzhou academy shouldn't be that different from the schools he'd known before transmigrating.

Jingliu's crimson eyes radiated pure innocence. "But today's the weekend."

"You don't have class on weekends?"

Jingliu: ...

She was silent for a long time, then rose on her tiptoes once more and, with a touch of sympathy, ruffled Wangshu's hair.

"Little Wangshu, the academic life of you short-life species is really harsh."

When she thought about it, it made sense. Short-life species had limited lifespans, so of course everything had to be compressed, compressed, and compressed again. By comparison, the long-life species of the Xianzhou certainly had it far more relaxed.

The two stood in silence. After a moment, Jingliu spoke up out of nowhere: "Is the future me... very strict as a teacher?"

Wangshu instinctively nodded, then shook his head.

Jingliu understood instantly. Strict — but because it's me, it doesn't feel as strict. Right?

"Forget it..." She shook her head, casting aside the stray thoughts. "Let's eat first! I'm hungry."

Wangshu made breakfast again. By the time Jingliu came back from changing out of her pajamas, he'd already finished the prep work.

Breakfast was pickled vegetable fried rice, plus eggs and sausage.

Jingliu poked at the rice. "Does the future me... really love eating this?"

"You don't like it now?"

Jingliu nodded. Though it felt disrespectful to say it about her mom, her mom had already fed her pickled vegetable fried rice for years and years. She could afford to be a little disrespectful now!

"Got it. I'll switch it up next time." Wangshu went with the flow.

The room temperature was pleasant. After eating, Jingliu instinctively prepared to hop off her stool and run outside to play with friends, but... there was someone at home now.

"Little Wangshu, want to come out and play with me?"

"I'll pass. I'm going to look for a job first."

After all, with the generous sponsorship of the wealthy Ms. Asta — and given her status — finding work shouldn't be too difficult.

Settle down first, then figure out how to integrate into this world, and finally deal with the matter of Paths.

"Find a job?"

Jingliu blinked. Oh, right — you need to find a job.

She looked out the door at the blue sky and white clouds, then back at Wangshu as he unhurriedly set down the dishes. After two seconds of hesitation, she scurried back.

"Then I won't go out today either. I'll stay with you."

She reached up with her small hand and patted Wangshu on the shoulder, her expression full of encouragement.

This caught Wangshu off guard and rather touched him.

"It's fine, go have fun. I need to scout the market and compare raw material prices."

Running a street stall wasn't exactly stable employment, but using it as a way to ease into this environment was a solid start.

Jingliu blinked. "But we're even closer in the future, right? Isn't it only natural that I come with you?"

Wangshu froze for a beat.

At this point, the fact that he'd been lying from the very start was becoming a little hard to bring up.

He silently apologized to the future Sword Champion: Senior Jingliu, your past self... is unexpectedly gentle and innocent!

Wangshu hesitated, and little Jingliu read him like a book!

"Don't tell me the future me..." Little Jingliu saw his reluctance and puffed up her cheeks. "Doesn't even spend time with you often?"

Her future self was terrible. Wangshu had given up his home just to change her tragic fate, and she wouldn't even keep him company?

"Then it's settled!" She declared without room for argument, fists on hips. "I'm not going anywhere today. I'm staying with you to find work and scout the market! Two people working together is more efficient!"

"...Alright then. Thanks."