Chapter 1100
Hope for Life
Fu Ye said.
He Yu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, and quickly called the staff to add more bowls, chopsticks and dishes.
Mo Fan was immediately alert and rushed to serve tea and water before the waiter could, acting as attentive as if he were a completely different person.
Mu Bai's eyes twitched slightly as he looked at Mo Fan's fawning manner, and he silently looked away.
Fu Ye didn't put on any airs.
He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, and ate slowly and deliberately. Liu Xian and Liu Ru remained standing, so he placed some food on a small plate, gesturing for them to sit down and eat with him.
The two women exchanged a glance, obediently sat down, but did not touch their chopsticks.
The atmosphere gradually relaxed.
After a few rounds of drinks, Mo Fan started talking again.
He vividly recounted the process of finding Zhang Xiaohou, of course omitting the part about Liu Ru tearing the giant corpse apart.
He had a gut feeling that this was something he shouldn't talk about.
Zhang Xiaohou listened quietly, occasionally adding a few words.
Although his memory has returned, the ten days of blank space remain a mystery.
He only remembered receiving a mission to go to Yangyang Village, then everything went dark, and when he woke up he was in Luohua Village, and he couldn't remember anything.
He Yu held his hand tenderly, unable to bear asking him any further questions.
As Zhou Min listened, she suddenly sighed softly.
"I really envy you," she said.
“Mo Fan is already a strongman nominated by the National Government, and Xiao Hou has also established himself in the army. Sister He Yu’s cultivation has improved rapidly. Only Mu Bai and I are still wasting our time at the Ancient Capital Magic Academy.”
Mu Bai did not refute.
Silence is sometimes a form of acquiescence.
Zhou Min looked at the remaining wine in her glass and lowered her voice.
"Sometimes I think, if Bocheng is gone, my home is gone too."
"We're all drifting aimlessly, where is our true home? What's the point of cultivation? What good will becoming stronger do? Even after graduation, where will we go?"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, but she didn't shed a tear.
She had kept these words to herself for a long time.
I met an old friend tonight, we drank some wine, and I finally couldn't help but pour out my heart.
The table was completely silent.
Mo Fan opened his mouth, wanting to offer comfort, but didn't know what to say.
Zhang Xiaohou remained silent, while He Yu gently patted Zhou Min's back.
Mu Bai remained silent, simply turning his teacup with his head down.
Zhao Kunsan and Wang Sanpang looked at each other and then lowered their heads.
They're not even mid-level, they don't even have the right to "waste time".
Just then, a calm voice rang out, "Intermediate Level 3."
Zhou Min looked up blankly, gazing at the source of the sound.
Fu Ye put down his chopsticks and looked at her calmly.
"Once you reach the intermediate level three, you can use any magic system."
“I have some small businesses in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, but I need more people to manage them.”
"You are welcome to come then."
Zhou Min was stunned.
Mu Bai suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Intermediate Level 3.
For geniuses at the national level, it's a threshold, but for ordinary students like them with above-average talent and limited resources, it's a goal that requires them to exert all their efforts to reach.
Fu Ye made no promises to them.
He didn't even say, "I will help you."
He simply said, "Come on, once you've cultivated to this level..."
This is both a condition and an opportunity.
Zhou Min's tears finally fell.
She nodded vigorously.
"I will! I will definitely cultivate to the third level of the intermediate stage!"
Mu Bai remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding.
He didn't say thank you, but he engraved that goal in his heart, just like when he looked at that figure in the ruins of Bo City many years ago.
He wants to become stronger.
Zhao Kunsan and Wang Sanpang looked at Zhou Min and Mu Bai with envy.
But they didn't say anything.
They knew in their hearts that while the intermediate level three was a feasible goal for Zhou Min and Mu Bai, it was an insurmountable chasm for them. Zhao Kun had been enrolled for almost two years and was still lingering at the beginner level.
Wang Sanpang fared even worse, not even reaching the third level of the beginner stage.
A mid-level mage? That was a pipe dream they wouldn't even dare to dream of.
They'll probably only reach the intermediate level in their lifetime.
Wang Sanpang lowered his head and silently stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth.
Zhao Kun forced a smile, poured Mo Fan a glass of wine, and said nothing.
Fu Ye didn't say anything more.
He picked up his wine glass and took a small sip.
The ancient capital outside the window was shrouded in darkness, with the outline of the northern city wall faintly visible in the distance.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Mo Fan, his face flushed from drinking, put his arm around Zhang Xiaohou's shoulder and boasted about his "great achievements" in the academy's selection process.
Zhang Xiaohou listened with a smile, occasionally pointing out a few of his exaggerations.
He Yu and Zhou Min were sitting with their heads close together, whispering to each other, occasionally letting out low laughter.
Mu Bai remained silent, but the gloom between his brows seemed to have faded somewhat.
Zhao Kunsan and Wang Sanpang were arguing about which cafeteria's braised pork was better, and their voices grew louder and louder, with neither able to convince the other.
Fu Ye watched all of this quietly.
Liu Ru filled his wine glass; the wine was clear and reflected the flickering candlelight.
He picked up the glass, but didn't drink it; he just looked at his reflection in the glass.
“Teacher Fu Ye,” Zhang Xiaohou suddenly spoke, his voice solemn.
Fu Ye looked up.
Zhang Xiaohou stood up and bowed respectfully to him.
“You saved me twice,” he said, “once in Bo City and once in the ancient capital. I don’t know how to repay you, or whether I will ever be able to do so in this lifetime.”
"But I will try my best."
"Strive to become stronger, strive to live a life worthy of being a human being."
"I will not let you down for saving my life."
He straightened up, his eyes slightly red, but he didn't cry.
Fu Ye stared at him for a long time.
"Just stay alive. If you survive this time, the military region will probably promote you."
Zhang Xiaohou nodded vigorously.
Late at night
Fu Ye paid the bill, preventing anyone from arguing.
Mo Fan intended to rush to pay the bill as usual, but when he saw the black crystal card that Fu Ye handed over, he silently stuffed his wallet back into his pocket.
Are you kidding me? He saw Naka online.
No more than five unlimited Black Crystal Cards in the entire country.
A poor student like him trying to steal someone else's order? Isn't that just asking for trouble?
The night breeze in the ancient capital dispelled some of the smell of alcohol.
Zhou Min and Mu Bai were about to return to the academy to say goodbye to everyone.
Before leaving, Zhou Min bowed deeply to Fu Ye once again, and Mu Bai also bowed for the first time ever.
Zhao Kunsan and Wang Sanpang were also heading back to their lodgings. The two of them disappeared into the depths of the alley, their arms around each other's shoulders. Wang Sanpang was still muttering about the plate of braised pork that he hadn't finished eating.
Zhang Xiaohou and He Yu are leaving too.
They need to go to the military tomorrow to handle the follow-up matters.
On the way back, Zhou Min remained quiet.
Mu Bai assumed she was asleep and did not disturb her.
As they approached the academy, Zhou Min suddenly spoke.
"Mu Bai." Her voice was soft, yet firm, "We'll definitely be able to cultivate to the third level of the intermediate stage, right?"
Mu Bai remained silent for a moment.
"Ah."
He said.
Zhou Min smiled softly.
For some reason, she felt that after Teacher Fu Ye reappeared, she suddenly had a new hope for the future.
The next day.
On the northwest city wall, four milky-white beams of light shot into the sky one after another, standing out conspicuously in the twilight.
That was the rallying signal from the Ancient Capital Magic Association.
It will only be deployed if a disaster sufficient to threaten the entire city is confirmed. (End of Chapter)