Congratulations

The next day.

In the garden, Ye Chuan had just arrived when he happened to see Irena sitting on a bench, drinking tea. She seemed lost in thought, her face devoid of expression as she simply lowered her emerald-like eyes.

"Ah, Lord Xi Xi, good morning." Perhaps noticing Ye Chuan's gaze, Irena turned her head and said.

"Yo, morning." Ye Chuan straightforwardly sat down next to the princess. Seeing only a teapot in front of her without a single pastry, he couldn't help but ask, "Not eating any pastries?"

"I'm just... a little lacking in appetite," Irena said softly.

After all, thinking about those disguised monsters, especially realizing that the day they would attack the royal capital was drawing closer, Irena found herself unable to calm down and think straight, let alone be in the mood to enjoy pastries.

"Oh, I see." Ye Chuan didn't share her worries. He simply turned to a nearby maid and said, "Miss, bring us some delicious pastries, preferably the kind Kaiaolen is most reluctant to part with."

The maid nodded gently and turned to leave.

"Pfft." Seeing Ye Chuan like this, Irena seemed amused. "Lord Xi Xi, you're always so relaxed no matter what."

"Life has to go on," Ye Chuan said. "A happy day is a day, and a bitter day is still a day."

Pausing for a moment, Ye Chuan seemed to remember something and shook his head.

"Lord Xi Xi, what were you like in the past...?"

"Why ask this all of a sudden?"

"I'm just a little curious," Irena whispered. However, considering that this might be invading his privacy, she just let out a soft chuckle. "Sorry."

"It's fine. The old me, well... I had to worry about my next meal... I had to rely on the financial help of a childhood friend just to survive," Ye Chuan said with a sigh.

Irena froze for a moment. Was Lord Xi Xi really that poor in the past?

For Irena, who had grown up in the royal capital, this was completely unimaginable.

Even when she fled to the town of Yisu, Irena had never worried about money.

"Being poor was one thing, but I couldn't even earn money if I wanted to. I had a terminal illness back then, so even trying to deliver food could have easily led to me dropping dead on the street."

"Ah..." Although Irena didn't quite understand what delivering food meant, she could tell that he had truly been in a miserable state.

"But, what about Lord Xi Xi's current power?"

"I obtained this through countless hardships and sweat," Ye Chuan said. "Do you know how many worlds I've struggled through to reach this point today?"

How many worlds...?

Irena still didn't quite understand Ye Chuan's way of speaking, but she could feel how difficult things had been for him.

"That's wonderful. If only I could have Lord Xi Xi's level of dedication," Irena said softly.

One person's strength was ultimately too weak.

She had no power.

"It's just a pity that I don't have the talent to become a mage," Irena said. Perhaps thinking about magic, she then asked, "Um, is Miss Aurora alright after yesterday?"

"I knocked her out, she's fine."

"Knocked out?" Irena was taken aback, but hearing Ye Chuan say she was fine, she felt relieved.

"Who... who got knocked out!"

A discordant voice rang out. Ye Chuan and Irena turned their heads, only to find Aurora and Elara standing not far away.

Aurora had let her ponytail loose, her red hair cascading down, making her look much more demure. On the other hand, Elara happily greeted Ye Chuan, "Teacher, what magic are we learning today?"

"I haven't decided yet," Ye Chuan said as his gaze fell upon Aurora. Her face instantly flushed red.

"Wh-what?! I just passed out yesterday because I consumed too much mana, that's all!"

"I have plenty of experience with that."

Seemingly trying to cover for herself, Aurora even covered her mouth, blushing as she put on a snickering expression. "Do you want me to teach you more fun things?"

Irena blinked her beautiful eyes.

What did that mean?

"Idiot," Ye Chuan shook his head.

"Who are you calling an idiot?!"

"Hard to say." The corners of Ye Chuan's mouth curled up. "Do you have the gold coins ready? I get tired too, you know."

"Guh." Aurora gritted her teeth and took a step back.

"Just you wait!"

With that, Aurora turned and ran off, leaving Elara standing there.

"Sister Aurora..." Elara looked back, a bit confused as to why her sister had such a huge reaction to their teacher.

"It's fine, ignore her," Ye Chuan said. He then turned to Elara, "If you want to learn magic, come with me."

"Yes!" Elara nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at grain.

Ever since witnessing Ye Chuan in action yesterday, Elara's admiration for him had reached an infinite level. After all, a formula that could reverse a Tier 6 magic spell was simply too terrifying.

"Oh right, Irena, when the maid brings the pastries over later, remember to have her send them my way."

"I understand, Lord Xi Xi," Irena gave a faint smile.

Having said his piece, Ye Chuan left with Elara.

Irena sat quietly in her seat, silently watching Ye Chuan's receding figure.

How wonderful...

"Speaking of which, hasn't Torres returned yet?" Irena couldn't help but think of her guard, Torres. She hadn't seen him for several days.

But Lord Xi Xi had said he was undergoing special training, so there shouldn't be any problems, right?

...

...

Ye Chuan led Elara to a clearing. "Since there are no more issues with your magic circuits, cast the spell from last time and show me."

"Understood!"

Knowing Ye Chuan's profound strength, Elara didn't hold back at all. She immediately channeled her magic circuits and chanted the incantation.

"Balala, Water Cannon!"

A magic circle surged with blue light, and then a pillar of water shot towards Ye Chuan!

The power was much greater than what was seen last time!

"Not bad, you've indeed improved a lot." Ye Chuan snapped his fingers, and the water cannon instantly disintegrated in front of him, turning into countless particles of light that scattered into the air.

"Yes!" Elara was also thrilled.

"Although I don't know who placed the seal on your magic circuits, congratulations. You can now set off toward a higher realm," Ye Chuan said, clapping his hands. "You've graduated. Congratulations."

The smile on Elara's face froze. She tilted her head, stunned for a moment. "Eh? Teacher, what do you mean?"

"Your magic circuits are back to normal, so you just need to focus on cultivating. You don't need me as your teacher anymore," Ye Chuan said.

"?!" Elara was dumbfounded.

Was that really okay?

"Oh right, since you're graduating early, you still have to give me gold coins every day," Ye Chuan said. "We still need to settle the tuition fees for the course."

Elara hugged her staff, a troubled look crossing her face. "Teacher~ isn't this way too early?"