Chapter 22: Visiting a Classmate

Hei Yu silently reflected to himself:

“That strike was unleashed while my first seal was open, amplifying my strength tenfold, perhaps even more. Yet, considering how powerful it was, using it on a few little wolves was truly a waste... I still can't control the force behind my attacks well. I need much more practice…”

Resting his chin on his hand, he pondered as he walked forward. “Weren’t you saying you wanted to get back early today? Hurry up—let’s use the time to take down a few tougher monsters!”

The moment Ling Xiaolei heard they could return ahead of time, she dashed ahead of Hei Yu, spreading out her “perception net” to search for monsters for him.

Returning from Twilight Forest, the two landed on the rooftop of the dormitory building and then leapt down to the ground. Ling Xiaolei chatted with a few classmates and gathered some information.

“The Princess of the Dragon Clan is staying in the academy’s luxury suite reserved for important guests. Her real name is Shen Zhaiguo, and she is indeed a member of Class A. She’s been absent from school these days because she was injured in a battle with the Demon Clan and has been recuperating. Do you remember when Mr. Shi Fangcheng mentioned—almost by accident—that our class had a student who’d never attended? That’s her!”

“Oh…”

“I’ve been wanting to ask her about what happened on the day of the Demon Clan’s invasion! Now we have the perfect excuse—to visit an injured classmate. Come on, let’s go!”

She could barely contain her excitement.

The two crept quietly to the princess’s residence, only to find that the building was already heavily guarded by several Dragon Clan protectors armed with swords. It looked nearly impossible to get in.

Ling Xiaolei tried to approach and, with animated gestures, explained that she only wanted to meet the new classmate, but the guards refused firmly.

“The princess is already resting. If you need her, come back tomorrow.”

Ling Xiaolei retreated in defeat. Hei Yu glanced up at a window on the second floor and noticed the light was still on. He guessed the princess hadn’t gone to sleep.

At that moment, Shen Zhaiguo was lying atop the soft bed, writing in her diary. A pure white spirit rabbit bounced around her, sniffing here and there. Its paws were wrapped in bandages—an injured little rabbit she’d adopted since arriving in the Holy City.

“When others are troubled, who do they confide in? Do they, like me, write it all in their diaries?”

Her diary had a delicate red cover. She picked up her pen and wrote line after neat line.

“Sometimes, how I wish I could be like other children—letting go of worries, playing freely, never having to fear that fateful day. I know Uncle and Aunt are so strict with me because of that ominous prophecy given on my sixth birthday.”

Tears welled as she wrote, and she gently wiped her eyes before continuing:

“I’ll never forget that day, when a Star Clan seer passed by the Dragon Temple, holding a pink crystal ball, and prophesied…”

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, someone rapped at the door.

Shen Zhaiguo pulled herself from her thoughts, put away her diary, and sat upright on the bed.

“Come in.”

A courteous man with a tidy mustache entered.

“Your Highness, two classmates came to see you—a girl named Ling Xiaolei and a boy named Hei Yu.”

“Hei…Hei Yu…” Shen Zhaiguo’s face flushed scarlet, and she pulled the quilt over her head.

The man, Shen Mu, continued, “I’ve already sent them away.”

“Sent them away?” Shen Zhaiguo peeked out from under the quilt.

“It’s already late, Your Highness, and you’re still recovering. Please rest.”

With that, Shen Mu bowed and withdrew.

“Wait—” Before she could finish, the door had closed. “Wait a moment…”

Hearing that her classmates had been turned away, Shen Zhaiguo’s spirits drooped.

“I never expected Hei Yu would come looking for me. Why would he do that? Is it because our meeting that day left a deep impression on him? Oh, what am I thinking…” She pressed her burning cheeks with both hands.

Just as she was about to turn off the lights and sleep—

Knock, knock, knock.

Another round of knocking sounded, but this time, the tone was different from before. Thinking nothing of it, she moved her hand away from the lamp and sat upright again, expecting that Uncle Shen Mu had returned.

“Come in.”

Her voice, though sweet, was still weak from her recent illness.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking came again, and she perked up her ears. “Wait, it’s not coming from the door…” she realized. “It’s from the balcony?”

Before she could make sense of it, the window slid open with a clatter, and a cool night breeze swept in, sending the curtains fluttering.

“This place is too luxurious!” a boy’s voice exclaimed.

While Shen Zhaiguo was still stunned, the two had already strode in through the balcony, parting the curtains grandly. The snow-white spirit rabbit leapt into Shen Zhaiguo’s arms in alarm, its little head poking out.

“Don’t act so unsophisticated! Of course the princess’s bedroom isn’t like a regular person’s. This is the most luxurious room in the whole academy!” said Ling Xiaolei, snapping picture after picture with her camera.

“And you’re not exactly polite yourself. Look who’s talking…” Hei Yu, catching sight of Shen Zhaiguo on the bed, asked after her injuries, “Hey, Dragonfruit, are you feeling better?”

“It’s not Dragonfruit! Her name is Shen Zhaiguo!” Ling Xiaolei huffed.

Hei Yu took in the lavish décor, leaned against the snack-laden table in the corner, and stuffed a piece of cake into his mouth.

“It feels like staying in a five-star hotel.”

“A princess’s suite is nothing like a hotel! Don’t you have any manners? How can you just eat someone else’s food without asking…”

Shen Zhaiguo, sitting on the bed with the spirit rabbit in her arms, stared in astonishment as Hei Yu nonchalantly devoured the treats.

“Huh? Princess, why is your face so red?” Ling Xiaolei asked.

“Ah?” Shen Zhaiguo jumped. “It’s nothing. It’s just… this is the first time a boy’s ever come to my house…” Her voice trailed off to a whisper.

“What are all these buttons for?” Hei Yu was examining a row of buttons on the wall by the table.

“Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and the fifth one calls the butler—Uncle Shen Mu,” the princess answered quietly.

“Five-star hotel service!”

“I told you, it’s not a hotel!” Ling Xiaolei shouted.

“What about this one?” Hei Yu pointed to another button.

“Hot spring water,” Shen Zhaiguo replied softly.

Hei Yu pressed it, and the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom.

“This is nothing like our dorms. I haven’t had a decent bath in days…” Hei Yu opened the bathroom door and began tossing his clothes out, one piece after another.