Critique

Lois didn't remain at the scene—not because she was trying to run away herself, but because she wanted Xiu to make a run for it. As institutions for cultivating sorcerers, universities couldn't and wouldn't prevent violent clashes between students. Even if a sorcerer pursued an academic path, they still had to condense sorcery power and acquire resources through adventures in the Void Realm. To hone one's combat skills, there was no better way than engaging in "area-restricted" and "low-intensity (non-lethal)" competitive contests in reality, and a university was naturally the most suitable stage for that. Different universities had different rules. The most lenient, such as Linglan University, allowed anything so long as no one died—no docked credits, no penalties. As a result, the campus was practically carved up by several major student societies, resembling a jungle where the strong preyed upon the weak and the weak became the prize of the powerful. If one didn't want to get bullied, they had to conquer Linglan and stand at the top. Linglan University had an abysmal reputation, ranking near the bottom of the Jialesi University League, with almost exclusively commoners enrolling there. Yet among the high-ranking adventurers of the Abyss sequence, sorcerers who hailed from Linglan accounted for a full third. Furthermore, statistics showed that over the past century, the number of Sanctuary sorcerers produced by Linglan University was actually second only to Truth University—though still, only desperate commoners and hot-headed fools ever went there. Truth University had the strictest rules: every battle required applying for a professor to supervise, regardless of the reason. Violators had academic credits deducted, and repeat offenders were directly expelled. However, Truth University had a "Combat Power Ranking for Each Year"; defeating opponents through official channels yielded more resources and privileges, so whenever prodigies had conflicts, they never fought in private—they settled it on the arena stage! Yet that was a tactic only Truth University could pull off. It alone absorbed two-thirds of the city's educational funding, so naturally it could afford to let some trickle down to its students. Sword Flower University relied mainly on donations from noble alumni and had no money to run a "Combat Power Ranking," so its rules were somewhat more lenient: in a battle without a professor present, the instigator would lose credits. If one party explicitly refused to fight and the aggressor still attacked, the aggressor would be expelled, and the incident would be reported to law enforcement as intentional assault! Sword Flower University was, after all, an aristocratic institution. If hot-blooded sorcerers wanted to trade blows, that was fine, but bullying was strictly forbidden. If its reputation soured, who would ever want their children to wear the elegant, beautiful Sword Flower badge? Because of this, Lois and the others weren't afraid of clashing with Iris; none of the three cared about course credits. But fighting was one thing, and killing was quite another! For one, they only wanted to teach Iris a lesson—even throwing her into East Lake had just been talk, since East Lake was completely frozen over and at most she would get drenched in icy water. For another, this was their own dispute, and there was no reason to let a stranger take the fall. "You aren't even a Sword Flower student, and you don't know us," Lois said, her temper flaring the more she spoke. "Why did you have to butt into our business? If you killed someone, did you think we'd be happy about it?" "I was confident that it was loaded with blanks," Xiu said in an even, gentle tone. "I only did it because I knew it was safe. After all, when it comes down to it, this is just a dispute between students. Of course I wouldn't let it become fatal." "Do you even realize who you offended? Iris is the daughter of Count Temo! We don't have to be afraid because we're sorcerers, but you're neither a sorcerer nor a citizen of Jialesi. It would be trivially easy for them to make trouble for you within the law! For instance, right now Jialesi is strictly screening everyone who enters and leaves. Since you're an outsider, Iris's family could have the Police Department expel you under the strictest regulations!" "That does sound a bit troublesome..." Xiu blinked. "Though I'm only staying in Jialesi for a few days before I leave, so it doesn't really matter." "You..." His casual attitude only worried Lois more. Xiu offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I don't regret helping you. Not because she was detestable, but because you deserved the help. "If even kindness can't find assistance, who will still believe in the glory of justice?" Lois stared at him blankly, feeling utterly helpless. "We hardly count as kind or just..." Just then, the others caught up. Adele slapped Xiu on the back with a grin. "You're amazing, man! Iris completely humiliated herself this time! Well done!" "Adele!" Lois glared at her sharply. "Iris isn't usually the type to lose her temper so easily. If she got so furious she pulled a handgun, isn't it because you provoked her?!" "She was the one who pulled a gun, so why are you scolding me?!" Adele pouted. "How was I supposed to know she had a gun..." "At least this time it wasn't really Adele's fault. When she had a sharp tongue, she actually had reason on her side, unlike her usual shameless sophistry," Ingrid said. "Iris acted out mostly because she can't handle losing. People with pride like hers will use any weapon they can find to defend their pride, just like the villainous nobles in plays." "While I appreciate you defending me, Ingrid, your insults cut deeper than Lois's..." Adele said, her expression conflicted. She nudged Xiu with her elbow. "Thanks. It's really thanks to your help this time, or who knows how this would have ended." She let out a sigh, shoving her hands into her pockets. "If I'd known, I would've just pretended not to see that loudmouth. My whole day's ruined..." "Why would you feel bad?" Xiu asked. "You did your best to defend your friend's dignity and held the moral high ground. Even if the university might punish you, your classmates around you will surely praise your actions. At the very least..." "Ladies, you've shown me the elegance and beauty of the Sword Flower." Xiu clapped his hands lightly, gazing at them with a smile in his eyes. In that instant, even the surrounding light seemed to brighten. "You did wonderfully today. Milk tea is on me later." Adele answered immediately, "Building 21, Room 303! If I don't see that milk tea today, I'm going to badmouth you to your girlfriend every single day!" "Adele!" Lois gave Adele a hard smack to the back of her head. "Still, you could have done even better," Xiu mused. "Take this lady, for instance..." "My name is Adele, she's Lois, and this is Ingrid!" Adele introduced them at once. "Except for me, neither of them has a boyfriend!" "Adele!" Lois looked ready to pull off a sock and shove it in Adele's mouth, and even Ingrid looked slightly embarrassed. "Right, Miss Lois, for example," Xiu continued, completely unfazed, asking seriously, "You're a sorcerer, so why didn't you help just now?" "Because Ingrid was in combat, and we generally aren't allowed to gang up on someone..." "I know, but you could have condensed an effect from your sorcery spirits, just like Miss Adele did with her water sphere. That would have been enough to effectively deter the two of them. Even if they knew you wouldn't strike, they would still have had to spare some attention for your side, which would have significantly eased Miss Ingrid's burden." Xiu advised, "Yours was an encounter battle, not an official duel, and Miss Ingrid's opponent was a Two-Wing sorcerer far stronger than her. Increasing your side's chances of victory within the rules wouldn't draw blame to such beautiful young ladies, would it? "Furthermore," Xiu's tone suddenly grew stern, "when Miss Ingrid was in danger just now, your first instinct was actually to rush forward. That was extremely dangerous. Not only would you have been injured alongside her, but your actions could have distracted her and caused her miracle to fail—under those circumstances, you nearly got her killed! You gave me the impression of being calm and intelligent, yet when an emergency arose, you were the most reckless of all!" Lois was left speechless by his words. Ingrid couldn't help but speak up, "Lois was only worried about me..." "Don't be tense." Xiu smiled gently, and the atmosphere instantly relaxed. "I don't think that's a bad thing... because I'm that sort of person myself, always acting with my body before my brain. I'm not telling you to change either. Since it's your nature, follow your instincts. "Miss Lois, I think you could develop toward defensive miracles. The water sorcery faction also suits your gentle exterior and resilient core. That way, even if you act on impulse next time, you can still serve as a shield for your friends." Lois had actually made career plans long ago. Both her family and the university believed she would do best on the path of a healing water sorcerer, which was well-suited for transitioning into cosmetic medicine or serving as an impressive credential for marriage. Yet Xiu analyzed her character traits with such reason and clarity, his words carrying an innate charm that inspired conviction. Gazing into those expressive eyes, she nodded almost subconsciously. "I'll consider it." "And then there's Miss Adele..." "You can just call me by my name," Adele said generously. "After all, we're on milk-tea-buying terms now!" "Alright, Adele." Xiu smiled. "I think you might have chosen the wrong sorcery faction. The mind faction might suit you better." "Huh?" Adele blinked in surprise. "Aren't mind sorcerers all scheming, calculating villains? Like swindlers and fraudsters?" "Well, generally speaking, that's true..." Xiu seemed momentarily lost in thought. Pausing, he continued, "But that's because mind sorcerers can more easily sense the emotions in people's hearts. Exposed to too many ugly feelings, they close themselves off. That doesn't mean they're cold inside. On the contrary, mind sorcerers are sentimental folk with passionate hearts concealed beneath their aloofness. "They're just too timid—so timid that they're afraid to even touch a marshmallow, terrified that it might prick them." Adele nodded repeatedly as she listened. "I really am a sentimental, melancholic maiden." "You have a keen instinct for uncovering people's sore spots," Xiu said with a chuckle. "You can sense what the other person wants to avoid and what they want to hide. You're practically a natural-born mind hunter. Whether in psychotherapy or on the battlefield, there's ample room for you to shine." "Really?" Adele felt her heart flutter. "Flattering me won't get you out of buying us milk tea, you know! Though I can treat you back next time." Xiu looked toward Ingrid. "As for Ingrid..." "A truly splendid fight." He gave her a thumbs-up. "Some might think your movements are too standard and lack fluidity, but standards forged through relentless training possess a power capable of sweeping away everything in their path. You chose the path best suited to you, though it's likely also the most arduous. Your victory just now might have been a miracle, but it was by no means a fluke!" Ingrid stared at him in a daze, feeling as if a chord deep within her had been struck. It wasn't that she had never received praise—she was one of the top students in the Swordsmanship Department, after all. Yet no one had ever seen through her movements to perceive the accumulated effort of her days and nights, the sweat of her disciplined perseverance, or her daring, arrogant ambition. She didn't like the flashy, ornate sword arts of today. She wanted to walk the ancient swordsman's path and prove to the world that even without unique sorcery spirits, a sword sorcerer forged through relentless training could sever all arts! She had never shared that thought with anyone, and right now it was merely a fledgling ambition, because she knew how foolish it sounded... Yet even though she hadn't said a word, someone had seen straight into her heart, even after knowing her for less than half an hour. Averting her gaze, Ingrid held her left arm with her right hand and said softly, "Thank you..."