The incessant roar of machinery filled the air.
The flying bike’s four exhaust pipes spewed forth blue-green flames.
The wild wind was like a knife, and the city retreated as if in rewind.
"Ahhhh... slow down, Baiyu, it’s too fast, I can’t take it," Lan Ziyue pressed down her skirt, clutching Baiyu’s clothes tightly with both hands.
"If I slow down, it won’t feel exciting. Hold on tight, I’m about to sprint."
The energy level of the flying bike was directly adjusted to the maximum by Baiyu.
The pedal was floored, and a blue-green arc traced a comet-like path across the city.
"Up ahead is the outskirts, if we don’t stop, we’re going to end up in Jiujiang."
Lan Ziyue shouted a reminder.
The wind rushed into her mouth, making her voice mumble like she was holding an ice pop.
The roadside buildings turned into shadows.
Baiyu did not respond, instead floored the gas pedal again, accelerating once more.
The flying bike charged into the water without obstruction.
Instantly, four circular turbines expanded under its tires, spinning at high speed, and the large spray of water drenched both of their clothes in an instant.
Lan Ziyue clung to Baiyu for dear life, a high-pitched scream vibrating in her throat.
The sinking she anticipated did not happen.
The flying bike soared across the river like a white rainbow, leaped high, and landed smoothly on the land.
The tires skidded against the ground, leaving a ten-meter-long black skid mark.
Blue smoke billowed from under the tires.
Finally, it came to a stop.
Lan Ziyue was dripping wet, her skirt clinging to her skin, outlining her graceful figure.
In that moment, she thought she was going to die.
But now that it stopped, the thrill and exhilaration made her feel extremely invigorated.
It was like her soul had left her body.
She had cast off the long-standing burden.
Baiyu stopped and asked.
"Very... thrilling, just a little breathless. It feels like my whole body was flying."
Her cheeks were flushed red, a stark contrast to her usually serious demeanor.
"It’s good to relax a bit, burying yourself in hard studies isn’t always the best approach. Some proper relaxation can help, otherwise, being too tense can have negative effects."
Baiyu opened the flying bike’s thermal supply, slowly drying the water on their clothes.
Lan Ziyue bit her lower lip tightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s: "Thank you."
"No thanks necessary," Baiyu replied nonchalantly, getting back on the flying bike: "We’re having a school reunion over at Jiujiang today, want to come along?"
"I’ll skip your school reunion; this afternoon my master has tasks for me. I heard our teacher made a bet with your class teacher and lost. Best to steer clear for now."
Lan Ziyue shook her head.
"Alright, see you next time then."
As soon as he finished speaking,
the flying bike roared again and disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Sunlight shone through the river, scattering in pieces on the water.
Lan Ziyue couldn’t control the smile that appeared on her face, but she quickly suppressed it, returning to her previous domineering demeanor.
Lan Ziyue realized a very serious problem.
She seemed to have to walk back.
Outside Linjiang City, there was a Jiujiang River that flowed directly to the sea, encircling the city, serving as a natural moat.
The Jiangliu Lakefront was the section of water where Jiujiang entered the city.
Linjiang City derived its name from this feature.
The entire Jiujiang was a natural entertainment venue encircling Linjiang City.
Black markets, pleasure boats, fight rings, extraordinary items trading, a large influx of outsiders...
And policies allowing free access without residential permits.
All these made it a district just like the North District.
The only difference being.
This was purely a consumption and entertainment district, differing somewhat from the industrial area of the North District.
The entire riverbank was lined with various businesses.
Baiyu went straight to the location Ning Qian sent him, which was a relatively formal clean-water site, operating a restaurant and a karaoke business.
The school reunion went smoothly, and nothing unexpected happened.
Except that at the end, some of the female classmates hugged each other and cried together.
Everyone could actually feel it.
After this training camp, many people’s life trajectories would change.
In time, the gap would inevitably widen.
Meeting again might be on different social strata...
Opportunities for everyone to gather, sing, eat, and drink without worries, like today, would diminish the further they go.
Even if everyone was burying themselves in hard studies every day, high school was still the golden era.
The purest, clearest age was still this youthful and naive period.
"Brother Bai, I’m heading home first."
"Alright, be safe on the way."
The two walked out of the karaoke venue.
Ning Qian was very happy that Baiyu came to see her, cheerfully getting into the car driven by her old butler.
"Miss, the master has already inquired for you, this training course is relatively not too difficult.
He specially invited two Tier Five Martial Artists from Kyoto to help you with tutoring.
You’ll improve significantly within two months.
As long as you’re willing to study, getting into Kyoto Magic University shouldn’t be a problem.
But once you become a Martial Artist, you must be cautious, as the master and mistress can’t be by your side forever. If you don’t make it this time, just focus on inheriting the family business at home."
The old butler said inside the car.
Ning Qian nodded vigorously.
The sky was gradually darkening.
Baiyu didn’t leave directly; since he was already at the Jiangliu Lakefront of Jiujiang, he naturally needed to take a stroll.
The materials for the Ancient Quenching and Forging Technique weren’t fully purchased yet.
With over a million in his account now, he decided to buy them once and see if the effect was significant.
It was classified as a Rare Level Spirit Technique by the academic space, not likely to be fake.
Bone Tempering Pill, Skin Tempering Pill, Blood Tempering Pill weren’t particularly rare medicinal pills.
But not being rare didn’t mean they were cheap.
The raw materials for these three types of medicinal pills were all transported from the Shelter, with valuable prices, costing tens of thousands of Imperial Coins for a small bottle.
This was also a manifestation of the martial industry as a lucrative industry.
Only Martial Artists could enter and exit the Shelter to earn these expensive materials; many people earned wealth beyond an ordinary person’s lifetime in a single entry.
Most Martial Artists, who aimed to get rich quick and retire, ended up staying there forever on their first entry.
Baiyu visited several shops, finally managing to gather all the materials needed for the Ancient Quenching and Forging Technique.
It was his first time buying things here, and he didn’t know many rules, causing some delay.
"Head home first, not only to perform quenching and forging but also to set up that anti-spying ritual."
Baiyu walked toward the parking area.
But just as he passed through an alley, a few people quietly followed him, and others blocked the alley’s entrance.
There were about a dozen people in total, each wielding a steel pipe.
Because the reunion ended late and Baiyu spent half the day buying materials, it was already late, and the streetlights were old and dim.
He didn’t expect to encounter trouble after the reunion went smoothly.
These people were all Sub-humans.