Chapter 431 - 222: Yuna’s Heart (2)
Resentment, despair, confusion...
"I’m too weak. I don’t know how to fight."
"I can’t traverse heaven and earth like Lu Cang, and I don’t have the strength to fight Demons. I’m probably so weak I couldn’t even beat a single Slime."
"For me, acquiring more knowledge is everything."
Lu Cang felt he had said the wrong thing. ’Maybe I shouldn’t have put it like that.’
A moment ago, he had only been trying to give a reasonable excuse for his trip, and that phrase from his past life about theory and practice needing to be combined just happened to come to mind.
So he just blurted it out.
’I feel like my words hurt her feelings.’
"Yuna..."
Yuna’s voice was quiet. "Lu Cang, the truth is... I’ve always envied you."
"I was so happy the first time we discussed Demonology together."
"I felt like I’d finally found a friend I could share my interests with... All the subjects and all the knowledge we researched together felt so new and fascinating to me."
"I’ve never been that happy before."
"I never knew that studying a subject with another person could be so much fun."
"But I also gradually came to realize something."
"That your world... is so much bigger than mine..."
"It’s like the whole world needs you, and you can go anywhere in the world."
"You’re a Root Mage, an Extreme Intent Warrior, and even a Decryption Scholar who can unravel all kinds of Secrets. On top of all that, you defeated a legendary Divine Spirit..."
"You even prophesied the destruction of the Secret Sea."
"It feels like there’s nothing you can’t do."
"Compared to you, I’ve just been studying in the White Tower. I haven’t actually done anything."
This feeling was familiar.
He seemed to recall sensing this same emotion from Xu Zhou.
Lu Cang didn’t let Yuna continue. Just as she was about to say something else, he took both of her hands.
Yuna was startled by Lu Cang’s sudden action. Her spirits, which had been sinking, were now in turmoil...
But Lu Cang’s expression was serious as his eyes met hers.
Lu Cang cut her off, saying, "Yuna, that’s not it. I’m not that great, and the world doesn’t need me."
"Everything I do, I’m just doing what I enjoy."
"Everyone has things they’re good at and things they’re not, things they like and things they don’t..."
"I’m very interested in this world, so I want to explore it in my own way. That’s all there is to it."
"Yuna."
"You don’t have to pursue your interests the same way everyone else does."
"Even if Planters and Gatherers don’t hunt Demons, they can still find joy in the act of harvesting. That in itself is a form of exploration, isn’t it?"
"In the White Tower, there are plenty of people who aren’t Scholars but are still passionate about learning about this world," Lu Cang said with a faint smile.
"After all, I’m one of them."
"I feel like you don’t need to worry about what others are doing. You just need to be yourself."
"You don’t have to traverse heaven and earth, and you don’t need to vanquish or defeat anyone... You don’t even have to practice everything firsthand. You just need to do what you want to do, in your own way."
"And you don’t have to force yourself to do things you’re not good at, right?"
"Even I have to rely on others for many things."
"For example, when it comes to understanding academic subjects, I still have to rely on you to help me. I learn way too slowly on my own."
"When it comes to fighting, on the other hand... there aren’t many people in this world who can help me."
After saying this, Lu Cang couldn’t help but chuckle.
’I’ve spent too much time with Iz. I’m starting to pick up his insolence.’
"Lu Cang..." Yuna said softly.
"Yuna, are you saying you actually want to switch to a Battle Profession?"
"Hmm—well, if you really want to, you can give it a try. It would just be a bit troublesome for you to switch Professions now."
Yuna shook her head. "No... I don’t want to. I don’t like fighting."
Lu Cang smiled. "If you don’t want to, then there’s no need to worry about it."
"Besides, I also think it’s a lot of fun studying all sorts of strange subjects with you."
"And I think that you, right now, are already more incredible than most people."
Yuna felt her heart beating very fast.
It was like the thundering drum of a Warrior’s Combat Skill.
Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.
Lu Cang’s gaze shifted to the book on Yuna’s desk.
"Oh! Are you reading about Oceanography today?"
"Actually, after exploring the Secret Sea a while back, I’ve become really interested in the Ocean myself."
"Yuna, I want to learn more about the Ocean, too. You’re probably the person I know who understands it best. Could you teach me?" Lu Cang asked with sincere earnestness.
The light that had slightly faded from Yuna’s eyes gradually returned, and they grew clear again.
A faint blush spread across her fair, delicate cheeks.
She didn’t say anything more or give any further response, just lowered her head and gave a tiny nod.
"Mm..."
...
It was true that Lu Cang wanted to learn about the Ocean.
After being killed by the Secret Sea twice, Lu Cang had finally realized that it was better to get a clear understanding of Oceanography than to continue exploring blindly.
At the same time, Lu Cang couldn’t help but reflect.
Yuna might be a Scholar, but she was still just a kid at heart.
’She’s so sensitive.’
’She gets competitive when she feels she isn’t as good as others, and gets sulky when a friend doesn’t spend time with her for a while.’
It couldn’t help but remind Lu Cang of his past life, back when he was a little kid. He would get upset whenever he saw his best friend having a good time playing with someone else.
He and Yuna studied Oceanography from morning all the way until the afternoon.
He had to say goodbye to Yuna in the afternoon because he had an appointment with Tang Rui to learn Root Magic.