Chapter 120 - 119: Xu Bamboo’s Soul-Searching
Feeling like he wouldn’t gain anything from P.E. class, he decided to use his special privilege.
He discussed it with Xu Bamboo, and they left for the basement together.
The two of them sparred for a while, and while they were at it, he also gave some pointers to his eight beloved disciples.
With no special session for Huo Jun today, Yang Shen’s instruction was even more dedicated.
Afterward, it was also time for the "four-person study group."
The study group’s original purpose was to extend his time with Xu Bamboo, so he had spared no expense in setting it up.
But his mindset had shifted now. ’Call it a "top students’ group" or just a study group, whatever.’
It was still somewhat useful.
And as long as Xu Bamboo didn’t quit, he wouldn’t give up. It was all about being there for her.
Ten hours at school during the day and two hours after school ended. Xu Bamboo spent half of her day under Yang Shen’s watch, just in case anything unexpected happened.
As for Huang Gang and Zhao Mengmeng? They were just there for moral support.
Having not been there for a few days, Xu Bamboo and the others discovered the Celestial Platform had completely changed.
The new Spirit Field’s layout piqued the trio’s curiosity. Of course, high schoolers wouldn’t recognize what it was; they just thought Yang Shen had a rather artistic side.
’Getting into horticulture in high school!’
Huang Gang squatted down for a closer look. "These aren’t High Source plants, are they?"
"I guess you could say that," Yang Shen said casually.
"Then... can I have a bite?"
Yang Shen was speechless. "Why don’t you just go eat raw meat? If gnawing on medicinal herbs actually worked, doctors and pharmaceutical companies would go out of business. Eating them raw is not only incredibly ineffective, it also comes with all kinds of side effects."
’If you could just chew on them, don’t you think I would’ve done it already?!’
They went through their usual study group material, and after the two hours were up, Yang Shen asked Xu Bamboo to stay behind.
The sky outside had already darkened, but for Xu Bamboo, her long night was just beginning.
She still had to go to the gym for extra training until 11 p.m., then head home for her humanities homework until 1 a.m., followed by Body Forging until 4 a.m., before finally waking up at 7 a.m.
Frankly, without the convenience of using Cultivation to replace sleep, even Yang Shen would have a breakdown on a schedule like that.
But Xu Bamboo had been following this routine for nearly three years.
She occasionally felt tired, but never bitter. Because she, too, was striving for something, and she hadn’t lost her drive yet.
A young man’s spirit is often a fiery burst, while a young woman’s is a long, steady flame.
In fact, Yang Shen had long suspected that Xu Bamboo’s Life Chart might be a result of her extreme exhaustion.
But looking back now... after getting to know more people, he realized everyone was caught up in a ruthless rat race.
Wasn’t Yuan Rui exhausted? He only slept four hours a day, too.
Wasn’t Tian Zihan exhausted? Poor Zihan had already been sacrificed to the academic gods.
Cao Wei’s schedule was almost identical to Xu Bamboo’s. They were both VIPs at the same ridiculously expensive gym and often ran into each other after school.
As a former underachiever, Yang Shen had felt exhausted just looking at Xu Bamboo’s airtight schedule.
But looking at it now, he saw that not a single top student had it easy. Especially in the final stretch before the college entrance exams, they were all finalists in the rat race championship.
Xu Bamboo was in excellent health; that had been confirmed many times. ’So it can’t be simply due to exhaustion...’
’After thinking it over, it seemed more likely to be a terrible stroke of luck, but that was impossible to prevent...’
When it was just the two of them, Xu Bamboo would become more gentle and dependent, revealing a softer side than any of her classmates ever saw.
She was now holding a watering can, tending to the Spirit Field with keen interest. Her uniform pants were rolled up to her knees, revealing a pair of immaculately fair calves.
Straight, slender, and fair... they seemed to glow faintly in the evening light.
"Shenzi! Can these flowers really survive just being left out on the Celestial Platform like this? I heard potted plants are really delicate; they die if they get too much sun or not enough."
Yang Shen replied, "If they don’t survive, Huang Gang will go bungee jumping and eat shit."
’Thank goodness for Huang Gang and his new proxy-eating service. Now I can make wild vows, too.’
’Huang Gang wouldn’t mind. He might even get a secret thrill out of it.’
Xu Bamboo giggled. "So, why did you ask me to stay?"
Yang Shen spread his hands. "What else? To treat you to some good stuff, of course!"
As he spoke, he took out two Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills, giving one to Xu Bamboo and keeping one for himself.
As a top-tier medicine for Nurturing one’s Marrow Refining, its effects were quite gentle, but it tangibly optimized the aptitude and foundation of a Martial Artist in the Marrow Refining Realm.
Xu Bamboo swallowed it in one gulp.
Yang Shen took his as well, then said, "Come on, I’ve got something else good for you to drink."
Confused, Xu Bamboo let Yang Shen pull her by the sleeve back into the stairwell. There, she watched as he started messing with a pickle jar in the corner.
It was only when he lifted the plastic sheet that Xu Bamboo realized there was a large stone underneath.
The stone’s surface was smooth and slightly concave, holding a pool of clear water.
Yang Shen stepped aside and said to Xu Bamboo, "Take a look. It’s as clear as a mirror."
’He was afraid Zhuzi wouldn’t want to drink this unknown liquid.’
Xu Bamboo didn’t understand, but she peered over curiously.
Despite the dim lightbulb in the stairwell, the water still reflected a fair, lovely face.
Her ear-length hair, dark as a raven’s wing against snow, made the shells of her ears look translucent and pink.
Her brows were as if painted with ink, her lips like cherries.
At the same time, Yang Shen received feedback from the Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror.
Xu Bamboo held the "Jianghuai Yang Family" in extremely high regard.
The Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror didn’t give standardized, numerical feedback, but rather a feeling.
If he had to put a number on it, if his own feeling was a 100, then Xu Bamboo’s was at least a 98 or 99—and it was all gentle goodwill, without a trace of malice.
Xu Bamboo stared into the Stone Mirror for quite a while, but Yang Shen didn’t interrupt, giving her more time.
’The Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror... gazing at one’s reflection in it can wash away distracting thoughts and strengthen one’s Dao Heart.’
What he didn’t know, however, was that when he had looked into it, he had merely felt a sense of calm as he zoned out.
But for Xu Bamboo, something else entirely was unknowingly surfacing in her mind...
Xu Bamboo... was actually drawn in, as if the water’s surface held countless stories.
...
"Xu Bamboo, you will stand by the door. You can cry, you can scream, but you are not to leave..."
"We’re not going anywhere. We’re staying right here in Jinshui County... This area will soon be absorbed into Jianghuai. You need to live where they can see you..."
"Your progress is still too slow. You’re already a junior in high school... All of life is just a fight to prove yourself."
"This is the latest drug from the Biological Domain. It can treat your headaches. Also, you slipped too much on the last monthly exam. The dosage needs to be increased. From now on, your sleeping hours will be from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Three hours is enough."
"That deskmate of yours... his grades seem to have improved recently? I don’t care if you’ve been helping him, but if I find out your own grades are slipping, I’m cutting back on your Supplements. You’ll take them at home, in front of me, from now on."
"If you still want to take an unlimited supply of Supplements to school every day, then you had better work harder..."
"Remember, Xu Bamboo... it’s all about proving yourself. You must get into Jiangti..."
...
"Zhuzi? Zhuzi?"
Yang Shen’s voice pulled Xu Bamboo back to reality.
His expression was grave. "Are... are you okay?"
It was as if she had been in a dream, one filled with leaden clouds and a drenching rain.
Xu Bamboo turned to look at Yang Shen, her eyes vacant. "...I think I just spaced out. It’s nothing, I’m fine..."
As she spoke, she subconsciously wiped the corner of her eye. A long, glistening tear track ran down her lovely cheek.
"Huh...? When did I..."
She looked at her damp fingers in disbelief.
Xu Bamboo turned her head away, trying to compose herself, but the tears wouldn’t stop falling.
Yang Shen reached out and put his arm around her shoulder.
Xu Bamboo shuddered and then went still.
After a long moment, she took a deep breath and said in a small, muffled voice, "Thank you..."
"Can you tell me... what you were thinking about just now?"
’This could very well be related to her Life Chart.’
Xu Bamboo shook her head. "I’m sorry, I don’t want to talk about it..."
The tall girl straightened up, her posture becoming ramrod-straight once more, as if the small, huddled figure squatting in the corner of the stairwell moments ago had been someone else entirely.
She had chosen once again to face everything, to "strive" for her own place in the world.
She had no time for self-pity.
"I’m going to be late for the gym... I have to go."
Yang Shen grabbed her hand and said earnestly, "Zhuzi, this is really important."
"It’s important to me, and it’s important to you, too. Tell me. I’ll listen patiently..."
Xu Bamboo suddenly smiled.
She reached out with two slender fingers and smoothed the furrow in his brow.
Her fingertips still held the lingering warmth and wetness of her tears.
"It’s nothing. Maybe after the college entrance exams, when all this is over... I’ll be willing to talk about it."
"Don’t worry about these unimportant little things. Right now, winning this competition is what matters most."
’When did it happen,’ she wondered, ’that I had to tilt my head up to look at Shenzi...?’
She was suddenly struck by an impulse—an impulse to stand on her tiptoes.
But in the end, she held back.
With a wave, her bright expression returned. Ignoring Yang Shen’s pleas for her to stay, she left.
==Portal==
[Monthly Ticket]