Lin Fei walked along the stone path flanked by bamboo groves. Beyond the swaying bamboo, the outlines of houses gradually came into view. Before long, a familiar voice rang out from the end of the path.
"Lin Fei!"
Li Chen rushed out from one of the houses, threw an arm around his shoulders, and looked him up and down several times. "You finally made it! I've been worried sick these past two days! What happened to you? You fell into the Spring of Eternal Youth—we thought you…"
"I'm fine," Lin Fei said with a smile. "In fact, I turned misfortune into a blessing."
"A blessing?" Li Chen froze.
Lowering his voice, Lin Fei leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear.
Li Chen's eyes widened more and more, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg. "Foundation Establishment? You?!"
"Keep it down!" Lin Fei made a shushing gesture.
Li Chen lowered his voice, but his face still brimmed with shock and envy. "My god… Lin Fei, that's insane. How did you even do that?"
Lin Fei gave a helpless laugh. "I don't know either. The principal said it might be because my spiritual power is pure wood attribute—it reacted to the spring water and accelerated my inner cultivation."
"Lin Fei, you're a genius at cultivation," Li Chen said, patting his shoulder with a sigh of admiration.
At that moment, Elder Jiang, Granny Liu, Master Sun, and several senior brothers walked out from the houses. The three elders looked at Lin Fei with slightly complicated expressions.
Lin Fei greeted them one by one and bowed to Elder Jiang. "Elder, the principal is still speaking with Dean Feng. He sent me back first."
Elder Jiang nodded. "Are you feeling better?"
"I'm fully recovered."
Granny Liu stepped forward and took his pulse, then nodded. "I'll prepare a tonic decoction for you over the next few days. Take it daily to stabilize your foundation."
Zhao Wuji, who had followed them out, exclaimed in surprise, "A foundation-strengthening tonic? Junior brother, did your cultivation surge after soaking in the Spring of Eternal Youth?"
Lin Fei smiled awkwardly. "Yes… I've made a bit of progress."
"Kid, you've had your body completely reforged by that spring," Zhao Wuji said, patting his back. "If I'd known, I'd have jumped in too."
Master Sun smacked Zhao Wuji lightly. "Don't talk nonsense. Not everyone can withstand the Spring of Eternal Youth, and the people of the Longevity Hall wouldn't let you in so easily."
"I was just joking, Master Sun."
Elder Jiang's expression turned serious. "Enough of this. We are guests here—mind your words. The Spring of Eternal Youth is a sacred site of Yunmeng. Being allowed to see it and even drink from it is already a rare privilege. Do not speak of it lightly."
"Yes, Elder," everyone responded in unison.
After that, Lin Fei returned to his room. It wasn't until evening that the principal came back and gave instructions: starting tomorrow, they would begin a month-long exchange study at Yunze Academy. Students of each grade would be paired in twos and assigned to corresponding classes.
…
Early the next morning, Lin Fei went with the others to the academy on Yunlan Island.
He and Li Chen attended class with the first-year students in a spacious lecture hall. The hall stood by the water, with windows on three sides. Outside, the lake shimmered under the breeze, carrying the fragrance of lotus flowers into the room.
The instructor was an elder surnamed Lü, over fifty, with a lean face but exceptionally bright eyes. Dressed in a gray-white robe, he stood at the front and spoke slowly:
"Spiritual power is like water. It can surge like a torrent or flow like a gentle stream. While cultivation level is important, what truly distinguishes a master from the mediocre is whether one can precisely control and direct spiritual power throughout the body."
He paused, his gaze falling on the lake outside.
"For example—how to stand on water."
The Yunze Academy students appeared calm, clearly used to such teachings. But Lin Fei and Li Chen had never heard elders at their own academy speak of this technique.
Elder Lü walked to the window and leapt out onto the lake. With his hands behind his back, he strolled forward as if walking on solid ground—just as Lin Fei had once seen Shen Qing Shuang do among the lotus.
"Condense your spiritual power at the soles of your feet," Elder Lü explained. "Let it act upon the water to support your weight." He glanced down. "The output must be steady—not too much—"
Suddenly, ripples spread beneath his feet, his body rising and falling.
"Too much disrupts the water's balance. But it must not be too little—"
He sank slightly, the water reaching his knees.
"Too little, and you sink. You must find the perfect balance—neither more nor less. That is precise control."
He rose again, standing firmly on the surface, his robe and trousers below the knees completely dry.
Looking back at the students, he asked, "Who would like to try?"
Several Yunze students eagerly raised their hands, but Elder Lü's gaze swept across the room and settled on Lin Fei and Li Chen.
"You two must be the exchange students from Jumu Academy?" he asked, gesturing for them.
They both froze for a moment before replying, "Yes."
"Why don't you give it a try?"
The two exchanged a glance, nodded, and leapt out the window to the lakeside.
Elder Lü smiled. "You're both first-year students, I assume? Already at the Qi Refinement stage?"
"Yes," Li Chen answered. Lin Fei nodded as well, not elaborating on his true cultivation level.
Elder Lü stroked his beard. "Though this technique is subtle, many of our first-year students have already mastered it before enrollment, having grown up around water. Jumu lacks such rivers and lakes, so you'll need some time to adapt."
The Yunze students crowded by the windows, watching like spectators.
"Don't fall in!" someone shouted with a laugh.
"Remember—gather your spiritual power at your feet," Elder Lü instructed.
Lin Fei circulated his energy. His spiritual power flowed smoothly from his dantian through his meridians, gathering at the Yongquan points beneath his feet. He lifted one foot and stepped onto the water. At first, ripples surged violently beneath him.
He adjusted the flow, gradually reducing the disturbance. When the ripples calmed, he placed his foot firmly down and stood steadily on the surface.
Soft murmurs of surprise rose from the lecture hall.
He lifted his other foot onto the lake. Ripples spread again, but he adjusted once more, carefully finding the balance. At last, he stood just like Elder Lü—motionless on the water, without a single ripple.
Elder Lü stared at him in astonishment. "Have you learned this technique before?"
Lin Fei shook his head. "This is my first time hearing your instruction today."
"A prodigy—truly a prodigy!" Elder Lü exclaimed.
He then turned to Li Chen. Li Chen, however, was far less successful. Though he managed to stand briefly, the water churned wildly beneath him. Soon, he lost his balance and fell into the lake in a splash, looking utterly bedraggled. Laughter and gasps echoed from the hall.
Unwilling to give up, Li Chen stood back up and tried again—only to fail once more.
Seeing his growing frustration, Elder Lü advised gently, "Do not rush. This is normal for a first attempt. With practice, you'll master it like your companion."
Li Chen glanced at Lin Fei, who stood effortlessly on the water. For the first time, Lin Fei saw a trace of unwillingness in his expression.
…
After class, Lin Fei asked Li Chen to return to Guanlan Island together.
"You go ahead," Li Chen shook his head. "I want to practice this technique a bit more."
"You can practice back on Guanlan Island too."
"No. I want somewhere quiet."
"Are you upset? It's your first time—of course you won't get it right immediately."
"Didn't you do it perfectly on your first try?" Li Chen said seriously. "I have to work harder, or you'll leave me far behind."
With that, he walked off, disappearing somewhere to continue training.
Left with no choice, Lin Fei returned alone.
He walked through the academy toward the dock. By the time he arrived, the sun was already setting, casting golden light across the lake. The reeds swayed gently in the evening breeze, rustling softly.
Several small boats floated by the shore.
Lin Fei stood there, looking toward the faint outline of Guanlan Island across the water, considering whether to try his new technique.
At that moment, a small boat emerged slowly from the reeds.
Seated inside was a girl—Shen Qing Shuang.
She wore her usual blue-and-white dress, her long hair tied high with a white ribbon. The boat was filled with medicinal herbs, both fresh and dried.
"Senior Sister Shen!" Lin Fei waved.
She guided the boat to the shore and paused slightly upon seeing him.
"Waiting for a boat?" she asked coolly.
Lin Fei shook his head. "I was thinking how to get back." He glanced at the lake. "I wanted to try walking on water, but…"
"But what?"
"What if I fall in and no one's there to pull me out?"
She looked at him. The corner of her lips seemed to move slightly, though she did not smile.
She tapped the pole into the water, steadying the boat. "Get on."
Lin Fei blinked, then quickly jumped aboard. The boat swayed, but this time he steadied himself without stumbling.
Without another glance at him, she pushed off, and the boat drifted toward Guanlan Island.
The lake was calm as a mirror, reflecting the golden hues of sunset. Shen Qing Shuang stood at the bow, silently steering. The herbs lay neatly arranged behind her, a few leaves blown into the water by the breeze.
"Senior Sister Shen," Lin Fei finally spoke.
"Mm."
"What's your cultivation level?"
She didn't answer.
After a moment, she asked instead, "And you? How old are you? What level are you?"
Caught off guard, Lin Fei replied, "I'm almost twelve—one year younger than you." Then, a hint of pride crept into his voice. "I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage."
He waited for her reaction.
But she simply said, "Mm."
After a pause, she added, "I'm at the Body Tempering stage."
Lin Fei was stunned. That put her at the same level as Huang Su. The pride he had just felt vanished instantly.
"So… you're actually stronger than me," he said with a sheepish laugh.
"Does strength matter that much?" she asked.
"Isn't a higher level proof that we're stronger?"
"And what can you do with that strength?"
"I can defeat many people… and accomplish many things."
"Can it bring back the family you've lost? Your parents, for example?"
Lin Fei fell silent.
He had never known his parents. Her words struck him like a hammer.
After a long pause, he asked softly, "Then why do you cultivate?"
Her pole paused midair.
"To protect the people I care about," she said quietly.
"Who do you want to protect?"
"My grandmother."
"And your parents?"
Her pole remained still.
After a long silence, she said calmly, "I've never met my mother. She left when I was very young. As for my father…" She paused. "I don't know who he is."
Lin Fei froze.
They were the same.
An unspoken loneliness, a shared emptiness—he saw his own reflection in her.
A faint resonance stirred in his heart, like a small light flickering in the dark.
They said nothing more.
Dusk deepened. The golden sky faded into soft violet.
"We're almost there," she said.
The boat reached the shore. Lin Fei jumped off and turned to thank her, but she had already begun to leave.
"Senior Sister Shen!"
She turned.
"I'm an orphan too," Lin Fei said earnestly. "I was raised by my uncle. I've never seen my parents either."
She paused.
"But I think…" he continued, voice steady, "if they knew I've grown strong enough to protect myself, they would be happy."
The wind rustled through the reeds.
She looked at him, something shifting faintly in her usually calm eyes.
She said nothing, only pushed the boat away.
Lin Fei stood on the dock, watching her disappear into the reeds, her figure glowing faintly in the fading light.
He turned and walked back toward the houses.
After a few steps, he heard a faint sound behind him—
"…Mm."
Soft as the wind across water, gone in an instant.
He stopped and looked back.
Only ripples remained on the quiet lake.