37: Chapter 37 Leaving

Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle.

Canglan Base, District C.

This was a residential area for the middle class; although it lacked the luxury of District A, it was filled with a warm, lived-in atmosphere.

In front of a townhouse, a streetlamp stretched Su Yu's shadow long across the ground.

He wore simple casual clothes and held no expensive gifts in his hands; he just stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on that familiar door with a hint of nervousness.

This was his first time coming to see her in the capacity of a "Great Grandmaster," yet he felt even more nervous than when facing a Beast King.

"Click." The door opened.

A young girl wearing a pale blue dress walked out.

Tonight, Xu Lele had clearly dressed up with great care.

Her long dress was like a lake under the moonlight, the hem swaying gently with the breeze.

Her long hair was pinned up with a jade hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging by her ears, making her look gentle and moving.

She did not wear her usual high ponytail, nor did she wear those capable-looking martial arts outfits.

At this moment, she had shed the toughness of a Martial Artist, leaving only the tenderness of a young girl.

"You're here."

Xu Lele stood on the steps, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her skirt, her voice very soft.

"Yeah, I'm here."

Su Yu looked at her, his throat feeling a bit dry.

The two stood there quietly, neither speaking.

The surrounding air seemed to grow thick, carrying a faint trace of sorrowful parting.

Previously, the admission letters had been issued.

Su Yu was admitted to Imperial Capital Martial Arts University without any suspense; it was the political and martial arts center of the northernmost part of the Federation.

Although Xu Lele had also worked very hard, her talent was limited, and she was ultimately admitted to a key martial arts university in Jiangnan.

One in the north, one in the south.

Separated by tens of thousands of kilometers.

In this era of high martial arts, where there were spaceships but heavy academic burdens, this was not just a long-distance relationship; it was a dividing line between two worlds.

"...Are you leaving?" Xu Lele broke the silence first, lowering her head, not daring to look into Su Yu's eyes.

"Yeah." Su Yu nodded, walked up the steps, and came to stand before her.

"I'm leaving in three days. Dad said I should go early to adapt to the environment."

"Oh..." Xu Lele's voice sounded a bit downcast.

"Then... congratulations. Beijing Martial Arts University is the best school; you will definitely become a very powerful Martial Artist in the future."

"Lele." Su Yu suddenly interrupted her.

He reached out and gently lifted Xu Lele's chin, making her look into his eyes.

"This is only a temporary separation."

The youth's eyes were clear and firm, as if they held the stars and the sea.

"I will work hard to Cultivate and become very, very strong.

When I reach that height, no matter where you are, I will be able to appear before you in an instant."

"Besides... communication is so advanced now, we can video call every day."

Upon hearing this somewhat blunt remark, the tears that had been swirling in Xu Lele's eyes finally couldn't help but fall, yet the corners of her mouth curled into a beautiful arc.

"Idiot... who wants to video call you every day? I'm very busy."

She sniffled and broke into a smile through her tears.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she took a delicate little box out of her pocket and handed it to Su Yu.

"This... is for you."

Su Yu took the box and opened it.

Inside was a hand-woven dark blue bracelet with a complex knot, showing that the weaver had put a lot of thought into it.

In the middle of the bracelet hung a small piece of jade, engraved with a delicate character: "Le."

"This is a 'Peace Knot' I wove myself," Xu Lele said, her face blushing.

"I heard from the elders that wearing it can ward off disaster.

You're going so far away to the capital... I hope it can bring you good luck."

Su Yu looked at the bracelet, a warm current surging in his heart.

It was worthless.

It wasn't even a fraction of the cost of one of the C-grade nutrient solutions he usually used.

But in his eyes, this was more precious than any Earth Rank divine weapon or Heaven And Earth Treasure.

"Thank you."

Su Yu solemnly put the bracelet on his left wrist, right where his pulse beat.

"I will always wear it.

Just like... how you are always by my side."

Hearing this "love confession," Xu Lele's face turned completely red in an instant, like a ripe apple.

She suddenly stood on her tiptoes.

Before Su Yu could react, a kiss as light as a feather landed on his cheek.

"This is also... for you."

After saying this, the young girl, like a startled little deer, turned and ran into the house, closing the door with a "bang."

Leaving only Su Yu standing in the wind, touching his kissed cheek and smiling foolishly.

When he returned to Cloud Peak Manor, it was already late at night.

Su Wu stood on the second-floor balcony, watching his son walk back with a silly grin on his face and a faint red mark on his cheek, and shook his head helplessly.

"This kid, no ambition."

"It's just a kiss, right? Back in the day, your father..."

Su Wu's words trailed off halfway, and he suddenly stopped.

He remembered twenty years ago, on a night just as star-studded as this one.

That breathtakingly beautiful woman named Lin Waner had also kissed him just as shyly, and then made a promise of a lifetime.

"Waner..."

Su Wu looked up at the vast starry sky, a flash of deep, etched-in longing passing through his eyes.

"Our son has grown up.

He has not only become a Great Grandmaster, but he also has a girl he likes."

"Can you see it?"

"Wait for me a little longer... soon, I will be able to bring him to see you."

Su Wu took a deep breath, reined in the tenderness in his eyes, and put on that firm expression once again.

"Depart in three days."

"Target—Yanjing Base!"

"It's also time to go and meet that so-called Federation center, and see just how many monsters and demons are lurking there."

Three days later, Cloud Peak Manor was locked up tight.

An S-class interstellar shuttle bearing the emblem of Imperial Capital Martial Arts University slowly lifted off from the port of Canglan Base.

Su Yu leaned against the porthole, watching the city below grow smaller and smaller, watching the home that had carried his memories for over a decade.

Although there was reluctance in his eyes, there was even more longing for the future.

Meanwhile, Su Wu sat on the leather sofa in the first-class cabin, resting his eyes.