Chapter 388: This Fellow Student, Are You Okay?

The Cloudy Sky Gang made an unexpected public announcement: they had established a scholarship fund.

This fund was open to all senior high school graduates of Liuhe Base City, offering interest-free student loans for a period of six years. The loan amounts would be determined based on factors such as location, university, field of study, and family wealth, ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 star coins per semester.

The news spread like wildfire, and countless graduate families rejoiced. This announcement was nothing short of a miracle for families struggling with poverty. Many were moved to tears as they viewed the Cloudy Sky Gang as their savior. They wasted no time in submitting their applications.

The efficiency of the Cloudy Sky Gang was impressive. Those who passed the review process quickly received payment notifications. When they checked their accounts, the money was indeed there.

Liuhe Base City had thirty-two high schools, with an average of around five hundred senior graduates per school. Given the 48 percent university acceptance rate, even if every applicant received the minimum loan, the total would be staggering. And not everyone received the minimum loan of 100,000 star coins.

The Cloudy Sky Gang would need to allocate an enormous amount of funds in just a short time.

"Boss, all this money is coming from your personal pocket," Yang Cheng said, somewhat perplexed. "Why issue the loans under the gang’s name?"

Li Xiaofei replied, "Are you stupid? If we issue the loans in the name of the gang, those students won’t dare default on their payments. If they do, we can send someone to deal with them and their families. But if I issue the loans personally, and they start defaulting, what am I supposed to do? Go after each of them to collect? That would be awkward for everyone. I have a reputation to maintain, you know?"

Yang Cheng was speechless.

Alright then. As long as the boss is happy. But who does he think he’s fooling with that reasoning... Clearly, he is doing good deeds without seeking recognition. Boss, you’re just too kind and generous.

The graduating students of Liuhe Base City don’t even realize how lucky they are to have someone like the boss looking out for them. It’s like they’ve accumulated lifetimes of good fortune.

Come to think of it, those of us who follow the boss are just as fortunate. Without him, the slum would probably still be a hellhole reeking of death, where people starved and died every day.

Li Xiaofei spoke up again, "There’s one more thing, Old Yang, that I need you to handle carefully."

Yang Cheng immediately straightened up and said, "Yes, Boss, what is it?"

"Spread the word," Li Xiaofei continued. "Tell the businesses run by the Martial Alliance and all the gangs under them to give preference to the high school graduates who didn’t make it into university. Treat the newcomers well, especially those joining hunting and adventure companies. Protect the rookies. If I hear about any gang exploiting or bullying the new recruits, or withholding their pay, I’ll wipe them out."

Yang Cheng quickly responded, "Don’t worry, Boss. We’ve already been doing that. Not just us in the Cloudy Sky Gang, but all the other gangs have cleaned up their act a lot. Everything’s by the book now. Everyone’s earning decent money with no complaints."

Li Xiaofei nodded, satisfied. "That’s good... I’ll be leaving the city soon, and there’s still much for me to handle elsewhere. From now on, I’ll be counting on you to keep things running here. It’s a tough job."

"Boss, don’t say that," Yang Cheng replied. "You’ll always be our leader. No matter where you go, everyone in the Cloudy Sky Gang is ready and waiting for your command."

Li Xiaofei nodded again and added, "Send out an invitation in my name to all the incoming university students. Tell them that tomorrow afternoon, I’m hosting a graduation banquet at Red Flag High School to say my goodbyes."

"Understood," Yang Cheng said, standing up immediately. "I’ll take care of it right away."

***

The next afternoon, the graduation banquet was in full swing at the Red Flag High School sports field. It was filled with a lively and joyful atmosphere.

Li Xiaofei’s reputation was undeniable; every single student who had been invited showed up without exception. This included even his old rivals, Xiong Zhigang and Zheng Shou. The banquet was filled with delicious food and drinks, and was more luxurious than anyone had ever seen before. Several principals and renowned teachers also attended.

“The campus has never been this lively,” Principal Qin muttered to himself, overwhelmed with emotion.

Many teachers from Red Flag High School were equally excited and proud. For over a decade, Red Flag High School had been the subject of ridicule and mockery. Anyone who spoke of the school did so with a sense of superiority, looking down on it.

This disdain extended to the teachers who had stayed through it all. They often felt like they were less than their peers. If not for their final shred of belief in the school and their students, many of them might have left long ago. But now, when people talked about Red Flag High School, they did so with admiration and respect.

Amidst the applause and cheers, Li Xiaofei was invited to the top of the main stage.

"Everyone, it’s fate that we’ve gathered here today. Today, you are all draped in honor and ready to embark on your journey to become stronger. As the saying goes, ‘A galloping horse delights in the spring breeze, one day seeing all the flowers of Chang’an.’ There are endless paths in this world and countless ancient martial techniques to master.

“No matter what the future holds, remember this: in the vast deserts of the northwest, we have our hometown, our people, and our alma mater. As such, I’ve prepared a gift for all of you.”

As Li Xiaofei finished speaking, dozens of beautiful female staff members from the Cloudy Sky Gang elegantly approached, carrying delicate wooden trays.

On each tray sat identical small glass bottles, neatly labeled with numbers. The craftsmanship was exceptionally refined, and the bottles looked exquisite.

Each graduating student received one of these bottles. Wang Siyu, Liu Yao, Huang Yueru, Xiong Zhigang, Zheng Shou, Gu Haochen, and many others were all curious about what kind of gift the leader of the most powerful gang in the base city would give them.

Then, Li Xiaofei revealed the answer.

"Inside each bottle is soil from our homeland. It’s said that a place’s water and earth shape its people. No matter how far you go, your mother will worry about you. If you ever find yourself homesick, just smell the scent of this soil. Liuhe Base City will always be our home!"

The graduates were deeply moved. Even the teachers attending the banquet were surprised. This gift was truly unique. At first glance, it seemed as light as a feather. But in reality, it carried the weight of a mountain. There was no denying that Li Xiaofei had put great thought into this gesture.

"My friends," Li Xiaofei continued, "one day, Liuhe Base City will be proud of us... Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses high.

Li Xiaofei then shouted, "Cultivate for the rise of Great Xia!"

"For the rise of Great Xia, we cultivate!"

"For the rise of Great Xia, we cultivate!"

Everyone jumped up, standing on chairs, on tables, and even on their friends' shoulders as they shouted at the top of their lungs, voices filled with passion and determination.

The faces of the young men and women glowed with enthusiasm and hope under the setting sun. At that moment, the air was filled with the essence of youthful dreams. Long live the youth!

***

That night. In the president's office of the Cloudy Sky Gang.

Clap, clap, clap.

The rhythmic sound continued without interruption. Perhaps it was the impending farewell, but Principal Hu was particularly wild that night, even performing the last three high-difficulty moves from the Yin-Yang Resonance of Great Sorrow technique.

Li Xiaofei began to struggle to keep up.

(Eight thousand words have been redacted here.)

The next day, Li Xiaofei, supporting his waist, attended a meeting at the Martial Alliance.

At noon, he gathered for a private lunch at the Qingya Pavilion restaurant with his close friends from the school’s battle team, including Bai Qiqi, Fang Buyi, Yan Chiyu, and others. By the end, they had all had quite a bit to drink.

"No more words needed! No matter where we go in this vast world, we’ll always be brothers for life," Bai Longfei shouted, slamming the table after drinking too much.

"True brothers, loyal to the end!"

Everyone echoed, shouting until their voices were hoarse.

Yan Chiyu, however, sat quietly, drinking cup after cup. Her bright eyes lingered on Li Xiaofei. Her fair, delicate face, as beautiful as a painting, seemed to have taken on a faint blush, but she remained silent.

"Hey, Captain, you're growing your hair out!" Bai Longfei suddenly exclaimed, as if he had discovered something groundbreaking. "You've always had short hair, so what's the deal with the sudden change? Hmm, something's definitely up."

Yan Chiyu shot him a silent glare.

"Wait until your hair reaches your waist, and then I'll marry you, okay?" Li Xiaofei teased, joining in on the fun. "Old Bai might be onto something. Come on, Captain, we're all friends here. No need to be shy. So, who’s the lucky guy? We'll go and tie him up for you."

Bai Qiqi, Fang Buyi, Ren Dong, and the others joined in the teasing, egging her on. But Yan Chiyu still didn’t speak. Her gaze, however, had softened considerably.

She continued to drink quietly, biting her full, red lips. Her eyes sparkled as if waves were gently rippling through them. For the first time, she showed a rare, delicate expression of a shy young woman.

Everyone was stunned under the dim lights of the private room.

When has our fierce captain ever looked like this?

It was breathtaking.

Who knew that our usually tough and no-nonsense captain could look so stunning with just a hint of femininity?

If she truly let her hair grow long, how enchanting would she be?

But Yan Chiyu didn’t care about the stares of others. Her eyes remained focused on Li Xiaofei.

Wait until my hair reaches my waist...

She smiled faintly, her red lips slightly parted as if she were about to say something.

Just then, Li Xiaofei's phone rang. He glanced at it and stood up, stepping out of the room to take the call.

Moments later, he re-entered, grabbed his jacket, and said, "Commander Ye from the garrison just called, she needs to see me about something. You all keep eating, I’m heading out."

"Damn, ditching us for her?" someone groaned.

"Goddess Ye personally calling you? Man, that hurts more than being killed!"

"Make sure to get Li drunk and castrated next time," someone else wailed dramatically.

The guys continued their mock cries of betrayal.

In the midst of it, a flicker of disappointment flashed across Yan Chiyu’s bright eyes. But she didn’t say anything further.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

***

The evening breeze was cool on the city wall. Li Xiaofei stood with one hand resting on the parapet, memories flooding back of the first time he had ever ascended this towering, majestic wall. Years had passed in the blink of an eye. Beside him stood Goddess Ye Liuying.

Neither of them spoke. Ye Liuying, with her own brand of pride and her always-cold demeanor, remained silent. Li Xiaofei wasn’t in much of a mood for conversation either.

After a long stretch of silence, the Goddess finally spoke. "If things don’t work out for you out there, come back. I’ll get you a position as an officer."

Li Xiaofei nodded. Ye Liuying extended her hand without another word. In her slender, fair palm lay the Qinling Badge.

"Returning it to its rightful owner." She said.

This badge had once been awarded to Li Xiaofei by Ding Longao, but was later unlawfully taken by Mai Zixiong. Li Xiaofei hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the badge.

As their skin briefly touched, her hand felt cool to the touch. Li Xiaofei pinned the badge onto his chest, then looked up and smiled.

"I thought you'd refuse." The Goddess remarked.

Li Xiaofei responded, "This badge is a symbol of honor, awarded to me by our nation’s military. Why would I not accept it?"

The Goddess fell silent again.

"I'm leaving." Li Xiaofei said, glancing at her. Her graceful profile, bathed in the soft moonlight, looked like a flawless work of art. "Take care of the brothers in the city. Please keep them in Commander Ding’s good graces."

"I will act impartially," the Goddess replied.

"That's all I could ask for," Li Xiaofei said before turning and walking away.

The Goddess stood alone in the night breeze, letting the wind sweep through her long hair. She remained quietly on the city wall, her figure not towering but somehow merging with the ancient stones, standing as a silent guardian between the vast wilderness beyond and the countless lights within the city.

***

Ten days later. At Xiajing City.

Li Xiaofei and Li Junjie sat on a bus, gazing out the window at the towering skyscrapers.

As the capital of Great Xia, the city's grandeur was beyond anyone from the countryside could ever imagine. Wide, well-planned streets; skyscrapers rising hundreds of meters into the sky; maglev vehicles gliding through the air at low altitudes...

To Li Xiaofei, this truly felt like the world of the future. Li Junjie, on the other hand, looked like a country bumpkin seeing the city for the first time. His eyes were wide, darting from one sight to another. If it weren’t for Li Xiaofei keeping an eye on him, he probably would have started shouting in excitement.

Before long, their light rail tram arrived at the station. As soon as they stepped out of the station, they noticed a crowd of young people holding up digital projection signs, each displaying a different name, flickering and floating in mid-air.

Among them were a few girls in traditional-style school uniforms holding a sign with Li Junjie's name on it.

"Over here, over here!"

A short-haired girl with a bob cut spotted Li Junjie instantly in the crowd and hopped excitedly like a little rabbit. "Junjie, we've been waiting for you!"

Waiting for me?

Li Junjie froze for a moment. But the girls in the traditional school uniforms quickly rushed over, surrounding Li Junjie with enthusiastic warmth.

"Junior, let me carry your bag for you."

"Junior, here, have an ice cream bunny."

"Wow, look at these muscles, they're amazing."

"Yeah, no wonder the old principal was so impressed by your naturally gifted physique."

A group of vibrant, lively girls surrounded Li Junjie, each vying for his attention with flattering words and favors. Li Junjie was at a complete loss as he was overwhelmed by the attention.

He couldn’t exactly scowl at these enthusiastic girls and say something like, "Don’t touch me, or I’ll cut you down with one swing!"

Meanwhile, Li Xiaofei, whose looks far surpassed Li Junjie's, experienced a rare feeling of being overlooked. For the first time, the attention wasn’t on him. But he didn’t mind. Always being the center of attention might seem exciting at first, but after a while, it lost its charm. Sometimes, staying low-key and mysterious had its own appeal.

The group of girls, still fussing over Li Junjie, led him toward the waiting shuttle. Li Junjie tried to reveal Li Xiaofei's identity a few times, but each time, Li Xiaofei stopped him with a glance.

He had already given clear instructions on the way here. This time, Li Junjie was to fully embrace his role as the genius, soaking in all the praise and admiration from the school. Li Xiaofei wanted him to enjoy the spotlight.

Li Xiaofei had other plans. This time, he just wanted to quietly focus on his relationship with the young lady.

"Um... this fellow student, are you... okay?" A soft, hesitant voice suddenly came from behind.

Li Xiaofei turned around and saw a shy-looking girl in the White Deer Academy uniform, her expression flustered as she nervously spoke. "Do you... uh, need help with your luggage? I’m also... uh, part of the welcoming committee for the new students."

Her tongue seemed to trip over itself, as if her mouth and brain weren’t quite in sync.

Li Xiaofei smiled warmly. "No need to trouble yourself, I’ve got it."