If a minor wanted to take a leave from school, they needed their guardian's permission and had to submit a leave application to the academy, clearly stating the time and reason.
Yingxing only signed his name where the guardian's signature was required.
As for when the leave would begin and how long it would last, he left it entirely up to Dan Heng.
Yingxing gripped his wine glass awkwardly.
"Dan Heng, I think... Zero makes a lot of sense."
"You still have a long time ahead of you."
"Look, there are students at other academies who still haven't graduated even after studying until they're two hundred years old."
"You're only fifteen, and you've already finished more than half of the required courses. Dan Heng, you've already done very well."
"From now on, just relax for a while."
Whenever Dan Heng stayed up late, Yingxing would ask the teachers for leave on his behalf.
If Dan Heng didn't want to attend class, Yingxing would invite him on vacation.
And now, he had directly signed the leave application.
Dan Heng thought, 'Who else could do all this?'
He lowered his head and gently ran his fingertips across the sheet of paper.
Urged on by everyone around him, Dan Heng slowly tucked the application into his wide sleeve.
This was a happy fifteen years old.
It was also a happy fifteenth year.
With a solemn expression, Dan Heng closed his eyes and, facing the candlelight and the affection that burned a thousand times brighter, made his birthday wish.
Jing Yuan asked, "What did you wish for?"
Dan Heng replied, "If I say it out loud, it won't come true."
That was what he said.
But inside, he was thinking, you've already done so much.
After the party ended, Dan Heng returned home with Yingxing.
He had someone bring him a picture frame and placed the leave application inside it. Then he returned to his bedroom and picked up the unfinished book beside his bed.
Books were people's only chance to speak with those who came before them.
Through words, he could briefly connect with wise people on the level of the soul.
Through the main characters, he could experience countless different lives.
The more books he read, the more he realized how ignorant and narrow-minded he was.
Because of that, Dan Heng clearly understood that Dan Feng's choice had been the right one.
There were only two statues in Scalegorge Waterscape.
One was Yubie, the first Imbibitor Lunae, who had made the alliance with the "Father of the Xianzhou."
The other was Dan Feng, who had allowed the race to continue and was worshipped as a god by his people.
Then what about Dan Heng?
He was Dan Feng's reincarnation, so naturally the Vidyadhara people placed all their passion onto him.
Dan Feng had planned everything carefully.
From choosing the academy to deciding every elective course each semester, he had made every choice for Dan Heng.
Only by attending the academy Dan Feng had chosen, under the protection of Yingxing and the other four, could he stay away from the fanatical Vidyadhara and avoid praise and respect that didn't belong to him.
Only by walking the path Dan Feng had chosen could he live a peaceful life.
Maybe this was the rebellious phase the books talked about.
Dan Heng hated what people called the right choice.
He hated the feeling of being arranged and controlled.
Even if the one doing it was another version of himself.
Sometimes he wondered about Yingxing and the others' intentions.
Was it for Dan Feng?
Or for Dan Heng?
After talking with Zero, Dan Heng only felt that he had been foolish.
Zero hadn't started by talking about right or wrong.
Instead, he told him a story about a friend.
Zero's friend had met a classmate from a poor planet.
He had saved that classmate from bullies, and they became friends.
That person bore no grudge and even asked the bullies for help with his studies.
When war broke out on his home planet, Zero's friend raised donations for him.
In return, he was scolded.
Dan Heng couldn't listen anymore.
"Why didn't he just stop being friends with him?"
Zero rubbed the top of his head.
"Only children end friendships."
"They couldn't argue, or it would affect the cooperation between their fathers."
"Besides... he was just an ordinary person from a remote planet."
"A single sentence could have destroyed that planet's chance of survival."
Dan Heng couldn't understand the emotion in an adult's eyes and asked what happened afterward.
"He died.", Zero answered simply.
Dan Heng couldn't help asking, "Who killed him?"
"The war."
Zero carefully explained the man's purpose and the way he had thought, then said, "My friend was too arrogant."
"He never realized that not everyone had the same advantages he did."
Dan Heng nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand."
"It was my mistake."
"He used to be a short-life species, but he's my family. I should understand him."
Zero asked, "Dan Heng, do you think Yingxing treats you well?"
Dan Heng hesitated for a moment before answering, "Even though he always forgets about me and misses academy events..."
"He treats me very well."
Zero gently patted his shoulder.
"Exactly. He treats you very well."
"We're good to you not because of Dan Feng."
"It's simply because you're you."
Looking straight into Dan Heng's eyes, he said word by word, "Dan Heng is only Dan Heng."
Zero's voice was gentle, but every word was like a cold, fierce wind, instantly blowing away the clouds in his heart.
"He isn't the High Elder, he isn't a warrior, and he isn't a Cauldron Master."
"He's only himself."
"This is what I, Dan Feng, and everyone else wish for."
Dan Heng had to admit that among the few things Dan Feng had done that he truly liked were choosing his guardian and the friends he had made before.
There was no better guardian in the world than Yingxing.
Nor were there adults as accepting as Zero and the others.
After thinking it over, Dan Heng decided to pass all the academy's required courses within the next three years.
As for the elective courses Dan Feng had chosen?
He would wait.
He would wait until he picked up the spear Yingxing had forged for him, learned spear techniques, and traveled across the Xianzhou's affiliated worlds before deciding.
But what identity should he use when traveling the universe?
A Galaxy Ranger?
Or a Nameless?
During a break between classes, Dan Heng asked the classmate whose background was the most mysterious and who seemed to come from a great noble family.
Without thinking, the classmate answered, "Of course a Galaxy Ranger!"
He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before lowering his voice.
"Let me tell you something. Don't tell anyone."
"Whatever you do, don't join the Nameless. They don't allow betrayal. Once you give up Trailblazing..."
The classmate raised a hand, drew it across his neck with a fierce expression, and said, "They'll kill you."
Dan Heng widened his eyes and lowered his voice too.
"How could that be?"
"They're followers of the Aeon of Trailblaze."
The classmate shrugged.
"The Aeon of Trailblaze has already fallen. Are today's Nameless still really the Nameless?"
"Back then, someone from the IPC died. Luckily it was only a low-ranking employee..."
He sounded relieved for the IPC.
Dan Heng understood.
This classmate was the child of an IPC executive.
At this academy, the students kept a respectful distance from each other. No one directly asked what another person's parents did for a living. Instead, they guessed each other's family background through small details.
After reaching his conclusion, Dan Heng continued listening without showing anything.
The classmate's expression changed slightly before he smiled.
"The IPC didn't want it affecting business... so they stopped recruiting Nameless."
"Take my advice. Become a Galaxy Ranger."
Dan Heng didn't believe him.
If it were internal conflict within the IPC, why would they tell a child?
So he went to Baiheng to confirm it.
The Foxian immediately bristled.
"Impossible! That's slander!"
"It has to be internal fighting in the IPC! Right! It's all the IPC's fault!"
Dan Heng searched the Star Net over and over using different keywords but found no news at all.
To be safe, he'd become a Galaxy Ranger.
Thinking that, he continued studying as usual.
One day, Zero came to the academy gate instead of Yingxing to pick him up.
Dan Heng was walking with his classmate.
The classmate stared at Zero's face for a while before smiling and asking, "Dan Heng, is that your brother?"
Zero's appearance resembled the "Father of the Xianzhou," so people often stared at him in a daze.
Dan Heng was already used to it.
"No."
He had no intention of introducing Zero's identity.
His classmate wisely dropped the subject and suddenly began discussing an advanced math problem with him, continuing until they reached Zero before finally falling silent, as if waking from a dream.
Without looking at Zero again, the classmate simply said to Dan Heng, "See you tomorrow, Dan Heng."
Zero frowned slightly, as if trying to remember something.
Dan Heng asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Zero took his schoolbag and asked, "Is he your friend?"
Dan Heng shook his head.
"No."
Three months later, he changed that answer in his heart.
His classmate also moved his elective course hours into required courses.
They met often, and naturally became friends.
Together they passed every required course, and sometimes traveled to affiliated planets together.
As time passed, Dan Heng met several Nameless during his travels. After getting to know them, he let go of his old prejudice, joined them on his own, and often talked about his companions in the group chat.
[Dan Heng: Mr. Welt is a very reliable adult.]
[Yingxing: ?]
[Aren't we reliable?]
[Dan Heng: No.]
[Zero: Hahaha.]
[Dan Heng: Especially you. You're the least reliable. @Zero]
[Zero: ?]
[Jing Yuan: Hahahahahaha.]
Sometimes Dan Heng also shared scenery from his travels.
[Dan Heng: Ran into the Father of the Xianzhou.]
[Shared Images ×3]
[Zero: ?]
[Jing Yuan: Are you trying to ruin me?]
[Zero: Look at him. @Jingliu]
[Jing Yuan: ...]
[Master, can you stop using social media...]
[Jingliu: No.]
Dan Heng didn't understand.
Wasn't it just a statue?
Only after learning Zero's true identity in a dream did he understand.
Then he remembered explaining a history question to Zero.
Dan Heng: "..."
He felt deeply embarrassed.
Zero had apparently expected it in advance and casually sent him dozens of history practice books, letting the matter pass.
After recovering more memories, Dan Heng noticed something.
After seeing Zero's face, his friend had deliberately become closer to him.
During their daily conversations, he often brought up his own family elders, as if trying to guide Dan Heng into revealing more about Zero.
For some reason, Dan Heng remembered the story Zero had told him.
Thinking about it now, the friend in that story had been Zero himself.
He couldn't help wondering what Zero had been thinking when he raised donations only to be insulted by that person.
If it had been him, what would he have done?
Zero didn't care if people used him.
But Dan Heng wasn't Zero.
After thinking about it for a long time, he temporarily left his companions and returned to the Luofu for graduation.
When his friend once again brought up family, Dan Heng said, "My family is my bottom line."
There was a saying: judge people by what they do, not what they think.
Dan Heng didn't care why people approached him.
As long as they didn't involve his family, everything else could be discussed.
His friend smiled awkwardly and quickly agreed.
The two silently ended the conversation early and went to find their own families.
All five of Yingxing's group had come.
There was even one more person, a Cloud Knight Lieutenant who had passed the Divine Foresight Commission's martial examination.
His name was Yanqing, and he was deeply trusted by Jing Yuan.
After thinking for a moment, Dan Heng sat beside Zero.
Together, they looked toward the stage.
Jingliu had been invited to give a speech as the parents' representative.
As she spoke, she repeatedly glanced toward where Zero was sitting.
When she finished, applause immediately followed.
Dan Heng's hearing was sharp enough to clearly catch two voices.
"What a shame. How did she end up with an unemployed man?"
"Forget it. I always say unpleasant things."
Dan Heng was about to stand when Zero pressed a hand onto his shoulder.
With a calm expression, Dan Heng asked, "Didn't you hear what they said?"
Zero smiled and applauded Jingliu.
"I heard."
Over the past few years, Zero often heard people praising Jingliu.
Afterward, they would start putting him down.
A few days earlier, he had even run into people praising the "Father of the Xianzhou."
What was next?
Would they come looking for him themselves?
He didn't mind playing along with them.
While he was thinking, everyone gradually stood up and headed toward the banquet hall.
Dan Heng had no intention of dancing and stayed in a corner with Yingxing and the others.
He accepted a small cake from Baiheng.
The Foxian was on a voice call.
"Hm? Yukong? Miss me?"
After joking around for a bit, they got to the main topic.
"The academy parent interview? Right, Qingni should be starting school too. But... where's Caiyi? Why are you asking instead?"
"What a coincidence. One of my friends has been through it. I'll pass the jade abacus to him..."
When Dan Heng looked up again, his friend was already standing in front of him, holding two glasses of champagne.
The friend first looked at him, then quietly glanced at Zero.
After a moment of hesitation, he said softly,
"Dan Heng..."
"I wish you a safe journey."
Between personal gain and Dan Heng, he had chosen Dan Heng.
Dan Heng's expression changed slightly.
He took the champagne and clinked glasses with him.
After saying goodbye to his friend, he finally met the person Dan Feng had arranged.
The man handed him a letter and told him to open it only after leaving the Luofu.
The next day, Dan Heng returned to the Astral Express.
He opened the envelope inside the Data Bank.
Inside was a letter from Yubie.
The first Imbibitor Lunae praised Zero again and again before changing the subject to the alliance between the Xianzhou and the Vidyadhara.
Looking farther down, there was newer handwriting.
It was obviously Dan Feng's.
He had written only four sentences.
[Yubie is right.]
[If anything happens, go to Zero.]
[Honor the alliance. Protect the Ambrosial Arbor.]
[You still owe him two promises.]
Dan Heng thought it was too late.
He had already left the Luofu.
He took out his jade abacus and sent Zero, who was still on the Luofu, a message.
[Dan Heng: I still owe you two promises.]
[Zero: ?]
[Oh, have a safe trip.]
[Dan Heng: Be serious.]
[Zero: Then apologize to Pom-Pom for me.]
[Dan Heng: ?]
[Not sincere enough. I suggest apologizing in person.]
[Zero: Good point.]
[Then help me pass along one sentence.]
[Tell Pom-Pom that you and They will meet again.]
After thinking for a moment, Dan Heng took a screenshot of that message and showed it to Pom-Pom.
After reading it, Pom-Pom repeatedly wiped a badge shaped like a train ticket with a handkerchief.
Lowering Their head, They said, "I understand, pom."
Following the Astral Express, Dan Heng witnessed countless wonders and went through many hardships along the way.
One day, they arrived at Herta Space Station and met a girl named Stelle.
As usual, after going through many twists and turns, the Express gained another Nameless.
Before the train left the station, Dan Heng heard from Stelle that Asta was offering a huge reward to find the benefactor of their family.
Dan Heng wasn't short of money, so he didn't care.
But when he heard the person was from the Xianzhou and held an important status, he became curious.
Stelle seemed to think for a while.
Dan Heng waited for quite some time before she finally answered with certainty, "Good-looking."
Dan Heng: "..."
It must be Zero.
Dan Heng contacted the friend he had met at the academy. After confirming that Asta could be trusted, he finally contacted Zero.
[Zero: I remember now.]
[That really did happen.]
[Go collect it for me.]
Dan Heng stared at the screen in silence for a while before walking over to Asta and explaining why he had come.
Asta thought she had heard wrong and cried out in surprise.
"What?"
Uncertain, she said, "O... one Strale?"
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