Though few people attended the wedding banquet, most were close and trusted friends, so the atmosphere was pleasant. The festivities concluded at 8:30 in the evening.

Chen Chuan and a few other guests emerged from the building and bid farewell to Director Lei and his wife at the door. He then got into the car He Nan had arranged for him and headed back to the training hall. The car hadn’t been on the road for long when it began to snow. By the time he arrived at the training hall and stepped out of the vehicle, a silvery blanket already covered the ground.

He stood outside, taking a deep breath of the crisp, cool air and watching the snowflakes drift down from the sky. ’The new year is almost here.’ He smiled faintly and walked into the training hall.

「Ten days later.」

On this day, Chen Chuan returned to the university. Accompanied by Cheng Zitong, he went to the Recruitment and Preparation Department office and, in front of Master Gao, Bian Feng, Yue Hong, and the others, filled out an application to receive his Yangzhi Wuyi University Hall graduation certificate early.

Once he finished writing, he handed the application to his advisor, Cheng Zitong, for his signature. Master Gao took it, glanced it over, then looked up and said, "Chen, once this is stamped and the chancellor signs it, you will no longer be an enrolled student of our Yangzhi Wuyi University Hall. You will be a student of the Central City General Hospital.

"Before this seal is applied, let me say a few words. Since you are leaving from Yangzhi Wuyi, no matter where you go in the future, the students of Yangzhi City will see you as a role model. Therefore, you must think carefully about your actions. What you do, for better or for worse, will have a profound impact on them.

"However, I cannot restrain you. The heart of a Fighter is their own. What you do is ultimately up to you. I am merely saying what a teacher ought to say."

After speaking, he wasted no more words and stamped both copies of the form directly. He instructed Yue Hong, "Take these to the chancellor’s office."

Yue Hong nodded, took the forms, and walked out.

Master Gao then pushed a pre-prepared graduation certificate toward him. "Keep it safe."

Chen Chuan stepped forward and took it. "Thank you, Manager Gao."

Cheng Zitong said, "Xiaochuan, the process here is finished. Let’s go."

Chen Chuan bid farewell to Master Gao and Bian Feng and left the office. He had only taken about ten steps when Bian Feng’s voice called out from behind him. He stopped and turned back. "Teacher Bian, is there something else?"

Bian Feng walked over. "Chen," he said, "continue to follow your own heart. Just be yourself. Don’t be swayed by the words of others, and don’t try to shoulder too much." He looked at Chen Chuan. "When it comes to your life, no one else is qualified to say a thing."

Chen Chuan understood what he meant. The matter with Senior Brother Shen in the past had probably been weighing on the teacher’s mind ever since. He said seriously, "Teacher Bian, you don’t have to say that. I know you’ve all helped me a great deal. Thank you." As he spoke, he took a few steps back and gave Bian Feng a deep bow.

The advantages he’d enjoyed at the university weren’t just due to Cheng Zitong; the administrative teachers had always been very supportive of him as well. Otherwise, he never would have had such an easy time. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Bian Feng said, "Chen, keep working hard. I hope you find what you’re looking for in Central City."

Chen Chuan said thank you once more and left with Cheng Zitong. Not long after they departed, Yue Hong walked over. "Hey, Old Bian, how come he bowed to you just now, but not to me?"

Bian Feng said, "Whose fault is it that you weren’t here? Don’t worry, part of that was for you, and part was for Master Gao. I just accepted it on everyone’s behalf."

Yue Hong said with a straight face, "Old Bian, in that case, shouldn’t you give a third of that bow to me? I’ll accept Master Gao’s share on his behalf, so you only need to give me half a bow."

Bian Feng shot him a look, then started walking back toward the office. "Some other time," he said as he walked. "I’ll give you three bows then."

"Hey! Old Bian, what’s that supposed to mean?"

After Chen Chuan and Cheng Zitong left the administration building, the latter said, "I’ve already contacted the Central Hospital. You can set off on the tenth day of the new year. I’ll see you off for part of the way. Someone will meet you when you get to Central City. Xiaochuan, remember to get everything ready in advance."

Chen Chuan replied earnestly, "Yes, Teacher. I’ll remember."

After parting with Cheng Zitong, he went straight back to his dorm room. He packed up the last of his things, then paused in thought. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed down at Spring and Autumn Lake below, and at the scenery in the distance. After standing there for a moment, he turned, picked up his suitcase, and slowly closed the door behind him.

Downstairs, on his way out, he returned the dorm key to the residence hall manager. "Teacher, I’m taking my leave."

The residence hall manager smiled and said, "Chen Chuan, they asked me to give this to you." He pushed a photo album toward him.

"This is..."

Chen Chuan took it and flipped through the pages. It was filled with photos of the campus scenery and some of his close classmates. Below the pictures were well wishes from Wu Han, Feng Xiaochi, Luo Kaiyuan, and Weidong. The residence hall manager’s photo was also in the back—a remarkably handsome shot, the most stylish one in the entire album.

He chuckled and said, "Thank you, Teacher."

The manager laughed. "Just remember to raise my pension when you’re famous."

Chen Chuan smiled again, said his goodbyes, and walked out of the dormitory building. Perhaps because the holidays were about to start, there was almost no one on the paths, making the campus feel deserted.

But when he reached the main gate of the university, he found many students waiting there for him—some he knew, and some he didn’t. Shu Han stepped out from the crowd and said, "Junior Chen, we heard you were leaving, so we came especially to see you off."

Chen Chuan looked at everyone and said, "Thank you, my fellow students. Thank you for coming to see me off."

"Goodbye, Senior Brother Chen!"

"Have a safe trip, Chen!"

"Junior Chen, remember to come back and visit when you have time!"

The students all called out in response. Chen Chuan saw their gazes, filled with anticipation and hope. He knew they were projecting their own aspirations and longing for Central City onto him.

As he reached the school gate and was about to step through, he suddenly stopped. He turned around, with the vast, open sky at his back, and looked at everyone before him. In a resonant and forceful voice, he declared, "My friends, the road ahead of us knows no bounds!" With that, he turned and strode out into the world beyond.

Shortly after he left, he heard the students behind him loudly repeating his words. The sound vibrated through the treetops, and a flock of birds shot up from the plaza, soaring into the high sky behind him.

He had just reached the edge of the plaza when a silver-gray Tuotu sedan pulled up and stopped in front of him. The door opened, and Wei Chang’an got out. He patted the car’s body with a smile. "Junior Chen, Brother Wei gave you a ride when school started. Now that you’re leaving, Brother Wei will give you one more."

Chen Chuan smiled, opened the car door, and got in.

After returning to the Patrol Bureau’s family residences, Chen Chuan said goodbye to Wei Chang’an at the mouth of the alley and went home. In this final period before heading to Central City, he would spend time with his family.

However, his cousin Nian Qian was still unable to return this year. He did send a telegram, though, saying that the railway would be open next year, so he should be able to come back then. He also congratulated Chen Chuan on going to Central City.

For the next few days, he didn’t go out again, spending the New Year at his aunt’s home.

In the blink of an eye, the ninety-fourth year of the Dashun Republic arrived.

During the New Year holiday, he visited friends with Nian Fuli and his family, watched arena matches, and also met up with Ding Jiao and their friends for a meal. The rest of his time was spent preparing his things for the trip to Central City.

On the morning of the tenth, Cheng Zitong called. "Xiaochuan, is everything ready?"

Chen Chuan said, "Teacher, I’m ready."

"Good. I’m coming to pick you up now. I’ll be there in a bit."

After hanging up, Chen Chuan looked at Nian Fuli and Yu Wan. "Aunt, Uncle, I’m leaving now."

"Chan’Er, remember to call when you get there."

Chen Chuan said, "I will, Aunt." He then said to Nian Fuli, "Uncle, I’m off." Nian Fuli replied, "With no family around, you’ll have to take good care of yourself out there, Xiaochuan."

"Goodbye, Cousin!" the two little ones called out together.

Chen Chuan smiled and nodded at them. After saying goodbye to his aunt’s family, he picked up his suitcase and the Snow Monarch Blade, walked out of the courtyard, and left step by step under his family’s watchful eyes.

He reached the mouth of the alley, and within a few minutes, Cheng Zitong’s car pulled up. The window rolled down, revealing his noticeably rounder face. "Xiaochuan, put your things in the back."

Chen Chuan agreed, placed his luggage in the trunk, then got into the front passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.

Cheng Zitong smiled. "All set?"

"All set."

"Good. Let me see you off one last time."

"Thank you, Teacher."

"You’re just too polite, you know that?"

The car started moving slowly. Under the bright sun gleaming on the fresh snow, it traveled along the main road, cut through the entire city, and drove on toward a distant horizon that was both brighter and more blinding.

...

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