Chapter 93: Vacation Time
That night, Si Er stayed in Yu Beixuan’s courtyard to cultivate.
Meditative cultivation could, to some extent, replace rest. Although the effect wasn’t as good as actual sleep, it didn’t matter—there were always a few classes during the day where he could catch up on sleep.
After all, the instructors for Formation and Artifact Refining had already given up on him. He could happily nap through those.
The first time he slept in class, Si Er had felt extremely embarrassed, afraid the instructor would make him stand as punishment.
But he soon realized that those two instructors were unusually tolerant toward him and Xuanxuan. As long as the two of them didn’t disturb others, the instructors wouldn’t interfere either.
However, in subjects Si Er excelled at, daydreaming was fine—but sleeping would get him hauled up by the instructor.
Unless, of course, the two of them proved in advance that they had already mastered the lesson content.
Each class only covered a few key points, so proving mastery didn’t take much time.
Whenever Si Er felt sleepy, he would go to the instructor during break. Now, whenever those instructors saw him, they felt a headache coming on.
Truly, in all their years of teaching, they had never seen a top student repeatedly apply for permission to sleep in class.
If not for the special circumstances of Si Er and Yu Beixuan, they would never have approved such requests.
After another night of cultivation, Yu Beixuan was bright-eyed and refreshed, while Si Er yawned nonstop.
He was utterly puzzled. “Why aren’t you tired at all, Xuanxuan?”
Yu Beixuan found it strange too. “Because I slept for several hours during the day, so staying up all night isn’t tiring.”
“And doesn’t meditation replace rest? Why are you so sleepy, Er’er?”
Si Er yawned again. “I don’t know. Maybe because I used to sleep at night. Now that I don’t, it feels like something’s missing.”
Hearing this, Yu Beixuan said, “If that’s the case, why don’t you switch your cultivation to the daytime and sleep properly at night?”
Si Er shook his head. “Then I won’t have enough time. There are so many classes during the day.”
“I can use the classes I’m bad at for sleeping—but I can’t use them for cultivating, right?”
Cultivation required a relatively quiet environment. How could a classroom possibly be quiet?
Yu Beixuan worried, “But this can’t go on forever, can it?”
“It’s fine. I have my magical little bitter melon.” Si Er took out a small, half-eaten invigorating bitter melon and took another bite.
“….”
Yu Beixuan hesitated, wanting to ask but not daring to.
He remembered that bitter melon. Recently, Si Er would take it out for a bite every few days.
Each time, after eating it, he would instantly look refreshed—walking with confidence and vigor.
Yu Beixuan already knew what the bitter melon did. What puzzled him was this: Si Er only took a bite every two or three days, and it had been nearly a month. Yet the bitter melon still looked as fresh as if it had just been picked.
And Si Er had eaten less than half of it. It felt like it could last another month.
He was extremely curious how Si Er kept it so fresh. If he could learn the method, many spirit fruits could be stored longer.
But his instincts told him that even if he asked, Si Er wouldn’t tell the truth. So it was better not to ask.
Today was the final day of the first term. After two morning classes, they could pack up and go home to visit family.
Many students in the classroom were eager to return home. Only Yu Beixuan felt reluctant.
If possible, he didn’t want the vacation at all.
He had promised his father that once vacation started, he would return home to see him.
But his feelings toward his father were complicated.
When he didn’t see him, he missed him. When he did see him, he wanted to hit him.
But since he couldn’t win in a fight, he could only avoid him.
He had avoided him for so many years—yet now he had walked straight into the trap himself.
There was no helping it. In the past, he had only wanted to roam freely alone and had never considered building his own power. So when he needed to investigate something, he still had to rely on his family.
But Yu Beixuan had no intention of changing that. Building and managing a force was too troublesome. He might as well keep using his father’s.
After all, he was grown now—not as fragile as before. He shouldn’t die so easily anymore.
Si Er wasn’t exactly eager to return home, nor was he reluctant. Instead, he felt something akin to homesickness mixed with nervousness.
Although he had naturally accepted his father and two brothers, once he returned to the Si family, would the other members treat him kindly?
Back on Earth, he had been an orphan. He wasn’t good at handling complicated family relationships, and he was especially wary of the legendary swarm of distant aunts and uncles.
Even if they don’t like me, it probably doesn’t matter. Old Master Si doesn’t like me either, and I’ve adapted just fine.
But I still don’t really want to face that…
Si Er couldn’t quite sort out his feelings. In any case, it was the first time he wasn’t enthusiastic about the end of class.
Si Xu helped him tidy his desk and, holding his hand, smiled. “Er’er, don’t worry. Most people in the Si family are easy to get along with. There aren’t that many foolish ones.”
“Everyone mostly lives their own lives. We don’t interact much normally.”
“So as long as you’re polite when you meet them, that’s enough. No need to worry about anything else.”
“Of course, if there are some you get along with, you can interact more. After all, when we go hunt baleful beasts in the future, we’ll need trustworthy helpers.”
Si Er nodded, beginning to form plans in his heart.
According to the script setting, most of the Si family were indeed decent—except for a few diehard fans of Si Ran.
But in the original script, because the character “Si Er” had died at the beginning, the revelation that Si Ran was a fake young master hadn’t caused much of a stir. Even the fact that Si Ran was the illegitimate son of Third Master Si had never been exposed.
Under those circumstances, it was understandable that some younger members of the Si family continued to follow Si Ran.
The question was—once all the ugly truths were revealed, would those diehard fans still remain brainless?
If so, those few people would need extra caution.
After packing up, the brothers left the academy gates together with Yu Beixuan and Lu Taiping.
At the entrance, City Lord Si and Si Yi were already waiting. But Si Er’s attention was drawn to another handsome young man.
Silver-white long hair, silver-gray eyes—so pale he looks like he has albinism—and somewhat resembling Xuanxuan.
“This must be Xuanxuan’s older brother, Yu Beimo, right?”
“Even though his name contains the character ‘Mo’ (ink), his whole body seems to have grown in reverse.”
Yu Beimo: …
He had never heard such a description before! What did “like he has albinism” mean?
Was that implying he had an illness?
Impossible. Didn’t Si Yi say his younger brother was obedient and adorable?
Oh right—Si Yi’s soul had once been damaged. He really had been crazy before. His words couldn’t be trusted.
But Xuanxuan’s older brother is still very handsome. Just a tiny bit less handsome than Xuanxuan.
Yu Beimo’s eyes lit up. Now that was something he liked hearing!
It seemed this boy named Si Er really was quite well-behaved.
Of course, he’s also just a tiny bit less handsome than my big brother.
Yu Beimo’s eyes dimmed again.
That, he did not like hearing at all.
